Evaluation of topical tocopherol cream on cutaneous wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes is a common cause of delayed wound healing. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of topical administration of tocopherol cream on the wound healing process in diabetic rats. The study was conducted using 18 male Sprague Dawley rats which were divided into three groups: (I) diabetic rats receiving control cream (n = 6), (II) diabetic rats receiving 0.06% tocopherol cream (n = 6), and (III) diabetic rats receiving 0.29% tocopherol cream (n = 6). Four cutaneous wounds were created at the dorsal region of the rats. Wound healing was assessed by total protein content, rate of wound closure estimation, and histological studies on the tenth day after wounding. Tocopherol treatment enhanced the wound healing process by increasing rate of wound closure and total protein content significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Histological observation also showed better organized epithelium and more collagen fibers in the tocopherol treated groups. Application of tocopherol cream enhances wound healing process in diabetic condition which is known to cause delay in wound healing.

Neuroprotection by Trans-Resveratrol in Rats With Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Insights into the Role of Adenosine A1 Receptors.

Given the neuroprotective effects of trans-resveratrol (RV), this study aimed to investigate the involvement of the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) in RV-mediated neuroprotection in a rat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model induced by intrastriatal injection of collagenase. Rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) sham-operated, (3) ICH pretreated with vehicle, (4) ICH pretreated with RV, and (5) ICH pretreated with RV and the A1R antagonist DPCPX. At 48 hours after ICH, the rats were subjected to neurological testing. Brain tissues were assessed for neuronal density and morphological features using routine and immunohistochemical staining. Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), caspase-3, and RIPK3 proteins was examined using ELISA. A1R, MAPK P38, Hsp90, TrkB, and BDNF genes were examined using RT-qPCR. RV protected against neurological deficits and neuronal depletion, restored the expression of TNF-α, CASP3, RIPK3, A1R, and Hsp90, and increased BDNF/TrkB. DPCPX abolished the effects of RV on neurological outcomes, neuronal density, CASP3, RIPK3, A1R, Hsp90, and BDNF. These data indicate that the neuroprotection by RV involves A1R and inhibits CASP3-dependent apoptosis and RIPK3-dependent necroptosis in the perihematoma region; this is likely to be mediated by crosstalk between A1R and the BDNF/TrkB pathway.

Accessory renal vessels at the upper and lower pole of the kidney: a cadaveric study with clinical implications.

The renal artery is known to exhibit variations in its number and position. The present study was performed on 50 cadaveric kidneys to observe the topographical anatomy of the accessory renal arteries (ARA) entering the upper or lower poles of the kidney. Out of 50 kidney cadaveric specimens (irrespective of sex) studied, 2 kidneys (4%) showed the presence of ARA. The presence of ARA was observed on the left and right kidneys, respectively. In one left kidney, we observed in addition to the usual renal artery, an ARA near the lower pole of the kidney which divided into anterior and posterior branches. Another right kidney specimen exhibited the presence of single and double ARA at the upper and the lower poles, respectively. The presence of ARA, both at the upper and lower poles is a rare entity. No medical history of the cadavers was available to corroborate the clinical findings. Additional renal vessels may signify a developmental defect. Anatomical knowledge of the variations in the renal vascular supply may be important for abdominal imaging studies and surgical operations involving renal transplantations. The present study discusses in detail the anatomical features and clinical implications of ARA located at both the upper and lower poles of the kidney (Fig. 2, Ref. 15). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Histological changes in the kidneys of experimental diabetic rats fed with Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) extract.

