Efficacy and Safety of Pirfenidone in Patients with Second-Degree Burns: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies suggest that pirfenidone may have a potential off-label use for wound healing. However, the effectiveness of this medication in patients with burns remains uncertain. Accordingly, investigators sought to assess wound re-epithelialization in patients with second-degree burns after adding pirfenidone to usual care. DESIGN AND SETTING: Single-center pilot, proof-of-concept, single-blind randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Eight patients with second-degree burns were treated with occlusive hydrocolloid dressings and were randomly allocated to receive either no additional treatment or pirfenidone. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate wound healing between groups based on the thickness of the re-epithelialized epidermis at day 7. Secondary outcomes were to qualitatively assess the development of fibrotic tissue in the dermis, anomalies in the basal membrane, and the development of collagen fibers by histologic analysis. Liver and renal functions were measured daily to assess the overall safety of oral pirfenidone. MAIN RESULTS: Patients treated with pirfenidone showed a remarkable improvement in wound re-epithelialization at day 7 (148.98 ± 13.64 vs 119.27 ± 15.55 µm; P = .029; 95% confidence interval, 4.14-55.29). Histologic evaluations showed less wound fibrosis in the pirfenidone group. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in wound healing time by enhancing wound re-epithelialization was observed with pirfenidone. Larger clinical trials are needed to reach more reliable conclusions.

Effect of Decantation Time on Viability and Apoptosis in Adipocytes After Liposuction.

BACKGROUND: The effect of decantation time on viability and apoptosis in adipocytes has not been described. The objective of the study was to describe viability and apoptosis in adipocytes up to 2 h after harvesting. METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent esthetic liposuction from the abdomen were included. The lipoaspirate was obtained from the infra-umbilical area with the tumescent technique. Liposuction was performed with a 60-ml syringe and a 3-ml cannula. Lipoaspirates were centrifuged at 50 g for 5 min at 0, 60 and 120 min after harvesting. One gram of fat was digested with 0.1% type 1 collagenase and incubated at 37 degrees for 30 min. Adipocytes were counted on 10 random microscopic fields. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay. A fluorescence microscope was used to visualize the staining nuclei and cells. RESULTS: Regarding viability, immediately after harvesting, 57.6 ± 18.9% of the cells were viable, whereas 60 min after liposuction the viability decreased to 51.62 ± 8.8% and 120 min after liposuction the percentage of viable cells was 46.8 ± 16.9%. The percentage of apoptotic cells at time 0 was 38.2 ± 8.0%, whereas it was 51.24 ± 8.1% at 60 min and 62.9 ± 16.1% at 120 min after collection. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis and mortality of adipocytes after liposuction increase directly proportional to the time of decantation. Lipoinjection should be performed as soon as possible after harvesting. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Synovial Cyst of the extensor digitorum superficialis: A case report.

Background: A synovial cyst is a herniation of synovial tissue through a joint capsule, often mistaken for a ganglion cyst. The key distinctions are that synovial cysts have a synovial cell lining, while a ganglion cyst is delineated by dense fibrous connective tissue. Typically found near joints, synovial cysts are associated with conditions like osteoarthritis, prevalent in females aged 20 to 50. We present a rare case of a synovial cyst in the extensor digitorum superficialis of the right hand. Case summary: A 53-year-old Hispanic female visited our hand clinic due to a 3-year history of pain on the back of her right hand. At exploration, a 3 × 3 cm soft tumor was identified. Surgery revealed a clear-yellowish mass within the extensor digitorum superficialis tendon. Following the surgery, synovial cyst was confirmed by pathology and the patient was discharged without complications. Conclusion: This case highlights the rare presentation of an intratendinous synovial cyst and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive understanding of synovial cysts in the differential diagnosis of hand tumors.