A first prospective randomized controlled trial to decrease bacterial load using cold atmospheric argon plasma on chronic wounds in patients.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial colonization of chronic wounds slows healing. Cold atmospheric plasma has been shown in vitro to kill a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. Objectives To examine the safety and efficiency of cold atmospheric argon plasma to decrease bacterial load as a new medical treatment for chronic wounds. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight chronic infected wounds in 36 patients were treated in a prospective randomized controlled phase II study with 5 min daily cold atmospheric argon plasma in addition to standard wound care. The patient acted as his or her own control. Bacterial species were detected by standard bacterial swabs and semiquantitative changes by nitrocellulose filters. Plasma setting and safety had been determined in a preceding phase I study. RESULTS: Analysis of 291 treatments in 38 wounds found a highly significant (34%, P < 10(-6)) reduction of bacterial load in treated wounds, regardless of the type of bacteria. No side-effects occurred and the treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Cold atmospheric argon plasma treatment is potentially a safe and painless new technique to decrease bacterial load of chronic wounds and promote healing.

Improving early recognition of malignant melanomas by digital image analysis in dermatoscopy.

The malignant melanoma (MM) is the most dangerous human skin disease. The incidence increased dramatically during the last years. The only chance for the patient is an early recognition and excision of the MM. The best diagnostic method for this is skin surface microscopy or dermatoscopy. Its use, however, requires much expertise. In order to support learning and using the method, a computer-based dermatoscopy workstation is being developed. Among others, new complexity measures are used for the image analysis.