Momordica charantia (MC) or bitter gourd is widely known for its antidiabetic properties. The aim of the present study was to observe the protective effect of MC extract on the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=18) weighing 200+/-50 g were taken for the study. The study comprised of three groups i.e. a non-diabetic, diabetic untreated and diabetic treated with MC extract, with each group comprising of six (n=6) rats. Diabetes was induced in the overnight fasted rats by intramuscular injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). The MC extract (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered via oral gavage. Both the kidneys were collected on the tenth day following treatment. Histological study using Verhoeff's van Gieson (VvG) and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stains were performed. The kidneys of the diabetic rats showed thickening of the basement membrane of the Bowman's capsule, edema and hypercellurarity of the proximal tubules, necrosis and hyaline deposits. These features were found to be reversed when the MC extract was administered to the experimental animals. The MC extract acted as an antioxidant thereby preventing the oxidative damage involved in the diabetic kidney. The administration of MC extract prevents oxidative damage in diabetic nephropathy.

The anomalous origin and branches of the obturator artery with its clinical implications.

The obturator artery (OA) originates from the internal iliac artery. Variation in the origin of the OA may be asymptomatic in individuals and occasionally be detected during routine cadaveric dissections or autopsies. In the present study, we observed the origin and the branching pattern of the OA on 34 lower limbs (17 right sides and 17 left sides) irrespective of sex. The bifurcation of the common iliac artery into internal and external iliac from the sacral ala varied between 4.3-5.3 cm. The distance of the origin of the anterior division of internal iliac artery from the bifurcation of common iliac artery varied between 1-6 cm. The distance of the origin of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery from the point of bifurcation of the common iliac artery varied between 0-6 cm. Out of 34 lower limbs studied, two specimens (5.8%) showed anomalous origin of the OA originating from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. Of these two, one limb belonged to the right side while the other was from the left side. The anomalous OA gave off an inferior vesical branch to the prostate in both the specimens. No other associated anomalies regarding the origin or branching pattern of the OA were observed. Prior knowledge of the anatomical variations may be beneficial for vascular surgeons ligating the internal iliac artery or its branches and the radiologists interpreting angiograms of the pelvic region.

Neuroprotection by trans-resveratrol against collagenase-induced neurological and neurobehavioural deficits in rats involves adenosine A1 receptors.

Objective: Trans-resveratrol has been shown to have neuroprotective effects and could be a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). This study aimed to investigate the involvement of the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) in trans-resveratrol-induced neuroprotection in rats with collagenase-induced ICH.Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 330-380 g were randomly divided into five groups (n = 12): (i) control, (ii) sham-operated rats, (iii) ICH rats pretreated with vehicle (0.1% DMSO saline, i.c.v.), (iv) ICH rats pretreated with trans-resveratrol (0.9 µg, i.c.v.) and (v) ICH rats pretreated with trans-resveratrol (0.9 µg) and the A1R antagonist, DPCPX (2.5 µg, i.c.v.). Thirty minutes after pretreatment, ICH was induced by intrastriatal injection of collagenase (0.04 U). Forty-eight hours after ICH, the rats were assessed using a variety of neurobehavioural tests. Subsequently, rats were sacrificed and brains were subjected to gross morphological examination of the haematoma area and histological examination of the damaged area.Results: Severe neurobehavioural deficits and haematoma with diffuse oedema were observed after intrastriatal collagenase injection. Pretreatment with trans-resveratrol partially restored general locomotor activity, muscle strength and coordination, which was accompanied with reduction of haematoma volume by 73.22% (P < 0.05) and damaged area by 60.77% (P < 0.05) in comparison to the vehicle-pretreated ICH group. The trans-resveratrol-induced improvement in neurobehavioural outcomes and morphological features of brain tissues was inhibited by DPCPX pretreatment.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the A1R activation is possibly the mechanism underlying the trans-resveratrol-induced neurological and neurobehavioural protection in rats with ICH.

Absence of the peroneus tertius muscle: cadaveric study with clinical considerations.

