Zvonko Zadro

Hair transplantation on a free microvascular latissimus dorsi flap: case report.

AbstractLarge scalp defects can present as a challenging clinical problem for a reconstructive surgeon. We present a patient with a large scalp defect following an infection after neurosurgical treatment. Reconstruction of a defect was performed using a free latissimus dorsi flap with split-thickness skin graft. For achieving good aesthetic result, we transplanted 1000 minigrafts in 3 sessions on the latissimus dorsi flap. In our opinion, hair transplantation on a free microvascular flap is a viable and easy procedure with good aesthetic outcome for treating residual alopecia after reconstructing large scalp defects.

Tumor angiogenesis as an important prognostic factor in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (Stage IIIA)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate angiogenesis by determining the micro vascular density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor samples, and to analyze their associations with clinical parameters and survival. Tumor tissue specimens of fifty patients (41 males and 9 females), who underwent radical surgical treatment for NSCLC in stage IIIA (T1-3N2) were collected for immunohistochemical analysis. MVD evaluation was performed using an anti-CD31 monoclonal antibody and VEGF-A expression using a polyclonal anti-VEGF-A antibody. The results were associated with two-year survival. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations in the level of angiogenesis (high MVD) and shorter survival of patients with NSCLC (P=0.0007). VEGF-A expression showed no association with micro vascular density (P=0.51) or survival (P=0.68). There was no significant association between MVD and VEGF-A. The measurable, clinical MVD parameters could be used as a reliable prognostic factor for the survival of patients with advanced NSCLC.