In this article, we present a modification of the NS/SRM technique in which the mastopexy design for skin reduction is undertaken with a wide-base bipedicled (WIBB) flap. The WIBB flap can be applied ...in both autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction. Our reconstructive algorithm is also presented. The clinical data of patients operated on from June 2017 to November 2022 were collected: 51 patients for a total of 71 breasts. Personal data, BMI, type and volume of implants used, and major and minor complications were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The mean age was 48.3 years. BMI ranged between 21.5 and 30.9 kg/m
. Thirty-one patients underwent unilateral mastectomy, while twenty patients underwent bilateral surgery. In 25 breasts, immediate reconstruction was performed with implants and ADM. In 40 breasts, reconstruction was performed with a subpectoral tissue expander, and in 6 breasts, reconstruction was performed with a DIEP flap. We observed only one case (1.4%) of periprosthetic infection requiring implant removal under general anesthesia. Minor complications occurred in 14.1% of patients. The use of both the WIBB flap and our algorithm maintained a low complication rate in our series, ensuring oncological radicality and a good aesthetic result at the same time.
Laparoscopic TAPP/TEP approaches are well-established options for the cure of inguinal hernias. As in the open approach, mesh fixation and poor-quality biologic response represent controversial ...questions and are a source of concerns. Furthermore, hernia defect patency represents another problem which seems not well acknowledged among surgeons. These problems are considered the cause of frequent intra and postoperative complications. To overcome these concerns, recently a different concept of cure has emerged. Based on a newly developed dynamic responsive 3D scaffold named ProFlor, a permanent hernia defect obliteration has been finalized. Following its inherent centrifugal expansion due to its dynamic responsivity, this hernia device is positioned fixation free within the defect and induces a probiotic biological response allowing for the re-establishment of the degenerated inguinal barrier. A laparoscopic approach with the 3D scaffold has been tested on 71 patients to demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing intra and postoperative complications. The operated patients presented with bilateral and/or recurrent inguinal hernia. Overall, 122 hernia defects were obliterated with 119 dynamic responsive scaffolds. The procedures were carried out from January 2018 to January 2022 with a defined protocol and detailed procedural steps. The laparoscopic technique with the 3D hernia scaffold allowed for fixation free placement, permanent defect obliteration and dynamically induced regenerative effects. The technique proved effective in reducing intra and postoperative complications. In particular, early postoperative pain and discomfort significantly decreased. No chronic pain and no recurrences were reported during follow up. The results achieved with the described laparoscopic technique seem to embody an innovative concept for inguinal hernia repair. Fixation free, dynamic responsive, permanent defect obliteration, histologically proven regenerative effects are the distinctive features of this 3D scaffold. It seems to embody a more physiological and pathogenetically coherent concept of cure, thus improving treatment results of this widespread disease.
Systemic sclerosis is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by endothelium damage, fibrosis, and subsequent atrophy of the skin. Perioral fibrosis produces a characteristic microstomia ...together with microcheilia, both of which cause severe difficulties and affects patients' daily life, such as eating and oral hygiene. Since there are no effective and specific therapies, we have aimed at evaluating the response to filler injections of hyaluronic acid together with platelet-rich plasma.
Ten female patients aged between 18 and 70 were included in this study. Each patient was treated with three filler injections of hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma at an interval of 15 to 20 days. Follow-up check-ups were recorded 1, 3, and 24 months after the end of the treatment. During the therapy and the subsequent follow-up, we evaluated the mouth's opening, freedom of movement of the lips, and skin elasticity.
