Skin incision versus laser - the influence of different techniques on scar formation and lymphatic drainage in rats. A preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: The constantly rising number of skin malignancies and increasing cancer awareness encourage more people to visit outpatient clinics in order to have various skin lesions removed. Despite the fact that scarring is a physiological response to any excision procedure, minimizing the size of it is a goal of every good practitioner. Therefore the question arises whether different techniques used to remove skin lesions may impact the formation and quality of skin scars. AIM: To perform an evaluation of skin scars formed by laser and surgical incisions and their influence on lymphatic outflow in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five male rats were used. Using methylene blue, the migration of dye through lymphatic channels of the lower extremity was measured. Afterwards, transverse incisions were made distally using laser and a surgical blade. Wounds were left to heal by secondary intention. After 4 weeks dye migration assessment was repeated and tissue samples were obtained for microscopic evaluation. RESULTS: Wounds after surgical incisions healed entirely. Wounds after laser treatment had not healed, with a visible area of granulation tissue and hair loss. Significantly worse dye migration was observed in rat extremities after laser therapy than after surgical incision (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that the size of the scar can depend on the incision technique used. Larger scars after laser therapy limit the lymphatic flow of the skin, which may have an adverse effect on mapping sentinel lymph nodes. However, this hypothesis requires further research.

Fatty Acid Profile of Erythrocyte Membranes in Patients with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic systemic disease with a multifaceted pathomechanism and immunological basis, with the presence of inflammatory skin lesions and joint ailments. Diseases accompanying psoriasis include metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. It has been suggested that inflammation is involved in the development of each of these conditions. The main objective of this study was to analyse the fatty acid profile, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, in the erythrocyte membranes of patients suffering from psoriasis. A total of 58 adult patients of the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, suffering from psoriasis, were qualified for this study. The patients had undergone an interview and physical examination, during which the severity of psoriasis was assessed. All patients had their weight and height measured to assess their body mass index (BMI). After 3 months of treatment, biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, total cholesterol) and inflammatory markers (CRP) in the blood were assessed. In addition, the isolation of fatty acids (PUFAs, SFAs, MUFAs) from erythrocyte membranes and the qualitative and quantitative analysis of their profile using a gas chromatograph were carried out. In patients with severe psoriasis requiring systemic treatment, an altered profile of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes was found, including a significantly lower concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), which have an anti-inflammatory effect; a significantly higher concentration of saturated fatty acids; and a decreased concentration of oleic acid (omega-9), compared to the results obtained in patients with less severe psoriasis receiving topical treatment. In patients with psoriasis and BMI ≥ 25, significantly higher concentrations of AST and ALT in the blood and significantly higher concentrations of pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid in erythrocyte membranes were found. Elevated concentrations of saturated (R = 0.31) and monounsaturated fatty acids (R = 0.29) may correlate with a greater severity of psoriasis.

25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Concentration Is Associated with Protein Loss and Serum Albumin Level during the Acute Phase of Burn Injury.

BACKGROUND: Burned patients have an increased need for vitamin D supply related to the maintenance of calcium-phosphate homeostasis and the regulation of cell proliferation/differentiation. This study aimed to analyze the concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and its relationship with severe condition after burn injury. METHODS: 126 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were qualified due to thermal burns-over 10% of total body surface area. On the day of admission, the following parameters were assessed: 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration, total protein concentration, albumin concentration, aspartate transaminase activity, alanine transaminase activity, albumin concentration, creatinine concentration, c-reactive protein concentration, procalcitonin concentration, and interleukin-6 concentration. RESULTS: Almost all patients (92%) in the study group had an improper level of vitamin D (<30 ng/mL), with the average of 11.6 ± 10.7 ng/mL; 17.5% of patients had levels of vitamin D below the limit of determination-under 3 ng/mL. The study showed that there are several factors which correlated with vitamin D concentration during the acute phase of burn injury, including: total protein (r = 0.42, p < 0.01), albumin, (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), percentage of body burns (r = 0.36, p < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0.21, p < 0.05), and c-reactive protein (r = 0.22, p < 0.05). We did not find any significant correlation between vitamin D concentration and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The burn injury has an enormous impact on the metabolism and the risk factors of the deficiency for the general population (BMI) have an effect on burned patients. Our study showed that concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol is strongly correlated with serum albumin level, even more than total burn surface area and burn degrees as expected. We suspect that increased supplementation of vitamin D should be based on albumin level and last until albumin levels are balanced.