Fake smoke, real fire: a retrospective single-center analysis of the underestimated risk of e-cigarette explosions and the typical burn patterns.

Parallel to the increasing dissemination of electronic cigarettes (E-cigarette) in the population, increasing numbers of burn injuries caused by explosions of the devices or the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have been observed worldwide. Several cases of E‑cigarette-related explosions have already resulted in fatalities. We report a series of 7 patients who were treated at our department between 2016 and 2022.

Lactobacillus gasseri associated severe soft tissue infection of the lower extremity: A case report.

Background: are gram-positive, lactic acid-producing, facultative anaerobes of the human microbiota located in the human gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, and the oral cavity and are considered non-pathogenic. When certain risk factors are present, they have the potential to cause serious infections. The incidence of localized infections associated with are rare and to our knowledge we present the first known case of severe soft tissue infection of the extremity linked to a strain.

Revalidating the prognostic relevance of the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI): A twenty-year experience examining the performance of the ABSI score in consideration of progression and advantages of burn treatments from a single center in Vienna.

Background: The Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) is a five-variable scale to help evaluate burn severity upon initial assessment. As other studies have been conducted with comparatively small patient populations, the purpose of this study is to revalidate the prognostic relevance of the ABSI in our selected population (N = 1193) 4 decades after its introduction, considering the progress in the treatment of severe burn injuries over the past decades. In addition, we evaluate whether comorbidities influence the survival probability of severely burned patients.

Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease reduce survival rates after burn injury: A retrospective study over 20 years.

Background: The Abbreviated Burn Severity Index and comparable scores are used to assess the probability of survival in burned patients. These scores may be useful during the initial management of the patient and in addition to the clinical evaluation. As current models do not include the influence of chronic diseases, we evaluated the impact of comorbidities on survival probability, aiming to improve the existing scoring systems and survival probability accuracy further.

Native human and mouse skin infection models to study Candida auris-host interactions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared certain fungal pathogens as global health threats for the next decade. Candida auris (C. auris) is a newly emerging skin-tropic multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections of high mortality in hospitals and healthcare settings.

Skin Bank Establishment in Treatment of Severe Burn Injuries: Overview and Experience with Skin Allografts at the Vienna Burn Center.

Depending on their extent, burn injuries require different treatment strategies. In cases of severe large-area trauma, the availability of vital skin for autografting is limited. Donor skin allografts are a well-established but rarely standardized option for temporary wound coverage.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of severe burns : A single center study from a specialized burn center in Vienna.

Introduction: Currently, very little detailed information on the epidemiological distribution and specificities of severely burned patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is available. This retrospective study aims to describe and compare this specific patient population based on 114 patients who were treated between March 2019 and March 2021 at the Center for Severe Burn Injuries at the Medical University of Vienna.

Methods: To answer the research questions, a retrospective cohort study has been conducted over a period of 24 months, starting in March 2019 and ending in March 2021.

Disturbances in microbial skin recolonization and cutaneous immune response following allogeneic stem cell transfer.

The composition of the gut microbiome influences the clinical course after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but little is known about the relevance of skin microorganisms. In a single-center, observational study, we recruited a cohort of 50 patients before undergoing conditioning treatment and took both stool and skin samples up to one year after HSCT. We could confirm intestinal dysbiosis following HSCT and report that the skin microbiome is likewise perturbed in HSCT-recipients.

Interoperability of RTN1A in dendrite dynamics and immune functions in human Langerhans cells.

Skin is an active immune organ where professional antigen-presenting cells such as epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) link innate and adaptive immune responses. While Reticulon 1A (RTN1A) was recently identified in LCs and dendritic cells in cutaneous and lymphoid tissues of humans and mice, its function is still unclear. Here, we studied the involvement of this protein in cytoskeletal remodeling and immune responses toward pathogens by stimulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in resident LCs (rLCs) and emigrated LCs (eLCs) in human epidermis ex vivo and in a transgenic THP-1 RTN1A cell line.

Tick feeding modulates the human skin immune landscape to facilitate tick-borne pathogen transmission.

During cutaneous tick attachment, the feeding cavity becomes a site of transmission for tick salivary compounds and tick-borne pathogens. However, the immunological consequences of tick feeding for human skin remain unclear. Here, we assessed human skin and blood samples upon tick bite and developed a human skin explant model mimicking Ixodes ricinus bites and tick-borne pathogen infection.

Intensive care in an older population: Influence of age, comorbidities and sex in 304 plastic and reconstructive surgical patients older than 75 years.

