US-National Institutes of Health-funded research for cutaneous wounds in 2012.

Chronic cutaneous wounds are a major burden on patients, healthcare providers, and the US healthcare system. This study, carried out in part by the Wound Healing Society's Government Regulatory Committee, aimed to evaluate the current state of National Institutes of Health funding of cutaneous wound healing-related research projects. National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results system was used to identify wound healing projects funded by the National Institutes of Health in the 2012 fiscal year.

Topical and biologic therapies for diabetic foot ulcers.

Chronic DFUs are a growing global health concern due to the implied high rates of morbidity and mortality. Standard-of-care modalities sometimes are not sufficient for some recalcitrant ulcers. The use of adjuvant topical therapies including advanced dressings and biologic therapies should be considered in patients whose DFU did not reduce in size after receiving standard care for a period of 4 weeks.

Evidence-based management of common chronic lower extremity ulcers.

Chronic lower extremity ulcers are a significant burden on patients and health care systems worldwide. Although relatively common, these wounds can be difficult to treat and present a challenge to physicians. Treatment has often been based on anecdotal accounts; however, there is a growing emphasis on using evidence-based conclusions to guide clinical decisions.

Giant ulcerating squamous cell carcinoma arising from linear porokeratosis: a case study.

Linear porokeratosis is one of the infrequent variants of porokeratosis, a rare disorder of keratinization that may develop into several epidermal malignancies, among them squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical surveillance for malignancy is imperative, but in cases when large or many lesions are present, surgical removal of porokeratosis lesions would result in an unfavorable amount of scarring. A case of a large, nonhealing full-thickness ulcer caused by a giant ulcerating squamous cell carcinoma occurring within lesions of long-standing linear porokeratosis is reported in a 43-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Diabetic foot ulcers: evaluation and management.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common complication of diabetes and present a significant health risk to patients, as well as impose a large economic burden. Evaluation for contributory factors that may impact general health or healing, such as hyperglycemia, peripheral artery disease, neuropathy, and nutritional status, is of the utmost importance. Management of DFUs requires involvement of a multidisciplinary team and a standardized approach to patient care.

The FDA and designing clinical trials for chronic cutaneous ulcers.

Treatment of chronic wounds can present a challenge, with many patients remaining refractory to available advanced therapies. As such, there is a strong need for the development of new products. Unfortunately, despite this demand, few new wound-related drugs have been approved over the past decade.

Update on Keloid Management: Clinical and Basic Science Advances.

Background: Keloids are benign, fibroproliferative lesions that represent abnormal healing resulting in excessive fibrosis. They are composed of mainly type III (early) or type I (late) collagen. Some of the symptoms include pruritus, tenderness, and pain.

A prospective pilot study of ultrasound therapy effectiveness in refractory venous leg ulcers.

Venous insufficiency is the most common cause of leg ulcers in the United States. Venous leg ulcers cost the health care system billions of dollars annually, and healing rates are less than 70% with standard of care; therefore, new therapies are needed to increase healing times and minimize associated costs. Non contact ultrasound therapy has been used to treat a variety of chronic wounds including venous leg ulcers, and it is thought that ultrasound has an effect on decreasing the bacterial count in wounds, although the exact mechanism of action of ultrasound is yet to be determined.

Refractory erythromelalgia of the ears: response to mexiletine.

Erythromelalgia is a rare condition characterized by burning pain, erythema, swelling, and increased temperature usually in the extremities. We present an unusual presentation of erythromelalgia of the ears in a patient who has been refractory to multiple therapies and in whom relief of symptoms was achieved with the use of mexiletine. A review of clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and therapeutic options are presented.