After the treatment, patients had achieved good results already after the first injection and the improvement was maintained in the following months, up to 2 years. In particular, 8 (80%) patients showed a greater mouth's opening and increased upper lip's thickness during 1-month follow-up and maintained these results after 2 years (maximum mouth's opening T0 47.61; T3 49.23; T4 48.60 p < 0.0001. Upper lip's thickness T0 4.20; T3 4.75; T4 4.45 p < 0.0001). Moreover, distance between upper and lower incisors (T0 27.05; T3 29.03; T4 28.14 p < 0.0001), inter-commissural distance (T0 49.12; T3 51.44; T4 50.31: p < 0.0001), and lower lip's thickness (T0 3.80; T3 4.85, 5.10; T4 4.25; p < 0.0001) were increased in all of patients in 1-month follow-up, keeping these benefits after 24 months and having a significant increase of skin elasticity 1 month after the end of therapy.
Our study demonstrates that filler injections of hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma represent an efficient local therapeutic alternative for patients affected by scleroderma. The treatment has significantly improved patients' quality of living.
T lymphocytes are often induced naturally in melanoma patients and infiltrate tumors. Given that γδ T cells mediate antigen-specific killing of tumor cells, we studied the representation and the in ...vitro cytokine production and cytotoxic activity of tumor infiltrating γδ T cells from 74 patients with primary melanoma. We found that γδ T cells represent the major lymphocyte population infiltrating melanoma, and both Vδ1(+) and Vδ2(+) cells are involved. The majority of melanoma-infiltrating γδ cells showed effector memory and terminally-differentiated phenotypes and, accordingly, polyclonal γδ T cell lines obtained from tumor-infiltrating immune cells produced IFN-γ and TNF-α and were capable of killing melanoma cell lines in vitro. The cytotoxic capability of Vδ2 cell lines was further improved by pre-treatment of tumor target cells with zoledronate. Moreover, higher rate of γδ T cells isolation and percentages of Vδ2 cells correlate with early stage of development of melanoma and absence of metastasis. Altogether, our results suggest that a natural immune response mediated by γδ T lymphocytes may contribute to the immunosurveillance of melanoma.
Alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM) likely facilitate the first steps of cancer cell metastasis and supports tumor progression. Recent data has demonstrated that alterations in collagen ...XVII (BP180), a transmembrane protein and structural component of the ECM, can have profound effects on cancer invasiveness. Collagen XVII is a homotrimer of three α1 (XVII) chains. Its intracellular domain contains binding sites for plectin, integrin β4, and BP230, while the extracellular domain facilitates interactions between the cell and the ECM. Collagen XVII and its shed ectodomain have been implicated in cell motility and adhesion and are believed to promote tumor development and invasion. A strong association of collagen XVII ectodomain shedding and tumor invasiveness occurs in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Aberrant expression of collagen XVII has been reported in many epithelial cancers, ranging from squamous cell carcinoma to colon, pancreatic, mammary, and ovarian carcinoma. Thus, in this review, we focus on collagen XVII's role in neoplasia and tumorigenesis. Lastly, we discuss the importance of targeting collagen XVII and its ectodomain shedding as a novel strategy to curb tumor growth and reduce metastatic potential.
OBJECTIVE Multiple factors may affect functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury, among them the lesion site and the interval between the injury and the surgical repair. When the nerve segment ...distal to the lesion site undergoes chronic degeneration, the ensuing regeneration (when allowed) is often poor. The aims of the current study were as follows: 1) to examine the expression changes of the neuregulin 1/ErbB system during long-term nerve degeneration; and 2) to investigate whether a chronically denervated distal nerve stump can sustain nerve regeneration of freshly axotomized axons. METHODS This study used a rat surgical model of delayed nerve repair consisting of a cross suture between the chronically degenerated median nerve distal stump and the freshly axotomized ulnar proximal stump. Before the suture, a segment of long-term degenerated median nerve stump was harvested for analysis. Functional, morphological, morphometric, and biomolecular analyses were performed. RESULTS The results showed that neuregulin 1 is highly downregulated after chronic degeneration, as well as some Schwann cell markers, demonstrating that these cells undergo atrophy, which was also confirmed by ultrastructural analysis. After delayed nerve repair, it was observed that chronic degeneration of the distal nerve stump compromises nerve regeneration in terms of functional recovery, as well as the number and size of regenerated myelinated fibers. Moreover, neuregulin 1 is still downregulated after delayed regeneration. CONCLUSIONS The poor outcome after delayed nerve regeneration might be explained by Schwann cell impairment and the consequent ineffective support for nerve regeneration. Understanding the molecular and biological changes occurring both in the chronically degenerating nerve and in the delayed nerve repair may be useful to the development of new strategies to promote nerve regeneration. The results suggest that neuregulin 1 has an important role in Schwann cell activity after denervation, indicating that its manipulation might be a good strategy for improving outcome after delayed nerve repair.
