Gurtner, Geoffrey C.

Importance Vaginal fibroblast function is altered in people with pelvic organ prolapse. Thus, it is important to study vaginal fibroblasts to better understand the pathophysiology of prolapse. Objective This study aimed to compare 3 culturing methods of primary vaginal fibroblasts. Study Design This was an in vitro study. Patients who were undergoing surgery for vaginal prolapse were recruited. Excess vaginal epithelial tissue that would have otherwise been discarded was collected. The vaginal fibroblasts from each participant were cultured via (1) 3-hour digest, (2) coverslip, and (3) gelatin-coat methods. Differences in the efficiency of cell isolation, expression of known fibroblast-associated genes, and cellular function were compared between the 3 methods using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey test for post hoc pairwise comparisons ( P < 0.05). Results Five patients with pelvic organ prolapse were recruited. Fibroblasts cultured via the 3-hour digest method became confluent within 3–5 days in a 100-mm dish compared to 2–3 weeks in a 6-well dish for the coverslip and gelatin-coat methods. Cells from all culture methods expressed similar amounts of vimentin and α smooth muscle actin. There were no significant differences in morphology; gene expression levels of MMP1 , MMP2 , ACTA2 , COL1A1 , COL3A1 , and LOXL1 on qPCR; cell viability; proliferation; and migration between the 3 culturing methods. Conclusion Culturing primary vaginal fibroblasts via the 3-hour digest, coverslip, and gelatin-coat methods similarly resulted in reliable primary vaginal fibroblast growth and function.

Summary: Although robotic surgery has been routinely established in other surgical disciplines, robotic technologies have been less readily adopted in plastic surgery. Despite a strong demand for innovation and cutting-edge technology in plastic surgery, most reconstructive procedures, including microsurgery, have continued to necessitate an open approach. Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, however, are gaining momentum and have shown significant promise to improve patient care in plastic surgery. These next-generation surgical robots have the potential to enable surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater precision, flexibility, and control than previously possible with conventional techniques. Successful integration of robotic technologies into clinical practice in plastic surgery requires achieving key milestones, including implementing appropriate surgical education and garnering patient trust.

Summary: Blockchain technology has attracted substantial interest in recent years, most notably for its effect on global economics through the advent of cryptocurrency. Within the health care domain, blockchain technology has been actively explored as a tool for improving personal health data management, medical device security, and clinical trial management. Despite a strong demand for innovation and cutting-edge technology in plastic surgery, integration of blockchain technologies within plastic surgery is in its infancy. Recent advances and mainstream adoption of blockchain are gaining momentum and have shown significant promise for improving patient care and information management. In this article, the authors explain what defines a blockchain and discuss its history and potential applications in plastic surgery. Existing evidence suggests that blockchain can enable patient-centered data management, improve privacy, and provide additional safeguards against human error. Integration of blockchain technology into clinical practice requires further research and development to demonstrate its safety and efficacy for patients and providers.