Transcutaneous oximetry values in chronic ulcer patients during Hyperbaric treatment at 1.4 ATA compared to 2 ATA.

Chronic wounds have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. Different pathologies, such as poor blood supply and tissue breakdown, may lead to inadequate oxygenation of the wound. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) is a widely used treatment for an increasing number of medical practices. A new so-called "hyperbaric treatment" trend has emerged. The use of low-pressure, soft-sided, or inflatable chambers represents a growing trend in hyperbaric medicine. Used in professional settings as well as directly marketed to individuals for home use, they are promoted as equivalent to clinical hyperbaric treatments provided in medical centers. However, these chambers are pressurized to 1.3 atmospheres absolute (ATA) on either air or with an oxygen concentrator, both generate oxygen partial pressures well below those used in approved hyperbaric centers for UHMS-approved indications. A total of 130 consecutive patients with chronic ulcers where tested. TcPO2 was measured near the ulcer area while the patient was breathing 100% O2 at 1.4 ATA for five and 10 minutes. The average TcPO2 at 1.4 ATA after 10 minutes of O2 breathing was 161 mmHg (1-601 mmHg, standard deviation 137.91), compared to 333 mmHg in 2 ATA (1-914±232.56), p < 0.001. Each electrode tested was also statistically significant, both after five minutes of O2 breathing and after 10 minutes. We have not found evidence supporting the claim that 1.4 ATA treatment can benefit a chronic ulcer patient. The field of HBO2 is constantly evolving. We have discovered new ways to treat previously incurable ailments. Nevertheless, it is important to note that new horizons must be examined scientifically, supported by evidence-based data. The actual effect of 1.4 ATA on many ailments is yet to be determined.

Empagliflozin in children with glycogen storage disease-associated inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical trial.

Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD-Ib) is a rare inborn error of glycogen metabolism caused by mutations in SLC37A4. Patients with GSD-Ib are at high risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We evaluated the efficacy of empagliflozin, a renal sodium‒glucose cotransporter protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on colonic mucosal healing in patients with GSD-associated IBD. A prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical trial enrolled eight patients with GSD-associated IBD from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital in China from July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. Eight patients were enrolled with a mean age of 10.34 ± 2.61 years. Four male and four female. The endoscopic features included deep and large circular ulcers, inflammatory hyperplasia, obstruction and stenosis. The SES-CD score significantly decreased at week 48 compared with before empagliflozin. Six patients completed 48 weeks of empagliflozin therapy and endoscopy showed significant improvement or healing of mucosal ulcers, inflammatory hyperplasia, stenosis, and obstruction. One patient had severe sweating that required rehydration and developed a urinary tract infection. No serious or life-threatening adverse events. This study suggested that empagliflozin may promote colonic mucosal healing and reduce hyperplasia, stenosis, and obstruction in children with GSD-associated IBD.

Key lifestyles and health outcomes across 16 prevalent chronic diseases: A network analysis of an international observational study.

Background: Central and bridge nodes can drive significant overall improvements within their respective networks. We aimed to identify them in 16 prevalent chronic diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to guide effective intervention strategies and appropriate resource allocation for most significant holistic lifestyle and health improvements. Methods: We surveyed 16 512 adults from July 2020 to August 2021 in 30 territories. Participants self-reported their medical histories and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes. For each disease subgroup, we generated lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks. Variables with the highest centrality indices in each were identified central or bridge. We validated these networks using nonparametric and case-dropping subset bootstrapping and confirmed central and bridge variables' significantly higher indices through a centrality difference test. Findings: Among the 48 networks, 44 were validated (all correlation-stability coefficients >0.25). Six central lifestyle factors were identified: less consumption of snacks (for the chronic disease: anxiety), less sugary drinks (cancer, gastric ulcer, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes), less smoking tobacco (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), frequency of exercise (depression and fatty liver disease), duration of exercise (irritable bowel syndrome), and overall amount of exercise (autoimmune disease, diabetes, eczema, heart attack, and high cholesterol). Two central health outcomes emerged: less emotional distress (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eczema, fatty liver disease, gastric ulcer, heart attack, high cholesterol, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes) and quality of life (anxiety, autoimmune disease, cancer, depression, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome). Four bridge lifestyles were identified: consumption of fruits and vegetables (diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and insomnia), less duration of sitting (eczema, fatty liver disease, and heart attack), frequency of exercise (autoimmune disease, depression, and heart attack), and overall amount of exercise (anxiety, gastric ulcer, and insomnia). The centrality difference test showed the central and bridge variables had significantly higher centrality indices than others in their networks (P < 0.05). Conclusion: To effectively manage chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced interventions and optimised resource allocation toward central lifestyle factors, health outcomes, and bridge lifestyles are paramount. The key variables shared across chronic diseases emphasise the importance of coordinated intervention strategies.

