1.
The vegetal biomembrane in the healing of chronic venous ulcers.
Frade, MA, Assis, RV, Coutinho Netto, J, Andrade, TA, Foss, NT
Anais brasileiros de dermatologia. 2012;(1):45-51
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vegetal biomembrane has been used to treat cutaneous ulcers. OBJECTIVES To assess the role of the vegetal biomembrane on the chronic venous ulcers treatment compared to treatment with collagenase cream. METHODS Fourteen patients were selected to be treated with vegetal biomembrane and 7 with Fibrase(®) (CONTROL), followed clinically and photographically by the Wound Healing Index by ImageJ during 120 days and biopsied on the 1(st) and 30(th) days for histological examination. RESULTS The vegetal biomembrane was better in promoting healing of the ulcers, especially on the inflammatory phase, confirmed by abundant exudation and wound debridement than the CONTROL group, on the 30th day. There was a greater tendency to angiogenesis followed by re-epithelialization with highest wound healing index on the 90(th) and 120(th) days. CONCLUSION A combined analysis of clinical and histopathological findings suggests that the vegetal biomembrane acted as a factor inducing wound healing, especially on the inflammatory phase, confirmed by abundant exudation of the lesions promoting the transformation of the microenvironment of the chronic venous ulcers, and also stimulating angiogenesis and subsequent re-epithelialization.
2.
The effect of n-3 fatty acids on C-reactive protein levels in patients with chronic renal failure.
Madsen, T, Schmidt, EB, Christensen, JH
Journal of renal nutrition : the official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation. 2007;(4):258-63
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). C-reactive protein (CRP), a strong independent risk marker of CVD, is elevated in a large proportion of patients with CRF. The long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have cardioprotective effects, which may be partly attributed to their anti-inflammatory properties. OBJECTIVE The study objective was to investigate the effect of n-3 PUFA on serum levels of CRP in patients with CRF. DESIGN We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING The study took place at an outpatients clinic at the Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark. PATIENTS The study comprised 46 patients (30 men and 16 women; mean age 59 +/- 11 years) with a serum creatinine level in the range of 150 to 400 micromol/L. INTERVENTION The patients were randomly assigned to daily supplementation with 2.4 g n-3 PUFA or identical capsules containing 2.4 g of olive oil (control) for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE CRP was measured with a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) assay and the content of n-3 PUFA in granulocyte membranes before and after supplementation. RESULTS The n-3 PUFA concentration increased in granulocytes after the n-3 PUFA supplements but was unaltered by the control oil. A nonsignificant reduction in hs-CRP was observed in the n-3 PUFA group after supplementation (2.46 vs. 1.47 mg/L; P = .06), and hs-CRP was unaltered by the control oil (3.27 vs. 3.14 mg/L; P = .12). There was no difference in median hs-CRP change in the two groups. CONCLUSION A trend was seen toward a reduction in hs-CRP in the n-3 PUFA group, but there was no significant difference in hs-CRP levels when both groups were compared.