Study of a Subcutaneous Lesion of the Shoulder: The Saint Paolino Tumor.

In certain small counties in southern Italy, traditional Catholic festivals are observed by erecting tall, large, and weighty wagons referred to as "lilies." These wagons are borne on the shoulders of several individuals known as "cradles." This practice has given rise to the emergence of a distinct subcutaneous neoformation on the shoulder. This study investigates the unique clinical and anatomopathological attributes of "Saint Paolino tumor" (named in honor of the Catholic patron of the widely celebrated lilies festival). This tumor presents as a posttraumatic intermittent chronic lesion occurring on the shoulder, necessitating differential diagnosis from other cutaneous and soft tissue lesions such as spontaneous lipomas, elastofibroma, Madelung disease, and liposarcoma.

Surgical approach to a rare case of Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome with left thigh hyperplasia.

Thigh lift surgery is generally performed in patients with severe weight loss outcomes, particularly those undergoing bariatric surgery. However, there are other congenital malformation conditions that may require the same treatment, such as Beckwith Wideman syndrome.

Alar cinch sutures in orthognathic surgery: scoping review and proposal of a classification.

Orthognathic surgery and the Le Fort I osteotomy result in noticeable alterations to the nasal/nasolabial anatomy. The alar base cinch technique is a surgical technique to control lateralization of the base of the nose and is well described in the literature. The aim of this scoping review was to identify every unique alar cinch suture technique reported in orthognathic surgery and to propose a classification for the different techniques described. A search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus electronic databases covering the period May 1980 to July 2020, which identified 10 articles that were eligible for this review. Among these, there were several proposals for modifications to the technique, and different studies to show the effectiveness of one type among all others. Despite observing multiple techniques and variations of these while performing this review, the lack of a classification for alar cinch suture was noticed. Therefore, we propose a classification of the alar cinch suture that includes four types, which cover all of the cinching techniques described. It is believed that the use of a standardized classification may be useful to avoid duplicate publishing of techniques and to set a standard for further studies.

Methods and procedures in adipose stem cells: state of the art and perspective for translation medicine.

Stem cells have potential in the retrieval and repair of injured tissue and renovation of organ function. To date, several studies have been carried out to elucidate how differentiation of stem cells can be used in regenerative medicine applications. Adipose tissue is an abundant and accessible source of stem cell, useful for regenerative therapeutic use. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) are favorable for future translational research and can be applied in many clinical settings. Adipose tissue repair has been recently adopted in clinical trials to prove that ASCs can be successfully used in patients. Variability in cell culture procedures (isolation, characterization, and differentiation) may have an influence on the experimental outcome. In this report, we consider the selection mechanisms of ASCs using flow cytometry, cell culture, freezing/thawing, cell cycle evaluation, histochemistry/immunofluorescence, and differentiation of ASCs. Both researchers and regulatory institutions should consider a new policy for GMP procedures and protocols, paying special attention to stem cell bio-physiology, to facilitate more clinically oriented studies. ASCs show angiogenic properties, with prospects of repairing tissue damaged by radiotherapy, as well as possessing the ability to heal chronic wounds. They can also be useful in surgical practice. We focus on the potential clinical application of ASCs that are currently available regarding translational medicine and the methods and procedures for their isolation, differentiation, and characterization.

Differential expression of estrogen receptor α and ß transcripts in tissues and in primary culture cells from pubertal gynecomastia.

BACKGROUND: Pubertal gynecomastia is a common problem occurring in up to 65% of adolescent boys. Gynecomastia comes at a time when self-image awareness is at its greatest and psychologically could be a psychologically disabling condition. Surgery is considered the mainstay of treatment for severe or persistent cases. A medical management aimed at altering the effective androgen/estrogen ratio has been suggested with inconstant results. Some promising results have been obtained by using anti-estrogens. Surprisingly there are no data on the estrogen receptor (ER) α and ß RNA expression in gynecomastia. AIM: We studied ER RNA subtypes in pubertal gynecomastia. METHODS: ERα and ß RNA were determined by real time RT-PCR in 50 mammary samples from pubertal boys with idiopathic gynecomastia subjected to reductive mammoplasty. To study ERα and ß pattern of expression, epithelial and stromal primary cell cultures were set up from fresh tissues. RESULTS: These analyses indicated that in all stromal cells ERß was expressed at higher level than ERα and in epithelial cells both ERα and ERß were barely detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that also stromal cells are involved in the pathophysiology of pubertal gynecomastia. The high level of expression of ERß seen in pubertal gynecomastia adds new insight on validation of ERß as a target for candidate diseases and exploration of ERß as a marker for clinical decision-making and treatment in pubertal gynecomastia. This could drive to search for new and selective anti-estrogen drugs for medical treatment of pubertal gynecomastia with a particular attention to the ERß-selective ligand.

Pain and sensory dysfunction after breast cancer surgery: neurometer CPT evaluation.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the presence of anatomical and functional damage to the afferent and sensorial fibres using the Neurometer CPT test. A questionnaire regarding pain was sent to 300 women who had undergone surgery six months earlier. Out of 300 patients 67 did not respond; 105 experienced no pain; while 128 felt pain. One hundred and twenty-eight women were divided into two groups: mastectomy with reconstruction and simple mastectomy. The intensity of pain at T0 in women with reconstruction was significantly higher; at T4, on the other hand, was lesser and there was no significant difference between the two groups. In both groups at T4, the daily diary revealed that interference with sleep and normal daily activities were more evident in patients who had undergone reconstruction (p > 0.001). The final results at T4 demonstrated that among patients with reconstruction, 47% showed slight hypoesthesia-paraesthesia in the breast, armpit and arm zones, 39% slight hypoesthesia in the same locations and 18% severe hypoesthesia. Patients with reconstruction, instead, showed different percentages: 75% showed slight hypoesthesia-paraesthesia, 16% a slight hypoesthesia and 9% severe hypoesthesia. Our results support the utilization of the Neurometer CPT test as a device for monitoring post-mastectomy pain.

Effect of moderate red wine intake on cardiac prognosis after recent acute myocardial infarction of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and increased inflammation have been reported to be increased in subjects with diabetes and to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction (MI). It is well recognized that red wine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. We examined the effects of moderate red wine intake on echocardiographic parameters of functional cardiac outcome in addition to inflammatory cytokines and nitrotyrosine (oxidative stress marker), in subjects with diabetes after a first uncomplicated MI. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen subjects with diabetes who had sustained a first non-fatal MI were randomized to receive a moderate daily amount of red wine (intervention group) or not (control group). Echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys-synchrony, circulating levels of nitrotyrosine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated at baseline and 12 months after randomization. RESULTS: After 1 year of diet intervention, concentrations of nitrotyrosine (P < 0.01), CRP (P < 0.01), TNF-alpha (P < 0.01), IL-6 (P < 0.01) and IL-18 (P < 0.01) were increased in the control group compared with the intervention group. In addition, myocardial performance index (P < 0.02) was higher, and transmitral Doppler flow (P < 0.05), pulmonary venous flow analysis (P < 0.02) and ejection fraction (P < 0.05) were lower in the control group, indicating ventricular dys-synchrony. The concentrations of nitrotyrosine, CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were related to echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys-synchrony. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with diabetes, red wine consumption, taken with meals, significantly reduces oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as improving cardiac function after MI. Moderate red wine intake with meals may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of cardiovascular complications after MI in subjects with diabetes.

The use of recombinant human erythropoietin stimulating factor in plastic surgery.

Erythropoietin is the most important factor in the regulation of erythropoiesis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rhuESF for patients undergoing plastic surgical procedures during which notable blood loss is expected (reduction mammoplasty in cases of macromastia and abdominoplasty obese patients) to improve the full blood count and reduce the need for transfusion. The levels of hemoglobin were significantly greater for patients pretreated with erythropoietin and iron than for the control group.

Nuchal fibrocartilaginous pseudomotor. Case report and review of the literature.

The case of a 30-year-old woman who, many years after a trauma to the neck, developed a hard tissue mass in the posterior midline at C5-C6 level is reported. The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass. Nucal fibrocartilaginous pseudotumor (NFP) was diagnosed. This is a very rare non-neoplastic lesion, probably arising throug a post-traumatic metaplasia of the nuchal ligament, and only 14 cases have been reported to date in the literature. The clinicopathologic and neuroradiologic features of NFP are described.

Meningioma within the cisterna magna without dural attachment. Case report.

A case of meningioma within the cisterna magna without dural attachment is reported. Meningiomas of the posterior fossa without dural attachment are very rare and have been classified in to: 1) intraventricular meningiomas; 2) meningiomas of the tela chorioidea; 3) meningiomas within the cisterna magna. Only two cases of meningiomas within the cisterna magna without dural attachment have been reported, one in 1923 and another in 1938. The case now reported was studied by angiography and magnetic resonance and operated with microsurgical technique. We describe neuroradiological and operative findings of this exceptional meningioma within the cisterna magna without dural attachment.

Foramen magnum stenosis and bilateral benign subdural collections in achondroplasia: case report.

A case of achondroplasia is presented in which cervico-medullary junction compression by foramen magnum stenosis and generalized seizures by bilateral subdural effusions were relieved by suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy and drainage of the collections. The important role played by NMR in the diagnosis of foramen magnum stenosis is stressed; the possible causes of hydrocephalus and subdural collections in achondroplasic patients are discussed. According to the authors surgical drainage of benign subdural collections in these patients is indicated in case of intractable seizures.

Intramedullary spinal neurinoma: case report and review of 46 cases.

A case of intramedullary neurinoma of the cervical spinal cord in a patient with no sign of von Recklinghausen's disease is reported. This case was diagnosed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and treated surgically. The literature covering 46 other cases is reviewed. The discussion, examines the possible etiology, the role of diagnostic procedures and the difficulties of the surgical treatment of these tumors.

Linear contrast enhancement at the operative site on early post-operative CT after removal of brain tumors.

It is unclear whether a linear contrast enhancement at the edges of the operative site on early CT scan indicates a residual tumor or rather reflects postoperative changes. We have studied 15 patients treated with surgical removal of malignant brain tumor, submitted to periodic CT scan. The enhancement of linear contrast was due to a residual tumor, when seen on very early CT scan (within 24 hours after surgery). If occurring later, this enhancement was either generated by a residual tumor or by post-operative changes.

Intramedullary spinal cystic teratoma of the conus medullaris with caudal exophytic development: case report.

Spinal intramedullary teratoma is a rare tumor. A case of intramedullary teratoma of the conus medullaris with caudal exophytic development is presented. The patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging and then the tumor was removed surgically. This is the sixth case of intramedullary teratoma reported in the literature.