The search for more effective and lower cost therapeutic approaches for wound healing remains a challenge for modern medicine. In the search for new therapeutic options, plants and their metabolites are a great source of novel biomolecules. Among their constituents, the monoterpenes represent 90% of essential oils, and have a variety of structures with several activities such as antimicrobial, ...

Previous studies of actin and actin-binding proteins in corneal myofibroblasts suggest the development of a contractile apparatus composed, in part, of F-actin micro-filament bundles, i.e. stress fibers. To better understand the mechanics of wound contraction and the relationship between microfilament bundles and wound closure, we have analyzed the spatial and temporal organization of stress fi...

BACKGROUND Immune-compromised patients incur a high risk of surgical wound dehiscence and colonization by multidrug resistant organisms. Common treatment has been debridement and spontaneous secondary healing.We report on the results obtained in nine such patients whose wounds were treated by debridement, negative pressure dressing and direct closure. METHODS All immune-compromised patients r...

The reliability and versatility of the anterolateral thigh flap has been established; however, reducing donor-site morbidity continues to be a focus. The major donor-site difficulties reported include wound complications related to primary closure (i.e., wound dehiscence, muscle bulge, need for skin grafting) and mild lower extremity weakness.1–3 Techniques to further decrease donor-site morbid...

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections are the third most frequent type of nosocomial infections. Evidence-based recommendations have been given regarding preoperative hospitalization, hygiene and air-conditioning, patient conditions, and wound dressing. However, no general recommendations concerning wound closure exist. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses suppose a benefit of intracutaneous sutu...

BACKGROUND We reported two rare cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia with abdominal wall closure defect, which were not associated with septum transversum diaphragmatic defects or Fryns syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION Case 1: a Japanese baby boy was delivered at 37 weeks' gestation by urgent cesarean section because of the diagnosis of severe fetal distress. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia wi...

BACKGROUND Damage-control laparotomy (DCL) has revolutionized the surgery of injury. However, this has led to the dilemma of the nonclosable abdomen. Subsequently, there exists a subgroup of patients who after resuscitation and diuresis, remain nonclosable. Before the adoption of our open abdomen protocol (OAP) and use of transabdominal wall traction (TAWT), these patients required skin graftin...

Nineteen eighty-five has been an interesting year in general surgery and I have picked out some of the highlights that I have found of special value. They reflect the present trend to critical review of patient management, scientifically conducted prospective trials and the application of modem technology to patient care. This year I review abdominal emergency surgery (including appendicitis, p...