Aim: An aging population will lead to an increasing demand for critical care resources. Hence, we evaluated the potential influence of age, comorbidities and sex in plastic and reconstructive patients ≥75 years that were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: We included 304 patients who required intensive care between 2000 and 2019.

Effects of metformin on human bone-derived mesenchymal stromal cell-breast cancer cell line interactions.

Metformin is used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and was found to lower the incidence of cancer. Bone metastasis is a common impairment associated with advanced breast cancer. The present study investigated the effects of metformin on human bone-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC)-breast cancer cell line interactions.

Delayed antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected individuals leads to irreversible depletion of skin- and mucosa-resident memory T cells.

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk for developing skin and mucosal malignancies despite systemic reconstitution of CD4 T cells upon antiretroviral therapy (ART). The underlying mechanism of chronic tissue-related immunodeficiency in HIV is unclear. We found that skin CD4 tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells were depleted after HIV infection and replenished only upon early ART initiation.

The Three-Hour Lower Body Lift: Evolution of a Technique and Personal Experience after 155 Consecutive Cases.

Background: Body-contouring is a surgical field in growing demand, as the number of massive weight loss patients following bariatric surgery is increasing. The purpose of this study was to provide a straightforward and time-efficient circumferential body lift technique to achieve optimal lower truncal contouring.

Patients And Methods: A total of 155 massive weight loss patients (133 women and 22 men) underwent lower body lift surgery between 2006 and 2018.

The molecular and phenotypic makeup of fetal human skin T lymphocytes.

The adult human skin contains a vast number of T cells that are essential for skin homeostasis and pathogen defense. T cells are first observed in the skin at the early stages of gestation; however, our understanding of their contribution to early immunity has been limited by their low abundance and lack of comprehensive methodologies for their assessment. Here, we describe a new workflow for isolating and expanding significant amounts of T cells from fetal human skin.

Single-cell analysis reveals innate lymphoid cell lineage infidelity in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Although ample knowledge exists about phenotype and function of cutaneous T lymphocytes, much less is known about the lymphocytic components of the skin's innate immune system.

Objective: To better understand the biologic role of cutaneous innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), we investigated their phenotypic and molecular features under physiologic (normal human skin [NHS]) and pathologic (lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis [AD]) conditions.

Methods: Skin punch biopsies and reduction sheets as well as blood specimens were obtained from either patients with AD or healthy individuals.

A modified microvascular "Tube-in-Tube" concept for penile construction in female-to-male transsexuals: Combined radial forearm free flap with anterolateral thigh flap.

Introduction: Phalloplasty is a complex surgical task and remains a significant challenge in plastic surgery. To date, there are various techniques; however, complication rates are still not satisfactory. Here, we present our surgical approach of a modified tube-in-tube concept combining a radial forearm free flap and an anterolateral thigh flap and assess its outcome in a series of female-to-male transsexuals.

Nanocellulose-based wound dressing for conservative wound management in children with second-degree burns.

The initial care of burn wounds and choice of dressing are pivotal to optimally support the healing process. To ensure fast re-epithelialisation within 10-14 days and prevent complications, an optimal healing environment is essential. An innovative dressing based on nanocellulose was used for the treatment of burns in children.

Effects of metformin on adipose-derived stromal cell (ADSC) - Breast cancer cell lines interaction.

Aims: Metformin is a clinical drug administered to patients to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus that was found to be associated with a lower risk of occurrence of cancer and cancer-related death. The present study investigated the effects of metformin on human adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSC) - breast cancer cell line interactions.

Main Methods: ADSCs grown from lipoaspirates were tested for growth-stimulating and migration-controlling activity on breast cancer cell lines after pretreatment with metformin.

Comparison of Energy-Based Tissue Dissection Techniques in Abdominoplasty: A Randomized, Open-Label Study Including Economic Aspects.

Background: Abdominoplasty is one of the most common procedures in plastic surgery, and energy-based tissue dissection techniques have become the gold standard. Despite its frequency, abdominoplasty is still associated with high complication rates.

Objectives: The authors compared clinical and economic data of 4 methods of energy-based tissue dissection in a randomized, open-label study.

Seasonal Impact on Surgical-Site Infections in Body Contouring Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 602 Patients over a Period of 6 Years.

Background: Postoperative surgical-site infections are severe complications following body contouring surgery. Here, the authors evaluate whether surgical-site infection rates are influenced by higher temperatures during the summer season.

Methods: We enrolled 602 patients who underwent body contouring surgery between 2009 and 2015 in a retrospective cohort study.