title: Cortisone, vitamin A, and wound healing: the importance of measuring wound surface area.
abstract: Traditional methods of measuring wound strength have often ignored one of the most important variables, i.e., wound surface area. Using a readily reproducible method of determining wound surface area, the effect of topical vitamin A on steroid-treated rats was studied. Findings revealed a significant (P less than 0.001) increase in wound strength with topical vitamin A application. No difference could be detected between steroid-treated and saline-treated rats when wound surface area was taken into account. Measurement of wound surface area is essential for meaningful results in wound healing studies.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight; D003348:Cortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D001379:Azathioprine; D003348:Cortisone