Prevention of scar hyperplasia in the skin by conotoxin: A prospective review

Effects of Various Marine Toxins on the Mouse Intestine Organoid Model

Because of their trace existence, exquisite structure and unique role, highly toxic marine biotoxins have always led to the development of natural product identification, structure and function research, chemistry and biosynthesis, and there are still many deficiencies in the injury and protection of highly toxic organisms, toxin biosynthesis, rapid detection, poisoning and diagnosis and treatment. In this study, a mouse intestine organoid (MIO) model was constructed to explore the effects of the marine toxins okadaic acid (OA) and conotoxin (CgTx) on MIO. The results showed that the cell mortality caused by the two toxins at middle and high concentrations was significantly higher than the cell mortality of the control group, the ATPase activity in each group exposed to OA was significantly lower than the ATPase activity of the control group, all the CgTx groups were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the number of apoptotic cells was not significantly higher than the number of apoptotic cells of the control group. Through RNA-Seq differential genes, Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) experimental results, it was demonstrated that OA reduced cell metabolism and energy production by affecting cell transcription in MIO. Ultimately, cell death resulted. In contrast, CgTx upregulated the intracellular hormone metabolism pathway by affecting the nuclear receptor pathway of MIO, which resulted in cell death and the generation of energy in large amounts.

Clinical application of absorbable collagen thread and cosmetic suture technique in emergency treatment of children's facial trauma

AIM

To explore the effect of absorbable collagen thread and cosmetic suture technique on scar inhibition after emergency facial trauma in children, and to explore the application value of absorbable collagen thread in emergency facial trauma.

METHODS

Children who received emergency treatment of facial trauma in plastic surgery department from January 2021 to January 2022 were analysed retrospectively, and were divided into absorbable collagen thread group and non-absorbable nylon thread group. The general data, scar appearance and local symptoms of the two groups were analysed, and the scar appearance was scored by scar beauty rating scale and non-inferiority test was analysed statistically.

RESULTS

A total of 632 children with facial trauma were included in this study, including 458 patients with absorbable collagen thread and 174 patients with non-absorbable nylon thread. The SCAR score of the absorbable collagen thread group (3.03 ± 1.57) was similar to that of the non-absorbable nylon thread group (2.98 ± 2.39) (95% confidence interval), and the final scar outcome score was not statistically different (P > 0.05). All families of the patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure, 95% very satisfied.

CONCLUSION

The use of absorbable collagen thread and cosmetic suture technique to treat the wounds of children with facial emergency trauma, resulted in good wound healing, little scar expansion, low incidence of erythema and pigment abnormality, no obvious surgical trace, and no scar hypertrophy or atrophy. The overall impression was good, the pain of stitch removal was avoided for children's patients, and the satisfaction of family members was high. Cosmetic suture technique with absorbable sutures is worthy of clinical application.

Skin Wound Tension Reduction Device Combined with Ablative Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser to Reduce Scar Formation After Excision of Pediatric Facial Skin Lesions: A Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose

To investigate the efficacy of skin wound tension reduction device (SWTRD) combined with ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser (CO2-AFL) for the prevention of scar formation following the excision of facial cutaneous lesions in children.

Methods

Patients undergoing surgical excision of facial cutaneous lesions in our hospital between May 2019 and April 2021 were enrolled. After the excision of facial cutaneous lesions and based on the personal intents and conditions, patients were assigned to undergo SWTRD combined with CO2-AFL. Outcome evaluations were as follows: defect size, incision width, scar width, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and University of North Carolina 4P Scar Scale (UNC4P).

Results

A total of 25 pediatric patients (mean age, 9.88 years) were enrolled in the study. Following the treatment of SWTRD+CO2-AFL, scar widths were relatively narrow and the appearance of the incision scars was significantly improved. A significant reduction in the patient-reported UNC4P scores at 6 months (3, 1–4) was observed when compared with that at 2 months (0, 0–1) after surgery (p<0.001). A similar reduction in the VSS scar scale was also evident (6 months: 1, 0.75–2.5 vs 2 months: 6.5–8.5; p<0.001).

Conclusion

Combined SWTRD and CO2-AFL treatment effectively modulates the scar formation after the incision is healed and resulting in preventing scar widening, leading to the improvement of scar appearance, reduction in wound pain and pruritus and its overall prognosis.