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BACKGROUND: The 2022 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence melanoma guideline update made significant changes to follow-up. The aim of this study was to assess the impact these changes will have on a national melanoma cohort over a 5-year follow-up interval. METHODS: Anonymized, individual-level, population-scale, linkable primary and secondary care National Health Service data for an 18-year interval (2000-2018) in Wales, UK were analysed. These data were used to predict the number of patients over a 10-year interval (2020-2030) that would be diagnosed with melanoma. Follow-up schedules for the 2015 and 2022 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence melanoma guidelines were then used to calculate the number of clinician-led appointments, the number of radiological investigations, and the total healthcare cost between 2025 and 2030, corresponding to a 5-year patient follow-up interval, for those with stage IA-IIC melanoma. RESULTS: Between 2025 and 2030 it is predicted that implementation of the 2022 guidelines would lead to 21 122 (range 19 194-23 083) fewer clinician-led appointments for patients with stage IA-IIC melanoma. However, there would be a significant increase in the number of radiological investigations (7812; range 7444-8189). These changes would lead to a 2.74 million (1.87 million-3.61 million) reduction in the total cost of follow-up over the interval 2025-2030. CONCLUSION: Melanoma follow-up guideline changes will result in a substantial reduction in the number of clinical follow-up appointments, but a significant additional burden to radiological services. The overall cost of follow-up at a national level will be reduced.
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Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Melanoma/diagnóstico , Melanoma/terapia , Medicina Estatal , Estudios de Seguimiento , Neoplasias Cutáneas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Cutáneas/cirugía , Gales/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are under intense pressure to reform given the rapidly rising incidence of cancer and national mandates for protocolized streaming of cases. The aim of this study was to validate a natural language processing (NLP)-based web platform to automate evidence-based MDT decisions for skin cancer with basal cell carcinoma as a use case. METHODS: A novel and validated NLP information extraction model was used to extract perioperative tumour and surgical factors from histopathology reports. A web application with a bespoke application programming interface used data from this model to provide an automated clinical decision support system, mapped to national guidelines and generating a patient letter to communicate ongoing management. Performance was assessed against retrospectively derived recommendations by two independent and blinded expert clinicians. RESULTS: There were 893 patients (1045 lesions) used to internally validate the model. High accuracy was observed when compared against human predictions, with an overall value of 0.92. Across all classifiers the virtual skin MDT was highly specific (0.96), while sensitivity was lower (0.72). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of a fully automated, virtual, web-based service model to host the skin MDT with good system performance. This platform could be used to support clinical decision-making during MDTs as 'human in the loop' approach to aid protocolized streaming. Future prospective studies are needed to validate the model in tumour types where guidelines are more complex.
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Procesamiento de Lenguaje Natural , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Neoplasias Cutáneas/cirugía , Grupo de Atención al Paciente , InternetRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The psychological burden of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CM) is all-encompassing, affecting treatment adherence, recurrence and mortality. However, the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression in CM remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To establish a benchmark pooled prevalence of anxiety and depression in CM, to provide magnitudes of association for clinical, therapeutic and demographic correlates, and to elucidate temporal trends in anxiety and depression from the time of diagnosis. METHODS: This review followed the MOOSE guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were queried from database inception to 24 August 2023. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent authors, utilizing both the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and National Institutes of Health risk-of-bias tools for the latter. The GRADE approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence. Prevalence rates, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and prediction intervals (PIs) were derived using a random-effects model and estimating between- and within-study variance. RESULTS: Nine longitudinal and 29 cross-sectional studies were included (7995 patients). Based on the JBI and NIH tools, respectively, quality assessment found 20 and 17 to be at low risk of bias, 12 and 15 to be at moderate risk and 6 and 5 to be at high risk of bias. The prevalence of anxiety [30.6% (95% CI 24.6-37.0; PI 18-47%)] and depression [18.4% (95% CI 13.4-23.9; PI 10-33%)] peaked during treatment, declining to pretreatment levels after 1â year [anxiety: 48% vs. 20% (P = 0.005); depression: 28% vs. 13% (P = 0.03)]. Female sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3; P < 0.001], age < 60â years (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-2.0; P = 0.002) and low educational level (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-2.0; P < 0.001) were likely to result in a large increase in the odds of anxiety. Depression was 12.3% higher in those with stage IV vs. those with stage I CM (P = 0.05). Relative to immune checkpoint inhibition, the rates of depression were 22% (P = 0.002) and 34% (P < 0.001) higher among patients with advanced-stage CM receiving interferon-α and chemotherapy, respectively. A significant reduction in self-reported depression scores was demonstrated over time (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Notably, anxiety and depression in CM affect women, those younger than 60â years of age and the less educated, with up to 80% higher odds of anxiety in these groups. Anxiety and depression surge during chemotherapy and interferon treatment, especially in advanced CM. Our findings facilitate risk stratification and underscore the need for multidisciplinary vigilance.
Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that is becoming more prevalent, particularly in people with lighter skin. The UK-based ReconRegen research group conducted a study to understand the psychological impact of melanoma on people, focusing on anxiety and depression. To do this, a systematic review approach was used to analyse data from existing studies and gather a comprehensive perspective. The study discovered that 30% of people with melanoma are affected by anxiety and 18% by depression, significantly higher than the general population. Key risk factors for anxiety included being female, being younger than 60â years of age and having lower educational attainment. Women are 1.8 times more likely to experience anxiety than men, those under 60â years of age are 1.5 times more likely to experience it and individuals with lower educational levels are also 1.5 times more likely to experience anxiety. Findings showed that anxiety and depression levels peaked during treatment phases, especially in people undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This highlights the need for targeted mental health support during these treatment periods. The findings advocate for mental health considerations in melanoma care, suggesting regular mental health assessments, particularly for high-risk groups and during intense treatment phases. Highlighting the importance of a holistic treatment approach, the study suggests that future research should include long-term studies to understand the chronic impacts of anxiety and depression. Improved clarity and detail in research reporting are essential for developing effective mental health support for people with melanoma, enhancing overall patient care by addressing both physical and emotional health needs.
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Ansiedad , Depresión , Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Melanoma/epidemiología , Melanoma/psicología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/epidemiología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/psicología , Prevalencia , Depresión/epidemiología , Ansiedad/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Melanoma Cutáneo MalignoRESUMEN
Neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK)-rearranged spindle cell neoplasms are a recently described group of soft tissue tumors. They commonly present as a painless mass on the extremities of children and young adults. They are characterized microscopically by a heterogeneous spectrum of infiltrative spindle cell proliferations, which can morphologically mimic several other spindle cell neoplasms. Their identification is vital, as they may be amenable to treatment with tyrosine kinase-targeted therapy. This case report describes a rare NTRK3-rearranged spindle cell neoplasm in the groin of a 29-year-old female and provides further clinical and morphological features of this entity.
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Ingle , Receptor trkC , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos , Humanos , Femenino , Receptor trkC/genética , Adulto , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos/patología , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos/genética , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos/diagnóstico , Ingle/patología , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Reordenamiento Génico , Sarcoma/genética , Sarcoma/patología , Sarcoma/diagnósticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The Flapbot chatbot assists in free-flap monitoring, emphasizing accessibility, user-friendliness, and global reliability. This study assesses Flapbot's worldwide validity and usability and uses qualitative analysis to identify areas for future enhancement. METHODS: Flapbot, built on Google's DialogFlow, was evaluated by international plastic surgeons. Invitations were sent to the International Lower Limb Reconstruction Collaborative (INTELLECT), International Confederation of Plastic Surgery Societies (ICOPLAST), and the International Microsurgery Club. Out of the 42 surgeons who agreed to participate, 21 tested the Flapbot and completed an online survey on its validity and usability. The survey had 13 validity items and 10 usability items. Data analysis involved computing the individual content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-wide content validity index (S-CVI) for validity, and the system usability score (SUS) for usability. Thematic analysis distilled free-text responses to identify key themes. RESULTS: Nine of 13 items had an I-CVI over 0.78, denoting significant relevance. The S-CVI score stood at 0.82, indicating high relevance. The SUS score was 68, representing average usability. Themes highlighted issues with the current model, development suggestions, and surgeons' concerns regarding growing reliance on digital tools in health care. CONCLUSION: Flapbot is a promising digital aid for free-flap monitoring. While it showcases notable validity and usability, improvements in functionality, usability, and accessibility are needed for broader global use.
