The human capacity for physiologic adaptation to cold is minimal. A cold environment can be a threat to the skin, leading to a subsequent fall in core body temperature. Many physiologic, behavioral, and environmental factors predispose to the global effects of cold injuries. Physical injuries caused by cold have two forms: systemic forms such as hypothermia and localized forms such as frostbite. Reduced temperature directly damages the tissue, as in frostbite and cold immersion foot. Vasospasm of vessels perfusing the skin induces chilblain, acrocyanosis, and frostbite. The degree of damage caused by cold is related to four factors: temperature, exposure time, wind intensity (temperature sensation), and high altitude.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Altitude ; Body Temperature ; Chilblains ; Cold Injury ; Frostbite ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Immersion Foot ; Skin ; Wind

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Frostbite* ; Renal Dialysis ; Rhabdomyolysis*

Frostbite is a common disease in winter, and systemic or local injury caused by low temperature invasion. Frostbite sites are commonly face, ears, nose, hands, feet and other peripheral blood circulation parts. The main symptoms are pale skin, cold, pain and numbness, skin itching in high temperature, and severe cases may suffer from skin erosions and ulcers. Frostbite model is a pathological model mainly based on Western medicine index. Based on the analysis of clinical symptoms of frostbite in traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, and a large number of experimental studies on the existing animal models, the animal model preparation of specifications (draft) was formulated as follows.
Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Frostbite ; Models, Animal

Frostbite in Southwestern China has been overlooked due to its low incidence, relatively mild temperature and lack of literature published before. However, it needs to be further studied for religious diversity and distinct geomorphology. In this article, we reported an 18-year-old Tibetan girl who suffered from blizzard attack during pilgrimage. Her feet and several fingers showed mummified gangrene upon physical examination with poor movement. She was diagnosed with 3rd to 4th degree of frostbite. The girl was given oral ibuprofen, debridement and other regular treatment daily, but she was eventually amputated due to insufficient thrombolytic management in primary hospital, delayed informing consent in the referral hospital and ethnic conflict between religion and guidelines. This case enriched the experience of managing complex frostbite in Tibetan population and alarms that efforts should be integrated to protect pilgrims and mountaineers in the Tibetan region.
Adolescent ; Amputation ; China ; Female ; Frostbite/therapy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Tibet

No abstract available.
Chilblains*

Ectopic ossification refers to the process of new bone formation in sites that normally do not ossify. The auricle is composed of elastic cartilage, and hence is a pliable structure. Auricular ossification is a rare condition that might be caused by injurious processes, including frostbite, physical trauma, and inflammation as well as processes related to metabolic or endocrine disorders. Here, we report a case of unilateral auricular ossification in a 53-year-old Korean man who had previously rubbed his ear repeatedly with his hand.
Cartilage ; Ear ; Elastic Cartilage ; Frostbite ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteogenesis

Facial scar is one of the most common problems in plastic surgery department. Many various methods are attempted to improve facial scars, but there is no definite satisfactory method on scar revision. Authors have been interested in a tendency to show good results when traumatic lacerations were accompanied by abrasions. The improved appearance of the scars with this situation is the result that there were fewer elevations and depressions, and no break in continuity of the epidermal covering on both sides of the scar. But mechanical or other dermabrasive methods have a risk of hyperpigmentation. Authors suggest the scar revision with frostbite using dry ice. This method has little hyperpigmentation due to the sensitivity of melanocytes to cold injury. And the tissue destruction is progressed selectively because of the resistance of collagen against the cold injury and the preserved dermal fibrous network as the structural framework. These characteristics of cryotherapy improve the result of scar revision with fewer side effects rather than other dermabrasive methods. We performed this method to 349 patients from 1993 to 2003 and obtained high patients' satisfaction (85.9% more than fair). Moreover, this method is simple, cheap and handy. In conclusion, the scar revision with frostbite using dry ice is very useful method to improve facial scars.
Cicatrix* ; Collagen ; Cryotherapy ; Depression ; Dry Ice* ; Frostbite* ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lacerations ; Melanocytes ; Surgery, Plastic

OBJECTIVETo study the promotion effect of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) on the migration of epidermal stem cells (ESC) in the healing process of frostbite-wound model ex vivo.

METHODSA three-dimensional model of full-thickness frostbite of skin was constructed (with slot-like wound) out of skin equivalent. The expression of SDF-1 in wound stroma was observed with immunohistochemistry staining on post injury days (PID) 3 and 7. The model frostbite wounds were divided into control group (treated with PBS 50 microL per wound), SDF-1 group (treated with 100 ng/mL SDF-1, 50 microL per wound), and AMD3100 group [treated with 100 ng/mL AMD3100 (50 microL per wound) for 30 minutes, and then SDF-1 50 microL was added per wound]. The redistribution of ESC around wound was observed.

RESULTSThe expression of SDF-1 in wound stroma increased gradually on PID 3 and 7. Compared with those in control and AMD3100 groups, there were more ESC and epithelial cell layers, and more integrin beta(1)-positive cells appeared at the basal layer of wound in SDF-1 group, and some of the positive cells migrated upward to epidermis.

CONCLUSIONSSDF-1 contributes to wound repair through promoting ESC to migrate toward and gather around wound edge. This may be one of the mechanisms of ESC participating in wound repair.

Cell Movement ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Frostbite ; metabolism ; therapy ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Wound Healing

This report is a clinical review of 58 patients suffering from frostbite, who were treated at the department orthopedic surgery, Seoul City Dong Bu Hospital from November 1982 to March 1985. The results are as follows: 1. The male to female sex ratio was 13.5:l. 2. The majority of the patients (72%) were decades between 30 and 50. 3. Frostbite began on November and registered the highest incidence in January, the lowest temperature of the year. 4. The most commonly affected region was the lower extremities, bilaterally. 5. The average duration of exposure in cold weather was 23 days, 6. The average hospitalization period was 84 days. 7. Among the 58 patients, 14 patients were treated by conservative treatment, 14 patients by closed amputation and 25 patients by open amputation.
Amputation ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Frostbite ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Weather

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and is known for its effects of tonifying Qi, warming the meridians, and promoting blood circulation to alleviate obstruction. It is primarily used to treat conditions characterized by Qi stagnation, Yang deficiency, and obstruction, and it exhibits pharmacological effects such as immune regulation, anti-inflammation, analgesia, protection of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, itch relief, reduction of frostbite symptoms, antioxidative stress, promotion of cell apoptosis, and kidney protection. In modern clinical practice, it is commonly used to treat acute myocardial infarction, sequelae of cerebral infarction, cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder, lower limb arteriosclerosis, lower limb vascular disorders, peripheral neuropathy in diabetes, and lupus nephritis. Recent research has focused on the chemical components, pharmacological effects, and clinical applications of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. Based on the "five principles" of quality markers(Q-markers) in TCM, this study predicted and analyzed the Q-markers of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. It suggested that astragaloside Ⅳ, formononetin, kaempferol, quercetin, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, 6-gingerol, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, and gallic acid could serve as Q-markers for Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. The findings of this study can provide references for quality control of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction and the development of new Chinese medicinal formulations.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Astragalus propinquus ; Frostbite/drug therapy*