The Evolution of Microfluidic-Based Drug-Loading Techniques for Cells and Their Derivatives.

Conventional drug delivery techniques face challenges related to targeting and adverse reactions. Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in nanoparticle-based drug carriers. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding their safety and insufficient metabolism.

A Carbon-Caged Rhodamine Generating Nitrosoperoxycarbonate for Photoimmunotherapy.

Photoimmunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment modality. While potent 1-e oxidative species are known to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), they are also associated with unspecific oxidation and collateral tissue damage. This difficulty may be addressed by post-generation radical reinforcement.

Vascularized lymph node flaps can survive on venous blood without an arterial inflow: an experimental model describing the dynamics of venous flow using indocyanine green angiography (With video).

Background: Several surgeons have described studies of free-tissue transfers using veins instead of arteries. These innovative microsurgical techniques can offer several advantages, such as an easier dissection during flap harvesting, and represent an alternative during an accidental surgical mistake or development of new surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to describe and explore different constructs of vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) only based on venous blood flow in a mouse model, evaluate their blood flow microcirculation through indocyanine green (ICG) angiography and investigate the lymphatic drainage function and the lymph nodes' structures.

Medial Plantar Artery Perforator Kiss Flap for Salvage of Extensive Palmar Skin Defect.

Background: Flaps based on the medial plantar artery (MPA) accomplish favorable surgical outcomes in palmar resurfacing because of their outstanding texture, pliability, and contour, but primary closure cannot be achieved at the donor site when the flap is designed to be relatively large. In this study, the kiss technique was used for the reconstruction of extensive palmar defects, which minimized donor-site morbidity.

Methods: A modified flap surgical strategy was systemically developed based on the perforator distribution of the MPA through a cadaver study.

Using Zhang's supertension-relieving suture technique with slowly-absorbable barbed sutures in the management of pathological scars: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: An ideal tension-relieving suture should be efficient for >3 months to retrieve normal tensile strength. Most preexisting suturing techniques provided tension elimination followed by relapse and scar proliferation due to absorption and cut-through of the sutures. This study introduces a simple but effective suture technique developed by a senior author (ZYX) to solve this problem.

Mini-Shaped Kiss Flap Design for Palmar and Digital Soft-Tissue Resurfacing.

Background: Although palmar and digital soft-tissue resurfacing with intrinsic flaps may provide functional and aesthetic reconstruction, the donor site may result in a tight closure or need for a skin graft once the flap is raised. In this series, the "mini-shaped kiss flap" was used to increase the resurfacing efficiency and preserve hand function.

Methods: The mini-shaped kiss flaps, based on common palmar digital arteries (eg, princeps pollicis artery and ulnar palmar digital artery), were developed for the resurfacing of distal or proximal finger areas.

Cuproptosis-related LncRNAs are correlated with immunity and predict prognosis in HNSC independent of TMB.

Cuproptosis is a novel cell death pathway, and the regulatory mechanism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remains to be explored. We determined whether cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs) could predict prognosis in HNSC. First, we identified 10 prognostic CRLs by Pearson correlation and univariate Cox regression analyses.

Validation and efficacy of 'pure' venous lymph node flap in a rat lymphoedema model.

The venous lymph node flap (vLNF) is regarded as an arterialized or 'pure' venous flap, subject to which type of vessel provides blood supply to the flap. However, whether the vLNF drainage function is maintainable or sufficient for the treatment of lymphoedema is yet to be elucidated. In this study, the venous flow-through lymph node flaps or 'pure' vLNF was investigated in a rat's tail (lymphoedema model), and the therapeutic effect was analysed to clarify its potential value for the treatment of lymphoedema.

Potential therapeutic effect of NK1R antagonist in diabetic non-healing wound and depression.

Diabetes is a global disease with huge impacts on patients due to its complications, among which non-healing wounds and depression are common and challenging. The neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) inhibitor, aprepitant has been broadly applied for an antidepressant effect in depressive patients. Recent literature has indicated a therapeutic effect of downregulation in NK1R to diabetes-related fracture, cardiomyopathy, gastroparesis, and ocular surface disorders.

Effects and Progress of Photo-Crosslinking Hydrogels in Wound Healing Improvement.

Wound healing is a dynamic physiological process, including three stages: inflammation, tissue formation, and remodeling. The quality of wound healing is affected by many topical and systemic factors, while any small factor may affect the process. Therefore, improving the quality of wound healing is a complex and arduous challenge.

The Use of Infrared Thermography in Determining Timing for Early Pedicle Division of the Preexpanded Bipedicled Visor Flap after Ischemic Preconditioning.

Background: The preexpanded bipedicled visor flap, supported by the bilateral superficial temporal vessels, stands as an ideal choice for upper and lower lip reconstruction in males. However, the bilateral tissue bridges after flap transfer caused patients significant cosmetic deformity and psychological burden. Early division of bilateral pedicles reduced the length of hospitalization and expenses.

Microneedle delivery of botulinum toxin type A combined with hyaluronic acid for the synergetic management of multiple sternal keloids with oily skin: A retrospective clinical investigation.

Background: For the treatment of sternal keloids, corticosteroid therapy has side effects including abnormal sebum secretion and acne. Relapse of keloids is common after corticosteroid injection in patients with oily skin. To reduce side effects and keloid recurrence, we used a combination of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as synergetic management for multiple sternal keloids in patients with oily skin.

