No abstract

'Transplant psychology' -General psychological considerationsThe human hand represents a powerful physical instrument, with a variety of psychosocial functions and roles. From a psychosocial perspective, the human hand assists in interpersonal communication through touch and gestures. Humans communicate, greet each other, demonstrate intimacy and love, form and break bonds, protect and attack [1]. Reconstructive hand transplantation (RHT) represents an enormous medical advance involving parts of human anatomy that play such an important role in making us human [2].Reconstructive hand transplantation has been one of the most striking medical success stories although it differs from other forms of transplantation in numerous

To better understand the contribution of the fat mass to the effects of long-term caloric restriction in humans, we compared adipokine profile and insulin sensitivity in long-term calorically restricted formerly obese women (CRW) subjected to different interventions, bariatric surgery, or reducing diet, with age- and BMI-matched obese (OW) and normal-weight women (NW) eating ad libitum. Our key findings are that despite a considerably stronger weight loss induced by bariatric surgery, both long-term caloric restriction interventions improved insulin sensitivity to the same degree and led to significantly lower retinol-binding protein-4 and interleukin-6 serum levels than in OW, suggesting that lowering of these two adipokines contributes to the improved insulin sensitivity. Moreover, serum leptin was considerably lower in CRW than in OW as well as in NW, suggesting that CRW develop hypoleptinemia.

After multilevel en bloc spondylectomy both patients showed a good functional outcome without neurological deficits, except those resulting from oncologically scheduled resection of thoracic nerve roots. After a median follow-up of 13 months, there was no local recurrence or distant metastasis. The reconstruction using a posterior screw rod system that is interconnected to an anterior vertebral body replacement with a carbon composite cage showed no implant failure or loosening. In summary, the approach of a multilevel en bloc surgery for revision and oncologically sufficient resection in cases of spinal sarcoma recurrences seems possible. However, interdisciplinary decision making in a tumor board, realistic evaluation of surgical resectability to attain tumor free margins, advanced experiences in spinal reconstructions and involvement of vascular, visceral and thoracic surgical expertise are essential preconditions for acceptable oncological and functional outcome.

Reports about congenital symmastia and its surgical treatment are few. We report two patients - a mother and daughter - with congenital symmastia in whom breast and fatty tissue was found to be mobile adhering poorly to the chest wall. Although histological examination showed no abnormality of the tissue bridge between the breasts, ultrastructural investigation of breast tissue (including Cooper's ligaments) showed an abnormal arrangement of collagen fibres. Satisfying aesthetic results were achieved by resection of excess soft tissue in the cleavage area through a submammary incision and fixation of the skin with subcutaneous interrupted sutures to the sternal periosteum.