The association between tobacco smoking and systolic toe pressures in active foot ulceration.

Smoking may increase the risk of diabetic foot disease and ulceration. It does so by impairing glycaemic control and promoting the formation of advanced glycated end-products. Additionally, smoking is known to delay surgical wound healing and accelerate peripheral arterial disease. We aimed to determine whether toe pressures differed in smokers with a foot ulcer, when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers, as well as ulcer outcomes at 12 months, among patients attending Blacktown Hospital High Risk Foot Service (HRFS). This study is a retrospective analysis of our prospectively collected clinic database. Eligible participants were adults attending the HRFS between June 2020 and April 2022. Participants were included if they had an ulcer, at least one systolic toe pressure reading completed at their initial visit and attended at least one follow-up visit. Participants were followed until healing, loss to follow-up or a minimum of 12 months. A total of 195 participants were included; 36 smokers, 82 ex-smokers, and 77 controls who had never smoked. Smoking status was by self-report. Current smokers were significantly younger at initial presentation (p = .002) and tended towards lower socioeconomic status (p = .067). Current smokers were significantly more likely to have ischaemic grade 3 toe pressures (< 30 mmHg) of their left foot (p = .027), suggestive of reduced perfusion. At the end of follow up period, smokers had the numerically highest rates of minor amputations. In conclusion, smokers ulcerate younger and are more likely to have grade 3 ischaemia. Collecting information about the brachial artery pressures and the time since the last cigarette may clarify any relationship between smoking and toe pressures.Trial registration: WSLHD HREC ethics approval 2111-02 and ANZCTR registration 382470. Registered on 15/09/2021.

Topical pravibismane as adjunctive therapy for moderate or severe diabetic foot infections: A phase 1b randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

This Phase 1b study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pravibismane, a novel broad-spectrum topical anti-infective, in managing moderate or severe chronic diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study consisted of 39 individuals undergoing pravibismane treatment and 13 individuals in the placebo group. Assessment of safety parameters included clinical observations of tolerability and pharmacokinetics from whole blood samples. Pravibismane was well-tolerated and exhibited minimal systemic absorption, as confirmed by blood concentrations that were below the lower limit of quantitation (0.5 ng/mL) or in the low nanomolar range, which is orders of magnitude below the threshold of pharmacological relevance for pravibismane. Pravibismane treated subjects showed approximately 3-fold decrease in ulcer size compared to the placebo group (85% vs. 30%, p = 0.27). Furthermore, the incidence of ulcer-related lower limb amputations was approximately 6-fold lower (2.6%) in the pooled pravibismane group versus 15.4% in the placebo group (p = 0.15). There were no treatment emergent or serious adverse events related to study drug. The initial findings indicate that topical pravibismane was safe and potentially effective treatment for improving recovery from infected chronic ulcers by reducing ulcer size and facilitating wound healing in infected DFUs (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02723539).

Risk factors for postoperative bleeding following endoscopic submucosal dissection in early gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early gastric cancer (EGC) presents a significant challenge in surgical management, particularly concerning postoperative bleeding following endoscopic submucosal dissection. Understanding the risk factors associated with postoperative bleeding is crucial for improving patient outcomes. METHODS: Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library without publication date restrictions. The inclusion criteria encompassed observational studies and randomized controlled trials focusing on EGC patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection and their risk factors for postoperative bleeding. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was utilized for quality assessment. The effect size was calculated using random or fixed-effects models based on the observed heterogeneity. We assessed the heterogeneity between studies and conducted a sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: In our meta-analysis, 6 studies involving 4868 EGC cases were analyzed. The risk of postoperative bleeding was notably increased with intraoperative ulcer detection (odds ratio: 1.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-3.76, I2 = 61.0%, P = .025) and antithrombotic medication use (odds ratio: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.16-3.51, I2 = 57.2%, P = .039). Lesion resection size showed a significant mean difference (5.16, 95% CI: 2.97-7.98, P < .01), and longer intraoperative procedure time was associated with increased bleeding risk (mean difference: 11.69 minutes, 95% CI: 1.82-26.20, P < .05). Sensitivity analysis affirmed the robustness of these findings, and publication bias assessment indicated no significant bias. CONCLUSIONS: In EGC treatment, the risk of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding is intricately linked to factors like intraoperative ulcer detection, antithrombotic medication use, the extent of lesion resection, and the length of the surgical procedure. These interwoven risk factors necessitate careful consideration and integrated management strategies to enhance patient outcomes and safety in EGC surgeries.

