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Introduction: Management of donor site morbidity in the setting of split thickness skin graft (STSG) is of crucial importance with no superior wound dressing described to date and the growing need of decreasing epithelializing time. The purpose of the study was to compare the standard of care using a hydrocolloid dressing to platelet rich plasma (PRP) and plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) in order to determine its therapeutic potential in this setting.Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in which each patient served as its own control. PRGF was obtained by means of freeze-thaw out of the PRP from the subject of the study. Patients from the study had three donor sites and each donor site received either to PRP, PRGF or the standard of care, hydrocolloid. The main variable was time to epithelialization, and secondary variables subject to study were pain, quality of the scar, complications and cost.Results: 20 patients were recruited with a total number of 60 donor sites to study. On the 8th post-operative day 55% and 45% of the sites treated with PRP and PRGF, respectively, complete epithelialization was observed as compared to 20% of the sites treated with hydrocolloid, statistical significance was achieved between the latter two (p = 0.036). The areas treated with PRP and PRGF received inferior values on the visual analog scale on post-op day 5 and 8 compared to hydrocolloid. Values on wound healing metrics were lower in the PRP when compared to hydrocolloid. No adverse effects were recorded.Conclusion: Donor site of STSG treated with PRP in the setting of the burn patient decreased time to epithelialization. In our study a better pain control and in scar quality was observed in both, the PRP and PRGF group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several experimental studies have shown the beneficial effects of nitric oxide (NO) in the modulation of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Nitric oxide is involved in and affects almost all stages in the development of inflammation. We have attempted to ascertain whether the nitric oxide donor molsidomine prevents aortic graft contamination through control of the SIRS and a decrease in bacterial translocation (BT). Methods: Twenty-four mini-pigs were divided into 4 groups. The animals were subjected to suprarenal aortic/iliac cross-clamping (for 30 minutes) and by-pass with a Dacron-collagen prosthetic graft impregnated in rifampicin. Groups: 1) sham (aortic dissection alone); 2) cross-clamping and bypass; 3) hemorrhage of 40% of total blood volume before cross-clamping and by-pass; and 4) the same as in group 3 but also including the administration of the NO donor molsidomine (4 mg/kg) 5 minutes before cross-clamping. Variables: 1) bacteriology of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), kidney, blood, and prosthesis; 2) serum TNF-α (ELISA); and 3) iNOS expression in kidney and liver (Western blot). Results: Aortic cross-clamping with or without hemorrhage was associated with BT in 80% and 100% of the animals, respectively. About 86% of the bacteria isolated in the graft were also present in MLN. This contamination coincided with an increase in TNF-α and with a greater expression of iNOS. Molsidomine administration decreased TNF-α and iNOS, decreased BT (from 100% to 20% of the animals), and decreased graft contamination (from 83% to 20%). Conclusions: The present model induces high levels of BT and SIRS, both acted as sources of contamination for the implanted Dacron graft. Molsidomine administration decreased the presence of bacteria in the graft by controlling BT and modulating SIRS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Epaltes mexicana is a plant widely used in traditional medicine and as a food in Mexico; however, its phytochemical and pharmacological studies are limited. This study aimed to identify the active secondary metabolites of Epaltes mexicana and determine its cytotoxic activity on cancer cell lines. Three organic extracts were obtained by maceration using n -hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol. The n -hexane extract was fractioned by simple column chromatography. Eight terpenes were annotated in collection 6 (C6) by LC-QTOF-MS using a gradient elution and Electrospray Ionization (ESI) in positive ion mode: 1) Gibberellin A15, 2) farfugin A, 3) dehydromyodesmone, 4) eremopetasitenin A1, 5) hydroxyisonobilin, 6) anhydrocinnzeylanine, 7) nigakilactone H and 8) taxodione. On the other hand, C6 showed a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines MCF-7 (E max = 74.69 ± 6.19 % and IC 50 = 6.31 μg/mL), MDA-MB-231 (E max = 79.28 ± 12.12 % and IC 50 = 124.21 μg/mL), and SiHa (E max = 82.96 ± 6.02 % and IC 50 = 124.31 μg/mL). The C6 did not show a cytotoxic effect against DU-145 and non-cancerous cells from the mammary glands MCF-10A. These results indicate cytotoxic specificity on cancer cell lines and support the hypothesis that terpenes