Search

Background: Lipedema is a subcutaneous adipose tissue disorder characterized by increased pathological adipocytes mainly in the extremities. Vitamin D is stored in adipocytes, and serum levels inversely correlate with BMI. As adipocytes are removed during liposuction, lipedema patients might be prone to further substantial vitamin D loss while their levels are already decreased. Therefore, we examined the effect of liposuction on perioperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Methods: In patients undergoing lipedema liposuction, blood samples were obtained pre- and postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed to correlate the volume of lipoaspirate, patients' BMI and number of sessions to vitamin D levels. Results: Overall, 213 patients were analyzed. Mean liposuction volume was 6615.33 ± 3884.25 mL, mean BMI was 32.18 ± 7.26 kg/m2. mean preoperative vitamin D levels were 30.1 ± 14.45 ng/mL (borderline deficient according to the endocrine society) and mean postoperative vitamin D levels were 21.91 ± 9.18 ng/mL (deficient). A significant decrease in serum vitamin D was seen in our patients (p < 0.001) of mean 7.83 ng/mL. The amount of vitamin D loss was not associated with BMI or aspiration volume in our patients (p > 0.05). Interestingly, vitamin D dynamics showed a steady drop regardless of volume aspirated or preoperative levels. Conclusions: Many lipedema patients have low vitamin D levels preoperatively. Liposuction significantly reduced these levels additionally, regardless of aspirated volume or BMI. However, vitamin D loss was constant and predictable; thus, patients at risk are easily identified. Overall, lipedema patients undergoing liposuction are prone to vitamin D deficiency, and the long-term effects in this population are currently unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic behaviors, such as swallowing, speech, and emotional expressions are the result of a highly coordinated interplay between multiple muscles of the head. Control mechanisms of such highly tuned movements remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the neural components responsible for motor control of the facial, masticatory, and tongue muscles in humans using specific molecular markers (ChAT, MBP, NF, TH). Our findings showed that a higher number of motor axonal population is responsible for facial expressions and tongue movements, compared to muscles in the upper extremity. Sensory axons appear to be responsible for neural feedback from cutaneous mechanoreceptors to control the movement of facial muscles and the tongue. The newly discovered sympathetic axonal population in the facial nerve is hypothesized to be responsible for involuntary control of the muscle tone. These findings shed light on the pivotal role of high efferent input and rich somatosensory feedback in neuromuscular control of finely adjusted cranial systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical breast reconstruction is an integral part of cancer treatment but must not compromise oncological safety. Patient-dependent risk factors (smoking, BMI, etc.) are said to influence perioperative outcomes and have often been investigated. Here, we analyzed independent perioperative risk factors for increased postoperative blood loss or drainage fluid volume loss and their possible impact. Methods: Patients undergoing breast reconstructions after breast cancer with either tissue expanders, definitive breast implants, or autologous breast reconstruction were analyzed. The collected data on patients' characteristics, blood, and drainage fluid loss were correlated and statistically investigated. Results: Traditional patient-dependent risk factors did not influence blood loss or drainage volumes. On the contrary, patients with preoperative anemia had significantly higher drainage outputs compared to non-anemic patients (U = 2448.5; p = 0.0012). The administration of low molecular weight heparin showed a tendency of increased drainage output. Similar correlations could be seen in prolonged procedure time, all of which contributed to prolonged hospital stay (τb = 0.371; p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Preoperative anemia is one of the most critical factors influencing postoperative drainage fluid output. Previously assumed patient-dependent risk factors did not affect drainage output. Preoperative anemia must be monitored, and if possible, treated preoperatively to reduce postoperative morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a fluorescent dye that after metabolization to Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) by the heme biosynthesis pathway typically leads to visible fluorescence in WHO grade IV but not grade II gliomas. The exact mechanism for high PpIX levels in WHO grade IV gliomas and low PpIX levels in WHO grade II gliomas is not fully clarified. To detect relevant changes in mRNA expression, we performed an in-silico analysis of WHO grade II and IV glioma sequencing datasets provided by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to investigate mRNA expression levels of relevant heme biosynthesis genes: Solute Carrier Family 15 Member 1 and 2 (SLC15A1 and SLC15A2), Aminolevulinate-Dehydratase (ALAD), Hydroxymethylbilane-Synthase (HMBS), Uroporphyrinogen-III-Synthase (UROS), Uroporphyrinogen-Decarboxylase (UROD), Coproporphyrinogen-Oxidase (CPOX), Protoporphyrinogen-Oxidase (PPOX), ATP-binding Cassette Subfamily B Member 6 (ABCB6)/G Member 2 (ABCG2) and Ferrochelatase (FECH). Altogether, 258 WHO grade II and 166 WHO grade IV samples were investigated. The mRNA expression levels showed significant differences in 8 of 11 examined genes between WHO grade II and IV gliomas. Significant differences in mRNA expression included increases of HMBS, UROD, FECH and PPOX as well as decreases of SLC15A2, ALAD, UROS and ABCB6 in WHO IV gliomas. Since the majority of changes was found in directions that might actually impair PpIX accumulation in WHO grade IV gliomas, additional studies are needed to analyze the corresponding factors of the heme biosynthesis also on protein level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]