Surgical treatment and outcomes of acute and chronic ulcers on the penis following injection of foreign substances.

In this paper, we present our experience with acute and chronic penile ulcers resulting from injection of an exogenous substance and their surgical treatment.

Oral ulcer treatment using human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated in trimethyl chitosan hydrogel: an animal model study.

BACKGROUND: Oral ulcers are a common side effect of chemotherapy and affect patients' quality of life. While stem cell transplantation is a potential treatment for oral ulcers, its efficacy is limited as the stem cells tend to remain in the affected area for a short time. This study aims to develop a treatment for oral ulcers by using trimethyl chitosan (TMC) hydrogel with human tonsil-derived stem cells (hTMSCs) to increase the therapeutic effect of stem cells and investigate their effectiveness. METHODS: Animals were divided into four experimental groups: Control, TMC hydrogel, hTMSCs, and hTMSCs loaded in TMC hydrogel (Hydrogel + hTMSCs) (each n = 8). Oral ulcers were chemically induced by anesthetizing the rats followed by injection of dilute acetic acid in the right buccal mucosa. After confirming the presence of oral ulcers in the animals, a single subcutaneous injection of 100 µL of each treatment was applied to the ulcer area. Histological analyses were performed to measure inflammatory cells, oral mucosal thickness, and fibrosis levels. The expression level of inflammatory cytokines was also measured using RT-PCR to gauge therapeutic the effect. RESULTS: The ulcer size was significantly reduced in the TMC hydrogel + hTMSCs group compared to the control group. The stem cells in the tissue were only observed until Day 3 in the hTMSCs treated group, while the injected stem cells in the TMC Hydrogel + hTMSCs group were still present until day 7. Cytokine analysis related to the inflammatory response in the tissue confirmed that the TMC Hydrogel + hTMSCs treated group demonstrated superior wound healing compared to other experimental groups. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the adhesion and viability of current stem cell therapies can be resolved by utilizing a hydrogel prepared with TMC and combining it with hTMSCs. The combined treatment can promote rapid healing of oral cavity wounds by enhancing anti-inflammatory effects and expediting wound healing. Therefore, hTMSC loaded in TMC hydrogel was the most effective wound-healing approach among all four treatment groups prolonging stem cell survival. However, further research is necessary to minimize the initial inflammatory response of biomaterials and assess the safety and long-term effects for potential clinical applications.

The frictional energy absorber effectiveness and its impact on the pressure ulcer prevention performance of multilayer dressings.

Pressure ulcers including heel ulcers remain a global healthcare concern. This study comprehensively evaluates the biomechanical effectiveness of the market-popular ALLEVYN® LIFE multilayer dressing in preventing heel ulcers. It focuses on the contribution of the frictional sliding occurring between the non-bonded, fully independent layers of this dressing type when the dressing is protecting the body from friction and shear. The layer-on-layer sliding phenomenon, which this dressing design enables, named here the frictional energy absorber effectiveness (FEAE), absorbs approximately 30%-45% of the mechanical energy resulting from the foot weight, friction and shear acting to distort soft tissues in a supine position, thereby reducing the risk of heel ulcers. Introducing the novel theoretical FEAE formulation, new laboratory methods to quantify the FEAE and a review of relevant clinical studies, this research underlines the importance of the FEAE in protecting the heels of at-risk patients. The work builds on a decade of research published by our group in analysing and evaluating dressing designs for pressure ulcer prevention and will be useful for clinicians, manufacturers, regulators and reimbursing bodies in assessing the effectiveness of dressings indicated or considered for prophylactic use.

Partial herd hoof trimming results in a higher economic net benefit than whole herd hoof trimming in dairy herds.

