Background: Diabetic foot ulceration is a serious chronic complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by high disability, mortality, and morbidity. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been widely used for diabetic wound healing due to its high content of growth factors. However, its application is limited due to the rapid degradation of growth factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and PRP therapy in promoting diabetic wound healing in relation to the Notch signaling pathway. Methods: Albino rats were allocated into 6 groups [control (unwounded), sham (wounded but non-diabetic), diabetic, PRP-treated, ADSC-treated, and PRP+ADSCs-treated groups]. The effect of individual and combined therapy was evaluated by assessing wound closure rate, epidermal thickness, dermal collagen, and angiogenesis. Moreover, gene and protein expression of key elements of the Notch signaling pathway (Notch1, Delta-like canonical Notch ligand 4 (DLL4), Hairy Enhancer of Split-1 (Hes1), Hey1, Jagged-1), gene expression of angiogenic marker (vascular endothelial growth factor and stromal cell-derived factor 1) and epidermal stem cells (EPSCs) related gene (ß1 Integrin) were assessed. Results: Our data showed better wound healing of PRP+ADSCs compared to their individual use after 7 and 14 days as the combined therapy caused reepithelialization and granulation tissue formation with a marked increase in area percentage of collagen, epidermal thickness, and angiogenesis. Moreover, Notch signaling was significantly downregulated, and EPSC proliferation and recruitment were enhanced compared to other treated groups and diabetic groups. Conclusions: These data demonstrated that PRP and ADSCs combined therapy significantly accelerated healing of diabetic wounds induced experimentally in rats via modulating the Notch pathway, promoting angiogenesis and EPSC proliferation.

Background. Liver transplantation remains the only viable therapy for liver failure but has a severely restricted utility. Here, we aimed to decellularize rat livers to form acellular 3D bio-scaffolds suitable for seeding with induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) as a tool to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver development and generation. Methods. Dissected rat livers were randomly divided into three groups: I (control); II (decellularized scaffolds) and III (recellularized scaffolds). Liver decellularization was established via an adapted perfusion procedure and assessed through the measurement of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and DNA content. Liver recellularization was assessed through histological examination and measurement of transcript levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, hepatogenesis, liver-specific microRNAs and growth factors essential for liver development. Adult rat liver decellularization was confirmed by the maintenance of ECM proteins and persistence of growth factors essential for liver regeneration. Results. iPSCs seeded rat decellularized livers displayed upregulated transcript expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related, growth factors, and liver specification genes. Further, recellularized livers displayed restored liver-specific functions including albumin secretion and urea synthesis. Conclusion. This establishes proof-of-principle for the generation of three-dimensional liver organ scaffolds as grafts and functional re-establishment.

