Alteration in tryptic peptide patterns of ferritins purified from human colon carcinoma

Ferritin from malignant tissue differs electrophoretically from normal ferritin. The molecular basis of this difference has not yet been defined. Malignant tissue contains a mixture of ferritins from normal cells, inflammatory cells as well as cancer cells. GW-39 is a pure colon carcinoma cell system that synthesizes human carcinoembryonic antigen. Therefore, ferritin was isolated from normal colon mucosa and colon cancer tissues, as well as from the colon carcinoma cell line, to clarify the molecular relationship between normal and malignant ferritins. Colon carcinoma ferritin differs in primary structure from normal colon mucosal ferritin and contains at least six additional different tryptic peptides. These six peptides were also found in the ferritin from the colon carcinoma cell line. These data suggest that the alteration in ferritin structure occurs at the cellular level and is associated with the malignant state.     

Acute squamous cell carcinoma arising within a recent burn scar in a 14-year-old boy

We have described the case of a 14-year-old boy who developed an acute squamous cell carcinoma within a healed burn scar 6 weeks after thermal injury. This is a rare condition necessitating early excision and histopathologic confirmation of clearance. The authors recommend early skin grafting of deep partial- and full-thickness burns to prevent future malignant transformation and a low index of suspicion of any nodules or ulceration appearing within a healed burn.     

Alteration and Recovery of Slash Pile Burn Sites in the Restoration of a Fire‐Maintained Ecosystem

Restoration practices incorporating timber harvest (e.g. to remove undesirable species or reduce tree densities) may generate unmerchantable wood debris that is piled and burned for fuel reduction. Slash pile burns are common in longleaf pine ecosystem restoration that involves hardwood removal before reintroduction of frequent prescribed fire. In this context, long‐lasting effects of slash pile burns may complicate restoration outcomes due to unintended alterations to vegetation, soils, and the soil seed bank. In this study, our objectives were to (1) examine alterations to the soil seed bank, soil physical and chemical characteristics, and initial vegetation recolonization following burn and (2) determine the rate of return of soil and vegetation characteristics to pre‐burn conditions. We found that burning of slash piles (composed of scores of whole trees) results in elevated nutrient levels and significant impacts on vegetation and the soil seed bank, which remain evident for at least 6 years following burn. In this ecosystem, formerly weakly acidic soils become neutral to basic and levels of P remain significantly higher. Following an initial decrease after burn, total soil N increases with time since burn. These changes suggest that not only does pile burning create a fire scar initially devoid of biota, but it also produces an altered soil chemical environment, with possible consequences for long‐term ecosystem restoration efforts in landscapes including numerous fire scars. To facilitate restoration trajectories, further adaptive management to incorporate native plant propagules or suppress encroaching hardwoods within fire scars may be warranted in fire‐dependent ecosystems.     

miR-204-5p regulates cell proliferation,invasion, and apoptosis by targeting IL-11 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the world's eighth most common malignant neoplasm and is ranked as the sixth leading cause of death related to cancer. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression has been reported to be associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanism of miR-204-5p in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is not clear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of miR-204-5p in ESCC. In the present study, we found that miR-204-5p could affect ESCC proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle in cell and mouse models. A dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-204-5p expression was negatively correlated with interleukin-11 (IL-11) expression. IL-11 overexpression reversed the suppressive effects of miR-204-5p in the cell lines. These results indicated that miR-204-5p functions as a tumor suppressor by directly targeting IL-11 in ESCC.     

Evaluation of Lyophilised, Gamma-Irradiated Amnion as a Biological Dressing

Burns, non-healing wounds and pressure sores cause extensive damage to the skin leading to infection and loss of precious body fluids. Despite advances in burn management the mortality rate continues to be high and the search for an economical and easily available dressing to control burn wound infection continues. Autologous skin has limited availability and is associated with additional scarring. Conventional dressings require frequent changes which can be painful and may even require anaesthesia.Amnion is an excellent biological dressing and its use in the treatment of burns has special appeal in India as there are religious barriers to the acceptance of bovine and porcine skin.Lyophilised, irradiated amnion provided for the first time in the country by the Tata Memorial Hospital Tissue Bank was evaluated as a temporary biological dressing. It was used to treat 35 patients with burns, 21 patients with bedsores and non-healing ulcers and the skin graft donor sites of 11 patients.The amnion was easy to handle and stuck well to the raw wound bed. An open dressing was used in most of the second degree burns which healed with hyperemia and early pigmentation. In patients with third degree burns, ulcers or skin graft donor sites, closed dressings were used. The exudate and induration were reduced and patients were more comfortable and experienced less pain. There was healthy granulation with good re-epithelialisation. Amnion was not used in patients with infected third degree burns.     

