Kim SH, et al. J Menopausal Med. 2017 Apr;23(1):63-68. https://doi.org/10.6118/jmm.2017.23.1.63

Background Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains high concentrations of growth factors involved in wound healing. Hydrogel is a 3-dimensional, hydrophilic, high-molecular, reticular substance generally used as a dressing formulation to accelerate wound healing, and also used as a bio-applicable scaffold or vehicle. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PRP and hydrogel on wound healing, in combination and separately, in an animal wound model. Methods A total of 64 wounds, with 2 wounds on the back of each nude mouse, were classified into 4 groups: a control group, a hydrogel-only group, a PRP-only group, and a combined-treatment group. All mice were assessed for changes in wound size and photographed on scheduled dates. The number of blood vessels was measured in all specimens. Immunohistochemical staining was used for the analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Results Differences in the decrease and change in wound size in the combined-treatment group were more significant than those in the single-treatment groups on days 3, 5, 7, and 10. Analysis of the number of blood vessels through histological examination showed a pattern of increase over time that occurred in all groups, but the combined-treatment group exhibited the greatest increase on days 7 and 14. Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF expression in the combined-treatment group exhibited its highest value on day 7. Conclusions This experiment demonstrated improved wound healing using a PRP–hydrogel combined treatment compared to either treatment individually, resulting in a decrease in wound size and a shortening of the healing period.

The convergence of three-dimensional (3D) simulation, tissue engineering, and 3D printing technology is creating a paradigm shift in plastic surgery. In augmentation rhinoplasty, determining the ideal material and design method has been a critical issue for many years. Thus, these technologies are expected to make important contributions to augmentation rhinoplasty. We sought to validate the feasibility of the 3D carving simulation and patient-specific implant fabrication system (3D carving system) in a clinical trial using reproducibility tests. Patient-specific implants were designed using a program developed in-house with preoperative computed tomography (CT). Negative molds of the implant were fabricated by a 3D printer and silicone was injected into these molds. Ten actual silicone implants were fabricated and compared with virtually designed implants. Seven patients underwent surgery and postoperative CT to confirm implant positioning. Virtually designed implants were produced into actual implants within 0.07 mm with a 0.17% ± 0.11% difference. The percentage within the gap was the highest at the cephalic end of the implant and reduced from the cephalic to caudal end (most cephalic point: 100%; rightmost and leftmost point of the implant at the caudal end of the nasal bone: 57.1% and 71.4%, respectively; rightmost and leftmost point at the supratip break: 28.6% and 28.6%, respectively; and most caudal point: 0%). The 3D carving system can facilitate rhinoplasty by enabling the more intuitive, rapid, and accurate fabrication of implants irrespective of surgeon experience level.

Botulinum toxin treatment is the most common non-surgical cosmetic treatment. Although there are many available treatments using botulinum toxin, their effects are temporary and repeated injections are required. These frequent injections can trigger an immunological response. In addition, botulinum toxin acts as an antigen in the body; thus, its effect disappears progressively due to this immunological reaction, which may cause treatment failure. Active botulinum toxin consists of a core neurotoxin and complexing proteins, the exact effects of which remain unclear. However, the complexing proteins are closely related to the immune response and the formation of neutralizing antibodies. Since neutralizing antibodies can lead to treatment failure, their formation should be prevented. Furthermore, various methods of detecting neutralizing antibodies have been used to predict treatment failure.