BackgroundPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) has more concentrated platelets than normal plasma (approximately 150-400×103 cell/dL). Platelets excrete several growth factors and cytokines that are associated with the healing and regeneration process. However, even though PRP is widely used, the mechanism or actual effect is presently unclear. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the levels of growth factors and platelet concentration rate.MethodsAutologous blood for preparing PRP was obtained from healthy subjects aged 25 to 35 years. The samples were divided into 4 experimental groups (inactivated whole blood, inactivated PRP, activated whole blood with thrombin and calcium chloride, and activated PRP). The platelet counts in the blood were analyzed and the growth factors were quantitatively measured. A statistical analysis was performed by using Dunn's multiple comparison test.ResultsIn the blood cell analysis, the platelet count of the PRP group was approximately 4.25 times higher than that of the whole blood group. In the quantitative analysis of growth factors, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, PDGF-BB, and transforming growth factor-β of the inactivated and activated PRP groups were higher than those of the inactivated and activated whole blood groups (P<0.05).ConclusionsIn this study, the platelet count and the levels of PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB in the PRP were determined. Further, more research is required on the bioactivity level of the growth factors secreted during the process of PRP preparation and the potency of growth factors that can be exerted physiologically in vivo.

Oncoplastic breast surgery has become a popular choice of treatment for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. There are two different techniques in oncoplastic surgery depending on the volume of the excised breast tissue. One is the volume displacement procedure, which combines resection with a variety of different breast-reshaping and breast-reduction techniques; the other is the volume replacement procedure in which the volume of excised breast tissue is replaced with autologous tissue. In this study, current authors performed various volume replacement techniques based on the weight of the excised tumor and its margin of resection. We used a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap for cases in which the resection mass was greater than 150 g, and for cases in which the resection mass was less than 150 g, we used a regional flap, such as a lateral thoracodorsal flap, a thoracoepigastric flap, or perforator flaps, such as an intercostal artery perforator flap or a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. In the patients with small to moderate-sized breasts, when a postoperative deformity is expected due to a large-volume tumor resection, the replacement of non-breast tissue is required. Many of whom have small breasts, oncoplastic volume replacement techniques in breast-conserving surgery allow an extensive tumor excision without concern of compromising the cosmetic outcome and can be reliable and useful techniques with satisfactory aesthetic results.

Despite the popularity of breast-conserving surgery (BCS), which constitutes 50-60% of all breast cancer surgeries, discussions regarding cosmetic results after BCS are not specifically conducted. The simple conservation of breast tissue is no longer adequate to qualify for BCS completion. The incorporation of oncological and plastic surgery techniques allows for the complete resection of local disease while achieving superior cosmetic outcome. Oncoplastic BCS can be performed in one of the following two ways: 1) volume displacement techniques and 2) volume replacement techniques. This study reports volume displacement surgical techniques, which allow the use of remaining breast tissue after BCS by glandular reshaping or reduction techniques for better cosmetic results. Thorough understanding of these procedures and careful consideration of the patient's breast size, tumor location, excised volume, and volume of the remaining breast tissue during the surgery in choosing appropriate patient and surgical techniques will result in good cosmetic results. Surgery of the contralateral breast may be requested to improve symmetry and may take the form of a reduction mammoplasty or mastopexy. The timing of such surgery and the merits of synchronous versus delayed approaches should be discussed in full with the patients. Because Korean women have relatively small breast sizes compared to Western women, it is not very easy to apply the oncoplastic volume displacement technique to cover defects. However, we have performed various types of oncoplastic volume displacement techniques on Korean women, and based on our experience, we report a number of oncoplastic volume displacement techniques that are applicable to Korean women with small- to moderate-sized breasts.

BackgroundIn Korean women, many of whom have small to moderate-sized breasts, it is difficult to cover a partial breast defect using oncoplastic volume displacement techniques after removal of an adequate volume of tissue during oncologic surgery. In such cases, oncoplastic volume replacement techniques are more useful.MethodsFrom January 2007 to December 2011, 104 women underwent a total of 107 breast-conserving surgeries with various kinds of oncoplastic volume replacement techniques. We used latissimus dorsi (LD) myocutaneous flap for cases in which the resection mass was greater than 150 g. In case with a resection mass less than 150 g, we used regional flaps such as a lateral thoracodorsal flap, a thoracoepigastric flap, or perforator flaps such as an intercostal artery perforator (ICAP) flap or a thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap.ResultsThe mean age was 46.1 years, and the average follow-up interval was 10.3 months. The patients underwent oncoplastic volume replacement techniques with a lateral thoracodorsal flap (n=9), thoracoepigastric flap (n=7), ICAP flap (n=25), TDAP flap (n=12), and LD flap (n=54). There was one case of congestion in an LD flap, and two cases of fat necrosis in an ICAP flap. Most of the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results.ConclusionsOncoplastic volume replacement techniques can be reliable and useful for the correction of breast deformity after breast-conserving surgery, especially in patients with small to moderate-sized breasts.

BackgroundAmniotic-fluid-derived stem cells and amniocytes have recently been determined to have wound healing effects, but their mechanism is not yet clearly understood. In this study, the effects of amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes on wound healing were investigated through animal experiments.MethodsOn the back of Sprague-Dawley rats, four circular full-thickness skin wounds 2 cm in diameter were created. The wounds were classified into the following four types: a control group using Tegaderm disc wound dressings and experimental groups using collagen discs, amniotic fluid stem cell discs, and amniocyte discs. The wounds were assessed through macroscopic histological examination and immunohistochemistry over a period of time.ResultsThe amniotic fluid stem cell and amniocyte groups showed higher wound healing rates compared with the control group; histologically, the inflammatory cell invasion disappeared more quickly in these groups, and there was more significant angiogenesis. In particular, these groups had significant promotion of epithelial cell reproduction, collagen fiber formation, and angiogenesis during the initial 10 days of the wound healing process. The potency of transforming growth factor-β and fibronectin in the experimental group was much greater than that in the control group in the early stage of the wound healing process. In later stages, however, no significant difference was observed.ConclusionsThe amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes were confirmed to have accelerated the inflammatory stage to contribute to an enhanced cure rate and shortened wound healing period. Therefore, they hold promise as wound treatment agents.