Author Interviews, Dermatology, UCLA / 19.03.2017

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Madalene Heng MD, FRACP, FACD, FAAD Professor of Medicine/Dermatology UCLA School of Medicine MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice, turmeric, is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent with unique healing properties. However, this is only observed with our preparation of topical curcumin but not with oral curcumin. This is because curcumin is not absorbed and does not cross cell membranes - low bioavailability. The biochemical basis for the efficacy of topical curcumin is based on the fact that it is a phosphorylase kinase inhibitor. Phosphorylase kinase is an enzyme released by injured tissue 5 mins following injury, and is responsible for activating the transcription activator (NF-kB), resulting in turning on over 200 genes responsible for inflammation, and scarring among others, resulting in redness, swelling, pain, and eventually scarring. By blocking phosphorylase kinase activity early in the injury pathway, topical curcumin (curcumin gel) results in rapid healing with minimal or no scarring following many types of healing, including burns and scalds. The unique healing properties are also due to the fact that curcumin induces cell death (apoptosis) to damaged cells, resulting in the "space" for replacement by new healthy cells, resulting in normal appearing skin following burns and scalds. The salutary result depends on when the curcumin gel is applied - the earlier the better. We observed that when curcumin gel was applied within 4 days to second degree burns- hourly applications, tapering after the patient is improved - we observed rapid healing within 5 days, with the skin returning to normal within 6 weeks to 2 months without redness or visible scarring. Minor burns and scalds heal even more rapidly. Pain was improved within hours. MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? Response: If the readers happen to have curcumin gel (Psoria-Gold) in their first aid kit, they should apply curcumin gel multiple times as soon as possible. Within the first hour, they should apply it every 5-10 mins, tapering off when the pain and swelling is improved. If they do this, it is possible that blistering may be aborted. The scarring is also minimal. The curcumin gel should be applied twice daily until the skin returns to normal (no redness, swelling, pigmentation etc) and no visible scarring is seen. (more…)
Author Interviews, Dermatology / 18.08.2016

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Thomas Bold President and CEO RenovaCare Inc. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for the CellMist™ System? How are the stem cells harvested and processed? Response: Our flagship CellMist™ System makes use of a patient’s own stem cells, which are sprayed onto wounds using our novel SkinGun™ device. For patients suffering severe burns and other wounds, the prospect of a quick-healing, gentle spray containing their own stem cells will be a promising alternative to conventional skin graft surgery, which can be painful, prone to complications like infections, and slow-to-heal. Based on preliminary case studies, CellMist™ System patients can be treated within 90 minutes of arriving in an emergency room; a patient’s stem cells are isolated, processed, and sprayed on to the wound sites for rapid healing. The CellMist™ Solution is a liquid suspension containing a patient’s own regenerative skin stem cells. A small sample (as small as a square inch) of the patient’s skin is quickly processed to liberate the stem cells from surrounding tissue. The resulting product is referred to as the ‘CellMist™ Solution’. The CellMist™ Solution is placed in the SkinGun™ and gently sprayed onto the patient’s wound. (more…)
Author Interviews, Infections, PLoS / 16.09.2015

Dr Mark Webber PhD, MSc, BSc Senior Research Fellow School of Immunity and Infection University of Birmingham and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC)MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr Mark Webber PhD, MSc, BSc Senior Research Fellow School of Immunity and Infection University of Birmingham and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC) Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Webber: Infection is a major problem for patients who suffer burn injuries and these are vary hard to treat with traditional antibiotics which struggle to effectively reach the wound and kill the bugs. One alternative which has been used in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for some time is the use of acetic acid, basically vinegar. Acetic acid has long been known to be a useful antimicrobial but clinicians in Birmingham have found it to be effective in treating wounds infected, particularly with Pseudomonas. There is though very little science about what concentration of acetic acid would work best and how it kills bugs. We have shown the acetic acid works well against lots of different bugs and at much lower concentrations than are used in practice. Importantly we showed that the acetic acid works well against bugs stuck to a surface - in what's known as a 'Biofilm'. Biofilms are typically highly drug resistant. (more…)
Author Interviews, Gastrointestinal Disease, Microbiome, PLoS / 10.07.2015

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Mashkoor A.  Choudhry, PhD Professor of Surgery, Microbiology & Immunology Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute Stritch School of Medicine Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division Maywood, IL 60153 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Choudhry: Intestine is the major reservoir of bacteria in the body. We observed that gut bacterial composition is altered after burn injury. We found that burn causes a significant increase in Enterobacteriaceae, a group of bacteria that has the potential to be harmful for the host. Dysbiosis of the healthy intestinal microbiome is associated with a number of inflammatory conditions. (more…)
Author Interviews, Biomarkers, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Critical Care - Intensive Care - ICUs, PLoS / 19.12.2014

Daniel Irimia, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor Division of Surgery, Science & Bioengineering Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Associate Director, BioMEMS Resource Center Boston, MA 02129MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Daniel Irimia, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor Division of Surgery, Science & Bioengineering Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Associate Director, BioMEMS Resource Center Boston, MA 02129 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Sepsis is affecting more than half of the patients with major burn injuries (20 percent of body surface) and is the leading cause of death among these patients.  Sepsis is also a significant complication for other critically ill patients. More than one million Americans are affected and it has been estimated that approximately 30% of these people die, despite significant advances in life support and antibiotics.  Early diagnosis is essential, and it has been calculated that every 6 hours of delay in a sepsis diagnosis decreases the chances of survival by 10 percent. We have found that the motility of the white blood cells called neutrophils, inside a microfluidic device, is significantly altered two to three days before sepsis develops. (more…)