Acne Scars

Acta Biomater. 2009 May 5; Wang T, Jiang XJ, Tang QZ, Li XY, Lin T, Wu DQ, Zhang XZ, Okello EBACKGROUND: Cellular transplantation represents a promising therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is limited by low transplanted cell retention and survival within the ischemic tissue. This study was designed to investigate whether injectable alpha-cyclodextrin/MPEG-PCL-MPEG hydrogel could improve cell transplant retention and survival, reduce infarct expansion, and inhibit left ventricle (LV) remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bone marrow derived stem cells (BMSCs) were encapsulated in alpha-cyclodextrin/MPEG-PCL-MPEG hydrogel and kept the morphologies during the cell culturing, MTT assays were used for in vitro cell viability studies of the hydrogel and showed non-cytotoxic. 7 days after MI, 100mul alpha-cyclodextrin solution containing 2o10(7) BMSCs and 100mul MPEG-PCL-MPEG solution were injected into the infarcted myocardium simultaneously, the solutions solidified immediately after injection. Injection of culture medium or cell alone served as controls. Four weeks after the treatments, histological analysis indicated that the hydrogel was absorbed, injection of BMSCs with hydrogel increased cell retention and vessel density around the infarct, and subsequently prevented scar expansion compared with BMSCs injection alone. Echocardiography studies showed that injection of BMSCs with hydrogel increased left ventricle ejection function, and attenuated left ventricular dilatation. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that injection of BMSCs with alpha-cyclodextrin/MPEG-PCL-MPEG hydrogel was an effective strategy which could enhance the effect of cellular transplantation therapy for myocardial infarction.

J Orthop Surg Res. 2009 May 9; 4(1): 14Lee HJ, Kim JW, Oh CW, Min WK, Shon OJ, Oh JK, Park BC, Ihn JCABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the results of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in patients with open wounds in the foot and ankle region. Materials and Methods: Using a NPWT device, 16 patients were prospectively treated for soft tissue injuries around the foot and ankle. Mean patient age was 32.8 years (range, 3-67 years). All patients had suffered an acute trauma, due to a traffic accident, a fall, or a crush injury, and all had wounds with underlying tendon or bone exposure. Necrotic tissues were debrided before applying NPWT. Dressings were changed every 3 or 4 days and treatment was continued for 18.4 days on average (range, 11-29 days). RESULTS: Exposed tendons and bone were successfully covered with healthy granulation tissue in all cases except one. The sizes of soft tissue defects reduced from 56.4cm2 to 42.9cm2 after NPWT (mean decrease of 24%). In 15 of the 16 cases, coverage with granulation tissue was achieved and followed by a skin graft. A free flap was needed to cover exposed bone and tendon in one case. No major complication occurred that was directly attributable to treatment. In terms of minor complications, two patients suffered scar contracture of grafted skin. CONCLUSION: NPWT was found to facilitate the rapid formation of healthy granulation tissue on open wounds in the foot and ankle region, and thus, to shorten healing time and minimize secondary soft tissue defect coverage procedures.

Biochem Pharmacol. 2009 May 15; 77(10): 1593-601Pando R, Cheporko Y, Haklai R, Maysel-Auslender S, Keren G, George J, Porat E, Sagie A, Kloog Y, Hochhauser EMyocardial injury, developed after a period of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) results in the destruction of functional heart tissue, this being replaced by scar tissue. Intracellular signaling pathways mediating cardiomyocyte death are partially understood and involve the activation of Ras. p38-MAPK, JNK and Mst-1 are downstream effectors of Ras protein. We hypothesized that S-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS), a synthetic small molecule that detaches Ras from the inner cell membrane, consequently inhibiting Ras activity, reduces I/R myocardial injury in vitro and in vivo. Wistar rat hearts were isolated, mounted on the Langendorff apparatus and subjected to ischemia (30min, 37 degrees C) and reperfusion. During the reperfusion period, the hearts were perfused with FTS (1muM) solution or control buffer. Left anterior descending (LAD) ligation and subsequent reperfusion was performed in two groups of Wistar rats. Rats received 5mg/kg FTS or PBS according to two protocols: (A) FTS or PBS were administered daily 7 days prior, immediately before and 14 days (every other day) after LAD occlusion or (B) every other day for 14 days post-I/R. Hearts from FTS-treated rats (Langendorff) and FTS-treated rats (protocol A) showed a significant improvement in myocardial performance and smaller scar tissue compared with the PBS group. Infarct size in the FTS-treated group was 12.7+/-2% vs. 23.7+/-4% in the PBS-treated (in vitro) group and 17.3+/-2.5% vs. 36+/-7% compared with control I/R rats (in vivo) p