The effect of bevacizumab, 5-fluorouracil, and triamcinolone on the healing modulation of surgical wounds in rats

In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of 5-fluorouracil, triamcinolone, and bevacizumab on scar modulation in an experimental rat model of surgical lesions. Rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were divided into four groups: bevacizumab, 5-fluorouracil + triamcinolone, bevacizumab + 5-fluorouracil + triamcinolone, and control (received no medication) groups. A linear, dorsal incision was created and sutured for the first intention wound healing, mimicking the surgical incision of upper blepharoplasty. Treatments were initiated on day 7, and the rats were euthanized on day 14. Only in the 5-fluorouracil + triamcinolone group was there a difference in the number of infiltrated monocytes. There was 56%, 86%, and 85% decrease in the number of neovessels in the bevacizumab, 5fluorouracil + triamcinolone, and bevacizumab + 5fluorouracil + triamcinolone groups, respectively, compared with the control. Picrosirius red staining showed higher collagen density and more organized collagen in the treatment groups than in the control group. Scar modulation was observed in all groups, but the 5-fluorouracil + triamcinolone group presented the best results. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the influence of three medications in combination on healing. When used together, these medications can prevent the development of unsightly scars, and are therefore promising alternatives to corticosteroids

Lagochilascaris minor: Susceptibility and Resistance to Experimental Infection in Mice Is Independent of H-2a Haplotype and Correlates with the Immune Response in Immunized Animals

Recently, we demonstrated that C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible to experimental lagochilascariosis than BALB/c mice. To investigate the pattern of infection and the role of the genetic background on susceptibility to infection, we studied experimental lagochilascariosis in H-2a identical B10.A and A/J mice. Infected B10.A mice had a lower survival ratio and more severe lesions in the lungs than did A/J mice. Splenocytes of A/J mice immunized with the crude extract of the parasite showed increased proliferation and produced a higher level of interleukin 10 and interferon-γ in the presence of CE or concanavalin A when compared to B10.A mice. This suggests that resistance of A/J mice may be due to less severe lesions in lungs and other organs and a better immune response to parasite antigens. This paper provides evidence that major histocompatibility complex haplotype does not influence the survival to experimental infection with L. minor

People with vascular ulcers in outpatient nursing care: a study of sociodemographic and clinical variables

Objetivou-se analisar características sociodemográficas e clínicas de pessoas com úlceras vasculogênicas e investigar a associação entre estas variáveis. Realizou-se um estudo clínico observacional transversal, em salas de curativo de serviços municipais de saúde, de fevereiro a agosto de 2009. Realizou-se entrevista, exame clínico, aplicação da escala Pressure Ulcer Scale Healing (PUSH) e registro fotográfico das lesões. Participaram 42 indivíduos, com média de 60 anos (± 12), 73,8% do sexo masculino, com lesões únicas (66,7%), decorrentes de alteração da circulação venosa (90,5%), duração de até um ano (55,5%). Houve associação entre o escore da PUSH (p=0,019) e profundidade da lesão (p=0,027) com exercício de atividade ocupacional na atualidade, assim como entre o histórico de tabagismo e o gênero (p=0,049). As características sociodemográficas evidenciadas são semelhantes às de outros, com exceção do gênero masculino, o que indica a necessidade de maiores investigações na população goianiense.Se objetivó analizar características sociodemográficas y clínicas de personas con úlceras vasculares e investigar la asociación entre estas variables. Se realizó estudio clínico observacional transversal, en salas de curaciones de servicios municipales de salud, entre febrero y agosto de 2009. Se realizó entrevista, examen clínico, aplicación de escala Pressure Ulcer Scale Healing (PUSH) y registro fotográfico de lesiones. Participaron 42 individuos con promedio de 60 años (± 12), 73,8% de sexo masculino, con lesiones únicas (66,7%), derivadas de alteración de la circulación venosa (90,5%), duración de hasta un año (55,5%). Existió asociación entre el puntaje de PUSH (p=0,019) y profundidad de la lesión (p=0,027) con ejercicio de actividad ocupacional en la actualidad, así como entre historia de tabaquismo y género (p=0,049). Las características sociodemográficas evidenciadas son semejantes a las de otros, con excepción del género masculino, lo que indica la necesidad de mayores investigaciones en la población goianense.The aim of this study was to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people with vascular ulcers and to investigate the association between these variables. This cross-sectional, observational clinical study was conducted in outpatient clinics from February to August 2009. Interview, clinical exam, Pressure Ulcer Scale Healing and photographic registry of the wounds were performed. Forty-two individuals participated who were, on average, 60 (± 12) years old, 73.8% males, with single wounds (66.7%) resulting from alterations in venous circulation (90.5%). Their wounds had lasted for up to one year (55.5%). There was an association between the PUSH score (p=0.019) and depth of wound (p=0.027) with currently performing occupational activity, as well as between history of tobacco use and gender (p=0.049). The sociodemographic characteristics that were observed were similar to the others, except for being male, which indicates the need for more studies in the population in Goiânia, Brazil

