Potassium channels as potential drug targets for limb wound repair and regeneration

Elastogenesis in Focus: Navigating Elastic Fibers Synthesis for Advanced Dermal Biomaterial Formulation

Elastin, a fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, is the main component of elastic fibers that are involved in tissues' elasticity and resilience, enabling them to undergo reversible extensibility and to endure repetitive mechanical stress. After wounding, it is challenging to regenerate elastic fibers and biomaterials developed thus far have struggled to induce its biosynthesis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of elastic fibers synthesis at the cellular level and its implications for biomaterial formulation, with a particular focus on dermal substitutes. The review delves into the intricate process of elastogenesis by cells and investigates potential triggers for elastogenesis encompassing elastin-related compounds, ECM components, and other molecules for their potential role in inducing elastin formation. Understanding of the elastogenic processes is essential for developing biomaterials that trigger not only the synthesis of the elastin protein, but also the formation of a functional and branched elastic fiber network.

Screening Biophysical Sensors and Neurite Outgrowth Actuators in Human Induced-Pluripotent-Stem-Cell-Derived Neurons

All living cells maintain a charge distribution across their cell membrane (membrane potential) by carefully controlled ion fluxes. These bioelectric signals regulate cell behavior (such as migration, proliferation, differentiation) as well as higher-level tissue and organ patterning. Thus, voltage gradients represent an important parameter for diagnostics as well as a promising target for therapeutic interventions in birth defects, injury, and cancer. However, despite much progress in cell and molecular biology, little is known about bioelectric states in human stem cells. Here, we present simple methods to simultaneously track ion dynamics, membrane voltage, cell morphology, and cell activity (pH and ROS), using fluorescent reporter dyes in living human neurons derived from induced neural stem cells (hiNSC). We developed and tested functional protocols for manipulating ion fluxes, membrane potential, and cell activity, and tracking neural responses to injury and reinnervation in vitro. Finally, using morphology sensor, we tested and quantified the ability of physiological actuators (neurotransmitters and pH) to manipulate nerve repair and reinnervation. These methods are not specific to a particular cell type and should be broadly applicable to the study of bioelectrical controls across a wide range of combinations of models and endpoints.

4-Aminopyridine Induces Nerve Growth Factor to Improve Skin Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration

The discovery of ways to enhance skin wound healing is of great importance due to the frequency of skin lesions. We discovered that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a potassium channel blocker approved by the FDA for improving walking ability in multiple sclerosis, greatly enhances skin wound healing. Benefits included faster wound closure, restoration of normal-appearing skin architecture, and reinnervation. Hair follicle neogenesis within the healed wounds was increased, both histologically and by analysis of K15 and K17 expression. 4-AP increased levels of vimentin (fibroblasts) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, collagen-producing myofibroblasts) in the healed dermis. 4-AP also increased neuronal regeneration with increased numbers of axons and S100⁺ Schwann cells (SCs), and increased expression of SRY-Box Transcription Factor 10 (SOX10). Treatment also increased levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), substance P, and nerve growth factor (NGF), important promoters of wound healing. In vitro studies demonstrated that 4-AP induced nerve growth factor and enhanced proliferation and migration of human keratinocytes. Thus, 4-AP enhanced many of the key attributes of successful wound healing and offers a promising new approach to enhance skin wound healing and tissue regeneration.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health anxiety and cyberchondria levels of university students

OBJECTIVE

Our study hypothesizes that the fear and panic of COVID-19 triggers cyberchondria (CYB) in students thus increasing health anxiety. In this way, we aim to determine the effect of the belief of previously having had and not having had COVID-19 on health anxiety and CYB levels of the university students.

METHODS

Our study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The target population of our study consisted of 950 students who were continuing their education in the Vocational School of Health Services, an associate degree program of a university, and the samples consisted of 794 students (85.5%) who filled out our questionnaire (n = 794). The questionnaire form included the information regarding sociodemographic characteristics and the symptoms of COVID-19, and the obtained data were electronically collected altogether with Cyberchondria Scale (CS) and Health Anxiety Inventory.

FINDINGS

Health anxiety mean scores were significantly higher in people who lived alone, had a chronic disease, searched for symptoms online, and took herbal supplements against COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The mean total scores of Health Anxiety Inventory, CS, Anxiety-Increasing Factors Subscale of the students who believe they have had COVID-19 were significantly lower compared to the scores of those who believe they have not had COVID-19. Nevertheless, women and people living alone and in cities had significantly high CS scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The increase in infodemia can be prevented with the services offered by specialists through mental health helpline or websites to people with high health anxiety or CYB levels, especially to women, and to people living alone and in urban areas.