: The scapular free flap is an ideal flap that achieves satisfactory function and esthetic appearance for penile reconstruction because of its adequate amount of tissue, reliable vascularity, acceptable donor-site morbidity, and reliable blood supply.

Hypertrophic scar (HS) and keloid are fibroproliferative disorders (FPDs) of the skin due to aberrant wound healing, which cause disfigured appearance, discomfort, dysfunction, psychological stress, and patient frustration. The unclear pathogenesis behind HS and keloid is partially responsible for the clinical treatment stagnancy. However, there are now increasing evidences suggesting that inflammation is the initiator of HS and keloid formation. Interleukins are known to participate in inflammatory and immune responses, and play a critical role in wound healing and scar formation. In this review, we summarize the function of related interleukins, and focus on their potentials as the therapeutic target for the treatment of HS and keloid.

In Asia, especially in China, women think a dimple is an important part of a beautiful smiling face. The dimple can make them more confident. Unfortunately, not all women have dimples. Hence, with the development of the Chinese economy, there is an increasing demand among Chinese women for the creation of dimples. Most women hope the impairment of the operation will be slight and the period of recovery short so they can go to work as quickly as possible. Some of them want to have dimples only when they smile. The authors have used a new simple technique to form 56 dimples for 36 women. During the operation, they use a syringe needle to guide a monofilament nylon suture through the dermis and the active facial muscles (usually the buccinator). A sling is formed between the skin and the buccinator muscle. The knot is tied, and the dimple is created. After the operation, patients have been satisfied with the shape of the dimples. Furthermore, hematoma and infection never occurred. As a result, on the basis of their experience, the authors conclude that this technique is simple and easy to duplicate. Moreover, this technique has many benefits. For example, with this procedure, it is easy to adjust the bulk of dimples by adjusting the tension of the knot and the amount of dermis tissue the injection needle sutures. Because no tissue is resected, there is mild postoperative swelling. Consequently, patients can return to work or other activities 2 days after the operation.

Objective: To investigate microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in the seminal plasma of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients with different histopathologic patterns and evaluate potential noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers of NOA. Design: Sequencing and validation using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Setting: Reproductive center and research institute. Patient(s): Thirteen patients with NOA (7 Sertoli cell-only syndrome [SCOS] and 6 hypospermatogenesis to spermatogenesis arrest [SA]) and 7 normal fertile controls for sequencing, six samples per group for validation; 54 patients with NOA (27 SCOS and 27 SA) and 19 normal fertile controls for large-sample qRT-PCR analysis. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): MicroRNA expression profiles in the seminal plasma of patients with NOA with different histopathologic patterns were assessed using high-throughput sequencing and validated using qRT-PCR. Result(s): There were 78 overexpressed and 132 underexpressed miRNAs in patients with SCOS and 32 up-regulated and 90 downregulated miRNAs in patients with SA compared with fertile men with normozoospermia. Two down-regulated and one upregulated miRNA were validated using qRT-PCR, which indicated that the qRT-PCR and sequencing results were basically consistent. Hsa-miR-34c-5p expression was significantly lower in the seminal plasma of patients with NOA than normal fertile controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) for hsa-miR-34c-5p was 0.979 and 0.987 in the seminal plasma of patients with SA and patients with SCOS, respectively, compared with normal fertile controls. The AUC was 0.799 for hsa-miR-34c-5p in the seminal plasma between patients with SA and patients with SCOS. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed miRNA target genes revealed that the Notch signaling pathway was one of the most abundant signaling pathways. The expression of Hes5, an effector of the Notch signaling pathway, was significantly higher in the seminal plasma of patients with NOA than normal fertile controls. Conclusion(s): MicroRNA expression profiles in seminal plasma were altered in patients with NOA compared with normal fertile controls. The profiles differed in patients with NOA with different pathologic patterns. We speculate that miR-34c-5p in seminal plasma could be a potential noninvasive biomarker to diagnose patients with NOA and distinguish different pathologic types of NOA. The Notch signaling pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of NOA.