Comparison of the Effects of Skin Microneedling with Cupping Therapy and Microneedling Alone: An Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Microneedling promotes percutaneous collagen induction; cupping therapy creates negative pressure and leads to increased blood flow in the applied area. The addition of cupping therapy to microneedling is thought to contribute positively to microneedling's effects. This study was carried out to investigate the histologic effects of adding cupping therapy to microneedling. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into five groups, with six rats in each group. One control group and four experimental groups were formed, which are defined as follows: the control group; the single-session microneedling applied to the dorsal trunk group; the 15-minute cupping therapy added to the single-session microneedling group; the microneedling applied over a total of three sessions at 3-week intervals group; and the microneedling with cupping therapy applied over a total of three sessions at 3-week intervals group. Each animal was euthanized at the end of the fourth week following the last treatment, and skin samples were evaluated histologically with hematoxylin and eosin stain and type I and III collagen antibody immunostaining. RESULTS: The addition of cupping therapy to microneedling increased the thickness of the epidermis and dermis. A significant increase in type I collagen immunostaining and the type-I-to-type III collagen ratio was seen only in the single-session microneedling applied to the dorsal trunk group. Cupping therapy did not generate a significant difference in type I collagen immunostaining. No treatment was found to produce a significant increase in type III collagen immunostaining. CONCLUSION: Cupping therapy can be added to microneedling therapy and used to increase certain desired effects on skin. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Microneedling is an easy and effective method to improve skin quality in clinical practice.

Electron microscopic investigation of benzo(a)pyrene-induced alterations in the rat kidney tissue and the protective effects of curcumin.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic hydrocarbon with carcinogenic and DNA damaging properties. Curcumin, primary yellow pigment in turmeric, has a wide range of biological, pharmacological properties in addition to being a powerful antioxidant. The aim of this study was to investigate protective effects of curcumin against benzo(a)pyrene damage in rat kidney. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups (n = 6) as: control, corn oil, Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), BaP (10 mg/kg/day), Curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), Curcumin+BaP (100 mg/kg/day+10 mg/kg/day). Agents were daily and orally administered for six weeks. Kidney tissues were removed and examined ultrastructurally. Glomerular and tubular structures in control, corn oil, and DMSO groups demonstrated normal features. Glomerular capillary dilation, thickening, and folding of basement membrane and disruption of organelle contents were distinguished in BaP group. Deletion of podocyte cell and pedicels also sponge-like appearance of glomerular surface were remarkable in this group. Tissue components were protected in curcumin treated group. Proximal tubules and glomerular basement membrane exhibited normal features in Curcumin+BaP group. The abnormalities that accompanied BaP administration clearly revealed the detrimental effects of this agent. Therefore, this study provided substantial evidence that curcumin protects against benzo(a)pyrene nephrotoxicity.

Efficiency of hypericum perforatum, povidone iodine, tincture benzoin and tretinoin on wound healing.

Different topical agents have been used to accelerate wound healing. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of topical application of the extract of Hypericum perforatum (HPE), povidone iodine (PI), tincture benzoin (TB) and tretinoin (T) on surgical wound healing. Ten adult female, Wistar albino rats were included in the study. HPE, PI, TB and T solutions were applied on the wounds. After seven days, tissue samples were collected and inflammatory cells, re-epithelialization, granulation tissue, angiogenesis, collagen accumulation, hemorrhage and lysis of cells were investigated histopathologically. No dermal toxicity was noted. HPE, TB, PI have all showed good epithelialization and granulation, but HPE showed the most advanced stage of healing within a short period of time. HPE had significantly higher values of re-epithelialization and collagen accumulation, but lower inflammatory cell count and granulation tissue. TB had the second best in re-epithelialization, collagen accumulation and the highest granulation tissue. PI induced better reepithelialization and granulation than the control group with remarkable cell lysis. As a result, HPE can be a safe, effective, and cheap agent that can be used for surgical wounds.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Reduces Radiation-Induced Periprosthetic Capsular Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The capsular contracture is one of the main complications after radiotherapy in patients with implant-based reconstruction. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ramipril for the prevention of radiation-induced fibrosis around the silicone implant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats in 5 groups were used. Group 1: implant; group 2: implant + radiation; group 3: ramipril + implant; group 4: ramipril + implant + radiation; group 5: sham. Ramipril treatment was started 5 d before surgery and continued for 12 wk after surgery. A mini silicone implant was placed in the back of the rats. A single fraction of 21.5 Gy radiation was applied. Tissues were examined histologically and immunohistochemically (TGF-ß1, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 expression). The alteration of plasma TGF-ß1 levels was examined before and after the experiment. RESULTS: After applying implant or implant + radiation, capsular thickness, percentage of fibrotic area, tissue and plasma TGF-ß1 levels significantly increased, and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio significantly decreased compared with the sham group. In ramipril-treated groups, the decrease in capsular thickness, fibrosis, TGF-ß1 positivity, and an increase in MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio were found significant. In the ramipril + implant + radiation group, the alteration values of TGF-ß1 dramatically decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that ramipril reduces radiation-induced fibrosis and contracture. The results of our study may be important for the design of the clinical trials required to investigate the effective and safe doses of ramipril, which is an inexpensive and easily tolerated drug, on humans.

Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy With a Herbal Extract on Alveolar Bone Healing.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of a gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser used in low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with the application of Mecsina Hemostopper on mandibular alveolar bone healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standard semispherical bone defects were created in left mandibular diastema sites of 32 female Long-Evans rats. Experimental animals were allocated to 1 of 4 groups: control group (no treatment), laser group (GaAlAs LLLT), Mecsina group, and laser-Mecsina combination group. Liquid Mecsina 0.01 mL was applied to the bone defects. Laser treatment was performed for 7 days after surgery at an energy dose of 10 J/cm2. All animals were sacrificed to observe hard tissue healing histologically, immunohistochemically, and radiologically at 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: Histologic assessment showed significantly more calcified tissue areas and significantly more osteoblast cells in the laser and laser-Mecsina groups than in the other groups (P < .01). Qualitative morphologic assessment showed that more bone tissue was present in the laser-Mecsina group than in the other groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that LLLT, Mecsina application, and combined treatments were effective in healing alveolar bone among all tested treatment modalities.

Evaluation of Effect of Garlic Aged Extracts and Vitamin B12 on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated effects of S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), diallyl disulfide (DADS), and vitamin B12 on inner ear functions and morphology after long-period high-level broadband noise exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four healthy rats were randomly divided into four groups. First group was chosen as the control group. Vitamin B12, SAMC, and DADS were applied to other groups for 4 weeks. On the 14th day, each group was exposed to broadband noise. Auditory brainstem response test was performed before and immediately after noise exposure and repeated on the 2nd and 14th day. RESULTS: Permanent threshold shifts were significantly lower in groups treated with vitamin B12, SAMC, and DADS. Histologically, cochleae of SAMC and DADS groups were found to be better preserved than the cochleae of vitamin B12 and control groups. CONCLUSION: Physiologically and histologically, SAMC and DADS reduced the long-term effects of noise. However, physiological recovery was not consistent with the morphological findings in vitamin B12 group.

Chemoprotective effect of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and selenium on cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in the rat ovarium.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and selenium by measuring the glutathione (GSH) levels and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) expression in the ovarian tissues of rats treated with cyclophosphamide (CP) therapy. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each: (I) control, (II) only CP, (III) CP + ascorbic acid, (IV) CP + α-tocopherol, and (V) CP + selenium. Immunohistochemical stainings and GSH protocol were then applied. RESULTS: Following CP administration, the rats exhibited significantly lower GDF-9 expression in oocytes and PCNA expression in granulosa cells of follicles in all stages of development (P < 0.05). In CP + antioxidant groups (Groups III, IV, V), GDF-9 immunoreaction in oocytes and PCNA immunoreaction in granulosa cells of the developing follicles were found to show an increase towards the levels observed in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CP was found to cause remarkable degenerative effects in normal ovarian tissue, and we believe that this damage can be reduced and ovarian tissue can be spared from the toxic effects of CP by using antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and selenium.