Change in synthetic activity of epidermis cells in rats during burn wound healing under a scab and in liquid environment

One of the problems of burn treatment is a creation of conditions providing most valuable skin rehabilitation. An experimental model of burn wound healing in a 0.9% NaCl solution is proposed. Synthetic activity of rat epidermis cells in the process of burn wound healing under a scab and in liquid environment was studied by luminescent microscopy. The effect of a 0.9% NaCl solution involves an increase of the basal layer cell synthetic activity of regenerating epidermis, and keeping a high level of this activity of hair follicle epithelial cells for a long time. Tissue-preserving effect of the 0.9% NaCl solution on burns healing has been confirmed in these results.     

DKK-1 与肝脏恶性肿瘤的相关研究进展

肝脏恶性肿瘤包括原发性肝癌、继发性肝癌、肝母细胞瘤、肝脏淋巴瘤、肝脏血管内皮细胞肉瘤、纤维板层肝细胞癌、肝脏未分化胚胎肉瘤等发生在肝脏的恶性病变。其中原发性肝癌(primary liver cancer,PLC)是临床上最常见的恶性肿瘤之一。PLC在我国的发病人数占全球的55%,是我国第二个最常见的癌症死亡原因。由于肝脏恶性肿瘤具有隐匿性强、恶性程度高,病情进展快的特点,很多患者就诊时已到疾病中晚期,即使采取多学科综合治疗,预后也很不理想。因此,美国肝病研究学会(AASLD)和卫生部制定的《原发性肝癌诊疗规范(2011年版)》特别强调了早期筛查和早期监测对提高患者生存时间和生存质量的作用。甲胎蛋白(AFP)联合影像学检查是目前筛查肝脏恶性肿瘤的主要方法,但是AFP和影像学检查尚缺乏足够的敏感性和特异性,尤其对于早期癌症的诊断而言。DKK-1(dickkopf-1)是近年来由德国科学家新发现的一种分泌型糖蛋白。DKK-1与肝脏恶性肿瘤,尤其与原发性肝癌的早期诊断和预后判断关系密切,是最值得期待的肿瘤诊断标志物之一。本文谨对DKK-1的分子生物学特点、在恶性肿瘤中的表达以及与肝脏恶性肿瘤的关系进行综述,探讨其作为肝癌诊断蛋白标志物的研究现状及临床应用前景。     

Mathematical Modelling of Aerosolised Skin Grafts Incorporating Keratinocyte Clonal Subtypes

Severe burns can be very traumatic for the patient, and while burns caused by industrial or domestic accidents are common, there are also increasing numbers of burns associated with terrorism. A novel technique to assist in the healing process is to spray skin cells, keratinocytes, that are cultured from the patient’s own tissue, directly onto the burn site. This process involves taking some undamaged skin from the patient, allowing the skin cells to proliferate rapidly in the laboratory over a period of 5–10 days, harvesting and separating the cells and then spraying them onto the burn. This paper deals with keratinocytes that have been cultured in vitro for a short period of time (early passage cultured cells). The spraying process has yet to be optimised with respect to the seeding density required for fastest re-epithelisation and thus there is a need for this process to be modelled. In this paper, we review some of the skin biology and develop a mathematical model of the growth patterns of cell colonies after they have been applied using a aerosolised technique. The model allows us to predict coverage over time and can be used as a decision support tool for clinicians. PACS: 92B05     

Biology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and their role in squamous cell carcinogenesis

