The Effect of Oral L-glutamine on the Healing of Second-degree Burns in Mice.

UNLABELLED:  Background. The effect of oral L-glutamine on wound healing in two groups of mice with superficial second-degree burns was evaluated. METHODS: Thirty (30) male mice were included and randomly divided into two groups. First, the mice underwent general anesthesia, then an iron plate heated to 80˚C was placed on each animal's skin for 1 second to create a second-degree burn injury. The test group mice received glutamine powder (1 g/kg/day) dissolved in water; the control group did not receive this supplementation. The variables were weight, burn wound surface area (cm3), wound contraction, and wound healing percentage on days 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22. Serum levels of albumin, urea, and creatinine were assayed on days 1 and 22. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding weight or serum albumin, urea, and creatinine levels. However, mean wound contraction was significant between the groups on days 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22. Complete wound healing (100%) was achieved on day 22 in the test group compared to 71% healing in the control group. CONCLUSION: A significant and positive effect of oral glutamine on burn wound healing was found. However, further research is necessary in order to understand which stage of the healing process glutamine supplementation affected .

The Comparison of Clinical and Histopathological Effects of Topical Psyllium (Plantago ovata) Powder and Silver Sulfadiazine on Second-Degree Burn Wound Healing in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Burn wounds are a worldwide health problem, leading to physical and psychological disabilities in all age's groups. With regard to absorbent properties of Plantago ovata mucilage which can decrease wound moisture, we aimed to compare the effect of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) 1% and powdered P. ovata on second-degree burn wound healing in rats. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted on 30 male Wistar rats with second-degree burn in three groups. Group 1 (control) did not receive any treatment; group 2 and group 3 (treated groups) were dressed daily using SSD cream and P. ovata powder, respectively. The weight of rats, wound size (by applying ImageJ software) and percentage of wound healing on the 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd days (by diagnosing a plastic surgeon) and histological cutaneous changes at day 22 were evaluated. The Prism software was applied for data analysis. The Haematoxylin & Eosin as well as Masson's trichrome staining were performed on wound skin biopsies. RESULTS: On day 22nd, 20%, 50% and 60% of the rats had complete wound healing in the control, SSD and P. ovata groups, respectively. A significant decrease in wound size was shown in the treated groups compared to the control group (P<0.01), but no significant difference was shown between the treated groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: However, the wound healing in P. ovata group or SSD was better than the control group, and the significant difference was not found with the treated group.

Flap donor site size reduction with substratum horizontal mattress suture.

BACKGROUND: Closure of donor site of the flap has special problems. Reduction of this site will decrease the morbidity of operation. In this study, we present our experience in donor site size reduction. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2008, 15 patients with skin and soft tissue defects underwent operation. In all patients, coverage of defect was performed with various flaps. Substratum horizontal mattress suture was used to reduce donor site dimensions. In all 15 patients, size of the flaps, the defect after the flap elevation and the scar size were measured. RESULTS: The mean size of the flap, the defect after flap elevation, and the scar after 3 months were 43.9 cm(2), 69.4 cm(2), and 32.2 cm(2), respectively. There was 46.5% reduction in the donor site after using this suture. CONCLUSION: The substratum horizontal mattress suture was shown to de- crease the donor site dimensions and also its scar size in flap surgery. This suture is highly recommend in order to reduce donor site dimensions.

Evaluation of moving and static two point discriminations of volar forearm skin before and after transfer as a sensate radial forearm island flap in reconstruction of degloving injury of the thumb.

In degloving injury of the thumb the large skin defect needs cover with sensate, glabrous and pliable skin. Although coverage of this defect with a sensate free flap from the foot is the best choice, most commonly, cover is achieved using a non-sensate distant pedicle flap. Between 2001 and 2003, degloving injuries of the thumb in eight patients were reconstructed using a sensate radial forearm flap in the sensory territory of the lateral ante-brachial nerve of the forearm which was repaired to the digital nerve of the thumb (six cases) or to a branch of the sensory radial nerve (two cases). Follow-up period ranged from 17 to 41 months (mean: 29.9 months). Sensory evaluation was performed using the moving two point discrimination (M-2PD) and static two point discrimination (S-2PD) of the volar forearm skin. These altered significantly after transfer and their values approached those of the contra-lateral thumb but never reached normal sensation (p<0.01). Sensate radial forearm island flap is a reliable option to cover a large defect of the thumb such as degloving injury and the sensation produced is acceptable.