Modulation of cisplatin cytotoxic activity against leiomyosarcoma cells by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect cisplatin in combination with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on leiomyosarcoma cells (LMS cells) in order to identify a less toxic but equally effective alternative. Assays for cell proliferation, colony formation efficiency, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were performed using the IC50 of cisplatin (8.6 µΜ) as a reference value and a concentration of EGCG (30 µΜ) that caused a non-significant reduction in cell proliferation. Pre-treatment of cells with EGCG for 24 h before the addition of cisplatin increased cytotoxicity up to 8.5% (p < 0.05) and the number of apoptotic cells by 40%. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate failed to alter S-phase cell cycle arrest induced by cisplatin and to modulate cisplatin effects on mitochondrial function. These results indicate that pre-treatment with EGCG could be used as an adjunctive therapy to maximise effectiveness of chemotherapy.

The healing effect of four different silver complexes on full-thickness skin burns in a rat model.

AIM: This study was carried-out to investigate the effect of four different silver substances (S1, S2, S3, and S4) on burn wound healing in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty Wistar rats were used. Animals were randomized into six groups to receive no treatment (CG, control group), and local application of the solvent of silver substances (SG, solvent group), as well as of the four silver substances (EG1-EG4 groups for substances S1-S4, respectively). On days 0, 3, 6, 12, 21, and 31 following burn wound infliction, the size and healing progress of each wound were recorded and evaluated by means of clinical evaluation, planimetry and histological examination. RESULTS: According to our findings lower infection rates, as well as significantly accelerated wound healing and faster re-epithelialization were recorded in EG1, EG2, and EG4 compared to the other groups. DISCUSSION: The use of S1, S2, and S4 substances proved to be an effective treatment of burn wounds that ensured better outcomes compared to the control and solvent groups, as well as with the use of S3 substance. Nevertheless, they failed to produce short-term healing of the full-thickness burn. Further research is required to examine the possibility of speeding the treatment of full-thickness burns by these complexes in order to reduce healing time to acceptable limits and prevent the need for surgery.