scholarly journals Advances in Skin Tissue Bioengineering and the Challenges of Clinical Translation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn L. Dearman ◽  
Steven T. Boyce ◽  
John E. Greenwood

Skin tissue bioengineering is an emerging field that brings together interdisciplinary teams to promote successful translation to clinical care. Extensive deep tissue injuries, such as large burns and other major skin loss conditions, are medical indications where bioengineered skin substitutes (that restore both dermal and epidermal tissues) are being studied as alternatives. These may not only reduce mortality but also lessen morbidity to improve quality of life and functional outcome compared with the current standards of care. A common objective of dermal-epidermal therapies is to reduce the time required to accomplish stable closure of wounds with minimal scar in patients with insufficient donor sites for autologous split-thickness skin grafts. However, no commercially-available product has yet fully satisfied this objective. Tissue engineered skin may include cells, biopolymer scaffolds and drugs, and requires regulatory review to demonstrate safety and efficacy. They must be scalable for manufacturing and distribution. The advancement of technology and the introduction of bioreactors and bio-printing for skin tissue engineering may facilitate clinical products' availability. This mini-review elucidates the reasons for the few available commercial skin substitutes. In addition, it provides insights into the challenges faced by surgeons and scientists to develop new therapies and deliver the results of translational research to improve patient care.

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 320-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Larouche ◽  
Laurence Cantin-Warren ◽  
Maxime Desgagné ◽  
Rina Guignard ◽  
Israël Martel ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (02) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Sean Whyte ◽  
Clive Meux

Aims and Method To estimate specific time and resource implications for professionals, if proposed changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 (England & Wales) in the Government's white paper were to be implemented unchanged. An audit of time spent on current procedures was extrapolated. Results The amount of time required to comply with the Act will rise substantially (by 27% overall). Social workers and independent doctors will spend 30% and 207% more time respectively, complying with the Act, but psychiatrists providing clinical care to forensic patients should be largely unaffected. Clinical Implications If the Government presses ahead with its plans for mental health law reform as currently proposed, extra resources will be required to provide additional social work and independent medical time – or other services for patients will suffer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1535-1547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niann-Tzyy Dai ◽  
Wen-Shyan Huang ◽  
Fang-Wei Chang ◽  
Lin-Gwei Wei ◽  
Tai-Chun Huang ◽  
...  

Skin substitutes with existing vascularization are in great demand for the repair of full-thickness skin defects. In the present study, we hypothesized that a pre-vascularized skin substitute can potentially promote wound healing. Novel three-dimensional (3D) skin substitutes were prepared by seeding a mixture of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and fibroblasts into a human plasma/calcium chloride formed gel scaffold, and seeding keratinocytes onto the surface of the plasma gel. The capacity of the EPCs to differentiate into a vascular-like tubular structure was evaluated using immunohistochemistry analysis and WST-8 assay. Experimental studies in mouse full-thickness skin wound models showed that the pre-vascularized gel scaffold significantly accelerated wound healing 7 days after surgery, and resembled normal skin structures after 14 days post-surgery. Histological analysis revealed that pre-vascularized gel scaffolds were well integrated in the host skin, resulting in the vascularization of both the epidermis and dermis in the wound area. Moreover, mechanical strength analysis demonstrated that the healed wound following the implantation of the pre-vascularized gel scaffolds exhibited good tensile strength. Taken together, this novel pre-vascularized human plasma gel scaffold has great potential in skin tissue engineering.


2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S138-S138
Author(s):  
Russell Jaffe ◽  
Jayashree Mani

