Intercellular Bonds Research Articles

CHARACTERISTICS OF MUTUAL ACTIVATION OF AN INTERGEL SYSTEM BASED ON HYDROGEL POLYMETHACRYL ACID AND POLY-4-VINYL PYRIDINE

The electrochemical properties of mutual activation of polymer networks as a result of remote interaction in an intergel system have been studied. An intergel system consisting of hydrogels of rare crosslinked polymethacrylic acid (hPMAA) and poly-4-vinylpyridine (hP4VP) was chosen as the object of study [1,2]. The purpose of the work is to study the mutual activation features of the intergel system of rare crosslinked hPMAA: hP4VP. The obtained results as the contact time of hydrogels with water increased, zones of maximum and minimum conductivity were observed at the highest points of initial conductivity for different ratios of hPMAA:hP4VP hydrogel systems. In the 6:0 ratio of hPMAA hydrogel, the specific conductivity of the aqueous medium reached its maximum value after one day, and the pH value of the medium decreased relatively to about 4.95. The swelling degree of hPMAA hydrogel was constant at 6:0 different time intervals. In this system, only one polymer, namely hPMAA showed that the hydrogel's water absorption capacity was limited. In the 5:1 ratio of the intergel system, the specific conductivity of the medium reached a high value, and the pH value decreased in the 5:1 ratio. After 2.5 hours of study, a decrease in the conductivity of the aqueous medium was observed at 4:2 hydrogel ratio. After 6 hours, the highest degree of swelling was maintained at 1:5 ratio. In the presence of hP4VP hydrogel at a ratio of 0:6, the pH of the medium increased from 5 to a maximum value of 6.6 within 24 hours. Conclusion. The electrochemical properties of hPMAA:hP4VP hydrogel system were studied by remote interaction. Based on the systematic work, we synthesized the required acidic hydrogel hPMAA:hP4VP and carried out various studies on their properties. To create an intergel system, the obtained hydrogels in seven different proportions were made into an intergel system and their interactions were studied using various physicochemical methods. As a result of the study, the remote interaction of hydrogels in the intergel system leads to conformational changes in their intercellular bonds which undergo additional swelling. As a result of mutual activation, the hydrogels move to a highly ionized state.

Computational simulations of bispecific T cell engagers by a multiscale model

The use of bispecific antibodies as T cell engagers can bypass the normal T cell receptor-major histocompatibility class interaction, redirect the cytotoxic activity of T cells, and lead to highly efficient tumor cell killing. However, this immunotherapy also causes significant on-target off-tumor toxicologic effects, especially when it is used to treat solid tumors. To avoid these adverse events, it is necessary to understand the fundamental mechanisms involved in the physical process of T cell engagement. We developed a multiscale computational framework to reach this goal. The framework combines simulations on the intercellular and multicellular levels. On the intercellular level, we simulated the spatial-temporal dynamics of three-body interactions among bispecific antibodies, CD3 and tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The derived number of intercellular bonds formed between CD3 and TAAs was further transferred to the multicellular simulations as the input parameter of adhesive density between cells. Through the simulations under various molecular and cellular conditions, we were able to gain new insights into how to adopt the most appropriate strategy to maximize the drug efficacy and avoid the off-target effect. For instance, we discovered that the low antibody-binding affinity resulted in the formation of large clusters at the cell-cell interface, which could be important to control the downstream signaling pathways. We also tested different molecular architectures of the bispecific antibody and suggested the existence of an optimal length in regulating the T cell engagement. Overall, the current multiscale simulations serve as a proof-of-concept study to help in the future design of new biological therapeutics.

