Concurrent subcutaneous and ocular infections with Dirofilaria repens in a Polish patient: a case report in the light of epidemiological data.

Dirofilariasis is an emerging zoonosis caused by nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria, most often D. repens and D. immitis. The main final hosts and reservoirs of pathogens are dogs. The intermediate hosts and vectors of infection are female mosquitoes (Culicidae). Human is an accidental host in which the parasite does not usually mature. Over the past 20 years, the range of Dirofilaria spp. in Europe has expanded. We present an unusual case of multifocal dirofilariasis of mixed subcutaneous-ocular course caused by D. repens in a 52-year-old Polish patient who was probably infected in Spain or Croatia, where she stayed one year before the onset of symptoms. Surgical removal of the nematodes followed by treatment with Ivermectin in a single dose of 1200 µg and Doxycycline 200 mg daily for 7 days resulted in complete recovery. We believe that all cases of human dirofilariasis, especially in countries where the disease is not frequent at present, should be registered for epidemiological purposes. Moreover, due to the widening of the range of D. repens and D. immitis occurrence and the possibility of atypical courses of infection with both nematodes, diagnostics should include the species identification of the parasite.

[Application of autologous and allogenic keratynocyte cultures in burn management]. / Zastosowanie autologicznych i allogenicznych keratynocytów pochodzacych z hodowli w leczeniu oparzen.

First attempts to culture keratinocytes with intention of treating burn wounds started in the 19th century (Reverdin). Fast development of tissue engineering was connected to cell culture technology improvement in the fifties. Tissue culture of isolated keratinocytes was introduced by J.G. Rheinwald and H. Green. This method was modificated many times but is still used. Autologous keratinocytes culture was applied to burn management in 1981. Primary cell cultures became more popular in burn treatment. "Cell factories" and bioreactors are used to enhance proliferation to obtain huge amounts of cells in a short time. Cells are also seeded on matrixes made from glicosamonogycans, collagen, elastin or fibrin. These products are used as a skin substitutes.

Influence of autologous serum on rabbit chondrocytes proliferation in vitro. Comparing study to standard sera supplements.

Background. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is a method in reconstructive surgery. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is still a "gold standard" for media supplementation in many laboratories. Prion and virus diseases are danger for patients treated witch ACT if FBS is used. The aim of this study was to establish the utility of media for chondrocytes culture supplemented with Autologous Serum (AS) or serum substitute (Ultroser G. UG) instead of FBS.
Material and methods. Primary rabbit articular chondrocytes culture was established and cultures in MHCH (Chondrocytes Culture Medium) medium with 10% FBS during first 3 passages. The influence of different sera in various concentrations of 10%, 5% and 2,5%, while Ultroser G in 2%, 1% and 0,5%. Ceels were transferred in amount of 104 into the 24-well plates containing tested media. After 96 hours cells were counted using trypan blue test and photo documentation was done. Means were compared using Student-T test.
Results. AS in concentration of 10% stimulated cell growth to 14,93+/-2,03 x 104 cell/well. Medium supplemented with the same concentration of FBS allowed to obtain 6,56+/-1,08 x 104 cell/well. Transfer from medium supplemented with 10% of FBS to flask containing Ultroser G stopped proliferation rate. Cell viability in AS and FBS supplemented media was over 90% while 80,8-8809% in UG.
Conclusion. 10% FBS and AS conditioned media are both suitable for chondrocytes culture. AS seems to be the serum conditioner for chondrocytes propagation.