Nanocomposite Bienzymatic Sensor for Monitoring Xanthine in Wound Diagnostics

This work reports a biosensor for monitoring xanthine for potential wound healing assessment. Active substrate of the biosensor has xanthine oxidase (XO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) physisorbed on a nanocomposite of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNP). The presence of HRP provided a two-fold increase in response to xanthine, and a three-fold increase in response to the nanocomposite. With a sensitivity of 155.71 nA μM−1 cm−2 the biosensor offers a detection limit of 1.3 μM, with linear response between 22 μM and 0.4 mM. Clinical sample analyses showed the feasibility of xanthine detection from biofluids in a lesion site due to diffusion of the analyte into surrounding biofluids. Higher concentrations by three-fold were observed from wound proximity, than away from injury, with an average recovery of 110%. Results show the feasibility of monitoring wound severity through longitudinal measurements of xanthine from injured vicinity

Innate immunity and microbial dysbiosis in hidradenitis suppurativa – vicious cycle of chronic inflammation

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory skin disease with incompletely understood mechanisms of disease pathology. HS is characterized by aberrant activation of the innate immune system, resulting in activation of pathways that aim to protect against pathogenic microorganisms, and also contribute to failure to resolve inflammation. Imbalance in innate immunity is evident in deregulation of host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and the complement system associated with the microbiome dysbiosis. The pathology is further complicated by ability of pathogens associated with HS to overcome host immune response. Potential roles of major AMPs, cathelicidin, defensins, dermcidin, S100 proteins, RNAse 7 and complement proteins are discussed. Dysregulated expression pattern of innate immunity components in conjunction with bacterial component of the disease warrants consideration of novel treatment approaches targeting both host immunity and pathogenic microbiome in HS

Acute Wounding Alters the Beta2-Adrenergic Signaling and Catecholamine Synthetic Pathways in Keratinocytes

Keratinocyte migration is critical for wound re-epithelialization. Previous studies showed that epinephrine activates the beta2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR), impairing keratinocyte migration. Here, we investigated the keratinocyte catecholamine synthetic pathway in response to acute trauma. Cultured keratinocytes were scratch wounded and expression levels of the B2AR and catecholamine synthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase were assayed. The binding affinity of the B2AR was measured. Wounding downregulated B2AR, tyrosine hydroxylase, and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase expression, but pre-exposure to timolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, delayed this effect. In wounded keratinocytes, B2AR-binding affinity remained depressed even after its expression returned to prewounding levels. Keratinocyte-derived norepinephrine increased after wounding. Norepinephrine impaired keratinocyte migration; this effect was abrogated with B2AR-selective antagonist ICI-118,551 but not with B1AR-selective antagonist bisoprolol. Finally, for clinical relevance, we determined that norepinephrine was present in freshly wounded skin, thus providing a potential mechanism for impaired healing by local B2AR activation in wound-edge keratinocytes. Taken together, the data show that keratinocytes modulate catecholamine synthetic enzymes and release norepinephrine after scratch wounding. Norepinephrine appears to be a stress-related mediator that impairs keratinocyte migration through activation of the B2AR. Future therapeutic strategies evaluating modulation of norepinephrine-related effects in the wound are warranted

The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for integumentary wound management

The increasing legalization of Cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes in the United States has spurred renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids (CBs) for human disease. The skin has its own endocannabinoid system (eCS) which is a key regulator of various homeostatic processes, including those necessary for normal physiologic wound healing. Data on the use of CBs for wound healing are scarce. Compelling pre‐clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of CBs to improve wound healing by modulating key molecular pathways is herein reviewed. These findings merit further exploration in basic science, translational and clinical studies

20 - Dressings and Wound Care Supplies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) suffer impaired quality of life due to pain, exudate, and odor. These effects have the potential to be assuaged by the selection of appropriate dressings. However, evidence-based data to support the choice of dressings in HS is limited. Selecting the best dressing is challenging given the heterogenous nature of lesion types and involvement of difficult anatomical areas (e.g., the axilla and groin). A variety of dressings that can be used for HS wounds are herein discussed, with a focus on evidence-based evaluation of their strengths, weaknesses, and efficacy in achieving beneficial clinical and quality-of-life outcomes. Then, a lesion-based clinical approach is proposed for each type of HS wound, including typical lesions (e.g., nodules, abscesses, etc.) and post-surgical wounds. Finally, an overarching algorithm for dressing selection in HS patients is outlined

The use of virtual reality in non-burn dermatological care - a review of the literature

