In Vitro Determination of Wound Healing Potential of Axonge

BACKGROUND: Research on treatment alternatives that improve wound healing is an ever-evolving area in medicine, and a wound healing agent that carries minimal pain, discomfort, and scarring for patients with burn wounds, venous and decubitis ulcers, traumatic wounds, and many others is needed. The phases of wound healing include homeostasis, inflammation, migration, proliferation, and maturation. Adeps suillus (axonge) is known as a therapeutic agent for skin diseases and mainly consists of triglycerides. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, the proliferation effect of axonge was determined on human normal epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and human normal foreskin fibroblast cell line (BJ) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental steps included preparation of HaCaT and BJ cell lines, axonge's stable tetrazolium salt-based proliferation assay, and evaluation of the wound healing effect of axonge on HaCaT and BJ cells. RESULTS: Axonge concentrations of 3.12 µg/mL, 6.25 µg/mL, 12.5 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, and 50 µg/mL showed no cytotoxic effect on both HaCaT and BJ cells for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Considering the wound area of HaCaT cells, after 6 hours the wound healing effect of the axonge group reached almost 70% and then stopped. According to the results of the study on BJ cells, after 6 hours axonge wound closure was found to be 50% while the control group was only 10%. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this study, the authors determined that axonge might have potential for use in wound healing.

The effects of raloxifene treatment on oxidative status in brain tissues and learning process of ovariectomized rats.

BACKGROUND: The effects of estrogene on central nervous system are still controversial. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effects of raloxifene on the antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in brain homogenates of ovariectomized female rats and its effect on cognitive process of learning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Sprague Dawley rats (n=24) were divided into three groups. Three weeks after ovariectomy; nonovariectomized group (control group) (n=8) was given physiological saline (SP) as placebo. First ovariectomized group (n=8) received raloxifene 1mg/kg dissolved in a 1% solution of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) subcutaneusly (sc) and second group of ovariectomized rats were given 1 % CMC 1mg/kg (sc) every day for 14 days. Learning behaviors of rats were evaluated in active avoidence cage with using sound and electrical stimulation. The levels of oxidative stress (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT) in different regions of the brain homogenates were compared between three groups of decapitated rats. RESULTS: Raloxifene had a significant attenuating effect on the levels of MDA in brain tissues suggesting raloxifene's effect against lipid peroxidation at the end of training days. With the comparison of brain regions, cortex showed the highest average activity of SOD and CAT and cerebellum had the lowest average levels for both. Its effects on learning and cognitive process with active avoidence task were considered insignificant. CONCLUSION: Raloxifene treatment may have preventive effects for the brain against oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in rats.

Congenital vulvar lymphangioma circumscriptum.

Lymphangioma circumscriptum (LC) is a defect of lymphatic channels in the deep dermis and subcutaneous layers, characterized by grouped vesicles. This disorder rarely occurs in vulvar sites. We present a rare case of LC in a 72-year-old patient who presented with a vulvar mass and ipsilateral leg edema.