Sole ulcers, a common cause of lameness is the costliest non-infectious foot lesion in dairy cows and one of the most prevalent non-infectious foot lesions in freestall housing systems. Costs associated with sole ulcers are treatment costs, plus increased labor and decreased productivity and fertility. Routine hoof trimming is part of a strategy to manage sole ulcers. However, hoof trimming strategies differ among farms. The two most frequently applied strategies are: 1) partial herd hoof trimming with a 2-month interval between trims; and 2) whole herd hoof trimming at 6-month intervals. A Markov model was developed to investigate whether every 2 months partial herd hoof trimming or whole herd hoof trimming every 6 months was the most cost-effective strategy to avoid costs associated with sole ulcers. In this model, the net benefits for a 100-cow herd and the average productive life span of a dairy cow in intensive dairy systems of 3 years were evaluated. Partial herd hoof trimming was the most cost-effective strategy 100% of the time compared to whole herd hoof trimming, with a difference in 3-year net benefits of US$4,337 (95% CI: US$2,713-US$5,830). Based on sensitivity analyses, variables that were the sources of the biggest uncertainty in the model were herd size, the probability of being trimmed in a partial herd trim, and the prevalence of sole ulcers. To further investigate the impacts of herd size and of probability of being trimmed, various scenario analyses were conducted. With increasing herd size, the difference in net benefits in favor of partial herd hoof trimming increased even more. Scenario analyses about the probability of getting trimmed all indicated that targeted intervention increased the difference in net benefits in favor of partial herd hoof trimming. However, if the selection of cows to be trimmed in a partial herd trim was random, the whole herd hoof trimming strategy became cost-effective. Therefore, targeted selection and early intervention are necessary to decrease costs associated with sole ulcers.

Percentage of patients shifting to another treatment modality: An experience-guided decision.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the frequency with which orthodontic patients decided to shift to another type of orthodontic appliance, among conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner, based on their personal experiences of pain, ulcers, bad breath, hygiene issues and social difficulties. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study comprises of patients seeking orthodontic treatment. The sample (n = 500; age group = 19-25 years) was divided equally into four groups based on the treatment modality: conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner. Patients rated the questionnaire using a visual analogue scale, to assess variables (such as pain, ulcer etc) that impact various treatment modalities. Subsequently, patients from all groups provided feedback regarding their treatment experiences, and expressed their preference for an alternative modality. Intergroup comparison among the four groups was done using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's HSD post-hoc test (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: Patients who received lingual brackets reported higher levels of pain and ulceration, as compared to those who received clear aligners. All four groups showed statistically significant differences for ulcers during treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Of the 125 patients who received conventional metal brackets, 28% expressed a preference for clear aligner therapy, while 20% preferred ceramic brackets. In the lingual group, 56% of 125 patients preferred clear aligner therapy, and 8% preferred ceramic brackets to complete their treatment. In the ceramic group, 83% did not want to switch, whereas 17% desired to switch to clear aligner, while in aligner group no patient desired to switch. CONCLUSIONS: A higher percentage of patients from lingual brackets group chose to shift to clear aligners, followed by conventional metal brackets group and by ceramic brackets group, in this descending order. The clear aligner group demonstrated fewer issues than the other treatment modalities.

Injerto de piel libre como tratamiento exitoso de una úlcera de Marjolin / Free skin graft as a successful treatment of a Marjolin ulcer

Introducción: la úlcera de Marjolin hace referencia a la aparición de un carcinoma de células escamosas ulcerado sobre un área previamente lesionada, crónicamente inflamada o con cicatrices. Se estima que solo el 1,7 % de las heridas crónicas se malignizan. Caso clínico: se trata de una mujer de 76 años que presentó una úlcera venosa crónica en la región maleolar de diez años de evolución que se había extendido. Se realizó una biopsia insicional y se obtuvo un carcinoma de células escamosas, por lo que se realizó la resección del tejido afectado, cubriendo el área con injerto autólogo de piel libre, fenestrado, de espesor parcial, y posteriormente se realizaron curas durante la hospitalización y el manejo ambulatorio, con lo que se obtuvieron resultados satisfactorios. Discusión: la resección-desbridamiento quirúrgico de la úlcera de Marjolin y el cierre con injerto libre de piel permitió la evolución satisfactoria y la cicatrización de las lesiones.(AU)

Introduction: Marjolin’s ulcer refers to the appearance of ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma on a previously injured,chronically inflamed or scarred area; it is estimated that only 1.7 % of chronic wounds become malignant.Case report: this is a 76-year-old woman who presented a chronic venous ulcer in the malleolar region of ten years ofevolution that had spread. An incisional biopsy was taken, resulting in squamous cell carcinoma, for which resectionof the affected tissue was performed: the area was covered with a free, fenestrated, partial-thickness autologous skingraft. Later, cures were carried out during hospitalization and ambulatory management, obtaining satisfactory results.Discussion: the surgical resection-debridement of the Marjolin ulcer and the closure with a free skin graft allowed thesatisfactory evolution and healing of the lesions.(AU)

Osteotomía de descarga ambulatoria mínimamente invasiva en el tratamiento de la úlcera de pie diabético: análisis de 25 pacientes / Minimally invasive offloading osteotomy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: Analysis of 25 patients

