Purpose The present study was performed to investigate the effect of topically administered chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (C-NAC) on corneal wound healing in a rabbit model. Methods A total of 20 New Zealand White rabbits were included in the randomized, masked, placebo-controlled experiment. A monocular epithelial debridement was induced by manual scraping under general anesthesia. Animals were randomized to receive either C-NAC two times daily or placebo. Monitoring of corneal wound healing was performed with ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) and epithelial fluorescein staining. Measurements were done immediately after and up to 72 hours after wound induction. Results No difference in wound size was found immediately after surgical debridement between the C-NAC group and the placebo group. Wound healing was significantly faster in the C-NAC group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.01 for both methods). A good correlation was found between the OCT technique and the epithelial fluorescein staining in terms of wound size (r = 0.94). Conclusions Administration of C-NAC containing eye drops twice daily leads to a faster corneal wound healing in a rabbit model of corneal debridement as compared to placebo. Ultra-high-resolution OCT is considered a noninvasive, dye-free alternative to conventional fluorescein staining in assessing corneal wound healing also in humans.
Scaphoid vascularisation was investigated using macroscopic and microscopic techniques in 12 uninjured, formalin fixed cadaver hands. A good blood supply of the scaphoid bone from palmar, dorsal and radial vessel groups with a variety of anastomoses was found which should provide sufficient collateral blood flow from adjacent regions in some patients. Since blood supply is available from the palmar circulation, a dorsal approach to the scaphoid bone is possible.
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