Agrimonia eupatoria L. Aqueous Extract Improves Skin Wound Healing: An In Vitro Study in Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes and In Vivo Study in Rats

BACKGROUND/AIM

We have previously shown that the water extract of Agrimonia eupatoria L. (AE) is a valuable source of polyphenols with excellent antioxidant properties and has clinical potential for the prevention and/or adjuvant therapy of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes. Inspired by our previously published data, in the present study we examined whether AE improves skin wound healing in a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In detail, we investigated the ability of the AE extract to induce fibroblast to myofibroblast conversion, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and keratinocyte proliferation/differentiation, in vitro. In parallel, in an animal model, we measured wound tensile strength (TS) and assessed the progression of open wounds using basic histology and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

The AE extract induced the myofibroblast-like phenotype and enhanced ECM deposition, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the wound TS of skin incisions and the contraction rates of open excisions were significantly increased in the AE-treated group.

CONCLUSION

The present data show that AE water extract significantly improves the healing of open and sutured skin wounds. Therefore, our data warrant further testing in animal models that are physiologically and evolutionarily closer to humans.

Microanalysis of Worn Surfaces of Selected Rotating Parts of an Internal Combustion Engine

The present paper analyzes the damage of surfaces at spots of frictional contact, namely, the friction nodes on a camshaft and the connecting rod pins of a crankshaft. The resulting wear of the monitored friction nodes reduces the technical life of the machines, which can lead to the decommissioning of the machine. Wear was assessed by measuring roughness and microhardness and by observing the microstructures of the materials. The results of the experiments show that the rotating parts displayed visible wear on the cams, as well as on the connecting rod pins. The experiments revealed that wear was caused by the heating of the material to a high temperature during the operation of the machine and that there was a gradual cooling and tempering of the material, which led to a reduction in the microhardness of the monitored object. Lower microhardness values can be a cause of greater wear of the monitored objects. When comparing the microhardness of the used and the new camshaft, the hardened layer of the new camshaft from secondary production has a significantly smaller thickness compared to worn cams, which leads to the finding of a different material quality compared to the original parts from primary production. This fact indicates that the wear of a new camshaft as a spare part can contribute to the shortening of the technical life of friction nodes.

Cesarean scar endometriosis: our recent experiences

INTRODUCTION

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue, endometrial glands or endometrial stroma outside the uterine cavity causing chronic inflammatory response. The prevalence of abdominal wall endometriosis is less than 1%. Cesarean scar endometriosis is the most common type of abdominal wall endometriosis. Chronic lower abdominal pain amplified during menstruation and palpable mass in the area of scar are the main symptoms. Generally, surgical resection with negative resection margins offers the best chance for definitive treatment of abdominal wall endometriosis.

CASE REPORT

The authors present two female patients in fertile age with chronic pain in the area of Cesarean scar. The preoperatively assumed endometriosis was histologically confirmed after complete surgical excision.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal wall endometriosis is rare. However, it is a possible cause of constant lower abdominal pain, impacting quality of life of the patient.

Human galectin‑3: Molecular switch of gene expression in dermal fibroblasts in vitro and of skin collagen organization in open wounds and tensile strength in incisions in vivo

Understanding the molecular and cellular processes in skin wound healing can pave the way for devising innovative concepts by turning the identified natural effectors into therapeutic tools. Based on the concept of broad-scale engagement of members of the family of galactoside-binding lectins (galectins) in pathophysiological processes, such as cancer or tissue repair/regeneration, the present study investigated the potential of galectins-1 (Gal-1) and −3 (Gal-3) in wound healing. Human dermal fibroblasts, which are key cells involved in skin wound healing, responded to galectin exposure (Gal-1 at 300 or Gal-3 at 600 ng/ml) with selective changes in gene expression among a panel of 84 wound-healing-related genes, as well as remodeling of the extracellular matrix. In the case of Gal-3, positive expression of Ki67 and cell number increased when using a decellularized matrix produced by Gal-3-treated fibroblasts as substrate for culture of interfollicular keratinocytes. In vivo wounds were topically treated with 20 μg/ml Gal-1 or −3, and collagen score was found to be elevated in excisional wound repair in rats treated with Gal-3. The tensile strength measured in incisions was significantly increased from 79.5±17.5 g/mm² in controls to 103.1±21.4 g/mm² after 21 days of healing. These data warrant further testing mixtures of galectins and other types of compounds, for example a combination of galectins and TGF-β1.

