Biobanks play an increasing role in contemporary research projects. These units meet all requirements to regard them as a one of the most innovative and up-to-date in the field of biomedical research. They enable conducting wide-scale research by the professional collection of biological specimens and correlated clinical data. Pathology units may be perceived roots of biobanking. The review aims at describing the concept of biobanks, their model of function and scientific potential. It comprises the division of biobanks, sample preservation methods and IT solutions as well as guidelines and recommendations for management of a vast number of biological samples and clinical data. Therefore, appropriate standard operating procedures and protocols are outlined. Constant individualization of diagnostic process and treatment procedures creates the niche for translational units. Thus, the role of biobanks in personalized medicine was also specified. The exceptionality of biobanks poses some new ethical-legal issues which have various solutions, in each legal system, amongst the world. Finally, distribution and activity of European biobanks are mentioned.

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Objective: To analyze a novel navigation system utilizing augmented reality (AR) as a supporting method for fibula free flap (FFF) harvest and fabrication.Methods: A total of 126 simulated osteotomies supported with a cutting guide or one of two AR-based intraoperative navigation modules-simple AR (sAR) or navigated AR (nAR)-were carried out on 18 identical models of the fibula (42 osteotomies per method). After fusing postoperative computed tomography scans of the operated fibulas with the virtual surgical plan based on preoperative images, the objective outcomes-angular deviations from the planned osteotomy trajectory ( o ) and deviations of control points marked on the trajectory (mm)-were determined.Results: All analyzed methods provided similar accuracy of assisted osteotomies. The only significant difference referred to angular deviation in the sagittal plane, which was smaller after the cutting guide-assisted procedures than after the application of sAR and nAR (4.1 AE 2.29 vs. 5.08 AE 3.64 degrees, P = 0.031 and 4.1 AE 2.29 vs. 4.97 AE 2.91, P = 0.002, respectively). Mean deviation of control points after the cutting guide-assisted procedures was 2.76 AE 1.06 mm, as compared with 2.67 AE 1.09 mm for sAR and 2.95 AE 1.11 mm for nAR.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that both novel AR-based methods provided similar accuracy of assisted harvesting and contouring of the FFF as the cutting guides. This fact, as well as the acceptability of the concept by clinicians, justify their further development and evaluation in preclinical settings.

In recent years, lipofilling became a popular scar treatment method. Its beneficial outcomes have been partly attributed to the regenerative capacity of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), suspended in an extracellular matrix—the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). The aim of this review was to verify if existing data support the clinical use of ADSC-related interventions in scar treatment. A systematic search of the literature was performed in July 2020 in five databases (Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase). Articles written in English, except for reviews, letters and editorials, were identified and screened for eligibility. We looked for reports of any outcomes in scars treated with ADSCs or SVF. Data from selected articles were extracted and the quality of each study was assessed. Five hundred and fourteen studies were identified in the primary search, of which nineteen were eventually included in the systematic review. Extracted data pointed to beneficial microscopic, functional and aesthetic outcomes in a total of 665 patients. Six studies included comparative interventions—platelet-rich plasma or CO2 fractional laser. Collected data give low-to-average quality evidence for beneficial effects of ADSC-related interventions in scar treatment. Some studies suggest that these interventions are noninferior to PRP or fractional CO2 laser.