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BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represents the most commonly occurring cancer worldwide within the white population. Reports predict 298 308 cases of BCC in the UK by 2025, at a cost of £265-366 million to the National Health Service (NHS). Despite the morbidity, societal and healthcare pressures brought about by BCC, routinely collected healthcare data and global registration remain limited. OBJECTIVES: To calculate the incidence of BCC in Wales between 2000 and 2018 and to establish the related healthcare utilization and estimated cost of care. METHODS: The Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank is one of the largest and most robust health and social care data repositories in the UK. Cancer registry data were linked to routinely collected healthcare databases between 2000 and 2018. Pathological data from Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) were used for internal validation. RESULTS: A total of 61 404 histologically proven BCCs were identified within the SAIL Databank during the study period. The European age-standardized incidence for BCC in 2018 was 224.6 per 100 000 person-years. Based on validated regional data, a 45% greater incidence was noted within SBUHB pathology vs. matched regions within SAIL between 2016 and 2018. A negative association between deprivation and incidence was noted with a higher incidence in the least socially deprived and rural dwellers. Approximately 2% travelled 25-50 miles for dermatological services compared with 37% for plastic surgery. Estimated NHS costs of surgically managed lesions for 2002-2019 equated to £119.2-164.4 million. CONCLUSIONS: Robust epidemiological data that are internationally comparable and representative are scarce for nonmelanoma skin cancer. The rising global incidence coupled with struggling healthcare systems in the post-COVID-19 recovery period serve to intensify the societal and healthcare impact. This study is the first to demonstrate the incidence of BCC in Wales and is one of a small number in the UK using internally validated large cohort datasets. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate one of the highest published incidences within the UK and Europe.
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COVID-19 , Carcinoma Basocelular , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Gales , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medicina Estatal , Carcinoma Basocelular/patología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , Atención a la SaludRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Autologous costal cartilage is used extensively in reconstructive surgery because of its stability, durability, and biocompatibility. The current preoperative evaluation of costal cartilage often only consists of a physical examination. Several studies have highlighted the benefits of preoperative imaging as a tool to ensure optimal graft harvest. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence and establish the efficacy of the various imaging modalities for the assessment of costal cartilage. REVIEW METHODS: The data sources were explored using a search strategy based on the terms ("costal cartilage" OR "ribs" AND "imaging*") combined with Boolean operators. The primary outcome measures were the ability to measure the dimensions of costal cartilages and to detect the presence of calcifications. RESULTS: A total of 28 publications were included in the final review, with 12 case series, 7 case control studies, and 9 cohort studies. Twenty-two studies used computed tomography (CT); 4 studies used x-ray and 2 studies used ultrasonography, whereas no studies used magnetic resonance imaging. Meta-analysis of the data from these studies was not deemed possible. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CT is the modality with the strongest evidence base that provides the greatest degree of information. The major benefits of CT are its ability to provide 3-dimensional image reconstruction for surgical planning, ability to detect synchondroses, and assess cartilage quality. Where radiation exposure is less preferable, x-ray and ultrasound (US) may play an important role. X-ray appears to be particularly useful when the main concern is the presence of calcification. The limited studies available indicate that US can provide useful and accurate information on cartilage quality and morphology. Further studies are warranted in exploring the use of US in preoperative planning, particularly in the pediatric population.
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Cartílago Costal , Niño , Humanos , Cartílago Costal/diagnóstico por imagen , Cartílago Costal/trasplante , Costillas , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodos , Imagenología Tridimensional , Cartílago/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: An ever-increasing demand for liposuction and fat transplantation procedures in the United States reflects their continued safety and clinical effectiveness. Technical breakthroughs, such as the utilization of tumescent infiltration and fat separation techniques, have been instrumental in optimizing outcomes but add time to the surgical procedure. Simultaneous separation and tumescence (SST) is a new technique combining these innovations to further improve safety and efficiency in liposuction. OBJECTIVES: The authors describe their technique for utilizing SST on more than 1200 patients spanning a 6-year period. A split abdomen study was designed to compare the vasoconstrictive effectiveness of SST with traditional Klein infiltration techniques. METHODS: A quantification perfusion analysis utilizing indocyanine green angiography was performed on 4 patients to illustrate the vasoconstrictive effectiveness of SST over traditional Klein infiltration techniques. A mean relative vasoconstriction score was calculated relative to the umbilicus for each technique. RESULTS: Compared with traditional Klein tumescence techniques, SST has a similar complication rate, utilizes similar infiltrative volumes, and increases vasoconstriction (mean 89.6% SST hemiabdomen vs 48.1% Klein hemiabdomen at 2 minutes, Pâ <â 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: SST represents a novel, long-overdue departure from Klein tumescence, which has been a valuable mainstay for donor site preparation for over 3 decades. SST will pave the way for more efficient operative times and potentially higher volumes of fat being safely extracted.
