Influence of factors released from sciatic nerve on adult dorsal root ganglion neurons

Previous experiments have shown that medium conditioned (CM) by denervated peripheral nerve contains a process outgrowth promoting factor (s) for cultured adult frog dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The present experiments further characterize the influences of these factors on DRG neurons. The growth factors increases average process length by threefold, restricts the number of processes extended from four to two while simultaneously altering the morphology of those processes. Neurons with preexisting processes respond to the factors by significantly increasing the length of 35% of these processes. Only the newly elongated portions of preexisting processes have morphology typical of factor-induced processes, while the previously extended portions retain their original morphology. The number of processes of these neurons remains unchanged. Although composed of two population according to size, neurons in both populations are similarly influenced, suggesting that the factors influence neurons of all sensory modalities. To look at other possible influences of the nerve-released factors, a novel simple culture system has been developed in which concentration gradients of these factors can be established and maintained. The front of the outgrowth-promoting influence in these cultures could be followed over time (up to 9 days) as it affected the process length and morphology of neurons at increasing distances (up to 8 mm) from the source of the factors. The trophic factors may play important roles during regeneration in vivo by influencing the cytoskeletal organization in the cell body and growth cones to bring about a stabilization and consolidation of growth cone membrane of only a limited number of processes resulting in increasing the rate of process elongation. The factors may also serve to direct process outgrowth, which can be examined using the new culture system. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Quantitative determination of concentration profiles of skin components and topically applied oils by tailored multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares using in vivo confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy

The main components of the stratum corneum (SC), water, lipids, and proteins, are non-homogeneously distributed throughout the depth. The quantitative determination of their concentration profiles and penetration depth of topically applied substances are urgent topics of dermatological and cosmetic research. Confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy has distinct advantages when determining semi-quantitative concentrations of SC components and topically applied substances non-invasively and in vivo. In this work, we applied a tailored multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (tMCR-ALS) method to analyze Raman spectra of the SC in the 2000–4000 cm⁻¹ region for quantitatively determining the concentrations of water, lipids, proteins, and topically applied oils using substance-related spectral loadings which were allowed to change depth-dependently from the SC's surface toward its bottom. tMCR-ALS makes matching of depth-dependent signal attenuation, that is, the normalization on keratin, unnecessary and requires only a few additional experiments for calibration – Raman spectra of the pure materials and their densities.     

Atypical B cells are part of an alternative lineage of B cells that participates in responses to vaccination and infection in humans

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Sentinel lymph node detection by combining nonradioactive techniques with contrast agents: State of the art and prospects

The status of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) has a substantial prognostic value because these nodes are the first place where cancer cells accumulate along their spreading route. Routine SLN biopsy (“gold standard”) involves peritumoral injections of radiopharmaceuticals, such as technetium-99m, which has obvious disadvantages. This review examines the methods used as “gold standard” analogs to diagnose SLNs. Nonradioactive preoperative and intraoperative methods of SLN detection are analyzed. Promising photonic tools for SLNs detection are reviewed, including NIR-I/NIR-II fluorescence imaging, photoswitching dyes for SLN detection, in vivo photoacoustic detection, imaging and biopsy of SLNs. Also are discussed methods of SLN detection by magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonic imaging systems including as combined with photoacoustic imaging, and methods based on the magnetometer-aided detection of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The advantages and disadvantages of nonradioactive SLN-detection methods are shown. The review concludes with prospects for the use of conservative diagnostic methods in combination with photonic tools.     

Response to comment by Puppels et al. on “A modification for the calculation of water depth profiles in oil‐treated skin by in vivo Raman microscopy”

The presence of penetrated oils in the stratum corneum (SC), oil‐induced occlusion of the SC and formation of occluding homogeneous film on the skin surface are discussed in relation to their influence on results of water profile calculations using conventional and newly proposed extended methods. It is shown that the conventional method does not determine the water profiles in treated skin correctly due to the superposition of Raman bands of SC's proteins and penetrated and remnant oils.     

Itaconate confers tolerance to late NLRP3 inflammasome activation

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