Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with limited capacity for repair. Cell transplantation is a potential strategy to promote SCI repair with cells from the olfactory system being promising candidates. Although transplants of human olfactory mucosa (OM) are already ongoing in clinical trials, the repair potential of this tissue remains unclear. Previously, we identified mesenchymal-like stem cells that reside in the lamina propria (LP-MSCs) of rat and human OM. Little is known about these cells or their interactions with glia such as olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), which would be co-transplanted with MSCs from the OM, or endogenous CNS glia such as oligodendrocytes. We have characterized, purified, and assessed the repair potential of human LP-MSCs by investigating their effect on glial cell biology with specific emphasis on CNS myelination in vitro. Purified LP-MSCs expressed typical bone marrow MSC (BM-MSC) markers, formed spheres, were clonogenic and differentiated into bone and fat. LP-MSC conditioned medium (CM) promoted oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) and OEC proliferation and induced a highly branched morphology. LP-MSC-CM treatment caused OEC process extension. Both LP and BM-MSCs promoted OPC proliferation and differentiation, but only myelinating cultures treated with CM from LP and not BM-MSCs had a significant increase in myelination. Comparison with fibroblasts and contaminating OM fibroblast like-cells showed the promyelination effect was LP-MSC specific. Thus LP-MSCs harvested from human OM biopsies may be an important candidate for cell transplantation by contributing to the repair of SCI.
SUMMARYA 66-year-old man presented with a large squamous cell carcinoma of the right nasal vestibule. He underwent partial rhinectomy and medial maxillectomy followed by staged reconstruction. Reconstruction of a full-thickness nasal defect requires repair of three distinct layers: the skin-soft tissue envelope, subsurface framework and intranasal lining. We report the first use in the UK of an osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap in the reconstruction of a subtotal nasal deficit. The skin of the radial forearm free flap was tubed to recreate the nasal lining and the radial bone reconstructed the dorsal contour of the nose. A full-thickness paramedian forehead flap supplied external coverage. The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap and forehead flap is a viable option for large nasal defects requiring reconstruction of framework, nasal lining and external covering.
BACKGROUND
Caudal septal deformities if uncorrected can lead to poor functional and cosmetic outcomes. Adequate fixation of the septum to the maxillary spine is paramount in correcting these deformities. We describe a simple technique for securing the caudal septum to the maxillary spine that stabilises it in all three planes.
A frontalis muscle flap is a novel method of closing large forehead defects created by a paramedian forehead flap. A frontalis muscle flap provides a healthy base for a full thickness skin graft, which allows good skin colour matching and an enhanced cosmetic result.
Both methods give an excellent cosmetic result and can be performed under local anaesthetic. Excising and smoothing down the cartilage decreases the likelihood of recurrence as a smooth contour to the ear is achieved.
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