Agent-Based Model for Studying the Effects of Solid Stress and Nutrient Supply on Tumor Growth

An off-lattice agent-based model of tumor growth is presented, which describes a tumor as a network of proliferating cells, whose dynamics depend on the stress generated by intercellular bonds. A numerical method is introduced that ensures the smooth dynamics of the cell network and allows for relative numerical cheapness while reproducing the effects typical of more complex approaches such as the elongation of cells toward low-pressure regions and their tendency to maximize the contact area. Simulations of free tumor growth, restricted only by the stress generated within the tumor, demonstrate the influence of the tissue hydraulic conductivity and strength of cell–cell interactions on tumor shape and growth rate. Simulations of compact tumor growth within normal tissue show that strong interaction between tumor cells is a major factor limiting tumor growth. Moreover, the effects of normal tissue size and strength of normal cell interactions on tumor growth are ambiguous and depend on the value of tissue hydraulic conductivity. Simulations of tumor growth in normal tissue with the account of nutrients yield different growth regimes, including growth without saturation for at least several years with the formation of large necrotic cores in cases of low tissue hydraulic conductivity and sufficiently high nutrient supply, which qualitatively correlates with known clinical data.

Application of Coblation for Airway Disorder Management in ENT Practice: A Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Coblation, a form of radiofrequency surgery, involves using radiofrequency energy to create a plasma field through a conductive medium. This technique dissociates the medium into high-energy ions that break intercellular bonds, leading to tissue dissociation. Coblation is performed at low temperatures, making it less painful and conducive to healing in airway surgeries. Aim: To evaluate the indications, advantages, and outcomes of coblation-assisted airway surgeries. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2019 to May 2021 at the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Patients with breathing difficulties, voice changes, or airway obstruction symptoms were included. A detailed history, physical examination, and diagnostic procedures were carried out. Coblation was employed under general anaesthesia for laryngeal or tracheal pathology. Data on intraoperative findings, blood loss, hospital stay, and postoperative improvements were recorded in a worksheet-based program, Numbers version 13.1 for macOS. Deductions based on the data were presented using bar charts and diagrams. Continuous variables were summarised using summary statistics, while categorical values were estimated using frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 15 patients underwent coblation-assisted surgeries. Breathlessness was the most common symptom 11 (73.33%), followed by stridor in 10 (66.67%) and decreased oxygen levels in 8 (53.3%) were observed. Indirect laryngoscopy showed no findings compared to 70-degree scopy in detecting subglottic stenosis. Intraoperatively, 40% had Grade-II, and 27% had Grade-III subglottic stenosis. The average postoperative stay was five days. At one month, 73% showed improvement, particularly those with subglottic stenosis, while no improvement was seen in 27% of cases. Conclusion: Coblation-assisted airway surgeries offer benefits like minimal collateral damage and reduced blood loss. In this study, 73% of patients showed improvement, suggesting coblation’s potential advantages over other modalities. Although cost remains a concern, coblation’s ability to reduce postoperative morbidity and improve healing time makes it a promising tool in airway surgeries.

Varied solutions to multicellularity: The biophysical and evolutionary consequences of diverse intercellular bonds.

The diversity of multicellular organisms is, in large part, due to the fact that multicellularity has independently evolved many times. Nonetheless, multicellular organisms all share a universal biophysical trait: cells are attached to each other. All mechanisms of cellular attachment belong to one of two broad classes; intercellular bonds are either reformable or they are not. Both classes of multicellular assembly are common in nature, having independently evolved dozens of times. In this review, we detail these varied mechanisms as they exist in multicellular organisms. We also discuss the evolutionary implications of different intercellular attachment mechanisms on nascent multicellular organisms. The type of intercellular bond present during early steps in the transition to multicellularity constrains future evolutionary and biophysical dynamics for the lineage, affecting the origin of multicellular life cycles, cell–cell communication, cellular differentiation, and multicellular morphogenesis. The types of intercellular bonds used by multicellular organisms may thus result in some of the most impactful historical constraints on the evolution of multicellularity.

