Alpha-tocopherol and ginkgo biloba treatment protects lipid peroxidation during ischemic period in rat groin island skin flaps

Complementary and integrative treatments: facial cosmetic enhancement

Complementary and integrative medicine is particularly popular among patients undergoing facial cosmetic enhancement. This article reviews the efficacy of the most commonly practiced integrative therapies among this surgical population, with a focus on the most current literature regarding the application or potential for application of these treatments to benefit patients undergoing facial aesthetic surgery. Adverse effects of the most popular herbal and dietary supplements are also reviewed. Finally, the potential for interaction among integrative treatments as well as with conventional pharmacologic therapy is discussed.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE-761) on the survival of fasciocutaneous flaps in rats

Cutaneous and fasciocutaneous flaps are used widely in the surgical reconstruction of various body segments, especially to cover exposed vital tissues. Partial or total necrosis of these flaps, secondary to insufficient tissue irrigation, is one possible complication. Therefore, investigations into antiplatelet aggregation, vasodilation and antioxidant properties are highly significant. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of GbE 761 on the survival of fasciocutaneous flaps in rats. For that purpose, GbE 761 was administered to 30 rats after the creation of 10 × 3 cm dorsal flaps on each animal. The rats were divided into three equal groups. GbE 761 was administered to Group A, starting immediately after surgery; Group B received it 24 h after the flap was cut; and Group C (controls) received 0.9% NaCl solution. The average area of necrosis was 29.53% in Group A, 26.25% in Group B and 46.12% in Group C. The difference between Groups B and C was statistically significant (p = 0.026). These initial findings suggest that GbE 761 administered on day 1 after surgery reduces the percentage of necrosis in fasciocutaneous flaps, relative to not giving GbE at all.

Multivitamin administration before ischemia reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbit skeletal muscle

This study investigated the effect of a multivitamin preparation administered before ischemia or before reperfusion, on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of skeletal muscle. An in vivo hindlimb skeletal muscle I/R model (2.5 h/2 h) was carried out on adult New Zealand white rabbits. Animals used as I/R models were treated with a multivitamin preparation (0.4 ml/kg bw i.v. bolus), containing alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, retinol, vitamin B complex, 30 min before starting ischemia (group MV(isc)) or 5 min before reperfusion (group MV(rep)) and compared to animals with I/R without treatment (group IR) and sham operated animals (group SHAM). Interstitial edema (muscle interfiber area, %MIFA) and changes in microvessel size (microvessel cross sectional area, MVCSA, microm(2)) were measured. Plasma malondialdehyde concentrations (MDA-TBA, nmol/ml) served as a measure of lipid peroxidation. After 2h of reperfusion, ischemia-reperfusion developed a significant microvascular constriction and an interstitial edema (IR, vs SHAM;P<< 0.01), but administration of antioxidative vitamins before the onset of ischemia reduced microvascular constriction and edema formation (P<< 0.05 vs IR group). In a similar manner, administration of vitamins before ischemia lowered plasma MDA-TBA levels as compared to the untreated group during reperfusion (p<< 0. 05). In animals treated with vitamins before reperfusion, the biochemical and morphological results showed no differences as compared to the untreated group. Antioxidative treatment with a multivitamin preparation exerted a beneficial effect on I/R injury of skeletal muscle when the aforementioned vitamins were administered before ischemia but not before the onset of reperfusion.