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Lymphedema has always been a neglected global health care problem. A central requirement for the development of any chronic disease is the clear use of public health definitions that can be used internationally to define populations. The term ‘‘lymphedema’’ has historically been defined as either primary, resulting from failure of lymphatic development, or secondary, following damage to the lymphatics (e.g., cancer treatment, injury, or filariasis). Attempts to integrate causes of edema arising from damage to the venous system or the effects of gravity, immobility, and systemic disease have rarely been integrated. More recently, the prominent role of the lymphatics in tissue fluid homeostasis in all forms of chronic edema has been recognized. These advances led to the development of the term: ‘‘Chronic edema: a broad term used to describe edema, which has been present for more than three months.’’ It can be considered an umbrella term that includes not only conventional ‘‘lymphedema’’ but also chronic swelling, which may have a more complex cause. This definition has been adapted in the international epidemiology study (LIMPRINT) that identified people throughout the health and social care systems in participating countries. Clearer definitions will allow for examination of this important public health problem that is likely to escalate given the projections of an aging population with multiple comorbidities. It will be possible to define both the hidden mortality and morbidity associated with complications, such as cellulitis and the impact on health-related quality of life. This evidence is urgently required to lobby for increased resource and effective health care in an increasingly competitive health care arena in which more established conditions have greater priority and funding.

Venous ulcers are chronic transcutaneous wounds common in the lower legs. They are resistant to healing and have a 78% chance of recurrence within 2 years. It is commonly accepted that venous ulcers are caused by the insufficiency of the calf muscle pump, leading to blood pooling in the lower legs, resulting in inflammation, skin oedema, tissue necrosis and eventually skin ulceration. However, the detailed physiological events by which inflammation contributes to wound formation are poorly understood. We therefore sought to develop a model that simulated the inflammation, using it to determine the internal stresses and pressure on the skin that contribute to venous ulcer formation. A three-layer finite-element skin model (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) was developed to explore the roles in wound formation of two inflammation identifiers: glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and sodium. A series of parametric studies showed that increased GAG and sodium content led to oedema and increased tissue stresses of 1.5 MPa, which was within the reported range of skin tissue ultimate tensile stress (0.1–40 MPa). These results suggested that both the oedema and increased fluid pressure could reach a threshold for tissue damage and eventual ulcer formation. The models presented here provide insights to the pathological events associated with venous insufficiency, including inflammation, oedema and skin ulceration.

Obesity is a clinical condition that affects millions of people around the world and is associated with inflammatory processes. The aim of the present study was to report the association between obesity, lipedema, and systemic fluid retention, characterizing subclinical systemic lymphedema with aggravating factors. A 50-year-old female patient weighing 150 kilograms (body mass index: 60.2 kg/m2) reported being obese since childhood, but more located on the hips. She had a family history of this body configuration. Electrical bioimpedance analysis revealed generalized edema, constituting systemic lymphedema. Subclinical systemic lymphedema is caused by obesity and lipedema is also associated with this condition.

The V.A.C.-Prevena™ dressing (Prevena Incision Dressing) is suitable for the treatment of surgical high-risk wounds (closed surgical incision management). It leads to the reduction of wound in­ fections and to improvement of wound healing in patients with relevant secondary diagnoses (e. g. diabetes mellitus, obesity, nicotine abuse, vascular problems, etc.). This dressing is placed directly on surgical sutures and a vacuum device is used to create suction. This results in a reduction of possible complications in wound healing (wound infections, wound dehiscence, haematomas, seromas, oedema. The dressing can be left in place for several days. We were interested to find out whether a circular bandage, which is not only applied directly to the wound site but also to the wider wound environment, is more effective and whether there are new indications for this.

Cellulite is a change of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that develops mainly in the thighs and gluteal region of almost all women. Many concepts in the pathological physiology of cellulite are to some extent contradictory and inconclusive; however, some studies point to structural changes in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. A correlation of cellulite with focal hypertrophic subcutaneous connective tissue strands and lower density of connective tissue septa in subcutaneous tissue also point to changes in the related gluteal fascia and thus in the closely interlaced gluteal muscles. A rapid degenerative development of the muscle dynamics that were originally gained over generations unquestionably occurs in the Caucasian race and its related urbanization. The gender-specific dimorphism in the subcutaneous area must also be investigated further, since almost exclusively women are affected. For this reason we have anatomically examined male and female gluteal zones and demonstrated significant genderspecific changes. In particular, a weakening of the muscle-tendon and muscle-fascia dynamics of the gluteal muscles appears to be responsible for the round, superficially visible dermal changes. The entire embryonic unit of the muscle-fascia-skin structures in the buttocks and thigh area is involved in female cellulite. A transformation of these degenerative changes through regenerativemeasures, such as active movement and shock wave therapy is, therefore, appropriate and necessary.

