MACROSCOPIC AND HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON ENDOSCOPICALLY RESECTED RECTAL LESIONS.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is among the most common malignancies worldwide. Colonoscopy is the examination of choice for the prevention of CRC because of its great diagnostic and, especially, therapeutic capacity in relation to adenomatous lesions. AIMS: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, macroscopic, and histological characteristics of polypoid rectal lesions resected through endoscopic techniques and assess whether endoscopic therapy is safe and efficient for treating lesions located in the rectum. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study with an analysis of the medical records of all patients undergoing resection of rectal polyps. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients with rectal lesions were evaluated, with 59 men and 64 women of mean age 56 years. All patients underwent endoscopic resection: 70% with polypectomy and 30% with wide mucosectomy. Complete colonoscopy with removal of the entire rectal lesion occurred in 91%, while in 5% the preparation was inadequate and poor clinical conditions were an impeditive factor, and in 4% surgical treatment was indicated because there was an infiltrative lesion with central ulceration. Histological evaluation showed adenomas in 3.25%, hyperplasia in 7.32%, and hamartoma in 0.81%; low-grade dysplasia was identified in 34.96%, high-grade dysplasia in 51.22%, and adenocarcinoma in 1.63%, while one case (0.81%) was classified as erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Polyps in the rectum are common and were found in 37% of these colonoscopies. Adenomas with dysplasia were the most common form of Colorectal cancer . Therapeutic colonoscopy proved to be a safe and efficient method for the complete treatment of rectal lesions.

Platelet-rich fibrin improves the osteoneogenesis in non-critical defects in calvaria: a histological and histometric study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and autograft on non-critical bone repair. METHODS: Four bone defects (8.3 × 2 mm) were produced on the calvarium of 15 rabbits. The surgical defects were treated with either autograft, autograft associated to PRF, PRF alone, and sham. Animals were euthanized on the second, fourth or sixth posteoperative week. Histological analyses for presence of bone development on deffect was evaluated comparing the groups treated with autograft and without the autograft separately within the same period. Mann-Whitney's tests were used to compare the percentage of bone repair in each post-operative period for autograft × autograft + PRF groups and also for control × PRF groups (α = 5%). RESULTS: No differences were observed between the groups that received autograft and autograft associated to PRF on the second and fourth postoperative week, but areas treated with PRF demonstrated significant osteogenesis when compared to sham group on the fourth and sixth weeks. The groups that received PRF (with autograft or alone) demonstrated an enlarged bone deposition when compared to their control group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PRF may influence bone repair and improve the bone deposition in late period of repair demonstrating osteoconductive and osteogenic properties.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TISSULAR RESPONSE AFTER ABDOMINAL WALL REPAIR USING POLYPROPYLENE MESH AND BOVINE PERICARDIUM MESH.

BACKGROUND: The use of polypropylene meshes for surgical repair of the abdominal wall contributes to a reduction of the of recurrence rates of hernias or defects. However, its intra-abdominal use comes along with the formation of adhesions and several complications. The study and the search for alternative materials, including bovine pericardium, have been regarded as an option for the correction and treatment of resulting hernias with better adaptations and effectiveness. AIM: Evaluating the inflammatory process of the bovine pericardium in comparison with the inflammatory process of synthetic polypropylene mesh. METHOD: Bovine pericardium mesh and polypropylene mesh were placed, both on the same animal. The first group had the mesh removed for analysis on day 20, and the second group on day 40. The variables congestion, granulation, giant cells, necrosis, acute inflammation, chronic inflammation and collagen were analyzed. RESULTS: All variables were found in greater numbers as a response to the polypropylene mesh, except for the collagen, which, on day 40, was greater in response to the bovine pericardium mesh. CONCLUSION: The data in this study suggest that there is less inflammatory reaction in response to bovine pericardium mesh when compared to polypropylene mesh.

BETWEEN PROLENE®, ULTRAPRO® AND BARD SOFT® MESHES WHICH PRESENTS THE BEST PERFORMANCE IN THE REPAIR OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL?

