Investigating the Use of Head Mounted Devices for Remote Cooperation and Guidance during the Treatment of Wounds

Professional caregivers often face complex situations in which they need the support of a colleague or a specialist. This is especially necessary for caregivers during their training or with less practice in certain tasks. Due to time and space restrictions, colleagues or specialists are not always available for local support. Remote support by streaming videos to a remote helper has been discussed in healthcare domains as a so-called teleconsultation. However, little is known about how to apply teleconsultation in care. We conducted a study with caregivers and remote helpers to compare head mounted devices (HMDs) for teleconsultation in care to two alternative solutions using smartphones. We found that despite lacking familiarity, HMDs have good potential for remote support in care, and that creating video streams with smartphones is not preferable for teleconsultations. We suggest that ideal support needs to balance freedom and guidance and suggest how such support needs to be further explored.

Pulse Voltage Electrical Stimulation for Bacterial Inactivation and Wound Healing in Mice with Diabetes

Background: Treatment of wounds in diabetes often gets less than perfect healing. One of the reasons for the difficulty in treating wounds in diabetes is the growth of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. This study aims to determine the pulse voltage and treatment time that can optimally inactivate bacteria, and their effect on wound healing in mice suffering from diabetes. Methods: The study used electrical stimulation with a direct voltage of 10 volts given a pulse voltage of 50-80 volts, a width of 50 µs, and the number of pulses of 65 per second. The research samples were Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudo-monas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) bacteria that grew on beef and mice (Mus musculus) with diabetes. The treatment for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria was carried out using a pulse voltage of 50-80 volts for 5-15 min/day and repeated for 3 days. Meanwhile, treatment of mice wounds was carried out with a pulse voltage of 80 volts for 15 min/day and repeated for 7 days. Results: The results showed that treatment with a pulse voltage of 50-80 volts and a treatment time of 5-15 min significantly reduced the number of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria in beef (p£0.05). Treatment with a pulse voltage of 80 volts for 15 min made beef free from bacteria. Meanwhile, treatment with a pulse voltage of 80 volts for 15 min per day for seven days resulted in the wound state of three mice in the maturation phase and two mice in the proliferation phase on day 8 with an average wound area of 0.108 cm 2. Conclusion: The treatment with a pulse voltage of 80 volts for 15 min made the beef sterile, the mice wounds healed quickly, and the mice not stressed. The higher the blood glucose level, the slower the wound healing process.

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF A NANOCOMPOSITE HYDROGEL COATING ON A TEXTILE CARRIER FOR THE WOUND TREATMENT

Нанотехнологии с использованием биополимеров находят широкое применение в биомедицинских приложениях. В данной работе разработаны нанокомпозитные гидрогели на основе природных (хитозан, карбоксиметилцеллюлоза) и синтетических (поливиниловый спирт) полимеров с наночастицами серебра для нанесения на текстильный носитель. В качестве сшивающих реагентов при создании гидрогелей использовали диальдегид карбоксиметилцеллюлозы и борную кислоту. Были определены физико-химические свойства (сорбционная способность при одностороннем контакте с модельной средой, степень набухания, паропроницаемость, капиллярность) гидрогелевых покрытий на текстильном носителе, и кинетика выхода лекарственных веществ (лидокаин, диоксидин), включенных в состав гидрогелей. Показано, что материалы с двухслойным покрытием характеризуются более высокими сорбционными свойствами по отношению к физиологическому раствору и более длительным выходом лекарственных средств, чем материалы с однослойным покрытием. Выход лекарственных веществ из двухслойных покрытий происходит в два этапа с максимальным высвобождением в течение двух суток. Полученные текстильные материалы с пленочным нанокомпозитным гидрогелевым покрытием могут найти применение в качестве перевязочных средств при лечении ран. Nanotechnologies using biopolymers are widely used in biomedical applications. In this work, nanocomposite hydrogels based on natural (chitosan, carboxymethylcellulose) and synthetic (polyvinyl alcohol) polymers with silver nanoparticles for application to a textile carrier have been developed. Carboxymethylcellulose dialdehyde and boric acid were used as crosslinking reagents in the creation of hydrogels. Physicochemical properties (sorption capacity in unilateral contact with the model medium, degree of swelling, vapor permeability, capillarity) of hydrogel coatings on a textile carrier, and the kinetics of the drugs release (lidocaine, dioxidine) included in the hydrogels were determined. It is shown that materials with a two-layer coating are characterized by higher sorption properties relative to saline and a longer release of drugs than materials with a single-layer coating. The release of drugs from the two-layer coatings occurs in two stages with a maximum release within two days. The obtained textile materials with a film nanocomposite hydrogel coating can be used as dressings in the treatment of wounds.

