Diagnosis, management, and follow-up of extensive dermoid cyst of the submental region.

Dermoid cyst (DC) is a cystic lesion of developmental origin and uncertain etiology that rarely affects the floor of the mouth. We report a case of a large lesion found in the submental and submandibular region in a 25-year-old male patient. Computed tomography revealed extensive hypodense lesion in the submental and submandibular space without peripheral enhancement. The microscopical analysis showed a cystic cavity lined by orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The cystic capsule was composed of dense fibrous connective tissue containing cutaneous attachments, such as sebaceous and sweat glands. The diagnosis of DC was made. The differential diagnosis of expansive sublingual lesions can be clinically challenging due to the similarity with several lesions frequently observed in this region. Herein, we describe a case of extensive DC arising in the floor of the mouth, presenting clinical, imaging, and microscopical features.

Hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian red propolis exerts protective effects on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in a rodent model.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common intestinal inflammatory disease with an etiology that is not well understood. Although the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian red propolis (HERP) have been reported in various experimental models, its protective effect in models of UC have not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemopreventive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian red propolis (HERP) in acetic acid-induced colitis (AAIC) using a rodent model. The HERP was chemically characterised by HPLC/DAD analyses. Male rats were randomly assigned into four groups: sham, vehicle (with AAIC, treated with vehicle), P10 (with AAIC, treated with 10mg/kg HERP), and P100 (with AAIC, treated with 100mg/kg HERP). Treatments were performed for 7days, and colitis was induced on day seven. Animals were euthanized 24h after colitis induction and body weight, colon length, gross and histological scores, malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentrations in colon tissue, and the immunohistochemical expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were assessed. The major compounds found in HERP were liquiritigenin (68.8mg/g), formononetin (54.29mg/g), biochanin A (30.97mg/g), and daidzein (19.90mg/g). Rats treated with 10mg/kg HERP demonstrated significant decreases in MPO concentrations, gross and histological scores of tissue damage, and iNOS expression (p<0.05). Similarly, rats treated with 100mg/kg HERP demonstrated significant decreases in MPO levels (p<0.05) and histological scores of tissue damage (p<0.05). The results of this study indicate that oral administration of HERP attenuates AAIC in rats, which may be due to anti-inflammatory effects related to iNOS inhibition.

Gelatin-based membrane containing usnic acid-loaded liposome improves dermal burn healing in a porcine model.

There are a range of products available which claim to accelerate the healing of burns; these include topical agents, interactive dressings and biomembranes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a gelatin-based membrane containing usnic acid/liposomes on the healing of burns in comparison to silver sulfadiazine ointment and duoDerme® dressing, as well as examining its quantification by high performance liquid chromatography. The quantification of the usnic acid/liposomes was examined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by performing separate in vitro studies of the efficiency of the biomembranes in terms of encapsulation, drug release and transdermal absorption. Then, second-degree 5cm2 burn wounds were created on the dorsum of nine male pigs, assigned into three groups (n=3): SDZ - animals treated with silver sulfadiazine ointment; GDU - animals treated with duoDerme®; UAL - animals treated with a gelatin-based membrane containing usnic acid/liposomes. These groups were treated for 8, 18 and 30days. In the average rate of contraction, there was no difference among the groups (p>0.05). The results of the quantification showed that biomembranes containing usnic acid/liposomes were controlled released systems capable of transdermal absorption by skin layers. A macroscopic assay did not observe any clinical signs of secondary infections. Microscopy after 8days showed hydropic degeneration of the epithelium, with intense neutrophilic infiltration in all three groups. At 18days, although epidermal neo-formation was only partial in all three groups, it was most incipient in the SDZ group. Granulation tissue was more exuberant and cellularized in the UAL and GDU groups. At 30days, observed restricted granulation tissue in the region below the epithelium in the GDU and UAL groups was observed. In the analysis of collagen though picrosirius, the UAL group showed greater collagen density. Therefore, the UAL group displayed development and maturation of granulation tissue and scar repair that was comparable to that produced by duoDerme®, and better than that produced by treatment with sulfadiazine silver ointment In addition, the UAL group showed increased collagen deposition compared to the other two groups.

Effects of red laser, infrared, photodynamic therapy, and green LED on the healing process of third-degree burns: clinical and histological study in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of red laser, infrared, photodynamic therapy, and green light-emitting diode (LED) on the healing process of skin burns through clinical and histopathologic analysis in rats. For this, 100 animals were randomly divided into five groups: G1-untreated control (CTR), G2-red laser (LVER), G3-infrared (LINF), G4-photodynamic therapy (PDT), and G5-green LED. Burn was induced on the dorsum of the rat and the treatment of the experimental groups was red light (10 J/cm(2), 10 s, 40 mW, and λ660 nm), infrared (10 J/cm(2), 10 s, 40 mW, and λ780 nm), green LED irradiation (60 J/cm(2), 10 s, λ520, and 550 nm), and photodynamic therapy (10 J/cm(2), 40 mW, and λ660 nm), the latter combined with methylene blue photosensitizer at concentration 0.5 µg/mL. Applications were performed daily until day prior to sacrifice of the animal at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days with intraperitoneal anesthetic overdose. The specimens collected were clinically examined and soon after processed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Picrosirius for analysis under light and polarized light microscopy, respectively. Animals treated with LVER, LINF, PDT (p < 0.001), and LED (p < 0.05) stimulated production and maturation of collagen, and increased the consumption of food and water compared to the CTR (p < 0.001). Laser λ660 nm and λ780 nm showed the largest wound reductions in all groups (p = 0.001). In conclusion, red laser, infrared, photodynamic therapy, and green LED favored the healing process of third-degree burns in rats.

Bioassay-guided evaluation of Dioscorea villosa - an acute and subchronic toxicity, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory approach.

BACKGROUND: Dioscorea villosa (DV) has been used in Brazil as an alternative medicine to attenuate menopause symptoms, as well as for the treatment of joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis. In spite of the popular use of DV for the treatment of various disorders, there are limited scientific data regarding safety aspects of this herb. In this regard, we carried out to evaluated both antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in experimental models and assess the toxic effects of the acute (single dose) and subchronic (30 days) oral administration of dry extract of Dioscorea villosa in rodents. METHODS: The LC analyses were performed to assess the presence of the diosgenin in samples of DV. The antinociceptive study of DV was performed using models of acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory study was accomplished by leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity. A dry extract of DV was tested at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (per os or p.o.). The toxicological properties of the dry extract were evaluated by toxicity assays of acute (5 g/kg, single dose) and subchronic (1 g/kg/day, 30 days) treatment. Haematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were studied. The results are expressed as mean ± S.D., and statistical analysis of the data were performed with the Student's t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test. In all cases differences were considered significant if p < 0.05. RESULTS: HPLC-DAD analysis of the extract from DV revealed the presence of diosgenin as the major compound. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced the amount of acetic acid-induced writhing in relation to the vehicle (p < 0.0001). In the first phase, using the formalin-induced neurogenic pain test, only the 400 mg/kg dose of DV showed significant inhibition of neurogenic pain (p < 0.001). In the second phase, 200 and 400 mg/kg of DV showed significant inhibition of inflammatory pain (p < 0.0001). Significant inhibition of leukocyte migration was observed with doses of 100 (p < 0.001), 200 (p < 0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.01). Haematological, biochemical and histopathological data obtained in both acute and subchronic toxicological assays revealed only unremarkable changes, which are unlikely to indicate DV toxicity with oral administration. CONCLUSION: We found that DV possesses antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties in rodent models. In addition, no acute or subchronic toxicity was evident when the herbal extract was administered orally. These results supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various inflammatory diseases.