Well-free agglomeration and on-demand three-dimensional cell cluster formation using guided surface acoustic waves through a couplant layer

Three-dimensional cell agglomerates are broadly useful in tissue engineering and drug testing. We report a well-free method to form large (1.4-mm) multicellular clusters using 100-MHz surface acoustic waves (SAW) without direct contact with the media or cells. A fluid couplant is used to transform the SAW into acoustic streaming in the cell-laden media held in a petri dish. The couplant transmits longitudinal sound waves, forming a Lamb wave in the petri dish that, in turn, produces longitudinal sound in the media. Due to recirculation, human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells in the dish are carried to the center of the coupling location, forming a cluster in less than 10 min. A few minutes later, these clusters may then be translated and merged to form large agglomerations, and even repeatedly folded to produce a roughly spherical shape of over 1.4 mm in diameter for incubation—without damaging the existing intercellular bonds. Calcium ion signaling through these clusters and confocal images of multiprotein junctional complexes suggest a continuous tissue construct: intercellular communication. They may be formed at will, and the method is feasibly useful for formation of numerous agglomerates in a single petri dish.

Hepatoprotective Potential of Lycopene in a Rat Model of Cisplatin-Induced Damage: Involvement of Oxidative Cell Damage and Glutathione Metabolism

Application of cisplatin for the treatment of various solid tumors is known to cause liver damage, through an increase in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species production. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant agent capable of preventing the cells damage, the formation of stronger intercellular bonds and faster cellular metabolism. This study aims to estimate the potential of lycopene in preventing cisplatin induced liver tissue damage by studying the levels of several biochemical parameters (arginase, aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, total protein and albumin concentration) reflecting liver function and a panel of liver tissue biomarkers (xanthine oxidase, reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, protein carbonylated concentration and diamino oxidase activity). These parameters would be studied in male Wistar rats treated with either cisplatin alone or with cisplatin and lycopene. Additionally, microscopic analysis of liver tissue would be conducted as well. Application of the combination of lycopene and cisplatin significantly prevented the disturbance in all here-studied biomarkers of liver tissue damage. Morphological liver tissue alterations followed the changes in hepatic biochemical status. Our results suggest that lycopene could act as a protective agent in cisplatin-induced liver damage in rats.

COBLATION TONSILLECTOMY, IS IT SUPERIOR TO COLD STEEL METHOD?

Coblation tonsillectomy is a new technique that was started in 1975, it involves passing a radiofrequency bipolar electrical current through a medium of normal saline, resulting in a plasma field of highly ionized particles which in turn break down intercellular bonds and thus melt tissue at around 40º to 70ºC (in comparison with electrocautery which cuts tissues at 400ºC)The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefit of coblation tonsillectomy over conventional (cold steel) tonsillectomy, comparing tonsillectomy duration, blood loss during the surgery, and the postoperative pain. This prospective randomised single-blinded clinical trial was done on 90 patients. Patients were divided into 2 equal groups; Group A: Underwent coblation tonsillectomy, and Group B who underwent cold steel tonsillectomy. The study was performed in Al-Musawy Private Hospital, Basrah Teaching Hospital, and Al-shifaa hospital, Basrah, Iraq. All surgeries were done by the three authors in the period between February 2018 to August 2020. The intraoperative bleeding, duration of surgery, and postoperative pain were evaluated and compared for both groups. The age range of the studied patients was 4–32 years, 52 were males and 38 were females. The average duration of tonsillectomy procedure was 31.8 minutes in coblation tonsillectomy (Group A), while the average duration in the cold steel tonsillectomy (Group B) was 25.8 minutes. The average operative blood loss in cold steel tonsillectomy was 31.5 ml while that incoblation was 3.2 ml. Average postoperative pain in coblation group was (20.7± 6.15), while in cold steel group was (27.5±7.27).In conclusion, coblation tonsillectomy is effective and beneficial in decreasing the volume of intraoperative blood loss but not for postoperative pain in comparison with conventional method, in addition that it take more time to be completed.Key words: coblation, cold steel, tonsillectomy.