Cellulite is a change of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that develops mainly in the thighs and gluteal region of almost all women. Many concepts in the pathological physiology of cellulite are to some extent contradictory and inconclusive; however, some studies point to structural changes in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. A correlation of cellulite with focal hypertrophic subcutaneous connective tissue strands and lower density of connective tissue septa in subcutaneous tissue also point to changes in the related gluteal fascia and thus in the closely interlaced gluteal muscles. A rapid degenerative development of the muscle dynamics that were originally gained over generations unquestionably occurs in the Caucasian race and its related urbanization. The gender-specific dimorphism in the subcutaneous area must also be investigated further, since almost exclusively women are affected. For this reason we have anatomically examined male and female gluteal zones and demonstrated significant genderspecific changes. In particular, a weakening of the muscle-tendon and muscle-fascia dynamics of the gluteal muscles appears to be responsible for the round, superficially visible dermal changes. The entire embryonic unit of the muscle-fascia-skin structures in the buttocks and thigh area is involved in female cellulite. A transformation of these degenerative changes through regenerativemeasures, such as active movement and shock wave therapy is, therefore, appropriate and necessary.

Lipedema is a clinical entity frequently misdiagnosed or confounded with primary lymphedema. Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder, also pathological itself, that occurs almost exclusively in obese women. It is characterized by bilateral enlargement from hip to ankle due to abnormal deposits of subcutaneous fat, usually sparing the feet. This disease usually occurs at or just after puberty. Patients may complain of pain, easy bruising of the affected areas with moderate to severe sensitivity to digital pressure or pinching, and mild edema after orthostatism. Lipedema results in considerable frustration and distress resulting from the cosmetic appearance. Imaging studies using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and lymphoscintigraphy are not indicated, except if the diagnosis is atypical or doubtful or to confirm lipedema. Long-term evolution may alter lymphatic system and lead to a lipo-lymphedema, then involving the foot, with specific complications such as cellulitis. Lipedema management is not codified and includes weight loss (which poorly improves leg appearance or discomfort), psychological counselling, compression therapy often poorly tolerated and physical activity, particularly aquatic. Liposuction using tumescent local anesthesia, may reduce edema, spontaneous pain, sensitivity to pressure, bruising and may improve appearance resulting in a notable improvement of quality of life. Clinical and physiopathological studies are still required to enable improved management of women having lipedema.

An endothelial cell monolayer separates interstitia from blood and lymph, and determines the bidirectional transfer of solutes and macromolecules across these biological spaces. We review advances in transport modalities across these endothelial barriers. Glucose is a major fuel for the brain and peripheral tissues, and insulin acts on both central and peripheral tissues to promote whole-body metabolic signalling and anabolic activity. Blood-brain barrier endothelial cells display stringent tight junctions and lack pinocytic activity. Delivery of blood glucose and insulin to the brain occurs through their respective carrier (Glucose transporter 1) and receptor (insulin receptor), enacting bona fide transcytosis. At supraphysiological concentrations, insulin is also likely transferred by fluid phase cellular uptake and paracellular transport, especially in peripheral microvascular endothelia. The lymphatic microvasculature also transports insulin but in this case from tissues to lymph and therefrom to blood. This serves to end the hormone's action and to absorb highly concentrated subcutaneously injected insulin in diabetic individuals. The former function may involve receptor-mediated transcytosis into lymphatic endothelial cells, the latter fluid phase uptake and paracellular transport. Lymphatic capillaries also mediate carrierdependent transport of other nutrients and macromolecules. These findings challenge the notion that lymphatic capillaries only transport macromolecules through intercellular flaps.

Lipedema is a fat disorder that is often misdiagnosed. It was first identified at the Mayo Clinic in 1940, but medical schools do not include it in their curriculum and is therefore poorly understood. It presents as disproportionate and symmetrical accumulations of fat (bilateral), which is often accompanied by orthostatic edema. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, as the disease is progressive and can lead to immobility as well as a significant decrease in the quality of life. Lipedema differs from obesity because it does not respond to diet and exercise. This article gives you a glimpse into what lipedema is about and will help you identify some differences between lipedema and lymphedema. It will also help you identify which surgical procedures have been successful in treating the disease.

The purpose of this work was to quantify 3.0 T (i) T(1) and T(2) relaxation times of in vivo human lymph nodes (LNs) and (ii) LN relaxometry differences between healthy LNs and LNs from patients with lymphatic insufficiency secondary to breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL). MR relaxometry was performed over bilateral axillary regions at 3.0 T in healthy female controls (105 LNs from 20 participants) and patients with BCRL (108 LNs from 20 participants). Quantitative T(1) maps were calculated using a multi-flip-angle (20, 40, 60°) method with B(1) correction (dual-T(R) method, T(R1) /T(R2)  = 30/130 ms), and T(2) maps using a multi-echo (T(E)  = 9-189 ms; 12 ms intervals) method. T(1) and T(2) were quantified in the LN cortex and hilum. A Mann-Whitney U-test was applied to compare LN relaxometry values between patients and controls (significance, two sided, p < 0.05). Linear regression was applied to evaluate how LN relaxometry varied with age, BMI, and clinical indicators of disease. LN substructure relaxation times (mean ± standard deviation) in healthy controls were T(1) cortex, 1435 ± 391 ms; T(1) hilum, 714 ± 123 ms; T(2) cortex, 102 ± 12 ms, and T(2) hilum, 119 ± 21 ms. T(1) of the LN cortex was significantly reduced in the contralateral axilla of BCRL patients compared with the axilla on the surgical side (p < 0.001) and compared with bilateral control values (p < 0.01). The LN cortex T(1) asymmetry discriminated cases from controls (p = 0.004) in a multiple linear regression, accounting for age and BMI. Human 3.0 T T(1) and T(2) relaxation times in axillary LNs were quantified for the first time in vivo. Measured values are relevant for optimizing acquisition parameters in anatomical lymphatic imaging sequences, and can serve as a reference for novel functional and molecular LN imaging methods that require quantitative knowledge of LN relaxation times.