Introducción: La diabetes mellitus y sus complicaciones suponen uno de los mayores problemas sanitarios en la actualidad. La úlcera del pie diabético es una de las complicaciones más características. Material, métodos y objetivo: El objetivo es describir los resultados y complicaciones obtenidos en una serie de 25 casos de úlcera neuropática tratada mediante osteotomías de descarga mínimamente invasivas y ambulatorias. Resultados: Del total de intervenciones, 18 fueron sobre úlceras refractarias a un tratamiento conservador previo de una duración media±desviación estándar de 29,28±18,42 meses. El período de seguimiento fue 26,46±4,89 meses. Las tasas agrupadas de respuesta al tratamiento fueron: 100% cicatrización de la úlcera (tiempo medio de cicatrización 22,41±7,01 días), 5,56% recurrencia de la úlcera, 16,67% translocación de la úlcera. En 7 casos se realizó una intervención preventiva sobre áreas con lesiones preulcerosas. Del total, únicamente 3 presentaron infección leve en la zona de la intervención. Conclusiones: La osteotomía de descarga mínimamente invasiva ambulatoria es un procedimiento técnicamente sencillo, que presenta una alta tasa de éxito con mínimas complicaciones en nuestra serie. (AU)

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus and its complications are one of the main burdensome health problems at the present time. The diabetic foot is one of the most characteristic complications. Material, methods and objective: The objective of this work is to describe the results and complications obtained in a series of 25 cases of diabetic foot treated by minimally invasive offloading osteotomies. Results: Of the total number of interventions, 18 were performed on refractory ulcers with prior conservative treatment, for a mean (±SD) duration of 29.28±18.42 months. The mean follow-up period was 26.46±4.89 months. Weighted pooled rates of response to treatment were as follows: 100% for ulcer healing (with a mean healing time of 22.41±7.01 days), 5.56% for ulcer recurrence, and 16.67% for ulcer transfer. In 7cases, a preventive intervention was performed on areas with pre-ulcerative lesions. Of the total number of cases, only 3presented mild infection in the intervention area. Conclusions: Minimally invasive offloading osteotomy is a technically simple intervention, which presents a high success rate with minimal complications in our series. (AU)

The combination of hyaluronic acid and collagenase in the treatment of skin ulcers: an open, multicenter clinical study assessing safety and tolerability of Bionect Start®.

OBJECTIVE: Several clinical studies have shown that hyaluronic acid collagenase is well-tolerated and very effective in managing chronic venous ulcers. The aim of the present study is to confirm the safety and tolerability of daily application in patients suffering from cutaneous ulcers of different etiologies. The efficacy of the treatment and its impact on patients' quality of life are also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of skin ulcer with devitalized/fibrinous/slough tissue that could delay the healing process were enrolled in the study. The hyaluronic acid/collagenase ointment was applied topically until wound closure or total debridement of non-viable tissue was achieved, however, with a limit of 30 days. Monitoring was performed weekly, either through outpatient visits or telephone surveys. Assessments included adverse events, local irritation reactions, pain at dressing changes, and wound bed status. Patients were also requested to complete a quality-of-life questionnaire. RESULTS: The study involved 96 patients with a mean age of 71 years. The patients suffered mainly from traumatic (21.9%), venous (15.6%), or pressure ulcers (12.5%); in 26% of cases, ulcers had mixed etiology. In approximately 32% of patients, the ulcer had been present for more than 6 months, and 18.1% of subjects had previously undergone surgical wound debridement. CONCLUSIONS: Daily application of hyaluronic acid-collagenase achieved the following results: i) absence of adverse events related to the use of the product; ii) significant reduction in the degree of localized irritation and pain at dressing changes; iii) significant support to wound bed preparation; iv) trend towards improvement in the quality of life and health status of the patients.

Synchronous carcinoma and sarcoma in a burn scar: a treatment conundrum.

Marjolijn's ulcer is a malignant ulcer in a burn scar. Types of malignancy are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Soft tissue sarcoma case reports indicate only one type of cancer. We present a patient in her 60s with a 10-year-old burn scar developing a biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma on the lateral aspect of the left thigh with metastatic superficial inguinal node. A wide excision and grafting of ulcer with ilioinguinal dissection done on left side. On the 12th postoperative day 2, subcutaneous swellings adjacent to the grafted area developed, on biopsy revealed to be pleomorphic sarcoma. PET CT scan revealed tumour deposits in the muscles of the left lower limb, liver and lung. There are no case reports of synchronous carcinoma and sarcoma in a burn scar. The case is reported for its rarity and the decision-making dilemma.