title: MMP-2 assessment as an indicator of wound healing: A feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the feasibility of assessment of fibroblast matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression as an indicator of wound healing in wounds that change from chronically inert to actively healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase II feasibility study of 4 patients with nonhealing wounds (duration, > or = 3 months; surface area, > or = 1 cm). Wounds were treated with a dressing impregated with oak bark extract (DerMax) and evaluated weekly; biopsies were performed every 2 weeks until wound healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Therapy-induced wound healing and immunohistochemical measurements of MMP-2 expression paralleled the clinical characteristics of wound healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2 expression offers a reliable indicator for clinical wound healing induced by DerMax treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Refaat B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.forename: Beatriz L R
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dutrieux
authors.forename: Fernanda P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lassance
authors.forename: J Joris
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D012413:Rubidium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014945:Wound Healing; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C523779:PHI-5 formulation; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D015032:Zinc; D012413:Rubidium