Genistein Improves Skin Flap Viability in Rats: A Preliminary In Vivo and In Vitro Investigation

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been developed to achieve beneficial effects of estrogens while minimizing their side effects. In this context, we decided to evaluate the protective effect of genistein, a natural SERM, on skin flap viability in rats and in a series of in vitro experiments on endothelial cells (migration, proliferation, antioxidant properties, and gene expression profiling following genistein treatment). Our results showed that administration of genistein increased skin flap viability, but importantly, the difference is only significant when treatment is started 3 days prior the flap surgery. Based on our in vitro experiments, it may be hypothesized that the underlying mechanism may rather by mediated by increasing SOD activity and Bcl-2 expression. The gene expression profiling further revealed 9 up-regulated genes (angiogenesis/inflammation promoting: CTGF, CXCL5, IL-6, ITGB3, MMP-14, and VEGF-A; angiogenesis inhibiting: COL18A1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3). In conclusion, we observed a protective effect of genistein on skin flap viability which could be potentially applied in plastic surgery to women undergoing a reconstructive and/or plastic intervention. Nevertheless, further research is needed to explain the exact underlying mechanism and to find the optimal treatment protocol.

Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Cynara cardunculus L. Water Infusions: Phenolic Profile and Comparison of Antioxidant Activities

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly considered in the ethiopathogenesis of different pathological conditions because they may cause significant damage to cells and tissues. In this paper, we focused on potential antioxidant properties of two medical plants such as the Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Cynara cardunculus L. Both plants have previously been studied for their pharmacological activities, especially as hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activities. It has been suggested, that their effects are related to the antioxidant properties of polyphenols, which are dominant compounds of the plants’ extracts. In the present study HPLC-MS analysis of water infusion was performed allowing the identification of several phenolic constituents. Furthermore, antioxidant effects of the two extracts were compared showing higher effects for agrimony extract compared to artichoke. Thus, agrimony was selected for the in vivo study using the skin flap viability model. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that the A. eupatoria extract may be a valuable source of polyphenols to be studied for the future development of supplements useful in the prevention of diseases linked to oxidative stress.

Pharmacological activation of estrogen receptors-α and -β differentially modulates keratinocyte differentiation with functional impact on wound healing

Estrogen deprivation is considered responsible for many age-related processes, including poor wound healing. Guided by previous observations that estradiol accelerates re‑epithelialization through estrogen receptor (ER)‑β, in the present study, we examined whether selective ER agonists [4,4',4''-(4-propyl [1H] pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)‑trisphenol (PPT), ER‑α agonist; 2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN), ER‑β agonist] affect the expression of basic proliferation and differentiation markers (Ki‑67, keratin‑10, ‑14 and ‑19, galectin‑1 and Sox‑2) of keratinocytes using HaCaT cells. In parallel, ovariectomized rats were treated daily with an ER modulator, and wound tissue was removed 21 days after wounding and routinely processed for basic histological analysis. Our results revealed that the HaCaT keratinocytes expressed both ER‑α and ‑β, and thus are well-suited for studying the effects of ER agonists on epidermal regeneration. The activation of ER‑α produced a protein expression pattern similar to that observed in the control culture, with a moderate expression of Ki‑67 being observed. However, the activation of ER‑β led to an increase in cell proliferation and keratin‑19 expression, as well as a decrease in galectin‑1 expression. Fittingly, in rat wounds treated with the ER‑β agonist (DPN), epidermal regeneration was accelerated. In the present study, we provide information on the mechanisms through which estrogens affect the expression patterns of selected markers, thus modulating keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation; in addition, we demonstrate that the pharmacological activation of ER-α and -β has a direct impact on wound healing.

Plantago lanceolata L. water extract induces transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and increases tensile strength of healing skin wounds

OBJECTIVES

Although the exact underlying mechanisms are still unknown, Plantago lanceolata L. (PL) water extracts are frequently used to stimulate wound healing and to drain abscesses. Therefore, in this experimental study the effect of PL water extract on skin wound healing was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODS

Two excisional and one incisional skin wounds were performed on the back of each rat. Wounds were treated for three consecutive days with two different concentrations of the aqueous extract of PL. Rats were sacrificed 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. Samples of wounds were processed for macroscopic (excisions - wound contraction measurement), biomechanical (incisions - wound tensile strength (TS) measurement) and histological examination (excisions).

KEY FINDINGS

It was shown that open wounds treated with PL extract contained myofibroblasts and demonstrated significantly higher contraction rates. Furthermore, significantly increased wound TSs were recorded in treated rats as a consequence of increased organization of extracellular matrix proteins, such as the collagen type 1.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that PL aqueous extract improves skin wound healing in rats. However, further research need to be performed to find optimal therapeutic concentration, and exact underlying mechanism prior obtained results may be introduced into the clinical practice.

[Intestinal endometriosis - a case report]

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The most common clinical symptoms of endometriosis are infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Endometriosis affects 8-10% of women of reproductive age and the condition is highly associated with infertility. Ectopic endometrial tissue is usually found in the small pelvis and the peritoneum, but endometrial tissue deposits have also been reported in other anatomical locations in the human body. We describe the case of a young patient with persistent abdominal pain and bleeding via the rectum during menstrual periods, hospitalised at the Second Department of Surgery, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Faculty of Medicine and Louis Pasteur University Hospital Košice.