BACKGROUND: In the definition of the mesh to be used to correct hernias, porosity, amount of absorbable material and polypropylene should be considered in the different stages of healing process. AIM: To evaluate the inflammatory reaction in the use of macro and microporous meshes of high and low weight in the repair of defects in the abdominal wall of rats. METHODS: Ninety Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were used. The animals were submitted to similar surgical procedures, with lesion of the ventral abdominal wall, maintaining the integrity of the parietal peritoneum and correction using the studied meshes (Prolene®, Ultrapro® and Bard Soft®). Euthanasia was performed at 30, 60 and 120 days after surgery. The abdominal wall segments were submitted to histological analysis using H&E, Masson's trichrome, immunohistochemistry, picrosirius red and tensiometric evaluation. RESULTS: On the 120th day, the tensiometric analysis was superior with Ultrapro® macroporous mesh. The inflammatory process score showed a significant prevalence of subacute process at the beginning and at the end of the study. Microporous meshes showed block encapsulation and in macroporous predominance of filamentous encapsulation. CONCLUSION: The Ultrapro® mesh showed better performance than the others in healing process of the abdominal wall.

IS THERE NEURAL AND FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY AFTER CLIP REMOVAL IN CERVICAL EXPERIMENTAL SYMPATHECTOMY?

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of hyperhidrosis by thoracic sympathectomy has brought, in addition to symptomatic relief for many, its main adverse effect: compensatory or reflex sweating. The clipping technique in place of the sympathetic nerve section gave rise to the hope of reversibility, but the positive results showed to be quite divergent, evidencing the academic deficiency regarding the study of this phenomenon. AIM: To observe micro and macroscopic damage caused by the polymer clip on sympathetic nerve of rabbits seven days after their clipping and the findings after three weeks of clip removal. METHOD: In this experimental study, 20 rabbits were divided into two groups of 10, group 1 (clipping) and group 2 (de-clipping). The right cervical sympathetic nerve of all animals was clamped with polymeric clip, and in group 2 the nerve was unclipped seven days later. Group 1 rabbits were induced to death on the 7th postoperative day, and group 2 on the 21st after removal of the polymer clip. Macroscopic variables were: clip appearance, presence of discontinuity lesion, infection and adhesions around the nerve. H&E was used in the evaluation of the phases and degree of the inflammatory process and presence of necrosis, and picrosirius red F3BA for quantification of collagen. RESULTS: The cervical sympathetic nerve was intact, without necrosis or infection in all animals of the experiment; there were adhesions in both groups, being minimal in eight animals of each group and moderate or intense in two; the clip was completely closed in all animals at the 7th postoperative day; the inflammatory process shown was chronic, with monomorphonuclear predominance. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the intensity the inflammatory process, but the amount of collagen type I and type III was significantly higher in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The injury caused by the polymer clip on the sympathetic nerve may be reversible, allowing functional return in the areas involved in the simulated cervical sympathectomy. Clipping of the cervical sympathetic nerve using a polymer clip does not cause discontinuity injury.

COULD THE INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL ALTERATIONS PROMOTED BY ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS EXPLAIN HIGHER TENDENCY FOR COLONIC DISEASES IN BARIATRIC PATIENTS?

BACKGROUND: Ki-67 in ascending colon: A) experiment and B) control. Intestinal diversions have revolutionized the treatment of morbid obesity due to its viability and sustained response. However, experimental studies suggest, after these derivations, a higher risk of colon cancer. AIM: To analyze the histological and immunohistological changes that the jejunojejunal shunt can produce in the jejunum, ileum and ascending colon. METHOD: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, control (n=12) and experiment (n=12) and subdivided into groups of four. Nine weeks after the jejunojejunal shunt, segmental resection of the excluded jejunum, terminal ileum and ascending colon was performed. Histological analysis focused on the thickness of the mucosa, height of the villi, depth of the crypts and immunohistochemistry in the expression of Ki-67 and p53. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the experiment and control groups in relation to the thickness of the mucosa in the jejunum (p=0.011), in the ileum (p<0.001) and in the colon (p=0.027). There was also a significant difference in relation to the height of the villus in the ileum (p<0.001) and the depth of the crypts in the jejunum (p0.001). The results indicated that there is a significant difference between the groups regarding the expression of Ki-67 in the colon (p<0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding the expression of Ki-67 in the jejunum and ileum. In the P53 evaluation, negative nuclear staining was found in all cases. CONCLUSION: The jejunojejunal deviation performed in the Roux-in-Y gastrojejunal bypass, predispose epithelial proliferative effects, causing an increase in the thickness of the mucosa, height of the villi and depth of the crypts of the jejunum, ileum and ascending colon.

