Latissimus dorsi muscle flap transfer through endoscopic approach combined with the implant after tissue expansion for breast reconstruction of mastectomy patients

Background Implant-based breast reconstruction is easy to be performed but has flaws that an unnatural appearance might be presented when no sufficient coverage existing. While autologous tissue reconstruction also has disadvantages like donor site scar and skin patch effect. There is a demand for a new method to obtain natural and aesthetic appearance while surmounting drawbacks of conventional breast reconstruction surgery. Methods A retrospective review of thirty-one patients undergoing tissue expander (TE)/implant two-stage breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) transfer through endoscopic approach in Peking University Third Hospital from April 2016 to August 2020 was performed. The LDMF harvest time, drain time, and complications were reviewed. The 3D volume was obtained to assess the volume symmetry of bilateral breasts. The BREAST-Q reconstruction module was used to evaluate the satisfaction. Results The mean endoscopic LDMF harvest time was 90.4 min. In the mean follow-up of 11.2 months, there were no severe capsular contracture happened. The reconstructed side achieved good volume symmetry to the contralateral side (P = 0.256). Based on the evaluation of the BREAST-Q scores, the outcome of Satisfaction with Breasts was excellent or good in 87.1% of the cases. Conclusions The novel type of two-stage breast reconstruction protocol, which includes tissue expansion followed by implant insertion with endoscopy-assisted LDMF transfer, could effectively reduce visible scars, avoid the patch effect, while require short time for LDMF harvest and present low incidence of complications. It is a promising method for breast reconstruction because it achieves good outcomes in the mastectomy patients.

Prediction and Experimental Verification of a Hierarchical Transcription Factor Regulatory Network of Porcine Myoglobin (Mb)

Myoglobin is a key chemical component that determines meat’s color and affects consumers’ purchase intentions. In this work, we firstly identified the promoter sequence of the Mb gene from the primary assembly of high-throughput genome sequencing in pigs, and predicted its potential transcription factors by LASAGNA. Through the data mining of the mRNA expression profile of longissimus dorsi muscle of different pig breeds, we constructed a hierarchical interplay network of Mb-TFs (Myoglobin-Transcription Factors), consisting of 16 adaptive transcription factors and 23 secondary transcription factors. The verification of gene expression in longissimus dorsi muscle showed that the Mb mRNA and encoded protein were significantly (p < 0.05) more abundant in Bama pigs than Yorkshire pigs. The qRT-PCR (Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR) validation on genes of the Mb-TFs network showed that FOS, STAT3, STAT1, NEFL21, NFE2L2 and MAFB were significant positive regulatory core transcription factors of Mb-TFs network in Bama pigs, whereas ATF3 was the secondary transcription factor most responsible for the activation of the above transcription factors. Our study provides a new strategy to unravel the mechanism of pork color formation, based on public transcriptome and genome data analysis.

Effects of Marination with Different Salt Concentrations on Some Quality Criteria of Beef Meat

In the present study, the effect of different salt concentrations on some quality properties such as the total number of coliform bacteria, texture, cooking loss, total salt content, metmyoglobin, pH, the water activity of steaks prepared from longissimus dorsi muscle of fresh beef was investigated. For this purpose, steaks prepared from longissimus dorsi muscle were dipped in marination brine in four different concentrations; 0% (control group), 1.5% NaCl, 2% NaCl and 2.5% NaCl, and marinated for 24 hours at +4 °C. The initial crude protein, crude fat, pH, moisture, and ash contents of beef were determined as 20.50%, 5.80%, 6.13, 72.63%, 1.07%, respectively. In the cooked meat samples, the hardness, chewiness and gumminess of the samples marinated with 1.5% and 2% NaCl was found to be higher than the control group. Metmyoglobin content of the meat samples marinated with NaCl is lower than the control group. The results revealed that the total number of coliform bacteria decreased drastically in parallel with the increase in salt concentration. As a result, the changes in the quality of the bovine longissimus dorsi muscle with different salt concentrations and marination were investigated, and positive effects on the textural properties and coliform bacterial load of the meat were observed.

Segmentação de imagens de ultrassonografia da carcaça em pequenos ruminantes utilizando Deep Learning

Brazil is one of the main countries operating in the agribusiness sector. Sheep and goat farming is one of the segments of Brazilian agribusiness. The evaluation of each carcass of goats and sheep is carried out by a specialist who evaluates them based on visual aspects, being susceptible to errors in the final evaluation. In this context, the purpose of this work is to use Convolutional Neural Networks to segment the Longissimus dorsi muscle area in ultrasonographic images of small ruminants. Our experiments showed that the PSPNet CNN architecture achieved the results with an Intersect over Union (IoU) rate of 0.89. It was possible to obtain a precise segmentation of the images, which will allow the producer to correctly diagnose the measurements of the animals with greater practicality and saving time.

