METHODS: Seven consenting participants presenting with mixed etiology leg ulcers participated in this study. Microvascular flow and pulsatility was measured in the wound bed and in the skin surrounding the wound using laser speckle contrast imaging. Measurements were made at baseline and when the venous pumps of the leg were activated by 1 Hz intermittent neuromuscular stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. The nerve was stimulated transdermally at the head of the fibula.
RESULTS: When activated by NMES, wound bed flux increased by 38% (95% CI, 11%-73%; P = .023), and periwound flux increased by 19% (95% CI, 9%-32%; P = .009). Pulsatility increased in the wound bed by 214% (95% CI, 51%-985%; P = .017) and in the periwound by 122% (95% CI, 38%-299%; P = .014).
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that NMES is effective in augmenting microvascular flow in leg ulcers with combined venous and arterial etiology.
METHODS: Aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus was given by daily oral administration following peroneal nerve crush injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. The expression of protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways; and c-Jun and c-Fos genes were studied in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) whereas the activity of protein synthesis was assessed in peroneal nerves by immunohistochemical method.
RESULTS: Peripheral nerve injury leads to changes at the axonal site of injury and remotely located DRG containing cell bodies of sensory afferent neurons. Immunofluorescence studies showed that DRG neurons ipsilateral to the crush injury in rats of treated groups expressed higher immunoreactivities for Akt, MAPK, c-Jun and c-Fos as compared with negative control group (P <0.05). The intensity of nuclear ribonucleoprotein in the distal segments of crushed nerves of treated groups was significantly higher than in the negative control group (P <0.05).
CONCLUSION: H. erinaceus is capable of promoting peripheral nerve regeneration after injury. Potential signaling pathways include Akt, MAPK, c-Jun, and c-Fos, and protein synthesis have been shown to be involved in its action.