The aim of this review is to present and compare the various animal models of vascularized nerve grafts described in the literature as well as to summarize preclinical evidence for superior ...functional results compared to non-vascularized free nerve grafts. We also will present the state of the art on prefabricated vascularized nerve grafts. A systematic literature review on vascularized nerve graft models was conducted via the retrieval with the PubMed database on March 30, 2019. Data on the animal, nerve, and vascularization model, the recipient bed, the evaluation time points and methods, and the results of the study results were extracted and analyzed from selected articles. The rat sciatic nerve was the most popular model for vascularized nerve grafts, followed by the rabbit; however, rabbit models allow for longer nerve grafts, which are suitable for translational evaluation, and produced more cautious results on the superiority of vascularized nerve grafts. Compared to free nerve grafts, vascularized nerve grafts have better early but similar long-term results, especially in an avascular bed. There are few studies on avascular receiving beds and prefabricated nerve grafts. The clinical translation potential of available animal models is limited, and current experimental knowledge cannot fully support that the differences between vascularized nerve grafts and free nerve grafts yield a clinical advantage that justifies the complexity of the procedure.
The aim of this study was to evaluate over time circulating γδ T lymphocytes in melanoma patients in terms of frequency, effector functions, and relationship with clinical stage and evolution, by ...comparing preoperative values to those obtained at a mean follow-up of 36 months or in the event of recurrence or disease progression, and to those of healthy controls. Also, we correlated the presence of tumor-infiltrating γδ T lymphocytes with clinical evolution of melanoma.
Mean frequencies of circulating γδ T cells before and after melanoma removal were very similar and comparable to healthy subjects, but patients who progressed to stage III or IV showed a significantly decreased frequency of circulating Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. The distribution of Vγ9Vδ2 memory and effector subsets was similar in healthy subjects and melanoma patients at diagnosis, but circulating γδ T cells of patients after melanoma removal had a skewed terminally-differentiated effector memory phenotype. Highly suggestive of progressive differentiation toward a cytotoxic phenotype, Vγ9Vδ2T cells from patients at follow up had increased cytotoxic potential and limited cytokine production capability, while the opposite pattern was detected in Vγ9Vδ2T cells from patients before melanoma removal.
Follow-up data also showed that tumor infiltrating γδ T cells were significantly associated with lower mortality and relapse rates, suggesting that they may serve as a prognostic biomarker, for human melanoma.
Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) is the second-most common malignant tumour of the minor salivary glands. Although PAC predominantly affects the palate, it can also involve the buccal mucosa. This ...systematic review aims to investigate the literature data about PAC. Furthermore, we report two cases of patients affected by PAC in an infrequently considered anatomical site.
According to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Observational studies conducted on patients with a histological diagnosis of PAC were selected and analysed. Furthermore, two cases of patients with PAC affecting the buccal mucosa were reported.
Twenty-nine studies were included, and 143 patients affected by PAC were analysed (62 males, 75 females, and 6 undefined, with a mean age of 57.4 ± 14.5 years). The palate was the most affected site (99/143, 69.2%), followed by the buccal mucosa (12/143, 8.4%). Moreover, we report two cases of patients with PAC affecting the buccal mucosa (one male and one female, with a mean age of 70.5 ± 2.5 years).
The present study underscores the importance of considering the buccal mucosa as a possible location of minor salivary gland tumours; although it is a less-considered affliction, it is not uncommon.
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