Histological evaluation of Curcuma longa-ghee formulation and hyaluronic acid on gingival healing in dog

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The experimental finding of Asian traditional medicine revealed the pharmacological effect of the local application of ghee which was taken from cow butterfat and the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. These materials significantly improved the healing process of the wound. In addition, ancient physicians of Middle East discovered that the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa (common turmeric) also had impressive medicinal qualities. Over the centuries, this spice has been used as a pain relieving, anti-inflammatory agent to relieve pain and inflammation in the skin and muscles.

Aim of the study

We decided to mix ghee which was taken from sheep butterfat with the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa to formulate a novel cost-benefit material and then, evaluate its potential therapeutic effect on acceleration of surgical wound healing; moreover, this present study was performed to compare the effects of Curcuma longa–ghee formulation and hyaluronic acid on gingival wound healing following surgery.

Materials and methods

Five healthy 3-year-old male beagle dogs were used in this study. They had intact teeth and the clinical and radiographic examination revealed no periodontal disease. Ghee was obtained from the refined sheep butterfat heated to 70 °C mixed with the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa and was applied with two different ratios including materials A and B. Randomly, these three materials including hyaluronic acid, materials A and B were applied topically in test regions and then covered with periodontal pack. Histological changes were monitored in days 4 and 7 after operation to evaluate the inflammatory and repair stage of healing process.

Results

We observed significant difference in the inflammatory and repair parameters of the healing process between cases treated with this new formulation and cases of hyaluronic acid application.

Conclusion

The results suggested a positive potential therapeutic effect on surgical wound healing particularly improvement of periodontal treatment consequences after surgery.     

Intraoperative radiotherapy of breast cancer

In the systemic therapy of breast cancer, the tumor itself has become the specific target. If possible the surgical excision of breast carcinoma is restricted to the tumor site and aims at an R0 resection of the invasive and preinvasive portions of the carcinoma. Only percutaneous whole-breast radiotherapy irradiates the whole breast. The additional boost irradiation is targeted and significantly improves local control in all age groups. Due to the increased detection of small breast carcinomas in postmenopausal patients by mammographic screening, it is necessary to consider a change of the existing therapeutic practice. Published results of partial irradiation of the breast (intra- as well as postoperatively) show a very high degree of local control with follow-ups of up to 11 years. At present prospective and randomized studies investigate for which patients an intraoperative radiotherapy is sufficient as the sole irradiation method after previous surgery. Intraoperative radiotherapy as a boost preceding percutaneous whole-breast irradiation should already be possible according to a relevant statement of the DEGRO.     

Autologous and alloplastic breast reconstruction--overview of techniques, indications and results

It is important for any woman undergoing mastectomy to make an informed decision about reconstruction and to be provided with information about the technique, advantages and disadvantages. There is a high degree of patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction, but high levels of preoperative information and psychological support are necessary. Close collaboration between oncological and reconstructive surgeons or management by an oncoplastic breast surgeon, careful patient selection and counseling, and refinements in surgical techniques can provide a range of safe and predictable techniques for breast reconstruction. After modified radical mastectomy breast reconstruction involves replacement of breast skin and breast volume; after skin-sparing mastectomy only the replacement of breast volume is necessary. The most commonly used surgical techniques are tissue expansion, latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap with or without implants, and the use of lower abdominal tissue. Until today, the pedicled TRAM flap is the standard method for autologous breast reconstruction.     

Arachnoid cysts: computed tomography findings

Described are 26 cases of arachnoid cysts. Of these cysts, 54% were in the sylvian cistern, three (1.2%) were in the suprasellar cistern, and the rest were over the cerebral sulci. There were symptoms of seizures at presentation in 30.8%, and in 23% there were symptoms of hydrocephalus and compression of the brain. A total of 61.5% presented with mental retardation and/or cerebral palsy. Trauma and infection accounted for 35% of these cysts. Associated porencephaly were present in five cases. There was a male preponderance. Left-sided lesions accounted for 61.5% of the lesions. The radiologic appearances, especially of suprasellar cysts, and the differential diagnoses of these lesions are discussed. Their recognition and the role of surgery are stressed.     

The prognostic value of polycomb group protein B‐cell‐specific moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 in stage II colon cancer patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of B‐cell‐specific moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (BMI1) protein expression in primary tumors of stage II colon cancer patients. BMI1 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a retrospective patient cohort consisting of 144 stage II colon cancer patients. BMI1 expression at the invasive front of the primary tumors correlated with mismatch repair status of the tumors. Furthermore, BMI1 expression at the luminal surface correlated with T‐stage, tumor location, and the histological subtypes of the tumors. In a univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, no statistical significant association between risk of relapse and BMI1 protein expression at the invasive front (HR: 1.12; 95% CI 0.78–1.60; p = 0.53) or at the luminal surface of the tumor (HR: 1.06; 95% CI 0.75–1.48; p = 0.70) was found. Likewise, there was no association between 5‐year overall survival and BMI1 expression at the invasive front (HR: 1.12; 95% CI 0.80–1.56; p = 0.46) or at the luminal surface of the tumor (HR: 1.16; 95% CI 0.86–1.60; p = 0.33). In conclusion, BMI1 expression in primary tumors of stage II colon cancer patients could not predict relapse or overall survival of the patients, thus having a limited prognostic value in stage II colon cancer patients.     

