Bladder Mucosal Graft Vaginoplasty: A Case Report

Background

Female vaginoplasty reconstruction, by choice, is usually performed with adjacent tissue. However in some clinical conditions such as high urogenital confluence sinus, cloacal malformation with extreme vaginal hypoplasia, local tissue may not be available. When vaginal replacement is performed in pediatric patients intestinal segments is preferred to non-operative procedures that require continuative dilations. However mucus production, malignant transformation risk and diversion colitis are important side effects.

Effects of Turmeric Powder on Aflatoxin M1 and Aflatoxicol Excretion in Milk from Dairy Cows Exposed to Aflatoxin B1 at the EU Maximum Tolerable Levels

Due to the climatic change, an increase in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) maize contamination has been reported in Europe. As an alternative to mineral binders, natural phytogenic compounds are increasingly used to counteract the negative effects of AFB1 in farm animals. In cows, even low dietary AFB1 concentrations may result in the milk excretion of the genotoxic carcinogen metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). In this study, we tested the ability of dietary turmeric powder (TP), an extract from Curcuma longa (CL) rich in curcumin and curcuminoids, in reducing AFM1 mammary excretion in Holstein–Friesian cows. Both active principles are reported to inhibit AFM1 hepatic synthesis and interact with drug transporters involved in AFB1 absorption and excretion. A crossover design was applied to two groups of cows (n = 4 each) with a 4-day washout. Animals received a diet contaminated with low AFB1 levels (5 ± 1 µg/kg) for 10 days ± TP supplementation (20 g/head/day). TP treatment had no impact on milk yield, milk composition or somatic cell count. Despite a tendency toward a lower average AFM1 milk content in the last four days of the treatment (below EU limits), no statistically significant differences with the AFB1 group occurred. Since the bioavailability of TP active principles may be a major issue, further investigations with different CL preparations are warranted.     

Oxidative dehalogenation of trichlorophenol catalyzed by a promiscuous artificial heme-enzyme

The miniaturized metalloenzyme Fe(iii)-mimochrome VI*a (Fe(iii)-MC6*a) acts as an excellent biocatalyst in the H₂O₂-mediated oxidative dehalogenation of the well-known pesticide and biocide 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP). The artificial enzyme can oxidize TCP with a catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K^TCP_m = 150 000 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹) up to 1500-fold higher than the most active natural metalloenzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). UV-visible and EPR spectroscopies were used to provide indications of the catalytic mechanism. One equivalent of H₂O₂ fully converts Fe(iii)-MC6*a into the oxoferryl-porphyrin radical cation intermediate [(Fe(iv) O)por˙⁺], similarly to peroxidase compound I (Cpd I). Addition of TCP to Cpd I rapidly leads to the formation of the corresponding quinone, while Cpd I decays back to the ferric resting state in the absence of substrate. EPR data suggest a catalytic mechanism involving two consecutive one-electron reactions. All results highlight the value of the miniaturization strategy for the development of chemically stable, highly efficient artificial metalloenzymes as powerful catalysts for the oxidative degradation of toxic pollutants.

The artificial metalloenzyme FeMC6*a is able to perform the H₂O₂-mediated dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol with unrivalled catalytic efficiency, highlighting its potential application for the removal of toxic pollutants.     

The Proteolytic Fraction from Latex of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis</Emphasis> (P1G10) Enhances Wound Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Double-Blind Randomized Pilot Study

Introduction

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the proteolytic fraction from Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis, designated as P1G10, on the healing of chronic foot ulcers in neuropathic patients with diabetes 2.

Methods

Fifty patients were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial, to verify the efficacy and safety of a topical dressing formulated with 0.1% P1G10, intended for wound healing, versus a hydrogel (control) protocol. Upon completion of the intervention, the outcome evaluated the number of patients attaining full epithelization (100%), or at least 80% healing. Statistical analysis compared the data on each group for the significance of the differences.

Results

Collection of data was finished in week 16, and the results were analyzed by intention to treat. The results showed that, in the control group, 5 patients attained 100% ulcer healing, 3 patients?≥?80% healing and 11 experienced ulcer changes?≤?80%, and the remainder showed no changes or their wounds became worse. Meanwhile, in the P1G10 group, 11 patients experienced full healing, 4 had healing?≥?80% and 5 had ulcer changes?≤?lower than 80%, and the remainder showed no changes or their wounds became worse. The healing incidence for the first endpoint (100% healing) showed that the P1G10 group was 2.95-fold more efficacious than the control group (CI 95%) and 2.52-fold (CI, 95%) higher than its control for the second endpoint (80% healing).

Conclusions

These data support the hypothesis that topical application of the proteolytic fraction identified as P1G10 significantly enhances foot ulcer healing compared to hydrogel treatment.