Preparation Methods of Hydrogel Microspheres and Recent Advances in Their Application for Treating Diabetic Wounds.

Diabetic wounds are characterized by complex pathologies, such as vascular changes, nerve damage, and immune dysfunction, which make healing difficult. Hydrogel microspheres have shown great potential in the field of wound treatment due to their excellent biocompatibility, high water content, and soft physical properties. The review summarizes the preparation methods of hydrogel microspheres in detail, including microfluidic technology, spray method, electro spraying, emulsion method, phase separation, photomask method, and 3D printing technology.

Evaluation of combining ultrapulse CO with fractional CO laser for the treatment of atrophic scars in Asians.

Various treatment modalities have been applied to atrophic scars. Fractional CO laser treatment has attracted increasingly more attention because of its quicker recovery time and fewer side effects. However, its limitation of sculpting the edge is an urgent shortcoming.

Comparisons of the effects of topical anti-scar drugs on post-surgical facial scar formation: a clinical investigation.

Objectives: Scarring is a common but intricate problem, and topical anti-scarring drugs are the most widely used treatment. However, the wide range of drugs available makes it difficult for doctors and patients to choose from because of the lack of clinical comparisons. Therefore, we conducted an observational study to compare the clinical efficacy of different topical anti-scarring drugs.

Zn(II) coordination polymers: therapeutic activity and nursing application values against coronary heart disease.

In the current research, two coordination polymers (CPs) have been produced solvothermally on the basis of a semi-rigid multifunctional tricarboxylate, i.e., 5-(3,4-dicarboxylphenoxy) nicotic acid (HL), and the chemical compositions of the two compounds are [Zn(HL)(HO)] and [Zn(HL)(2,2'-bpy)] (, 2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), respectively.

Molecular profiles and circulating tumor-DNA detected in Chinese early stage breast cancer.

Background: With the development of gene-sequencing technology, genome biomarkers, including Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (pIK3CA), BReast CAncer gene 1 (BRCA1), and BReast CAncer gene 2 (BRCA2), and immunomarkers, including the tumor mutational burden (TMB) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), have become important in the selection of treatment.

Methods: Twenty patients with early stage breast cancer who underwent surgery were enrolled in this study. Tissue samples and paired postoperative peripheral blood samples were collected and subjected to the targeted-capture sequencing of 1,021 cancer-associated genes.

Effects of chitosan-collagen dressing on wound healing in vitro and in vivo assays.

The present study was designed to fabricate a new chitosan-collagen sponge (CCS) for potential wound dressing applications. CCS was fabricated by a 3.0% chitosan mixture with a 1.

The efficacy of fractional CO laser in acne scar treatment: A meta-analysis.

Fractional CO laser is a good option for treating acne scars. However, the clinical efficacy of this treatment modality requires further evidence. To perform a meta-analysis to assess clinical improvements in acne scars with fractional CO laser and non-CO laser therapies.

Quarantine Vehicle Scheduling for Transferring High-Risk Individuals in Epidemic Areas.

In a large-scale epidemic outbreak, there can be many high-risk individuals to be transferred for medical isolation in epidemic areas. Typically, the individuals are scattered across different locations, and available quarantine vehicles are limited. Therefore, it is challenging to efficiently schedule the vehicles to transfer the individuals to isolated regions to control the spread of the epidemic.

Development of a Chitosan-Vaseline Gauze Dressing with Wound-Healing Properties in Murine Models.

Wound dressings are always needed after skin injury; however, most of the dressings still leave room for improvement. Here, we would like to develop an effective dressing with the ability to improve wound healing. A chitosan-Vaseline gauze (CVG) dressing was developed by coating the chitosan mixture and Vaseline on sterile gauze with subsequent drying.

The effect of topical ramipril and losartan cream in inhibiting scar formation.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in scar formation. We have previously shown that oral administration of ramipril and losartan could inhibit scarring. For easier application, here we developed a series of topical ramipril and losartan creams in different concentrations and formulations to explore the effect on scar formation in a C57BL/6 mouse scar model.

Clinical Application of Split-Thickness Skin with Pedicle for Finger Wounds.

Background: Skin grafts and pedicled flaps are the traditional methods of reconstructing injuries; both have some disadvantages. Here, we introduce a new clinical application of split-thickness skin with pedicle for repairing finger wounds.

