Genotyping of circulating cell-free DNA enables noninvasive tumor detection in myxoid liposarcomas.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare tumors of mesenchymal origin. About 50% of patients with STS experience relapse and more than 30% will die within 10 years after diagnosis. In this study we investigated circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and tumor-specific genetic alterations therein (circulating tumor DNA, ctDNA) as diagnostic biomarkers.

A 3D Morphometrical Evaluation of Brow Position After Standardized Botulinum Toxin A Treatment of the Forehead and Glabella.

Background: Botulinum toxin treatment for forehead wrinkles has been extensively studied and found to be a safe and reproducible procedure. However, the effect on the position of the eyebrows, which relies on the dynamic positioning of the treated muscles, has received less attention and has not been studied with 3-dimensional (3D) technology.

Objectives: The authors sought to evaluate the changes of eyebrow position after standardized botulinum toxin treatment of glabella or glabella and frontalis muscles with 3D imaging.

Evaluation of the Implantable Doppler Probe for Free Flap Monitoring in Lower Limb Reconstruction.

Background:  Timely reexploration and reanastomoses can salvage failing free flaps. The use of the implantable Doppler probe provides direct evidence of vascular impairment of the microvascular anastomoses and allows for postoperative NPWT. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the Doppler probe to conventional monitoring techniques for free flap monitoring in lower limb reconstruction and to identify risk factors for perfusion disturbance and reexploration.

Aging Changes of the Male Lips-A Lesser Evil Than in Females?

Background: Although aging changes of the female perioral region and aesthetic procedures for perioral rejuvenation are described in literature, specific data for the male population are lacking. This study aims to evaluate perioral aging process in the male population to compare quality and quantity of the observed changes to the female population.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 22 male subjects, were recruited into 2 age groups: young (20-35 years) and old (65-80 years) and the following parameters were measured: length of visible upper lip, thickness of upper lip at the level of vermilion border, thickness of upper lip at the level of the mid lip, and cross-section area of upper lip.

A self-made, low-cost infrared system for evaluating the sciatic functional index in mice.

The sciatic functional index (SFI) is a popular parameter for peripheral nerve evaluation that relies on footprints obtained with ink and paper. Drawbacks include smearing artefacts and a lack of dynamic information during measurement. Modern applications use digitized systems that can deliver results with less analytical effort and fewer mice.

Lymphangiosarcoma: Is Stewart-Treves Syndrome a Preventable Condition?

Background: Stewart-Treves syndrome is a rare complication of breast cancer treatment, representing a lymphangiosarcoma commonly associated with lymphedema and severely impacting patient's outcome. The tumor typically develops in the atrophic, pachydermatous, hyperkeratotic skin of limbs affected by long-standing lymphedema. Clinical data associated with Stewart-Treves syndrome and lymphedema management have rarely been published.

In Situ Deactivation of Interleukin-6 Enhances Early Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in a Murine Injury Model.

Background: Systemic alteration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) influences peripheral nerve regeneration. We investigated the potential influences of in situ (at the coaptation site) IL-6 modulation in a peripheral-nerve-transection/sciatic-nerve-graft in vivo model.

Methods: We quantified the elongation of regenerating axons, the number of arborizing axons, and the number of branches per arborizing axon 7 days after the injury in mice expressing axonal fluorescent proteins (thy-1-YFP mice).

MicroRNA-155 aggravates ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulation of inflammatory cell recruitment and the respiratory oxidative burst.

The inflammatory sequelae of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) are a major causal factor of tissue injury in various clinical settings. MicroRNAs (miRs) are short, non-coding RNAs, which regulate protein expression. Here, we investigated the role of miR-155 in IR-related tissue injury.

Single-stage dynamic reanimation of the smile in irreversible facial paralysis by free functional muscle transfer.

Unilateral facial paralysis is a common disease that is associated with significant functional, aesthetic and psychological issues. Though idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy) is the most common diagnosis, patients can also present with a history of physical trauma, infectious disease, tumor, or iatrogenic facial paralysis. Early repair within one year of injury can be achieved by direct nerve repair, cross-face nerve grafting or regional nerve transfer.

Comparison between endothelial progenitor cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells on neovascularization in an adipogenesis mouse model.

Volume stability and growth of tissue engineered adipose tissue equivalents using adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) rely strongly on angiogenesis and neovascularization to support the maintenance of cells. An attractive cellular approach is based on coimplantation of endothelial cells to create a vascular network. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a promising cell population, since they can be easily isolated from autologous human peripheral blood and thus represent a clinically feasible option.

Dissociation of pentameric to monomeric C-reactive protein localizes and aggravates inflammation: in vivo proof of a powerful proinflammatory mechanism and a new anti-inflammatory strategy.

Background: The relevance of the dissociation of circulating pentameric C-reactive protein (pCRP) to its monomeric subunits (mCRP) is poorly understood. We investigated the role of conformational C-reactive protein changes in vivo.

Methods And Results: We identified mCRP in inflamed human striated muscle, human atherosclerotic plaque, and infarcted myocardium (rat and human) and its colocalization with inflammatory cells, which suggests a general causal role of mCRP in inflammation.

Infraareolar pectoralis major myocutaneous island flap as treatment of first choice for deep sternal wound infection.

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a grave complication of median sternotomy, associated with high morbidity, mortality and escalating treatment costs. There is general consensus that optimal treatment comprises radical debridement followed by coverage with a vascularised flap. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the ideal operative procedure.

