Despite many attempts to treat leishmaniasis, new approaches are necessary to reduce the burden of disease. Perovskia abrotanoides (Brazambel) has shown significant effects against Leishmania parasites in some studies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of P. abrotanoides extract topical formulation on cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were assigned to experimental (n = 18) and control (n = 18) groups. Both groups received intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®). The experimental group also received 5% Brazambel extract ointment once a day. The interventions continued until the complete healing of the lesions (reepithelialization) for a maximum of 8 weeks. The clinical response, defined as complete response (reepithelialization >75%), partial response (reepithelialization 50%–75%), or treatment failure (reepithelialization <50%), was compared between the groups. Findings: The percentage of reepithelialization in the experimental group (4th week: 64.44 ± 25.13; 8th week: 83.85 ± 11.54) was higher than the control group (4th week: 53.97 ± 25.88; 8th week: 76.27 ± 21.67); however, the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.252 and 0.494, respectively). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups regarding the rate of complete healing (88.9% vs. 72.2%, respectively). Conclusion: The use of P. abrotanoides extract 5% topical formulation does not affect the healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of topical diclofenac sodium 0.1% on the corneal epithelial healing after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)Methods: In this prospective randomized double blind clinical trial, PRK was performed on 82 patients. Thirty-three cases of them receiving topical diclofenac four times per day after surgical procedure and 45 patients did not receive this medication as a control group. Patients were compared for corneal epithelial healing after treatment.Results: Statistically significant delayed epithelial healing has been found in the treatment group 24 hours after PRK but corneal reepithelialization has been completed in all patients four days after surgery.Conclusion: Postoperative topical diclofenac used following PRK may delay the epithelial healing.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of corneal collagen cross-linking with UV-A and riboflavin (CXL) for treatment of refractory herpes simplex virus necrotizing keratitis.Case Reports: Two patients with a diagnosis of HSV necrotizing stromal keratitis referred to Khalili hospital eye emergency room and who were resistant to conventional treatment underwent CXL. Response to treatment was evaluated clinically by speed of reepithelialization and decrease in stromal infiltration. One patient had history of previous corneal graft because of HSV kerstitis and had a good response to CXL. Another patient had a relatively good response, but recurrence was occurred.Conclusion: Although CXL seems promising in the treatment of patients with refractory necrotizing keratitis, in some cases it may less effective and recurrence is possible.

BACKGROUND: Burns are still considered one of the most devastating conditions in emergency medicine affecting both genders and all age groups in developed and developing countries, resulting into physical and psychological scars and cause chronic disabilities. This study was performed to determine the healing effect of curcumin on burn wounds in rat.METHODS: Seventy female Sprague-Dawley 180-220 g rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. Groups of A-C received 0.1, 0.5 and 2% curcumin respectively and Group D, silver sulfadiazine ointment. Group E was considered as control group and received eucerin. After 7, 14 and 21 days of therapy, the animals were sacrificed and burn areas were macroscopically examined and histologically were scored.RESULTS: Administration of curcumin resulted into a decrease in size of the burn wounds and a reduction in inflammation after 14th days. Reepithelialization was prominent in groups A-C while more distinguishable in group C. In group C, epidermis exhibited well structured layers without any crusting. There were spindle shaped fibroblasts in fascicular pattern, oriented parallel to the epithelial surface with eosinophilic collagen matrix.CONCLUSION: Curcumin as an available and inexpensive herbal was shown be a suitable substitute in healing of burn wounds especially when 2% concentration was applied.

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus; it consists of lesions in the deep tissues associated with neurological disorders and peripheral vascular disease in the lower limbs. Delayed wound healing in diabetes leads to long-term hospitalization and even amputation of distal organs. Diabetes mellitus is associated with decreased nitric oxide bioavailability that causes dysfunction of the skin. Nitric oxide, a short-lived free radical, is produced in the skin, where it has important physiological functions. Much evidence suggests that nitric oxide accelerates wound healing. This review describes the pathways of nitric oxide production in the skin as well as role of nitric oxide donors in diabetic wound healing. Increased oxidative stress and arginase activity contribute to decreased nitric oxide bioavailability in diabetes. Based on data available, nitric oxide donors such as nitrite increase nitric oxide levels in the diabetic wound and improve would healing. It seems that increased nitric oxide in diabetic patients improves wound healing by increased collagen deposition and keratinocytes proliferation in the wound edges there by increasing reepithelialization capacity, chemoattractant of cytokines, increased formation of small blood vessels and increased blood flow to the wound site. In conclusion, nitric oxide donors could be considered as a potential and cost-effective treatment for diabetic wounds.