Methods: We present the new method of split-thickness skin with pedicle used on 12 patients (18 fingers) between 2012 and 2016.

Clinical Application of 3-Dimensional Continuous Suturing Technique for Triangular Wounds.

Background: Although there are numerous skin closure methods, there is no special method for suturing triangular skin wounds. The authors have summarized and modified their experience with a 3-dimensional (3D) continuous suturing technique for triangular wounds.

Methods: From December 2015 to September 2017, the 3D continuous suturing technique for triangular wounds has been used in 32 cleft lip repairs (48 surgical triangular incisions) and 11 cases of facial trauma (15 traumatic triangular wounds).

The source of ACE during scar formation is from both bone marrow and skin tissue.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been found in the pathogenesis of various fibrosis diseases, and ACE inhibitor (ACEI) may affect wound healing and cutaneous fibrosis. However, there is no scientific evidence as to where the ACE is produced during scar formation. Whether it is from the cutaneous tissue or the bone marrow, or both remains unknown.

Madelung's Disease: Lipectomy or Liposuction?

Background: Madelung's disease is a rare lipid metabolic disorder characterized by diffuse, uncapsulated lipomas in the neck, shoulder, and other areas. It mainly affects middle-aged men and is related to alcohol abuse, and the cause is not clear. Surgical treatments include lipectomy and liposuction.

Computed Tomography-Assisted Auricular Cartilage Graft for Depression of the Alar Base in Secondary Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair: A Preliminary Report.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of computed tomography-assisted auricular cartilage grafting for treating alar base depression secondary to unilateral cleft lip.

Design And Setting: For patients with obvious depression of the alar base, the difference in heights of the alar base and the piriform margin between the cleft side and the noncleft side were measured with computed tomography. If both were >3.

Breast reconstruction with Alloderm Ready to Use: A meta-analysis of nine observational cohorts.

Background: AlloDerm-RTU is a new member of human acellular dermal matrix (HADM) which was launched in 2012. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether AlloDerm-RTU was superior compared with previous HADMs.

Methods: All available databases were searched for retrospective or prospective studies regarding breast reconstruction with AlloDerm-RTU compared with other HADMs.

Inflammasome activation involved in early inflammation reaction after liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation has emerged as a vital therapy for end-stage liver diseases. Acute -phase inflammation play an important role in liver graft injury.Recent studies have revealed that inflammasome are responsible for initiating inflammation in early stage of acute organ rejection in liver transplantation, however the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Fireworks Algorithm with Enhanced Fireworks Interaction.

As a relatively new metaheuristic in swarm intelligence, fireworks algorithm (FWA) has exhibited promising performance on a wide range of optimization problems. This paper aims to improve FWA by enhancing fireworks interaction in three aspects: 1) Developing a new Gaussian mutation operator to make sparks learn from more exemplars; 2) Integrating the regular explosion operator of FWA with the migration operator of biogeography-based optimization (BBO) to increase information sharing; 3) Adopting a new population selection strategy that enables high-quality solutions to have high probabilities of entering the next generation without incurring high computational cost. The combination of the three strategies can significantly enhance fireworks interaction and thus improve solution diversity and suppress premature convergence.

Risk Factors for Complications after Reduction Mammoplasty: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Reduction mammoplasty (RM) is a proven method of treating macromastia, but the risk factors for postoperative complications have not been clearly identified. Through this meta-analysis, the authors aimed to identify the risk factors of RM complications.

Methods: An extensive search of the literature describing complications after RM was performed using the PubMed Central, Embase, and Cochrane databases.

The Effectiveness of Topical Anti-scarring Agents and a Novel Combined Process on Cutaneous Scar Management.

Cutaneous scars (particularly hypertrophic and keloid scars), not only can cause adverse cosmetic problems, but also can be associated with emotional distress such as anxiety and depression. Comparing with other surgical treatments, patients who do not opt for or cannot opt for invasion therapies are more eligible for using the topical anti-scarring agents. In this mini-review, we have researched for and collected the data between October 2005 and October 2015, in PubMed and Web of Science, and identified those agents including silicone-based products, imiquimod, corticosteroids, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, mitomycin, and plant extracts such as onion extract, asiaticoside, aloe vera, vitamin E, and so on.