The effect of Tarantula cubensis D6 on zone of stasis in a rat burn model.

AIM: Burn injuries are one of the most devastating injuries. Saving the zone of stasis decreases burn size, morbidity, and mortality. Tarantula cubensis (TC) increases epithelization of wounds, and increases wound contraction. In this study, we investigated the effects of TC on the stasis zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 Wistar albino female rats were divided into 3 groups. Using brass comb burn model, at days 0 and 3, physiological serum solution in group 2, TC injection in group 3and no injection in group 1 was applied. Thermal and normal images were taken on day 10 and rats were sacrificed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant difference between the 1st and 3rd group, 2nd and 3rd group regarding viable wound areas (p < 0.05), temperature difference (body-stasis zone) and mean body temperature (p < 0.05). We found no statistically significant difference between groups regarding neovascularization, inflammatory density, and vital cutaneous appendages. We found a statistically significant difference in epithelial layer thickness between the1st and 3rd groups, 2nd and 3rd groups(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TC increases stasis zone viability macroscopically, increases epithelial layer thickness histopathologically, thus it promotes wound healing in burn wounds. This increase in stasis zone viability was also established with thermal imaging.

Recurrent Subcutaneous Abscess Due to Nocardia farcinica in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Nocardia farcinica differs from other species of Nocardia due to its multi-drug resistance and propensity to disseminate hematogenously. Cutaneous nocardiosis in immunocompetent patients is rare. PURPOSE: To describe the treatment and clinical trajectory of a 37-year-old male patient who was not immunocompromised and presented with a history of minor trauma from a canister and palpable subcutaneous draining nodules in the forearm. Purulent drainage was present. The injury had occurred 3 months before presentation. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple abscess foci up to 3 cm in diameter in the forearm muscles. The wound culture obtained after debridment indicated Nocardia farcinica as the cause. The case was difficult to manage despite serial debridements, negative pressure wound dressings, and culture-specific antibiotic treatments. The entire treatment process took approximately 7 months. The patient had 5 surgical interventions and more than 6 months of antibiotic treatment. Healing was eventually achieved but with a painful scar. CONCLUSION: Although nocardiosis has been documented to occur primarily in immunocompromised patients, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of immunocompetent patients if there is a history of skin injury and a late-onset subcutaneous draining abscess resistant to common treatment regimens.

Does the use of Dermojet affect the concentration of platelet-rich plasma? An in vitro experimental investigation.

Needle-free injection systems with high jet pressure have been used for seven decades for drug or vaccine administration via intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes. These systems are used for the application of mesotherapy drugs in plastic surgery and dermatology. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) tissue regeneration is applied intradermally by a needle for different indications, such as wound healing and scar revision. To prevent complaints such as pain, erythema, and ecchymosis by patients during this application, PRP was applied using Dermojet, a jet injector system with a spring-loaded system. In this study, after measuring the average platelet count in PRP preparations obtained from 18 volunteers, a 2.5 cc PRP shot into an empty tube was performed with Dermojet. The mean platelet count was measured in a homogenized tube. The same procedures were performed for platelet-poor plasma (PPP). The platelet loss rates for PRP and PPP were compared. In addition, the amount of PRP in each shot of the Dermojet was calculated. When PRP and PPP were applied using the Dermojet, platelet loss was 8.41% and 8.33%, respectively. The difference in the number of platelets formed in PRP and PPP when applied with Dermojet was not statistically significant. PRP application with needle-free injection systems, such as Dermojet, may be an alternative because of patient comfort and the negligible platelet loss compared with the PRP application with the standard needle injection.

The Effects of Colchicine-Impregnated Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose on Capsular Contracture.

Capsular contracture is the most common complication of breast augmentation. Oxidized regenerated cellulose can be used as a matrix for drug transport. Colchicine is an antimitotic drug that interferes with various steps of wound healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxidized regenerated cellulose alone or in combination with colchicine on capsular contracture. Twenty-one adult female Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 3 groups. In group 1 silicone blocks only, in group 2 oxidized regenerated cellulose-wrapped silicone blocks, and in group 3 colchicine-impregnated oxidized regenerated cellulose-wrapped silicone blocks were inserted in the dorsal region. Four weeks later, implants were removed and histopathological examination was performed. Capsular thickness, inflammatory infiltrate degree, collagen fiber organization, and myofibroblast density were evaluated. Macroscopic examination revealed a distinct capsule formation only in group 1 animals, with average measurement being 134.65 µm on histopathological examination. In groups 2 and 3 animals, no distinct capsule formation was seen. Inflammatory infiltrate degree was found to be less in groups 2 and 3 animals than in group 1 animals. Collagen fiber organization around the implants was found to be parallel and organized in group 1 animals, whereas it was random and disorganized in animals in both groups 2 and 3. High myofibroblast density was observed in animals in groups 1 and 2, while no myofibroblast was found in animals in group 3. The results of our study suggest that coating silicone implants with oxidized regenerated cellulose or with colchicine-impregnated oxidized regenerated cellulose may be effective in preventing capsular contracture.