Evaluation of Cell-Wall Microstructure and Anti-Swelling Effectiveness of Heat-Treated Larch Wood

In this study, the cell-wall microstructure and anti-swelling effectiveness (ASE) of heat-treated larch wood were evaluated and the correlation between them was analyzed. For this purpose, some larch lumbers were heat-treated for 12, 18, and 24 hours at temperatures of 190°C and 220°C. By observing the scanning electron microscopy cross-sectional image of the heat-treated larch, it was confirmed that the shape of heat-treated wood cell changed, the cut-section of the wood cell wall was rough, and the intercellular space has become wide as the intercellular bonds had broken because of heat-treatment. In addition, the evaluation of the swelling for each treatment condition revealed that, as the heat-treatment temperature and duration increased, the amount of absorbed water and swelling decreased and the ASE increased. The decrease in the amount of absorbed water is thought to be affected by the chemical change in the cell wall by heat-treatment. On the contrary, the decrease in the swelling and the increase in the ASE are thought to be due to a combination of chemical changes and physical changes such as structural changes in the cell wall.

PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS: ORAL MANIFESTATIONS OF AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) comprises 70% of cases of pemphigus, a group of rare, life-threatening autoimmune disorders. The disease leads to the formation of intraepithelial blisters in the skin and mucous membranes that often first appear in the mouth. The pathogenesis of PV is driven by anti-desmoglein 1 (anti-Dsg-1) and anti-desmoglein 3 (anti- Dsg-3) auto-antibodies produced by B lymphocytes, which react to epithelial transmembrane cell-junction proteins desmoglein-1 and desmoglein-3, disrupting the intercellular bonds. We report a case of a 54-year-old man who had been treated for an unspecific rheumatic disease for 5 years, without proper results. Clinically, he presented with multiple oral ulcerations and a few blisters in the chest. Nikolsky’s sign was positive. The biopsy of oral lesions with subsequent histopathologic analysis revealed an epithelium with acantholysis and acantholytic cells, confirming the diagnosis of PV. The patient is currently being treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, and the disease is controlled.

Towards biobanking technologies for natural and bioengineered multicellular placental constructs

Clinical application of a large variety of biomaterials is limited by the imperfections in storage technology. Perspective approaches utilizing low-temperature storage are especially challenging for multicellular structures, such as tissues, organs, and bioengineered constructs. Placenta, as a temporary organ, is a widely available unique biological material, being among the most promising sources of various cells and tissues for clinical and experimental use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to analyse the mechanisms of cryoinjuries in different placental tissues and bioengineered constructs as well as to support the viability after low temperature storage, which would contribute to development of efficient biobanking technologies. This study shows that specificity of cryodamage depends on the structure of the studied object, intercellular bonds, as well as interaction of its components with cryoprotective agents. Remarkably, it was possible to efficiently isolate cells after thawing from all of the studied tissues. While the outcome was lower in comparison to the native non-frozen samples, the phenotype and expression levels of pluripotency genes remained unaffected. Further progress in eliminating of recrystallization processes during thawing would significantly improve biobanking technologies for multicellular constructs and tissues.

Tonsillectomy by Cold Dissection and Coblation Techniques: A Prospective Comparative Study

Inflammatory and infectious diseases of tonsils are common in paediatric and adult otolaryngological practice and ensue in tonsillectomy which is a common surgical procedure. Dissection and snare method is being performed for ages and has evolved over a period of time while coblation is a newer technique started in 1997. It combines radiofrequency energy and normal saline, resulting in a plasma field of highly ionized particles which dissociates intercellular bonds and thus melts tissue at low temperatures (40-70°C) thereby reducing tissue damage. To compare the intraoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, post operative pain and post operative blood loss between dissection tonsillectomy and coblation tonsillectomy. This study was carried out at the outpatient Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in Meenakshi Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu. Patients with chronic and recurrent tonsillitis who were planned electively for tonsillectomy were included in this study. Study was based on the analysis of 60 patients aged between 5 and 40years. All these 60 patients were thoroughly investigated by doing a complete surgical workup. They all were subjected to 2 different tonsillectomy procedures-dissection and snare method and coblation technique. Patients were assigned into two groups of 30 each by simple random sampling. Among these 60 patients, blood loss and post operative pain was less in Group 2 (coblation) and the duration of surgery was less in Group 1 (dissection and snare). In this study, patients who underwent surgery in Group 2 (coblation) showed better outcome when compared to Group 1 (dissection and snare method).

