Hungarian Wound Care Society

Piperine is the main bioactive, yellowish or colourless alkaloid of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum), discovered and isolated by Hans Christian Ørsted, which is responsible for the pungent taste of pepper. In recent decades it has received increasing attention for its potential health benefits. Among the many beneficial effects of piperine is the increasing attention it is receiving to support wound healing. Through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and collagen synthesis supporting properties, piperine has the potential to be an effective tool in wound management. However, current research is still at an early stage and further studies are needed to fully understand and exploit the safe and effective use of piperine in wound healing.

Tea tree oil is a versatile and promising natural agent for wound treatment, especially due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Although it can have many benefits, it is important to consider its proper use and possible side effects. The results of scientific research support the efficacy of tea tree oil, but further studies are needed to better understand its benefits and to ensure its safe use. It is always recommended to consult a health professional before using tea tree oil, whether alone or externally, especially in the case of more serious wounds or skin lesions.

Curcumin is a very promising natural agent with significant potential in the field of wound care, particularly for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Although further research is needed to optimise the clinical use of curcumin, current data suggest that the use of curcumin can significantly improve the effectiveness of wound management, especially in cases where conventional treatments have not proven effective. With future developments and research, curcumin may even become an integral part of modern wound management protocols.

Many popular herbs have been put on the EU's banned list, Infostart.hu reported on 3 August. The recommendation of member states' experts would restrict or ban the use of 13 ingredients, including coumarin. The proposal does not yet constitute an automatic ban, but food safety agencies in each country are proposing to legislate on the use of these substances. This remains to be seen, but in the meantime it may be worth starting a mini-series to see if these substances play any role in wound management and healing.

Back on 22 July, Nosalty.hu introduced a thorny shrub native to temperate and subtropical climates of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. It has beautiful orange flowers that are mostly in clusters. The berries are small, can be of various colours and are either spherical or oblong in shape. In folk medicine, the leaves, the bark and the fruit of the herb are also used. Can it also be used in wound treatment? - That's what I'm trying to answer in this blog post.

Refresher.hu presented several beauty tricks used by our grandmothers in an article published on 23 July. They mentioned coconut oil, which does not contain UV filters, cannot replace the sun protection factor (SPF) and therefore does not provide protection against intense sun. However, we don't have to give it up, as it is a source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, moisturising, firming and nourishing the skin. The question arises whether it can be used for wound care - and I'm looking for the answer in this blog post.

Intermittent fasting is more effective than medication in type 2 diabetes, Medicalonline.hu reported on 18 July in an article published last month in JAMA Network Open, in which Chinese researchers reported the results of the EARLY clinical trial. They found that the 5:2 diet, i.e. eating a normal calorie intake for five days of daily activity followed by a significant restriction of calories intake on two non-consecutive days, can improve glycaemic outcomes and weight loss in the short term compared to metformin or empagliflozin, making it a promising initial intervention and early treatment for type 2 diabetes. This scientific result rightly raises the question: is there a link between fasting and wound healing? - This is the question I seek to answer in this blog post.

According to an analysis published by SkyQuest Technology on 9 July, the market for advanced wound care devices will reach $10.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.4%. These products will replace traditional devices because they provide fast and effective therapy. Silver and alginates are used as wound dressings in surgery and to prevent infections in chronic wounds. Furthermore, wounds that do not heal naturally are treated with skin grafts and biomaterials. As a result, the industry is witnessing an increase in the number of new and sophisticated products, which is likely to support market expansion. For the purpose of this paper, this week I will focus on advanced wound care.

Back at the end of June, the European Wound Management Association presented its latest document to readers of its newsletter. Titled "Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: An Update for Clinicians and Outpatient Care Givers", the 155-page publication, which is available for free download in .pdf format, aims to update an EWMA document on the same topic published in 2017. It describes available technologies and applications and provides practical clinical guidance on the use of negative pressure. The purpose of my current blog post is to provide a (very) brief overview of this document, with a focus on home care.

The future of plant sterols? - asked Medicalonline.hu in the title of its June 27 article. They describe that currently the only effective dietary supplement active ingredient for cholesterol balance is plant sterol (which includes phytosterols and phytostanols). Of course, in parallel with changing your diet and lifestyle. Plant sterols can also be found in vegetables, fruits and vegetable oils, but in order to achieve a therapeutic effect, a very large amount of these should be consumed. Their molecular structure is similar to that of cholesterol, and they play a similar role in plants as cholesterol does in our bodies. The plant sterols compete with the cholesterol in the intestine and instead attach to the micelles that play a transport role, thus blocking too much cholesterol from entering the bloodstream. Can they also be used in wound treatment? – I am looking for the answer to this in the current blog post.