Goats have been used as animal models in research, and the need for achieving safer anesthesia for research or surgical intervention is gaining much attention. The objective of this study was to evaluate intraoperative effects and the immediate postoperative analgesia of nalbuphine–ketamine regimen in goats. Twenty clinically healthy adult female crossbred goats weighing 14 ± 2 kg were allocated randomly into each of two equally sized groups. All animals were sedated with intramuscular (IM) xylazine (0.07 mg/kg), then anesthesia was intravenously (IV) induced with ketamine alone (10 mg/kg) (XK group), or a combination of nalbuphine (0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (5 mg/kg) (XNK group). Following induction, left flank laparotomy was performed and then sutured. The quality of anesthesia and immediate postoperative analgesia was evaluated. Immediate postoperative analgesia was assessed up to 5 h after standing, using a modified Unesp–Botucatu acute composite pain scale (USAPS). Serum cortisol, glucose, insulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at ½, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h, postoperatively (PO). The USAPS pain scores were significantly lower in the XNK compared to the XK group (p < 0.05). The XNK group exhibited a statistically significant difference in the level of serum cortisol at ½ and 1 h PO (p = 0.018 and 0.045, respectively) compared to the XK group. At 2, 4, 6 h PO, CRP significantly decreased (p = 0.023, 0.040 and 0.005, respectively) in the XNK compared to the XK group. Nalbuphine–ketamine produced an acceptable induction of anesthesia and recovery compared to ketamine. Recovery with nalbuphine–ketamine was faster and better quality. The USAPS pain scores were lower in nalbuphine–ketamine, indicating that this novel combination produces better postoperative pain control than ketamine alone.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with superficial tumors in Egyptian water buffalo and cattle and to present their clinical and Immunohistochemical features. Animals:A total of 1253 animals were studied(866-cross breed cattle and 387-native buffalo). Eighty-one cases(64-cattle and 17-buffalo) were suffered from tumor like swelling. The Clinical and microscopical, histopathological and IHC of the tumor were assessed. Additionally, different surgical interferences and anesthesia were applied for their excision. Results:Based on clinical, histopathological and IHC examination, neoplasia were diagnosed in 75 animals(92.59%). Generally, the prevalence rate of tumor was higher in Cattle than buffalo(78.66% vs 21.33%). Animals aged Conclusion and clinical relevance:superficial tumors have high incidence in cattle compared to buffalo. Papilloma, fibroma and dermoid tumor were the most commonly diagnosed benign tumors. SCC, BCC and fibrosarcoma were the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumors. Surgical excision of the superficial tumors offers a satisfy solution. IHC and histopathological examination provides precise techniques for evaluation, and differentiation between benign and malignant tumors.

Objective: To assess and compare the effects of epidural xylazine (XY), magnesium sulphate (MG) and their combination (XY-MG) in buffalo.Design: Crossover study Animals: Seven healthy, non-pregnant buffaloProcedures: Buffaloes were allocated into one of three groups in a prospective randomized crossover design with two weeks washout period as the following: XY group, MG group and XY-MG group. The sedative, analgesic, and behavioral effects of XY, MG and their combination were evaluated prior to administration and at then after injection at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 120, 150, 180, and 210 minutes. Results: Clinical and hematological variables were evaluated at baseline (0 minute) and then at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 210-minutes post-administration. Buffaloes received XY-MG combination showed the fastest onset and resulted in the longer duration of epidural analgesia. The longest duration of complete sedation was recorded in group XY-MG. All treatment protocols caused mild ataxia and affected the heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature of buffalo. There was a significant decrease in the blood glucose at 30 minutes after injection in all groups, returning to the baseline level by 180 minutes in XY-MG group and 210 minutes in XY and MG groups.Conclusion and clinical relevance: XY-MG combination may be used as epidural sedative and analgesic to control pain in buffalo.

The aim of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic, anatomical and histological features of superficial lymph nodes (LN) (mandibular, superficial cervical, subiliac, scrotal and supramammary) in donkeys. Twenty-four donkeys (3-6 years old and 120-180 kg BW) were examined ultrasonographically for characterization of LN appearance and echogenicity. LNs were dissected and processed for histological examination. Our examination revealed that mandibular LN located between mandibular rami along each side of omohyoid muscles and ultrasonographically appeared as long lobulated structure with clear anechoic lobules and hyperechoic interlobular trabeculae. Superficial cervical LN was sited at 5 cm dorsal to the shoulder joint at the caudal end of the jugular vein and ultrasonographically appeared as a quadrilateral to oval multi-lobulated structure with hypoechoic lobules interspersed with fine interlobular echogenic trabeculae and delineated by a thick distinct echogenic capsule. Subiliac LN located at midway between patella and coxal tuber and ultrasonographically appeared as an oval wholly anechoic structure with a fine central hypoechoic septum and delineated by a thick hyperechoic capsule. Scrotal LN located at the level of the superficial inguinal ring either cranial or caudal to the spermatic cord and ultrasonographically appeared as a small oval to round shape structure with an entire anechoic content. Supramammary LN localized on the lateral border of udder base at the superficial inguinal ring and ultrasonographically appeared as a rectangular to ovoid structure with an entire anechoic content. In conclusion, the present data set a preliminary reference for the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of adult donkeys superficial LNs.