Safety and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma vs carboxytherapy in the treatment of atrophic scars: A comparative clinical and histopathological study.

Atrophic scars that occur after surgical procedure or trauma are considered as a cosmetic problem for patients. Atrophic scarring results usually during wound healing with inadequate production of collagen and connective tissue. Factors that precipitate to the formation of depressed scars include: individual variations in wound healing, wound tension, tissue apposition, and scar contraction. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRP vs carboxytherapy in treatment of atrophic scars. This study included 40 patients with atrophic scars divided into two groups; group A including 20 patients received PRP injection, group B including 20 patients received CO2 injection. They received the treatment every 4 weeks for four sessions and had follow up for 6 months after the end of treatment. Skin biopsies were taken before and after treatment to evaluate clinical results. There was statistically significant difference between both groups in treating atrophic scars, regarding clinical improvement and patients' satisfaction with better results in group B. Histopathological examination showed significant expression of MMP-1 in group B more than group A. Both methods were safe and effective with minimal side effects with better improvement in patients treated with carboxytherapy than those treated with PRP.

Ultrastructural and immunological features of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis after treatment with intralesional hypertonic sodium chloride and CO2 laser rays.

This study investigated the mechanism of action and efficacy of CO2 laser rays and hypertonic sodium chloride (NaCl) with different concentrations in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) as assessed clinically, parasitologically, histopathologically by light & transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunologically by RT-PCR for gene expression of interleukin-13 (IL-13). Eighty mice were divided into four groups. The first was non infected control group (n=16) and the second was infected and served as non-treated control (n=16). The third (n=32) and fourth groups (n=16) were subjected to NaCl injection and CO2 laser respectively. Results showed that clinical healing by CO2 laser were nearly similar to normal appearance, but differed according to concentration of NaCl, as confirmed by ultrastructure and immunohistopathologic features of the host cells and surrounding skin tissue. IL-13 mRNA was significantly decreased after treatment denoting that Th2 cytokine (IL-13) is important for the development of strategies to prevent the induction of pathologic processes. It is concluded that CO2 laser then 7% NaCl are good modalities for CL treatment and is recommended wherever possible.