“
“Background: Temporary abdominal closure (TAC) is often performed after an open abdomen to prevent postoperative complications. Reducing the time of TAC and performing a skin grafting as early as possible would improve the outcome of open abdomen. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different TAC materials and topically applied exogenous growth factors on the growth of granulation tissue covered on the wound areas after

the open abdomen.

Methods: Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups of six animals each. Twenty-four hours after induction of peritonitis and intra-abdominal hypertension by Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor intraperitoneal injection of nitrogen, relaparotomies were done. The abdomen was then closed with polyethylene sheet or polypropylene mesh plus growth factor (or not). learn more On the seventh day after TAC surgery, TAC materials were removed, and granulation tissue on the wound surface was assessed microscopically. Microvascular densities, thickness of granulation tissue, and fibroblast counts were also measured.

Results: Microvascular densities, thickness of granulation tissue, and fibroblast counts were the highest for polypropylene mesh closure plus recombinant bovine basic fibroblast

growth factor (rbFGF) followed by polypropylene mesh plus recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and polypropylene mesh alone, with polyethylene sheet alone being the least.

Conclusions: Polypropylene mesh could promote the growth of granulation tissue after the open abdomen. Topical application of rhGH or rbFGF further hastens the process, with the effect of rbFGF being the greatest.”
“Among a series of exotic pests that have been reported in Chile. Xanthogaleruca luteola Muller (Coleoptera:

Chrysomelidae), a defoliating insect of elms (Ulmus spp.), is causing important damage in urban trees in central Chile. Leaves from Schinus molle L (Anacardiaceae), an interesting South American plant, were characterized and compared physically and chemically through proximal analysis. Also, the insecticidal effects of ethanol and water extracts from young and mature leaves of S. molle were evaluated on third instar larvae of X. luteola at concentrations of 0.5-4.3% w/v. Water CT99021 mw and lipid contents presented the greatest differences in both leaf maturity stages. At 12d, the maximum concentrations obtained with ethanol and water from young and mature leaves caused mean mortalities of 89 and 67, and 78 and 63%, respectively. The lowest 50% lethal concentration was 1.28% w/v, obtained at the 7th day of evaluation with the ethanol extract from young leaves. Hence, extracts from S. molle leaves may have a potential use as a bioinsecticide in Integrated Pest Management plans against X. luteola and other similar pests defoliating urban trees, to decrease the risk of using conventional pesticides in public areas. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V.