Transforming growth factor beta-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the recovery and formation of skin scars

Relevance. Scars are multi-tissue structures that significantly reduce the quality of life of the young, able-bodied population. The most socially significant variants are represented by hypertrophic and keloid postoperative scars and scars after burns, atrophic scars after acne vulgaris and striae. Growth factors, which are also used for their treatment, play a significant role in their formation and progression. The aim of this work is to summarize data on the participation of growth factors (transforming growth factor beta-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor) in the formation of a hypertrophic or atrophic scar. Materials and Methods. The study of literary sources of scientometric scientific bases was carried out. Results and Discussion . The study showed that the duration of the scarring phases preceding it is of great importance in scar formation, their prolongation leads to chronic inflammation and the attachment of an autoimmune component, an increase in the number of myofibroblasts due to inhibition of apoptosis and an increase in the synthesis of intercellular substance and immature forms of collagen, as well as thinning of the epidermis over scar. Growth factors such as growth factor beta-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor are capable of shifting the balance of these two main pathways or towards proliferative processes, contributing to an increase in the number of blood vessels in the hemomicrocirculatory bed, the number of mast cells and total cellularity, as well as, in some cases, the synthesis of keloid - that is, the formation of a hypertrophic or keloid scar. On the contrary, the prevalence of inflammatory processes leads to a decrease in cellularity, a decrease in blood vessels and intercellular substance, as well as damage to elastin and collagen fibers, forming the phenotype of an atrophic scar or striae. Conclusion. Growth factors play a key role in scar formation, contributing to an increase in the number of blood vessels in the hemomicrocirculatory bed, the number of mast cells and total cellularity, as well as, in some cases, the synthesis of keloid - that is, the formation of a hypertrophic or keloid scar.

SKIN CONDITION IN EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF SHEEP WITH CONTAGIOUS DERMATITIS

As a result of the study, it was found that with contagious pustular dermatitis, the damage affects the epidermis and dermis of the skin. The most severe damage is recorded in the epidermis on day 9, fragments of organelles and viroplast clusters are observed in the cytoplasm. On the 22nd day, regenerative and regenerative processes prevail in the epidermis and dermis, in the form of proliferation, cell differentiation and organization of intercellular substance.

A study of clinical and Immunofluorescence spectrum of Immunobullous diseases

Background: Immunobullous disorders are a group of disorders involving the formation of a fluid filled cavity within or beneath the epidermis, due to the presence of autoantibodies against adhesion molecules in epidermis and dermis. Accurate diagnosis of these disorders requires clinicopathological correlation along with immunofluorescence study. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to describe the clinical features of immunobullous disorders and to analyse the utility of Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) in the diagnosis of these disorders. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 Patients attending skin OPD between February 2014 and March 2017 who had a provisional diagnosis of immunobullous disease were enrolled in the study. Detailed clinical examination and DIF study were done in all cases. Results: Out of 42 cases studied, 31 were diagnosed as pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and 11 as bullous pemphigoid (BP) that was confirmed by DIF. There were 20 (46.61%) male patients and 22 (52.38%) female patients in the age group of 18 to 81 years with a mean age of 52.64 years. A slightly female preponderance was observed. Mean age of presentation of PV patients is 50.83 years with age group range was between 18 to 77 years. Majority of patients presented at 4th and 5th decade of life. Age group range for BP was between 34 to 81years with mean age of presentation being 57.72 years. Majority of our patients presented at 5th decade or later. DIF was positive in all 42 cases (100%) of immunobullous disease. DIF in all 31 cases of PV showed 100% IgG deposition in intercellular substance (ICS) and 64.51% C3 deposition in ICS. BP showed 100% C3 deposition in all 11 cases, 63.63% IgG in seven of the eleven,18.18% IgA in two and 9% IgM, fibin in one each as a linear band at basement membrane zone (BMZ). Conclusion: Both the clinical findings and the Imunofluorescence features are important in arriving at a definite diagnosis in immunobullous diseases. In all the cases DIF was absolutely essential tool to come to a final diagnosis.

