Short-term effects of vacuum massage on epidermal and dermal thickness and density in burn scars: an experimental study

Background:Vacuum massage is a non-invasive mechanical massage technique invented to treat burns and scars.To date,no effects of vacuum massage on thickness and density of human scar tissue have been reported.The process in which external stimuli are converted into biochemical responses in the cell is known as mechanotransduction.In the skin endothelial cells,fibroblasts and myofibroblasts embedded in the extracellular matrix(ECM)sense mechanical stimuli(created by vacuum massage)and may promote intracellular processes leading to matrix remodelling.Since mechanotransduction could be a plausible working mechanism for vacuum massage as an anti-scarring therapy,this study aims to investigate the short-term effects of vacuum massage on thickness and density of epidermis and dermis in burn scars in order to find proof of ECM remodelling.Methods:A one group experimental study was performed.Patients with burn scars on upper extremities,lower extremities,and trunk were recruited for participation in this study.The DUB?cutis 22 MHz ultrasound scanner was used to assess thickness and density of the epidermal and dermal skin layers.After baseline measurements,vacuum massage was performed according to a pre-defined protocol.Measurements were carried out at 5 min,30 min,1 h,and 2 h post-intervention.Results:Thirteen scar sites from 9 different patients were investigated.In 8 out of the 13 scar sites,a disruption of the epidermis was noticed after the vacuum massage.Five minutes after the intervention,epidermal density decreased statistically significantly(p=.022)and dermal thickness increased(p=.018).Both changes lasted for more than 1 h,but after 2 h,the changes were no longer statistically significant.Dermal density decreased significantly(p=.048)immediately after the intervention,and this decrease was still present after 2 h(p=.011).Conclusions:Preliminary results show that the disruption of the epidermis may indicate that vacuum massage could be able to actually breach the skin barrier.The statistically significant changes in the dermal layers could suggest an increased ECM production after vacuum massage.

A study of ultrasonography for the treatment of Qingre Liangxue decoction on blood-heat psoriasis

Objective:The clinical effectiveness of blood-heat psoriasis treated by Qingre Liangxue decoction and ultrasound imaging changes of lesions was observed.Methods:Patients with blood-heat psoriasis were selected and randomly grouped into two groups:the treatment group taking the Qingre Liangxue decoction orally,the control group taking the Compound Glycyrrhizin Tablets orally,both groups applying topical emollient lotion for a 12-week treatment period.Ultrasound images of target lesions and healthy skin were collected at different treatment times.Results:The epidermal thickness thought,the dermal density incremented as well as the subepidermal low-echogenic band(SLEB)width narrowed in both groups during the treatment.Conclusion:Qingre Liangxue decoction has signified efficiency in the treatment of blood-heat psoriasis,and high-frequency ultrasound has the advantages of non-invasive,timely and objective in the evolution.