O uso de fitoterápicos é uma alternativa de baixo custo e de fácil acesso para o tratamento de feridas cutâneas. Objetivou-se avaliar a ação do extrato oleoso de urucum na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas abertas. Inicialmente, identificaram-se os principais ácidos graxos do óleo de urucum. Foi realizado ensaio citotóxico para determinar as concentrações a serem utilizadas no ensaio in vivo. No experimento, feridas cutâneas em ratos Wistar foram diariamente tratadas com: extrato de urucum 0,1% (U 0,1%), extrato de urucum 0,01% (U 0,01%), vaselina (V) e solução fisiológica (SF), por até 21 dias. Aos quatro, sete, 14 e 21 dias, foi avaliada clinicamente a presença de exsudato, crosta e epitelização. Determinaram-se as áreas da lesão, e amostras de pele, fígado e rins foram coletadas para avalição histológica. Aos 21dias, amostras de pele foram coletadas para análise tensiométrica. Clinicamente, todos os grupos de tratamento apresentaram evolução cicatricial fisiológica. Os grupos U 0,1% e U 0,01% apresentaram maior presença de epitelização aos sete dias e maior retração cicatricial aos quatro dias. Na histologia, U 0,1% e U 0,01% apresentaram aos quatro e sete dias maior quantidade de fibrina e inflamação que V e SF, e, nos demais momentos, não houve diferenças entre os grupos. Quanto à fase cicatricial, aos quatro dias todos os grupos encontravam-se na fase inflamatória, aos sete dias U 0,1% e U 0,01% permaneciam na fase inflamatória, diferindo de SF e V, que se caracterizavam na fase proliferativa. Aos 14 dias, os grupos apresentavam-se em transição de fase proliferativa para maturação e, aos 21dias, estavam todos na fase de maturação. Os grupos tratados com urucum expressaram menor resistência à tensão que V e SF. Concluiu-se com este estudo que o extrato oleoso de urucum acelera o processo cicatricial nos primeiros dias, mas proporciona uma cicatriz de baixa qualidade.

Phytotherapies are a low cost, easily accessible alternative to traditional medicines in wound healing management. The purpose of this study was to assess the oil extract of Bixa orellana L. as a healing agent in the rat model of open wound healing. Initially, the oil was obtained and characterized through gas chromatography. Furthermore, the cytotoxic potential of the oil was verified in cell cultures to determine the doses used in animal experiments. Wounds were surgically produced in Wistar rats, these were treated with the oil extract at 0.1% (U 0.1%), 0.01% (U 0.01%), petrol jelly (V) and saline (SF) for up to 21 days. At four, seven and 14 days of treatment the wounds were assessed clinically regarding the presence of exudate, crust and epithelialization. The wound area was also determined and skin, kidney and liver tissues were harvested for histopathology. At 21 days of treatment the skins were also harvested for tension resistance assessment. Clinically, all groups evolved similarly, however, those treated with U 0.1% and U 0.01% had a greater amount of epithelialized wounds by day seven, and grater shrinkage by day four. Histopathologicaly, the skin samples of oil treated wounds had more lesions in the inflammatory phase at seven days, when compared to the controls, which were majorly in the proliferation phase. By 14 days no difference was observed among groups, which were all in the transition from the proliferation to the maturation phase. By day 21, all wounds were in the maturation phase. Oil treated wounds also had more fibrin in the first two assessment dates, when compared to the controls. Tension resistance of the oil treated wounds was, however, inferior to that of the controls. This study shows that B. orellana L. oil will hasten the onset of the healing process and its initial phases, but will ultimately produce a scar of poorer quality.

