HT-29 Colon Cancer Cell Electromanipulation and Assessment Based on Their Electrical Properties.

This study proposes a feasible approach for the rapid, sensitive, and label-free identification of cancerous cells based on dielectrophoretic (DEP) manipulation and electrical characterization. In this method, the concentration of target cells at the level of customized microelectrodes via DEP is first determined, followed by an electrical impedance evaluation. The study demonstrates the capacity of the methodology to electrically differentiate HT-29 cancer cells from healthy blood cells based on their impedance spectra.

Generation of a 3D melanoma model and visualization of doxorubicin uptake by fluorescence imaging.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and is responsible for 75% of deaths from skin cancers. For an accurate evaluation of potential treatment efficacy, it is important to use study models as close as possible to the in vivo conditions. A 3D model consisting of B16F10 spheroids was developed using liquid overlay technique on plates coated with 1% agarose, in the presence of 1% methylcellulose and L929-conditioned medium.

Dielectrophoretic and Electrical Impedance Differentiation of Cancerous Cells Based on Biophysical Phenotype.

Here, we reported a study on the detection and electrical characterization of both cancer cell line and primary tumor cells. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were jointly employed to enable the rapid and label-free differentiation of various cancer cells from normal ones. The primary tumor cells that were collected from two colorectal cancer patients, cancer cell lines (SW-403, Jurkat, and THP-1), and healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were trapped first at the level of interdigitated microelectrodes with the help of dielectrophoresis.

Bacterial cellulose sponges obtained with green cross-linkers for tissue engineering.

Three-dimensional (3D) porous structures with controlled pore size and interconnected pores, good mechanical properties and biocompatibility are of great interest for tissue engineering. In this work we propose a new strategy to obtain highly porous 3D structures with improved properties using bacterial cellulose (BC) and eco-friendly additives and processes. Glucose, vanillin and citric acid were used as non-toxic and cheap cross-linkers and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was used to partially replace the surface OH groups of cellulose with amino groups.

Nanocomposite particles with improved microstructure for 3D culture systems and bone regeneration.

Nano-apatite and gelatin-alginate hydrogel microparticles have been prepared by a one-step synthesis combined with electrostatic bead generation, for the reconstruction of bone defects. Based on the analysis of bone composition, architecture and embryonic intramembranous ossification, a bio-inspired fabrication has been developed. Accordingly, the mineral phase has been in situ synthesized, calcifying the hydrogel matrix while the latter was crosslinked, finally generating microparticles that can assemble into a bone defect to ensure interconnected pores.

Biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates/bacterial cellulose composites: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro evaluation.

Biocompatible composites play a critical role as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Novel biocomposites made from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and bacterial cellulose (BC) in different concentrations were prepared by solution casting and their thermal and mechanical behavior as well as biocompatibility was characterized. BC addition increased the thermal stability of the polymer matrix as evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis.

Improved antibacterial behavior of titanium surface with torularhodin-polypyrrole film.

The problem of microorganisms attaching and proliferating on implants and medical devices surfaces is still attracting interest in developing research on different coatings based on antibacterial agents. The aim of this work is centered on modifying titanium (Ti) based implants surfaces through incorporation of a natural compound with antimicrobial effect, torularhodin (T), by means of a polypyrrole (PPy) film. This study tested the potential antimicrobial activity of the new coating against a range of standard bacterial strains: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

[Perioperative immunologic changes in colorectal cancer patients].

The aim of the study was to investigate the perioperative immunological profile in colon cancer patients and possible correlations with disease. To investigate the changes in immune mediators profile induced by tumor resection, we assessed the serum levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha), chemokines (MIP-1alpha, MCP-1, ENA-78) and growth factors (VEGF, bFGF) in colon cancer patients before, during and after surgery and compared the results with those measured for a group of healthy controls. We have used XMap profiling technology (Luminex) that allows simultaneous measurement of multiple parameters in small volumes of samples.

Influence of tumor cell culture supernatants on macrophage functional polarization: in vitro models of macrophage-tumor environment interaction.

