We investigated the effects of selective embolization in patients with symptomatic bone metastases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. A total of 41 embolizations was performed in 16 patients. We studied the follow-up (range, 2 months to 8.6 yr) after the first embolization by evaluation of clinical symptoms and tumor dimensions. Success was defined as an improvement in clinical symptoms without tumor progression. The procedure was successful in 24 of 41 occasions (59%). Twenty-six embolizations were preceded or followed up by additional therapies, consisting of surgery (laminectomy), external irradiation, or radioiodine. Subgroup analysis revealed that these additional therapies did not influence the success rate; however, a potential effect on success duration may be present: for embolizations without additional radioiodine or external irradiation therapy, the median success duration was 6.5 months; for embolizations combined with additional radioiodine or external irradiation, this was 15 months (P = 0.0146). The ultimate outcome of the patients was unfavorable: nine patients died and five patients have progressive disease. We concluded that selective embolization of bone metastases may be considered a palliative therapy that may induce rapid, but transient, relief of symptoms. Combination with radioiodine or external irradiation may prolong the duration of success.

Wound healing in diabetes is frequently impaired, and its treatment remains a challenge. We tested a therapeutic strategy of potentiating intrinsic tissue regeneration by restoring the wound cellular environment using a heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan mimetic, OTR4120. The effect of OTR4120 on healing of diabetic ulcers was investigated. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Seven weeks after induction of diabetes, rats were ulcerated by clamping a pair of magnet disks on the dorsal skin for 16 h. After magnet removal, OTR4120 was administered via an intramuscular injection weekly for up to 4 weeks. To examine the effect of OTR4120 treatment on wound heal-ing, the degree of ulceration, inflammation, angiogenesis, and collagen synthesis were evaluated. We found that OTR4120 treatment significantly reduced the degree of ulceration and the time of healing. These effects were associated with reduced neutrophil infiltration and macrophage accumulation and enhanced angiogenesis. OTR4120 treatment also increased the collagen content with an increase of collagen type I biosynthesis and reduction of collagen type III biosynthesis. Moreover, restoration of the ulcer biomechanical strength was significantly enhanced after OTR4120 treatment. This study shows that matrix therapy with OTR4120 improves diabetes-impaired wound healing.