Surgical anatomy of the breast revisited

With the advent of breast conservation options in the 1970s, as well as wider acceptance of breast reconstruction in cancer patients in 1980/1990, ending up with evolution of oncoplastic concepts in the early 2000s, detailed surgical anatomy of the breast became important. This short article reviews surgical anatomy of breast with particular emphasis on innervation and blood supply to the skin and nipple-areolar complex, as well as points out the concept of compartmental breast cancer anatomy. Meticulous dissection and avoidance of transection of major vessels and nerves constitutes the crucial factor for satisfactory results of surgery in terms of preservation of sensation as well as appropriate vitality of skin

Human CD34+/CD90+ ASCs Are Capable of Growing as Sphere Clusters, Producing High Levels of VEGF and Forming Capillaries

Background: Human adult adipose tissue is an abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Moreover, it is an easily accessible site producing a considerable amount of stem cells. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we have selected and characterized stem cells within the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of human adult adipose tissue with the aim of understanding their differentiation capabilities and performance. We have found, within the SVF, different cell populations expressing MSC markers – including CD34, CD90, CD29, CD44, CD105, and CD117 – and endothelial-progenitor-cell markers – including CD34, CD90, CD44, and CD54. Interestingly, CD34+/CD90+ cells formed sphere clusters, when placed in non-adherent growth conditions. Moreover, they showed a high proliferative capability, a telomerase activity that was significantly higher than that found in differentiated cells, and contained a fraction of cells displaying the phenotype of a side population. When cultured in adipogenic medium, CD34+/CD90+ quickly differentiated into adipocytes. In addition, they differentiated into endothelial cells (CD31+/VEGF+/Flk- 1+) and, when placed in methylcellulose, were capable of forming capillary-like structures producing a high level of VEGF, as substantiated with ELISA tests. Conclusions/Significance: Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that CD34+/CD90+ cells of human adipose tissue are capable of forming sphere clusters, when grown in free-floating conditions, and differentiate in endothelial cells that form capillary-like structures in methylcellulose. These cells might be suitable for tissue reconstruction in regenerative medicine, especially when patients need treatments for vascular disease

Loss of Thiol Repair Systems in Human Cataractous Lenses

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the thiol repair systems of thioltransferase (TTase) and thioredoxin (Trx) and oxidation-damaged proteins in human cataractous lenses. METHODS. Cataractous lenses in humans (57–85 years of age) were classified into cortical, nuclear, mixed, mature, and hypermature cataract types by using a lens opacity classification system, and were obtained by extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) procedure. Cortical and nuclear cataracts were grouped by decreasing order of visual acuity into optical chart reading (R), counting fingers (CF), hand motion (HM), and light perception (LP). ECCE lens homogenate was analyzed for glutathione (GSH) level and enzyme activities of TTase, glutathione reductase (GR), Trx, and thioredoxin reductase (TR). Cortical and nuclear cataractous lenses (8 of each) with visual acuity better than HM were each dissected into cortical and nuclear portions for measurement of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD) activity. Clear lenses (in humans 49–71 years of age) were used as control. RESULTS. Compared with control, all cataractous lenses lost more than 80% GSH and 70% GR; TR and Trx activity; and 40% to 70% TTase activity, corroborated with the loss in visual acuity. Among cataracts with R and CF visual acuity, cortical cataract lost more cortical G3PD activity (18% of control) than that of nuclear cataract (50% of control), whereas GSH depletion and TTase inactivation were similar in both cataracts. CONCLUSIONS. Thiol repair systems were damaged in all types of cataracts. Cortical and nuclear cataracts showed differential G3PD inactivation in the cortex, implying those 2 type of cataracts might be formed through different mechanisms

The physiologic and pharmacologic factors protecting the lens transparency and the update approach to the prevention of experimental cataracts: A review

In this review some of the so far identified mechanisms implicated in experimental and human cataractogenesis are reviewed. The oxidative insult, the osmotic insult (sugar cataracts and ionic imbalance cataracts), the role of tryptophan, of lysophosphatidylcholine and docohexanoic acid in primary and secondary cataracts are summarized. It is not always possible to identify the primary effect of cataractogenic mechanisms: the human 'idiopathic' cataract is probably a multifactorial disease. In the aging lens and under stress conditions (osmotic and oxidative) the physiologic defense systems of the lens appear to be inadequate. Even if conditions of avitaminosis aren't the cause of deterioration of the adult human lens, it has been demonstrated that the supplementation or the deficiency of some nutritional factors may influence the course of cataract