Abstract Introduction/Objective Chronic health issues precipitate from a myriad of origins. We underline three common underlying causes: cumulative repair deficits, oxidative damage and metabolic acidosis. A unique set of predictive biomarkers (PBs) addressing these aspects is presented that has been developed on the premise that epigenetics influence 92% and genetics influence the remaining 8% of health. Together with an individualized and personalized treatment plan, this approach has shown to provide best health outcomes. Methods (1) To tailor therapeutic management of chronic conditions, predictive tests that have a variance of 5% or less are used and their “least risk, most gain” goal values are adhered to instead of usual or normal statistical ranges. This helps confirm specific individual need and facilitates effective monitoring of outcome results. Repair deficit is measured by hsCRP, oxidative damage measured by homocysteine, Omega 3 index, and 8OhdG; immune intolerance indicated by lymphocyte response assays and metabolic acidosis indicated by urine pH assessment. (2) Individualized nutrient protocols are formulated based on predictive biomarker results. (3) A metabolically alkalinizing diet is initiated with the goal to providing a buffering effect on cellular chemistry. For example, dietary sugars and refined flours are the single biggest triggers of inflammation driving hyperinsulinemia leading to a biochemical cascade that alters gene expression promoting inflammation. Results This proactive approach is evidence based and has been shown to lower costs while enhancing individual outcomes when compared to current best standards of care, reducing risks, and adding “years to life and life to years.” Conclusion There is a difference between known tests and functional predictive tests—identifies individual epigenetic risks better. Least risk-highest gain goal values are more relevant than normal lab values. Choosing the right kind of high-sensitivity biomarkers and adopting an associated lifestyle plan can improve quality of clinical care.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Williams ◽  
Lorna Farquharson ◽  
Ellen Rhodes ◽  
Mary Dang ◽  
Natasha Lindsay ◽  
...  

Background Questions have been raised regarding differences in the standards of care that patients receive when they are admitted to or discharged from in-patient units at weekends. Aims To compare the quality of care received by patients with anxiety and depressive disorders who were admitted to or discharged from psychiatric hospital at weekends with those admitted or discharged during the ‘working week’. Method Retrospective case-note review of 3795 admissions to in-patient psychiatric wards in England. Quality of care received by people with depressive or anxiety disorders was compared using multivariable regression analyses. Results In total, 795 (20.9%) patients were admitted at weekends and 157 (4.8%) were discharged at weekends. There were minimal differences in quality of care between those admitted at weekends and those admitted during the week. Patients discharged at weekends were less likely to be given sufficient notification (48 h) in advance of being discharged (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.39–0.78), to have a crisis plan in place (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.46–0.92) or to be given medication to take home (OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.30–0.66). They were also less likely to have been assessed using a validated outcome measure (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.50–0.97). Conclusions There is no evidence of a ‘weekend effect’ for patients admitted to psychiatric hospital at weekends, but the quality of care offered to those who were discharged at weekends was relatively poor, highlighting the need for improvement in this area.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandana Bhardwaj ◽  
Wan Ting Sow ◽  
Dipali Devi ◽  
Kee Woei Ng ◽  
Biman B. Mandal ◽  
...  

Development of highly vascular dermal tissue-engineered skin substitutes with appropriate mechanical properties and cellular cues is in need for significant advancement in the field of dermal reconstruction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 117955491875488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J FitzGerald ◽  
Maryann Bishop-Jodoin

With continued progress and success in clinical care, the management of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has undergone continuous revision to improve patient care outcomes and limit acute and late treatment effects on normal tissue imposed by therapy. Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease that affects children, adolescents, and adults. Clinical management strategies are influenced by the patient’s age at diagnosis, tumor burden, response to induction therapy, and potential expectation of treatment impact on normal tissue. The approach to patient management varies in many parts of the world and is influenced by treatment availability, physician training, and medical culture. Differences in approach are important to understand for accurately comparing and contrasting outcome studies. In this article, we will identify current areas of common ground and points of separation in patient care management for HL. Opportunities for clinical trial strategies will be defined for future clinical trials.


Author(s):  
Audrey Huong ◽  
Xavier Ngu

Current imaging systems available in the study of tissue hemodynamics and vascular reactivity are typically complex and bulky, hence limiting their applications to laboratory use. The aim of this study is to present the dynamics of skin oxygen level with changes in the microcirculatory perfusion monitored using a developed field portable, handheld tri-wavelength imaging system. The skin oxygen saturation level (StO2) was measured in-vivo in a span of 12 minutes in the ventral forearm of seven healthy humans at rest, before and after supra-diastolic and supra-systolic pressure inflations. The findings of this work showed statistical significance in the difference between the mean StO2 values in baseline and that following ischemic episodes with ρ ≤ 0.03. The values returned to baseline, although of different magnitude for each individual, within 2 min (ρ =0.217) during reperfusion could suggest the time required for the resume of normal autoregulation mechanisms and vasomotion reactivities in the recruits. This study concluded that the developed imaging system could find potential application in self-healthcare management and may help to improve patient care in remote or rural locations.