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Lipectomía , Humanos , Lipectomía/efectos adversos , Lipectomía/métodos , Resultado del Tratamiento , AbdomenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of healthcare resource has been diverted to the care of those with COVID-19. This study reports the volume of surgical activity and the number of cancelled surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We used hospital episode statistics for all adult patients undergoing surgery between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 in England and Wales. We identified surgical procedures using a previously published list of procedure codes. Procedures were stratified by urgency of surgery as defined by NHS England. We calculated the deficit of surgical activity by comparing the expected number of procedures from 2016 to 2019 with the actual number of procedures in 2020. Using a linear regression model, we calculated the expected cumulative number of cancelled procedures by December 31, 2021. RESULTS: The total number of surgical procedures carried out in England and Wales in 2020 was 3 102 674 compared with the predicted number of 4 671 338 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4 218 740-5 123 932). This represents a 33.6% reduction in the national volume of surgical activity. There were 763 730 emergency surgical procedures (13.4% reduction) compared with 2 338 944 elective surgical procedures (38.6% reduction). The cumulative number of cancelled or postponed procedures was 1 568 664 (95% CI: 1 116 066-2 021 258). We estimate that this will increase to 2 358 420 (95% CI: 1 667 587-3 100 808) up to December 31, 2021. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of surgical activity in England and Wales was reduced by 33.6% in 2020, resulting in more than 1.5 million cancelled operations. This deficit will continue to grow in 2021.
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COVID-19/epidemiología , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Electivos/tendencias , Hospitalización/tendencias , Medicina Estatal/tendencias , Adulto , Anciano , COVID-19/prevención & control , Estudios de Cohortes , Inglaterra/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pandemias , Gales/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
ABSTRACT: In medicine, "big data" refers to the interdisciplinary analysis of high-volume, diverse clinical and lifestyle information on large patient populations. Recent advancements in data storage and electronic record keeping have enabled the expansion of research in this field. In the United Kingdom, Big data has been highlighted as one of the government's "8 Great Technologies," and the Medical Research Council has invested more than £100 million since 2012 in developing the Health Data Research UK infrastructure. The recent Royal College of Surgeons Commission of the Future of Surgery concluded that analysis of big data is one of the 4 most likely avenues to bring some of the most innovative changes to surgical practice in the 21st century.In this article, we provide an overview of the nascent field of big data analytics in plastic and highlight how it has the potential to improve outcomes, increase safety, and aid service planning.We outline the current resources available, the emerging role of big data within the subspecialties of burns, microsurgery, skin and breast cancer, and how these data can be used. We critically review the limitations and considerations raised with big data, offer suggestions regarding database optimization, and suggest future directions for research in this exciting field.
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Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica , Cirugía Plástica , Macrodatos , Humanos , Microcirugia , Reino UnidoRESUMEN
The readability of letters sent to patients plays a pivotal role in facilitating joint decision making and positive health outcomes. Guidance suggests that all correspondence should be directed to patients. Covid-19 led to an increase in direct-to-patient communication. This study aims to determine the quantity and quality of plastic surgery clinic letters sent to patients before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 127 pre-Covid clinic letters from November to December 2019 and 103 peri-Covid clinic letters from April to May 2020 were identified and assessed for readability. Text was analyzed using a standardized set of commonly used readability formulae, including SMOG, Flesch Reading Ease, and the Coleman-Liao Index. A total of 100 pre-Covid and 58 peri-Covid letters were suitable for inclusion. Median results for formulae that output a U.S. grade score ranged between 9 and 12.9 for letters written prior to Covid-19 and 9 and 13.2 for those written during Covid-19. Eight percent of letters were sent to patients pre-Covid, increasing to 28% during the pandemic. Letters sent to patients had a median grade score of between 8 and 12 prior to Covid-19 and 8 and 10.6 during Covid-19. Letters sent to clinicians ranged between 9 and 13 and 9 and 13.3, respectively. Outpatient plastic surgery letters are written at a readability level too high to facilitate understanding among the general population. The increase in direct-to-patient contact during the Covid-19 outbreak has not led to a significant improvement in the readability of clinic letters. The authors suggest an increase in letter standardization and raising awareness of readability when writing clinic letters.