Low-level laser therapy with 810 nm wavelength improves skin wound healing in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of present study was to evaluate whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reverse the impaired wound healing process in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND DATA

Impaired wound healing in diabetic patients represents a major health problem. Recent studies have indicated that LLLT may improve wound healing in diabetic rats, but the optimal treatment parameters are still unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=21) were randomly divided into three groups: a healthy control group, a diabetic sham-treated group, and a diabetic LLLT-treated group. Diabetes mellitus was then induced by streptozotocin administration to the two diabetic groups. One 4 cm long full thickness skin incision and one full thickness circular excision (diameter=4 mm) were performed on the back of each rat. An infrared 810 nm laser with an output of 30 mW, a power density of 30 mW/cm(2), and a spot size of 1 cm(2) was used to irradiate each wound for 30 sec (daily dose of 0.9 J/cm(2)/wound/day).

RESULTS

In diabetic rats, the histology of LLLT-treated excisions revealed a similar healing response to that in nondiabetic controls, with significantly more mature granulation tissue than in the sham-treated diabetic control group. LLLT reduced the loss of tensile strength, and increased the incision wound stiffness significantly compared with sham-irradiated rats, but this did not achieve the same level as in the nondiabetic controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that infrared LLLT can improve wound healing in diabetic rats. Nevertheless, further research needs to be performed to evaluate the exact underlying mechanism and to further optimize LLLT parameters for clinical use.

[Basic biological roles of galectins in tissue repair and tumor growth]

Galectins are representatives of endogenous lectins - molecules specifically recognizing distinct sugar motifs. They play an important role in the processes of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and extracellular matrix formation. Furthermore, galectins are able to transfer cellular signals and to participate in intercellular interaction. It has been proven that galectins play an important role in the formation of tumor and/or wound healing microenvironment. This review contains an overview of experimental and clinical studies dealing with biological roles of galectins in tissue repair and in its parallel - the tumor growth.

Pre- and/or postsurgical administration of estradiol benzoate increases skin flap viability in female rats

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that estrogens have a protective effect with regard to tissue ischemia. Therefore, in this macroscopic and histological investigation, the effect of estradiol benzoate on skin flap viability was studied in sham-operated and ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODS

Three months prior to flap surgery a group of rats underwent ovariectomy, while the remaining animals underwent a sham operation. Subsequently, all rats had a 2 × 8-cm skin flap created on the dorsum. Rats were randomly divided into estradiol- or saline-treated groups. Treatment started either on the day of flap excision or 3 days prior to the surgery.

RESULTS

Our results showed that administration of estradiol benzoate prior to and after flap surgery significantly decreases skin flap necrosis in both sham-operated and ovariectomized rats, with the highest survival rate in animals where treatment started 3 days prior to flap surgery.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the observed protective effect of estradiol on skin flap viability could potentially be applied to plastic and reconstructive surgery in postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, further research is needed to explain the exact underlying mechanism and to find the optimal treatment protocol for human clinical practice.

[Phytotherapy of skin wounds - overview of experimental and clinical studies in the first decennium of the 21st century]

Delayed wound healing presents a significant burden for the patient and healthcare system. One of many possibilities how to improve the process of wound healing and to prevent development of unwanted complications is the use of herbal substances which are still commonly used in folk medicine. This review gives an overview of experimental and clinical studies related to phytotherapeutic approaches of skin wound healing which have during the 21st century been indexed by the largest biomedical database NCBI - PubMed.

Open Wound Healing In Vivo: Monitoring Binding and Presence of Adhesion/Growth-Regulatory Galectins in Rat Skin during the Course of Complete Re-Epithelialization

Galectins are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that modulate inflammation and immunity. This functional versatility prompted us to perform a histochemical study of their occurrence during wound healing using rat skin as an in vivo model. Wound healing is a dynamic process that exhibits three basic phases: inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. In this study antibodies against keratins-10 and -14, wide-spectrum cytokeratin, vimentin, and fibronectin, and non-cross-reactive antibodies to galectins-1, -2, and -3 were applied to frozen sections of skin specimens two days (inflammatory phase), seven days (proliferation phase), and twenty-one days (maturation phase) after wounding. The presence of binding sites for galectins-1, -2, -3, and -7 as a measure for assessing changes in reactivity was determined using labeled proteins as probes. Our study detected a series of alterations in galectin parameters during the different phases of wound healing. Presence of galectin-1, for example, increased during the early phase of healing, whereas galectin-3 rapidly decreased in newly formed granulation tissue. In addition, nuclear reactivity of epidermal cells for galectin-2 occurred seven days post-trauma. The dynamic regulation of galectins during re-epithelialization intimates a role of these proteins in skin wound healing, most notably for galectin-1 increasing during the early phases and galectin-3 then slightly increasing during later phases of healing. Such changes may identify a potential target for the development of novel drugs to aid in wound repair and patients’ care.