摘要：Purpose:? Acute radiation dermatitis is a common side-effect of radiotherapy in breast cancer and has a profound impact on patients’ quality of life, due to pain and discomfort. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of β-sitosterol (Mebo) ointment to trolamine (Biafine) cream for the prevention and treatment of radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy. Materials and Methods:? This is a prospective open-label randomized phase III study developed to assess the efficacy of 2 topical agents used for management of acute radiation dermatitis. Female breast cancer patients who needed a course of radiation therapy in our institution were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups 1 with Mebo ointment and 1 with Biafine cream. Both medications were applied twice per day during the whole period of treatment and skin reactions and related symptoms were assessed weekly during the entire course. Grading of skin reactions was done according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grading system. Results:? Between September 2015 and May 2017, a total of 161 patients were recruited for this trial. Mean age was similar for both groups (50.19±12.57 vs. 51.73±11.23, respectively, P=0.41). All other patients and treatment characteristics were similar in both groups, except for the use of boost (82.7% in the Biafine group vs. 36.7% in Mebo group, P=0.012). Analysis was done for reactions recorded before the beginning of the boost and for the entire course including the boost. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in grades 2 and 3 dermatitis between the 2 groups. However, the incidence of severe pruritus and severe local skin pain were both significantly reduced in the Mebo group (14.1% in Biafine vs. 2.9% in Mebo, P=0.016 for pruritus and 11.5% vs. 1.4%, respectively, P=0.02 for severe pain). Conclusions:? This study showed no difference between Mebo and Biafine in the incidence and severity of breast skin dermatitis during radiation therapy. However, the use of Mebo ointment was associated with decreased severe pruritus and pain which could positively affect patient comfort and quality of life.

摘要：Following traumatic or surgical injury to the skin, wounds do not heal by tissue regeneration but rather by scar formation. Though healing is definitely a welcomed event, the resultant scar, very often, is not aesthetically pleasing, and not infrequently, may be pathologic causing serious deformities and contractures. Management of problematic scars continues to be a frustrating endeavor with less than optimal results. Prophylactic methods of wound management to minimize serious scarring are being developed. In a previously published study, we have demonstrated improved healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites following treatment with Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO, Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE). At present, we are reporting the results of a comparative clinical prospective study evaluating scar quality following primary healing of elective surgical and traumatic facial wounds with prophylactic MEBO application, topical antibiotic ointment application, and no topical therapy at all. Scars were evaluated according to the Visual Analogue Scale for scar assessment. Statistical analysis of scar assessment scores demonstrated marked prevention of unfavorable scars with improved cosmetic results following MEBO prophylactic therapy.

摘要：Background and Objectives:? MEBO is a Chinese burn ointment has been introduced recently for local management of burn injuries with a USA patented formulation since 1995. In this study we try to prove that MEBO is more effective if applied vaginally after electrocautery than electrocautery alone in treating cervical erosion. Method:? This study performed from 1st of May 2013 to the end of April 2014 in private clinic in Baghdad, a clinical comparative study was done on 100 patients who had cervical erosion (by clinical examination), group 1 (50 patients) were treated with electro cautery once time alone. group 2 treated with electrocautery once time followed by MEBO application vaginally once daily for 20 days, all patients in both groups seen weekly to assess the start and completion of healing of erosion and any sign of infection and improvement of any symptom especially vaginal discharge. Results:? The mean time required for start and completion of healing was significantly shorter for group 2 (1.5 ± 0.5)weeks,(2.2 ± 0.6)weeks, respectively than group1 which was (3.5 ± 1.0)weeks, (4.2 ± 1.0) respectively and it was statistically significant (P value less 0.001). More patients in group 2 had decreased vaginal discharge (44)than group1 (33) and it was statistically significant difference. Also the incidence of vaginal infection was less in group 2 (6%) than group1 (24%), it was significant statistical difference. More patients in group 2 healed completely (45) than group 1 (38) but the difference was statistically not significant. Conclusion:? MEBO is very efficacious in treating cervical erosion and is superior to electocautery alone.

摘要：Objective: The goal of any topical formulation is efficient transdermal delivery of its active components. However, delivery of compounds can be problematic with penetration through tough layers of fibrotic dermal scar tissue.Approach: We propose a new approach combining high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) using a topical of unknown composition against a well-known antiscar topical (as control).Results: Positive detection of compounds within the treatment topical using both techniques was validated with mass spectrometry. RS detected conformational structural changes; the 1,655/1,446?cm?1 ratio estimating collagen content significantly decreased (p?<?0.05) over weeks 4, 12, and 16 compared with day 0. The amide I band, known to represent collagen and protein in skin, shifted from 1,667 to 1,656?cm?1, which may represent a change from β-sheets in elastin to α-helices in collagen. Confirmatory elastin immunohistochemistry decreased compared with day 0, conversely the collagen I/III ratio increased in the same samples by week 12 (p?<?0.05, and p?<?0.0001, respectively), in keeping with normal scar formation. Optical coherence tomography attenuation coefficient representing collagen deposition was significantly decreased at week 4 compared with day 0 and increased at week 16 (p?<?0.05).Innovation: This study provides a platform for further research on the simultaneous evaluation of the effects of compounds in cutaneous scarring by RS and HPLC, and identifies a role for RS in the therapeutic evaluation and theranostic management of skin scarring.Conclusions: RS can provide noninvasive information on the effects of topicals on scar pathogenesis and structural composition, validated by other analytical techniques.