Department of Public Affairs -- 8900 Van Wyck Expressway Jamaica, New York 11418
For Immediate Release
Name: Michael Hinck
Telephone: 718-206-8973
Email: mhinck@jhmc.org
Flushing Hospital Uses Apligraf, the Latest Biotechnology, to Heal Wounds
Mar 09,2009
Contact Information:
<br>Natifia Gaines
<br>(718) 206-6020
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<br>March 9, 2009 (Flushing, NY)-- While the ban on stem cell research was recently lifted, doctors at Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center have been treating patients with the latest tissue regeneration treatments for months now—and with great success.
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<br>Apligraf is a revolutionary tissue regeneration therapy that uses actual living skin to treat non-healing wounds. Grown in a lab from human cells, the Apligraf patch uses skin that contains both an outer protective layer of cells and an inner layer of cells—vital for healing.
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<br>“Some of our patients have benefited tremendously from Apligraf therapy," explained Dr. Kenneth Francis, Plastic Surgeon at Flushing Hospital. “Unlike other therapies, that do not use living human tissue, Apligraf has natural, biological healing properties—growth factors, cells, nutrients, and proteins."
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<br>According to Organogenesis, its manufacturer, Apligraf therapy helps heal and repair chronic sores and regenerates skin by stimulating the body’s natural healing process. It delivers biological healing substances—fresh cells, nutrients, and proteins—directly to the wound and naturally kick starts the healing cycle.
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<br>The FDA-approved therapy is primarily used for diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers. Studies have shown that Apligraf, combined with standard treatment, heals these types of ulcers faster than standard treatments alone.
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<br>Frances Pugliese, Director of Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Centers stated: “we began using Apligraf last year and have an 80% success rate among these patients. Most of them begin to see improvements in their wounds within four to six weeks."
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<br>Apligraf therapy is simple and easy to maintain. It is placed directly on a patients’ wound and is then covered with a non-adhesive dressing. This helps keep Apligraf in place.
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<br>While Apligraf maintains the properties of human skin and delivers them directly to the wound, it doesn’t contain pigment cells, cells from the immune system, blood vessels, hair follicles, or sweat glands.
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<br>Dr. Francis points out that Aligraf cannot be used on infected wounds or on patients allergic to bovine collagen.
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<br>Apligraf is just one of the latest therapies being offered at Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center. Last year, the facility began using MediHoney, a honey dressing, that has also proven to be very successful for certain types of non-healing wounds.
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<br>Other services offered at Flushing Hospital’s six-bed Wound Care Center, include specialty dressings, V.A.C. therapy, evaluation for and referral to hyperbaric unit if needed, home care services, advanced therapies, educational materials, and one-on-one doctor/patient assessment. For additional information on Apligraf or any other services at Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center, contact 718-670-4542.
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<br><b>Flushing Hospital Medical Center</b> serves a community of over 1.9 million residents throughout Queens. This 314-bed facility is an accredited community teaching hospital that has over 40 general and specialty clinics. The hospital’s state-of-the-art Wound Care Center opened in 2006 as a way to provide multidisciplinary care to patients who suffer from chronic or non-healing wounds. Celebrating its third year, the Center is a six-bed outpatient unit offering a variety of services. For additional information about the Wound Care Center, please contact Public Affairs at 718-206-6020.
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<br><b>Organogenesis,</b> one of the world’s first biotechnology companies and the world’s most important tissue regeneration company, developed Apligraf. The treatment has been used worldwide to heal ulcers for over 10 years and is the first living, cell-based tissue regeneration product, having gained the Food and Drug Administration’s approval in 1998.
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