Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1997; 41(1): 57--61

BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA WITHIN A PYRAMID MODEL­A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON WOUND HEALING

B. G. SUBBA RAO

Department of Physiology,Kasturba Medical College,Manipal- 576 119

( Received on April 12, 1996)

Abstract: The Great pyramid of Egypt has evoked a keen interest, both forits architectural marvel and mystical significance. Strange things (viz sharpeningof razors, longer shelflife of vegetables, altered states of consciousness in humans)are said to occm' within a pyramid constnlcted in the exact geometric proportionto that of Great Pyramid and kept with any of its diagonals aligned north-southalong the magnetic axis of the earth. Not much is available in the literaturethat have subjected "biological phenomenon within a pyramid" to the scientificscrutiny.

This is just a preliminary study with that objective. Wound healing, beinga physiological response of the body to injury, the measurement of 'breakingstrength' of incisional would offers an easy, objective method of assessing woundhealing.

The study consisted a 'control group' and 'a test group', each of 12 albinorats (Wistar). A paramedian 1" incisional wound was created in both the groups.The controls were kept in the usual rat cages while the 'test group' within awooden pyramid (18" x 28.25" x 26.9"). The breaking strength of the woundwere assessed on the lOth post-wolmding day using Kulkarni's modified Leeand Tong method and the results showed a significantly higher value (P < .05)for the test group. Further there was histological evidence of better woundhealing in the test group.

Key words: pyramid model wound healingNorth-South magnetic axisbreaking strength

geometric proportionhistological evidence

incisional wound

INTRODUCTION

The great pyramid of Egypt has evoked akeen interest, both for its architectural marveland mystical significance. Strange things (vizsharpening of razors, longer shelf-life ofvegetables, altered states of consciousness inhumans) are said to occur within a pyramidconstructed in the exact geometric proportionsto that of greater pyramid and kept any of itstwo diagonal corners aligned north-south alongthe magnetic axis of the earth. Not much is

*Correspond.ing Author

available in the literature that have subjected"biological phenomena within a pyramid" to thescientific scrutiny.

Aim: To test whether "wound healing" - Aphysiological response of the body to injury, IS

better within a pyramid.

METHODS

A. Construction of a wooden pyramid: A woodenpyramid measuring 28.25"(base) x 26.9"(sides)

58 Subba R,lO indian J Physiol Phrtrmacol 1997; 1l( I)

x 18" (vertical height) was constructed. One ofthe faces of pyramid acted as a door, being fIxedwith hinges. The usual grill vvith feeding bottlewas fixed in its interior. Ventilatory holes wereprovided on all the four faces. Using a mariner'scompass, one of the diagonals was aligned north­south magnetic axis (Fig. 1).

on the skin of the back was created with strictaseptic precautions. A standardised wound wasmade possible using geometric compass formarking the points 1" apart. The depth wasjust adequate to include the entire depth ofthe skin without injuring the underlyingmuscle. The wound was sutured with

MATERIALS AND METHODSA. Construction a pyramidWOODEN PYRAMID MODEL

A. DIMENSIONS

C. INNER VIEW"Base 28.25

, 0 , If

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s

B. OUTER VIEW

Glass windows. for observation

Openingstor ventilation

'Grill torplacing food &water

F'ig. 1.

B. Creation of an incisional wound.- The studyconsisted a "control group" and a "test group"each of twelve hea thy albino rats (Wi tar strain)weighing between 150 gms-200 gms:

Under light ether esthesia, the skin ofthe back was shaved. A 1" paramedian incision

intermittent sutures using nylon thr ads. Theprocedure was done for both the groups.

The rats which were kept in usual cagesacted as "control", and those within the pyramidsas "test gTOUp'. They were given ad quate ratfeed (Mis Brooke Bond, Lipton India Limite /)

Indi:m .r Physiol Pharm>lco! HJ97; 41(1)

and water. The boxes were kept in semi darkrooms at ambient (27±3°C) temperature.

C. Assessment of the wound healing:

(i) Measurement of breaking strength of thewound healing. It is done by using constantwatel' flow technique as described below.

On 10th post-wounding day, after removingsutures under light ether anesthesia, the animal

HioJog-ical Phenumena wi hin l'yr;-tlUid.i

rubber tube kept occluded with a pinch cock

To measure wound-breaking strength, thetube was released to allow a constant emdcontinuous flow of water, from reservoir intothe polythene container. As the weight graduallyincreases. it acts as a pulling force to distrllptthe wound. As soon as the gaping of the woundwas observed, the rubber tube \-VCI. clampNI ~lnd

the polythene bottle was weighed usingelectronic weighing machine.

C. ASSESSMENT OF 'BREAKING STRENGTH

SET UP

o 3

Fig- 2

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1 & 2 ALLIS FORCE'F"'.

J PULLEY

-<; POI.YTf'-H.r'-JE

BOTTLE

5 PINCH COCK

6 RUBBER TUBE

7 WATER RESERVOIR

8 OP RATION TABLE

was secured to the operation table (Fig.2). A linewas drawn on normal skin on eitherside of thewound 3 mm away from the wound line. Twoallis forceps were firmly applied on the line.'facing each other. On one side the forceps washooked firmly to metal rod fixed to the operationtable. The other forceps was connected to a leakproof graduated polythene container through astring running over a pulley. The polythenecon ainer was connected to a large water1'e ervoil' placed at a suitable hei ht through a

Four such readings were taken for a givenincision wound. The average was tak n a theindividual value of breaking strength This wa.done both for 'control' group a well as 'te tgroup'.

(ii) Histological examination of the wound:After measuring the breaking str ngth a sm::l!]portion of the wound along with its floor wasexcised from both tho groups. After fixing inlOs{ formalin the ti sue was subjected to uSllcl1histological echnique to prep::ne slice of

Gil Indian .J Physiol Ph~trm:1cul 1!J!J7; 'II( I)

N 1S OG J9 11

E 05 no 0:1 02

B nl no I) 1 01

L 7:J 92 74 Sf)

M In 1)2 1)2 Oil

Note .- N = Neutrophils. E = 8osinophils.B = lJasophils. L = LymphocytesM = Monocytcs

10 micron thickness. Staining was done usingHaemotoxylin and Eosin. They were observedunder microscope using both high power andlow power.

(iii) Total leucocyte count and differentialleucocyte count. Those were performed usingstandard procedure on a sample of blood,obtained directly from heart as it is very difficultto obtain sufficient quantity of blood throughcapillaries.

RESULTS

Control Cells % % Test

lst day 10th day

0/;)

lst day lOth day

1. The breaking strength of the wounds was345.75±103.51 gms in the 'control' group, but inthe 'test group' it was 478.17±125.34 gms. Onapplic:ltion of Students' 't' test, the differencewas found to be statistically significant (P<0.05).

2. The histological pictures of the wounds after10 days: The 'te ·t group' showed a healthy andan abundant granulation tissue indicated by thepresence of numerous capillaries as well asproliforating fusiform fibroblasts. It wasremarkable that there were very few infiltratingmononuclear inflammatory cells. In sharpcontrns', the control group showed much lessgranulation tissue which was infiltrated withlot of mononuclear cells.

3. Thc total leucocyte count showed a hike from7300/mm: l ± 3300 (on 0 day) to 14400/mmJ ±

4300 (on 10th day) in the 'control' group. It washighly ignificant (P 0.001). On the other handthe tst group showed only a small and a~insignificant rise from 9625 ± 600/mm3 (on 0daylo 10150 ± 500/mm:3 (on 10th day).

T~lble showing changes in differentialIcucocyte count in control and test gTOUp on 1stday and on 10th day respectively.

It appears the lymphocytes form the majorperccnt"age of leucocyte in rats normally. In

both the groups the lymphocytes'% is raised,which is more in 'controls' than in 'test group'.

DISCUSSION

Man in general is subjected to a wide rangeof injuries both accidentally and deliberatelyinflicted, that may result in the disruption ofanatomic or functional continuity of livingtissues. Wound healing is a complex processconsisting of integrated series of cellularphysiological and biochemical events leading t~re-establishment of structural integrity,functional restoration and regain of strength ofinjured tissue.

Generally, cutaneous wounds have been usedas models of investigation of wound healing.Depending upon particular situation, woundsheal by one of the four so called 'intention'.Healing of clean surgical incisions, where theedges are opposed by surgical sutures, is said tooccur by 'first intention'. Needless to mention,this is the type of sound used for the presentstudy. The development of granulation tissue isconsidered as a definite sign of normal woundhealing process. It consists of new blood vesselsthat migrate into the wound area andaccumulation of fusiform fibroblasts and groundsubstance within 72 hours. That, these are inplenty, is evident from the photomicrograph of

Indian ,J Physiol Pharmacal 1997; 4l(J,) Biological Phenomena within l'yl':lIni,b (il

the 'test group', suggesting a better healing whencompared to that of 'control'. The developmentof wound strength is undoubtedly related to theproliferation of 'fibroblasts' and laying down ofcollagen. Perhaps this would explain the greater'breaking strength' of the wounds in the 'testgroup'.

The invasion of the large number ofmononuclear leucocytes of a 10 day old woundas seen in the photomicr9graph of the control ison the expected lines. But fewer numbers ofleucocytic infiltration in test group is baffling.Considering the role of mononuclear leucocytesin engulfment of foreign materials and removalof damaged cells and debris, it would appearthere are less foreign body invasion, damage ordebris to remove. Even the physical appearanceof the wound was more healthy in the test group.It is possible the 'pyramid' creates 'a specialenvironment', where the chances of wound

getting infected itself is reduced. The fact thatthe total leucocyte count was significantlyincreased in 'controls' but not in 'test group'corroborates this view.

CONCLUSION

Wound healing is better within a pyramid.While there is sufficient histological proof thatthe space enclosed within a pyramid enhanceswound healing, it needs to be explained whythe wounds have less tendency to get infected.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is grateful to Dr. P. Um8 Devi,Professor and Head of the Department ofRadiobiology, K.M.C. Manipal for allowing topursue the histological technique. The technicalassistance provided by Miss. Sandhya isgratefully acknowledged.

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