title: Effects of thermal water on skin regeneration.
abstract: An experimental study was carried out in an animal (New Zealand white rabbit)             wound model to evaluate any effects of a hypotonic, bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium             mineral water (Comano thermal water) on skin regeneration, comparing the healing             rate of split-thickness skin graft donor sites treated with the thermal water             wet dressing versus a standard petrolatum gauze dressing versus a saline solution             wet dressing. The study was performed in two steps; an overall of 22 animals were             enrolled in the study. The wound healing progress was evaluated both by the surgeons             and by the histologists. Sixty-four punch biopsies were examined in all. The histological             samples were examined after staining with haematoxylin and eosin, Masson's and             orcein staining and under a transmission electron microscope. The data were statistically             analysed. The Comano thermal water proved to improve skin regeneration, not only             by increasing keratinocyte proliferation and migration but also favourably modulating             the regenerated collagen and elastic fibres in the dermis. We propose that the             results of the topical treatment with the thermal water could be due to the favourable             combination of a local wet environment with an anti-inflammatory action and that             the regenerative properties of Comano thermal water observed in rabbits could             also be applied for human use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pavia - IRCCS Fondazione S. Maugeri, Pavia, Italy. angela.faga@unipv.it
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faga
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Cesarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gregotti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Finotti
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nitto
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gioglio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D008900:Mineral Waters; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium