Identification of Common Hub Genes in Human Dermal Fibroblasts Stimulated by Mechanical Stretch at Both the Early and Late Stages

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of aesthetic medicine practitioners towards laser and/or light therapy for hypertrophic scars

This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of aesthetic medicine practitioners concerning laser and/or light therapy for hypertrophic scars. Conducted at Hebei Medical University Third Hospital from December 25, 2023, to January 7, 2024, the cross-sectional study utilized a self-administered questionnaire to gather socio-demographic data and KAP scores. A total of 424 valid questionnaires were collected, with 220 (52.26%) female participants. The mean scores were 27.24 ± 4.28 for knowledge (range 8-40), 34.14 ± 3.49 for attitude (range 9-45), and 26.22 ± 3.46 for practice (range 6-30). Significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.471, P < 0.001), knowledge and practice (r = 0.593, P < 0.001), and attitude and practice (r = 0.640, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that both knowledge (OR = 1.260, P < 0.001) and attitude scores (OR = 1.547, P < 0.001), along with the intermediate professional title (OR = 0.233, P = 0.042), were significantly associated with proactive practice. The findings indicate a need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance practitioners' knowledge in this area.

Hair follicle stem cells promote epidermal regeneration under expanded condition

Skin soft tissue expansion is the process of obtaining excess skin mixed with skin development, wound healing, and mechanical stretching. Previous studies have reported that tissue expansion significantly induces epidermal proliferation throughout the skin. However, the mechanisms underlying epidermal regeneration during skin soft tissue expansion are yet to be clarified. Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) have been recognized as a promising approach for epidermal regeneration. This study examines HFSC-related epidermal regeneration mechanisms under expanded condition and proposes a potential method for its cellular and molecular regulation.

Mechanical Stretch Induced Skin Regeneration: Molecular and Cellular Mechanism in Skin Soft Tissue Expansion

Skin soft tissue expansion is one of the most basic and commonly used techniques in plastic surgery to obtain excess skin for a variety of medical uses. However, skin soft tissue expansion is faced with many problems, such as long treatment process, poor skin quality, high retraction rate, and complications. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of skin soft tissue expansion is needed. The key to skin soft tissue expansion lies in the mechanical stretch applied to the skin by an inflatable expander. Mechanical stimulation activates multiple signaling pathways through cellular adhesion molecules and regulates gene expression profiles in cells. Meanwhile, various types of cells contribute to skin expansion, including keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells, which are also regulated by mechanical stretch. This article reviews the molecular and cellular mechanisms of skin regeneration induced by mechanical stretch during skin soft tissue expansion.