E-selectin, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) play a role in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to evaluate their expression in skin ...biopsy specimens of patients diagnosed with AD using an optimized computer program. A descriptive analysis and comparison of digitally measured surface area and cell number were performed. The number of E-selectin-positive cells did not vary between the groups. In patients with AD, decreases of 1.2-fold for ICAM-1- and 1.3-fold for VCAM-1- positive cells were observed. The E-selectin-positive epidermal surface area increased (
< 0.001), while ICAM1 and VCAM1 decreased 2.5-fold and 2-fold, respectively, compared to controls. In the AD-affected skin, the E-selectin-positive endothelial area was 3.5-fold larger (
< 0.001), and the ICAM1-positive area was almost 4-fold larger (
< 0.001). E-selectin and ICAM-1 were expressed in the control dermis moderately and weakly, respectively. A strong E-selectin signal was detected in the AD-affected skin macrophages and a strong ICAM-1 signal in the dermal vessel endothelium. In the endothelial cells of AD-affected skin, no VCAM-1 signal could be found. E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 expression show significant disease-specific changes between AD-affected and control skin. The combination of digital analysis and a pathologist's evaluation may present a valuable follow-up of AD activity parameters.
Mast cells (MCs) are an evolutionary well-conserved type of cells, mediating and modulating allergic responses in innate immunity and tissue remodeling after chronic inflammation. Among other ...tissues, they inhabit both the testis and epididymis. In the testis, MCs usually appear in the interstitial compartment in humans, but not in other standard experimental models, like rats and mice. MCs seem to be responsible for testicular tissue fibrosis in different causes of infertility. Although experimental animal models follow the effect on MC activation or penetration to the interstitial tissue like in humans to some extent, there is an inconsistency in the available literature regarding experimental design, animal strain, and detection methods used. This comprehensive review offers an insight into the literature on MCs in mammalian testes and epididymides. We aimed to find the most suitable model for research on MC and offer recommendations for future experimental designs. When using in vivo animal models, tunica albuginea incorporation and standard histological assessment need to be included. Domesticated boar strains kept in modified controlled conditions exhibit the highest similarity to the MC distribution in the human testis. 3D testicular models are promising but need further fine-tuning to become a valid model for MC investigation.
Rehabilitation of amputees represents a complex process during the course of which an amputee receives professional aid and support, so as to adapt to the use of prosthesis, i.e. an artificial ...supplement for the lost body part. The process aims at achieving an independent performance of the amputee in all areas of everyday life and as high quality of life as possible. The rehabilitation encompasses not only the pre-amputation, postoperative, pre-prosthetic and prosthetic stage, within which an amputee is provided with a prosthetic
aiding device, but also the subsequent long-term monitoring and follow-up. The implementation of the rehabilitation process runs in line with the biopsychosocial model and requires a multidisciplinary and an interdisciplinary approach, so as to achieve a successful reintegration of an amputee and allow for a lifestyle resembling the pre-amputation one as much as possible.
The article brings the causes and types of amputation, the principles
underpinning contemporary amputation surgery, prosthetics and rehabilitation during preoperative, postoperative, pre-prosthetic and prosthetic stages, as well as the stage goals and MOs of their attainment. Principles of evaluation of prosthetic rehabilitation outcomes in limb amputees, which make use of appraisal questionnaires, have been discussed as well.
Cartilage differentiates in rat limb buds cultivated in a chemically defined protein‐free medium in the same manner as in the richer serum‐supplemented medium. We aimed to investigate the remaining ...differentiation potential of pre‐cultivated limb buds by subsequent transplantation in vivo. Rat front (FLBs) and hind‐limb buds (HLBs) were isolated from Fischer rat dams at the 14th gestation day (GD 14) and cultivated at the air‐liquid interface in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) alone; with 5 μM of 5‐azacytidine (5azaC) or with rat serum (1:1). Overall growth was measured seven times during the culture by an ocular micrometre. After 14 days, explants were transplanted under the kidney capsule of adult males. Growth of limb buds was significantly lower in all limb buds cultivated in MEM than in those cultivated with serum. In MEM with 5azaC, growth of LBs was significantly lower only on day 3 of culture. Afterwards, it was higher throughout the culture period, although a statistically significant difference was assessed only for HLBs. In transplants, mixed structures developed with the differentiated transmembranous bone, cartilage with enchondral ossification, bone‐marrow, sebaceous gland, and hair that have never been found in vitro. Nerves differentiated only in transplants precultivated in the serum‐supplemented medium. We conclude that pre‐cultivation of LBs in a chemically defined protein‐free medium does not restrict osteogenesis and formation of epidermal appendages but is restrictive for neural tissue. These results are important for understanding limb development and regenerative medicine strategies.
Although DNA methylation epigenetically regulates development, data on global DNA methylation during development of limb buds (LBs) are scarce. We aimed to investigate the global DNA methylation ...developmental dynamics in rat LBs cultivated in a serum-supplemented (SS) and in chemically defined serum- and protein-free (SF) three-dimensional organ culture. Fischer rat front- and hind-LBs at 13th and 14th gestation days (GD) were cultivated at the air-liquid interface in Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium (MEM) or MEM with 50% rat serum for 14 days, as SF and SS conditions, respectively. The methylation of repetitive DNA sequences (SINE rat ID elements) was assessed by pyrosequencing. Development was evaluated by light microscopy and extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans staining by Safranin O. Upon isolation, weak Safranin O staining was present only in more developed GD14 front-LBs. Chondrogenesis proceeded well in all cultures towards day 14, except in the SF-cultivated GD13 hind-LBs, where Safranin O staining was almost absent on day 3. That was associated with a higher percentage of DNA methylation than in SF-cultivated GD13 front-LBs on day three. In SF-cultivated front-LBs, a significant methylation increase between the 3rd and 14th day was detected. In SS-cultivated GD13 front-LBs, methylation increased significantly on day three and then decreased. In older GD14 SS-cultivated LBs, there was no increase of DNA methylation, but they were significantly hypomethylated relative to the SS-cultivated GD13 at days 3 and 14. We confirmed that the global DNA methylation increase is associated with less developed limb organ primordia that strive towards differentiation in vitro, which is of importance for regenerative medicine strategies.
