Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disease affecting one-third of the United States population. It is characterized by hyperglycemia, where the hormone insulin is either not produced sufficiently or where there is a resistance to insulin. Patients with Type 1 DM (T1DM), in which the insulin-producing beta cells are destroyed by autoimmune mechanisms, have a significantly increased risk of developing life-threatening cardiovascular complications, even when exogenous insulin is administered. In fact, due to various factors such as limited blood glucose measurements and timing of insulin administration, only 37% of T1DM adults achieve normoglycemia. Furthermore, T1DM patients do not produce C-peptide, a cleavage product from insulin processing. C-peptide has potential therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo on many complications of T1DM, such as peripheral neuropathy, atherosclerosis, and inflammation. Thus, delivery of C-peptide in conjunction with insulin through a pump, pancreatic islet transplantation, or genetically engineered Sertoli cells (an immune privileged cell type) may ameliorate many of the cardiovascular and vascular complications afflicting T1DM patients.
Introduction A critical component of split-thickness skin grafting is the fixation of the skin graft to the wound site. Graft displacement can result in graft failure, especially during the initial 48–72 hours following application. The most common method of securing grafts is with the use of staples, sometimes with the addition of fibrin glue in order to aid both graft adhesion and homeostasis. The use of staples, however, is associated with significant levels of patient discomfort, especially during staple removal. A possible alternative to staples is the use of liquid adhesives, in combination with steri-strips, to anchor the edges of skin grafts to intact skin. Certain liquid adhesives, such as gum-based resins, are cheaper to use than staples and offer the potential to secure small split-thickness skin grafts without the associated pain of staples. In this pilot study, we examined the effectiveness of using a combination of gum-based resin (Gum Mastic-Storax-Msal-Alcohol), fibrin glue, and steri-strips to secure partial-thickness grafts in 8 patients without the use of staples or sutures. Methods Patients were included in the study who required split-thickness skin grafts to treat wounds involving less than or equal to 15% total surface body area and whose wounds were not located in areas prone to graft displacement, such as the axilla and groin. For each patient, skin grafts were secured using fibrin glue (sprayed over the entire wound), and a combination of liquid adhesive and steri-strips applied around the wound perimeter. The success of each graft was determined by the percentage of graft take. Results From January 1st, 2020 to April 30th, 2020, 8 patients were identified who fit the inclusion criteria. Five of the patients received grafts to their lower extremities, two patients received grafts to their upper extremities, and one of the patients received a graft to the torso. The average wound site that was grafted was 116.7 cm2. Average graft take among the 8 patients was 96.9%, with a range of 90%-100%. No complications at the graft site were noted, such as hematomas or any other event that resulted in graft displacement or failure. Conclusions The results of the study demonstrate that a combination of liquid adhesive, fibrin glue, and steri-strips, can be used as an effective alternative to staples in small split-thickness skin grafts. The use of liquid adhesive in place of staples was advantageous because it eliminated to need for staple removal, which resulted in less discomfort for the patient and less work for the nursing staff.
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