Real-time digital imaging of leukocyte-endothelial interaction in ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of the rat cremaster muscle.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) has been implicated in a large array of pathological conditions such as cerebral stroke, myocardial infarction, intestinal ischemia as well as following transplant and cardiovascular surgery. Reperfusion of previously ischemic tissue, while essential for the prevention of irreversible tissue injury, elicits excessive inflammation of the affected tissue. Adjacent to the production of reactive oxygen species, activation of the complement system and increased microvascular permeability, the activation of leukocytes is one of the principle actors in the pathological cascade of inflammatory tissue damage during reperfusion.

The long-term functional recovery of repair of sciatic nerve transection with biogenic conduits.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term regenerative capacity over a 15-mm nerve gap of an autologous nerve conduit, the biogenic conduit (BC), 16 weeks after sciatic nerve transection in the rat.

Methods: A 19-mm long polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube was implanted parallely to the sciatic nerve. After implantation, a connective tissue cover developed around the PVC-tube, the so-called BC.

Rho-inhibition by local application of c3-toxin for enhancement of axonal sprouting in a rat end-to-side nerve repair model.

Introduction: The aim of the presented study was to investigate nerve regeneration after application of C3-Toxin, a Rho-GTPase inhibitor and to correlate morphometry, neurophysiology, and function in an end-to-side peroneal/tibial nerve repair model of the rat.

Materials And Methods: Twenty rats with a peroneal to tibial end-to-side neurorrhaphy were divided into two groups: 1) control group, 2) C3 fusion toxin group with intrafascicular application of 1 μg/100 μl C3 fusion toxin. Survival time was 8 weeks.

An integrated therapy concept for reduction of postoperative complications after resection of a panniculus morbidus.

Background: Panniculus morbidus is characterized by an edematous, painful hanging abdominal mass, due to laxity and redundancy of the abdominal skin in morbid obesity, particularly after massive weight loss. Panniculectomy, by wedge resection, is a salvage procedure with high satisfaction rates though associated with high complication rates. Here we investigated the effects of perioperative complex decongestive physical therapy (CDP) on outcome and complication rates.

The use of the vacuum-assisted closure in microsurgical reconstruction revisited: application in the reconstruction of the posttraumatic lower extremity.

Introduction of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system into clinical practice has revolutionized wound care. Despite its multiple advantages, however, the VAC is only rarely used in the setting of microsurgical reconstruction. Concerns have been the inability to clinically monitor the flap as well the possibility of flap compression by the device.

Ten years stable internal fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal hand fractures-risk factor and outcome analysis show no increase of complications in the treatment of open compared with closed fractures.

Background: : Stable internal screw/plating systems for hand fractures have evolved during the last 20 years. The improved versatility leads to the increased use of these materials in open fractures, with the benefit of early mobilization. The aim of this retrospective study is to discern whether the broadening of the indications for these implants is accompanied by increased complication rates.

A new evaluation tool for monitoring devices and its application to evaluate the implantable Doppler probe.

Evaluation parameters for free flap monitoring devices are used inconsistently, leading to considerable confusion about the quality and applicability of these devices. A comparison of different systems and different clinical series is almost impossible. The ultimate questions that need to be answered are those regarding the efficiency and the effectiveness of the system.

C-reactive protein: how conformational changes influence inflammatory properties.

Recent evidence suggests that the prototypic acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) is not only a marker but also a potential contributor to inflammatory diseases. CRP belongs to the family of pentraxins and as such consists of five identical non-covalently linked subunits. Contradictory data on the characteristics of CRP as either being pro- or anti-inflammatory may be explained by the existence of two conformations of the protein: the circulating native, pentameric CRP (pCRP) and the monomeric isoform (mCRP), formed as a result of a dissociation process of pCRP.

Evidence-based plastic surgery: controlled trials in three plastic surgical journals (1990 to 2005).

Although a myriad of original articles is published annually in plastic surgical journals assessment of the level of evidence-based medicine has rarely been conducted. A hand search was conducted identifying randomized controlled (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials in 3 plastic surgical journals from 1990 to 2005. The quality of reporting was assessed and additional parameters investigated including report of statistical significance, type of institution, and country affiliation of the first author.

Chondrogenesis of adipose-derived adult stem cells in a poly-lactide-co-glycolide scaffold.

Adult adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered to be an alternative cell source for cell-based cartilage repair because of their multiple differentiation potentials. This article addresses the chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs seeded into poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) scaffolds after implantation in a subcutaneous pocket of nude mice. Human ASCs were seeded into PLGA (polylactic acid:polyglycolic acid = 90:10) scaffolds and cultured in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1)-containing medium for 3 weeks in vitro.

Evidence-based plastic surgery: controlled trials in three plastic surgical journals (1990-2005).

Although a myriad of original articles is published annually in plastic surgical journals, assessment of the level of evidence-based medicine has rarely been conducted. A hand search was conducted identifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials in 3 plastic surgical journals from 1990-2005. The quality of reporting was assessed and additional parameters investigated including report of statistical significance, type of institution, and country affiliation of the first author.

Changes in the aging upper lip--a photomorphometric and MRI-based study (on a quest to find the right rejuvenation approach).

Background: A lack of scientific data about the complex three dimensional changes in relation to the rest of the face is the reason for the multitude of rejuvenation approaches to the aging upper lip. In this study the underlying anatomic changes and facial proportions of the senile upper lip are scientifically evaluated for the first time.

Methods: (1) In 182 standardized subject photographs proportions of the upper lip were measured, compared to facial dimensions and correlated to age.