Accurately orchestrated course of events normally observed in healing are not followed in diabetic wounds, and bacterial colonization/infection further messes up the process. Novel therapeutic options for treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are urgently needed. HAMLET (human α-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells) has been reported to be able to sensitize bacterial pathogens to traditional antimicrobial agents. The aim was to assess the wound healing activity of curcumin nanoparticles in diabetic wounds infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sensitized with HAMLET. Fifty male rats were randomized into 5 groups of 10 animals each. In CONTROL group, 0.1-mL sterile saline 0.9% solution was added to the wounds with no infection. In MRSA group, the wounds were infected with MRSA and only treated with 0.1-mL sterile saline 0.9% solution. In MRSA/HAMLET group, infected wounds were treated with HAMLET (100 µg). In MRSA/CNP group, animals with infected wounds were treated with 0.1 mL topical application of 1 mg/mL curcumin nanoparticles. In MRSA/CNP/HAMLET group, animals with infected wounds were treated with topical application of 0.1 mL solution of curcumin nanoparticles (1 mg/mL) and HAMLET (100 µg). All test formulations were applied for 10 days, twice a day, starting from first treatment. Microbiological examination; planimetric, biochemical, histological, and quantitative morphometric studies; immunohistochemical staining for angiogenesis; determination of hydroxyproline levels; and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for caspase 3, Bcl-2, and p53 showed that there was significant difference between animals in MRSA/CNP/HAMLET group compared with other groups ( P < .05). Curcumin nanoparticles improved diabetic wounds infected with MRSA sensitized with HAMLET and had the potential to offer more attention to this safer agent for topical use in infected diabetic wounds.

Applications of nanotechnology have gained progressive interest for regeneration of injured wound tissue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based nanocerium on excisional and incisional wound models in rats. For excisional wound healing model, 24 male white Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups of 6 rats each: control group with creation of wounds and no treatment, PEG group with creation of wounds and dressing the wound with PEG, NanoCer group with application of 1 mL nanocerium on the wound, and PEG/NanoCer group with dressing the wound with PEG-based nanocerium. Wound size was measured on days 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 postsurgery. For incisional wound healing model, 24 healthy male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups of 6 rats each the same way in the excisional wound model. Reduction in wound area, hydroxyproline contents, and biomechanical parameters indicated that there was a significant difference ( P > .05) between PEG/NanoCer and other groups. Biomechanical testing was performed on day 9 postsurgery in the incisional model. Biochemical and quantitative histological studies demonstrated that there was a significant difference ( P > .05) between PEG/NanoCer and other groups. PEG/NanoCer offered potential advantages in wound healing acceleration and improvement through angiogenesis stimulation, fibroblast proliferation, and granulation tissue formation on early days of healing phases. Acceleration in wound repair was associated with earlier wound area reduction and enhanced tensile strength of damaged area by rearrangement of granulation tissue and collagen fibers. PEG-based nanocerium could have therapeutic benefits in wound healing.

No abstract

Background: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for 15% of abdominal pain complaints referred to emergency departments and imposes significant financial burdens on the healthcare system. The absence of passage of flatus or stool and abdominal distention are reported as the most common symptom and a sign of SBO, respectively. Patients who do not demonstrate severe clinical or imaging findings are typically treated with conservative approaches. Patients with clinical signs of sepsis or physical findings of peritonitis are often instantly transferred to the operating room without supplementary imaging assessment. However, in cases where symptoms are non-specific, or the physical examination is challenging, such as in cases with loss of consciousness, the diagnosis can be complicated. This paper discusses the key findings detectable on Computed tomography (CT), which are vital for the emergent triage, proper treatment, and decision making in patients with speculated SBO. Method: Narrative review of the literature. Results and conclusion: CT plays a key role in emergent triage, proper treatment, and decision making. It provides high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the detection of early-stage obstruction and acute intestinal vascular compromise. It can also differentiate between various etiologies of this entity which is considered an important criterion in the triage of patients into surgical vs. non-surgical treatment. There are multiple CT findings, such as mesenteric edema, lack of the small-bowel feces, bowel wall thickening, fat stranding in the mesentery, and intraperitoneal fluid, which are predictive of urgent surgical exploration.