A Histological Evaluation of Artificial Dermal Scaffold Used in Micrograft Treatment: A Case Study of Micrograft and NPWT Performed on a Postoperative Ulcer Formation after Tumor Resection.

Background and Objectives: Wound healing (WH) is a complex natural process: the achieving of a proper WH with standard therapies sometimes is not fulfilled and it is often observed in aged and diabetic patients, leading to intractable ulcers. In recent years, autologous micrograft (AMG) therapies have become a new, effective, and affordable wound care strategy among both researchers and clinicians. In this study, a 72-year-old female patient underwent a combination of treatments using micrograft and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on a postoperative skin ulcer after a benign tumor resection on the back with the aim to present an innovative method to treat skin ulceration using AMG combined with an artificial dermal scaffold and NPWT. Materials and Methods: A section of the artificial dermal scaffold, infused with micrografts, was sampled prior to transplant, and sections were collected postoperatively on days 3 and 7. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical stains were employed for the evaluation of Cytokeratin AE1/AE3, desmin, and Factor VIII. Additionally, on postoperative day 3, NPWT dressing was evaluated using HE stains, as well. The resulting HE and immunostaining analysis revealed red blood cells and tissue fragments within the collagen layers of the artificial dermis prior to transplant. On postoperative day 3, collagen layers of the artificial dermis revealed red blood cells and neutrophils based on HE stains, and scattering of cytokeratin AE1/AE3-positive cells were detected by immunostaining. The HE stains on postoperative day 7 showed more red blood cells and neutrophils within the collagen layers of the artificial dermis than on day 3, an increase in cytokeratin AE1/AE3-positive cells, and tissue stained positively with desmin and Factor VIII. Results: Results suggest that the effects of both micrografts and migratory cells have likely accelerated the wound healing process. Furthermore, the NPWT dressing on day 3 showed almost no cells within the dressing. This indicated that restarting NPWT therapy immediately after micrograft transplant did not draw out cells within the scaffold. Conclusions: Micrograft treatment and NPWT may serve to be a useful combination therapy for complex processes of wound healing.

Diagnosis of skin and soft tissue infections using near-infrared spectroscopy.

AIM: Skin and soft tissue infections are classified into cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis, which are difficult to distinguish. Necrotizing fasciitis has a poor prognosis and requires immediate intensive care. The diagnostic gold standard is to incise the lesion to determine whether necrosis has reached the fascia. We aimed to show that these infections can be differentiated using near-infrared spectroscopy. METHODS: We describe two cases in an observational study about the utility of near-infrared spectroscopy. Case 1 involved a 77-year-old man with a chief complaint of pain, redness, and swelling in the right lower leg for 1 week. Computed tomography of his legs showed no gas formation. Case 2 involved an 82-year-old man. He visited another hospital because of pain, redness, and swelling in the right thigh. Based on the X-ray examination, necrotizing fasciitis was suspected, and he was transferred to our hospital. RESULTS: In Case 1, the regional oxygen saturation value was lower on the lesion side (41%) than on the healthy side (55%). We confirmed the depth of invasion by incision, leading to a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. In Case 2, the thigh's regional oxygen saturation was higher on the affected side (76%) than on the healthy side (61%). An incision was made for diagnosis, but the fascia was not necrotized. Thus, we diagnosed cellulitis and provided conservative treatment using antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Near-infrared spectroscopy can be utilized to measure tissue blood flow, and it could be useful as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for skin and soft tissue infections.

Laparoscopic Repair of Right Paraduodenal Hernia in Adult Patients: Case Report and Literature Review.

A 56-year-old Japanese female presented with vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain after excessive drinking and eating. Abdominal computed tomography showed an encapsulated circumscribed cluster of jejunal loops in the right upper quadrant. She was diagnosed with a strangulated intestinal obstruction caused by right paraduodenal hernia (PDH) and underwent an emergency laparoscopic repair. A view through the endoscope showed the right PDH, which was encapsulated under the mesocolon. Most of the small bowel was entrapped and adhered inside the sac, requiring careful adhesiolysis. The hernia orifice was expanded to a sufficient degree, and the strangulation was relieved, avoiding the need of resecting the small intestine. Recovery was uneventful, and the patient remains free of symptoms 3 years after surgery. Findings in a total of 29 patients (including this report) who underwent laparoscopic repair of right or left PDHs in Japan are discussed.

Successful Use of a Multidisciplinary Approach to Treat a Perforated Duodenal Malignant Lymphoma in an Elderly Patient.

Treatment of duodenal malignant lymphoma is difficult due to life-threatening complications such as intestinal obstruction, perforation, and pancreatitis. Thus, multidisciplinary procedures are required alongside surgical intervention. Contrast abdominal CT images of a 75-year-old female suffering from vomiting revealed thickening of the duodenal wall (from the second to third segment). Gastrojejunostomy and biopsy identified the tumor as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A diagnosis of stage II duodenal lymphoma was made. The lymphoma continued to grow, resulting in jaundice and intestinal perforation, which was first treated with two cycles of rituximab and antibiotics. Thereafter, less intensive chemotherapy (two cycles each of R-mini-CHP, CHP, and R-CHOP) was administered, which led to significant improvement upon assessment by PET-CT. Residual lymphoma was treated with consolidation radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions) over 5 weeks after chemotherapy. The patient attained a complete response and has been disease-free for more than 4 years. Thus, duodenal perforated lymphoma can be treated successfully using a multidisciplinary approach that combines surgery, immunochemotherapy, and radiation therapy.