Peroneus tertius (PT) is a muscle of the anterior compartment of the leg. The PT muscle originates from the anterior surface of the fibula and the interosseous membrane and inserts into the medial side of the dorsal region of the fifth metatarsal bone. During routine dissection, we observed the absence of PT on the left lower limb of a cadaver. Usually, the PT is involved in dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot. In many cases, the absence of PT maybe asymptomatic and it may be incidentally detected during cadaveric dissections or autopsies. The existence of PT may help in the swing phase of bipedal walking. The PT may be used for tendon graft surgeries. The pull of the PT may be responsible for causing stress on the fifth metacarpal and account for all stress fractures in any individual. The absence of the PT may puzzle any transplant and foot surgeons performing graft operations. We as anatomists discuss the clinical implications of the absence of PT.

Anomalous splenic notches: a cadaveric study with clinical importance.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anomalous splenic notches and discuss their clinical importance. BACKGROUND: The lobulated form of the spleen in early developmental phase is represented by notches at a later period which occur at the superior border. The superior border which separates the gastric impression from the diaphragmatic surface has notches near its lateral end. METHODS: Considering the fact that there is paucity of literature on the presence of splenic notches, we performed the study on 100 formalin fixed cadaveric spleens to observe the presence of notches. RESULTS: The notches were observed on the superior and inferior border in ninety eight and two cases, respectively. The anomalous presence of fissures on the diaphragmatic surface was observed in two cases. DISCUSSION: In view of the observations, we as anatomists feel that standard anatomy textbooks should incorporate the fact that presence of notches is confined not only to superior border but they can also be found in the inferior border. Presence of notches in the inferior border may be important for surgeons attempting splenic surgeries and radiologists interpreting CT scans. In the present study, we discuss the morphological and clinical aspect of anomalous notches and fissures in the spleen (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 10).

An anatomico-radiological study of the grooves for occipital sinus in the posterior cranial fossa.

BACKGROUND: The occipital sinus (OS) lies in the attached margin of the faix cerebelli in the internal occipital crest of the occipital bone. The OS extends from the foramen magnum to the confluence of sinuses. Standard textbooks and research reports do not describe in detail any variation in the groove for the occipital sinus. METHODS: In the present study, we examined a total of 50 human dried skulls for the groove of OS and its possible variations. We also performed an osteological study supplemented with digital X ray and CT scan. RESULTS: Out of 50 skull specimens, a single case with two grooves for OS was observed (2%). The two grooves for OS traversed as two limbs from the foramen magnum to join the other at the internal occipital protuberance. An accessory faint groove was also found at the lateral aspect of the left limb. Interestingly, in the same specimen, the superior sagittal sinus instead of continuing as right transverse sinus, continued as left transverse sinus. The X ray and CT scan of the anomalous bone specimen were compared to those of the normal bone specimen. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first anatomico-radiological study of multiple OS groove with associated anomalies. Surgeons should be aware of the variations of the OS in order to check any inadvertent injury during skull surgeries. Presence of such variations may also result in erroneous interpretation of radiological findings (Tab. 1, Fig. 7, Ref. 17).

Tocotrienol rich fraction reverses age-related deficits in spatial learning and memory in aged rats.

Little is known about the effect of vitamin E on brain function. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the effect of tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on behavioral impairment and oxidative stress in aged rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats (young: 3-months-old; aged: 21-months-old) were treated with either the control (olive oil) or TRF (200 mg/kg) for 3 months. Behavioral studies were performed using the open field test and Morris water maze (MWM) task. Blood was taken for assessment of DNA damage, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E, and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity. Brains were also collected to measure vitamin E levels. Results showed that aged rats exhibited reduced exploratory activity, enhanced anxiety and decreased spatial learning and memory compared with young rats. DNA damage and plasma MDA were increased, and vitamin E levels in plasma and brain were reduced in aged rats. Aged rats supplemented with TRF showed a markedly reduced level of anxiety, improved spatial learning and memory, reduced amount and severity of DNA damage, a reduced level of MDA, and increased levels of antioxidant enzyme activity and plasma/brain vitamin E compared with age-matched controls. In conclusion, TRF supplementation reverses spatial learning and memory decline and decreases oxidative stress in aged rats.