The strategy for vaginal rejuvenation: CO2 laser or vaginoplasty?

BACKGROUND: Vaginal laxity may result from trauma to the pelvic floor muscle, which may affect patients' sensation and quality of life. Vaginal rejuvenation, including surgical or nonsurgical interventions, aims to improve laxity. In this study, we aimed to establish a strategy for vaginal rejuvenation by comparing surgical and nonsurgical methods. METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was performed on patients who complained about vaginal laxity from 2017 to 2019. The degree of vaginal laxity severity was evaluated by vaginal examination in each patient. The patients were categorized as having a light, moderate or severe degree of vaginal laxity, and different correction methods were chosen accordingly. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was administered to the patients preoperatively and at three months and one year after treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with severe-degree vaginal laxity were treated with vaginoplasty. The total FSFI score was 23.21±2.57 before the operation and significantly increased to 29.36±1.84 (P<0.01) at one year after surgery. Eleven patients with moderate-degree vaginal laxity were treated with vaginoplasty and had a significant improvement in the total FSFI score at one year after surgery (29.86±1.74, P<0.01) compared with the FSFI score before surgery (23.41±2.84). Three patients with moderate-degree vaginal laxity were treated with a CO2 laser and tended to have increased FSFI scores but did not show significant improvement after the operation. CO2 laser treatment was performed on 16 patients with light-degree vaginal laxity. The total FSFI score improved from 23.76±2.35 to 26.16±2.58 at one year (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The strategy for vaginal rejuvenation should be selected based on the degree of vaginal laxity severity. Surgical treatment is suitable for severe- and moderate-degree vaginal laxity while nonsurgical treatment is suitable for light-degree vaginal laxity.

[A pilot study of three dimensional printing of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs)].

PURPOSE: To establish a three-dimensional biological printing technique of hBMSCs. METHODS: The hBMSCs were regularly isolated and cultured, and adjusted to the density of 1x10(6)/mL single cell suspension. Then these cells were labeled by PI fluorescence marker, and transferred by rapid prototype biological printer. Deposition spots were 300microm apart at X-axis, 500microm at Y-axis, 50microm at Z-axis, and then observed by laser confocal microscope. RESULTS: This technique could deposit cells with good spatial control. In three-dimensional layer, each "cell ink" drop contained 15-35 hBMSCs post-transfer, and achieved accurate distribution with spots distributed 300microm apart at x-axis, 500microm at y-axis and 50microm at Z-axis. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that hBMSCs can be effectively delivered by a rapid prototype printer with speed and accuracy. Application of three dimensional printing is of great importance in tissue engineering bone.