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Objective: The most important issue in flap surgery is flap viability. This study aimed to compare the effects of most commonly used phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors on flap survival. Methods: A 3 x 9 cm flap was elevated from the dorsum of 32 Wistar albino rats. In the control group, saline was administered 2 hours before the flap elevation and continued for 2 days after the surgery. In the sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil groups, the related drug was administered. Blood flow in the flaps was monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry. On postoperative day 7, flaps were photographed and biopsies were obtained. Results: The ratios of flap necrosis area in the tadalafil, sildenafil, and vardenafil groups were lower than that in the control group, but without significant difference (p = 0.077). Histopathological evaluation revealed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusion: The ratio of flap necrosis area tended to be lower in the groups receiving oral PDE5 inhibitors than in the control group, although not statistically significant. The role of PDE5 inhibitors needs to be evaluated in larger studies before a conclusion can be made regarding their effects on flap viability.

Syndecan-1 (CD138), an important transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan is expressed in distinct stages of cell differentiation. Although its expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells is well known: its function or presence in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) cells is still largely unknown. The expression of syndecan-1 was studied in bone marrow biopsies of three patients with AML using electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Positive expression of syndecan-1 was found in AML cells. These results suggest that syndecan-1 expression is not only a characteristic phenotypic marker for ALL, but is also expressed in AML cells.