RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to assess and evaluate the role of transforming growth factor-beta(1), epidermal growth factor, and their respective carriers (collagen and liposomes) in the early phases of the wound-healing process in linear incision wounds; we used an in vivo biomechanical testing system. One hundred twenty specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five experimental groups (n = 24), including one group receiving no treatment at all. Each animal received one abdominal midline incision. At 3 and 5 days after wounding, 12 animals per group were randomly selected for in vivo biomechanical evaluation. Specimens were also randomly obtained from nondisrupted tissues for histologic analysis. Statistical analysis comparing groups revealed that transforming growth factor-beta(1) significantly increased wound strength at day 5, and liposomes decreased wound strength at day 3. There were no other significant differences among groups for each of the time intervals studied. Our results suggest that in vivo biomechanical evaluation of tissue response to injury and treatments will add new dimension to future studies of skin and wound healing.
RESUMEN
PIP: Rhythm has been among the family planning methods endorsed since the start of the National Population Program in the Philippines, but it has not been given as much emphasis as the other methods such as oral contraception (OC), the IUD, and sterilization. For several years, no systematic effort was made to promote the effective use of rhythm. The 1978 Community Outreach Survey (COS) tried to determine the extent to which contraceptive methods were being used in the Outreach Project areas. The project covered 2,000 barangay service points (BSPs) with 1.76 million married couples of reproductive age (MCRA), representing 32% of the estimated total MCRA in the Philippines. The COS findings revealed that, of the total sexually active married women aged 15-49, 48% were using contraceptive methods. Of these, only 11.4% were using modern methods, 20% were using other program methods (rhythm, condom, and combination of rhythm and condom); and 16.7% were using nonprogram methods (withdrawal, abstinence, and others). When used in combination with other methods, rhythm had a monthly continuation rate of 96%; when used alone, 94%. The COS data showed that the rhythm method is practiced by a large number of Filipino couples. With the renewed interest in rhythm, it became imperative for the program to help rhythm acceptors use the method more effectively and thus reduce user failure. There continues to be need for data on the "product image" of rhythm. These include the emotions that come into play in the acceptance or rejection of rhythm, the perceived side effects as well as advantages of the method, the ways women communicate their "safe" and "unsafe" days to their husbands, the manner in which couples prevent sexual contact during "unsafe" days, and the attitude of couples toward abstinence. Among important study findings were the following: couples choose rhythm because it does not disturb the sexual act, has no side effects, and poses no religious objections; 1 of the problems of rhythm users is that they get varied explanations and instructions from service delivery personnel on the correct way to practice rhythm; and many rural women do not have a clear understanding of the menstrual cycle. Requirements of successful rhythm practice include cooperation, regular cycle, and the couple's age.^ieng
