Hyperspectral Imaging for Burn Depth Assessment in an Animal Model.

Unlabelled: Differentiating between superficial and deep-dermal (DD) burns remains challenging. Superficial-dermal burns heal with conservative treatment; DD burns often require excision and skin grafting. Decision of surgical treatment is often delayed until burn depth is definitively identified.

Smartphone-based wound assessment system for patients with diabetes.

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant health issue. Currently, clinicians and nurses mainly base their wound assessment on visual examination of wound size and healing status, while the patients themselves seldom have an opportunity to play an active role. Hence, a more quantitative and cost-effective examination method that enables the patients and their caregivers to take a more active role in daily wound care potentially can accelerate wound healing, save travel cost and reduce healthcare expenses.

Seroma Formation in Rat Latissimus Dorsi Resection in the Presence of Biologics: The Role of Quilting.

Background: Seroma formation is a well-recognized complication associated with many operative procedures. Despite its ubiquity, a lack of definitive scientific understanding of the etiology, natural history, and biochemistry of seromas remains. We endeavored to create and examine seromas in a rat model in the setting of commonly used biologic implants and to examine the role of quilting sutures/mechanical fixation in mitigating seroma development.

Hyperspectral imaging for early detection of oxygenation and perfusion changes in irradiated skin.

Studies examining acute oxygenation and perfusion changes in irradiated skin are limited. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI), a method of wide-field, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, provides noninvasive, quantified measurements of cutaneous oxygenation and perfusion. This study examines whether HSI can assess acute changes in oxygenation and perfusion following irradiation.

Accelerated porcine wound healing after treatment with α-gal nanoparticles.

Background: The α-gal epitope is a carbohydrate antigen that interacts specifically with the natural anti-Gal antibody--the most abundant antibody in humans. Anti-Gal/α-gal epitope interaction activates complement to generate chemotactic factors that induce rapid recruitment of macrophages. The authors hypothesized that α-gal epitopes on nanoparticles can accelerate wound healing by inducing rapid recruitment and activation of macrophages in wounds.

Engraftment of human HSCs in nonirradiated newborn NOD-scid IL2rγ null mice is enhanced by transgenic expression of membrane-bound human SCF.

Immunodeficient mice engrafted with human HSCs support multidisciplinary translational experimentation, including the study of human hematopoiesis. Heightened levels of human HSC engraftment are observed in immunodeficient mice expressing mutations in the IL2-receptor common γ chain (IL2rg) gene, including NOD-scid IL2rγ(null) (NSG) mice. Engraftment of human HSC requires preconditioning of immunodeficient recipients, usually with irradiation.

NOD-scid IL2rgamma(null) mouse model of human skin transplantation and allograft rejection.

Background: Transplantation of human skin on immunodeficient mice that support engraftment with functional human immune systems would be an invaluable tool for investigating mechanisms involved in wound healing and transplantation. Nonobese diabetic (NOD)-scid interleukin-2 gamma chain receptor (NSG) readily engraft with human immune systems, but human skin graft integrity is poor. In contrast, human skin graft integrity is excellent on CB17-scid bg (SCID.

Use of gauze-based negative pressure wound therapy in a pediatric burn patient.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is described as it is used in the treatment of an infant burn victim. This case highlights the ability and techniques used to maintain an airtight dressing seal in the perirectal region. Use of this dressing type post-skin grafting allowed for 100% graft adhesion and no bacterial contamination despite close proximity to the rectum.

Remote ischemic preconditioning modulates p38 MAP kinase in rat adipocutaneous flaps.

Ischemic preconditioning has been shown to improve survival of cutaneous flaps. The authors examined the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and related the results to flap survival. Female Wistar rats had 8 x 12-cm abdominal adipocutaneous flaps raised on the medial branch of the superficial epigastric artery.

Periosteal cell pellet culture system: a new technique for bone engineering.

To treat bone loss that is induced by disease or wounds, bone grafts are commonly used. In dentistry, guided tissue regeneration is effective in the treatment of periodontal diseases. However, bone resorption after implantation is a major problem with the bone graft and guided tissue regeneration technique.

The use of extracellular matrix as an inductive scaffold for the partial replacement of functional myocardium.

Regenerative medicine approaches for the treatment of damaged or missing myocardial tissue include cell-based therapies, scaffold-based therapies, and/or the use of specific growth factors and cytokines. The present study evaluated the ability of extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from porcine urinary bladder to serve as an inductive scaffold for myocardial repair. ECM scaffolds have been shown to support constructive remodeling of other tissue types including the lower urinary tract, the dermis, the esophagus, and dura mater by mechanisms that include the recruitment of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells, angiogenesis, and the generation of bioactive molecules that result from degradation of the ECM.

Tissue-engineered trachea from sheep marrow stromal cells with transforming growth factor beta2 released from biodegradable microspheres in a nude rat recipient.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using autologous sheep marrow stromal cells cultured onto polyglycolic acid mesh to develop helical engineered cartilage equivalents for a functional tracheal replacement. We also explored the potential benefit of local delivery of transforming growth factor beta 2 with biodegradable gelatin microspheres.

Methods: Bone marrow was obtained by iliac crest aspiration from 6-month-old sheep and cultured in monolayer for 2 weeks.

Novel technique for peripheral nerve reconstruction in the absence of an artificial conduit.

The purpose of this study is to promote nerve regeneration across a peripheral nerve gap, using a biologic, tissue-engineered nerve (TEN), containing a high density of viable Schwann cells (SCs) in the absence of supportive foreign materials and a tubular system. Isolated SCs from adult rat sciatic nerve were seeded onto biodegradable constructs and implanted into the backs of nude mice to create TENs. Six weeks later, the constructs were harvested, implanted into surgically created sciatic nerve gaps in rats without supportive artificial conduits and compared with both an autograft group and a silicone conduit group using SCs.

Comparison of tracheal and nasal chondrocytes for tissue engineering of the trachea.

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of creating engineered tracheal equivalents grown in the shape of cylindrical cartilaginous structures using sheep nasal cartilage-derived chondrocytes. We also tested sheep tracheal and nasal septum for cell yield and quality of the engineered cartilage each produced.

Methods: Nasal septum and tracheal tissue were harvested from sheep.