[Skin substitutes : a step forward in skin regeneration using tissue engineering]. / Les substituts cutanés :un progrès dans la régénération de la peau à l'aide de l'ingénierie tissulaire.

The use of skin substitutes in burn surgery and in the treatment of acute or chronic wounds is constantly evolving. For years, scientists have been researching skin substitutes that can be used in place of autologous skin. New products are regularly developed and approved for clinical use. In this article, we take a look at the skin substitutes most commonly used in Europe and briefly summarize the current clinical experience of our centre.

L'utilisation des substituts cutanés dans la chirurgie des grands brûlés et dans le traitement des plaies aiguës ou chroniques est en constante évolution. Depuis des années, les scientifiques recherchent des substituts cutanés qui peuvent être utilisés à la place de la peau autologue. De nouveaux produits sont régulièrement développés et approuvés pour l'utilisation clinique. Dans cet article, nous examinons les substituts cutanés les plus utilisés en Europe et résumons brièvement l'expérience pratique de notre centre.

Periostin in lymph node pre-metastatic niches governs lymphatic endothelial cell functions and metastatic colonization.

Although lymph node (LN) metastasis is an important prognostic parameter in cervical cancer, the tissue remodeling at a pre-metastatic state is poorly documented in LNs. We here identified periostin (POSTN) as a component of non-metastatic LNs by applying proteomic analyses and computerized image quantifications on LNs of patients with cervical cancer. We provide evidence for remarkable modifications of POSTN and lymphatic vessel distributions and densities in non-metastatic sentinel and metastatic human LNs, when compared to distant non-metastatic LNs. POSTN deposition at a pre-metastatic stage was demonstrated in a pre-clinical murine model (the ear sponge assay). Its expression by fibroblastic LN cells was assessed by in situ hybridization and in vitro cultures. In vitro, POSTN promoted lymphatic endothelial cell functions and tumor cell proliferation. Accordingly, the in vivo injection of recombinant POSTN together with VEGF-C boosted the lymphangiogenic response, while the metastatic potential of tumor cells was drastically reduced using a POSTN blocking antibody. This translational study also supports the existence of an unprecedented dialog "in cascade", between the primary tumor and the first pelvic nodal relay in early cervical cancer, and subsequently from pelvic LN to para-aortic LNs in locally advanced cervical cancers. Collectively, this work highlights the association of POSTN deposition with lymphangiogenesis in LNs, and provides evidence for a key contribution of POSTN in promoting VEGF-C driven lymphangiogenesis and the seeding of metastatic cells.

Chronic False Aneurysm after a Healed Rupture of the Aortic Isthmus: TEVAR, Hybrid Surgery, or Open Arch Repair?

We report a case of post-traumatic chronic false aneurysm of the aortic isthmus in a 34-year-old man who had been involved in a car accident 10 years earlier. An initial chest X-ray demonstrated a calcified mass in the upper mediastinum and computed tomography scan revealed a false aneurysm of the aortic isthmus arising above the left subclavian artery. Partial covered rupture of the aorta is not always easy to diagnose and can remain clinically silent in a polytrauma patient. The duration from rupture to false aneurysm formation may extend over many years. This chronic lesion can be managed by surgery, by an endovascular procedure, or by a combined procedure. This case report highlights the current therapeutic approach. A debranching procedure was done in view of a secondary exclusion of the huge false aneurysm by a stent graft. Unfortunately, the false aneurysm ruptured during the procedure and a replacement of the aortic arch and the isthmus under total circulatory arrest was successfully done. The patient was doing well at 9-month follow-up.

Female-to-Male Chest Surgery in Transgender Patients: A Comparison Between 2 Different Techniques and a Satisfaction Study in a Single Center.

