Effects of Plantago lanceolata L. extract on full-thickness excisional wound healing in a mouse model.

Wound healing requires cells that increase both collagen production as a result of inflammatory events and regeneration of epithelial tissue. The Plantago species of herbs have been used in traditional treatment of skin disorders and infectious diseases, and digestive, respiratory, reproductive and circulatory conditions. We investigated the efficacy of different concentrations of Plantago lanceolata L. extract (PLE) for wound healing owing to its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-ulcerative, analgesic and immunomodulatory properties. We used 72 mice in four groups of 18. An excisional 1 cm wound was created in the skin on the back of the mice in all groups. An ointment containing 10% PLE was applied to the wound in group 1, an ointment containing 20% PLE was applied in group 2 and vaseline was applied in group 3. In group 4, no treatment was applied to the wound. On days 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment, six animals in each group were sacrificed after the wounds were photographed and specimens from the wound sites were examined. On day 14, epithelialization was more prominent in group 2, while vascularization and collagen deposition was more advanced in groups 1 and 2 compared to the other groups. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that TGF-ß1 expression was elevated on day 14 in all groups; however, this elevation was more limited in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4. Although ANGPT-2 expression increased in groups 1 and 4 on day 14, it decreased significantly in groups 2 and 3. We found that different concentrations of PLE exhibited positive effects on wound healing. Application of 10% PLE ointment may be a useful strategy for wound healing.

Correlation of astrocyte elevated gene-1, basic-fibroblast growth factor, beta-catenin, Ki-67, tumor necrosis factor-alfa with prognostic parameters in ductal carcinomas and ductal intraepithelial neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer in the world. Although it is widely accepted that the etiology of breast cancer includes both genetic and environmental factors, the molecular mechanism of its development and progression remains poorly understood, and thus far, no specific signature of breast cancer gene expression has been reported to allow for patient-tailored therapy strategies. Hence, it is of great clinical value to further understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of breast cancer and to identify effective early markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease as well as novel therapeutic targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on a total of 90 paraffin-embedded breast tumor samples. Immunohistochemical stains for astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), beta-catenin, Ki-67, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were performed on tissue microarray using standard procedures. Each patient age, grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) status, size, lymphovascular invasion, metastasis of lymph node (LNM), nipple and ductal hyperplasia areas were assessed. RESULTS: We observed significant relationship between the age and LNM or FGF (P = 0.018, 0.035, respectively). The relationship between histological and nuclear grade, LNM, ER, PR, HER-2 and prognostic parameters was evaluated in cases of ductal carcinomas (DC). There was a significant positive correlation between TNF-α, size, LNM (P ≤ 0.0001, 0.002, 0.005). We found that significant relationship between AEG-1 and TNF-α. There was a significant positive correlation between FGF and Ki-67 and negative correlation AEG-1. Although, FGF, TNF-α, AEG-1 staining in DC were observed higher than ductal intraepithelial neoplasms, this observation could not statistically (P ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present work aims to investigate the relationship between the expression of AEG-1, b-FGF, beta-catenin, Ki-67, TNF-α other prognostic parameters in DC and ductal intraepithelial neoplasm. We found a relationship between these factors.

Treatment of peroneal paralysis with transposition of vastus lateralis muscle in calves.

This study aimed to clinically evaluate the results achieved by using tendon transposition to treat postinjection peroneal paralysis in calves. The study material consisted of 23 calves in all of which the clinical history indicated the problem had occurred within 1-3 days of intramuscular injection. Each patient was administered medical treatment for three weeks. After that, a decision was made to perform tendon transposition in all the subjects because their prognosis was estimated to be poor. The owners of five of the calves did not agree to the operation, and so, medical treatment was continued. Following intrathecal anaesthesia, the vastus lateralis muscle was dissected at the insertion, and the musculus (m) extensor (ext) digitalis (dig) longus and m fibularis tertius were dissected at the origin in 18 calves. The tendon ends were joined by using the locking loop suture technique in the 18 calves. Follow-up after two to three months revealed hind limb use in all surgically treated calves, while the medically treated calves had to be slaughtered because of lameness and decubitus. The results of the present study suggest that the peroneal paralysis of calves can be successfully treated by a tendon transposition technique.

The effects of subarachnoid administration of hyperbaric solutions of bupivacaine or ropivacaine in xylazine-sedated calves undergoing surgery.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of subarachnoid administration of hyperbaric solutions of bupivacaine or ropivacaine in xylazine-sedated calves undergoing surgery. Subarachnoid anaesthesia was performed with either 20 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine (bupivacaine group (BG), n=10) or 30 mg of hyperbaric ropivacaine (ropivacaine group (RG), n=10) into the lumbar dural space of 20 calves in a randomised, prospective clinical trial. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, rectal temperature were recorded after sedation (time 0), and up to 120 minutes after injection. Onset, duration and magnitude of sensory block (scale 1-4) were determined using the pin-prick test throughout surgery. Data were analysed using analysis of variance and non-parametric tests (P<0.05). Bodyweight, age, duration of surgery, SBP, DBP, MBP, HR were not significantly different between groups. Onset of anaesthesia (mean±sd; BG, 5±1 minutes; RG, 7±1 minutes) and duration of anaesthesia (mean±sd; BG, 153±32 minutes; RG, 86±12 minutes) were significantly different between groups. Analgesic scores were significantly higher than baseline from 5 to 120 min, and from 7 to 85 min in BG and RG, respectively. Subarachnoid administration of hyperbaric solutions of bupivacaine produced faster onset and longer duration of anaesthesia than ropivacaine.

Transposition of the sacrotuberous ligament for the treatment of coxofemoral luxation in dogs.

A surgical technique is described for transposition of the sacrotuberous ligament to replace the teres ligament in the treatment of coxofemoral luxation in dogs. Ten dogs with coxofemoral luxation were treated using this technique and all animals regained full limb function within two months of surgery. It is suggested that the technique could be employed in dogs suffering from all types of hip luxations.