Telocytes of the mammary gland stroma

Although confusions persist in what concerns the terminologies used for describing the fibroblastoid cells of the stromal compartments, the expression of antigens in such cells gradually directs their diagnosis towards a stem/progenitor phenotype. The stromal cells with long, slender and moniliform prolongations were named "telocytes" (TCs), their cell processes being termed "telopodes". However, the mammary gland TCs were not evaluated for the CD34 expression. Thus an in vivo immunohistochemical study was designed; antibodies against CD10, CD34, CD117/c-kit and vimentin were applied on human mammary gland samples of 8 donor patients. Resident CD34-positive stromal cells positive for the TCs morphology were found building consistent stromal networks and ensheathing microvessels and excretory units. Such cells were CD10±/c-kit-/vimentin+. According to the current concepts regarding the in vivo stem/progenitor cells the CD34+ TCs of the mammary stroma could be actors in the mammary stem niche and their antigens expression could relate to different stages of differentiation.

The anatomy of the sympathetic pathway through the pterygopalatine fossa in humans

Generally, sympathetic distribution in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is considered to be via the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG) sympathetic root and branches. We hypothesized that there may be a dual sympathetic path within the PPF, through the vidian nerve and the PPG and through the periarterial plexuses. We dissected 10 human adult cadavers, fixed and unfixed; we applied antibodies for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to 5 human adult samples of PPF contents dissected from cadavers at autopsy. We identified TH(+) nerves and fibers distributed through the neuronal clusters of the PPG and also bundles extrinsic to these clusters, distributed along the maxillary artery. Also, TH(+) reactions were identified at the level of the neuronal capsules of the PPG. All the arteries within the PPF presented TH(+) fibers, periadventitial and intramural-the periarterial plexuses were also identified during dissections, a major one being that along the descending palatine artery, distinctive to the greater palatine nerve. Thus, concerning the sympathetic entry to the PPF, this one seems to use both the path of the external carotid artery (via the maxillary artery plexus) and the path of the internal carotid artery, via the vidian nerve supplying the PPG and reinforcing the maxillary artery plexus. The sympathetic exit of the PPF uses the neural scaffolding of the PPG branches and also the arterial scaffolding. The complex trigeminal-autonomic, anatomic content of the PPF may be involved in several distinctive facial algias and thus the pain may be relieved by routine approaches to the PPF, based on updated anatomical knowledge and a correct diagnostic.

Telocytes form networks in normal cardiac tissues

Telocytes (TC) are a class of interstitial cells present in heart. Their characteristic feature is the presence of extremely long and thin prolongations (called telopodes). Therefore, we were interested to see whether or not TCs form networks in normal cardiac tissues, as previously suggested. Autopsy samples of cardiac tissues were obtained from 13 young human cadavers, without identifiable cardiac pathology and with a negative personal history of cardiovascular disease. Immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues was performed using monoclonal antibodies for CD117/c-kit. Additionally, ventricular samples from 5 Sprague-Dawley rats were ultrastructurally evaluated under transmission electron microscopy. We found c-kit positive cells with TC features in subepicardium, as well in subepicardial arteries and in subepicardial fat. TCs were also present in the subendocardium. Light and electron microscopy revealed the existence of intramyocardial networks built up by bipolar TCs. Larger c-kit positive multipolar TCs were found between cardiac muscle bundles. Our results support the existence of a cardiac network of telocytes.

Extrahepatic and intrahepatic human portal interstitial Cajal cells

Portal interstitial cells of Cajal (PICCs), acting as vascular pacemakers, were previously only identified in nonhumans. Moreover, there is no evidence available about the presence of such cells within the liver. The objective of the study is to evaluate whether or not PICCs are identifiable in humans and, if they are, whether or not they are following the scaffold of portal vein (PV) branches within the liver. We obtained extrahepatic PVs and liver samples from six adult human cadavers, negative for liver disease, in accordance with ethical rules. They were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Giemsa, and then we performed immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens for CD117/c-kit, a marker of the Cajal's cells. Immune labeling was also performed for S-100 protein, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilaments, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and CD34. c-kit-Positive PICCs were identified within the extrahepatic PV, in portal spaces, and septa. On adjacent sections, these PICCs were negative for all the other antibodies used. In conclusion, our study confirms the presence of extrahepatic PICCs on humans, which may act as a possible intrinsic pacemaker in the human PV. However, the intrahepatic PICCs, which were evidenced here for the first time, are in need for further experimental studies to evaluate their functional role. A promising further direction of the study is the PICCs role in the idiopathic portal hypertension.

The molecular phenotypes of ureteral telocytes are layer-specific

Telocytes (TC) are the delicate interstitial (stromal) cells defined by their long, thin and moniliform processes termed telopodes. Numerous studies determined that different subsets of telocytes populate almost all tissues and attempted to relate these subsets to various functions, from cell signaling to tissue repair and regeneration. Extremely few studies addressed the urinary tract though few data on the molecular pattern of the urinary TCs actually exist. We therefore hypothesized that subsets of urinary TCs co-localize within the human ureter and we aimed at performing an immunohistochemical study to evaluate the tissue-specific molecular pattern of TCs. On sample tissues of proximal ureter drawn from ten human adult patients during surgery were applied primary antibodies against CD34, CD105, von Willebrand Factor, the heavy chain of smooth muscle myosin (SMM) and c-erbB-2. The molecular pattern indicated three different subsets of ureteral TCs which are neither endothelial nor epithelial in nature: (a) type I: the CD34-/CD105+ TCs of the superficial layer of lamina propria; (b) type II: the CD34+/CD105± myoid TCs of the deep layer of lamina propria and (c) type III: the CD34+/CD105+ perivascular TCs. Although apparently different, all these subsets of TCs could belong to the stem/progenitor niche of the ureter.

