Povidone-iodine (PVI) is principally used as an antimicrobial agent. It has been found that 0.5% PVI can attenuate congestion, edema and pain induced by pressure sores. Thus this study aimed to assess the effects of 0.5% PVI on acute skin wounds. Four full-thickness excisional wounds were generated on the dorsal skin of male Sprague-Dawley rats with a 10-mm sterile punch. Two wounds were left untreated and the other two were dressed with gauze with 0.5% PVI for 1 hour per day for the first 5 days after injury. 10-mm full-thickness excisional wounds were also generated on the dorsal skin of rats treated with 10 mg/kg SB431542 and all wounds were treated with 0.5% PVI for 5 days. PVI treatment enhanced wound healing via promotion of expression of α SMA and TGF β, neovascularization and re-epithelialization. Interleukin 6 was reduced following PVI treatment. Inhibition of TGF β abolished the effect of PVI treatment on wound closure. These data show that topical application of 0.5% PVI could promote acute skin wound healing though increased expression of TGF β leading to enhanced formation of granulation tissue, even in the absence of obvious infection.

Background Severe blast limb trauma (BLT) induces distant multiple-organ injuries. In the current study, the authors determined whether whole-body hypothermia (WH) and its optimal duration (if any) afford protection to the local limb damage and distant lung, liver, and kidney injuries after BLT in rats. Methods Rats with BLT, created by using chartaceous electricity detonators, were randomly treated with WH for 30 min, 60 min, 3 h, and 6 h (n = 12/group). Rectal temperature and arterial blood pressure were monitored throughout. Blood and lung, liver, and kidney tissue samples were harvested for measuring tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10, myeloperoxidase activity, hydrogen sulfide, and biomarkers of oxidative stress at 6 h after BLT. The pathologic lung injury and the water content of the lungs, liver, and kidneys and blast limb tissue were assessed. Results Unlike WH for 30 min, WH for 60 min reduced lung water content, lung myeloperoxidase activity, and kidney myeloperoxidase activity by 10, 39, and 28% (all P < 0.05), respectively. WH for 3 h attenuated distant vital organs and local traumatic limb damage and reduced myeloperoxidase activity, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde concentration, and tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels by up to 49% (all P < 0.01). Likewise, WH for 6 h also provided protection to such injured organs but increased blood loss from traumatic limb. Conclusions Results of this study indicated that WH may provide protection for distant organs and local traumatic limb after blast trauma, which warrants further study.