Evaluation of the Wound Healing Potential of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. (Asteraceae) by In Vivo Excision and Incision Models

Achillea species are widely used for diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomachache and healing of wounds in folk medicine. To evaluate the wound healing activity of the plant, extracts were prepared with different solvents; hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol, respectively from the roots of Achillea biebersteinii. Linear incision by using tensiometer and circular excision wound models were employed on mice and rats. The wound healing effect was comparatively evaluated with the standard skin ointment Madecassol. The n-hexane extract treated groups of animals showed 84.2% contraction, which was close to contraction value of the reference drug Madecassol (100%). On the other hand the same extract on incision wound model demonstrated a significant increase (40.1%) in wound tensile strength as compared to other groups. The results of histoptological examination supported the outcome of linear incision and circular excision wound models as well. The experimental data demonstrated that A. biebersteinii displayed remarkable wound healing activity

A narrowing range of bone scan in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: A retrospective comparative study

Objectives: The objective of the following study is to clarify a suitable group whereby a bone scan could be spared at the initial staging of prostate cancer, we wished to identify the possible relationship between bone metastasis and clinical and pathological parameters including serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), biopsy Gleason Score (GS), and percentage of pathological cores. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the results of 220 bone scintigraphies, which were done between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013 in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. These parameters were evaluated together with standard clinicopathological data to determine the prediction ability of the bone scan by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Bone metastases were seen in 44 patients of all 220 patients (20%, 95% confidence interval, 17-24%). In univariate analysis, PSA and biopsy GS were useful in predicting the bone scan result, but ALP and percentage of pathological cores was not. In multivariate analysis, the single most useful parameter in predicting the bone scan result was PSA (P < 0.001). Conclusions: A bone scan seems to be impractical in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients with serum PSA level <20 ng/ml and GS up to seven and pre-treatment PSA is the best predictor of the need for the bone scan according to results of this study

Effect of adrenomedullin on hepatic damage in hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats

WOS: 000257706600009PubMed: 18435717Aims: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a multifunctional peptide with a putative beneficial role after an ischaemic insult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AM on partial hepatic ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: Rats were subjected to 1 h of 70% hepatic ischaemia, followed by reperfusion or sham. At the end of ischaemia, vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline solution), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and AM with or without L-NAME were infused via the portal vein. Analysis was performed at pre-ischaemia, ischaemia onset and 1, 2 and 4 h after reperfusion. Hepatic tissue blood flow (HTBF) was evaluated by laser Doppler. Results: Plasma AM levels in the I/R groups were significantly lower than the levels in the sham group. AM treatment significantly reduced levels of aspartate transaminase and tissue arginase (P < 0.05). Significant decreases of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and endothelin-1 levels were also found in the serum. Endothelin-1, malondialdehyde and necrosis were observed more frequently in liver tissue in the AM group than the control (P < 0.05). Tissue nitric oxide, energy charge and HTBF were significantly increased in AM treatment experiments (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The improved HTBF, energy charge and nitric oxide and the reduction of hepatic necrosis, oxidative stress, liver enzymes, endotelin-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines demonstrate that treatment with AM attenuates liver I/R injury

Does the corticotropin-releasing hormone system play a role in the pathogenesis of lichen planus?

Introduction: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease, where the psychogenic factors seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis. Aim: To determine the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor type 1 (CRH-R1) in LP. Material and methods: Thirty-two LP patients and 17 age/gender-matched controls were included in the study. Detailed information about the disease and body surface area (BSA) covered by the lesions was recorded. Immunohistochemically, the expression of CRH-R1 was stained in the lesional skin of patients with LP and in the control group. Results: The comparison of CRH-R1 expression showed a statistically significant difference between LP patients and the controls (p < 0.05). Additionally, we did not observe any correlation between BSA and staining intensity in LP patients. Conclusions: Our study showed an increase in CRH-R1 expression in LP lesions. These results support the participation of the cutaneous CRH/CRH-R1 system in the pathogenesis of LP skin lesions

Effect of Naloxone on Oxidative Stress and Testicular Injury due to Spermatic Vessel Ligation of Rat Testis

altug, mustafa ugur/0000-0002-6475-2178; Aydos, Tolga Resat/0000-0002-1832-9336WOS: 000260236500007PubMed: 18931543Aims: Two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy has been accompanied by testicular atrophy in some cases but neither of the mechanisms responsible for testicular injury are clear, nor is there an effective agent that might prevent this injury. In this study we aimed to investigate the long-term effects of naloxone, a morphine antagonist, on testicular histopathology and oxidative stress after spermatic vessel ligation (SVL) in rats. Methods: 32 prepubertal rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: group 1: control (only bilateral orchiectomies were performed); group 2: sham-operated group; group 3: SVL, and group 4: SVL+naloxone (1 mg/kg twice daily for 1 month). One month postoperatively, bilateral orchiectomies were performed to evaluate histopathologic findings and measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Results: Considering group 3, left SVL resulted in significant tissue damage in both testes, more severe in the ipsilateral testis. The SVL resulted in a significant increase in testicular MDA levels of both testes in this group (p 0.05), the contralateral testicular histopathology improved significantly (p < 0.05). However, naloxone did not change either testicular MDA or NO levels. Conclusions: The SVL led to bilateral testicular injury, and oxidative stress may be a reason for this injury. Naloxone significantly improved contralateral testicular injury without showing any antioxidative effect. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

Alpha adrenergic receptors in renal pelvis and calyces: can rat models be used?

We aimed, in this study, to determine the distribution of &#945;-1 AR subtypes in rat and human pelvis and calyces, and to evaluate, by comparing these two species, the possibility of rats to be used as models for humans. Twenty patients with renal carcinoma were included into the study. The patients underwent radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). After nephrectomy, specimens were evaluated and excisional biopsies from healthy pelvis and calyces tissues were performed. When pathology confirmed the non-invasion of RCC, specimen was included into the study. A total of 7 adult Wistar Albino (250-300 g) female rats were used in this study. Specimens included renal pelvis and calyces. All specimens were evaluated under light microscope histopathologically. The concentrations of the receptor densities did not differ between the two groups. With the demonstration of the &#945; receptors in rat kidneys and calyces, many receptor-based studies concerning both humans and rats can take place. Novel medication targeting these subtypes -in this matter &#945;1A and &#945;1D for renal pelvis and calyces- may be helpful for expulsive therapy and/or pain relief. With the demonstration of similar receptor densities between human and rat tissues, rat model may be useful for &#945;-receptor trials for renal pelvis and calyces