ARE STEM CELL MARKER EXPRESSION AND CD133 ANALYSIS RELEVANT TO DIFFERENTIATE COLORECTAL CANCER?

BACKGROUND: CD133 and AXL have been described as cancer stem cell markers, and c-MYC as a key regulatory cellular mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC). AIM: Evaluate the prognostic role of the biomarkers CD133, AXL and c-MYC and their association with clinicopathologic characteristics in colorectal adenocarcinomas and adenomas. METHODS: A total of 156 patients with UICC stage I-IV adenocarcinomas (n=122) and adenomas (n=34) were analyzed. Tissue microarrays (TMA) from primary tumors and polyps for CD133, c-MYC and AXL expression were performed and analyzed for their significance with clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: Poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and disease progression were independent risk factors for poor overall survival. The median overall survival time was 30 months. Positive CD133 expression (35.9% of all cases), particularly of right-sided CRCs (44.8% of the CD133+ cases), was negatively correlated with death in the univariate analysis, which did not reach significance in the multivariate analysis. c-MYC (15.4% of all cases) was predominantly expressed in advanced-stage patients with distant (non-pulmonary/non-hepatic) metastasis. AXL expression was found only occasionally, and predominantly dominated in adenomas, with less penetrance in high-grade dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: CD133 expression was not associated with inferior overall survival in CRC. While AXL showed inconclusive results, c-MYC expression in primary CRCs was associated with distant metastasis.

Effect of intra-articular dexmedetomidine on experimental osteoarthritis in rats.

Pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis is still inadequate due to the low efficacy of the drugs used. Dexmedetomidine via the intra-articular (i.a.) route might be an option for the treatment of osteoarthritis-associated pain. The present study assessed the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of dexmedetomidine administered via the i.a. route in different doses in an experimental model of rat knee osteoarthritis induced with monosodium iodoacetate. Rats were allocated to four groups with 24 animals in each group. The OA (osteoarthritis), DEX-1 (dexmedetomidine in dose of 1µg/kg) and DEX-3 (dexmedetomidine in dose of 3µg/kg) groups were subjected to induction of osteoarthritis through injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) via the i.a. route on the right knee; the control group was not subjected to osteoarthritis induction. Clinical assessment was performed on day 0 (before osteoarthritis induction) and then on days 5, 10, 14, 21 and 28 after induction. Treatment was performed on day 7 via the i.a. route, consisting of dexmedetomidine in doses of 1 and 3 µg/kg, while group OA received 0.9% normal saline. The animals were euthanized on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Samples of the synovial membrane were collected for histopathological analysis, and the popliteal lymph nodes were collected for measurement of cytokines (interleukin [IL] IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]). Dexmedetomidine (1 and 3 µg/kg) significantly reduced the animals' weight distribution deficit during the chronic-degenerative stage of osteoarthritis and improved the pain threshold throughout the entire experiment. Histological analysis showed that dexmedetomidine did not cause any additional damage to the synovial membrane. The TNF-α levels decreased significantly in the DEX-3 group on day 28 compared with the OA group. Dexmedetomidine reduced pain, as evidenced by clinical parameters of osteoarthritis in rats, but did not have an anti-inflammatory effect on histological evaluation.

ARE STEM CELL MARKER EXPRESSION AND CD133 ANALYSIS RELEVANT TO DIFFERENTIATE COLORECTAL CANCER?