Aim: Virtual Reality (VR) is the artificial depiction of a three-dimensional (3D) environment using computer-generated technology which allows users to interact with a simulated setting. VR has been used in a variety of clinical scenarios due to its efficacy as a distraction intervention, reducing anxiety and pain associated with medical procedures. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with an overview of VR use in clinical dermatology. Methods: A search on VR use in clinical dermatology was conducted using PubMed Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.Gov in July 2019. Results related to burn care were excluded. Results: This review identifies studies that utilized VR in the management of skin diseases and discusses considerations for its future use. Conclusion: The findings of these studies indicate that VR has beneficial effects as a complementary tool in the treatment of dermatological conditions

Wound odor: current methods of treatment and need for objective measures

Chronic wounds are an enormous burden to society, costing billions of dollars annually in the USA alone. Despite the extensive research into methods to heal chronic wounds, many remain unhealed for months to years. There is a need to focus on patient reported outcomes to improve quality of life in patients with non-healing wounds. Wound odor has a significant impact on patient quality of life; however, relatively little information is available on the management of wound odor. We review the current data available on wound odor and discuss the need for standardized objective measures of odor to improve research quality. An independent search of the PubMed and Embase databases was conducted using combinations of the following words or phrases: "wounds," "chronic wounds," "diabetic ulcers," "venous leg ulcers (VLUs)," "malignant ulcers," "odor," "odour," "smell," "malodor," "artificial olfaction," "electronic nose," and "e-nose." Article references were also searched for significance. There are few overall studies on wound odor, and fewer randomized controlled trials. Current trials on odor have consistent weaknesses such as subjective measures and poor methodology. No single odor treatment modality has been demonstrated to be widely effective for wound odor or superior to other methods. Future research should incorporate objective measures of odor such as electronic noses into clinical trials

Sonographic Evaluation of Hidradenitis Suppurativa with Smartphone-Linked Portable Ultrasound

Clinical staging systems for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have poor interrater reliability and may underestimate disease activity. Sonographic staging systems may overcome these challenges, but conventional ultrasound (US) machines are expensive and bulky. Portable (p)US may facilitate the integration of sonography into routine practice. To assess the ability of a novel smartphone-linked pUS device to identify key sonographic lesions of HS. The charts of 16 patients with HS who were assessed with pUS at the outpatient Dermatology and Wound Care Clinics of a university hospital center were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and sonographic images of the affected areas were examined. The main outcome measures were the number of patients with identifiable sonographic lesions and the number of patients with subclinical lesions detected by pUS. All 3 key sonographic lesions of HS were identifiable with pUS. Sonographic lesions were identified in 10 patients (62.5%). Subclinical lesions were identified in 2 patients (12.5%); in both cases, this affected management decisions. We demonstrate the ability of pUS to identify the key sonographic lesions of HS. pUS is a simple and affordable way to integrate HSUS into clinical and research settings, with clear potential benefits to patients

Treatments to prevent primary venous ulceration after deep venous thrombosis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess whether compression stockings or other interventions reduce the incidence of venous ulceration after acute deep venous thrombosis. We searched PubMed and Embase for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), restricted to English, Spanish, and Hebrew, related to post-thrombotic syndrome and venous ulceration in participants with confirmed deep venous thrombosis. Our primary statistical assessment was the Peto odds ratio (OR). Our search generated 23 RCTs meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, summing 6162 patients and 146 ulcerative events. Trials were categorized into compression, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), procedural thrombolysis, medical thrombolysis, or miscellaneous. Six compression trials were identified, of which five were included in meta-analysis. Compression compared with placebo did not reduce venous ulceration (OR, 0.915; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.475-1.765), and long-term compression was not superior to short-term compression (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.014-1.31). Four LMWH trials were identified but were not subjected to meta-analysis because of intertrial heterogeneity. One trial, comparing extended tinzaparin with warfarin, demonstrated eight ulcers in the warfarin group and one ulcer in the LMWH group (relative risk, 0.125; P < .05). Three procedural thrombolysis trials were pooled into meta-analysis; fewer ulcerative events occurred in procedural thrombolysis patients, but the effect was not significant (OR, 0.677; 95% CI, 0.338-1.358). Eight medical thrombolysis trials were identified. Pooled analysis of five trials demonstrated a protective effect on ulceration in streptokinase patients vs standard heparinization (OR, 0.125; 95% CI, 0.021-0.739). However, these trials were of poor-quality study design, had small sample size, and had poor overall outcomes. Miscellaneous studies included a trial of hidrosmina, a vasoactive flavonoid, and a trial comparing 6-month warfarin treatment with 6 weeks; neither trial had significant outcomes. Intertrial heterogeneity was not adequately assessed with the I2 value as venous ulceration is a rare event; the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation evidence for most trials was very low, with the exception of procedural thrombolysis trials, for which it was low. We found insufficient evidence to assess whether compression or other interventions protect against venous ulceration. To develop guidelines for treatment decisions related to prevention of venous ulceration, high-powered RCTs investigating venous leg ulcers as a primary outcome are required