Agrimonia eupatoria L. Aqueous Extract Improves Skin Wound Healing: An In Vitro Study in Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes and In Vivo Study in Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We have previously shown that the water extract of Agrimonia eupatoria L. (AE) is a valuable source of polyphenols with excellent antioxidant properties and has clinical potential for the prevention and/or adjuvant therapy of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes. Inspired by our previously published data, in the present study we examined whether AE improves skin wound healing in a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In detail, we investigated the ability of the AE extract to induce fibroblast to myofibroblast conversion, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and keratinocyte proliferation/differentiation, in vitro. In parallel, in an animal model, we measured wound tensile strength (TS) and assessed the progression of open wounds using basic histology and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The AE extract induced the myofibroblast-like phenotype and enhanced ECM deposition, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the wound TS of skin incisions and the contraction rates of open excisions were significantly increased in the AE-treated group. CONCLUSION: The present data show that AE water extract significantly improves the healing of open and sutured skin wounds. Therefore, our data warrant further testing in animal models that are physiologically and evolutionarily closer to humans.

Evaluation of Invasive Intra-abdominal Candidiasis in Crohn Disease at the Time of Surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether a connection exists between Crohn disease and fungi, specifically Candida albicans, because one possible cause of disease is thought to be the presence of fungi in the intra-abdominal cavity. The diagnosis of invasive candidiasis is difficult due to the lack of specific clinical manifestations of the disease. A retrospective evaluation of the presence of invasive candidiasis was done in a group of 54 patients with Crohn disease and in a group of 31 patients who received surgery primarily for right-sided cancer of the colon. METHODS: Culture samples were obtained from the wall of the extraluminal portion of the terminal ileum and the adjacent mesenterium, and then sent to the microbiology laboratory for further investigation. Sabouraud agar (SGC2) and chromID Candida agar (CAN2) were used for both short-term (48 hours) and long-term (10 days) cultivation. RESULTS: Pearson chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of fungi and yeast between the 2 groups of patients (χ2 = 4.3873, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with Crohn disease had a significantly higher prevalence of fungi and yeasts in the intra-abdominal cavity compared with cancer patients.

3D Reconstruction and Evaluation of Accessory Hepatic Veins in Right Hemilivers in Laboratory Animals by Metrotomography: Implications for Surgery.

BACKGROUND The current study investigated the detection of accessory hepatic veins and their vascular territories in the right hemiliver in rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits, which has become a prerequisite for newly developed clinical procedures. We compared the anatomical continuity of accessory hepatic veins with accessory hepatic veins existing in human livers. MATERIAL AND METHODS The analysis of accessory hepatic veins was performed using a corrosion cast method in combination with computer tomography (CT). RESULTS In normal livers, accessory hepatic veins were regularly found. The length of these veins was 0.88±0.29 (cm ±SD) in rats, 1.10±0.39 in guinea pigs, and 1.28±0.48 in rabbits. Accessory hepatic veins became a part of the draining vessel draining into segment VI and VII; represented by interpolating and following Chouinard's segmental concept. CONCLUSIONS The importance of detecting accessory hepatic veins lies in the identification of structures requiring special attention during surgery, in reduction of surgical complications, and in choosing the best approach to maintain the vitality of a drainage segment. The vascular reconstruction should be done during surgical interventions.

Pre- and/or postsurgical administration of estradiol benzoate increases skin flap viability in female rats.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that estrogens have a protective effect with regard to tissue ischemia. Therefore, in this macroscopic and histological investigation, the effect of estradiol benzoate on skin flap viability was studied in sham-operated and ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Three months prior to flap surgery a group of rats underwent ovariectomy, while the remaining animals underwent a sham operation. Subsequently, all rats had a 2 × 8-cm skin flap created on the dorsum. Rats were randomly divided into estradiol- or saline-treated groups. Treatment started either on the day of flap excision or 3 days prior to the surgery. RESULTS: Our results showed that administration of estradiol benzoate prior to and after flap surgery significantly decreases skin flap necrosis in both sham-operated and ovariectomized rats, with the highest survival rate in animals where treatment started 3 days prior to flap surgery. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the observed protective effect of estradiol on skin flap viability could potentially be applied to plastic and reconstructive surgery in postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, further research is needed to explain the exact underlying mechanism and to find the optimal treatment protocol for human clinical practice.