BACKGROUND: A) CD133+ cytoplasmic B) AXL+ combined C) c-MYC+ nuclear. CD133 and AXL have been described as cancer stem cell markers, and c-MYC as a key regulatory cellular mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC). AIM: Evaluate the prognostic role of the biomarkers CD133, AXL and c-MYC and their association with clinicopathologic characteristics in colorectal adenocarcinomas and adenomas. METHODS: A total of 156 patients with UICC stage I-IV adenocarcinomas (n=122) and adenomas (n=34) were analyzed. Tissue microarrays (TMA) from primary tumors and polyps for CD133, c-MYC and AXL expression were performed and analyzed for their significance with clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: Poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and disease progression were independent risk factors for poor overall survival. The median overall survival time was 30 months. Positive CD133 expression (35.9% of all cases), particularly of right-sided CRCs (44.8% of the CD133+ cases), was negatively correlated with death in the univariate analysis, which did not reach significance in the multivariate analysis. c-MYC (15.4% of all cases) was predominantly expressed in advanced-stage patients with distant (non-pulmonary/non-hepatic) metastasis. AXL expression was found only occasionally, and predominantly dominated in adenomas, with less penetrance in high-grade dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: CD133 expression was not associated with inferior overall survival in CRC. While AXL showed inconclusive results, c-MYC expression in primary CRCs was associated with distant metastasis.

ARE CDX2, BETA-CATENIN AND WNT IMMUNOMARCHERS USEFUL FOR EVALUATING THE CHANCE OF DISEASE PROGRESSION OR EVOLUTION TO DEATH IN PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL CANCER?

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. Over time, intestinal epithelial cells undergo mutations that may lead to proliferative advantage and the emergence of cancer. Mutations in the beta-catenin pathway are amongst those described in the development of CRC. AIM: To verify the existence of a relation between the presence of Wnt3, beta-catenin and CDX2 in colorectal cancer samples and clinical outcomes such as disease progression or death. METHOD: Wnt3a, beta-catenin and CDX2 immunohistochemistry was performed on CRC tissue microarray samples (n=122), and analysis regarding the relation between biomarker expression and disease progression or death was performed. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the presence or absence of CDX2, beta-catenin or Wnt3a expression and clinical stage, tumor grade, disease progression or death. CONCLUSION: CDX2, beta-catenin and Wnt3a are not useful to predict prognosis in patients with CRC.

IS THERE A RELATION BETWEEN HELYBACTER PYLORI AND INTESTINAL METAPLASIA IN SHORT COLUMN EPITELIZATION UP TO 10 MM IN THE DISTAL ESOPHAGUS?

BACKGROUND: The presence of intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus (Barrett's esophagus) is an important precursor of adenocarcinoma. Knowledge of the risk factors and the process by which the Barrett develops is very important and Helicobacter pylori (HP) can contribute to this development. AIM: To analyze the impact of HP in the gastric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus in areas of columnar epithelialization smaller than 10 mm in length and epidemiological data on prevalence. METHOD: A retrospective study in which were included 373 consecutive patients diagnosed with columnar epithelium in the distal esophagus was done. In all, HP was investigated by urease and histology, exclusion and inclusion factors were applied and patients were divided into two groups: the first grouping the ones without histological diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus (235-63%) and the second with it (138-37%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between HP and non-HP patients in relation to the probability of having intestinal metaplasia (p=0.587). When related to the general group, there was an inverse association between the bacterium and the columnar epithelia in the distal esophagus. Age (p=0.031), gender (p=0.013) and HP (p=0.613) when related together to intestinal metaplasia showed no significant relation. In isolation, when related to age and gender, regardless of HP, results confirmed that patients in more advanced age and women present a higher incidence of intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSION: There is an inverse relation between HP and the areas of columnar epithelization in the distal esophagus, regardless of the presence or absence of intestinal metaplasia. Age and gender, regardless of HP, showed higher prevalence in women and in older the number of cases with intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus.

Macroscopic and histological analysis on endoscopically resected rectal lesions / Análise macroscópica e histológica de lesões retais endoscopicamente ressecadas

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is among the most common malignancies worldwide. Colonoscopy is the examination of choice for the prevention of CRC because of its great diagnostic and, especially, therapeutic capacity in relation to adenomatous lesions. AIMS: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, macroscopic, and histological characteristics of polypoid rectal lesions resected through endoscopic techniques and assess whether endoscopic therapy is safe and efficient for treating lesions located in the rectum. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study with an analysis of the medical records of all patients undergoing resection of rectal polyps. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients with rectal lesions were evaluated, with 59 men and 64 women of mean age 56 years. All patients underwent endoscopic resection: 70% with polypectomy and 30% with wide mucosectomy. Complete colonoscopy with removal of the entire rectal lesion occurred in 91%, while in 5% the preparation was inadequate and poor clinical conditions were an impeditive factor, and in 4% surgical treatment was indicated because there was an infiltrative lesion with central ulceration. Histological evaluation showed adenomas in 3.25%, hyperplasia in 7.32%, and hamartoma in 0.81%; low-grade dysplasia was identified in 34.96%, high-grade dysplasia in 51.22%, and adenocarcinoma in 1.63%, while one case (0.81%) was classified as erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Polyps in the rectum are common and were found in 37% of these colonoscopies. Adenomas with dysplasia were the most common form of Colorectal cancer . Therapeutic colonoscopy proved to be a safe and efficient method for the complete treatment of rectal lesions.

