Negative Pressure Therapy in the Regeneration of the Sciatic Nerve Using Vacuum - Assisted Closure in a Rabbit Model

Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy: What We Know and What We Need to Know

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) promotes wound healing by applying negative pressure to the wound surface. A quarter of a century after its introduction, NPWT has been used in various clinical conditions, although molecular biological evidence is insufficient due to delay in basic research. Here, we have summarized the history of NPWT, its mechanism of action, what is currently known about it, and what is expected to be known in the future. Particularly, attention has shifted from the four main mechanisms of NPWT to the accompanying secondary effects, such as effects on various cells, bacteria, and surgical wounds. This chapter will help the reader to understand the current status and shortcomings of NPWT-related research, which could aid in the development of basic research and, eventually, clinical use with stronger scientific evidence.

An oleanolic acid derivative reduces denervation-induced muscle atrophy via activation of CNTF-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Denervation caused by sciatic nerve injury has brought great harm to the patients, especially denervation-induced muscle atrophy. The body stress produces a large number of Schwann cells when the sciatic nerve is injured, and the cells secrete some cytokines including ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) that not only play a role in promoting the repair of sciatic nerve, but also maintain the normal physiological function of the muscles surrounding the damaged nerves. CNTF upregulates janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signals in myoblasts, and consequently accelerates the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. This effect on myoblasts is the most effective way to relieve muscle atrophy. Therefore, increasing CNTF is a promising direction to improve muscle atrophy. In the present study, an oleanolic acid derivative, HA-19, increased the proliferation of Schwann cells, and elevated CNTF production of the cells. HA-19 up-regulated the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 not only by directly acting on myoblasts, but also by increasing the secretion of CNTF of Schwann cells; and consequently, promoted the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. In denervation-induced muscle atrophy mice model, treatment with HA-19 significantly increased the weights of tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (Gastroc.), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), soleus and quadriceps (Quad.) under atrophied state. And, very interestingly, these muscles under normal condition were also strengthened by HA-19. Our finding demonstrated that HA-19 has a great potential as a lead compound for the drug discovery of anti-denervation-induced muscle atrophy.