Intra-Areolar Pexy: The "Compass Rose" Suture Technique for Small and Moderate Areola Herniation.

Background: Common methods for addressing minor tuberous breast (type 0; normal mammary base breast with isolated areolar herniation) do not solve the underlying pathology and may leave an unsightly scar.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of a simple, scarless method based on a novel "compass rose" technique, which addresses the etiology of minor tuberous breast and other cases desiring small areolar diameter reductions.

Methods: The technique uses 3 layers of suturing, 1 in a compass pattern and 2 in round block.

Poststernotomy wound management by debridement and pedicle flaps reconstruction.

Background: Sternal wound infection and sternal dehiscence are very serious, sometimes life-threatening complications of cardiac surgery, which require immediate attention. The mortality rate can reach 50%. During the past 30 years,various flaps for coverage of sternal wounds have been described.

Human adipose-derived stem cells: definition, isolation, tissue-engineering applications.

Recent researches have demonstrated that the most effective repair system of the body is represented by stem cells - unspecialized cells, capable of self-renewal through successive mitoses, which have also the ability to transform into different cell types through differentiation. The discovery of adult stem cells represented an important step in regenerative medicine because they no longer raises ethical or legal issues and are more accessible. Only in 2002, stem cells isolated from adipose tissue were described as multipotent stem cells.

Gastro-omental free flap in oro/hypopharyngeal reconstruction after enlarged ablative surgery for advanced stage cancer.

Unlabelled: Reconstruction of complex mucocutaneous defects after ablative surgery for advanced cancer of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx (Stages III and IV of disease according to TNM classification) with previous radiotherapy is a challenging problem for the plastic surgeon. The gastroomental free flap provides in these cases both a reliable mucosal lining of the digestive tract and soft tissue coverage in the neck. One-stage surgical excision and reconstruction improves the quality of life by reducing the hospitalization and providing recovery of the swallowing function.