Role of Tissue Oxygenation and the miR-210 Gene In Wound Healing

Hypothesis: Elevated miR210 in the epidermis (outer layer of skin) of ischemic human wound edge tissue (tissue that has a lack of blood flow to it) is associated with poor healing outcome in a setting of standard clinical care. Aim of the study: To determine whether elevated miR-210 in the epidermis of ischemic human wound edge tissue is associated with poor healing outcome in a setting of standard clinical care. This study will last 14 weeks. Adult patients, who are non-diabetic or tightly controlled diabetic, and, who have chronic venous leg ulcers that have been open/not healed for at least 12 weeks, will be enrolled in this study. Patients will be recruited from the Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Center (CWC). On days 0, 14 and 28, patients will have the following performed: measurements and photographs taken of their wound; TCOM (transcutaneous oxygen measurement) or ABI to measure the amount of oxygen in the wound tissue, if receiving a tissue biopsy; and two 3-mm punch biopsies from the same wound/ulcer. Biopsies will not be taken if the wound has closed by day 14 or day 28. Additionally, patients' medical records will be reviewed throughout the study for 98 days (14 weeks) after enrollment to determine the final status of the wound as healed or not-healed. ABI will be completed per study personnel at initial visit for all consented subjects to ensure subject eligibility (as listed TCOM\<30 mmHg in exclusion criteria). If ABI's are unable to be obtained, TCOM will be performed. There will be a total of 5 visits for this study (6 total visits for patients with open wounds on day 28 of the study). Visits will occur on days 0, 7, 14, 21,28.