RESUMO RACIONAL: O câncer colorretal (CCR) está entre as neoplasias mais comuns em todo o mundo. A colonoscopia é o exame de escolha para prevenção por sua grande capacidade diagnóstica e, principalmente, terapêutica em relação às lesões adenomatosas. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a prevalência, as características macroscópicas e histológicas das lesões polipoides retais ressecadas por técnicas endoscópicas e avaliar se a terapia endoscópica é segura e eficaz para o tratamento de lesões localizadas no reto. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional retrospectivo com análise dos prontuários de todos os pacientes submetidos à ressecção de pólipos retais. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 123 pacientes com lesões retais: 59 homens e 64 mulheres com idade média de 56 anos. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à ressecção endoscópica: 70% com polipectomia e 30% com mucosectomia ampla. A colonoscopia completa com retirada de toda a lesão retal ocorreu em 91%, enquanto em 5% o preparo foi inadequado e as más condições clínicas foram fator impeditivo, e em 4% o tratamento cirúrgico foi indicado por haver lesão infiltrativa com ulceração central. A avaliação histológica mostrou adenomas em 3,25%, hiperplasia em 7,32% e hamartoma em 0,81%; displasia de baixo grau foi identificada em 34,96%, displasia de alto grau em 51,22% e adenocarcinoma em 1,63%, enquanto um caso (0,81%) foi classificado como erosão. CONCLUSÕES: Pólipos no reto são comuns e foram encontrados em 37% das colonoscopias. Adenomas com displasia foram a forma mais comum de câncer colorretal. A colonoscopia terapêutica mostrou-se método seguro e eficiente para o tratamento completo das lesões retais.

Platelet-rich fibrin improves the osteoneogenesis in non-critical defects in calvaria: a histological and histometric study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and autograft on non-critical bone repair. Methods: Four bone defects (8.3 × 2 mm) were produced on the calvarium of 15 rabbits. The surgical defects were treated with either autograft, autograft associated to PRF, PRF alone, and sham. Animals were euthanized on the second, fourth or sixth posteoperative week. Histological analyses for presence of bone development on deffect was evaluated comparing the groups treated with autograft and without the autograft separately within the same period. Mann-Whitney's tests were used to compare the percentage of bone repair in each post-operative period for autograft × autograft + PRF groups and also for control × PRF groups (α = 5%). Results: No differences were observed between the groups that received autograft and autograft associated to PRF on the second and fourth postoperative week, but areas treated with PRF demonstrated significant osteogenesis when compared to sham group on the fourth and sixth weeks. The groups that received PRF (with autograft or alone) demonstrated an enlarged bone deposition when compared to their control group. Conclusions: The use of PRF may influence bone repair and improve the bone deposition in late period of repair demonstrating osteoconductive and osteogenic properties.

TENSIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MESHES USED IN ABDOMINAL VENTRAL WALL DEFECTS IN RATS.

