Acne Scars

Cell Transplant. 2009 Apr 6; Seidel M, Borczyńnska A, Rozwadowska N, Kurpisz MSatellite cells are committed precursor cells residing in the skeletal muscle. These cells provide an almost unlimited regeneration potential to the muscle, contrary to the heart which, although proved to contain cardiac stem cells, possesses a very limited ability for self renewal. The idea that myoblasts (satellite cell progenies) may repopulate postinfarction scar occurred around mid-1990s. Encouraging results of preclinical studies triggered extensive research which led to the onset of clinical trials. These trials have shown that autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation to cure heart failure is feasible and relatively safe (observed incidences of arrhythmia). Since most of the initial studies on myoblast application into post-ischemic heart have been carried out as an adjunct to routine surgical procedures, the true clinical outcome of such therapy in regard to cell implantation is blurred and requires to be elucidated. The mechanism by which implantation of skeletal myoblast may improve heart function is not clear, especially in the light of inability of these cells to couple electromechanically with a host myocardium. Successful myoblast therapy depends on a number of factors including: delivery to the target tissue, long term survival, efficacious engraftment, differentiation into cardiomyocytes and integration into the new, unique micro-environment. All these steps constitute a potential goal for cell manipulation aiming to improve the overall outcome of such therapy. Precise understanding of the mechanism by which cells improve cardiac function is essential in giving the sensible direction of further research.

Ophthalmologe. 2009 Jun 6; Schnaidt AG, Schröder AC, Gatzioufas Z, Löw U, Lang HM, Seitz BEye injuries caused by foreign bodies are a common diagnosis in many patients with an ocular emergency. A high percentage of foreign bodies are located in the cornea and are easily removed, but an intralenticular foreign body after eye injury is very rare. A 28-year-old man referred to our department with increasing loss of vision in the right eye 1 month after an accident with a hammer and chisel. At the time of admission the patient complained of a significant loss of vision and a traumatic cataract was diagnosed. The examination showed a deep stromal corneal scar and an anterior subcapsular cataract with posterior contusional rosette. Slit-lamp examination in mydriasis aroused the suspicion of an intralenticular foreign body. An X-ray examination of the right orbit was performed, but apart from a shadow, which was interpreted by the radiologists as a "pixel artefact", it revealed no presence of a foreign body. A computed tomography examination was also undertaken and confirmed the suspicion of an intralenticular foreign body, which was confirmed by an ultrasound scan. The intralenticular foreign body was removed during cataract surgery and an IOL was successfully implanted in the intact capsular bay. The day after the surgical intervention BCVA was 1.0. Every ocular trauma with a foreign body should be examined in mydriasis in order to exclude an intralenticular foreign body. Conventional X-ray images may not always be efficient enough to detect a foreign body. If an intraocular foreign body is suspected a thin-slice computed tomography examination of the orbit should be performed.

Arch Dermatol Res. 2009 May 23; Zhang GY, Cheng T, Zheng MH, Yi CG, Pan H, Li ZJ, Chen XL, Yu Q, Jiang LF, Zhou FY, Li XY, Yang JQ, Chu TG, Gao WYPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligands have been recently reported to have beneficial effects on organ fibrosis. However, their effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs), and the related molecular mechanisms are unknown. HSFs were cultured and exposed to different concentration PPAR-gamma ligands in the presence of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). In growth-arrested HSFs, a PPAR-gamma natural ligand (15-deoxy-D12,14-prostaglandin J2, 15d-PGJ2) and a synthetic ligand (GW7845) dose-dependently attenuated TGFbeta1-induced expression of Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), collagens and fibronectin. Furthermore, the suppression of CTGF mRNA and protein expression are relieved by pretreatment with an antagonist of PPAR-gamma (GW9662). Moreover, GW7845 and 15d-PGJ2 partially inhibited the expression and phosphorylation of the TGF-beta1/Smad pathway. These results suggest that in TGFbeta1-stimulated HSFs, PPAR-gamma ligands caused an antiproliferative effect and reduced ECM production through mechanisms that included reducing CTGF expression, and a crosstalk between PPAR-gamma and Smad may be involved in the inhibitory effects of PPAR-gamma ligands.

Burns. 2009 May 26; Stiefel D, Schiestl C, Meuli MIntegra Artificial Skin((R)), a biosynthetic dermal template, is well established in acute burn surgery. The aim of the study was to determine the role of Integra in the surgical treatment of postburn scars in a younger population. Between March 1998 and November 2004, 17 patients (n=17; mean age=13.15 years) underwent complete excision of hypertrophic scars or keloids (1-4% TBSA; extremities=47%, head/neck=35%, trunk=18%) with subsequent implantation of Integra for defect closure. Split thickness skin grafting (STSG) of the Integra-derived neodermis was performed 3 weeks after the first operation. Scar excision and primary Integra implantation was successful in all but one patient (94%) who (6%) needed reimplantation once. Integra's mean take rate was 99.7% for all primarily successful patients. Complications occurred in three patients (18%), including minor problems without long-term consequences in 12% (seroma formation), and major problems in 6% (hematoma formation). Take rate of STSG ranged from 50% to 100% (mean 94%). Functional and cosmetic long-term outcome showed results scored "excellent" in 53%, "good" in 36%, and "fair" in 11%. Comparison of pre- and postoperative findings revealed a significant functional improvement in all and a considerable cosmetic improvement in all but two patients. These results suggest that Integra is a valid new treatment modality for extensive burn scar revision in younger patients.