It was shown in 1919 that peritoneal healing differs from that of skin. When a defect is made in the parietal peritoneum the entire surface becomes epithelialized simultaneously and not gradually from the borders as in epidermalization of skin wounds. While multiplication and migration of mesothelial cells from the margin of the wound may play a small part in the regenerative process, it cannot play a major role, since new mesothelium develops in the centre of a large wound at the same time as it develops in the centre of a smaller one. Development of intraperitoneal adhesions is a dynamic process whereby surgically traumatized tissues in apposition bind through fibrin bridges which become organized by wound repair cells, often supporting a rich vascular supply as well as neuronal elements.

Digoxin did not reduce overall mortality, but it reduced the rate of hospitalization both overall and for worsening heart failure. These findings define more precisely the role of digoxin in the management of chronic heart failure.

Significantly decreased desmosine content was measured in the uterosacral ligament tissue from women with prolapse versus controls in women with parity >2 and in women with complete procidentia. Suppression of mRNA for LOX and two LOX isoenzymes was correspondingly present. These results suggest that altered elastin metabolism is present in women with uterine prolapse.

Angiotensin II is a naturally occurring peptide which has been shown to possess angiogenic properties. In the studies reported here, angiotensin II was shown to increase the proliferation of cultured bovine aortic arch endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Acute administration of angiotensin II in Hydron accelerated the repair of dermal injuries in a full-thickness excisional rat model. Additional studies were done to determine the best vehicle for delivery of angiotensin II to a dermal injury. Several vehicles, including 10% low-viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose, 4% medium-viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose, and 3% high-viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose, were found to be effective in this regard. Daily administration of angiotensin II for days 0 to 4 after injury (day 0 being the time of surgery) was determined to provide the optimal dosage for acceleration of wound repair by angiotensin II. In addition, dose-response studies indicated that angiotensin II accelerated wound repair in a dose-dependent fashion with 0.03 and 0.01 microg/rat/day of angiotensin II administered on days 0 to 4 being the minimally effective and no-effect doses, respectively. Administration of 100 microg/day of angiotensin II in 10% carboxymethyl cellulose for 5 days after injury to animals with impaired healing (steroid- and adriamycin-treated rats and diabetic mice) was also found to accelerate the rate of repair. In conclusion, angiotensin II accelerated the closure of full-thickness skin injuries in a dose-dependent manner in normal and impaired animal models.

The objective of this study was to assess the safety and to make a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of 0.5% ferric hyaluronate adhesion prevention gel in reducing adhesions in patients undergoing peritoneal cavity surgery by laparotomy, with a planned 'second-look' laparoscopy. The study was a randomized, open-label, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design in patients desirous of fertility at the Women's and Children's Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. Female patients aged 24 to 41 years received 300 ml 0.5% ferric hyaluronate adhesion prevention gel or lactated Ringer's solution as an intraperitoneal instillate at the completion of the laparotomy procedure. At second-look laparoscopy 4-12 weeks after the laparotomy, the presence of adhesions was evaluated. Haematology and serum chemistry were determined throughout the study interval. All patients tolerated the procedures well and did not manifest any serious adverse events. At second-look laparoscopy, patients treated with 0.5% ferric hyaluronate adhesion prevention gel had significantly fewer adhesions than control patients. When adhesions did form, they were significantly less extensive and less severe in patients who received 0.5% ferric hyaluronate adhesion prevention gel. In conclusion, 0.5% ferric hyaluronate adhesion prevention gel was safe and highly efficacious in the reduction of the number, severity and extent of adhesions throughout the entire abdomen following peritoneal cavity surgery.