PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Bricout

Publications and source records attributed to N Bricout.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Chest morphology and breast augmentation].

When one considers breast augmentation, it is quite important to study the patient thoracic morphology, since the ribs are the base on which the implant rests. They are responsible for the implant orientation, and, in part, for the breast projection. Some malformations are obvious, neither the surgeon nor the patient underestimates the difficulties... However, often exist discreet abnormalities, which don't stick out right away. One must not ignore them, because they affect the result of an ordinary augmentation procedure. They must be identified and evaluated prior surgery. Thus, she will not be surprised or disappointed if the result is not exactly symmetrical, or what she was expecting. Aesthetic surgery requires the same demand than reconstructive surgery. The physical examination must be very thorough, looking for any asymmetry, even minimal, concerning volume, skin and bone. The position of the implants must be discussed not only according to the type of implants (inflatable or gel filled) but also according to the state of the skin, the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue, the amount of gland and the shape of the thorax.

Breast Implants↗

[Esthetic surgery of the breast].

The aesthetic surgery of the breast goes from one side to the other: make it bigger if it is too small, make it smaller if it is too big, tighten the skin if it falls. The situation is very complex because of the facts that these disgraces can be associated with different levels of severity, and that woman has two breasts each one often different from the other. But, if natural asymmetry is found so often, the surgeon should not reproduce it. Some problems cannot be solved yet: long time tolerance to the breast implants, unknowledge of the way the skin would heal, a very important factor for the reduction plasties. This surgery is a balance with two dishes: for example, the result that we are waiting for must not to be spoiled by a too big scar to obtain a small cosmetic benefit. The indications to operate should be given after they have been judged carefully and notified the patient very clearly about the advantages, inconveniences and expected complications.

Breast↗

[Technic of tissue expansion].

The technique of tissue expansion is rapidly developing. It resolves certain problems encountered in plastic and reconstructive surgery, in the scalp, for example, which constitutes an ideal indication. A correct strategy and technique, together with well defined indications allows a very significant reduction in the complication rate. The choice of prosthesis and its location also play an important role. There are many indications in the scalp, but tissue expansion may also be useful in Poland's syndrome, in giant naevi in children and for expansion of certain flaps. Rapid intra-operative expansion also appears to be a promising technique.

Cicatrix↗

Tamoxifen and hydroxytamoxifen isomers versus estradiol effects on normal human breast cells in culture.

Estradiol and triphenylethylene antiestrogen actions have been studied extensively in breast cancer cell lines. However, their effects are still poorly understood on normal human breast cells. We have developed a culture system of normal human breast epithelial (HBE) cells. It has been shown previously that cultured HBE cells were hormone dependent and well adapted for the study of hormone/antihormone actions. However, until now, no data were available on estradiol receptor (ER) in HBE cells. In this study, the presence of ER was demonstrated by (a) whole-cell biochemical assay on breast cells after enzymatic tissue dissociation and (b) an immunocytochemical method using an anti-ER monoclonal antibody both on enzymatically dissociated cells and on 8-day cultured cells. Immunostaining was nuclear and cell positivity was heterogeneous. However, the percentage of positive cells and staining intensity were far greater in the presence of estradiol in the culture, indicating estradiol stimulation of ER. Moreover, HBE cells were used to study the action on cell growth of estradiol versus trans-tamoxifen (TAM), trans-4-hydroxytamoxifen (trans-4OHTAM), and cis-4-hydroxytamoxifen (cis-4OHTAM) alone or added to estradiol. Cell growth was estimated daily by a histometric method and by DNA assay at the end of the 7-day study. When the medium was minimally supplemented with human serum (1%), estradiol stimulated cell growth in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations varying from 10(-9) to 10(-7) M. TAM and trans-4OHTAM clearly inhibited mammary cell division when estradiol was added to the medium and, to a lesser extent, in the absence of estradiol. This inhibitory effect was dose dependent. trans-4OHTAM was 100 times more active than trans-TAM. cis-4OHTAM also clearly inhibited breast cell division at 10(-7) and 10(-6) M concentrations but was 3-fold less efficient than trans-4OHTAM. In conclusion, (a) the presence and estradiol dependence of ER have been demonstrated in HBE cells, which constitute a fruitful model for the study of hormone/antihormone actions, and (b) in these normal cells, estradiol stimulates growth, whereas TAM and the 4OHTAM isomers are potent inhibitors of cell multiplication, as they are in breast cancer cell lines in culture.

Breast↗

Rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap of the lower type in breast reconstruction.

A lower rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap has been used in thirteen cases; in twelve patients for breast reconstruction with delay after mammectomy, and in one patient to close a defect due to an extensive mammectomy for cancer recurrence. In our opinion, the main advantages of the lower rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap are the very natural shape and the firmness of the reconstructed breast. The color and thickness of the abdominal skin is also quite similar to that of the chest. The low design of the cutaneous island, as in an abdominoplasty, gives an excellent cosmetic result. There is also enough skin and fat to make a breast implant unnecessary. In corpulent women the ends of the flap have to be resected to avoid partial necrosis. In slim women, the entire cutaneous island can be used. In all cases, repair of the musculo-aponeurotic wall has been performed without any prosthetic material. No foreign material has been used in this reconstruction. No eventration was observed in our patients.

Abdominal Muscles↗