O extrato de trigo (Triticum sp.) vem sendo usado na cicatrização de feridas por estimular a síntese de fibroblastos, entretanto a sua aplicabilidade in vivo em apresentações comercialmente viáveis ainda tem de ser demonstrada. Neste estudo, avaliaram-se feridas cutâneas de coelhos tratadas com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum quanto à presença de tecido de granulação e epitelização, estruturas histológicas, qualidade cicatricial, além de ensaio tensiométrico. As feridas foram tratadas diariamente, por 21 dias, com diferentes concentrações do extrato (grupo I = 2mg/mL; grupo II = 10mg/mL) ou apenas o veículo (grupo controle = creme não iônico), e avaliadas nos dias sete, 14 e 21. A formação de tecido de granulação não diferiu entre os tratamentos. A epitelização aconteceu em menor tempo em feridas do grupo II, mas aos 14 dias já não havia diferença neste parâmetro. Na avaliação histopatológica, a qualidade cicatricial e a força de ruptura não diferiram no período estudado, entretanto a resistência tensiométrica das feridas do grupo I foi maior que a dos demais tratamentos. Dessa forma, conclui-se que, mesmo não havendo diferença na evolução cicatricial de feridas tratadas ou não com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum, o uso desse composto, a 2mg/mL, resultou em tecidos cicatriciais mais resistentes à tração.

While Triticum sp. has been shown to act in wound healing, stimulating collagen synthesis by fibroblasts, the use of this plant extract has yet to be assessed in vivo, in commercially viable presentations. This study used rabbits and assessed, on days seven, 14, and 21, the presence or absence of granulation tissue and epithelialization, histopathological structures, and scar quality through the breaking and tension strength. Treatments, performed for 21 days, were aqueous extract of T. aestivum at a concentration of 2mg/mL (group I) and 10mg/mL (group II) and a nonionic cream (control group). We demonstrate that the formation of granulation tissue was not significantly different between treatments. In the analysis of epithelial tissue, wounds in group II differed from other treatments by day 7. On days 14 and 21 there was no significant clinical difference between groups. In the histopathological evaluation, scar quality and rupture strength did not differ between the groups in the studied period. In the tension strength evaluation, group I differed from the others, presenting a higher tension strength overall. The studied treatments did not differ regarding healing evolution of the skin wounds, but T. aestivum extract, at 2mg/mL, presents better results in the tension strength evaluation.

Condrossarcoma mesenquimal extraesquelético (CME) é um neoplasma maligno e raro em animais domésticos. Descreve-se um caso de CME em uma gata que apresentava uma massa firme, branco-amarelada, medindo 18cm de diâmetro, aderida à musculatura do membro pélvico esquerdo. O exame citológico revelou presença de células fusiformes individualizadas pleomórficas e agregados de pequenas células ovais, sem bordas definidas em meio à matriz intercelular amorfa. Devido à impossibilidade de tratamento e ao prognóstico desfavorável, foi realizada eutanásia. Microscopicamente foram observadas células fusiformes indiferenciadas e agregados de células condroides pleomórficas. O diagnóstico de CME foi confirmado pelas técnicas de azul alciano, tricrômico de Masson e pela prova imunoistoquímica, utilizando-se anticorpos antivimentina.

Extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare malignant tumor in domestic animals. We described a case of EMC in a cat with a mass measuring 18cm in diameter, yellowish-white and firm attached to the muscles in left hind limb. Cytological examination revealed the presence of individual pleomorphic spindle cells and clusters of small oval cells with no hard edges in the midst of an amorphous intercellular matrix. Due to the impossibility of treatment and poor prognosis, the cat was euthanized. Microscopically undifferentiated spindle cells and clusters of pleomorphic chondroid cells were observed. The CME diagnosis was confirmed with thealcian blue, Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemistry techniques, using antivimentin antibodies.

Avaliaram-se as respostas clínica e metabólica de potros neonatos em relação aos achados histopatológicos da placenta na égua. Foram avaliados dois grupos de éguas da raça Puro Sangue Inglês - um grupo-problema (n=25) e um grupo-controle (n=25), de acordo com os achados da placenta. O exame dos potros constou de avaliação clínica geral, hematologia e bioquímica sérica. O exame histopatológico da placenta apresentou resultado compatível com a apresentação clínica do potro, sendo que a presença de lesões inflamatórias resultou na produção de potros debilitados. A presença de lesões degenerativas não comprometeu o estado clínico do neonato, mas pode ser responsável pela manifestação de distúrbios subclínicos, evidenciados pelo aumento das taxas de AST e GGT. A ureia pareceu ser um indicador de dano renal decorrente de insuficiência placentária em potros neonatos.

