Effects of the use of bioceramic wraps in patients with lower limb venous ulcers: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Venous ulcer represents the most advanced stage of chronic venous insufficiency. It is an important public health problem and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life due to chronic pain, inability to work, need for hospitalization and frequent outpatient follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the treatment benefits of far-infrared ceramic (cFIR), in a 90-day study of lower limb venous ulcers and looked at ulcer healing scores, quality of life, serum bio-markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense enzymes.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS

This is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study conducted in the Vascular Surgery Service of a hospital located in the northwest region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We included patients with lower limb venous ulcers who were randomized to use either a bioceramics wrap or a placebo wrap for 90 days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The following evaluations were conducted at baseline and after 15, 30, 60 and 90 days: ulcer healing score, quality of life, and serum markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity.

RESULTS

Patients (n = 24) with lower limb venous ulcers were randomized into two treatment groups. cFIR decreased the ulcer size on day 30 (P = 0.042) and 90 (P = 0.034) and the total ulcer healing scale scores on day 30 (P = 0.049) and 90 (P = 0.02) of the treatment, when compared to baseline. Additionally, cFIR improved tissue type (epithelial tissue) on day 60 (P = 0.022) when compared to baseline evaluation.

CONCLUSION

cFIR clinically improved ulcer healing in patients with lower limb venous ulcers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

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Changes in amino acids and bioactive compounds of pigmented rice as affected by far-infrared radiation and hot air drying

Far infrared radiation (FIR) and hot air drying (HA) were applied to unpolished and polished pigmented rice varieties. Ferulic acid is a major phenolic acid in pigmented rice, being three-fold greater in bound form than in soluble form. Overall, FIR increased total phenolic and flavonoid contents, anthocyanin, tocopherols as well as antioxidant capacity, whereas the opposite results were observed for HA in all samples. Gallic, and ferulic acids were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in FIR dried samples. Quercetin content was significantly increased in unpolished rice dried by FIR and HA. Cyanidin-3-glucoside was greatly increased by FIR. Amino acids were decreased less by HA than did FIR. Our findings suggest that HA and FIR may have a significant effect on the internal structure of the grain, which may increase the yield of extraction of some components, including the bioactives.

Effect of ultrasonic power on drying process and quality properties of far-infrared radiation drying on potato slices

The experiments of contact ultrasound-assisted far-infrared radiation (FIR) drying on potato slices were conducted to investigate the effects of ultrasonic power on drying characteristics and quality properties. The results showed that contact ultrasound was helpful for accelerating mass transfer of the samples, and the improvement of ultrasonic power could significantly shorten drying time. The ultrasonic reinforcement effect on drying rate declined along with the decrease in moisture content. D _eff values were within 1.15 × 10^-10 and 1.96 × 10^-10 m²/s, and improved with an increase in ultrasound power. Compared with FIR dried ones, more and larger pore size of microcapillaries in the samples' tissue structure could be observed with contact ultrasound application, and higher ultrasonic power produced more microtunnels. Contact ultrasound in FIR drying could reduce the color difference of dried potato slices, and decrease the hardness and brittleness values. Higher TPC and TFC could be achieved as ultrasonic power increased.

Effect of far-infrared radiation on perineal wound pain and sexual function in primiparous women undergoing an episiotomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of far-infrared radiation on postpartum perineal pain and sexual function in primiparous women undergoing an episiotomy and 2nd degree perineal laceration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From May 2016 to May 2017, primiparous women with term pregnancies and vaginal deliveries with an episiotomy due to obstetric indications and 2nd degree perineal lacerations were invited to participate in this study. Women were randomly assigned into a far-infrared (FIR) group and a control group. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the perineal pain immediately postpartum, and at 1 week and 6 weeks postpartum. Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) was used to evaluate sexual function at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum.

RESULTS

The data of the control group (n = 22) and FIR group (n = 18) were analyzed. Most of the women had minor perineal pain one week after delivery (1.1 ± 0.9 in control group vs 1.4 ± 1.5 in FIR group) and there was no significant difference between groups. The FIR group had a higher PISQ-12 total score at 3 months (35.4 ± 6.4 vs 34.7 ± 5.7) and 6 months (36.4 ± 5.6 vs 35.6 ± 5.7) postpartum compared with the control group but there was no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Our study did not show any additional benefit of postpartum far-infrared radiation on primiparous women undergoing an episiotomy and 2nd degree perineal lacerations.

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Effects of Far-Infrared Emitting Ceramic Fabric Shirts and Control Polyester Shirts on Transcutaneous PO2

Our aim was to confirm earlier studies showing tcPO₂ to be higher under clothing made with polyethylene terephalate (PET) fabric containing ceramic particles (CEL) compared to standard PET fabric. In previous studies PET garments were donned first to avoid possible persistent effects from ceramic particles. This study randomized donning sequence to avoid bias.