Geometry, packing, and evolutionary paths to increased multicellular size.

The evolutionary transition to multicellularity transformed life on earth, heralding the evolution of large, complex organisms. Recent experiments demonstrated that laboratory-evolved multicellular "snowflake yeast" readily overcome the physical barriers that limit cluster size by modifying cellular geometry [Jacobeen et al., Nat. Phys. 14, 286 (2018)10.1038/s41567-017-0002-y]. However, it is unclear why this route to large size is observed, rather than an evolved increase in intercellular bond strength. Here, we use a geometric model of the snowflake yeast growth form to examine the geometric efficiency of increasing size by modifying geometry and bond strength. We find that changing geometry is a far more efficient route to large size than evolving increased intercellular adhesion. In fact, increasing cellular aspect ratio is on average ∼13 times more effective than increasing bond strength at increasing the number of cells in a cluster. Modifying other geometric parameters, such as the geometric arrangement of mother and daughter cells, also had larger effects on cluster size than increasing bond strength. Simulations reveal that as cells reproduce, internal stress in the cluster increases rapidly; thus, increasing bond strength provides diminishing returns in cluster size. Conversely, as cells become more elongated, cellular packing density within the cluster decreases, which substantially decreases the rate of internal stress accumulation. This suggests that geometrically imposed physical constraints may have been a key early selective force guiding the emergence of multicellular complexity.

Endocardial endothelium as a blood-heart barrier

Introduction. Endocardial endothelium is formed from a single layer of closely related cells with complex interrelationships and extensive overlap at the junctional edges. Morphological characteristics of blood-heart barrier. Endocardium is composed of three layers: endocardial endothelium, subendothelial loose connective tissue and subendocardium. The fibrous component of the subendothelium consists of small amount of collagen and elastic fibers. Several cell types are present in subendocardium: telocytes, fibroblasts and nerve endings. Intercellular bonds between the endocardial endothelial cells. Endocardial endothelial cells are attached to one another via sets of binding proteins forming solid, adherent and communicating connections. Communicating connections form transmembrane channels between the neighboring cells, while solid and adherent connections form pericellular structures like stitches. The maintenance of the presumed transendocardial electrochemical potential difference provides a high gradient for certain ions as well as a selective boundary barrier, basal lamina, preventing ionic leakage. The negatively charged glycocalyx also modulates endothelial permeability. Electrophysiological characteristics of heart-blood barrier. Electrophysiological studies have shown the existence of a large number of membrane ion channels in the endocardial endothelial cells: inward rectifying K+ channels, Ca2+ dependent K+channels, voltage-dependent Cl-channels, volume-activated Cl-channels, stretch-activated cation channels and one carrier mediated transport mechanism - Na+K+adenosine triphosphatase. Conclusion. Numerous diseases of the cardiovascular system may be a consequence, but also the cause of the endocardial endothelium dysfunction. Selective damage to the endocardial endothelium and subendocardium is found in arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, ischemia/reperfusion injury and heart failure. Typical lesions of endocardial and microvascular endothelium have also been described in sepsis, myocardial infarction, inflammation and thrombosis. The result of endothelial dysfunction is the weakening of the endothelial barrier regulation and electrolyte imbalance of the subendocardial interstitium.

Effects of Grilling on Total Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.).

