Editor's Message: Wound Treatment Advances: Let the Healing Begin - Larisa Hubbs,Executive Editor Executive Editor Larisa Hubbs shares her thoughts on dermatology issues.   This month’s cover story, which focuses on the top advances in wound care, is like the Evelyn Wood speed reading class — you’ll learn a whole lot in a little bit of time. As in other years, we have taken the whole body of research from the previous year of our sister journal Wounds, and condensed the top-10 studies that have relevance for dermatology. This year again, wound care expert and dermatologist Dr. Robert Kirsner has selected the top studies and offered his insightful commentary regarding the importance of each; a synopsis of research accompanies each selection. A Quick Glance at the Highlights From the healing power of honey to gathering more accurate swab cultures, this month you will find a wide array of new techniques and treatments for improving wounds from leg ulcers to pressure ulcers. Here’s a sampling: Who’s at risk for developing pressure ulcers? As Dr. Kirsner notes, “Of all chronic wounds, pressure ulcers are the most common and the most costly to the Medicare system.” The researchers in this study note that patients with pressure ulcers spent an average of 10 days longer in the hospital than patients who didn’t have pressure ulcers. In the study, they identified patients most likely to develop these costly and time consuming to treat wounds. The healing power of honey. Honey is believed to kill bacteria in at least four ways, note researchers in the study that focuses on the first honey-based bandage. Researchers report minimum inhibitory concentrations of the bandage for several pathogens. Vacuuming wounds shut — does it really work? In this study, researchers discuss the efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for large deep wounds. The researchers measure and discuss inflammatory markers at different points in the wound healing process to determine how quickly wounds heal when treated by VAC therapy. To read these studies in more detail and the other 7 items chosen as part of the top-10, please turn to page 26.     Skin & Aging - ISSN: 1096-0120 - Volume 16 - Issue 4 - April 2008 - Pages: 9 - 9