INTRODUCTION: Lipedema is a syndrome that is characterised by edema, an accumulation of fat, pain and haematomas in the lower limbs that principally affects women. Diagnosis is currently based on clinical criteria, since there is no accurate diagnostic imaging for the condition. The aim of our study was to describe the lymphoscintigraphic findings in patients with lipedema. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective cohort study of women with clinical criteria of lipedema who underwent lymphoscintigraphy. Two independent nuclear physicians described and classified the lymphoscintigraphy findings in different grades of severity, according to the migration and distribution of the radiopharmaceutical. Eighty three patients were included with a median age of 49.7years (range: 18-80) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.9kg/m(2) (95%CI: 28.4-31.3) RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy showed alterations in 47% of the patients, most were low (35.9%) or low-moderate grade (48.7%). None of the patients were severely affected (no migration of the radiopharmaceutical). The degree of lymphoscintigraphic involvement bore no relation to age (P=.674), Stemmer's sign (P=.506), or BMI (P=.832). We found lymphoscintigraphy findings in all the clinical stages of lipedema, with no significant differences between the grade of lymphoscintigraphic involvement and the clinical stage of lipedema (P=.142). CONCLUSION: Although lymphoscintigraphy has been used to differentiate lipedema from lymphedema, we found frequent alterations in the patients with lipedema, therefore the presence of findings dues not discount a diagnosis of lip1aedema.

Although liposuction of lipoedema is a well-established therapeutic option in plastic and reconstructive surgery, the commonly known operative protocols vary widely between clinics. A precise summary of all described protocols and a critical evaluation have not been published to date. This review aims to create a basic structure for future Standard Operative Protocols (SOPs) in the surgical treatment of lipoedema. For that purpose, 140 publications on therapeutic approaches concerning lipoedema have been reviewed and systematically categorized. The results indicate fundamental differences in treatment strategies as well as minor differences in organizational management.

Lipoedema is painful nodular subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) on legs and arms of women sparing the trunk. People with Dercum disease (DD) have painful SAT masses. Lipoedema and DD fat resists loss by diet and exercise. Treatments other than surgery are needed. Six women with lipoedema and one with DD underwent twelve 90-min sessions over 4 weeks. Body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry scan, leg volume, weight, pain, bioimpedance, tissue size by caliper and ultrasound were analysed before and after SAT therapy by paired t-tests. There was a significant decrease from baseline to end of treatment in weight, 87.6 ± 21 to 86.1 ± 20.5 kg (P = 0.03), leg fat mass 17.8 ± 7.7 to 17.4 ± 7.6 kg (P = 0.008), total leg volume 12.9 ± 4 to 12 ± 3.5 L (P = 0.007), six of 20 calliper sites and tissue oedema. Pain scores did not change significantly. By ultrasound, six women had 22 hyperechoic masses in leg fat that resolved after treatment; five women developed seven new masses. Fascia improved by ultrasound after treatment. SAT therapy reduced amount and structure of fat in women with lipoedema and Dercum disease; studies are needed to compare SAT therapy to other therapies.

BACKGROUND: Tape measures continue to be used for the diagnosis and evaluation of lipoedema and lymphoedema in the clinical routine. Extremity volumes are calculated based on standardised circumferential measurements. Other volume measurements such as water displacement are not applied on a regular basis. This study aimed to evaluate a 3D scanner as an alternative and reproducible tool to objectively measure the volumes of the lower extremity. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHOD: We used a commercially available 3D scanner, the Artec Eva(®), to perform 3D scans of the lower extremities on 20 subjects and calculated the volume using the appropriate software. In addition, limb volume was determined with standardised methods using the circumferential method (cone method and disc method) and the water displacement technique. The results and the time taken to perform the three measurement methods were documented and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant deviations between the results from 3D volumetry and water displacement (p > 0.05). The cone method significantly overestimated the volume measured by water displacement and 3D volumetry. The disc method revealed no statistically significant differences, but clinically relevant differences with a high variance in the 95 % confidence interval. All methods demonstrated high positive correlations with each other. Water displacement was the most timeconsuming method. CONCLUSION: Our findings obtained from the examination of 40 lower extremities show that 3D scans and software-based volumetric calculations can achieve objective and reproducible measurements in a relatively short time. The deviation from the gold-standard method of water displacement is small. Compared with the cone and disc method, however, we observed clinically relevant deviations with a high variance. We therefore recommend the 3D scan procedure for the objective documentation of conservative and surgical treatments for lipoedema or lymphoedema and have incorporated it into our clinical routine.