BackgroundAmniotic-fluid-derived stem cells and amniocytes have recently been determined to have wound healing effects, but their mechanism is not yet clearly understood. In this study, the effects of amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes on wound healing were investigated through animal experiments.MethodsOn the back of Sprague-Dawley rats, four circular full-thickness skin wounds 2 cm in diameter were created. The wounds were classified into the following four types: a control group using Tegaderm disc wound dressings and experimental groups using collagen discs, amniotic fluid stem cell discs, and amniocyte discs. The wounds were assessed through macroscopic histological examination and immunohistochemistry over a period of time.ResultsThe amniotic fluid stem cell and amniocyte groups showed higher wound healing rates compared with the control group; histologically, the inflammatory cell invasion disappeared more quickly in these groups, and there was more significant angiogenesis. In particular, these groups had significant promotion of epithelial cell reproduction, collagen fiber formation, and angiogenesis during the initial 10 days of the wound healing process. The potency of transforming growth factor-β and fibronectin in the experimental group was much greater than that in the control group in the early stage of the wound healing process. In later stages, however, no significant difference was observed.ConclusionsThe amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes were confirmed to have accelerated the inflammatory stage to contribute to an enhanced cure rate and shortened wound healing period. Therefore, they hold promise as wound treatment agents.

The present study demonstrated that 1-day packing had comparable postoperative outcome with reducing the patients' discomfort. As such, a longer packing duration was not needed to achieve stable results one day is a reasonable packing time for most nasal bone fractures.

BackgroundHypospadias is the most common congenital malformation of the male urinary tract, wherein the urethral opening is located proximal to the normal site. Tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty reconstruction, and its efficacy, remains controversial due to the high recurrence rate. This study aimed to evaluate the results of dartos fascia-reinforced flap surgery in hypospadias patients with previous operative complications.MethodsNine patients (mean age, 12 years) who had previous one- or two-stage repair with TIP urethroplasty and suffered from urethrocutaneous fistulas or fissures as complications, underwent dartos fascia-reinforced flap surgery in our clinic between January 2010 and December 2012. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 6 months.ResultsAmong the 9 patients, 7 had complete correction. In all the patients, the maximum uroflow angle was >45°. No patient complained of an unnatural urinating position. The patients and parents gave very high satisfaction scores (4.7 points) with regard to the appearance of the outer genitalia.ConclusionThe dartos fascia-reinforced flap could be a useful and reliable option for complications of hypospadias repair or fissure with the prepuce preserved, given that histological aspects vary and that the possibility of recurrence in the glanular region is high.

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