Clinical application of both amniotic membranes and adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells in a cat with a large skin defect

Surgical procedures on large skin defects can be challenging in the short term due to the size of the lesion, infection, and tissue defect. A regenerative therapy for skin wounds has been applied to promote the healing process. An 8-month-old, Korean domestic short-haired female cat, weighing 3 kg, was rescued with extensive defects on the right flank to right inguinal region caused by bite wounds. In this case, amniotic membranes and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were used as the regenerative therapy to treat the large skin defect rather than a surgical intervention alone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case with of a large skin defect treated by applying allogeneic amniotic membranes and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells to a cat.

Covid-19 on Routine Testing In Eclampsia: A Duo Complication to Look out for in Pregnancy

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia. COVID-19 and pre-eclampsia have overlapping clinical features therefore challenging to differentiate. Since COVID-19 is not routinely tested among pregnant women, it’s prudent to test it among patients presenting with Pre-eclampsia-Eclampsia. Case Presentation: A 23 year old female Gravida 1 Para 0 at 36 weeks and 5 days of amenorrhea presented at Mal Super Specialty Hospital as a referral in a semi-conscious state after a severe attack of tonic-clonic seizures. Detailed history from the husband was insignificant except for a persistent cough for the last 7 days. She had denied any visual changes, headaches or vaginal discharge. Physical examination revealed a tachycardia (150 bpm), elevated blood pressure (187/111 mmHg), a tachypnea (36 breaths/minute) and SPO2 of 94% at room air. Routine COVID-19 Rapid test turned positive, and the urine dipstick was +3. Additional tests revealed a leukocytosis and elevated liver enzymes. Chest radiograph revealed prominent interstitial markings and a bedside transabdominal ultrasonography showed a live single intrauterine fetus in cephalic presentation with normal cardiac activity and movements. A diagnosis of a prime gravida with eclampsia and COVID-19 was made. She was managed with intravenous labetalol, she had already received a loading dose of IV Magnesium sulphate and we administered two maintenance doses during monitoring. Within an hour of admission, she had a spontaneous rupture of the amniotic membranes, with meconium stained liquor (grade 2), and the fetal heart rate (148 beats per minute) was reassuring. She had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery of a live male newborn. Shortly after delivery, she developed slight respiratory distress and significant fluid overload that was managed with furosemide. A COVID-19 RT-PCR came back negative for the neonate and positive for the mother. She was shifted to the COVID-19 treatment unit and contact limited with the child. She was kept on a course of tablets Ivermectin, zinc, vitamin C, a montelukast, azithromycin, metronidazole and injectable pantoprazole. They were discharged on day 15 after recovery with a negative COVID nasopharyngeal swab. Conclusion: A diagnosis of pre-eclampsia-Eclampsia should prompt testing for COVID-19.

Characterization of Cryopreserved Canine Amniotic Membrane

Amniotic membrane is an effective corneal reconstruction material in veterinary surgery. Cryopreserved amniotic membrane is widely used in practice. Properties of cryopreserved canine amniotic membranes are currently not well studied. This study aimed to compare three properties between canine amniotic membranes cryopreserved for 7 days and 30 days, including tensile strength, transparency, and cell viability. After their respective cryopreservation time, stress–strain curves of the cryopreserved membranes’ tensile strength were assessed using a universal testing machine. Both groups produced J-shaped stress–strain curves with statistically comparable parameters, including maximum stress, strain, and Young’s modulus. The percentage of cell viability was observed by trypan blue staining under a light microscope. Membrane transparency was tested with a spectrophotometer. Transparency tests showed high levels of light transmission and low haze, with no statistical difference between groups. Cell viability was statistically lower in the 30-day cryopreserved group. Tensile strength and transparency of cryopreserved CAM were not significantly impeded for up to 30 days. For CAM to be used as an alternative corneal transplant material in veterinary and regenerative medicine, further research on cell biology, biomechanical properties of the membrane, and cell viability should be conducted.

Features of surgical correction of various forms of hand syndactyly in children. Retrospective study of own treatment experience

Syndactyly is a congenital malformation which is characterized by impaired differentiation of upper extremity tissues. Surgical correction of syndactyly is aimed to achieve satisfactory cosmetic and functional result. Most often, elimination of the total syndactyly form of the fingers implies is achieved by techniques according to Flatt (1962), Cronin (1943), Gilbert (1986), Wood (1998), bone form requires usage of Buck-Gramko technique. Objective. To conduct a retrospective study of surgical treatment results in patients with various forms of hand syndactyly. Methods. The study included 84 patients (109 hands) with hand syndactyly who were operated during the period from 2012 to 2020 in the pediatric orthopedics clinic of the Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. The mean age of patients was 6.5 years (1 to 16), 39 (46.4 %) boys and 45 (53.6 %) girls. Most often syndactyly of III–IV fingers (105 (96.3 %) hands) was managed by the Wood method, namely in 63 (60.0 %) hands and 8 (7.6 %) cases with severe bone forms were corrected by Buck-Gramko method. Rotational skin pieces Ghani and Buck-Gramko were used for surgical correction of I–II fingers syndactyly. Treatment results were evaluated by the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Results. According to VSS, the treatment result was classified as satisfactory in 73 (67.0 %) hands. Complications were noted in 11 (10.1 %) cases: 2 patients (18.2 % of 11) with congenital amniotic membranes were found to have lysis of a free skin piece; 1 (9.1 %) after removal of the bony syndactyly form had deviation of the nail phalanx; 3 (27.3 %) with Poland-syndrome were shown to have scarring of the interdigital space; 5 (45.4 %) with a complex bony form of syndactyly further on developed pulling scars, which caused deformity of the fingers and resulted in a correction in the form of multistage Z-plastics. Conclusions. All the patients showed improvement in the function and cosmetic results of the hand at the end of treatment. The best results were obtained in the case of simple and total forms of syndactyly treated with Wood technique.