Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of A Surgical Intervention To Experimentally Compare Co2 Laser To Scalpel Incisions, Added Growth Factor, And Suture Material To Reduce Cutaneous Scarring, Rhian E. Davies

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Introduction The goal of this study was to determine if the repair of full thickness skin incisions in an animal model could be improved by using a CO2 laser vs. scalpel, commercial vs. swine intestinal submucosa (SIS) sutures, and addition of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF).

Materials and Methods A rat model was used to evaluate the following tissue components: prevalence of mast cell granules, thickness of epidermis, organization of collagen, infiltration of tissue into SIS, neutrophil presence around suture holes, and granulation tissue production around suture holes.

Results Added NGF led to a significant decrease in the number of …

Small Intestine Submucosa Effects On Long Term Viability Of Transplanted Pancreatic Cells, Joshua P. Pregnar

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The biologic functions carried out by the pancreas are, without a doubt, essential to life. This can be demonstrated by the fact that some diabetics require insulin supplementation and those suffering from other diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis, or who have undergone pancreatectomy require supplementation with exocrine enzymes. As would be expected, we are constantly searching for more longterm, patient oriented solutions to chronic health conditions. As such, there has been a gradual transition from daily insulin injections to insulin pumps which allow for easier and more closely controlled glucose levels. Work has also been done regarding various …

Small Intestine Submucosa For Repair Of Injured Rabbit Cornea: A Pilot Study, Mark Nicholas Perenich

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Corneal injuries blind approximately 15 million people worldwide annually. Current methods of treatment have several disadvantages with respect to cost and availability. This study evaluated a small intestine submucosa (SIS) xenograft treatment for a severe corneal injury. SIS could be a favorable alternative to the current treatment methods, because it is inexpensive to produce and abundant where pigs are consumed. A severe ocular injury was created in the right eye of 5 rabbits by n-heptanol and mechanical debridement of the cornea and limbus. The cornea was then evaluated with fluorescence stain and a SIS xenograft was used for treatment. Clinical …