Morphometric evaluation of features of remodeling of chondrocites of joint surfaces of temporomandibular joint of experimental animals in hyperglycemia

Aim: to study morphometrically the peculiarities of remodeling of chondrocytes of the articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint in hyperglycemia.Materials and methods: Quantitative morphological methods were used to study diameters of chondrocytes and their nuclei, nuclear-cytoplasmic relationship in these cells, relative volume of damaged chondrocytes, intercellular-chondrocytic relationship in mature chondrocytes of the articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint of 45 laboratory mature white male rats with simulated diabetes.Results: A comprehensive analysis of the morphometric parameters presented in the article showed that they did not differ in the articular surfaces of the temporal fossa and mandibular head of the intact temporomandibular joint. The expressed structural changes of chondrocytes were revealed at a monthly and a two-month diabetic arthropathy of this joint.Conclusions: Proceeded studies and obtained results suggest that prolonged hyperglycemia leads to diabetic arthropathy of the TMJ, which is characterized by atrophy of chondrocytes, violation of nuclear-cytoplasmic relationships, an increase in the relative volume of damaged chondrocytes and volume of intercellular substance. The detected changes in quantitative morphological parameters depended on the duration of hyperglycemia and dominated in the cartilaginous tissue of the articular surface of the mandibular head.

Morphometric analysis of the intercellular substance of hypertrophic scars after anti-scar treatment

AIM: This study aimed to assess the formation of scar tissue after burns under the influence of an anti-scar gel. Understanding of the processes involving scars and the morphofunctional features of the tissue at different stages of development allows targeted selection of therapy and prevention of scars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a comparative prospective analysis from 2005 to 2020. Of which two groups were identified. In group 1 (n = 47), burns were treated according to the standard scheme without the use of modern wound coverings. In group 2 (n = 41), early primary prevention of pathological scarring was performed, where the Contractubex gel was applied to the area of burn injury from the moment of epithelialization. Histological examination included the analysis of skin biopsies in the area of damage before and after conservative treatment. RESULTS: Histological examination showed quantitative changes in the cellular composition of the scar tissue in all groups. The average quantitative index of the fibroblast activity was significantly reduced in group 2 using Contractubex gel. Thickness of collagen fibers, according to the morphometric analysis, is most reduced in all layers of the dermis in group 2 (p 0.05). In group 1, collagen fibers are represented as nodular clusters; in some areas of the reticular layer of the dermis, fibers have a more fragmented appearance. In group 2, the use of Contractubex leads to a significant decrease in the level of tumor growth factor- in the papillary and reticular layers of the dermis. CONCLUSION: The use of Contractubex gel in the early prevention of pathological scarring significantly reduces the need for subsequent reconstructive surgical interventions

Changes in wheat straw cell walls during ozone pretreatment

Treatment of plant biomass with ozone is a promising delignification method. It was shown that lignin removal from the cell wall during ozonation was limited by topochemical reactions and toke place in the secondary rather in the primary cell wall. The separation of cellulose microfibrils, the loss of cell wall stiffness and complete removal of intercellular substance during the delignification process were visualized by SEM. The dependence of the average diameter of the cellulose microfibril aggregates in the cell wall of ozonized straw on ozone consumption was studied. Lignin removal caused an increase of size of cellulose microfibrils aggregates. It was demonstrated that there was an optimal degree of delignification, at which cellulose became more accessible to enzymes in the subsequent bioconversion processes. The data on the ozone consumption, residual lignin content, and sugars yield in the enzymatic hydrolysis of ozonized wheat straw were obtained. It was also found that the optimum delignification degree for sugars yield was ≈10% of residual lignin content and optimum ozone consumption was 2 mol·О3/mol C9PPU (phenylpropane structural unit) of lignin in raw straw.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SKIN AND MUCOUS MEMBRANE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF COMBINED TREATMENT OF ORAL CANCER

Using electron microscopic studies, the structural and functional reorganization of the neck skin and mucous membrane in patients with malignant tumors of the oral cavity at various stages of combined treatment is presented. Significant violations of tissue and cellular elements, their ultastructures, especially fibroblasts, intercellular substance of connective tissue and vessels of the microcirculatory bed were revealed, which exhausts the volume of compensatory and adaptive capabilities of tissue and cells included in the irradiation zone. The degree of structural and functional disorders in irradiated tissues is proportional to the amount of SOD.