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Comprensión , Correspondencia como Asunto , Alfabetización en Salud , Participación del Paciente/métodos , Relaciones Profesional-Paciente , Cirugía Plástica/normas , Escritura/normas , Atención Ambulatoria/métodos , Atención Ambulatoria/normas , Humanos , Reino UnidoRESUMEN
Human skin harbors two major T cell compartments of equal size that are distinguished by expression of the chemokine receptor CCR8. In vitro studies have demonstrated that CCR8 expression is regulated by TCR engagement and the skin tissue microenvironment. To extend these observations, we examined the relationship between CCR8+ and CCR8- skin T cells in vivo. Phenotypic, functional, and transcriptomic analyses revealed that CCR8+ skin T cells bear all the hallmarks of resident memory T cells, including homeostatic proliferation in response to IL-7 and IL-15, surface expression of tissue localization (CD103) and retention (CD69) markers, low levels of inhibitory receptors (programmed cell death protein 1, Tim-3, LAG-3), and a lack of senescence markers (CD57, killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily G member 1). In contrast, CCR8- skin T cells are heterogeneous and comprise variable numbers of exhausted (programmed cell death protein 1+), senescent (CD57+, killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily G member 1+), and effector (T-bethi, Eomeshi) T cells. Importantly, conventional and high-throughput sequencing of expressed TCR ß-chain (TRB) gene rearrangements showed that these CCR8-defined populations are clonotypically distinct, suggesting unique ontogenies in response to separate antigenic challenges and/or stimulatory conditions. Moreover, CCR8+ and CCR8- skin T cells were phenotypically stable in vitro and displayed similar levels of telomere erosion, further supporting the likelihood of a nonlinear differentiation pathway. On the basis of these results, we propose that long-lived memory T cells in human skin can be defined by the expression of CCR8.
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Memoria Inmunológica/inmunología , Receptores CCR8/inmunología , Piel/inmunología , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Antígenos CD/inmunología , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Diferenciación Celular/inmunología , Humanos , Activación de Linfocitos/inmunología , Piel/metabolismo , Linfocitos T/metabolismoRESUMEN
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a rare small-vessel vasculitis characterised by neutrophilic inflammation of post-capillary venules. Incidence varies from 3 to 4.5 per 100 000 people per year. Patients typically present with painful, itchy purpura and erythema, although clinical manifestations can vary making diagnosis a challenge. We report the case of a 75-year-old man with a history of a previously completely excised and grafted squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the dorsum of his hand, who presented with an acutely swollen, erythematous and ulcerated lesion adjacent to the graft site. A shave biopsy failed to definitively exclude SCC recurrence. He was referred to the Plastics team who initially suspected Sweet's syndrome but could not rule out SCC recurrence. The patient underwent formal mapping incisional biopsies that later diagnosed LCV. He was managed conservatively and made an excellent recovery. We present clinical photographs and histology to illustrate disease progression. LCV is typically self-limiting with a good overall prognosis, but a minority of patients follow a protracted course, which may require treatment in the form of systemic corticosteroids or colchicine. LCV can only be confirmed histologically. We present this case in order to highlight the importance of adequate tissue biopsy when there is diagnostic uncertainty with an acute dermatosis, particularly in the context of previous skin malignancy.
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/diagnóstico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/fisiopatología , Enfermedades Raras/terapia , Enfermedades de la Piel/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de la Piel/fisiopatología , Vasculitis Leucocitoclástica Cutánea/diagnóstico , Vasculitis Leucocitoclástica Cutánea/terapia , Anciano , Enfermedad Crónica/terapia , Humanos , Masculino , Enfermedades Raras/diagnóstico , Enfermedades Raras/fisiopatología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Vasculitis Leucocitoclástica Cutánea/fisiopatologíaRESUMEN
The potential use of stem cell-based therapies for the repair and regeneration of various tissues and organs offers a paradigm shift in plastic and reconstructive surgery. The use of either embryonic stem cells (ESC) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in clinical situations is limited because of regulations and ethical considerations even though these cells are theoretically highly beneficial. Adult mesenchymal stem cells appear to be an ideal stem cell population for practical regenerative medicine. Among these cells, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) have the potential to differentiate the mesenchymal, ectodermal and endodermal lineages and are easy to harvest. Additionally, adipose tissue yields a high number of ADSC per volume of tissue. Based on this background knowledge, the purpose of this review is to summarise and describe the proliferation and differentiation capacities of ADSC together with current preclinical data regarding the use of ADSC as regenerative tools in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
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Tejido Adiposo/crecimiento & desarrollo , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica/métodos , Regeneración/fisiología , Trasplante de Células Madre/métodos , Células Madre/fisiología , Cirugía Plástica/métodos , Animales , HumanosRESUMEN
Regenerative medicine therapies, underpinned by the core principles of rejuvenation, regeneration and replacement, are shifting the paradigm in healthcare from symptomatic treatment in the 20th century to curative treatment in the 21st century. By addressing the reasons behind the rapid expansion of regenerative medicine research and presenting an overview of current clinical trials, we explore the potential of regenerative medicine to reshape modern healthcare.
