Electrospinning based biomaterials for biomimetic fabrication, bioactive protein delivery and wound regenerative repair.

Electrospinning is a remarkably straightforward and adaptable technique that can be employed to process an array of synthetic and natural materials, resulting in the production of nanoscale fibers. It has emerged as a novel technique for biomedical applications and has gained increasing popularity in the research community in recent times. In the context of tissue repair and tissue engineering, there is a growing tendency toward the integration of biomimetic scaffolds and bioactive macromolecules, particularly proteins and growth factors.

Targeting pleuro-alveolar junctions reverses lung fibrosis in mice.

Lung fibrosis development utilizes alveolar macrophages, with mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Here, we fate map connective tissue during mouse lung fibrosis and observe disassembly and transfer of connective tissue macromolecules from pleuro-alveolar junctions (PAJs) into deep lung tissue, to activate fibroblasts and fibrosis. Disassembly and transfer of PAJ macromolecules into deep lung tissue occurs by alveolar macrophages, activating cysteine-type proteolysis on pleural mesothelium.

Quality of life after transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation-A prospective study.

Background: The authors' previous research suggested the hypothesis that aesthetic surgery in general has a positive impact on quality of life (QoL). This prospective study aimed to investigate the indication-specific effect on QoL in patients undergoing transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients underwent aesthetic breast augmentation.

Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum Hydrogel (HPS-H) Accelerates Dermal Regeneration in a Porcine Wound Model.

Harnessing the body's intrinsic resources for wound healing is becoming a rapidly advancing field in regenerative medicine research. This study investigates the effects of the topical application of a novel porcine Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum Hydrogel (HPS-H) on wound healing using a minipig model over a 21-day period. Porcine HPS exhibited up to 2.

Preventive Paradox? Postoperative Outcomes After Risk-Reducing Mastectomy and Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) with direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction is becoming increasingly important in breast cancer prevention. While the oncological benefits of RRM-DTI are well documented, there is a paucity of studies investigating its perioperative safety.

Methods: The ACS-NSQIP database (2008-2022) was queried to identify all patients who underwent RRM-DTI.

[The Cost of Lipoedema Treatment Exceeds the DRG Revenues - Evaluation of the Surgical Treatment Costs of Lipoedema (Stage III) at a German University Clinic].

Background: Liposuction for stage III lipoedema is a guideline-based but also time-consuming treatment, which can be carried out under specific conditions at the expense of the German statutory health insurance companies (SHI) based on a decision made by the German Federal Joint Committee ("Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss", G-BA), the highest decision-making body in the German healthcare system, in 09/2019. We postulate that the treatment is not reflected in a cost-covering manner in the university cost system.

Methods: This monocentric, retrospective study examined the economic aspects of 92 cases in 48 lipoedema patients treated during the period from 09/2019 to 08/2023 at the expense of the SHI.

Biohybrid Nanorobots Carrying Glycoengineered Extracellular Vesicles Promote Diabetic Wound Repair through Dual-Enhanced Cell and Tissue Penetration.

Considerable progress has been made in the development of drug delivery systems for diabetic wounds. However, underlying drawbacks, such as low delivery efficiency and poor tissue permeability, have rarely been addressed. In this study, a multifunctional biohybrid nanorobot platform comprising an artificial unit and several biological components is constructed.

Bone Regenerative Effect of Injectable Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum-Fibrin (HPS-F) in an Ex Vivo Bone Defect Model.

Biofunctionalized hydrogels are widely used in tissue engineering for bone repair. This study examines the bone regenerative effect of the blood-derived growth factor preparation of Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum (HPS) and its fibrin-hydrogel formulation (HPS-F) on drilled defects in embryonic day 19 chick femurs. Measurements of bone-related growth factors in HPS reveal significant elevations of Osteopontin, Osteoprotegerin, and soluble-RANKL compared with normal serum (NS) but no detection of BMP-2/7 or Osteocalcin.

Quality of life following liposuction for lipoedema: a prospective outcome study.

Background: The study examines, for the first time, the impact on quality of life after liposuction for lipoedema. The influence of aesthetic plastic interventions and their effects on treatment outcomes has been a major focus of our research group over the past 20 years.

Methods: A total of 35 patients were invited to participate in our prospective study, with 30 responding to both the pre- and postoperative questionnaires.

Isolated and combined breast augmentation in transgender patients: Multi-institutional insights into early outcomes and risk factors.

Background: The increasing demand for gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in transgender and gender-diverse healthcare highlights the importance of breast augmentation surgery (BAS) for transfeminine patients. Despite its significance, there is a lack of research on postoperative outcomes of BAS.

Methods: We analyzed the multi-institutional American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) (2008-2021) database to identify female transgender individuals (TGIs) who underwent BAS surgery, both isolated and combined with concurrent GAS procedures.

The Role of Density in Achieving Volume and Weight Symmetry in Breast Reconstruction.

Background:  Knowledge of tissue and implant density is crucial in obtaining both volume and weight symmetry in unilateral breast reconstruction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine and compare the density of abdominal and breast tissue specimens as well as of 5th generation breast implants.

