title: Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with platelet-rich plasma on diabetic wounds: an experimental rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperbaric oxygen and platelet-rich plasma are used in the treatment of diabetic wounds. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and autologous platelet concentrates in healing diabetic wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six female Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Diabetes mellitus was induced chemically with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats were divided into a control group, a hyperbaric oxygen group, a platelet-rich plasma group, and a combined therapy group. Platelet-rich plasma was applied just after the creation of the wound; hyperbaric oxygen treatment was carried out daily over 7 days. Wound healing was evaluated according to four parameters: ulcerations, epidermal thickness, density of dermal collagen fibers, and proliferation of dermal blood vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of active ulcers in the combined therapy group was fewer than in the control group (p= 0.039), and the wound area was greatest in controls (p< 0.001). The epidermal thickness in platelet-rich plasma and combined therapy groups was non-significantly greater than in the control group (p= 0.097 andp= 0.074, respectively). The amount of fibrous collagen in these two groups was greater than in the control group (p= 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined hyperbaric oxygen and platelet-rich plasma therapy was found to be successful in diabetic wound healing. The combination therapy had no additive effect in terms of angiogenesis and the development of new collagen fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical School, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gündüz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yümün
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kahaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nail
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kahaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ulviye
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yalçınkaya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Research Center, Medical School, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akçılar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical School, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akgül
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical School, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Hakan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Vural
keywords: combination therapy; hyperbaric oxygen; platelet-rich plasma