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Regeneración , Medicina Regenerativa/tendencias , Investigación Biomédica/tendencias , Tratamiento Basado en Trasplante de Células y Tejidos/tendencias , Ensayos Clínicos como Asunto , Humanos , Regeneración/fisiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Despite a plethora of monitoring techniques reported in the literature, only a small number of studies directly address clinical relevant end points, such as the flap salvage rate and false-positive rate. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review of current evidence regarding the postoperative monitoring of microvascular free-tissue transfer via extensive electronic and manual search and perusing databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane, American College of Physicians (ACP) Journal Club, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and Ovid MEDLINE. The included literature (n = 184 publications) was critically appraised using March 2009 Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine definitions, focusing on the evidence for the efficacy of each technique in improving the flap salvage rate of compromised flaps. RESULT: There is a paucity of outcome-based studies, with only implanted Doppler probes, near-infrared spectroscopy, laser Doppler flowmetry, quantitative fluorimetry, and digital photography assessment using smartphones having been demonstrated in comparative studies to improve flap salvage rate. Currently, the implantable Doppler probe is the technique with the largest number of comparative studies and case series to demonstrate its effectiveness compared with clinical monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies need to evaluate the most promising monitoring techniques further with a focus on assessing clinically relevant outcomes, such as the flap salvage rate and the false-positive rate, and not simple clinical series reporting patient and physician satisfaction.
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Colgajos Tisulares Libres/irrigación sanguínea , Supervivencia de Injerto , Monitoreo Fisiológico/métodos , Cuidados Posoperatorios/métodos , Temperatura Corporal , Fluorometría , Humanos , Microdiálisis , Aplicaciones Móviles , Oximetría , Fotograbar , Fotopletismografía , Espectroscopía Infrarroja Corta , Ultrasonografía DopplerRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are often seen by general practitioners, plastic surgeons, and dermatologists in the outpatient setting. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and CO2 laser when used as monotherapy have been successfully used to treat small BCC, with greatest success in the superficial histological subtype but have limitations compared to surgical excision due to a limited depth of penetration of PDT (2 mm absorption) limiting efficacy. We describe our experience of dual-modality treatment improving efficacy, cosmetic outcomes, and minimizing recurrence. METHODS: One hundred ten patients with a total of 177 lesions mainly on the head and neck were treated with combined therapy using an UltraPulse CO2 laser and PDT using methyl aminolevulinate (METVIX) at the same sitting, with repeat PDT 1 week later. We evaluated recurrences, cosmetic outcomes, patient satisfaction, and costs. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 67 years. The mean follow-up period was 32.2 months, with a range of 7.7 to 68.5 months. Eighty six lesions were followed up for more than 3 years. A total of 177 lesions were diagnosed and treated. Only biopsy-proven BCCs were included in this study. Histologically, 34 (19.2%) were superficial subtype, 50 (28.2%) nodular, 9 (5.08%) infiltrative, 7 (3.95%) morpheic, 3 (1.69%) mixed, and in 74 (41.8%) diagnosis was simply BCC. All lesions responded to treatment as assessed by clinical evaluation with regular follow-up. The total recurrence-free rate was 97.1%. In 88.1% lesions, a single cycle of treatment was required; 9.03% had 2 cycles and 0.56% underwent 3 cycles. In 3 of the patients, no data were available. Recurrences were noted in 5 (2.82%) cases. All recurrences were treated successfully, all but one using repeat laser-PDT. One patient underwent surgical excision. No significant complications were encountered, although mild hypopigmentation was occasionally seen and some discomfort is experienced with PDT. CONCLUSIONS: Combined CO2 laser and PDT have equivalent cure rates to surgery for BCCs--notably of the nodular subtype--these modalities acting synergistically. This strategy provides cure often with scarless outcomes as illustrated. Laser with PDT is most appropriate for patients who value excellent cosmetic outcomes and where avoidance of an invasive procedure is an important factor. In addition, this modality comes into its own for specific groups of patients, such as those on Warfarin or those with diffuse or multiple lesions.