Aim To establish an organotypic in vitro model of limb
bud development to verify whether epigenetic drug and
teratogen 5-azacytidine (5azaC) has an effect on limb buds
independent of its effects on ...the placenta.
Methods Fischer strain rat fore- and hindlimb buds were
microsurgically isolated from 13 days old embryos and cultivated
in vitro for two weeks at the air-liquid interface in
Eagle’s minimum essential medium (MEM) with 50% rat
serum. 30 μmol of 5azaC was added to the fresh medium.
Overall growth was measured by an ocular micrometer.
Routine histology, immunohistochemical detection of the
proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and stereological
quantification of PCNA expression were performed.
Results At four time points, significantly lower overall
growth was detected for fore- and hindlimb bud explants
cultivated with 5azaC in comparison to controls. After
the culture period, numerical density of the PCNA signal
for both types of limb buds was lower than for controls
(P < 0.001). Limb buds were initially covered by immature
epithelium and contained mesenchyme, myotubes, single
hemangioblasts, hemangioblast aggregates, blood islands,
and capillaries. Regardless of the treatment, cartilage and
epidermis differentiated, but cells and structures typical for
vasculogenesis disappeared.
Conclusion Our findings, obtained outside of the maternal
organism, stress the importance of compromised cell
proliferation for 5azaC impact on limb buds. This investigation
points to the necessity to establish alternatives to in
vivo research on animals using teratogenic agents.
To establish an organotypic in vitro model of limb bud development to verify whether epigenetic drug and teratogen 5-azacytidine (5azaC) has an effect on limb buds independent of its effects on the ...placenta.
Fischer strain rat fore- and hindlimb buds were microsurgically isolated from 13 days old embryos and cultivated in vitro for two weeks at the air-liquid interface in Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM) with 50% rat serum. 30 μmol of 5azaC was added to the fresh medium. Overall growth was measured by an ocular micrometer. Routine histology, immunohistochemical detection of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and stereological quantification of PCNA expression were performed.
At four time points, significantly lower overall growth was detected for fore- and hindlimb bud explants cultivated with 5azaC in comparison to controls. After the culture period, numerical density of the PCNA signal for both types of limb buds was lower than for controls (P<0.001). Limb buds were initially covered by immature epithelium and contained mesenchyme, myotubes, single hemangioblasts, hemangioblast aggregates, blood islands, and capillaries. Regardless of the treatment, cartilage and epidermis differentiated, but cells and structures typical for vasculogenesis disappeared.
Our findings, obtained outside of the maternal organism, stress the importance of compromised cell proliferation for 5azaC impact on limb buds. This investigation points to the necessity to establish alternatives to in vivo research on animals using teratogenic agents.
The aim of the study was to analyze the senior population when deciding to choose either going to the private or public physical medicine practice in Croatia. 240 patients (public and private group, ...120 participants each) from the Croatian medium large county Primorje-Gorski kotar, were enrolled from 6 physical medicine practices (3 public and 3 private). Between December 1st 2009 and January 31st 2010, in the public and private practices seniors aged 65 to 85 years were 64.17%, 52.40% respectively, of all interviewed participants in single group. The results showed that in Croatia majority of seniors visiting the physical medicine were females in revisit and dependents of government health insurance. Study suggested the great influence of general practitioner, closeness to home and time of the appointment for patients going to public physical medicine, while in private peers and sooner appointment outweigh. In either practice seniors were satisfied with the overall quality of health services and graded the best average-higher in favor for the private. Elderly Croatian residents showed to be the important feature in physical medicine and rehabilitation and to participate actively in their health issues. Following those results, we will perform the study in the rest of the country and compare it to this data. That could enable the specific improvement for the health care of seniors in Croatia.
Personal identification by eyes Marinović, Dunja; Njirić, Sanja; Coklo, Miran ...
Collegium antropologicum
35 Suppl 2, Številka:
Supp. 2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Identification of persons through the eyes is in the field of biometrical science. Many security systems are based on biometric methods of personal identification, to determine whether a person is ...presenting itself truly. The human eye contains an extremely large number of individual characteristics that make it particularly suitable for the process of identifying a person. Today, the eye is considered to be one of the most reliable body parts for human identification. Systems using iris recognition are among the most secure biometric systems.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted by direct contact during sexual intercourse. Because of high incidence and possibility of development severe consequences on general ...and reproductive health, STIs are a major problem among young people in the world. Lack of information is one of the major risk factors for STI transmission. Most of young people (53.3%) had their first sexual intercourse at the age of 18 years, 67.7% of students have no knowledge about STI, 53.3% of students have already entered into sexual relations and 13% of them with more than 4partners. 31.1% of students who are sexually active was not examined by a gynecologist because of shame and fear. Most sexually active adolescents did not use contraceptives and they are not satisfied with the available information about STI. There is also continuing problem of teen pregnancy. The main goal of this research is to examine whether there is relationship between level of information and awareness of surveyed adolescents and their perception of sexually transmitted diseases.
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