Effects of retinoic and glycolic acids on neoangiogenesis and necrosis of axial dorsal skin flaps in rats.

Retinoic acid (RA) and glycolic acid (GA) are frequently used in the treatment of acne and skin aging, as well as improving skin healing after dermabrasion and in photoaged skin. Examples of histologic alterations caused by these substances are vascularization increase and interference with inflammatory as well as regenerative skin processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible decrease of skin flap necrosis areas in rats, by applying both substances to the skin 14 and 30 days before surgery, and analyzing histopathologic skin alterations after treatment. Fifty Wistar rats were divided into five groups of 10 animals each. They received daily retinoic acid application for 14 and 30 days, daily glycolic acid application for 14 and 30 days, and vehicle application (control group) for 14 days. After treatment, each rat was submitted to random dorsal skin flap (10 x 3 cm) elevation; flaps were sutured back in place over isolating plastic strips. The rats were sacrificed after 7 days and flap necrosis areas were measured through transparency and then analyzed using computer scanning. Statistical analysis was carried out using monocaudal nonpaired t tests and histopathologic examination was performed in all cases. Compared with the control group, treatment with both acids did not decrease average flap necrosis areas. Though groups RA 30 days and GA 14 days presented larger necrosis area averages (p < 0.05), groups RA 14 days and GA 30 days showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) when compared to the control group. Both substances caused spongiosis, stratum corneum thickening, and vascularization increase, with GA inducing greater granulomatous reaction and RA more spongiosis and queratinization. Group RA 30 days showed the most significant dermo-epithelial (including vascular) regenerative and proliferative effects. Retinoic and glycolic acid treatment led to significant and well-known skin alterations, with group RA 30 days showing most notable dermo-epithelial proliferative effects. In our experimental model, preoperatory RA and GA application did not decrease rat dorsal skin flap necrosis area when compared to the control group.

Right hepatic segmentectomy for the treatment of intrahepatic biliary stones due to ascaris lumbricoides: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 46-year-old woman investigated for recurrent acute cholangitis. Ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and computed tomography scan revealed dilatation and multiple images suggestive of intrahepatic biliary stones in the ducts that drained segments V and VI of the liver. Endoscopic treatment was attempted unsuccessfully, and based on the severity of the last crisis of cholangitis a laparotomy was performed. A right hepatic lobectomy including segments V and VI was carried out without any complications, resulting in complete relief of symptoms. Pathological examination of the liver demonstrated the presence of worm nests in the liver parenchyma with chronic granulomatous lesions.

Birth of Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) cubs after transvaginal artificial insemination.

A captive 9-yr-old female Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) at the Lisbon Zoo was treated with equine chorionic gonadotropin followed 80 hr later by human chorionic gonadotropin to stimulate follicular development and ovulation, respectively. Forty-one hours after the second hormone administration, the tiger was subjected to transvaginal artificial insemination with diluted fresh semen containing 500 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa obtained from an 8-yr-old male Siberian tiger via electroejaculation. After anesthesia, the female tiger was placed in an inclined position with the hind limbs elevated during and after the insemination and was maintained in this position for 15 min to minimize semen reflux. An anesthetic reversal agent was then administered. After a 103-day gestation, the female gave birth to three apparently healthy cubs that survived 24-48 hr. These results demonstrate that transvaginal artificial insemination can be successfully performed in the Siberian tiger to produce full-term offspring.

Unexpected clinical remission of cholestasis after rifampicin therapy in patients with normal or slightly increased levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.

OBJECTIVE: Rifampicin is an effective drug against pruritus in intrahepatic cholestasis. However, there is no specific hepatic disease in which its use could cause undoubtedly biochemical improvement. The aim of this study was to describe patients with complete remission of cholestatic symptoms after rifampicin therapy. METHODS: We reported three female patients with intrahepatic cholestasis with no evidence of viral, metabolic, or autoimmune liver diseases. Total bilirubin levels ranged from 13.2 to 27.2 mg/dl (before the first treatment with rifampicin), and in all of them gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase values were within the normal range or slightly increased. Rifampicin therapy was administered orally, without any concomitant drug, with an effective dosage of 5-17 mg/kg/day. RESULTS: In all patients, pruritus ceased completely and bilirubin returned to normal values. The symptoms recurred after rifampicin withdrawal on, at least, three occasions in each patient, and these symptoms were always eliminated after its reintroduction. The patients had a total of 16 cholestatic episodes during a follow-up of 8 yr, with a complete clinical recovery in all of them. Undergoing therapy with a suitable dosage of rifampicin, none of the patients had a cholestatic crisis even during a period for as long as 12 months. The diagnosis of two patients was consistent with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis, and it was not well defined in the remaining. CONCLUSION: Rifampicin may induce clinical remission, and perhaps prevent clinical relapses of intrahepatic cholestasis with normal or slightly increased levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.