Purpose: To investigate the application of mitomycin-C 0.02% (MMC) in the photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedure in correcting regressed myopia.Methods: Eighteen eyes of 11 patients with a spherical equivalent (SE) of less than -5 diopters (D) who had undergone laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) more than 2 years before were operated on. At the end of the PRK procedure, MMC was applied on the ablated stroma for 1 minute using a surgical sponge and then irrigated with 30 ml of cold sterile balanced salt solution. Patients had follow-up visits everyday until complete reepithelialization and then at 1st and 2nd weeks, and at 2nd, 3rd, and 6th months postoperatively. Results: The mean preoperative sphere and cylinder were -1.23 D and -1.29 D, respectively, which improved to -0.08 D and -0.30 D, six months after surgery. Mean uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity (UCVA and BCVA) before reoperation were 0.41 and 0.06 logMAR that postoperatively changed to 0.13 and 0.04 logMAR, respectively. At 6 months after surgery, there was no sign of haze formation in any eye. The safety and efficacy indices were 1.13 and 1.06 at this time, respectively. Conclusion: The application of MMC in PRK for the treatment of low to moderate regressed myopia after LASIK is a safe and effective option. The risk of postoperative haze formation can be reduced using this method.

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of local hyperthermia on the healing of burn wounds. Right and Left flunks of 8 Balb-c mice (as treated and control wounds respectively) were burned. Local hyperthermia was applied only for the burn wounds of the right flunks (the treated wound). Sampling was accomplished on the 6th day for half of the mice and on the 9th day for the other half. The treated wounds had significantly smaller sizes than control wounds on the 6th day (P=0.019) and the 9th day (P=0.007). The number of hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the treated wounds were significantly more than those of control wounds both on the 6th day (P=0.025 & P=0.043, respectively) and on the 9th day (P=0.012 & P=0.033, respectively). Regarding the neovascularization there was no significant difference between the treated and control wounds on the 6th day but on the 9th day the neovascularization of the treated wounds was significantly more comparing to the control wounds (P=0.025). Acute inflammation of the treated wounds was significantly less than the control wounds (P=0.015). Collagen formation and reepithelialization in the treated wounds were more than the control wounds both on the 6th and 9th days. It is concluded that local hyperthermia can accelerate the healing process of the second degree burn wounds.

Objective: To determine the effects of Aloe- vera extract on skin wounds healing.Design: Experimental study.Animals: Four fat tailed sheep with 1-1.5 years old and 25-30 kg weighing.Procedure: Bilateral skin wounds (two 2×2 cm full thickness as rectangular shape) were made in the cranial and caudal parts of chest. These four areas in each animal were treated individually with Aloe- vera extract (9% in Euserin), Phenytoine (1% in Euserin), pure Euserin and normal saline two times per day. In order to eliminate the effects of anatomical factors on wounds healing drugs were different from one sheep to another. Gross photographs were taken from wounds, scanned and computerized. Then total wound area, granulation of tissue and new epithelialization was measured carefully by Scion Image software. The percentages of wound healing, wound contraction and epithelialization were calculated.Statistical analysis: Paired Hest.Results: While Aloe- Vera did not show any significant effect on the wound geometrical parameters. on the other hand in microscopical evaluations, reepithelialization, tissue granulation and proliferation of connective tissue in wounds were seen in response to Aloe- vera. Furthermore, collagenous fibers were thicker and well arranged in these groups, too. Conclusion: While quantitative measurements did not show supportive effects of Aloe- vera on wound geometrical parameters, qualitative observations showed it can improve healing process and wound appearance.