Use of autologous platelet rich fibrin-based bioactive membrane in pressure ulcer healing in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the feasibility of treating pressure ulcers (PUs) with autologous platelet-rich fibrin-based (PRF) bioactive membrane, both in vitro and in vivo. METHOD: An animal model using adult male Sprague-Dawley rats was used. Pressure was periodically exerted on the skin to induce localised ischaemia by using an external magnet and transplanted metal disc. After a PU developed, the rats were divided into two groups: a treatment group and a control group. Rats in the treatment group were then treated with PRF bioactive membrane every three days. RESULTS: A total of 20 rats were used in this study. At days three and seven, the PU area in the PRF bioactive membrane-treated group was significantly smaller than that in the control group, and after 14 days of treatment, the PUs in the PRF bioactive membrane treatment group had healed. Haemotoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot results indicated that PRF bioactive membrane induced wound healing by increasing the thickness of the regenerated epidermis and by upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Further, we found that different concentrations of rat autologous PRF soluble factors extraction components could significantly promote rat aortic endothelial cell proliferation, wound healing and migration ability in vitro. CONCLUSION: Overall, results indicate that PRF bioactive membrane promotes PU healing in rats. Thus, it may represent a natural and effective wound-healing tool for use in the treatment of clinical skin PUs in humans in the future.

[Maintenance effects of acupoint catgut embedding at early time on gastrointestinal function in patients with craniocerebral injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the maintenance effects of acupoint catgut embedding at early time on gastrointestinal function in patients with craniocerebral injury. METHODS: Sixty craniocerebral injury patients with 5 to 12 points of Glasgow coma scale (GCS), according to treatment order, were alternately divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Patients in the control group were treated with regular treatment and nursing care. Based on this, patients in the observation group, according to different pathogenesis and symptoms presented within 24 h into hospitalization, were additionally treated with acupoint catgut embedding. The recovery time of borborygmus, time of first anal aerofluxus, time of first defecation, abdominal pressure at different time points, the occurrence rate of complications (upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diarrhea, vomiting), time of enteral nutrition tolerance rate reaching 30 kcal/kg x d were observed and recorded. RESULTS: The recovery time of borborygmus, time of first anal aerofluxus, time of first defecation and time of enteral nutrition tolerance rate reaching 30 kcal/kg x d in the observation group were all earlier to those in the control group (all P<0.01). At 48 h, 4 d and 7 d into hospitalization, the abdominal pressures in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group [(11.10 +/- 1.47) mmHg vs. (13.50 +/- 1.43) mmHg, (8.40 +/- 1.25) mmHg vs. (11.90 +/- 1.56) mmHg, (6.73 +/- 0.74) mmHg vs. (10.80 +/- 1.30) mmHg, all P<0.01]. There were 8 cases with complications of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diarrhea and vomiting in the observation group with the occurrence rate o 27% (8/30), which was lower than those in the control group (70.0% (21/30), P<0.01. CONCLUSION: The acupoint catgut embedding at early time in craniocerebral injury patients could improve the recovery of gastrointestinal function, reduce intolerance of enteral nutrition and occurrence rate of various complications.