Cryogenic, but not hypothermic, preservation disrupts the extracellular matrix of cell sheets.

Cell sheet (CS)-based approaches hold significant potential for tissue regeneration, relying on the extracellular matrix (ECM) for success. Like in native tissues, the ECM provides structural and biochemical support for cellular homeostasis and function. Effective preservation strategies that maintain ECM integrity are critical to enhance the therapeutic potential of CS-based approaches.

Reports on vascular catheter-associated thromboembolic events in a burn unit - a gap in the literature?

Indwelling intravascular catheters are important tools in the care of critically ill patients; however, they have an inherent risk of infection or thromboembolic events. Reports on catheter associated thromboembolic events in burn units are rare, despite being well recognized that burn patients bear an increased baseline risk for thromboembolic events. We describe two catheter-associated thromboembolic complications in burn patients in a burn unit and the morbidity associated with these events.

The Silent Threat-Alkali Foot Burn: A Case Report.

Despite current workplace protection measures, chemical burn accidents are not uncommon. Among these, alkali burn is the most challenging due to its silent behaviour and aggressive mechanism. Characterized by its initial painless onset, allowing a prolonged exposure, it tends to result in deeper and more destructive burns, creating major reconstructive and therapeutic challenges.

Prevascularized spongy-like hydrogels maintain their angiogenic potential after prolonged hypothermic storage.

The chronic shortage of organs and tissues for transplantation represents a dramatic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Tissue engineering offers a potential solution to address these shortages, but several challenges remain, with prevascularization being a critical factor for in vivo survival and integration of tissue engineering products. Concurrently, a different challenge hindering the clinical implementation of such products, regards their efficient preservation from the fabrication site to the bedside.

Generation of 3D melanoma models using an assembloid-based approach.

While 3D tumor models have greatly evolved over the past years, there is still a strong requirement for more biosimilar models which are capable of recapitulating cellular crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment while equally displaying representative levels of tumor aggressiveness and invasion. Herein, we disclose an assembloid melanoma model based on the fusion of individual stromal multicellular spheroids (MCSs). In contrast to more traditional tumor models, we show that it is possible to develop self-organizing, heterotypic melanoma models where tumor cells present stem-cell like features like up-regulated pluripotency master regulators SOX2, POU5F1 and NANOG.

Role of the Plastic Surgeon in Tuberculosis Treatment.

Background: Tuberculous empyema is rare. Its treatment requires oral antituberculous drugs, empyema drainage, and in severe cases, decortication and pneumectomy. In the presence of tuberculosis, lung resection has a high risk of postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF) and empyema.

Stromal Vascular Fraction Obtained From Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue: Ex-Obese and Older Population as Main Clinical Targets.

Introduction: Human adipose tissue contains a heterogeneous and synergistic mixture of cells called stromal vascular fraction (SVF) with highly proliferative and angiogenic properties, conferring promising applicability in the field of regenerative medicine. This study aims to investigate if age, body mass index (BMI), history of obesity and massive weight loss, and harvest site are related to SVF cell marker expression.

Methods: A total of 26 samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue were harvested from patients admitted to the Plastic and Reconstructive department in University Hospital Center of São João, Porto, Portugal, for body contouring surgery.

Spongy-like hydrogels prevascularization with the adipose tissue vascular fraction delays cutaneous wound healing by sustaining inflammatory cell influx.

In vitro prevascularization is one of the most explored approaches to foster engineered tissue vascularization. We previously demonstrated a benefit in tissue neovascularization by using integrin-specific biomaterials prevascularized by stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells, which triggered vasculogenesis in the absence of extrinsic growth factors. SVF cells are also associated to biological processes important in cutaneous wound healing.

Growth Factor-Free Vascularization of Marine-Origin Collagen Sponges Using Cryopreserved Stromal Vascular Fractions from Human Adipose Tissue.

The successful integration of transplanted three-dimensional tissue engineering (TE) constructs depends greatly on their rapid vascularization. Therefore, it is essential to address this vascularization issue in the initial design of constructs for perfused tissues. Two of the most important variables in this regard are scaffold composition and cell sourcing.

Integrin-specific hydrogels for growth factor-free vasculogenesis.

Integrin-binding biomaterials have been extensively evaluated for their capacity to enable de novo formation of capillary-like structures/vessels, ultimately supporting neovascularization in vivo. Yet, the role of integrins as vascular initiators in engineered materials is still not well understood. Here, we show that αvβ3 integrin-specific 3D matrices were able to retain PECAM1 cells from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue, triggering vasculogenesis in vitro in the absence of extrinsic growth factors.

Successful Surgical Resection and Reconstruction of a Giant Facial Vascular Malformation in an Elderly Patient.

Venous vascular malformations can be challenging, especially in an elderly patient. As these lesions can present with ulceration, deformity, pain, and swelling resulting from thrombi formed due to low flow (palpable phleboliths), removing them can be important for the well-being of the patient. A 79-year-old patient presented with a giant venous malformations occupying the left hemiface and a deprivation amblyopia in his left eye.

Salvage of a Near-Total Penile Amputation following Urinary Fistulization and Carbapenemase-Producing Infection with a Composite ALT Flap and Vascularized Fascia Lata.

Reconstruction of complex penile defects is always challenging, as some defects are not possible to reconstruct with skin or mucosa grafts, and even local flaps may be precluded in complex wounds. We present a case of a 63-year-old otherwise healthy man, who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia. After the procedure, he developed panurethral necrosis with consequent stricture.

Facial Reconstruction Based on Combined Three-Dimensional Printing and Microsurgical Free Transfer.

There are patients with craniofacial deformity that can lead to extensive bone loss and severe disfigurement. Autologous reconstruction may be challenging in these patients, and it is usually associated with flap donor area morbidity and unfavorable aesthetic and functional results. A 51-year-old patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection, developed in the context of immunosuppression a fulminant fungal rhino-sinusitis with the need for surgical debridement, and in consequence extensive destruction of the nasal cavity and upper jaw, resulting in severe disfigurement due to nasal deformity and maxillary collapse.

Antero-cervical thermophysiological characterization of obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by upper airway inflammation. The aim of this study was to characterize thermal profile of the antero-cervical region in OSAS patients through medical thermal imaging and to compare the respective subjects with non-OSAS individuals.

Methods: Image capture followed the Glamorgan Protocol.