BACKGROUND: Among the various strategies to avoid exaggerated foreign body reaction in the treatment of hernias is the limitation of the amount of polypropylene or the use of absorbable material. AIM: To evaluate the healing of defects in the abdominal wall of rats, comparing microporous polypropylene, macroporous polypropylene and polypropylene/polyglecaprone at the 30º, 60º and 120º postoperative day. METHODS: Wistar rats were submitted to defect production in the ventral abdominal wall, with integrity of the parietal peritoneum. Prolene®, Ultrapro® and Bard Soft® meshes were used in the correction of the defect. Nine subgroups of 10 animals were submitted to euthanasia at 30th, 60th and 120th postoperative day. Fragments of the abdominal wall of the animals were submitted to tensiometric analysis. RESULTS: The tensiometry at the 30th postoperative day showed greater resistance of the tissues with Bard Soft® (macroporous mesh) in relation to the tissues with Prolene® (microporous mesh). On the 60th postoperative day Bard Soft® maintained the superior resistance to the tissues comparing to Prolene Mesh®. On the 120th postoperative day the tissues repaired with Ultrapro® (macroporous mesh) proved to be more resistant than the ones by Prolene® (microporous mesh) and Bard Soft® (macroporous mesh). CONCLUSION: The tissues repaired with macroporous meshes showed greater resistance than with microporous meshes at all stages, and at 120 days postoperative Ultrapro® performed better than the others.

Tadalafil protector effect during ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate histological parameters in rat renal tissue after tadalafil use during hot ischemia for 45 minutes and reperfusion for 24 hours. METHODS: Twenty rats were divided into 2 groups. In the experimental group 10 mg/kg of tadalafil was used per gavage before the procedure. All cases underwent left partial nephrectomy, followed by 45 minutes of warm ischemia. Left nephrectomy of the remaining kidney was performed after 24 hours from the initial procedure. The histological parameters analyzed were: detachment of tubular cells, accumulation of desquamated cells in the proximal tubule, loss of brush border, tubular cylinders, interstitial edema, leukocyte infiltration, capillary congestion, vacuolization, tubular dilatation, necrosis and collapse of the capillary tuft. RESULTS: Two rats from each group died and were excluded from the study. Tadalafil significantly reduced leukocyte infiltration (p = 0.036). The remaining histological parameters did not show statistical difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: The use of tadalafil during warm ischemia and reperfusion demonstrates statistically significant reduction of leukocyte infiltration in the renal interstitium.

[Evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of Aroeira (Shinus Terebinthifolius Raddi) in the healing process of wound skin in rats]. / Avaliação do extrato hidroalcoólico de Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) no processo de cicatrização de feridas em pele de ratos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the healing effect of the topic administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of aroeira in open wounds in the dorsocostal region of rats. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats, males, were used. In all animals one skin fragment was removed, with two centimeters in diameter. Inhalatory anesthesia with ethyl ether was done, The rats were divided in two groups of 30 animals: aroeira group, submitted to an topic application of the hydroalcoholic extract of the plant, and control group, with the same process but with 0.9% saline solution. Each group was divided in three sub-groups of 10 animals according to the period of observation: 7, 14 and 21 days. The areas of the injuries were analyzed by the macroscopic aspect and digital planimetry, and the resected segments of the wounds were studied by optic microscopy stained with hematoxilin-eosine and trichromium of Masson. RESULTS: The macroscopic findings showed early complete reepitelization in the control group by the 14th day. According to the digital planimetry the average wound areas of the rats from the control group (0.5278 cm(2)) had been smaller than those from the wounds of the rats of the aroeira group (0.6897 cm(2)), with statistical significance to the 14th day (p=0.036). The histologic study showed statistical difference (p=0.023) regarding the mononuclear cells in 14th day of evaluation, with larger number in the aroeira group, without significant differences regarding other parameters in all the remaining days. CONCLUSION: The topic use of the hydroalcoholic extract of aroeira delayed the reepitelization of the skin wounds in rats.

[Healing process in bladder suture of rats with and without the administration of intraperitoneal Jatropha gossypiifolia L. gross extract]. / Estudo da cicatrização de suturas na bexiga urinária de ratos com e sem a utilização de extrato bruto de Jatropha gossypiifolia L. intraperitoneal.

