Gastroprotective and Antioxidative Effects of the Traditional Thai Polyherbal Formula Phy-Blica-D against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Phy-Blica-D is a traditional Thai polyherbal formula that has reduced oxidative stress in non-communicable diseases. However, evidence supporting the gastroprotective effects of Phy-Blica-D has not been previously reported. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective effects of Phy-Blica-D against gastric ulcers in rats and investigate the potential underlying mechanism. To estimate the possible mechanisms of action, we examined the levels of oxidative stress markers, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). According to our results, rats treated with only 80% ethanol (vehicle group) exhibited significant increases in their ulcer area and ulcer index (UI). Moreover, the levels of ROS and MDA markedly increased in the vehicle group compared with the normal control group. Daily oral administration of Phy-Blica-D (500 and 1000 mg/kg) for 7 days not only significantly decreased the ulcer area and UI, but also remarkably decreased the ROS and MDA levels in gastric tissue. Gastric ulcers induced by ethanol had significantly decreased antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT and SOD) and non-enzymatic antioxidant (GSH), whereas pretreatment with Phy-Blica-D significantly improved the activities of CAT, SOD, and GSH. Moreover, after exposure to ethanol, the rats exhibited a significantly increased level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which was reduced after treatment with Phy-Blica-D. These findings suggest that Phy-Blica-D potentially exerts its gastroprotective effects by suppressing oxidative stress and stimulating antioxidant enzymes, which is one of the causes of destruction of cell membranes, and it is involved in the pathogenesis of acute gastric ulcers induced by ethanol.

Early and Intensive Glycemic Control for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing: A Prospective Observational Nested Cohort Study

We aimed to assess the effect of glycemic control on diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing. A prospective nested cohort study was employed of individuals with poorly controlled diabetes (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] >9%) and neuropathic DFU of >2-week duration. All individuals received standard diabetes and ulcer interventions for 12 weeks. Baseline demographic characteristics, ulcer area (automated assessment by wound zoom camera), and biochemical parameters were analyzed. The cohort was stratified into ulcer healed and unhealed groups. Ulcer area and glycemic parameters at 4 and 12 weeks on follow up were compared. Forty-three individuals (47 DFU) with baseline HbA1c 11.6% and ulcer area 9.87 cm2 were enrolled. After 12 weeks, mean HbA1c was 7.2%, 17 ulcers closed (healed group) and 30 ulcers did not close (unhealed group). The median time to ulcer healing was 10 weeks. Individuals in the healed group had lower fasting blood glucose ( P = .010), postprandial blood glucose ( P = .006), and HbA1c at 4 weeks ( P = .001), and 12 weeks (0.018) compared to the unhealed group. Cox-regression analysis that revealed lower baseline ulcer area ( P = .013) and HbA1c at 4 weeks ( P = .009) significantly predicted DFU healing by 12 weeks. Baseline ulcer area of >10.58 cm2 and HbA1c at 4 weeks of >8.15% predicted delayed DFU healing. In conclusion, early and intensive glycemic control in the first 4 weeks of treatment initiation is associated with greater healing of DFU independent of initial ulcer area.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN VERSUS SALINE DRESSING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC VENOUS LEG ULCERS

Background: Venous disease is responsible for around 85% of all chronic lower limb ulcers in resource-rich countries. Venous leg ulcer is a chronic condition, and various treatment modalities are available. Various adjunctive wound care therapies and procedures are available that can be utilized as part of a comprehensive approach to healing venous stasis ulcers. Platelet-rich brin (PRF) is one of the newer modalities and it contains broblast growth factor (FGF), VEGF, angiopoietin and platelet-derived GF which enhances the wound healing. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the efcacy of PRF versus saline dressing in chronic venous leg ulcers. Aim: To compare the efcacy of autologous PRF with saline dressing in patients with chronic venous leg ulcer in terms of mean reduction in ulcer area, presence of infection and cosmetic outcome at the end of 4 weeks. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with chronic venous leg ulcers of >6 months duration having an ulcer area of 1 cm × 1 cm to 5 cm × 5 cm were taken into the study and were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1: Patients received PRF dressing. 10 mL of patient's blood was taken and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 min. A brin clot obtained in the middle of the tube was removed and used for dressing over the wound surface. It was repeated every week for 4 weeks. Group 2: Patients received saline dressings once a week for 4 weeks. The assessment of the ulcer size was done with the help of photographs, and ulcer area was measured. Results: The mean reduction in the area of the ulcer size in PRF group was 81.84%, and the mean reduction in the area of the ulcer size in Saline group was 59.84%. Conclusion: Platelet rich brin matrix is a novel modality and an ideal, safe, affordable therapeutic option for chronic venous leg ulcers.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF IONIC SILVER BASED DRESSINGS VERSUS CONVENTIONAL DRESSINGS IN MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS.

