Background: Skin burn is common universal problem that may lead to ugly scarring, serious handicapping. Availability of natural biological treatment to improve its outcome becomes concern of many researchers. Aim of study: To explore the effect of aloe vera on the angiogenesis process during healing of a fullthickness experimental skin burn. Materials and methods: Seventy rats were divided into three groups; control group (A), group B and group C. Group B was exposed to full-thickness (FT) skin burn. Group C was exposed to FT skin burn with application of local aloe vera (AV) gel. Each of group B and C was divided into 3 subgroups from which skin specimens were taken at 4,8,12 days. Skin specimenswere prepared for histological and immunohistochemical study by hematoxlyin and eosin (H&E), Masson`s trichrome (MT) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). All data were measured morphometrically and statistically analyzed. Results: After 4 days from inducing FT burn, the initial necrosis and inflammation gradually replaced by increased granulation tissue (GT) on 8 th and 12 th day skin specimens. The collagen deposition of GT increased progressively to make a coarse dense bundles, meanwhile the newly formed capillaries (NFC) of GT were surrounded by pericytes that showed extensive expression of α-SMA early on 4 th and till 8 th day specimens and decreased on 12 th day specimens. AV-treated groups showed relative decrease of α-SMA detection especially in 8 th and 12 th day specimens together with a significant decrease in the inflammatory infiltrate in all phases as well as deposition of more mature and finer collagen fibers compared with burn per se specimens. Conclusion: In full-thickness skin burn, aloe vera shows a beneficial effect by reducing the inflammation significantly and providing a more mature granulation tissue which could accelerate healing and might produce a sound well-remodeled scar.

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BackgroundThe majority of the suggested experimental modalities for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) result in varying degrees of recovery in animal models; however, there are not many reliable clinical pharmacological treatment models available. To alleviate PNI complications, research on approaches to accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration is encouraged. Cerebrolysin, dexamethasone, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) drug models were selected in our study because of their reported curative effects of different mechanisms of action.MethodologyA total of 40 adult male albino rats were used in this study. Sciatic nerve crush injury was induced in 32 rats, which were divided equally into four groups (model, Cerebrolysin, dexamethasone, and vitamin C groups) and compared to the sham group (n = 8). The sciatic nerve sensory and motor function regeneration after crushing together with gastrocnemius muscle histopathological changes were evaluated by the sciatic function index, the hot plate test, gastrocnemius muscle mass ratio, and immune expression of S100 and apoptosis cascade (BAX, BCL2, and BAX/BCL2 ratio).ResultsSignificant improvement of the behavioral status and histopathological assessment scores occurred after the use of Cerebrolysin (as a neurotrophic factor), dexamethasone (as an anti-inflammatory), and vitamin C (as an antioxidant). Despite these seemingly concomitant, robust behavioral and pathological changes, vitamin C appeared to have the best results among the three main outcome measures. There was a positive correlation between motor and sensory improvement and also between behavioral and histopathological changes, boosting the effectiveness, and implication of the sciatic function index as a mirror for changes occurring on the tissue level.ConclusionVitamin C is a promising therapeutic in the treatment of PNI. The sciatic function index (SFI) test is a reliable accurate method for assessing sciatic nerve integrity after both partial disruption and regrowth.

Letrozole (LTZ), one of the ovulation induction medications, is increasingly prescribed in various gynaecological conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated its potential hazardous effect on the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) as well as on tubal epithelial cells (TEC). However, it is not clear whether this effect could be reversed by LTZ cessation. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate the effect of stoppage of LTZ on these cells after 12 cycles of ovarian stimulation. A total of 54 Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study, divided equally into control, LTZ12 and CES12 groups (received saline, 12 cycles of LTZ and 12 cycles of cessation post-LTZ12 respectively). Samples from the ovaries as well as fallopian tubes (FTs) were studied histologically for the changes associated with LTZ12 and CES12 respectively. There was evident increase in the proliferative activity and Ki67 immunoexpression in the OSE of LTZ12. The OSE was hyperchromatic, and abnormally frequent deep invaginations, micropapillae and cortical cysts. Their TEC showed frequent multilayering, papillary projections and loss of cilia. Almost all these changes disappeared 12 cycles after LTZ cessation. While the tubal IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and serum MCP-1 levels significantly increased in the LTZ12 group compared with the control group, their levels decreased in the CES12 group compared with those of the control. Therefore, the abnormal tubo-ovarian epithelial patterns may completely regress after cessation of LTZ stimulation for a reasonable duration. This is a potentially good omen and a positive indicator of the relatively safe use of LTZ after its intake has been stopped.

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