Comparação da atividade de ácidos graxos essenciais e biomembrana na microbiota de feridas crônicas infectadas

Em pessoas curadas de hanseníase, as úlceras em membros inferiores representam um desafio aos profissionais, por serem crônicas, infectadas e recorrentes. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo comparar a ação de uma biomembrana de látex (Biocure®) e de um produto à base de AGE (Dersani®) na microbiota de feridas crônicas infectadas, em pessoas que receberam alta do tratamento para hanseníase. Trata-se de pesquisa realizada no Hospital de Dermatologia Sanitária, de Goiânia (GO), no período de fevereiro a outubro de 2007, na qual participaram 8 pessoas curadas de hanseníase, com 19 feridas infectadas, que foram, alocadas aleatoriamente em grupo A (tratado com Dersani®) e grupo B (tratado com Biocure®). Foram identificados Staphylococcus aureus (50%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35,7%), Proteusvulgaris (8,2%), Enterobacter aerogenes (3,3%) e Escherichia coli (2,7%). Os resultados obtidos in vivo sugerem que o Dersani® tenha efeito antimicrobiano positivo sobre Enterobacter aerogenes e o Biocure® sobre Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Os resultados in vitro mostraram ausência de atividade de ambos os produtos sobre os microrganismos isolados das lesões

The effect of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum on the healing colonic anastomosis in rats

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of pneumoperitoneum on colonic anastomosis healing. METHODS: Colonic anastomosis was performed in 120 rats divided into four groups: Group I - pneumoperitoneum before laparotomy, Group II - pneumoperitoneum after laparorrhaphy, Group III - pneumoperitoneum before laparotomy and after laparorrhaphy, Group IV - no pneumoperitoneum (control group). Pneumoperitoneum pressure was 5 mmHg. Animals were killed on the 3rd, 7th and 14th postoperative day. Hhistopathological features, anastomosis breaking strength, collagen histomorphometry and hydroxyproline concentration were assessed. RESULTS: Breaking strength between groups: (day 3, p=0.165; day 7, p=0.219; day 14, p=0.539). Histopathology revealed that group II had, on day 7, less infiltration of mononuclear cells (p=0.006), greater infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells (p=0.001) and greater necrosis (p=0.001); and on day 14, less fibrosis. Histomorphometry revealed a decrease in collagen in groups I and III (p<0.001) on day 7 and an increase in groups I and II on day 14 (p<0.001). Hydroxyproline concentration was similar for groups on days 3 (p=0.152), 7 (p=0.913) or 14 (p=0.981). CONCLUSION: Carbon dioxide does not impair the healing of colonic anastomosis in rats

Influence of Gender on Cardiac and Encephalic Inflammation in the Elderly with Cysticercosis: A Case Control Study

Background. The present study explores the influence of the host’s age and gender upon the inflammatory infiltrate. We aimed to quantify the inflammatory infiltrate caused by cysticercosis, which is related to aging, in the heart and in the encephalon. Methods. 75 autopsy protocols with cysticercosis diagnosis from department of pathology at a university hospital from 1970 to 2008 were reviewed. Two groups were formed: elderly with cysticercosis and nonelderly with cysticercosis. We used KS-300 (Kontron-Zeiss) software for morphometric analysis of the inflammation. Results. The elderly had an average of 3.1±2.5 cysticerci, whereas the non-elderly had 2.7±3.8 parasites. The non-elderly group with cysticercosis had significantly more inflammation, both cardiac and encephalic, than the elderly group. The elderly females with cysticercosis had more cardiac and encephalic inflammation. Conclusions. In this study, we showed that the non-elderly had significantly more cardiac and encephalic inflammation than the elderly, and that such inflammatory infiltrate decreases with age and depends upon the evolutionary stage of the cysticercus. Furthermore, there are differences concerning gender in the intensity of the inflammatory response due to cysticerci in the heart and brain parenchyma during senescence. Even during this period, women continue to have a more intense response to the parasitosis