Current data implicating the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in squamous cell carcinogenesis may be summarised as follows: animal models have shown that PVs can induce malignant transformation; HPV involvement in both benign and malignant human squamous cell tumours has been demonstrated by morphological, immunohistochemical and DNA hybridisation techniques; HPV infections in the genital tract are venereally transmitted and are associated with the same risk factors as cervical carcinoma; the natural history of cervical HPV lesions is similar to that of CIN, namely, they have the potential to develop into carcinoma in situ; malignant transformation of PV-induced lesions seems to depend on virus type and the physical state of its DNA, e.g., whether or not it is integrated in the host cell DNA; malignant transformation most probably requires synergistic actions between the PVs and chemical or physical carcinogens, or other infectious agents; genetic disposition (at least in animals) significantly contributes to malignant transformation; immunological defence mechanisms of the host are probably capable of modifying the course of PV infections (efficacy in man remains to be elucidated). Many details of the molecular mechanisms, however, still remain to be clarified. Although BPV1 is capable of transforming fibroblasts, the way that papillomaviruses transform epithelial cells is unclear. Which gene is capable of inducing the limited cell proliferation in benign lesions? No model systems exist to provide the answer nor to elucidate the progression to malignant cells and then to invasive cancer. Improved tissue culture systems for in vitro differentiation of keratinocytes should help in elucidating the biology of papillomaviruses and their interaction with cell division and differentiation.     

Expression and subcellular distribution of Bcl-2 and BAX proteins in serum-starved human keratinocytes and mouth carcinoma epidermoid cultures

Squamous cell carcinoma (SSC) is the most frequent malignant tumor of the oral cavity. Aberration of programmed cell death is thought to participate in cancer. Using specific antibodies a study of the expression and subcellular distribution of Bcl-2, BAX, caspase-3 and cytochrome c in normal human keratinocytes and mouth carcinoma slowly (HN) and rapidly growing (KB) cells has been carried out. In carcinoma cells depressed expression of BAX, presence in the cytosol of procaspase-3 and absence in this fraction of cytochrome c have been found. PGE2 treatment prevented cell growth depression induced by pro-apoptotic serum starvation both in control and carcinoma cell cultures. It is also shown that PGE2 promoted both in keratinocytes and KB cells expression of Bcl-2, which was accompanied in the first case by increase in its mitochondrial level. These results indicate that in carcinoma cells there is an apparent down regulation of the apoptotic cascade as compared to normal keratinocytes. Thus the possibility that down regulation of apoptosis is associated with promotion of tumor development in the oral mucosa cells seems to be supported by these observations.     

口腔鳞癌细胞系NTCR中侧群细胞的相关研究

目的:口腔鳞癌是口腔颌面部常见的恶性肿瘤之一,本研究以侧群细胞为肿瘤干细胞突破口,通过检测、分选口腔鳞癌细胞系NTCR中侧群细胞(side population,SP)细胞亚群,深入研究不同细胞亚群的体内、外相关生物学特性,寻找口腔鳞癌中肿瘤干细胞存在的证据。方法:选取口腔鳞癌细胞系NTCR作为研究对象,Hoechst 33342染色后行流式细胞仪检测,分选口腔鳞状细胞癌中的SP细胞和非SP细胞,进行体外培养、长期分化和体内成瘤实验,对2种亚群细胞的体内和体外生物学特性进行检测和比较。结果:口腔鳞状细胞癌细胞系NTCR中含有9.3%SP细胞,其SP细胞在细胞的增殖能力、自我更新能力及裸鼠体内成瘤能力等方面与干细胞特性相似。结论:SP细胞可以认为是肿瘤干细胞的富集。进一步深入研究,有可能作为口腔鳞癌诊断、治疗和预后的靶标。     

Coping with severe burns in the early stage after burn injury

This study examined the relationship between coping strategies, anxiety and depression levels and burn injury characteristics in the early phase of the treatment in burn-injured patients. Seventy patients with severe burns were interviewed within two weeks of their burn trauma. Coping strategies were measured by the coping with burns questionnaire (CBQ). Anxiety and depression levels were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. There were no statistically significant gender differences in various coping strategies. Avoidance was associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression and hopelessness. The percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) and localization of burns were not associated with coping patterns. Implications for the assessment and management of burn injured patients were discussed.     

