Comparative evaluation of propolis nanostructured lipid carriers and its crude extract for antioxidants, antimicrobial activity, and skin regeneration potential.

BACKGROUND: Propolis extracted from beehives has been conferred with natural antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Hence, it has been recommended as a wound healing therapy. This study investigated the additive value of nanotechnology to the herbal extract, (propolis rebuts), after which we examined its efficacy in wound healing. METHODS: Propolis nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were first prepared using the emulsion-evaporation-solidification method at three concentrations. Then, we compared their flavonoid and phenolic contents and phenolic contents. Their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal effects were also investigated after which, the skin regenerative capacity of propolis-NLCs was assessed using full-thickness skin wounds in rabbits. RESULTS: This study showed that propolis-NLCs had increased the phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to the raw propolis extract (EXTR) (9-fold and 2-fold, respectively). This increase was reflected in their antioxidant activities, which dramatically increased by 25-fold higher than the propolis-EXTR. Also, propolis-NLCs exhibited a 2-fold higher potent inhibitory effect than propolis-EXTR on Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacterium (Salmonella spp.), and fungus (Candida albicans) microbes (p < 0.0001). Investigations also revealed that treatment of full-thickness skin injuries with propolis-NLCs resulted in significantly higher wound closure compared to propolis-EXTR and the control after two weeks (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: With a prominent broad-spectrum antibacterial effect propolis-NLCs exhibited higher skin regenerative potency than propolis-EXTR. We also highlighted the additive impact of nanotechnology on herbal extract, which accounted for the increased flavonoid content and hence a better antioxidant and antimicrobial effect and propose it as a potential therapy for wound healing.

Morphological and Imaging Evaluation of the Metacarpophalangeal and Metatarsophalangeal Joints in Healthy and Lame Donkeys.

The donkey is of socio-economic value yet imaging techniques in both healthy and abnormal limbs are a limiting factor in research and medicine. The objective was to determine anatomical features of both healthy and clinically abnormal donkey metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints (n = 13) using anatomical dissection, casting, X-ray and computed tomography. The joint capsule contained two palmar/plantar and two dorsal recesses. The proximal-palmar or plantar recess was larger than the distodorsal recess and potential sites of approaches to the recesses were determined. Soft tissue structures were distinguished using computed tomography at 300 mA, which was superior to 120 mA. This methodology gave better assessments of the synovial tendon sheath, joint recesses, and cruciate, collateral, and short sesamoidean ligaments. Computed tomography provided outstanding discrimination between the cortex and medulla of the third metacarpal, the proximal sesamoid bones, the proximal phalanx, and excellent details of the osseous structures. Although the joints appeared free from exostosis using X-ray; the position and extension of exostosis in pathologically affected donkeys (a novel finding) were revealed using computed tomography with 300 mA in comparison to 120 mA. The study also provided an anatomical record of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints using the latest technology, which could impact on clinical situations including anesthesia injection sites.

Gasless laparoscopic anatomy and renal biopsy of the kidney in the standing mare / Anatomía laparoscópica sin gas y biopsia renal de los riñones de la yegua de pie

The current study aimed to provide the topography and renal biopsy of the standing mare kidneys by laparoscopy w ithout CO2 insufflation and to compare between the use of biopsy needle and forceps. Five clinically healthy adult nonpregnant mares weighing 250­300 Kg and aging 7­9 years were used in the current work. The gasless laparoscopic renal biopsy appeared simple, safe, reliable, minimal invasive, timesaving and economical technique. The parallel biopsy portals provided easy and accessible biopsy procedure than dorsal or ventral portals. The biopsies taken from the lateral surface were less hemorrhagic than those taken from the caudal pole. This study recommended the laparoscopic forceps because the biopsy forceps provided satisfactory and representative specimens with minimal hemorrhage than Tru-cut needle.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo proporcionar la topografía y la biopsia renal de los riñones en la yegua de pie, por laparoscopía sin insuflación de CO2, y comparar entre el uso de la biopsia con aguja y pinzas. Fueron utilizadas en este studio cinco yeguas adultas no gestantes clínicamente sanas con un peso de 250­300 Kg y edad de 7­9 años. La biopsia renal laparoscópica sin gas es un método seguro, confiable y mínimamente invasivo, económico y permite además ahorrar tiempo. Los portales de biopsia paralelas permiten un procedimiento de biopsia de fácil acceso. Las biopsias tomadas de la superficie lateral fueron menos hemorrágicas que aquellas obtenidas desde el polo caudal. Este estudio recomienda las pinzas laparoscópicas debido a que, a diferencia de la aguja Tru-cut, demostraron ser satisfactorias con una hemorragia mínima.