Combination of Two Kinds of Medicated Microparticles Based on Hyaluronic Acid or Chitosan for a Wound Healing Spray Patch

Olive leaves extract (OLE) has been extensively studied as antioxidant and antibiotic and these characteristics make it particularly interesting for use on wounds. For this reason, the aim of this study was to introduce OLE in microparticles (MP) of hyaluronic acid (MPHA-OLE) or chitosan (MPCs-OLE) to obtain a spray patch for the treatment of wounds in anatomical areas that are difficult to protect with traditional patches. The MP were characterized for particle size and ability to protect OLE from degradation, to absorb water from wound exudate, to control OLE release from MP. The MPHA and MPCs medicated or not and mixtures of the two types in different proportions were studied in vitro on fibroblasts by the scratch wound healing assay. The MP size was always less than 5 µm, and therefore, suitable for a spray patch. The MPCs-OLE could slow down the release of OLE therefore only about 60% of the polyphenols contained in it were released after 4 h. Both MPHA and MPCs could accelerate wound healing. A 50% MPHA-OLE-50% MPCs-OLE blend was the most suitable for accelerating wound healing. The MPHA-OLE-MPCs-OLE blends studied in this work were shown to have the characteristics suitable for a spray patch, thus giving a second life to the waste products of olive growers.

Chitosan Reinforced with Kenaf Nanocrystalline Cellulose as an Effective Carrier for the Delivery of Platelet Lysate in the Acceleration of Wound Healing

The clinical use of platelet lysate (PL) in the treatment of wounds is limited by its rapid degradation by proteases at the tissue site. This research aims to develop a chitosan (CS) and kenaf nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) hydrogel composite, which intend to stabilize PL and control its release onto the wound site for prolonged action. NCC was synthesized from raw kenaf bast fibers and incorporated into the CS hydrogel. The physicochemical properties, in vitro cytocompatibility, cell proliferation, wound scratch assay, PL release, and CS stabilizing effect of the hydrogel composites were analyzed. The study of swelling ratio (>1000%) and moisture loss (60–90%) showed the excellent water retention capacity of the CS-NCC-PL hydrogels as compared with the commercial product. In vitro release PL study (flux = 0.165 mg/cm2/h) indicated that NCC act as a nanofiller and provided the sustained release of PL compared with the CS hydrogel alone. The CS also showed the protective effect of growth factor (GF) present in PL, thereby promoting fast wound healing via the formulation. The CS-NCC hydrogels also augmented fibroblast proliferation in vitro and enhanced wound closures over 72 h. This study provides a new insight on CS with renewable source kenaf NCC as a nanofiller as a potential autologous PL wound therapy.

Some aspects of the treatment of patients with paracolostomy fistulas in outpatient settings

The analysis of the results of treatment of 15 patients with paracolostomy fistulas treated on an outpatient basis with the use of the sorbent "Celoform" was carried out. The use of modern drugs for the local treatment of wounds at all stages of complex treatment makes it possible to shorten the time of systemic antimicrobial therapy, avoid the development of side effects, and significantly reduce the cost of expensive antibacterial drugs. Key words: colostomy, paracolostomy fistula, sorbent "Coeloform, quality of life.