INTRODUCTION: The suture of tissues and their healing process is one of the basic fundamentals of surgery, and the research on substances which could improve the process is an ongoing challenge. The use of plants has been tested but till nowadays without scientific demonstration. PURPOSE: To compare the macroscopic and histological alterations done by the use of intraperitoneal Jatropha gossypiifolia L. gross extract, in the healing process of sutures performed on the bladder of rats. METHODS: Forty adult, male, Wistar rats were distributed into two animal groups. One centimeter longitudinal incision on the bladder ventral wall, and single plane synthesis with separated polyglactine 910 5-0 (Ethicon) stitches was done in all the animals. In the control group an intraperitoneal cavity instillation of distilled water at a ratio of 1 ml/kg/weight, and a 1 ml/kg/weight of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. extract for the Jatropha group was done representing 200 mg of the substance. Each group was subdivided into two with 10 animals in each, being submitted to euthanasia on 3rd and 7th post-operative days. Comparative histological, macroscopic and statistical analysis were undertaken between the subgroups. RESULTS: Statistical significant difference was observed in the acute inflammation changes, vascular neoformation and bonding on day 3; the first one was greater in the control group, and the latter two greater in the Jatropha group; acute inflammation variables and fibroblastic proliferation presented to be more intense on day 7, with statistical significance favoring the control group. CONCLUSION: No favorable healing effect was observed with the administration of single intraperitoneal dose of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. gross extract on the sutures of bladder in rats.

[Evaluation of aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) extract on the healing process of gastroraphy in rats]. / Avaliação do extrato de Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) no processo de cicatrização de gastrorrafias em ratos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the healing process of gastric suture in rats using hydroalcoholic aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) extract. METHODS: Forty adult male rats, divided into two groups of 20 animals were operated and named as follows: aroeira group (Ga), and the control group (Gc). Each group was divided into two subgroups (SG) of 10 animals (SGa and SGc) according to the time of provoked death (three and seven days). The same surgical procedure was performed in all animals consisting in incision and simple suture of the stomach (Prolene(R) 6-0). The only difference was on the type of medical treatment. The aroeira group received a single 100 mg/kg of aroeira extract in an intraperitoneal dose and the animals from the control group received the same quantity in milliliters (ml) of the isotonic saline solution. The evaluated parameters were: macroscopic alterations, microscopic healing process and toleration to atmospheric air insufflation. RESULTS: All animals had good healing process of abdominal wall with no clinical evidence of infection, dehiscence, abscesses and peritonitis. Both groups presented adherences to gastric suture line area with surrounding organs, mainly the liver, lower intestines and the abdominal wall. Microscopic analysis showed only chronic inflammation significant difference between the aroeira and control groups on the third day of observation. Resistance tests did not present significant statistical differences in the studied groups. CONCLUSION: The use of aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) hydro-alcoholic extract did not alter the stomach healing process, considered on macroscopic, tensiometric and microscopic assessment.

[Evaluation of the aroreira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) in the healing process of surgical incision in the bladder of rats]. / Avaliação da ação da Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) na cicatrização de feridas cirúrgicas em bexiga de ratos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the hydroalcoholic aroeira extract in the healing process of surgical incisions in the bladder of rats in an experimental comparative study. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were used. All of them underwent a median abdominal incision, with an 1cm cystotomy, followed by one plain suture with separated stitches of poliglactine 910 5-0. The animals were then divided into two groups of 20 rats each, and named the aroeira group (GA) and the control group (GC). In the first one, 80% hydro-alcoholic plant extract was injected in the peritoneal cavity, in a one dose of 100mg/kg. The second group, a 0.9% saline solution was injected in place of aroeira extract. Each group was divided into two subgroups (SGA and SGC) of 10 animals. According to their scheduled death, they were named subgroups SGA3 and SGC3 when killed in the 3th day after surgery and subgroups SGA7 and SGC7 in the 7th day. The abdominal cavity and the bladder suture were macroscopically evaluated. RESULTS: The microscopic analysis of the surgical incision in the bladder was performed by means of the hematoxilin-eosine stain and the trichrome of Masson. The macroscopic analysis showed an infection in the surgical incision in three rats of the SGC group and in one of the SGA, and peritoneal adhesion in the 26 rats belonging nine to SGC and 17 in the SGA. The microscopic evaluation revealed a more severe acute inflammation process in the SGC on the 3th (p=0.045) and in the 7th (0=0.002) days. In the SGA, a more significant collagenization (p=0.001) could be seen, as far as the evidence of vascular neoformation (p=0.002) on the 3rd day. Chronic inflammatory reaction (p=0.006) and a more intense vascular neoformation (p=0.001) were observed in the 7th day. CONCLUSION: The hydroalcoholic aroeira extract had a favorable effect in the healing process of cystotomies done in rats.