RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Rapid healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis as one of the most important parasitic diseases leads to the decrease of scars and prevention of a great threat to the looks of the affected people. Today, the use of nano-scaffolds is rapidly increasing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine with structures similar to the target tissue. Chitosan (CS) is a bioactive polymer with antimicrobial and accelerating features of healing wounds, which is commonly used in biomedicine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CS/polyethylene oxide (PEO)/berberine (BBR) nanofibers on the experimental ulcers of Leishmania major in BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CS/PEO/BBR nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning method, and their morphology was examined by SEM, TEM, and AFM. Then, water absorption, stability, biocompatibility, porosity, and drug release from nano-scaffolds were explored. Afterward, 28 BALB/c mice infected with the parasite were randomly divided into control and experimental groups, and their wounds were dressed with the produced nano-scaffolds. Finally, the effect of nanobandage on the animals was investigated by macroscopic, histopathologic, and in vivo imaging examinations. RESULTS: The prepared nanofibers were completely uniform, cylindrical, bead-free, and biocompatible with an average diameter of 94±12 nm and had appropriate drug release. In addition, the reduced skin ulcer diameter (P=0.000), parasite burden (P=0.003), changes in the epidermis (P=0.023), and dermis (P=0.032) indicated significantly strong effectiveness of the produced nano-scaffolds against leishmania ulcers. CONCLUSION: Studies showed that CS/PEO/BBR nanofibers have a positive effect on the rapid healing of leishmania ulcers. Future studies should focus on other chronic ulcers treatment.
RESUMEN
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) such as oxymetholone (OM) used for athletic enhancement, but increased free radicals damage and changes in hormonal levels, lead to serious and irreversible organ damage. Vaccinium arctostaphylos(V. arctostaphylos( has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. The aim of present study was to investigate V. arctostaphylos effect on OM-induced oxidative injury in mouse testis and sperm parameters. In this experimental study, 30 BALB/c mice were divided into five groups, including healthy, positive control(5 mg/kg OM) and three treatment groups (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of V. arctostaphylos extract + 5 mg/kg OM). At the end of the study, serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels were measured. Testis stereological and sperm parameters were calculated. Antioxidant status was measured using nitric oxide (NO) and FRAP assay, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, the expression of p53, caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 was measured. V. arctostaphylos decreased the serum level of testosterone, increased the LH and FSH, and improved the stereological and sperm parameters and down-regulated the p53, caspase-3 and Bax and up-regulated Bcl-2 genes. Furthermore, this dose decreased serum levels of NO and increased testis FRAP and MDA levels in treated groups compared with OM group. V. arctostaphylos extract has protective effects against testicular toxicity caused by OM.