Dose-dependent effect of histamine on liver function markers in immunized rabbits

ObjectiveThe present study was designed to delineate the hepatotoxicological roles of histamine dose-dependently in immunized rabbits.MethodsThe cohort comprised of three groups (II, III and IV), containing 18 rabbits each, and received subcutaneous histamine 50 μg/kg, 100 μg/kg and 200 μg/kg, respectively for 10 days (b.i.d., starting from 3 days prior to immunization until 7 days after immunization). Group I (control, n = 18) received subcutaneous sterile distilled water for 10 days. They were subsequently immunized at day 3 with intravenous injection of SRBC (1 × 10⁹ cells/ml). Blood samples were collected on pre-immunization (pre-I) day 0, as well as on days 7-, 14-, 21-, 28- and 58-post-immunization (post-I). Biochemical parameters aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin [total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB) and indirect bilirubin (IB)] were determined.ResultsGroups II and IV revealed a significant decrease (on day 0-pre-I) and a significant increase (on days 7-, 14-, 21-, 28- and 58-post-I) in ALT and AST levels, when compared with the corresponding values of groups I and III while group II showed a significant increase in ALT and AST levels as compared to group IV. ALP levels in groups II, III and IV showed a significant enhancement when compared with group I. Moreover, results of TB, DB and IB demonstrated increased levels in group III when compared with groups I, II and IV. The results were found statistically significant (p < 0.05).ConclusionShort-term treatment of histamine produces dose-dependent differential patterns of hepatic dysfunctions suggestive mild liver degeneration warranting further long-term studies.     

Breast cancer classification and prognostication through diverse systems along with recent emerging findings in this respect; the dawn of new perspectives in the clinical applications

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and the second leading cause of mortality due to cancer worldwide. The complexity of breast cancer resembles an intricate ecosystem comprising various cleverly designed interaction levels of internal and external factors to generate a pliable context in the clonal evolution of breast cancer cells. Principally, the complex entity can become evident toward delineating a number of significant variations in the specific fields of breast cancer analyses, including the molecular, physiological, and morphological characteristics, clinical presentations, risk factors, the histopathological conditions, and response to systemic therapy regarding the maintenance of tumor as a whole. In hindsight, various classification systems developing based on specific inclusion criteria have indisputably changed both our appreciation of the biological demeanor of breast cancer and the main strategies for designing tailored therapy regimens through the proper evaluation of diagnosis and prognostication of given specimens. Here, we endeavor to provide a general overview of different types of breast cancer classification as well as the clinical acceptance of their applications along with the latest findings in this area. Taken together, the major significance of breast cancer management that can be ascertained by operational convergent points of its stratification areas is owing to the fact that the achievement of individualized and targeted therapy may denounce new horizons of surveillance and treatment strategies in which they may function as a rheostat of specific therapy regimens toward reducing the detected distances between experimental data and operating options in clinical practice.     

Health-related risk behaviors among myocardial infarction survivors in the United States: A propensity score matched study

BackgroundAccording to the American College of Cardiology/the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) recommendations, health-related risk behaviors for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) are critical to determine.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare health-related risk behaviors between MI survivors and propensity-score-matched non-MI controls using nationally representative data.MethodsThis cross-sectional, matched case-control study used publicly available Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2017 data. Older adults with MI were propensity-score-matched to their non-MI controls. The 10 dependent variables included body mass index (BMI), smoking status, heavy alcohol consumption, influenza vaccine, length of time since last routine and cholesterol checkup, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity. Chi-square tests and binomial logistic regression were used to examine the health-related risk behaviors differences between MI survivors and propensity-score-matched non-MI controls.ResultsThe final study sample consisted of 18,021 MI survivors and 54,063 non-MI controls after propensity score matching. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed significant differences between MI survivors and matched non-MI controls in terms of cholesterol checkup, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. For example, multivariate analysis of health-related risk behaviors showed MI survivors were more likely to be smokers (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.28–1.68).ConclusionBased on this national survey of adults, MI survivors were more likely to be smokers but less likely to consume alcohol compared to their propensity-score-matched controls. Moreover, MI survivors were more likely to have their cholesterol checkup within the past 2 years compared to matched non-MI controls. Although lower alcohol consumption and greater chances of cholesterol checkups are reassuring health-related behaviors, interventions are needed to minimize the chances of smoking in this population.     

Molecular characterization of Toxocara spp. from soil of public areas in Ahvaz southwestern Iran

In the present study, the microscopy and polymerase chain reaction methods were used for detection and identification of soil contamination by Toxocara eggs in squares, streets, public parks, and rubbish dumps in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran.