When we cut our skin, groups of cells rush en masse to the site to heal the wound. But the complicated mechanics of this collective cell movement which are facilitated by rearrangements between each cell and its neighbors have made it challenging for researchers to decipher what's actually driving it. "If we can understand the key factors causing cell migration, then we could perhaps develop new treatments to speed up wound healing," says Jacob Notbohm, an assistant professor of engineering physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Notbohm and a Ph.D. candidate Aashrith Saraswathibhatla recently made a surprising discovery that sheds new light on how this collective cell migration happens. Through experiments, they found that the force each cell applies to the surface beneath it -- in other words, traction -- is the dominant physical factor that controls cell shape and motion as cells travel as a group. Notbohm says this unexpected finding provides a new interpretation of recent theoretical models.

[Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200124124508.htm]

The skin can protect us from many outside risks. Journal of Surgical Dermatology (JSD) focuses on publishing up-to-date and clinically-relevant information on all dermatological procedures. The Journal aims to play a significant role in reporting cases involving reconstructive and cosmetic skin surgeries, as well as skin cancers.

The journal accepts original research articles, reviews, case reports and short communications. Researchers, scholars, teachers and advanced students in the field of dermatology are expected to submit their papers!

For more information, please visit: http://www.jsurgdermatol.com/index.php/JSD