The placenta represents the major communication between the mare and the fetus during the gestational period, and this suggests that any disturbance in the placenta can be an indicator of gestational damage with risk to the fetus. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the clinical and metabolic responses of the newborn foals related with the findings from the histopathological examination of the placenta. This study was conducted in a farm located in Bagé-RS, Brazil, where were evaluated two groups of Throughbred mares for this case-control study: One Problem Group (N=25) and the Control Group (n=25), based on the placental findings. The foal's evaluation was based on general clinical examination, hematology and serum biochemistry. Results from the placenta histopathological exams were compatible with clinical presentation of the foals, with the presence of inflammatory lesions resulting in the production of debilitated foals. The presence of degenerative lesions in the placenta does not compromise the clinical features of the newborn, but they can be responsible for the manifestation of sub-clinical disturbances, evidenced by increased levels of AST and GGT. Urea seems to be an indicator of renal damage due to placental insufficiency in neonatal foals.

Peripheral nerve ultrastructure was assessed after single or multiple local injections of the intercalating dye ethidium bromide. Thirty-four adult Wistar rats of both sexes were divided into five groups and maintained in a controlled environment with rat chow and water ad libitum throughout the experiment. The experimental animals were injected with 1 µl of 0.1% ethidium bromide in 0.9% saline into the central third of the left sciatic nerve 1 (group 1), 2 (group 2), 4 (group 3), 6 (group 4) or 8 (group 5) times. In groups 2 to 5 the injections were made at 28-day intervals. Control animals received the same amount of 0.9% saline. The animals were killed at different times after injection: group 1 at 7 days (2 rats) and 15 days (2 rats); for groups 2, 3, 4 and 5, all rats were killed 10 days after the last injection and the lesions were investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. In the acute lesions, intoxicated Schwann cells showed a vacuolated cytoplasm and separation of the sheaths from the axon. Myelin sheaths underwent progressive vesiculation and subsequent segmental demyelination. Myelin debris were withdrawn by macrophages and remyelination by Schwann cells was prominent. With the increase in the number of injections collagen fibers also increased in number and progressively enveloped smaller numbers of remyelinated axons composing new fascicles. Wallerian degeneration of fibers apparently not affected by ethidium bromide was more intense in the nerves from groups 4 and 5. The peripheral nerve repairs itself after demyelinating challenges with a profusion of collagen fibers and new fasciculations. This experimental model is valid to mimic recurrent demyelinating neuropathies.

Multiple episodes of blood-brain barrier disruption were induced by sequential intraspinal injections of ethidium bromide. In addition to the barrier disruption, there was toxic demyelination and exposure of myelin components to the immune system. Twenty-seven 3-month-old Wistar rats received 2, 3 or 4 injections of 1 µl of either 0.1% ethidium bromide in normal saline (19 rats) or 0.9% saline (8 rats) at different levels of the spinal cord. The time intervals between the injections ranged from 28 to 42 days. Ten days after the last injection, all rats were perfused with 2.5% glutaraldehyde. The spinal sections were evaluated macroscopically and by light and transmission electron microscopy. All the lesions demonstrated a mononuclear phagocytic infiltrate apparently removing myelin. Lymphocytes were not conspicuous and were found in only 34% of the lesions. No perivascular cuffings were detected. In older lesions (38 days and older) they were found only within Virchow-Robin spaces. This result suggests that multiple blood-brain barrier disruptions with demyelination and exposure of myelin components to the immune system were not sufficient to induce an immune-mediated reaction in the central nervous system.