Cooking can change the polyphenol contents of eggplant. This study elucidated the effects of grilling on total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, and the inner structures of eggplant. After identical hollowing, cylindrical eggplant samples were prepared and were then grilled until their center temperatures (CT) respectively reached 50, 65, 75, 85, and 95 °C. Chemical assays and observations of the inner structures clarified that TPC and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity decreased as CT increased when CT was below 65 °C. Results also showed that TPC and DPPH radical scavenging activity increased as CT increased when CT was between 65 °C and 95 °C. For CT 65 °C, the samples retained polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity up to 40% of the raw state activity. The 3 grilled eggplant models, chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid-sugar and chlorogenic acid-amino acid model, yielded results showing that phenol functional groups on chlorogenic acid were thermally stable and that phenol functional groups on chlorogenic acid reacted neither with sugar nor with amino acids. Results show that PPO activity is a primary reason for the decrease of the 2 indices. Optical microscopic and scanning electron microscopic observations revealed collapsed cells and inter-tissue cracks around the surface area for CT 85 and 95 °C. Scanning electron microscopic observations clarified that intercellular bonds for CT 85 and 95 °C became thinner than those for CT 75 °C around the middle area. The phenomena explained above are reasons for the increase of TPC and DPPH radical scavenging activity.

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOMARKERS AND POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most severe and prognostically poor systemic connective tissue diseases that affect mainly women of childbearing age. The recent researches have provided a deeper insight into its pathogenesis, the identification and definition of a role of cytokines, cells, and intercellular bonds involved in the development of SLE. These data are borne in mind when designing novel biological agents, the action of which is aimed at inhibiting the targets implicated in the development of the disease. This information also may provide better understanding the mechanism of action of drugs, such as belimumab and rituximab, which have already proven their efficacy.

Characteristics of the expression level of E-Cadherin and ß-Catenin in hepatocellular and cholangiocellular liver carcinoma

Aim. In order to determine the level of immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in hepatocellular and cholangiocellular liver cancer of different diameters and areas of the immunopositive cells trephine biopsies of liver of 94 patients were studied, among them 55 (58.51%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 39 (41.49%) had cholangiocellular liver cancer (CCC).Methods and results. Considering the size of the tumor determined by ultrasound examination of the liver 21 HCC and 17 CCC less than5 cmin diameter, and 34 HCC and 22 CCC with diameter more than 5 cm were assayed. The expression of E-cadherin by cells was determined using a monoclonal antibody Mo-Hu E -Cadherin, Clone NCH-38, and the expression of β-catenin - using monoclonal antibodies Mo a Hu Beta-Catenin, Clone E247 s-Catenin-1. The level of expression of immunohistochemical markers of tumor cells and immunopositive tumor cells area were determined by photo digital morphometry in digital image processing program Image J. It was found that in 63,64% of patients with HCC and 100% of patients with CCC, liver cancer cells show membrane or membrane-cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin. E-cadherin immunopositive cells make up 42,25±15,12% of area of HCC tissue section and 35,13±15,69% of area of liver tissue section of CCC. In the 94,55% of HCC cases and 100% of patients with CCC membrane expression of β-catenin, combined with a nuclear or cytoplasmic expression of the protein, was revealed in tumor cells. β-catenin immunopositive cells make up 62,39±20,41% of area of HCC tissue section and 55,83±19,67% of area of liver tissue section in CCC. In HCC and CCC, between low expression of E-cadherin by tumor cells and high levels of β-catenin a direct strong correlation is observed. In large HCC and CCC compared with smaller tumors up to5 cmin diameter, significantly smaller space was occupied by E-cadherin-immunopositive cells and larger area was occupied by β-catenin-immunopositive cells.Conclusion. The comparison of the expression of adhesively-migration markers by tumor cells shows that hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular cancer are characterized by early loss of intercellular adhesion bonds and high potencies to invasive growth in the liver.