Control of fibrosis and hypertrophic scar formation via glycolysis regulation with IR780.

Background: Hypertrophic scars (HS) represent one of the most common clinical challenges due to unsatisfactory therapeutic results. HS formation is associated with the abnormal activation of fibroblasts and their excessive fibrotic behavior. Glycolysis dysregulation has been shown to participate in the incidence and progression of various fibrotic diseases and shows potential as a means of controlling HS formation.

Dramatic Effect of Botulinum Toxin Type A on Hypertrophic Scar: A Promising Therapeutic Drug and Its Mechanism Through the SP-NK1R Pathway in Cutaneous Neurogenic Inflammation.

Background: Hypertrophic scar formation may be related to cutaneous neurogenic inflammation (CNI) through the substance P-neurokinin 1 receptor (SP-NK1R) signaling pathway. As a widely used drug in aesthetic clinical work, botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) has a therapeutic effect on scars, but the actual mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the potential mechanism by which BTX-A inhibits CNI in hypertrophic scars both and .

An Innovative and Economical Device for Ischemic Preconditioning of the Forehead Flap Prior to Pedicle Division: A Comparative Study.

Background:  Ischemic preconditioning of the forehead flap prior to pedicle division helps to improve angiogenesis. Clamping the pedicle by a clamped rubber band with vessel forceps is often clinically applied. However, the severe pain and unstable blocking effect influenced the preconditioning process.

Single-Cell and Bulk Transcriptome Data Integration Reveals Dysfunctional Cell Types and Aberrantly Expressed Genes in Hypertrophic Scar.

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a common skin disorder characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. However, it is still unclear how the cellular composition, cell-cell communications, and crucial transcriptionally regulatory network were changed in HS. In the present study, we found that FB-1, which was identified a major type of fibroblast and had the characteristics of myofibroblast, was significantly expanded in HS by integrative analysis of the single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data.

IR-808 loaded nanoethosomes for aggregation-enhanced synergistic transdermal photodynamic/photothermal treatment of hypertrophic scars.

Synergistic transdermal photodynamic therapy (PDT)/photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a novel strategy for improving hypertrophic scar (HS) therapeutic outcomes. Herein, a near-infrared heptamethine cyanine dye, named IR-808, has been selected as the desirable photosensitizer owing to its PDT and PTT properties. Benefitting from the transdermal delivery ability of ethosomes (ESs), IR-808 loaded nanoethosomes (IR-808-ES) have been prepared as a novel nanophotosensitizer for the transdermal PDT/PTT of HSs.

Using Modified Skin-Stretching Technique as an Alternative Solution for the Closure of Moderate and Extensive Skin Defects.

External skin-stretching devices have been developed and used for wound closure since 1970s. Devices such as Miami STAR, SureClosure, TopClosure, and WiseBand have their own advantages and disadvantages. The modified external skin-stretching technique of this case series study has the advantage to improve tension distribution and simplified the application.

Identification of Therapeutic Targets and Prognostic Biomarkers Among Integrin Subunits in the Skin Cutaneous Melanoma Microenvironment.

The roles of different integrin alpha/beta (ITGA/ITGB) subunits in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) and their underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. Oncomine, UALCAN, GEPIA, STRING, GeneMANIA, cBioPortal, TIMER, TRRUST, and Webgestalt analysis tools were used. The expression levels of ITGA3, ITGA4, ITGA6, ITGA10, ITGB1, ITGB2, ITGB3, ITGB4, and ITGB7 were significantly increased in SKCM tissues.

Septal Reconstruction With Folded Porous Polythylene Implants: An Alternative Technique for the Correction of Severe Saddle Nose Deformities in Asian Populations.

Background: Congenital or secondary deficiency in septal cartilage leads to an unpleasant cosmetic appearance and compromised function as well. Rhinoplasty maneuvers such as spreader graft and septal extension graft with autologous tissue have been exhibited to correct the deformities. However, the relatively severe donor site morbidity stands as a main concern for both surgeons and patients.

CD26 upregulates proliferation and invasion in keloid fibroblasts through an IGF-1-induced PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Background: Keloid is a fibrotic dermal disease characterized by an abnormal increase in fibroblast proliferation and invasion. These pathological behaviours may be related to the heterogeneity of keloid fibroblasts (KFs); however, because of a lack of effective biomarkers for KFs it is difficult to study the underlying mechanism. Our previous studies revealed that the expansion of CD26 KFs was responsible for increased keloid proliferation and invasion capabilities; the intrinsic relationship and mechanism between CD26 and keloid is therefore worthy of further investigation.

Pre-expanded bipedicled visor flap: an ideal option for the reconstruction of upper and lower lip defects postburn in Asian males.

Background: Reconstruction of upper and lower lip subunits is a complicated and elusive challenge. For patients affected by defects involving upper and lower lip subunits, a technique able to reconstruct both aesthetic units with matched colour, sufficient contours and similar texture would be ideal. In this study, we present our experience with upper and lower lip reconstruction using the pre-expanded bipedicled visor flap.

Regeneration of trachea graft with cartilage support, vascularization, and epithelization.

The repair and functional reconstruction of long-segment tracheal defects is always a great challenge in the clinic. Finding an ideal substitute for tracheal transplantation is the only way to solve this problem. The current study proposed a series of novel strategies for constructing a bionic living trachea substitute.