Hepatic progenitor cell inhibition during embryonic period with high dose verapamil; liable joint to the cancer therapy.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been observed to share certain characteristics with normal stem cells. It was an important argument for cancer therapy and a successful progenitor inhibition could show us targeted cell type for a novel strategy. In this study, we aimed to constitute an inhibition in different stages of hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HPCs) with verapamil. Expression patterns of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), c-kit (CD117) and p-glycoprotein were investigated in developing mouse on the embryonic day (E) 15, E18 and E21 to characterize early and late stages of HPCs. Proliferation inhibition with 5-Bromo-2-Deoxyuridin (BrdU) incorporation and maturation inhibition with PAS staining results were supported by morphometrical analysis during these periods. AFP, c-kit and p-glycoprotein immunoreactivity increased especially in E15 but decreased in E18 and E21 of the control groups during embryonic development. Verapamil treatment effected particularly E15 cells and immunoexpression of HPCs significantly decreased. Proliferation inhibition was observed in all embryonic days of mouse with verapamil and this drug inhibited not only maturation of HPCs in E18 and E21 embryos, but also decreased HPC number in the same embryonic period. According to our results, we estimated that similar to the early and late progenitor stages of HPCs, CSCc can also be in different stages in a heterogenic tumour bulk and the difficulty of CSC inhibition could be the main mechanism of tumour relapses. In this study, HPCs inhibition by verapamil in E15 was not observed in E18 and E21. As similar, CSCs treatments targeting different stages may be impotent to cells in tumour initiating cell stage. We can speculate that ineffectiveness of CSC-specific therapies may be attributed to the highly selective specificity of the treatment (Fig. 6, Ref. 28).

An alternative dressing material for the split-thickness skin graft donor site: oxidized regenerated cellulose.

The split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites have been treated with various and plenty of dressing techniques and materials. An ideal STSG donor site dressing should have antibacterial, hemostatic, and promoting epidermal healing properties. We have performed a prospective study to evaluate the effect of the oxidized regenerated cellulose on STSG donor site healing. Between January 2002 and January 2005, 40 patients who were operated in any kind of reconstructive operations with STSG donor sites were included in the study. One half of the wound was covered with oxidized regenerated cellulose and the other half of the same wound of the same patient was covered with fine mesh gauze treated with Furacin (nitrofurazone). The patients were grouped into 2 depending on the dressing technique: group I, semiclosed and group II, closed. The wounds were evaluated for healing time, infection, pain perception of the patient, and final esthetic results. The oxidized regenerated cellulose side of the group I was healed in a mean of 6.5 +/- 0.51 days; in group II, 5.4 +/- 0.50 days (range, 5-6 days). The fine mesh gauze treated with Furacin in group I was healed in a mean of 9.9 +/- 0.97 days (range, 8-11 days); in group II, 8.4 +/- 0.99 days (range, 7-10 days). There was a statistical significance between the oxidized regenerated cellulose side and the fine mesh gauze side (P < 0.001) in group I and group II separately. The difference between group I and group II was statistically significant in the oxidized regenerated cellulose side (P < 0.001), and the difference between group I and group II was statistically significant in the fine mesh gauze side (P < 0.005). The antibacterial, hemostatic, and absorbable property of the oxidized regenerated cellulose could ensure the utilization as an alternative STSG donor site dressing, especially because the positive influence over the wound healing was proven.

[Handling of unconventional pathogens]. / Zum Umgang mit unkonventionellen Erregern.

This article summarizes decontamination problems in handling transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in the field of human pathology. The combination of chemical (i.e. 1 M NaOH, 1 h, room temperature) and physical (i.e. autoclaving for 30 min at 131 degrees C) decontamination methods was proven to be suitable for instruments and other materials. Als for the autopsy of suspected TSE patients, safety measures have to be taken. The brain preparation, in particular, represents a considerable risk which must be minimized by appropriate safety measures. Conventional formaldehyde fixation does not decontaminate tissues! Embedding, cutting, deparaffinization and processing or staining have to be done with cautions; members of staff must be aware of the danger. After the handling of suspect materials, the hands should be washed without brushing the skin. In the case of percutaneous inoculation the injury must be decontaminated immediately using iodine- or phenol-containing preparations, 0.5 M NaOH or 1:3000 potassium permanganate.