The use of fibrin sealants allows for fewer graft loss complications and earlier discharge in patients who have burns that are less than 10% TBSA. This decrease in hospital days results in savings, although this difference is not statistically significant.
Although it is known that blood vessels undergo remodeling in type 2 diabetes (T2D), the signaling pathways that underlie the structural and functional changes seen in diabetic arteries remain unclear. Our objective was to determine whether the remodeling in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats is evoked by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our results show that aortas from GK rats produced greater force (P < 0.05) in response to stimulation with KCl and U46619 than aortas from Wistar rats. Associated with these changes, aortic expression of contractile proteins (measured as an index of remodeling) and the microRNA (miR-145), which act to upregulate transcription of contractile protein genes, was twofold higher (P < 0.05) in GK than Wistar (age-matched control) rats, and there was a corresponding increase in ROS and decrease in nitric oxide signaling. Oral administration of the antioxidant Tempol (1 mmol/l) to Wistar and GK rats reduced (P < 0.05) myocardin and calponin expression. Tempol (1 mmol/l) decreased expression of miR-145 in Wistar and GK rat aorta. To elucidate the mechanism through which ROS increases miR-145, we measured their levels in freshly isolated aorta and cultured aortic smooth muscle cells incubated for 12 h in the presence of H2O2 (300 μmol/l). H2O2 increased expression of miR-145, and there were corresponding nuclear increases in myocardin, a miR-145 target protein. Intriguingly, H2O2-induced expression of miR-145 was decreased by U0126 (10 μmol/l), a MEK1/2 inhibitor, and myocardin was decreased by anti-miR-145 (50 nmol/l) and U0126 (10 μmol/l). Our novel findings demonstrate that ROS evokes vascular wall remodeling and dysfunction by enhancing expression of contractile proteins in T2D.
Postburn contractures of the hand and wrist can range from a minor cosmetic problem to a crippling condition. The contractures, initially limited to the skin, extend to all the soft-tissue structures over time, often necessitating capsulotomies and tendon lengthening, although they still may not be amenable to total correction. The Joshi External Stabilizing System (JESS) is a versatile, lightweight external fixator consisting of K wires, distractors, and connecting rods (both hinged and nonhinged) along with various link joints. JESS is a dynamic system that allows the lengthening of the contracted tissues via slow distraction, causing minimal surgical insult. This is a retrospective review of 218 cases of postburn contractures of the hand treated with JESS during the last 20 years. Deformities varied from finger contractures to metacarpophalangeal joint and wrist contractures. All cases were of long duration at the time of presentation with the original injury being 4 months to 20 years old. All were assessed for the degree of function and deformity. The patients' activities of daily living were recorded and x-rays taken to evaluate joint configuration. The patients underwent a conservative surgical release followed by application of the appropriate JESS frame for the correction of the residual deformity. After 6 weeks, the frame was removed and hand therapy continued. An analysis is provided of the outcome. The technique produces functional hands with minimal surgical insult.
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