Antinociceptive effects of Nigella sativa oil and its major component, thymoquinone, in mice.

The antinociceptive effects of Nigella sativa oil and its major component, thymoquinone, were examined in mice. The p.o. administration of N. sativa oil (50-400 mg/kg) dose-dependently suppressed the nociceptive response in the hot-plate test, tail-pinch test, acetic acid-induced writhing test and in the early phase of the formalin test. The systemic administration (2.5-10 mg/kg, p.o. and 1-6 mg/kg, i.p.) and the i.c.v. injection (1-4 microgram/mouse) of thymoquinone attenuated the nociceptive response in not only the early phase but also the late phase of the formalin test. Naloxone injected s.c. (1 mg/kg) significantly blocked N. sativa oil- and thymoquinone-induced antinociception in the early phase of the formalin test. Moreover, the i.c.v. injection of naloxone (10 microgram/mouse), the mu(1)-opioid receptor antagonist, naloxonazine (1-5 microgram/mouse), or the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (1-5 microgram/mouse), significantly reversed thymoquinone-induced antinociception in the early phase but not the late phase of the formalin test, whereas the delta-opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole (1-5 ng/mouse, i.c.v.), had no effect on either phase. The antinociceptive effect of morphine was significantly reduced in thymoquinone- and N. sativa oil-tolerant mice, but not vice versa. These results suggest that N. sativa oil and thymoquinone produce antinociceptive effects through indirect activation of the supraspinal mu(1)- and kappa-opioid receptor subtypes.

Evaluation of the therapeutic and protective effects of ivermectin and permethrin in controlling of wound myiasis infestation in sheep.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic and protective efficacy of ivermectin and permethrin against wound myiasis induced by fleshflies in Riyadh region in sheep. Three different protocols were planned to evaluate efficacy of the selected drugs in addition to recording the myiasis incidence and prevalence among infested farms. The obtained results revealed that genital organs were the most common sites of infestation with myiasis in male and females, with high prevalence in spring and autumn seasons and complete disappearance in summer and winter seasons. Application of permethrin and ivermectin resulted in significant reduction in the number of live larvae in comparison with control, untreated group. Both drugs significantly protected sheep against re-infestation, with full protection recorded for 22 days in ivermectin-treated group, whereas permethrin only produced partial protection for 13 days. Ivermectin appeared more effective than permethrin in eradication of larvae from infested wounds. In addition, ivermectin significantly protected sheep from fatal outcomes of the infestation, and the emergence rate of pupa to adult was significantly reduced in ivermectin-treated animals.

Local skin flaps in reconstruction following excision of basal cell carcinomas of the cheek and temple.

Twenty-seven male patients had been treated surgically for basal cell carcinomas of the temple and cheek. Eighteen tumors were classically nodular, seven cystic, and two cicatricial. A safety margin of 0.5--1.0 cm in nodular and cystic tumors, and 1.0--1.5 cm in cicatricial variety has proven satisfactory. Reconstruction has been achieved by local skin flap: Limberg rhomboid flap for the temple, cheek transposition flap for the anterior portion of the check, combined pre- and postauricular transposition flaps for the middle part of the cheek and advancement flap(s) with Bürow's triangles for tumours of the preauricular region. Principles and practical points of each flap have been discussed. The proposed safety margins have been enough to clear the lesions as proved by histopathological examination. Cosmetic result has been satisfactory, and there has been no recurrence over a period of 6 months to 3 years.