Morphological changes of tissues after the implantation of the biodegradable threads for the correction of the involution of the hand’s back side skin

The aging process of the skin of the hand continuously progresses from mature to advanced age. With age, the skin of the hand becomes pigmented, dry, wrinkled with an emphasized skin pattern, the tone of the skin of the hand decreases, thinning and atrophy of adipose tissue are noted, skin elasticity is lost with the formation of an excess of hypoelastic thinned dermis. In recent years, smooth thread implants have been used to correct involutional changes in the skin of the back of the hand. The aim of the study was a morphological evaluation of the effectiveness of the correction of involutional changes in the skin of the back surface of the hand with thread implants based on polycaprolactone and poly-L-lactic acid (PCL-PLLA) with notches. Using light and electron microscopy, we studied the reaction of cells and intercellular substance to the introduction of biodegradable filaments into the subcutaneous space. It was found that implantation of PCL-PLLA filaments increases the reparative potential of tissues. 3 months after implantation, stimulation of neocollagenesis and angiogenesis in the dermis and hypodermis was noted. The functional and proliferative activity of cells increased. Mitotic activity of cells in the basal layer of the epidermis led to an increase in its thickness. A clinically confirmed effect was noted after 3 months and persisted for 18 months after implantation. Long biodegradation of the threads (1.5-2 years) helps to slow down the aging process of the skin of the back surface of the hand, prolonging the processes of tissue revitalization.

Analysis of the short-term effect of photodynamic therapy on primary bronchial lung cancer

To analyze the short-term clinical effect of photodynamic therapy on bronchial lung cancer and provide relevant practical experience for its better application in clinical practice. Twenty patients with bronchial lung cancer diagnosed by pathology were treated with photodynamic therapy or interventional tumor reduction combined with photodynamic therapy. Follow-up at 3 months after treatment, the chest CT and bronchoscopy were reexamined. The lesions were observed under a microscope, and the pathological specimens of living tissues were stained with HE and TUNEL to evaluate the short-term clinical effect. The volume of the tumor in the trachea or bronchus was smaller than before and the obstruction improved after the PDT from the chest CT. We could conclude that after PDT, the tumor volume was reduced and the pathological tissue appeared necrotic, the surface was pale, and the blood vessels were fewer while compared with before, and less likely to bleed when touched from the results of the bronchoscopy. HE staining showed that before treatment, there were a large number of tumor cells, closely arranged and disordered, or agglomerated and distributed unevenly. The cell morphology was not clear and the sizes were various with large and deeply stained nucleus, and the intercellular substance was less. After treatment, the number of tumor cells decreased significantly compared with before and the arrangement was relatively loose and orderly. The cells were roughly the same size; the intercellular substance increased obviously and showed uniform staining. The nuclei morphology was incomplete and fragmented, and tumor cells were evenly distributed among the intercellular substance. TUNEL staining showed that the number of cells was large and the nucleus morphology was regular before treatment; the nuclear membrane was clear and only a small number of apoptotic cells could be seen. However, the number of cells decreased and arranged loosely after treatment, with evenly stained cytoplasm. The nuclear morphology was irregular and the nuclear membrane cannot be seen clearly. Apoptotic cells with typical characteristics such as karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis were common. Photodynamic therapy for bronchial lung cancer can achieve a satisfactory short-term clinical treatment effect and improve the life quality of patients, but the long-term clinical effect remains to be further studied.

Cellular and molecular aspects of degenerative disc disease and potential strategies of biological therapy

Back pain is one of the main global health problems with a high level of prevalence and patients’ disability. In most cases, it is associated with degenerative spine damage (degenerative disc disease), dorsopathy, discopathy (M51 and M53 according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision), affecting all levels of the intervertebral disc (IVD) (cytological, chemical and biochemical) as a whole as well as biological molecules that regulate homeostasis of the disc intercellular substance (growth factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, enzymes). A key point in IVD dehydration is that catabolic processes predominate over anabolic ones due to changed gene expression in the corresponding biologically active molecules, disc angiogenesis and neoinnervation of the structures of the fibrous ring and pulpous nucleus. The latter is responsible for chronic pain in patients.Cells supporting homeostasis in nucleus pulpous, chondrocytes, continuously synthesize and restore proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid in nucleus pulpous, restoring shock-absorbing functions of the vertebral-motor segment. Decreased activity and death of chondrocytes in the avascular disc structure is a serious problem for reparative medicine. In accordance with IVD molecular-cellular mechanisms, numerous approaches to treat degenerative disc disease are being developed, each of which, influencing one of the links in the pathogenesis, has a direct or indirect effect on IVD repair.The article describes morphology, pathogenesis and genetics of degenerative disc disease, as well as main modern strategies of biological therapy: tissue engineering, biologically active substances locally used in IVD matrix, including PRP therapy (Platelet Rich Plasma therapy), methods of gene (using the viral vector) and cell therapy, as well as experience in the local use of genetically engineered biological products. Most successful studies are a combination of cell and gene therapy with the use of synthesized matrices.