The use of babosa (Aloe vera) in treating burns: a literature review

Alo vera is a centenary remedy use for minor wounds and burns, but its mechanism of wound healing has not been know since. This article will evaluate and gather evidence of the effectiveness and safety of the use of aloe vera in the treatment of burns. A systematic review was carried out on the databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, DECS, SCIELO, in the last 7 years, with the descriptors: “Aloe”, “Burns” and “treatment”. 16 articles were found. After using the exclusion criteria; research in non-humans and literature review; 5 articles were selected. The article Teplick et al. (2018) performed an in vitro clinical experiment in A. Vera solution, and demonstrated that there was proliferation and cell migration of human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes, in addition to being protective in the death of keratonocytes. That is, it accelerates the healing of wounds. Muangman et al. (2016), evaluated 50 patients with 20% of the total body surface area burned with second-degree burns, between 18-60 years old, with half of the group receiving gauze dressings with soft paraffin containing 0.5% chlorhexidine acetate and the other half receiving polyester dressings containing extracts of medicinal plants mainly Aloe Vera. It had positive results, a higher healing speed and shorter hospital stay compared to the control group. Hwang et al. (2015) investigated the antioxidant effects of different extracts from 2,4,6,8,12 months of Aloe Vera. And the 6-month concentrated extract of 0.25 mg / mL had a higher content of flavonoids (9.750 mg catechin equivalent / g extract) and polyphenols (23.375 mg gallic acid equivalent / g extract) and the greater ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.047 mM equivalent ferrous sulfate / mg extract), that is, greater potential for free radical scavenging and also a protective effect against oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), suggesting evidence of a bioactive potential of A. vera . However, in the article Kolacz et al. (2014) suggested as an alternative treatment the use of Aloe Vera dressing in combination with honey, lanolin, olive oil, wheat germ oil, marshmallow root, wormwood, comfrey root, white oak bark, lobelia inflata, glycerin vegetable oil, beeswax and myrrh, without obtaining significant and conclusive results that would allow the conventional treatment of burns to be subsidized. Finally, in the article by Zurita and Gallegos (2017), it carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study with 321 people, both sexes between 17-76 years of age, of an inductive nature, exploring the experience of this population and their behavioral attitudes regarding the treatment of dermatoses. Aloe vera had 13.8% cited by individuals in the treatment of acne and 33.6% in the treatment of burns. Even with evidence that suggests the efficacy in the treatment of burns with the use of Aloe Vera extract, further clinical trials with larger sample space on the use of Aloe vera dressings in medium burns are suggested for further conclusions.

Use of sodium hydroxide DNA extraction methods for nested PCR detection of Bretziella fagacearum in the sapwood of oak species in Minnesota

Oak wilt caused by Bretziella fagacearum is an important disease of Quercus species, but its diagnosis may be confused with damage resulting from other diseases, insects, or abiotic factors. Laboratory diagnosis is important in such situations and when disease control action is desired. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests can provide accurate lab diagnosis within two days. Two variations of a simple DNA extraction protocol using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were compared to that of the proprietary protocol of a commercially available kit (CK) for nested PCR to detect the pathogen in oak sapwood. High frequencies of pathogen detection (98 to 100% of 48 branch segments assayed) were found for northern pin oak using the two NaOH-based and the CK methods. Detection rates were similar but lower for bur oak (ranged from 58 to 79%) and white oak (ranged from 54 to 71%) regardless of DNA extraction method. Using our alternative DNA extraction protocols may reduce total time and cost of B. fagacearum detection in PCR-based diagnosis and other downstream applications.

Experimental study and comparative numerical modeling of creep behavior of white oak wood with various distributions of earlywood vessel belt

Many researches have been conducted to investigate creep behavior of wood; however, the effects of structure on wood creep behavior remain unclear. Therefore, the effects of existence and distribution of earlywood vessel belt on creep behavior of white oak (Quercus alba L.) wood were investigated by dynamic thermal mechanical analyzer (DMA) with double cantilever bending in this study. Besides, a comparative numerical modeling simulation on strain curves of white oak specimens was completed using Burger and Five-parameter model. Results revealed that instantaneous strain and 45-min strain of specimens decreased with increase in the distance between earlywood vessel belt and stress acting surface obviously. Additionally, instantaneous strain and 45-min strain of specimens remarkably increased with increase in temperature from 20 to 80 °C. An obvious bending creep behavior was observed with increase in temperature from 20 to 80 °C. Both Burger and Five-parameter model can effectively simulate the creep behavior of white oak specimens with R2 values greater than 0.90. Furthermore, Five-parameter model illustrated a better fitting effect than Burger model in the final creep stage due to the introduction of a non-linear creep strain growth expression. It concluded that creep behavior of white oak wood strongly depends on the existence and distribution of earlywood vessel belt.