First domestic apparatus for vacuum therapy

The first domestic device for vacuum therapy, Impulse KM-1, has been developed. The device is intended for the treatment of wounds, using a method of VAC therapy. Copyright protected by 2 patents. The device includes: an electronic unit with an internal power source, an external battery charge source, a reservoir for collecting of wound discharge, a disposable sterile dressing kit. The kit consists of a sponge, a film covering, a tube with a fixing head, a connector tube. The device is designed for a multiple use, provides continuous, variable and intermittent operation. Clinical trials of the device have been successfully carried out. As part of clinical trials, 17 patients who were treated at the hospital surgery clinic of the Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University with surgical infections of the skin and soft tissues received vacuum therapy of wounds using the Impulse KM-1 apparatus. A significant reduction in the time of wound treatment was noted. The device has established itself as a reliable, easy to use device. The cost of the Impulse KM-1 apparatus is approximately 2500 $ and the cost of a disposable dressing kit is 40 $.

Ethnopharmacological application of common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) in the Pirot County (Serbia)

Agrimonia eupatoria is perennial herbaceous plant from family Rosaceae, characterized by pinnate leaves, and yellow spike-like racemose inflorescences. It flowers from June to September, and above ground part of plants are collected for medicinal purposes. Survey on participants' knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the Pirot County was carried in the form of interviews in four municipalities: Pirot, Babušnica, Bela Palanka and Dimitrovgrad. Out of the total number of respondents, which amounted to 631, it was noted that 34 people knew the use of common agrimony. The largest number of respondents mentioned common agrimony against the group of urinary diseases (19 reports). A small number of respondents have mentioned the use against prostate disease (6 reports) and treatment of wounds (5 reports). Five reports against the group of digestive tract diseases were recorded. The results were compared with other ethnopharmacological studies from Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula. The following applications of common agrimony were not mentioned in previous ethnopharmacological investigations in Serbia and Balkan Peninsula: for circulation, for the heart, against varicose veins, catarrh of the stomach, for colon, for the stomach, bile, liver, prostate disease, against kidney and urinary tract sand, and diseases of internal organs.

Wound Healing Activities and Potential of Selected African Medicinal Plants and Their Synthesized Biogenic Nanoparticles

In Africa, medicinal plants have been traditionally used as a source of medicine for centuries. To date, African medicinal plants continue to play a significant role in the treatment of wounds. Chronic wounds are associated with severe healthcare and socio-economic burdens despite the use of conventional therapies. Emergence of novel wound healing strategies using medicinal plants in conjunction with nanotechnology has the potential to develop efficacious wound healing therapeutics with enhanced wound repair mechanisms. This review identified African medicinal plants and biogenic nanoparticles used to promote wound healing through various mechanisms including improved wound contraction and epithelialization as well as antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To achieve this, electronic databases such as PubMed, Scifinder® and Google Scholar were used to search for medicinal plants used by the African populace that were scientifically evaluated for their wound healing activities in both in vitro and in vivo models from 2004 to 2021. Additionally, data on the wound healing mechanisms of biogenic nanoparticles synthesized using African medicinal plants is included herein. The continued scientific evaluation of wound healing African medicinal plants and the development of novel nanomaterials using these plants is imperative in a bid to alleviate the detrimental effects of chronic wounds.

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL AND WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF POIKILOSPERMUM SUAVEOLENS

Poikilospermum suaveolens is a plant could grows in the limestone area in Maros, Indonesia. The leaves are generally widely used as traditional medicine for treatment of wounds by local communities. This study aims to examine the wound healing potential of P. suaveolens leaves extract as well as scientific clarify of the plant. The plant leaves were extracted by maceration. The measurement of antioxidant activity by the DPPH technique (1,1 diphenil-2-pikrilhidrazil) spectrophotometrically. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by formation of the inhibition zone. The wound healing activity was performed the percentage of injury closure in rats skin injury. The antioxidant activity showed that 70% ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were not significantly different, however, highly distinct to the positive control (Butylated Hidroxyanisole). The antimicrobial activity of extract showed 70% ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were not significantly against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, but significantly against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The evaluation of P. suaveolens extract on the rate of wound closure activity quickly, i.e., within 15 days the injury on the test animal was recovered. This study concludes that the P. suaveolens plant extracts are potential as a sources of active substances for wound healing.