AIMS: To compare the efficacy of ionic silver-based dressings with conventional saline dressings in the management of diabetic foot ulcers. OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy of ionic silver based amorphous hydrogel dressing containing colloidal silver in management of diabetic foot ulcer healing and to compare the time taken for wound healing, number of days taken to reach the end point and cost-effectiveness, with that of conventional saline dressings. METHODS: This was a case control, prospective, comparative study conducted in Department of Surgery, JSS Hospital, Mysuru. Totally 100 patients with diabetic foot ulcers were included, equally divided into -cases (received colloidal silver dressings) and controls (received saline dressings), Simple randomization was done. Study Duration- 18 Months. Data collected regarding changes in wound size, presence of granulation tissue, slough, presence or absence of discharge, was analysed - by Chi square test, Independent T test and Paired T test. RESULTS: There was significant percentage reduction in ulcer area, 66.76±16.8 % in colloidal silver group, compared to only 2.71±4.53% in conventional saline group. The number of days to end point was significantly lesser in colloidal silver group, compared to conventional group (23.16±8.16 days vs 48.34±18.06 days), reduction of ulcer area (from 100%) was more at day 14 (48% in silver group, 89.69% in conventional group). CONCLUSION: The faster rate of wound healing in lesser number of days with significantly more reduction in ulcer area over a period of time, shows that ionic silver based amorphous hydrogel wound dressings with colloidal silver is more efficient than conventional saline dressings in diabetic foot ulcers management. As the number of dressings and number of days to end point is significantly lesser, ionic silver-based dressings are a comparatively more cost-effective treatment option as per our study.

Efficacy of Intra-Lesional Platelet Rich Plasma in Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is well managed by infection control, euglycemic state, debridement of ulcer followed by appropriate dressing and off-loading of the foot. Studies have reported that when DFU is properly off-loaded, about 90% of these would heal in nearly six weeks. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) serves as a growth factor agonist and has mitogenic and chemotactic properties which help in DFU healing. To evaluate the efficacy of local application of PRP with respect to healing rate and ulcer area reduction in treating diabetic foot ulcer. Materials and Methods: Sixty non-infected DFU patients with plantar ulcer of size less than 20cm2 and Wagner's Grade 1 & 2 were randomized to receive normal saline dressing (Control group - CG) or PRP dressing (Study group - SG) in conjunction with total contact casting for 6 weeks (or till complete ulcer healing), whichever was earlier. Evaluation was done at weekly interval for healing rate and change in ulcer area.Results: Mean ulcer area of study participants at baseline was 4.96 {plus minus} 2.89cm2 (CG) and 5.22 {plus minus} 3.82cm2 (SG) (p=0.77) which decreased to 1.15{plus minus}1.35cm2 (CG) and 0.96{plus minus}1.53cm2 (SG) (p=0.432) at 6wks. Percent reduction in mean healing area at 6wks was 81.72{plus minus}17.2% and 85.98{plus minus}13.42% in control group and study group respectively (p=0.29). Average rate of healing achieved at 6 weeks was 0.64{plus minus}0.36cm2 and 0.71{plus minus}0.46cm2 in control group and study group respectively (p=0.734). Conclusions: PRP dressing is no more efficacious than normal saline dressing in management of DFU in conjunction with total contact casting.

Metatarsal Head Resection Versus a Removable Mechanical Device for Offloading of the Neuropathic Diabetic Plantar Forefoot Ulcer

Although surgical offloading seems a more permanent solution for prevention and treatment of neuropathic plantar diabetic forefoot ulcers (DFUs), the evidence for this assumption is weak and needs further studies to be established. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the healing efficacy, associated morbidity, and recurrence rates of surgical versus removable knee-high offloading for neuropathic plantar (DFUs) healing. From January 2016 to January 2018, 70 neuropathic plantar forefoot DFUs were nonrandomly assigned to either removable knee-high cam-walker (n = 35), or metatarsal head, or accessory bone resection (n = 35). The primary endpoints were the frequency and rate of complete healing, and the rate of ulcer area reduction within 4 months. The secondary endpoints were 4 months morbidity and ulcer recurrence within 12 months. After 4 months, complete healing was significantly inferior with cam-walker compared with surgical offloading; 24 (67.6%) versus 31 patients (88.6%), respectively, P = .015. Ulcer area reduction was 2.4 cm2 (66.7%) versus 2.6 cm2 (83.9%), P = .001, in the mechanical versus the surgical groups, respectively. The mean healing time was 3.6 ± 2.1 versus 2.8 ± 0.6 months in the mechanical versus the surgical groups, respectively, P = .012. Morbidity and recurrence show nonsignificant differences between both groups. Ulcer recurrence was noted in 5/35 (14.3%) versus 2/35 (5.7%), in mechanical versus surgical groups, respectively, P = .23. Therefore, metatarsal head/accessory bone resection offered improved healing efficacy but similar morbidity and recurrence to the removable cam-walker.