Hypertonic saline dextran after burn injury decreases inflammatory cytokine responses to subsequent pneumonia-related sepsis

The present study examined the hypothesis that hypertonic saline dextran (HSD), given after an initial insult, attenuates exaggerated inflammation that occurs with a second insult. Adult rats (n = 15 per group) were divided into groups 1 (sham burn), 2 [40% total body surface area burn + 4 ml/kg isotonic saline (IS) + 4 ml.kg(-1).% burn(-1) lactated Ringer solution (LR)], and 3 (burn + 4 ml/kg HSD + LR), all studied 24 h after burns. Groups 4 (sham burn), 5 (burn + IS + LR), and 6 (burns + HSD + LR) received intratracheal (IT) vehicle 7 days after burns; groups 7 (burn + IS + LR) and 8 (burn + HSD + LR) received IT Streptococcus pneumoniae (4 x 10(6) colony-forming units) 7 days after burn. Groups 4-8 were studied 8 days after burn and 24 h after IT septic challenge. When compared with sham burn, contractile defects occurred 24 h after burn in IS-treated but not HSD-treated burns. Cardiac inflammatory responses (pg/ml TNF-alpha) were evident with IS (170 +/- 10) but not HSD (45 +/- 5) treatment vs. sham treatment (80 +/- 15). Pneumonia-related sepsis 8 days after IS-treated burns (group 7) exacerbated TNF-alpha responses/contractile dysfunction vs. IS-treated burns in the absence of sepsis (P < 0.05). Sepsis that occurred after HSD-treated burns (group 8) had less myocyte TNF-alpha secretion/better contractile function than IS-treated burns given septic challenge (group 7, P < 0.05). We conclude that an initial burn injury exacerbates myocardial inflammation/dysfunction occurring with a second insult; giving HSD after the initial insult attenuates myocardial inflammation/dysfunction associated with a second hit, suggesting that HSD reduces postinjury risk for infectious complications.     

肿瘤干细胞的光动力治疗研究进展

肿瘤干细胞(cancerstem cells,CSCs)是在肿瘤组织中具有干细胞特性的细胞亚群,它具有正常干细胞的多向分化潜能,能够无限增值和自主分化为各种具有异质性的肿瘤细胞。CSCs在肿瘤的发生、生长、转移中起着重要作用。同时,CSCs对目前大多数治疗如化疗、放疗不敏感,甚至具有耐药性,这也就导致了恶性肿瘤在治疗后容易复发。鉴于此,针对肿瘤干细胞的治疗日益受到关注,光动力疗法(photodynamictherapy,PDT)由于其微创性,不良反应少,靶向性强等特点在肿瘤的治疗研究中不断得到发展。本文将从CSCs的特性入手,结合PDT治疗的最新进展,探讨PDT治疗在肿瘤干细胞治疗中的应用。     

Clothing burns in Canadian children

A Canadian survey of 11 tertiary care pediatric centres with specialized burn facilities revealed that an estimated 37 children up to 9 years of age are admitted annually to such hospitals because of clothing burns. Sleepwear accounts for an estimated 21 such burns per year. Girls were found to suffer the most severe burns and represented eight of the nine children in the series who died. Loose and flowing garments dominated the girls'' styles. The results of multiple-regression analysis confirmed that style of clothing (loose and flowing as opposed to snug) was the most significant predictor of burn severity, length of hospital stay, the need for skin grafting and survival. The ignition situation (avoidance of parental supervision at the time of injury) was the only other important predictor. The success of regulatory actions in other countries in reducing the incidence of severe clothing burns is reviewed, and preventive strategies for Canada are explored.     

Surface glycoproteomic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by affinity enrichment and mass spectrometric identification

Cell surface glycoproteins are one of the most frequently observed phenomena correlated with malignant growth. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant tumors in the world. The majority of hepatocellular carcinoma cell surface proteins are modified by glycosylation in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. Therefore, characterization of cell surface glycoproteins can provide important information for diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer, and also represent a promising source of potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, cell surface glycoproteins of HCC have been seldom identified by proteomics approaches because of their hydrophobic nature, poor solubility, and low abundance. The recently developed cell surface-capturing (CSC) technique was an approach specifically targeted at membrane glycoproteins involving the affinity capture of membrane glycoproteins using glycan biotinylation labeling on intact cell surfaces. To characterize the cell surface glycoproteome and probe the mechanism of tumor invasion and metastasis of HCC, we have modified and evaluated the cell surface-capturing strategy, and applied it for surface glycoproteomic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In total, 119 glycosylation sites on 116 unique glycopeptides were identified, corresponding to 79 different protein species. Of these, 65 (54.6?%) new predicted glycosylation sites were identified that had not previously been determined experimentally. Among the identified glycoproteins, 82?% were classified as membrane proteins by a database search, 68?% had transmembrane domains (TMDs), and 24?% were predicted to contain 2-13 TMDs. Moreover, a total of 26 CD antigens with 50 glycopeptides were detected in the membrane glycoproteins of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, comprising 43?% of the total glycopeptides identified. Many of these identified glycoproteins are associated with cancer such as CD44, CD147 and EGFR. This is a systematic characterization of cell surface glycoproteins of HCC. The membrane glycoproteins identified in this study provide very useful information for probing the mechanism of liver cancer invasion and metastasis.     

