No abstract

This review describes the role of the mast cell in the pathobiology of skin healing. After illustrating its main morphofunctional characteristics, with special reference to the dog and cat, we consider the involvement of the mast cell in the various phases of skin repair. With the aid of a wide array of newly formed or preformed mediators released by degranulation, the activated mast cell controls the key events of the healing phases: triggering and modulation of the inflammatory stage, proliferation of connective cellular elements and final remodelling of the newly formed connective tissue matrix. The importance of the mast cell in regulating healing processes is also demonstrated by the fact that a surplus or deficit of degranulated biological mediators causes impaired repair, with the formation of exuberant granulation tissue (e.g. keloids and hypertrophic scars), delayed closure (dehiscence) and chronicity of the inflammatory stage.

No abstract

Background -Palmitoylethanolamide is a naturally occurring bioactive lipid, produced on-demand by damageexposed cells. Palmitoylethanolamide is documented to counteract inflammation, itch and pain.Objective -The aim of this 8-week study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral ultra-micronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-um) in dogs with moderate atopic dermatitis.Animals -Clinicians from 39 veterinary clinics enrolled 160 dogs with nonseasonal atopic dermatitis and moderate pruritus.Methods -This was a multi-centre open-label study. On days 0 (D0) and 56 (D56), owners evaluated pruritus with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and completed a validated Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire. Veterinarians assessed the severity of skin lesions using the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index (CADLI).Results -Mean pruritus VAS score decreased from 5.7 AE 0.08 cm (range 3.8-7.9 cm) to 3.63 AE 0.19 cm (range 0.1-9.2 cm) (P < 0.0001). At D56, 58% of dogs showed a greater than 2 cm reduction from baseline and 30% showed an absent-to-very mild pruritus (VAS ≤ 2 cm). Mean total CADLI at D56 decreased significantly (P < 0.0001); in 62% of dogs this score reached a value in the remission range (≤5). Mean total QoL score was significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) with 45% of dogs reaching QoL values described for healthy animals. Tolerability was good-to-excellent with only four dogs reporting treatment associated reversible adverse events.Conclusions and clinical importance -PEA-um appears to be effective and safe in reducing pruritus and skin lesions, and in improving QoL in dogs with moderate atopic dermatitis and moderate pruritus.

No abstract