2020 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-106801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander T M Cheung ◽  
Brendan Parent

As the USA contends with another surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals may soon need to answer the unresolved question of who lives and dies when ventilator demand exceeds supply. Although most triage policies in the USA have seemingly converged on the use of clinical need and benefit as primary criteria for prioritisation, significant differences exist between institutions in how to assign priority to patients with identical medical prognoses: the so-called ‘tie-breaker’ situations. In particular, one’s status as a frontline healthcare worker (HCW) has been a proposed criterion for prioritisation in the event of a tie. This article outlines two major grounds for reconsidering HCW prioritisation. The first recognises trust as an indispensable element of clinical care and mistrust as a hindrance to any public health strategy against the virus, thus raising concerns about the outward appearance of favouritism. The second considers the ways in which proponents of HCW prioritisation deviate from the very ‘ethics frameworks’ that often preface triage policies and serve to guide resource allocation—a rhetorical strategy that may undermine the very ethical foundations on which triage policies stand. By appealing to trust and consistency, we re-examine existing arguments in favour of HCW prioritisation and provide a more tenable justification for adjudicating on tie-breaker events during crisis standards of care.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0025
Author(s):  
Jeff Houck ◽  
Jillian Santer ◽  
Kostantinos Vasalos ◽  
Judith Baumhauer

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: New instruments like the Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) minimize the burden to patients and providers addressing significant barriers to adoption. Despite these advances provider adoption remains lackluster. Models of technology adoption suggest adoption is more likely to occur when PRO’s directly improve patient care (performance expectancy) and it’s easy to implement (effort expectancy). Problems with effort expectancy are dealt with by training and improving logistics (i.e. eHR presentation, alerts), where performance expectancy is addressed through research (i.e. validation of thresholds). The purposes of this study were to: 1) evaluate the proportion of orthopedic rehabilitation providers who use PRO’s and how they use them; And, 2) to determine if performance expectancy, effort expectancy or provider burnout are related to provider use. Methods: Fifty rehabilitation providers (physical therapist and athletic trainers) anonymously completed the electronic PRO Adoption Survey. Participants were 23.4±5.8 years old and 54% were female. The purpose of the PRO Adoption Survey is to track adoption across health systems. The first section of the PRO Adoption survey includes whether providers use PRO’s and asks them to detail how they use them (Table 1). A factor analysis supported the use of sets of questions to determine performance expectancy and effort expectancy (Table 1). Performance expectancy captures the health benefits the provider expects to experience. Effort expectancy captures the provider’s expectations of how easy it will be to implement PRO tools. The validated Maslach-2 burnout scale (BO) was included as another a factor that may influence adoption. Proportions and chi square tests were used to describe provider use of PRO’s and its relationship with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and burnout. Results: The profile of PRO use by rehabilitation professionals is that a majority know about PRO’s (86%) however only 34% utilize PRO’s during clinic visits (Table 1). The most common PRO used is PROMIS (83%), followed by generic measures (41%) and disease specific (29%) measures. Type of use indicated the most common use was to make clinical decisions (71%) with relatively few using it for research (12%). Interestingly, 47% of PRO users review data with patients. The average responses for performance expectancy were 3.9 ± 0.1. The average responses for effort expectancy were 3.2 ± 0.2 or “neutral”. The average BO score was 4.6 ± 1.0. Chi square analysis suggested performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and burn out were not significantly associated with provider use. Conclusion: PROMIS scales are currently available in the electronic medical record(eMR) leading to high use (86%) by current PRO users (34%). High performance expectancy scores (~4/5) and low BO suggest providers can be motivated to use PRO’s. However, providers are neutral (~3/5) on how easy PRO’s would be to implement. Also, lower scores for performance expectancy associated with “aggregate” PRO data (only 54% marked “Agree” for this item) suggests training on specific uses of aggregate data are also indicated. These data detail the real issues providers need addressed to effectively capitalize on the benefits of PRO’s to improve clinical care.


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