Background: Gender dysphoria is a distress caused by a mismatch between gender identity and the sex assigned at birth. About 0.5% of the population suffer from gender dysphoria, which represents 25 million people worldwide. Gender-affirming mastectomy is the most common procedure for female-to-male patients. Objectives: The aim of this single-center retrospective study is to present the outcomes after mastectomy and to evaluate patient satisfaction using the BODY-Q questionnaire. Methods: Several data regarding patient characteristics and surgery have been collected. A satisfaction survey has been sent to patients. Two groups, "NAC grafts" and "semicircular," have been compared for complications and satisfaction. Results: A total of 103 patients have had a transgender mastectomy performed by 3 surgeons, representing 206 mastectomies. There were 5 wound infections (4.8%), 8 seromas (6.8%), 10 hematomas (6.8%), and 23 partial/total nipple areolar complex (NAC) necrosis (20.4%). The complication rates in this study are similar to others in the literature. Few studies express interest in patient satisfaction after this type of surgery and even fewer use a suitable questionnaire. Conclusions: Transgender mastectomy is a safe and often necessary procedure to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from gender dysphoria. Nevertheless, there is currently no validated tool to assess postoperative satisfaction within this specific population group.

Comparative Analysis of a New Automatic System and Four Existing Techniques for Autologous Fat Grafting.

Background: Autologous fat grafting is increasingly used worldwide and is a very attractive technique in many ways. However, treatment duration and postinjection tissue resorption remain problematic elements, which are largely related to the preparation method used. Moreover, few scientific studies objectively compare different fat preparation methods. This study analyzes the efficiency and quality of lipoaspirates prepared with a new filtration/centrifugation system (Adipure) in comparison with several existing techniques. Methods: Patient lipoaspirates were processed by five different techniques: decantation, centrifugation, Macrofill, Puregraft, and Adipure. Adipose tissue was evaluated in vitro for tissue resorption and oil formation, as well as in vivo after subcutaneous injections in immunodeficient mice. Adipose grafts were collected after 1 month, weighed, and analyzed by histology with a detailed scoring method. Results: Decanting gives inferior results to all other techniques, in terms of amount of tissue and oil in vitro, or graft weight and histological analysis in vivo. Methods using classical Coleman centrifugation (1200g), or a modified one (400g) associated with washes (Macrofill) produce very similar results, both in vitro and in vivo. Techniques using filtration systems (Puregraft and Adipure) produce less oil overall and have a higher grafting efficiency. The best results regarding grafting efficiency and oil quantity are found with the Adipure device. Conclusions: A combination of filtration and very low-speed centrifugation potentiates the advantages of these techniques, in terms of graft efficiency. The adipose tissue purification being done in a few minutes, in an automatic way, undoubtedly provides a strong advantage for the use of this new system.

Granulomas and nongranulomatous nodules after filler injection: Different complications require different treatments.

Dermal fillers are widely used for facial rejuvenation and reconstruction and present fewer risks than surgical approaches. Nevertheless, several complications may occur, including nodule formation. A nodule is a clinical sign corresponding to different etiologies, such as overcorrection, infection, allergic reaction, or granuloma. However, their treatment represents a diagnostic challenge. We present a retrospective review of 26 consecutive patients who underwent a biopsy for facial nodule formation more than 3 months after filler injections, to determine the diagnosis of the nodule and type of filler used. All patients were women (mean age, 57.8 years). Some patients suffered from different localizations: lip, 14 cases; nasolabial folds, 6; cheeks, 5; infraorbital region, 5; the glabella, 2; the temporal region, 1; and chin, 1 case. Only 5 (19.2%) patients knew the type of filler used, and in another 4 cases, the injector was able to provide some information. In 65.4% of cases, the filler type was unknown. Histopathological analysis revealed a "granulomatous" nodule in 30 sites and a "non-granulomatous" nodule in 4 cases. Concerning the type of filler, 5 different histopathological patterns were found. Our results demonstrate that a clinical history and histopathological analysis whether to confirm or not to confirm the diagnosis of granuloma and to identify the type of filler are essential tools to achieve an accurate diagnosis of the problem-oriented treatment of nodules after dermal filler injections. We propose an algorithm for the management of nodules after filler injection.