Reconstruction of hook grip function of the fingers in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury

We described a reconstruction method for restoring hook grip function of the fingers in patients with total brachial plexus injury. The paralysed latissimus dorsi muscle was transferred to the upper limb as a pedicle flap and sutured to the flexor digitorum profundus tendons. The muscle was then reanimated with two intercostal donor nerves to the thoraco-dorsal nerve. Fourteen young adult patients (mean 23 years, range 17 to 32 years) with traumatic brachial plexus injury who underwent reconstruction using this technique from 2000 to 2019. After mean follow-up of 65 months (range 20 to 170), finger flexion of strength greater than or equal to M3 was achieved in 10 of the 14 patients. The mean weight that could be lifted using a hook grip was 2.6 kg, and that which could be lifted with both hands was 4.1 kg. The intercostal nerve-innervated latissimus dorsi muscle transfer can provide useful hook grip hand function without the need to sacrifice donor vessels or healthy muscles. Level of evidence: IV

The Flap Based on the Subscapular Artery: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The lateral thoracic-lumbar-scapular region is an ideal source to supply flaps. The study towards improving the method of taking flaps towards conserving a part of the muscle needs to clarify the ratio of branching forms of the arteries in the muscle. Objectives: This study was done to describe the typical anatomy, the anatomical and size variations of subscapular and circumflex scapular vessels, the branching and distribution of vascular pedicle supplying latissimus dorsi muscle flap, and serratus anterior muscle flap of circumflex scapular vessels. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 24 corpses of adults of both genders. The flap vessels were revealed through two stages of surgery, including the axillary region and the lumbar-scapular region. We classified the collected information and recognized typical and transformed forms based on statistical data. Results: The subscapular artery was separated by the axillary artery, the general origin of the circumflex scapular artery, and the thoracodorsal artery. Subscapular vessels were found in 40/42 cases, accounting for 95.2%, and the length and diameter were 3.04 ± 0.51 cm and 2.85 ± 0.46mm, respectively. The circumflex scapular artery, which had originated from the subscapular artery, was found in 40/42 cases. It also showed origin from subscapular artery with 2/42 cases. The length of the circumflex scapular artery was 3.14 ± 0.70 cm, and its diameter was 2.46 ± 0.48 mm. Terminal branches of the circumflex scapular artery were very variable. Almost all branching forms of the artery in the latissimus dorsi muscle were external branches, but they might be present or not in internal and recurrent branches. Conclusions: The vascular pedicle’s distribution, size, and presence were influenced by the subscapular artery supply flaps. Due to the diverse blood supply from the flaps’ vessels, the surgeon can use the flaps based on the subscapular artery in many forms. These flaps could be used as a seamless vascular flap or a free flap in orthopedic surgery.

PSIII-26 The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation during pregnancy on longissimus dorsi muscle morphometrics in bovine fetuses at 240 days of gestation

Melatonin is a multifunctional hormone that positively impacts postnatal growth and weaning weight in cattle offspring when supplemented to adequately fed dams during gestation. However, it is unclear whether supplemental melatonin is effective as a countermeasure to decrease effects of a nutritionally compromised pregnancy on fetal tissues. The current study evaluated the efficacy of maternal melatonin supplementation during gestation, as a therapeutic in nutrient restricted beef heifers using fetal LM morphometrics for evaluation of carcass tissue growth. On gestational d 160, 25 Brangus heifers were assigned to one of four groups in a 2 x 2 factorial: nutrient restricted (RES-CON: 60% NRC; n = 6), adequate fed (ADQ-CON; 100% NRC; n = 6), nutrient restricted supplemented with 20 mg melatonin (RES-MEL; n = 7), or adequate fed supplemented with 20 mg melatonin (ADQ-MEL; n = 6). Treatments were top-dressed with 2 mL of melatonin dissolved in 100% ethanol (10 mg/mL) or 2 mL of ethanol (control). At gestational d 240, Caesarean sections and fetal necropsies were performed, both fetal LM were dissected to determine weight, length, and midline circumference. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. There was a diet by treatment interaction wherein the mass of the left and right LM was increased (P0.035) by an average of 42.46 g in RES-MEL offspring compared to RES-CON fetuses, but no differences (P0.0812) among ADQ groups. Restricted nutrition decreased left LM circumference (10.21 vs. 10.95 cm; P = 0.0445). Treatment had no effect on LM length (P0.1139). In the present study, maternal melatonin supplementation during the Summer promoted muscle growth and mitigated the adverse effects of a nutritionally compromised pregnancy on LM morphometrics. These data are indicative of the potential for melatonin as a gestational therapeutic for prenatal muscle growth and improved efficiency of meat animal production.