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Background and purpose: Accelerating the wound healing process is of paramount importance. Cutaneous wounds are associated with cellular damage and can impair the physiological function of the skin. Wound healing is a multifaceted process that involves cells, cytokines, and the vascular system. This process occurs in distinct phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling of the skin's structure and architecture. The utilization of plant-derived products in wound healing has garnered significant interest among researchers due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. In Persian traditional medicine, there is evidence supporting the topical application of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), Echinacea purpurea, and Calendula officinalis individually; however, the synergistic effects of these two products on wound healing remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of chamomile cream and Calendite-E cream, a combination of marigold and Echinacea, on the healing process of surgical wounds. Materials and methods: 32 male rats were divided into four groups of 8: control, Kamil Cream, Calendit E, and Oserin. Wound area and histopathological findings were examined and compared on days 0, 3, 7, 21, and 7 and 21, respectively. Among the many properties of Matricaria chamomilla L in Persian traditional medicine, its antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties are confirmed. 32 male rats were divided into four groups (8 rats in each group) including the control, chamomilla cream containing 0.5% essential oil, and 5% chamomile extract, calendar-E and control were divided with Oserin base cream. The wound area was compared on days 0, 3, 7, and 21, and histopathological findings on 7 and 21 days, respectively. Results: There was no difference between the groups on the wound area on the third day, but on the 7th day, there was a significant difference (P=0.020). So the average wound area in the Calendit E group was significantly lower than the control group (P=0.008) and also compared to the Oserin group (P=0.019). Unlike other groups, wound healing was completely achieved on the 21st day in Calandit E and Kamil Cearm. In terms of histopathological indicators, on the seventh day, in the Kamil cream group, the restoration of the epithelial cells was better than the other groups (P=0.038) on the 21st day, in terms of regeneration of the lining cells and the process of fibroplasia of the Calendit-E group, and in terms of the extent of the fibrotic reaction, the amount of edema and swelling, and the assessment of both Calendit-E and Kamil cream bleeding, it had a significant effect (P<0.05). Conclusion: Calendite E and chamomilla Cream had positive effects on wound healing factors, and due to its availability and cheapness, it is recommended as an herbal product without complications, a suitable product for wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study compares the diagnostic accuracy of urinalysis with computed tomography (CT) scan in pediatrics with blunt abdominal trauma. The aim of this study was comparing the diagnostic value of urinalysis and abdominal CT scan with contrast, as the gold standard, for predicting probable abdominal organ injury in these patients. Methods: The present diagnostic accuracy study was done on children with blunt abdominal trauma aged less than 16 years who were presented to emergency department and both urinalysis and abdominal CT scan had been done for them. Demographic data, trauma mechanism, and results of urinalysis, ultrasonography and abdominal CT scan regarding abdominal organs were recorded. To evaluate the diagnostic power of urinalysis, statistical indices such as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were used. Results: In this study, 70 children under 16 years old who visited ED were evaluated. Mean age of the studied population was 7.1 ± 4.86 years and 48 of the patients (68.6%) were male. The correlation between hematuria and positive CT scan findings was confirmed. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of hematuria were calculated to be 26.67%, 92.73%, 50% and 82.26%, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, although presence of hematuria has acceptable specificity, its sensitivity is very low compared to CT scan for prediction of abdominal organ injuries in pediatrics with blunt abdominal trauma. In other words, absence of hematuria is not a good reference to dismiss abdominal organ injury, yet its presence can be an indicator of serious injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissection of neck arteries including carotid artery is among the vascular injuries following blunt neck trauma. Manifestations of this injury are usually delayed and present as neurological problems. This injury is accountable for about 2% of cerebral infarctions but causes 20% of brain strokes in patients less than 45 years old. Aiming to discuss and emphasize the importance of this injury, in this article a case of carotid dissection presenting to emergency department (ED) is presented. The patient was a 34 year-old woman that visited ED following left hemiparesis, dysartery and headache that had initiated a few hours back. She had a history of hospital admission 10 days before due to car accident and rollover, and had been discharged with good general health following required examinations. In brain computed tomography (CT) scan, there was evidence of sub-acute ischemic infarction around the middle cerebral artery. Considering the age of the patient, evidence of wide ischemia and history of recent trauma, neck artery dissection was suspected and angiography was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of carotid artery dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The primary goal of wound management is to achieve a functional closure with minimal scarring. One of the ways of wound management is to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics. This study compared single-dose intravenous (IV) prophylactic antibiotic with the common five-day treatment in simple traumatic and contaminated wounds. Methods: All patients with simple traumatic and contaminated wounds that were sutured and determined to have indications for prophylactic antibiotic therapy by a physician at emergency wards of Shohadaye Haftom-e-Tir and Rasoul-Akram Hospitals during working shifts of researchers were divided into two groups. The first group received a single-dose of IV cefazolin and the second group was treated with oral cephalexin for five days. Infection symptoms such as erythema, pus secretion and swelling were described to the patients. Patients were suggested to inform the researchers whenever they saw the symptoms before the exact date of suture removal. Findings: In this research, 150 patients were studied in two groups of 75. The first group received a single-dose IV antibiotic while the second received five days of antibiotic. Infection was observed in 6 (8%) and 7 (9.33%) patients in the first and second group, respectively. However, the two groups were not significantly different in terms of infection rate. Conclusion: The period of prophylactic antibiotic therapy does not seem to make significant differences in treatment of wounds. Therefore, based on the findings of previous studies, as well as ours, it can be concluded that using a single-dose IV prophylactic antibiotic might be preferable because it is more acceptable by patients and has fewer side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]