Nowadays, more and more people use some kind of sweetener instead of sugar, but it turns out that these have more than just beneficial effects. Now, during the testing of xylitol, researchers have come to the conclusion that the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as the related death, is almost doubled if someone takes large amounts of xylitol into their body, 24.hu wrote on June 16 following the CNN article. When we eat sugar, our glucose level can rise by 10 or 20%, but it does not rise 1000 times, as in the case of xylitol, emphasized the lead author of the study. Does xylitol also affect wound healing? – I am looking into this question in the current blog post.

Let's plant sage in our garden and use it to protect our health - advised Sokszinuvidek.hu in its June 13 article. A plant native to the Mediterranean region, but now cultivated in many countries, is used not only for culinary purposes, such as as a spice, but also as a medicinal plant. Sage has unique properties, among which it can be used to relieve respiratory and digestive problems, reduce stress, improve memory and increase concentration. Can it be related to wound healing? – I am looking for the answer to this question in the current blog post.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin) is a parameter used to monitor the blood sugar values ​​of diabetics, which is based on the binding of glucose to hemoglobin, Weborvos.hu wrote in its June 5 review. Since the average lifespan of red blood cells is three months, the test itself also provides information on the three-month average blood sugar level. Its follow-up is also important because it gives an indication to both professionals and patients about how well the diabetes is controlled. Depending on the results, it is possible to consider whether it is necessary to modify therapy, diet and medication. The laboratory results give its value as a percentage or in mmol/mol units. In general, it can be said that a value above 6-7% means an elevated blood sugar level even in the case of diabetic patients. Does the HbA1c level also affect wound healing? – I am looking for the answer to this in the current blog post.

Weborvos.hu published an article on 5 main risk factors for liver damage on May 28. The author, a hepatologist and gastroenterologist, summarized the factors that are most harmful to the liver and drew attention to the importance of screening and examination. In addition to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, existing liver disease, exposure to toxins, dietary supplements with a liver-damaging effect, he listed too much alcohol among these factors, because alcoholic fatty liver disease, left untreated, can eventually lead to inflammation of the liver and hepatitis, which later , scarring can lead to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. What is cirrhosis, and is it related to wound treatment and wound healing? – I am looking for the answer to this in the current blog post.

A blood sampling solution combining microneedles and a suction cup, inspired by leeches, could be on the horizon, Medicalonline.hu reported earlier this month. About 70% of medical decisions are based on blood sampling, which is the most common way of diagnosing and monitoring diseases. Traditional venipuncture, although widespread, can be invasive and unsettling for patients with needle phobia and fear, who make up around 30% of the population. A new method to address this problem, described in the journal Advanced Science, is similar in many ways to leeches that cling to the skin and use their teeth to wound themselves to suck blood. In the context of this article, I briefly review the use of microneedles in wound management in this blog post.

Could metformin be the secret to longevity? Egeszsegkalauz.hu raised the question in its May 14 article. The article also mentions that the use of the drug was approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Since then, it has been the most prescribed drug for diabetics who cannot control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone. Studies have shown that it can also help fight cancer, protect the nervous system and prevent dementia. In addition, it is even attributed with anti-aging effects, because it can influence the metabolic and cellular processes related to the development of chronic conditions that are related to aging. Does it also affect wound healing? - we are looking for the answer to this question in the current blog post.

A failure of the body's antibody filter function can cause rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Medicalonline.hu reported in its May 7 article. Referring to a study published in Nature Communications, they also wrote that the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, but antibodies that originally play the main role in fighting infections play a decisive role in it, as they recognize and attack certain targets, such as viruses or bacteria. Some antibodies are produced incorrectly, resulting in them attacking our own body, but normally our body's immune system has a fairly strict 'filter' that prevents these from functioning. However, based on their new findings, the Utrecht researchers believe that this mechanism does not work properly in RA patients. What is the relationship between RA and wound care? – I am looking for the answer to this in the current blog post.

New rules are being prepared for telemedicine, several Hungarian media, such as Weborvos.hu, picked up on InfoRadio's report on 3 May.The widespread spread of such services has been brought about by the pandemic. It is a convenience for patients, but in many cases it also facilitates care management for doctors. However, it may be questioned whether patients are not too far removed from the general practitioner's field of vision and whether it is clear when an electronic consultation is really sufficient and when it is necessary to visit the practice in person. Is there a case for telemedicine in wound care? - This is the question I seek to answer in this blog post.

The sources of the illustrations are listed in the respective article.