The expression of tumor progression markers in hepatocellular and cholangiocellular liver carcinomas of different sizes

Aim. Histopathological and immunohistochemical study of trephine biopsy of the liver in 94 patients, including 55 patients who suffered from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 39 - cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) with various sizes determined by ultrasound of the liver were carried out.Methods and results. The photo digital morphometry was used to estimate the area of immunopositive cells expressing Ki-67, p53, caspase-3, E-cadherin, β-catenin, MMP-9 and TІMR-1 in 21 HCC and 17 CCC up to5 cm in diameter and in 34 HCC and 22 CCC more than 5 cm in diameter. It is found that in HCC more than 5 cm diameter area of cells expressing p53, Ki-67, β-catenin and MMP-9 was significantly higher (2, 1.4, 1.8 and 1.6 times, respectively) than in the HCC with diameter less than 5 cm, and the area of E-cadherin-positive cells in the large tumors was 1.8 times less than in small ones. In the CCC with diameter greater than 5 cm area of cells expressing p53, Ki-67, β-catenin and MMP-9 was significantly higher (1.8, 1.4, 1.7 and 1.3 times, respectively) than in CCC with diameter less than 5 cm, and the area of the E-cadherin-positive cells in large tumor was two times less than in small tumors. According to the comparative analysis, in HCC and CCC of different diameters areas of caspase-3-positive and ТІМР-1-positive cells were not significantly different.Conclusion. Thus, increasing size of HCC and CCC is accompanied by the overexpression of nuclear oncoprotein p53, increased levels of tumor cell proliferation, tumor cell loss of intercellular adhesion bonds and an increase in the expression of metalloproteinase-9, all of which contribute to the rapid aggressive and invasive growth of tumors in the liver.

EGFR activated cell mobility – A link to melanoma ulceration

Melanoma ulceration is the third most powerful survival predictor in the analysis for the currently valid 2010 AJCC melanoma staging system. However, there is still no detailed explanation for melanoma ulceration mechanism. Although thicker tumors are more commonly ulcerated, ulceration is a factor that predicts the disease outcome independently of melanoma thickness. It is our hypothesis that EGFR activates melanoma cell mobility. Melanoma cells with increased mobility move through tissue in diverse direction. Cells moving toward the epithelium weaken the intercellular bonds between the cells causing the loss of epithelium and subsequently ulceration.

VLIV MIKROVLNNÉ PLASTIFIKACE, PLOŠNÉHO SLISOVÁNÍ A VYSOKOTEPLOTNÍ ÚPRAVY NA ROVNOVÁŽNOU VLHKOST A SESÝCHÁNÍ DŘEVA SMRKU ZTEPILÉHO (Picea abies (L.) KARST.)

The wood is heterogenous material compound from substance of cell walls and air. It is colloidal ca­pil­la­ry-cellular material with ortogonal anisotropy (Babiak, 1976). The wood has possibility to bound liquids and gases into the structure. Due to this the wood is hygroskopic material leads to changes in dimensions and volume of wood generating at adsorption and desorption of water molecules into the wood. The dimentional changes evoked by changes in moisture content (bounded water) during shrinkage and sweeling have the biggest importance. Shrinkage is making the linear dimensions, area and volume shorter and smaller (Požgaj a kol., 1997). Hygroscopicity and dimensional instability is possible to affect by drying or modification (Horáček, 2004).Wood modification is a process where it causes improvement in material properties. Aimed changes in chemical structure of wood leads to change in material properties. The aim of modification is to reduce negative properties and to improve positive properties. Wood with changed properties has different parameters which it is necessary to investigate.Plasticization as temporary modification of material properties leads to softer wood due to release of intercellular bonds mainly in middle lamela. It makes subsequent processing as areal compression possible (Bouajila et al., 2006). To ther plasticization is necessary to heat up the wood on the certain temperature. The microwave heating is very useful for this heating. It has smaller expenses and time consumption.Pressing or areal compression perpendicular to the gain in radial direction presses the wood and makes it’s density bigger. Areal compression is responsible for changes in submicroscopic, microscopic and makroscopic levels of wood structure. Changes in wood structure leads to changes in li­near directions during shrinking.Plasticizated and compressed wood has many of excellent properties, but it has some negative pro­per­ties too that high temperature treatment reduces.The aim of this article is to find and compare equilibrium mositure content, linear shrinkage in radial, tangential and longitudinal direction of the native spruce wood (Picea abies L. Karst.) with the same values of microwave plasticizated, areal compressed in radial direction perpendicular to the gain and high temperature treated Spruce wood.