Exploring the basic science of prolapse meshes.

Purpose Of Review: Polypropylene mesh has been widely used in the surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse. However, low but persistent rates of complications related to mesh, most commonly mesh exposure and pain, have hampered its use. Complications are higher following transvaginal implantation prompting the Food and Drug Administration to release two public health notifications warning of complications associated with transvaginal mesh use (PHN 2008 and 2011) and to upclassify transvaginal prolapse meshes from Class II to Class III devices.

The effects of decorin and HGF-primed vocal fold fibroblasts in vitro and ex vivo in a porcine model of vocal fold scarring.

Objectives: Vocal fold injury can be irreversible, leading to vocal fold scarring, with permanent functional effects and no optimal treatment. A porcine model of vocal fold scarring was used to test effects of decorin and primed vocal fold fibroblasts in vitro using a cell migration assay and immunoblotting, and by using functional measurements of porcine larynges and excised porcine vocal folds.

Methods: In vitro: primary pig vocal fold fibroblasts (PVFFs) were subjected to cell migration assays (scratch) and treated with decorin 20 μg/mL, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) 200 ng/mL, epidermal growth factor (EGF) 1 nM, or transforming growth factor-β1 10 ng/mL.