Comparison of topical nanocolloidal silver formulation use with eosin 2% solution in management of hard-to-heal ulcers in patients with pemphigus vulgaris

Objective: To examine the effect of a nanocolloidal silver-based gel called SilvoGel (ChitoTech, Iran) versus eosin (prepared by Razi Hospital, Iran) among patients with immunobullous disease. Method: This blind, randomised controlled study was carried out on patients with pemphigus vulgaris who had hard-to-heal ulcers, divided into two equal-sized groups: one treatment group receiving the nanocolloidal silver-based gel and the control group receiving the conventional eosin. Results: A total of 32 patients participated in the study. In both the treatment and control groups, ulcer area, exudate and tissue type improved significantly (p<0.001 for all measures). A significantly higher rate of improvement in ulcer area was observed in the treatment group compared with the control group (p<0.001). Both patient and physician satisfaction were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (p=0.003 and p=0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that use of the nanocolloidal silver-based gel for treating patients with immunobullous disease including pemphigus could potentially increase the rate and quality of wound healing.

Wool-derived keratin dressings versus usual care dressings for treatment of slow healing venous leg ulceration: a randomised controlled trial (Keratin4VLU)

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of a keratin dressing for treating slow-to-heal venous leg ulcers (VLU) on VLU healing.DesignPragmatic parallel group randomised controlled trial.SettingCommunity-dwelling participants.ParticipantsPeople aged 18 or more years with VLU (either present for more than 26 weeks or ulcer area larger than 5 cm2 or both).InterventionWool-derived keratin dressing or usual care formulary of non-medicated dressings, on a background treatment with compression.Primary and secondary outcome measuresHealing at 24 weeks based on blinded assessment of ulcer photographs. Other outcomes included time to complete healing, change in ulcer area to 24 weeks, change in health-related quality of life and incidence of adverse events.ResultsWe screened 1068 patients with VLU and randomised 143 participants (51.1% of target recruitment), 71 to the keratin dressing group and 72 to the usual care group.The mean age was 66.1 years (SD 15.9) and 53 participants (37.1%) were women. There were no significant differences between the groups on the primary outcome (risk difference −6.4%, 95% CI −22.5% to 9.7%), change in ulcer area (−1.9 cm2, 95% CI −16.5 to 12.8 cm2), time to complete healing (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.23) or the incidence of adverse events (incidence rate ratio 1.19, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.59) in the intention-to-treat analyses. However, the direction of effect on the primary outcome was reversed in a per protocol analysis specified a priori (risk difference 6.2%, 95% CI −12.4% to 24.9%).ConclusionThe effect of adding a keratin dressing to the treatment regimen for prognostically slow-to-heal VLU remains unclear.Trial registration numberNCT02896725

Comparative Study of Najia and Nazi Acupunctures to Reduce Rat Gastric Ulcer

Gastric ulcer is a common digestive system disease, which leads to the serious decline in the life quality and effective therapies are in urgent need. Midnightmidday ebb flow acupunctures including Najia and Nazi acupunctures have been applied in clinics in China for more than one thousand years and the acupoints are selected according to the time rhythm. Najia acupuncture, namely day-prescription of acupoints, divides ten days (one cycle) into 120 two-hour periods and each period is coordinated with a meridian. Meanwhile, Nazi acupuncture, namely hour-prescription of acupoints, divides a day(one cycle) into 12 two-hour periods and each period is coordinated with a meridian. When there is a disease in a certain meridian, the relevant acupoints are operated in the corresponding time. However, the comparative efficacies of Najia and Nazi acupunctures on promoting the healing of gastric ulcer are still unknown. In this study, gastric ulcer rats were induced by acetic acid and were randomly divided into four groups: non-acupuncture group, normal acupuncture group, Najia acupuncture group and Nazi acupuncture group. After different treatments for continuous 10 days, the gained weight, gastric ulcer area and the thickness of gastric mucosa were measured and analyzed. Decreased ulcer area, increased mucosa thickness and dense scar tissue occurred in the Najia group and Nazi group compared to that in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between Najia and Nazi acupuncture groups (P>0.05). Thickness of gastric mucosa in Nazi acupuncture group increased significantly compared to normal acupuncture group (P<0.05). Therefore, the findings in this study indicated that Najia and Nazi acupunctures had gastroprotective effects and accelerated the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats, but no significant differences between them. It may provide valuable information for development of acupuncture for the treatment of gastric ulcer in clinics.