Polypropylene mesh for hernia repair with controllable cell adhesion/de-adhesion properties.

Herein, a versatile bilayer system, composed by a polypropylene (PP) mesh and a covalently bonded poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel, is reported. The cell adhesion mechanism was successfully modulated by controlling the architecture of the hydrogel in terms of duration of PNIPAAm grafting time, crosslinker content, and temperature of material exposure in PBS solutions (below and above the LCST of PNIPAAm). The best in vitro results with fibroblast (COS-1) and epithelial (MCF-7) cells was obtained with a mesh modified with a porous iPP-g-PNIPAAm bilayer system, prepared via PNIPAAm grafting for 2 h at the lowest N,N'-methylene bis(acrylamide) (MBA) concentration (1 mM). Under these conditions, the detachment of the fibroblast-like cells was 50% lower than that of the control, after 7 days of cell incubation, which represents a high de-adhesion of cells in a short period. Moreover, the whole system showed excellent stability in dry or wet media, proving that the thermosensitive hydrogel was well adhered to the polymer surface, after PP fibre activation by cold plasma. This study provides new insights on the development of anti-adherent meshes for abdominal hernia repair.

[Correction of a connective tissue dysplasia in the treatment of postoperative abdominal hernias].

There were analyzed the results of treatment of 112 patients, suffering postoperative abdominal hernia, in whom the anterior abdominal wall alloplasty was performed as well as postoperative pathogenetically substantiated complex therapy, taking into account the presence of a connective tissue dysplasia syndrome (CTDS) and the early and late postoperative complications prophylaxis. The peculiarities of postoperative period course and late follow-up results were studied up. Phenotypic features of CTDS were revealed in 53 (47.3%) patients, immunohistochemical features of a connective tissue dysplasia (a failed collagen type I and III ratio, manifested by increase of a collagen type III fibers quantity in 3 or more times) were revealed in 78 (69.6%) patients, in whom the processes of a collagen and its supermolecular formations synthesis were stimulated, using a magnesium orotate (Magnerot), which was prescribed in 1 g dose twice a day during 4 - 6 weeks. Application of composite nets, owing big pores, in a complex with a postoperative pathogenetically substantiated therapy conduction have positively influenced the disease course and the late follow-up results achieved.

A case of rheumatoid arthritis presenting with postherpetic neuralgia and abdominal-wall pseudohernia.

Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication, while the postherpetic abdominal-wall pseudohernia (AWP) is a quite rare complication of herpes zoster (HZ). We report a patient >45 years of age with a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who presented with two chronic HZ complications. A 75-year-old woman was admitted with neuralgia following cutaneous herpes zoster 6 weeks before. She was on long-term glucocorticoid, antimalarial and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment. Confluent ulcers began to fill with granulation tissue, crusts, scars and skin discoloration in the area of the left T12-L2 dermatomes and reducible, painless swelling of the left flank, 20 × 20 cm, without palpable defect in abdominal-wall. There were typical joint deformity and positive rheumatoid factor. On neurological examination superficial abdominal reflexes were diminished in the left side, with hypesthesia of the overlying skin. Needle electromyography revealed denervational changes limited to the left-side muscles (on affected dermatomes T12-L2). Thoracoabdominal CT did not reveal the presence of existing hernia. There was an abdominal distension, the left abdominal-wall was thinner than the right side. The patient was treated with an oral preparation containing benfotiamine and vitamins B6 and B12, carbamazepine, amitriptyline, gabapentin, and local lidocaine. Skin rash left with scarring and pigmentary changes and the abdominal-wall swelling resolved within 8 months, however, the pain still persisted. To our best knowledge, this is the first observation of RA-associated postherpetic AWP. This rare motor complication appears to be self-limited with a good prognosis for recovery, while postherpetic neuralgia may require a combination of treatments for adequate pain relief. Older age, female sex, greater rash and acute pain severity are considered as risk factors associated with severe postherpetic neuralgia. In addition, patients with RA, mainly those treated with oral corticosteroids, are also at increased risk of HZ complications.

Abdominal wall mycetoma presented as obstructed incisional hernia of cesarean section in eastern Sudan.

Mycetoma a worldwide disease frequently occurs in the tropics with the highest prevalence being in Africa. Madurella mycetomatis is the main causative organism of human eumycetoma in Sudan. The legs and feet were commonly the sites of the infection. A 22-year-old lady was presented with painful abdominal swelling around a previous caesarian section scar. A provisional diagnosis of obstructed incisional hernia was put. Histopathological examination revealed macroscopically four masses of soft tissue. Microscopic sections showed grains of Madurella mycetomatis.