Can volumetric analysis of the brain help diagnose isolated optic neuritis?

Isolated optic neuritis is a single episode inflammatory optic neuropathy. This condition, which affects the optimal function of the optic nerve, is not associated with neurological or systemic diseases. Our study aimed to compare patients with isolated optic neuritis and normal healthy individuals in terms of the cerebrum, cerebellum and hippocampus volumes by using the "volBrain Online MRI Brain Volumetry System" program. Persons diagnosed with isolated optic neuritis (n = 16) and persons without any disease (n = 16) were included in the study. VolBrain was used to process the MRI data and, the findings were compared with Mann-Whitney U test. Values with a p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The cerebrum white matter volumes in the total brain and in the right-left hemispheres of the brain were statistically significantly lower in the optic neuritis group (p = 0.029; p = 0.050; p = 0.029, respectively). In the segmental cerebellum analysis, the left side lobule VIIIB, the total and right-left side lobule IX volumes were statistically significantly higher (p = 0.022; p = 0.014; p = 0.029; p = 0.018, respectively). In total, lobule I-II volume was statistically significantly lower in the optic neuritis group (p = 0.046). In the segmental hippocampus analysis, the right side CA2-CA3, the total and right-left side SR-SL-SM volumes were statistically significantly lower in the optic neuritis group (p = 0.039; p = 0.050; p = 0.016, respectively). There are neurodegenerative changes in brain volume in patients with isolated optic neuritis. Although volBrain alone is not sufficient to diagnose isolated optic neuritis, it provides quantitative data that can be used as a complementary diagnostic method.

Can Carpobrotus edulis, heal incisional and excisional wounds on the skin?

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the wound healing activity of liposomal Carpobrotus edulis powder extract (CEPE) formulation on incisional and excisional wounds in rat. BACKGROUND: In the event of any damage, the damaged tissue undergoes a process of regenerating itself, which is called wound healing. METHODS: Centella asiatica extract (CAE) was used as the reference molecule in the study. The wound healing process was tested by using the excisional and incisional wound model. On the 12th day of the study, maximum stress, stress, % of elongation values were evaluated in the incisional wound. Also; histological parameters and macroscopic photographic analyses were evaluated in the excisional wound. RESULTS: In the photo evaluations, the improvement was more prominent in both CAE and CEPE groups than in the control group. Histological evaluation showed that CEPE group had significant wound healing activity compared to the control and CAE groups. Axial tensile-elongation experiments in incisional wound tissue show that there was no significant difference between CAE and CEPE groups. CONCLUSION: Liposomal formulations of C.edulis extract were found to have positive effects on the healing process, both on excisional and incisional wound tissues (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 30).

Evaluation of the bilateral cardiac afferent distribution at the spinal and vagal ganglia by retrograde labeling.

The identity of sensory neurons innervating the heart tissue and the extent of information reported to the brain via these neurons are poorly understood. In order to evaluate the multidimensional distribution and abundance of the cardiac spinal and vagal afferents, we assessed the retrograde labeling efficiency of various tracers, and mapped the cardiac afferents qualitatively and quantitatively at the bilateral nodose ganglia (NGs) and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). From the five different retrograde tracers evaluated, Di-8-ANEPPQ yielded reproducibly the highest labeling efficiency of cardiac afferents. We demonstrated specific cardiac afferents at NGs and C4 to T11 DRG segments. Next, the 2D reconstruction of the tissue sections and 3D imaging of the whole NGs and DRGs revealed homogeneous and bilateral distribution of cardiac afferents. The quantitative analyses of the labeled cardiac afferents demonstrated approximately 5-6% of the soma in NGs that were equally distributed bilaterally. The neuronal character of Di-8-ANEPPQ labeled cells were validated by coimmunostaning with pan-neuronal marker Tuj-1. In addition, the cell diameters of labeled cardiac sensory neurons were found smaller than 20 µm, implying the nociceptor phenotype confirmed by co-labeling with TRPV1 and Di-8-ANEPPQ. Importantly, co-labeling with two distinct tracers Di-8-ANEPPQ and WGA-647 demonstrated exclusively the same cardiac afferents in DRGs and NGs, validating our findings. Collectively, our findings revealed the cardiac afferents in NGs bilaterally and DRGs with the highest labeling efficiency reported, spatial distribution and quantitation at both 2D and 3D levels, furthering our understanding of this novel neuron population.

Wound healing effects of methanol extract of Laurocerasus officinalis roem.

Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. (syn: Prunus laurocerasus L.) is a member of Rosaceae family. We investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of L. officinalis Roem in wound healing both in vivo and in vitro using an excisional wound model model in mice. We used four groups of eight mice as follows: untreated (control), empty gel, extract + gel (L. officinalis + gel), and Madecassol® groups. All treatments were applied topically once daily. The scar area, percentage wound closure and epithelization time were measured. L. officinalis promoted wound healing and increased granulation tissue, epidermal regeneration and angiogenesis. L. officinalis extract, which is known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, may be useful for promoting wound healing.