Determination of Flexural Strength of Structural Red and White Oak and Hardwood Composite Lumber

In this research, flexural properties of mill-run, in-grade red and white oak lumber from a single mill and commercially available laminated hardwood composite were evaluated. Structurally graded green (wet) freshly sawn red and white oak 5 by 10-cm (2 by 4-in) nominal lumber as well as glue-laminated hardwood composite billets were tested in bending and their modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) properties were developed. It is well documented that MOR and MOE are two major indicators to evaluate flexural strength of wood lumbers. From these data, summary statistics, design values, and mean separations were calculated and reported. Overall, the red and white oak lumber performed similarly to structural No. 2 grade material. The hardwood composite billets were highly uniform. Each of the three materials demonstrated a reasonably good relationship between MOE and MOR, thereby suggesting that MOE could be used as a selection criterion for strength in a commercial use situation.

Multiyear defoliations in southern New England increases oak mortality

After decades of multiyear defoliation episodes in southern New England, Lymantria dispar dispar (previously gypsy moth) populations diminished with the appearance of the L. dispar fungus in 1989. Multiyear defoliations did not occur again until 2015-2018. To assess the impact of the return of multiyear defoliations, we examined 3095 oaks on 29 permanent study areas in Connecticut and Rhode Island that were established at least eleven years before the latest outbreaks. Pre-defoliation stand level oak mortality averaged 2% (three-year basis). Post-defoliation mortality did not differ between managed and unmanaged stands, but was much higher in severely defoliated stands (36%) than in stands with moderate (7%) or low-no defoliation (1%). Pre-defoliation mortality of individual trees differed among species, was lower for larger diameter trees and on unmanaged than managed stands. Post-defoliation mortality on plots with no to moderate defoliation was similar to pre-defoliation mortality levels. Following multiyear defoliations, white oak mortality was higher than for northern red and black oak. There was weak evidence that mortality was elevated on stands with higher basal area following severe defoliation. Natural resource managers should not assume that oaks that survived earlier multiyear defoliations episodes will survive future multiyear outbreaks, possibly because trees are older.

Effects of Wildfire and the Presence of the Invasive Paulownia tomentosa on the Regeneration of Native Tree Species in North-Central Appalachia

A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares. Based on earlier forest inventories it was known that paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), a non-native invasive tree species, occurred in the forest. The objective of this study was to determine if paulownia heavily colonized areas two years after the fire where the burn occurred, and if its presence had a negative impact on the regeneration (<137 cm height) of native species—red and white oaks (Quercus sp.), red maple (Acer rubrum), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Two years after the fire, paulownia had invaded the burned areas but not at significantly higher densities than occurred in the unburned areas. Fire significantly reduced the number of regenerating stems of white oak and red maple two years after the fire, whereas the number of regenerating stems of red oak increased slightly and that of yellow-poplar increased significantly. In areas where paulownia occurred that experienced wildfire, all species studied displayed a reduction in the number of regenerating stems compared to paulownia’s absence in the burn areas. Where paulownia occurred in areas not affected by the wildfire, all the native species studied displayed a reduction in the number of regenerating stems. The average heights of red oak, white oak, and red maple were significantly taller when growing in areas affected by the wildfire due to a more open canopy. However, there was no significant change in the average heights of yellow-poplar. The presence of paulownia in both the burned and unburned areas reduced the number of regenerating stems of the native species studied.

Prediction of Smoke Risk Ratings in the Combustion of Some Wood and Plastics

In this study, pinus koraiensis (nut pine) and quercus aliena (white oak) and polyethylene (PE) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were selected. And it was measured with a cone calorimeter in accordance with ISO 5660-1. With the measured values, it was intended to comprehensively predict the risk of smoke by Chung’s equations 1 (smoke performance index, SPI) and Chung’s equations 2 (smoke growth index, SGI). To standardize fire hazard assessment in case of fire by extending this, standard materials (PMMA) were used to classify the smoke risk by the Chung's equations-V (smoke performance index-V, SPI-V and smoke growth index-V, SGI-V) and Chung's equation-VI (smoke risk index-VI, SRI-VI) to evaluate it. The SPI-V was the lowest with nut pine of 0.73 and the highest PE was the highest with 37.22. In the SGI-V, PE was the material that produced the least smoke with the least amount of 0.03. Nut pine is expected to generate a large amount of smoke with the highest at 10.00. SRI-VI, it appeared in the order of PE (0.00) < PMMA (1.00) < white oak (1.44) << nut pine (13.70). Therefore, it was judged that PE had the lowest smoke risk and nut pine had the highest. In addition, it was found that the combustion of wood was done in an incomplete form than that of plastics.