Publications by authors named "Jose Fernandez Montequin"

The early expectations about growth factors' (GFs') discovery as an undisputed therapeutic solution for chronic wounds progressively eclipsed when they failed to accelerate acute wound closure and restore the healing trajectory of stagnant ulcers. Critical knowledge about chronic wound biology and GF pharmacology was a conundrum at that time. Diabetes undermines keratinocytes' and fibroblasts' physiology, impairing skin healing abilities.

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Article Synopsis
  • Venous Ulcers (VU) are a common type of leg ulcer caused by problems like venous hypertension or valve failure, making up 60-80% of all cases.
  • While traditional treatment methods that target the underlying causes are standard, about 30% of these ulcers don't heal with those approaches, leading to the exploration of growth factors as additional treatments.
  • A review of various studies from 2002 to 2022 found that topical, intralesional, and perilesional applications of growth factors could be effective, with the latter suggesting a promising alternative treatment for venous ulcers.
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Background: Imaging the lower extremity reproducibly and accurately remains an elusive goal. This is particularly true in the high risk diabetic foot, where tissue loss, edema, and color changes are often concomitant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of a novel and inexpensive stereotaxic frame in assessment of wound healing.

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For 15 years, from 2001, we began to apply Heberprot-P®, an injectable Epidermal Growth Factor (0.75 μg) created in the Center of Biotechnology, in Havana, Cuba. More than 159,000 patients were treated around the world, from 25 countries, with, with only 9-11% high-level amputations.

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Soon after epidermal growth factor (EGF) discovery, some models appeared demonstrating its property to enhance cutaneous wound healing. EGF was the first growth factor (GF) introduced in the clinical arena as a healing enhancer, exerting its mitogenic effects on epithelial, fibroblastoid, and endothelial cells via a tyrosine kinase membrane receptor. Compelling evidences from the 90s documented that, for EGF, locally prolonged bioavailability and hourly interaction with the receptor were necessary for a successful tissue response.

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Objective: To determine if partial wound closure surrogate markers proposed for neuropathic, small diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) can be extended to advanced lesions and if the development of granulation tissue can be used to predict complete healing.

Research Design And Methods: Data from two multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trials (one of them placebo controlled) that used intralesional recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) to promote granulation and healing were used. For confirmation in a larger sample from common clinical practice, the results of an active postmarketing surveillance of rhEGF treatment of DFUs in 60 healthcare units was included.

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A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to evaluate the intra-lesional infiltration of recombinant epidermal growth factor (EGF) in Wagner's grade 3 or 4 diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Subjects (149) were randomised to receive EGF (75 or 25 microg) or placebo, three times per week for 8 weeks and standard good wound care. The main endpoint was granulation tissue covering > or = 50% of the ulcer at 2 weeks.

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Background: De Marco Formula (DMF) is a novel formulation of procaine and PVP.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of DMF as an adjunctive therapy for infected ischemic diabetic foot in a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Methods: Adult patients, 39 male/ 79 female, were randomly assigned (59 patients/treatment group) to the conventional therapy alone (A) or plus DMF (0, 15 ml/kg .

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Previous studies have shown that an epidermal growth factor-based formulation (Heberprot-P) can enhance granulation of high-grade diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The aim of this study was to explore the clinical effects of this administration up to complete wound closure. A pilot study in 20 diabetic patients with full-thickness lower extremity ulcers of more than 4 weeks of evolution was performed.

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To investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in advanced diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) A double-blind trial was carried out to test two rhEGF dose levels in type 1 or 2 diabetes patients with Wagner's grade 3 or 4 ulcers, with high risk of amputation. Subjects were randomised to receive 75 (group I) or 25 mug (group II) rhEGF through intralesional injections, three times per week for 5-8 weeks together with standardised good wound care. Endpoints were granulation tissue formation, complete healing and need of amputation.

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This study examined if a series of epidermal growth factor (EGF) local infiltrations can enhance the healing process of complicated diabetic wounds. Twenty-nine in-hospital patients with diabetic neuropathic or ischaemic lesions with high risk of amputation were treated in a non controlled pilot study conducted at the National Institute of Angiology, Havana. Lesions, classified as Wagner's grade 3 or 4, included ulcers > or = 20 cm2 for > or = 25 days or amputation residual bases > or = 30 cm2 for > or = 15 days, healing refractory despite comprehensive wound care.

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Oxidative stress is suggested to have an important role in the development of complications in diabetes. Because ozone therapy can activate the antioxidant system, influencing the level of glycemia and some markers of endothelial cell damage, the aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of ozone in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic feet and to compare ozone with antibiotic therapy. A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed with 101 patients divided into two groups: one (n = 52) treated with ozone (local and rectal insufflation of the gas) and the other (n = 49) treated with topical and systemic antibiotics.

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