Adenomas – Genetic factors in colorectal cancer prevention

Colorectal cancer is the second most common type of cancer both in Europe and Poland. During the last 30 years more than a 3-fold increase has been observed in Poland due to environmental and genetic factors. Almost all colorectal malignancies are related to the formation and malignant transformation of colorectal dysplasia and adenoma. Efforts aiming to decrease the number of colorectal cancer deaths are focused on the disease early detection. Genetic diagnosis for hereditary syndromes predisposing to colorectal cancer has been developed and is a part of the routine treatment. Most cancers are sporadic. They often develop from polyps in the colon. In addition to the genetic events described in the 1990s, showing the adenoma transformation into carcinoma that has been a prime example of malignant transformation for a long time, there are also other possibilities of neoplastic transformation. The recognition of colorectal cancer risk factors make sense as their nature is lifestyle- and diet-related. In this review paper those risk factors are presented and the prevention of colorectal cancer is discussed taking into account genetic factors.     

Towards quantitative assessment of burn based on photoacoustic and optical coherence tomography

Accurate and timely assessment of the severity of burn is essential for the treatment of burns. Currently, although most first‐degree and third‐degree burns are easily diagnosed through visual inspection or auxiliary diagnostic methods, the second‐degree burn is still difficult to distinguish due to the ambiguity boundaries of second‐degree with first‐degree and third‐degree burns. In this study, we proposed a non‐invasive technique by combing photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to multi‐parameter quantitatively assess the burns. The feasibility and capacity of the dual‐mode PAT/OCT for assessing the burns was first testified by tissue‐mimicking phantom and burn wounds in mouse pinna in vivo. The further experiments conducted on the back of rats showed that the changes in skin scattering structure, vascular morphology and blood flow provided by the dual‐mode PAI/OCT system can determine distinct boundaries and depth of the burns. The experimental results prove that combined PAI/OCT as a novel method can be used to assess the severity of burn, which has the potential to diagnose the burns in clinic.     

Permanent restoration of human skin treated with cultured epithelium grafting--wound healing by stem cell based tissue engineering--

The technique of epidermal cell culture developed by Green and colleagues made a breakthrough in the treatment of massive wounds in vivo with grown cells in vitro. In the past two decades, progress of culture methods and clinical practice have been made and now it is possible to treat extensive skin defect with large amounts of cultured epithelium. Since 1985, we have been successfully used cultured epidermis as autografts for the permanent coverage of full-thickness burn wounds or excised burn scars, giant nevi, tattoos and so on. Furthermore, cultured epidermis has been available as allografts to promote the healing of chronic skin ulcers or deep dermal burn. In this paper we describe our clinical experience of cultured epithelium grafting for the treatment of wounds and predict new trial of wound management and regeneration based on tissue engineering concept.     

A comparison of intramarginal and extramarginal excision of hypertrophic burn scars

Hypertrophic scarring is common in burn patients. The treatment of such scarring is difficult, and recurrence of the hypertrophic changes after scar revision is not uncommon. It has been suggested that intramarginal excision diminishes the chances of recurrent hypertrophic scarring, but we could not find any papers in the literature actually comparing intramarginal and extramarginal excisions. We therefore reviewed our experience with intramarginal and extramarginal excision of hypertrophic scars. Between October 30, 1979, and March 26, 1986, we excised 50 hypertrophic scars in 23 burn patients. Thirty-one (62 percent) of the excisions were intramarginal and 19 (38 percent) were extramarginal. We compared the results and observed that the intramarginal excisions yielded better results than the extramarginal excisions.