Methods:  Thirty-one breast tissue and 30 abdominal tissue specimens from 61 patients undergoing either mammaplasty or abdominoplasty as well as five different 5th generation breast implants were examined.

The Multifaceted Functions of TRPV4 and Calcium Oscillations in Tissue Repair.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) specifically functions as a mechanosensitive ion channel and is responsible for conveying changes in physical stimuli such as mechanical stress, osmotic pressure, and temperature. TRPV4 enables the entry of cation ions, particularly calcium ions, into the cell. Activation of TRPV4 channels initiates calcium oscillations, which trigger intracellular signaling pathways involved in a plethora of cellular processes, including tissue repair.

The significance of timing in breast reconstruction after mastectomy: An ACS-NSQIP analysis.

Background: A variety of breast reconstruction (BR) options are available. The significance of timing on outcomes remains debated. This study aims to compare complications in breast cancer patients undergoing implant-based and autologous BR immediately after mastectomy or at a delayed time point.

CD201 fascia progenitors choreograph injury repair.

Optimal tissue recovery and organismal survival are achieved by spatiotemporal tuning of tissue inflammation, contraction and scar formation. Here we identify a multipotent fibroblast progenitor marked by CD201 expression in the fascia, the deepest connective tissue layer of the skin. Using skin injury models in mice, single-cell transcriptomics and genetic lineage tracing, ablation and gene deletion models, we demonstrate that CD201 progenitors control the pace of wound healing by generating multiple specialized cell types, from proinflammatory fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, in a spatiotemporally tuned sequence.

Wearable Prophylaxis Tool for AI-Driven Identification of Early Warning Patterns of Pressure Ulcers.

As today's society ages, age-related diseases become more frequent. One very common but yet preventable disease is the development of pressure ulcers (PUs). PUs can occur if tissue is exposed to a long-lasting pressure load, e.

An ACS-NSQIP Data Analysis of 30-Day Outcomes Following Surgery for Bell's Palsy.

Background: There exists a paucity of large-scale, multi-institutional studies that investigate the outcomes of surgery for Bell's palsy (BP). Here, we utilize a large, multi-institutional database to study the risk factors and early-stage outcomes following surgical procedures in BP.

Methods: We reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2008-2019) to identify patients who underwent surgery for the diagnosis of BP.

Fibroblasts - the cellular choreographers of wound healing.

Injuries to our skin trigger a cascade of spatially- and temporally-synchronized healing processes. During such endogenous wound repair, the role of fibroblasts is multifaceted, ranging from the activation and recruitment of innate immune cells through the synthesis and deposition of scar tissue to the conveyor belt-like transport of fascial connective tissue into wounds. A comprehensive understanding of fibroblast diversity and versatility in the healing machinery may help to decipher wound pathologies whilst laying the foundation for novel treatment modalities.

Knockdown of long noncoding RNA SAN rejuvenates aged adipose-derived stem cells via miR-143-3p/ADD3 axis.

Background: Senescent adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exhibit reduced therapeutic efficacy during wound healing. Transcriptional regulation factors including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) reportedly have essential roles in stem cell aging. However, the mechanisms of which lncRNAs influence mesenchymal stem cell aging and how it works need further investigation.

In vivo fluorescent labeling and tracking of extracellular matrix.

Connective tissues are essential building blocks for organ development, repair and regeneration. However, we are at the early stages of understanding connective tissue dynamics. Here, we detail a method that enables in vivo fate mapping of organ extracellular matrix (ECM) by taking advantage of a crosslinking chemical reaction between amine groups and N-hydroxysuccinimide esters.

Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum (HPS) Promotes Proliferation and Chondrogenic Phenotype of Chondrocytes In Vitro.

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for the treatment of articular cartilage defects remains challenging in terms of maintaining chondrogenic phenotype during in vitro chondrocyte expansion. Growth factor supplementation has been found supportive in improving ACI outcomes by promoting chondrocyte redifferentiation. Here, we analysed the chondrogenic growth factor concentrations in the human blood-derived secretome of Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum (HPS) and assessed the effect of HPS-10% and HPS-40% on human articular chondrocytes from osteoarthritic cartilage at different time points compared to normal fresh serum (NS-10% and NS-40%) and FCS-10% culture conditions.

Aesthetic training concept during plastic surgery residency - Opportunity or risk?

Background: Aesthetic surgery training renders to be challenging to acquire sufficient hands-on experience during residency. To resolve this problem, the "Munich Model" was established in our clinic: Senior residents perform aesthetic surgeries, supervised by an experienced plastic surgeon while patients benefit from reduced surgery costs. With this model, we hypothesize no significant differences in the postoperative outcome between procedures performed by residents and plastic surgeons.

Wound infiltrating adipocytes are not myofibroblasts.

The origins of wound myofibroblasts and scar tissue remains unclear, but it is assumed to involve conversion of adipocytes into myofibroblasts. Here, we directly explore the potential plasticity of adipocytes and fibroblasts after skin injury. Using genetic lineage tracing and live imaging in explants and in wounded animals, we observe that injury induces a transient migratory state in adipocytes with vastly distinct cell migration patterns and behaviours from fibroblasts.