Topical Cream Derived From Hylocereus polyrhizus (Red Dragon Fruit) Extract Accelerates Wound Healing Through Increased Hydroxyproline and Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Levels: A Pilot Study.

The red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) extract (RDFE) is frequently used for a variety of therapeutic purposes (e.g., boosting the immune system, promoting a healthy gastrointestinal system, improving wound healing). We investigated the effects of a topical cream containing 7.5% RDFE on hydroxyproline and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) levels and wound healing. On Day 0, we divided a total of 36 albino male Wistar rats into two equal groups. Using an 8-mm punch biopsy, we created a circular excision to fascial depth on the back of each rat. On Day 1, we treated the control group (n = 18) with 20 mg of base cream and the RDFE group (n = 18) with 20 mg of 7.5% RDFE cream. We measured hydroxyproline and FGF-2 levels in the wound tissue using an ELISA method on Days 3, 7, and 14. We found that on Day 3, hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (p = .031). We also found a significant correlation between FGF-2 levels in the treatment group and wound diameter (p = .02). On the basis of the results of this study, we concluded that using a topical cream containing 7.5% RDFE has the potential to accelerate wound healing by increasing levels of hydroxyproline and FGF-2 in the wound.

Comparison of Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, Immunohistochemistry, and DNA Sequencing for the Detection of IDH1 Mutations in Gliomas.

BACKGROUND: IDH1 mutation shows diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value in gliomas. Direct Sanger sequencing is considered the gold standard to detect IDH1 mutation. However, this technology is not available in most neuropathological centers in developing countries such as Indonesia. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) have also been used to detect IDH1 mutation. This study aimed to compare DNA sequencing, IHC, and PCR-RFLP in detecting IDH1 mutations in gliomas. METHODS: Research subjects were recruited from Dr. Sardjito Hospital. Genomic DNA was extracted from fresh or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of tumor tissue. DNA sequencing, PCR-RFLP and IHC were performed to detect IDH1 mutation. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PCR-RFLP and IHC were calculated by comparing them to DNA sequencing as the gold standard. RESULTS: Among 61 recruited patients, 13 (21.3%) of them carried a mutation in codon 132 of the IDH1 gene, as shown by DNA sequencing. PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing have a concordance value of 100%. Meanwhile, the concordance value between IDH1 R132H IHC and DNA sequencing was 96.7%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, and accuracy for PCR-RFLP were all 100%. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of IHC were 92.3%, 97.9%, and 96.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed that both PCR-RFLP and IHC have high accuracy in detecting IDH1 mutation. We recommend a combination of PCR-RFLP and IHC to detect IDH1 mutation in resource-limited settings.
.