identified in E. mexicana must be investigated and developed for non-clinical and clinical trials as potential anti-cancer drugs. [Display omitted] • Eight terpenes were annotated in the active collection of Epaltes mexicana. • Eight terpenes were found in positive ion mode by LC-QTOF-MS analysis. • The terpenes showed cytotoxic activity on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SIHa. • E. mexicana showed selective cytotoxic activity in breast and cervical cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids, a phenolic compounds class widely distributed in the plant kingdom, have attracted much interest for their implications on several health and disease processes. Usually, the consumption of this type of compounds is approximately 1 g/d, primarily obtained from cereals, chocolate, and dry legumes ensuring its beneficial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the human body. In this context, in cancer disease prominent data points to the role of flavonoids as adjuvant treatment aimed at the regression of the disease. GPER, an estrogen receptor on the cell surface, has been postulated as a probable orchestrator of the beneficial effects of several flavonoids through modulation/inhibition of various mechanisms that lead to cancer progression. Therefore, applying pocket and cavity protein detection and docking and molecular dynamics simulations (MD), we generate, from a cluster composed of 39 flavonoids, crucial insights into the potential role as GPER ligands, of Puerarin, Isoquercetin, Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside and Petunidin 3-O-glucoside, aglycones whose sugar moiety delimits a new described sugar-acceptor sub-cavity into the cavity binding site on the receptor, as well as of the probable activation mechanism of the receptor and the pivotal residues involved in it. Altogether, our results shed light on the potential use of the aforementioned flavonoids as GPER ligands and for further evaluations in in vitro and in vivo assays to elucidate their probable anti-cancer activity. • Sugar-acceptor sub-cavity as part of the binding site cavity in GPER. • Puerarin, Isoquercetin, Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside and Petunidin 3-O-glucoside as GPER ligands. • Phenilalanine cluster as pivotal element for molecular recognition of GPER cognate ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excess of body fat and muscle mass loss in adulthood results in sarcopenic obesity, which is associated with disability and poor physical condition. A relationship among obesity, sarcopenia and oxidative stress also has been established. These aspects limit a good muscle function which is crucial in the independence of older women with and without sarcopenic obesity. This study had as objective to design a moderate intensity exercise program for older women with sarcopenic obesity, and to examine its effects on oxidative damage and physical function. We hypothesized that the exercise program will reduce oxidative damage and to improve the physical function of older women with sarcopenic obesity. Thirty healthy women (68 ± 5.05 years old) and 30 women with sarcopenic obesity (68.06 ± 5.75 years old) from the Integral Development of the Family rest home participated in the evaluation. The participants underwent evaluations of body composition, physical fitness (timed up-and-go [TUG] test, reaction time, gait speed, flexibility and muscle strength) and oxidative stress (oxidative damage to lipid and protein as well as evaluation of the antioxidant system) before and after of moderate intensity exercise program. The program consisted of warm-up, flexibility; aerobic exercises of moderate intensity (VO 2 max and HR max between 60% and 70%); isotonic exercises of low intensity with progressive weight (250 g of initial weight, with increase every two weeks until reaching 750 g of final weight) and global stretching at the end of each section. The program was monitored on a personal basis and undertaken three times a week over three months. In both groups, the program induced a five-fold increase in muscle strength, an increase in flexibility and improvement of fragility parameters (TUG and gait speed) (P ≤ 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, this exercise program decreased oxidative damage and increased antioxidant defense (P ≤ 0.001) to a greater extent in the sarcopenic group. It was concluded that moderate intensity exercise is an effective approach to promote changes in body composition, physical fitness and to reduce oxidative damage in older women with and without sarcopenic obesity. These findings might have important implications for the prevention or treatment of sarcopenic obesity in older people. • Moderate exercise declines oxidative damage in older women with sarcopenic obesity. • Increase in muscle strength in sarcopenic obesity with moderate exercise • Increased physical function in sarcopenic obesity by moderate exercise [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]