Zeshaan Maan

Excess fibrous connective tissue, similar to scarring, forms during the repair of injuries. Fibroblasts are known to be involved, but their role is poorly characterized. Rinkevich et al. identify two lineages of dermal fibroblasts in the dorsal skin of mice (see the Perspective by Sennett and Rendl). A fibrogenic lineage, defined by embryonic expression of Engrailed-1, plays a central role in dermal development, wound healing, radiation-induced fibrosis, and cancer stroma formation. Targeted… Show more

Excess fibrous connective tissue, similar to scarring, forms during the repair of injuries. Fibroblasts are known to be involved, but their role is poorly characterized. Rinkevich et al. identify two lineages of dermal fibroblasts in the dorsal skin of mice (see the Perspective by Sennett and Rendl). A fibrogenic lineage, defined by embryonic expression of Engrailed-1, plays a central role in dermal development, wound healing, radiation-induced fibrosis, and cancer stroma formation. Targeted inhibition of this lineage results in reduced melanoma growth and scar formation, with no effect on the structural integrity of the healed skin, thus indicating therapeutic approaches for treating fibrotic disease. Show less

over 100 million patients acquire scars in the industrialized world each year, primarily as a result of elective operations. although undefined, the global incidence of scarring is even larger, extending to significant numbers of burn and other trauma-related wounds. scars have the potential to exert a profound psychological and physical impact on the individual. beyond aesthetic considerations and potential disfigurement, scarring can result in restriction of movement and reduced quality of… Show more

over 100 million patients acquire scars in the industrialized world each year, primarily as a result of elective operations. although undefined, the global incidence of scarring is even larger, extending to significant numbers of burn and other trauma-related wounds. scars have the potential to exert a profound psychological and physical impact on the individual. beyond aesthetic considerations and potential disfigurement, scarring can result in restriction of movement and reduced quality of life. the formation of a scar following skin injury is a consequence of wound healing occurring through reparative rather than regenerative mechanisms. in this article, the authors review the basic stages of wound healing; differences between adult and fetal wound healing; various mechanical, genetic, and pharmacologic strategies to reduce scarring; and the biology of skin stem/progenitor cells that may hold the key to scarless regeneration. Show less

Diabetes mellitus results in major comorbidities, including accelerated aging, and therefore represent a significant health burden worldwide. Vascular dysfunction is a major contributory factor, resulting in impaired wound healing, cardiovascular disease and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. While the etiology of abnormal neovascularization in diabetes is complex and paradoxical, the dysregulation of the varied processes contributing to the vascular response are due in large part to the… Show more

Diabetes mellitus results in major comorbidities, including accelerated aging, and therefore represent a significant health burden worldwide. Vascular dysfunction is a major contributory factor, resulting in impaired wound healing, cardiovascular disease and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. While the etiology of abnormal neovascularization in diabetes is complex and paradoxical, the dysregulation of the varied processes contributing to the vascular response are due in large part to the effects of hyperglycemia. In this review, we explore the mechanisms by which hyperglycemia disrupts chemokine expression and function, including the critical hypoxia inducible factor-1 axis, which is also disrupted in aging. We also evaluate potential therapeutic strategies that may one day help alleviate the healthcare burden of diabetes and aging. Show less

Wound healing is a highly evolved defense mechanism against infection and further injury. It is a complex process involving multiple cell types and biological pathways. Mammalian adult cutaneous wound healing is mediated by a fibroproliferative response leading to scar formation. In contrast, early to mid-gestational fetal cutaneous wound healing is more akin to regeneration and occurs without scar formation. This early observation has led to extensive research seeking to unlock the mechanism… Show more

Wound healing is a highly evolved defense mechanism against infection and further injury. It is a complex process involving multiple cell types and biological pathways. Mammalian adult cutaneous wound healing is mediated by a fibroproliferative response leading to scar formation. In contrast, early to mid-gestational fetal cutaneous wound healing is more akin to regeneration and occurs without scar formation. This early observation has led to extensive research seeking to unlock the mechanism underlying fetal scarless regenerative repair. Building upon recent advances in biomaterials and stem cell applications, tissue engineering approaches are working towards a recapitulation of this phenomenon. In this review, we describe the elements that distinguish fetal scarless and adult scarring wound healing, and discuss current trends in tissue engineering aimed at achieving scarless tissue regeneration. Show less

Scarring and tissue fibrosis represent a significant source of morbidity in the united states. despite considerable research focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying cutaneous scar formation, effective clinical therapies are still in the early stages of development. a thorough understanding of the various signaling pathways involved is essential to formulate strategies to combat fibrosis and scarring. while initial efforts focused primarily on the biochemical mechanisms involved in scar… Show more

Scarring and tissue fibrosis represent a significant source of morbidity in the united states. despite considerable research focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying cutaneous scar formation, effective clinical therapies are still in the early stages of development. a thorough understanding of the various signaling pathways involved is essential to formulate strategies to combat fibrosis and scarring. while initial efforts focused primarily on the biochemical mechanisms involved in scar formation, more recent research has revealed a central role for mechanical forces in modulating these pathways. mechanotransduction, which refers to the mechanisms by which mechanical forces are converted to biochemical stimuli, has been closely linked to inflammation and fibrosis and is believed to play a critical role in scarring. this review provides an overview of our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying scar formation, with an emphasis on the relationship between mechanotransduction pathways and their therapeutic implications. Show less

**Highly Commended in BMA Book Awards 2013**

Written in a clear and logical style, the book guides the reader through all aspects of clinical skills, from history taking, through key clinical examinations, to essential clinical procedures. Numerous full-colour illustrations help aid student understanding.

Clinical Skills Explained provides comprehensive, clear and easy-to follow coverage of this difficult subject area, not only detailing the core clinical skills techniques, but… Show more

**Highly Commended in BMA Book Awards 2013**

Written in a clear and logical style, the book guides the reader through all aspects of clinical skills, from history taking, through key clinical examinations, to essential clinical procedures. Numerous full-colour illustrations help aid student understanding.

Clinical Skills Explained provides comprehensive, clear and easy-to follow coverage of this difficult subject area, not only detailing the core clinical skills techniques, but also explaining why the techniques have to be performed in the particular way described. The book further aids student understanding by integrating clinical skills information with the basic pathology, anatomy and basic sciences that the students will be learning concurrently. Show less