Chemical stabilization of oils rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during storage

During the microencapsulation process, the fish oil undergoes multiple changes in its physical properties such as bulkiness and dispersibility in aqueous phase and dry matrix. Autoxidation already occurred in the first stages of the microencapsulation process itself during emulsification and spray-drying. An efficient stabilization was achieved using a ternary combination of lipophilic antioxidants, synergistic compounds and a trace metal chelator, e.g. a combination of tocopherols, rich in the δ-derivative and low in the α-derivative, with ascorbyl palmitate and lecithin. Trace metal chelation by, e.g. Citrem or lecithin in combination with ascorbyl palmitate proved to be of particular importance in the emulsion, but not during the storage of the microencapsulated oil. In the microencapsulated oil, the addition of rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid to ternary blends of tocopherols, ascorbyl palmitate and lecithin or Citrem significantly retarded autoxidation.

A Failure Detection System for Large Scale Distributed Systems

Failure detection is a fundamental building block for ensuring fault tolerance in large scale distributed systems. It is also a difficult problem. Resources under heavy loads can be mistaken as being failed. The failure of a network link can be detected by the lack of a response, but this also occurs when a computational resource fails. Although progress has been made, no existing approach provides a system that covers all essential aspects related to a distributed environment. This paper presents a failure detection system based on adaptive, decentralized failure detectors. The system is developed as an independent substrate, working asynchronously and independent of the application flow. It uses a hierarchical protocol, creating a clustering mechanism that ensures a dynamic configuration and traffic optimization. It also uses a gossip strategy for failure detection at local levels to minimize detection time and remove wrong suspicions. Results show that the system scales with the number of monitored resources, while still considering the QoS requirements of both applications and resources.

Anatomical and immunohistochemical considerations on the microinnervation of trachea in humans

The anatomy of the tracheal microinnervation is understudied in humans; the purpose of our study was to fill this gap by working on human adult tracheas, to compare the results with those obtained from animal studies, and to checking whether or not these studies are suitable to be translated from comparative to the human anatomy. The study was designed as a qualitative one. The present work was performed on human adult tracheas dissected out in 15 human adult cadavers. Microdissections were performed in eight tracheas and revealed the outer peritracheal plexus, segmentally supplied and distributed to trachea and esophagus, with longitudinal intersegmentary anastomoses but also with bilateral interrecurrential anastomoses previously undescribed in anatomy. Seven different tracheas were transversally cut and paraffin embedded. Histological stains (HE, toluidine blue, luxol fast blue, Giemsa on tissues and trichrome Gieson) and immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies for nNOS, neurofilament, SMA and the cocktail of citokeratines CK AE1-AE3+8/18 were done. According to the histological individual variation, the neural layers of the posterior wall of the human trachea could be considered as it follows: (a) an outer neural layer, ganglionated, associated with the connective covering layers, adventitia and the posterior fibroelastic membrane (external elastic lamina); (b) a submucosal ganglionated neural layer, mainly with juxtaglandular microganglia that may expand, as glands do, through the outer covering layers; (c) intrinsic nerves of the transverse trachealis muscle; (d) the neural layer intrinsic to the longitudinal elastic band (internal elastic lamina) and supplied from the inner submucosa; (e) the neural plexus of the lamina propria, with scarcely distributed neurons. We also bring here the first evidences for the in vivo nNOS phenotype of mast cells that were identified, but not exclusively, within the trachealis muscle.

Expectations and perspectives of ovarian cancer patients about cancer management in Romania. The international NOGGO-ENGOT trial: EXPRESSION III

We have investigated a relational model of expectations and preferences among ovarian cancer patients centred on physician-patient communication, treatment approach, and the need for information. Consecutive patients anonymously filled in the EXPRESSION III questionnaire between 2009 and 2012. Following descriptive statistics, structural equation modelling was used to analyse the relationships between physician's evaluation by the patient (PEP), result of therapy (RT), need for changes in treatment (NCT) and patient's desire to be informed (PD). From a total of 108 patients, 53 (49.1%) knew their disease stage, 103 (95.4%) underwent surgery, 91 (84.3%) had chemotherapy and 51 (46.3%) relapsed. The final model demonstrated a good fit of data with fit indices >0.90. There was a significant positive effect of PEP on RT and a significant negative effect of PEP on NCT, with the final model explaining 84% of the NCT variance. Physicians represent the main point of contact, not only as a source of information about the disease and various treatment options, but also in the coping processes. As patients benefit from completeness of medical consultations, their awareness of the treatment outcome increases, while a negative perception of the physician leads to a desire to make changes in therapy.

Bio-Inspired Techniques for Resources State Prediction in Large Scale Distributed Systems

The state prediction of resources in large scale distributed systems represents an important aspect for resources allocations, systems evaluation, and autonomic control. The paper presents advanced techniques for resources state prediction in Large Scale Distributed Systems, which include techniques based on bio-inspired algorithms like neural network improved with genetic algorithms. The approach adopted in this paper consists of a new fitness function, having prediction error minimization as the main scope. The proposed prediction techniques are based on monitoring data, aggregated in a history database. The experimental scenarios consider the ALICE experiment, active at the CERN institute. Compared with classical predicted algorithms based on average or random methods, the authors obtain an improved prediction error of 73%. This improvement is important for functionalities and performance of resource management systems in large scale distributed systems in the case of remote control ore advance reservation and allocation.