Aims And Background: Macrophages are heterogeneous cells with extensive functional plasticity; they can change their functional profiles repeatedly in response to environmental changes anywhere between their extreme phenotypical programs (labeled as M1 and M2 polarization, respectively). In terms of antitumoral immune response, M1 macrophages are considered to be beneficial, while M2 macrophages supposedly promote tumor progression. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent a major leukocyte population present in many tumors.

Bacterial extract cantastim activates macrophages via TLR-2.

CANTASTIM is a second generation bacterial immunomodulator. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanism by which bacterial immunomodulator CANTASTIM induces production of inflammatory cytokines in monocytes/macrophages. Proinflammatory cytokines were induced in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells by stimulation with TLR agonists and CANTASTIM in the presence or absence of anti-TLR blocking antibodies or isotype matched control antibodies.

Serum perioperative profile of cytokines in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Objective: Altered immune, inflammatory, and angiogenesis responses have been noticed in head and neck cancer, and many of these responses have been associated with a poor clinical outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate several immune mediators in the sera of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx undergoing curative surgery in connection with clinicopathologic factors.

Methods: Multiplex analysis of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor α [TNF-α], interferon-γ [IFN-γ]), chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1], macrophage inflammatory protein 1α [MIP-1α], and epithelial neutrophil-activating protein 78 [ENA-78]), and growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor) in the serum of patients with laryngeal cancer and healthy controls was performed using xMap technology.

Serum levels of adipokines resistin and leptin in patients with colon cancer.

Adipose tissue displays characteristics of an endocrine organ releasing a number of adipocyte-specific factors known as adipocytokines. It has been recently suggested that adipocytokines may play a role in pathogenesis and progression of certain cancers, in particular in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between several blood adipocytokine levels and clinicopathological characteristics of colon cancer patients undergoing surgery.

Impact of smoking on the immunological profile of patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

Immunity plays an important role in the prognosis and the natural development of cancer. Previous studies have shown that the presence of tumor in the body could modify the immune response leading to immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunological changes of patients with larynx squamous cell carcinoma undergoing potentially curative surgery.

Primary cell culture of human adenocarcinomas--practical considerations.

Cell culture is one of the major tools for oncology research, being an excellent system in which to study the biochemistry and molecular biology associated with individual cancer types and to understand cancer cell physiology. Progress in understanding the biology of any type of carcinoma has been impeded by the inability to culture adequately malignant cells from most epithelial tissues. The ultimate in vitro tumor model would completely reflect the in vivo tumor microenvironment in function and mechanism.

Effect of Candida albicans dsDNA in gastrointestinal Candida infection.

Neonates are highly sensitive to infections because they are biased to develop Th2 immune responses. When exposed to certain agents, such as DNA vaccines or CpG DNA motifs, neonates are capable to mount adult-like Th1 protective responses. This study investigates the capacity of Candida albicans (C.

Adjuvant properties of bacterial product cantastim.

Aluminum compounds have been used as adjuvants in practical vaccination for more than 60 years to induce an early, an efficient and a long lasting protective immunity. Nowadays they are the most widely used adjuvants in both veterinary and human vaccines. Unfortunately these adjuvants do not only cause undesirable side effects, but often induce T-helper type 2 (Th2)-biased responses.

Systemic inflammatory markers in patients with aortic sclerosis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate several mediators of inflammation in patients with aortic sclerosis in relation to severity of cardiovascular disease. Serum level of cytokines, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and their tissue inhibitor TIMP-1, were measured by ELISA and MMPs activity by zymography in 51 aortic sclerosis patients. The increase in MMPs expression positively correlated with their gelatinase activity; also there was a positive correlation between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 serum levels.

Bacterial product cantastim derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces migration and maturation of dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in linking innate and adaptive immunity. Migration to the lymph nodes and maturation of DCs are crucial steps in the initiation of specific immune responses. The bacterial product CANTASTIM (CS) is a purified extract of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that induces non-specific protection against bacterial infection, enhances macrophage effector functions and modulates cytokines production.

[Involvement of soluble mediators of inflammation in the pathogenic agent interaction--immune system in acute bacterial meningitis].

Acute Bacterial Meningitis is a medical emergency, which warrants early diagnosis and aggressive therapy, which in most cases must be initiated as an "empirical" treatment. Such an approach needs permanent epidemiological surveillance due to the major variability of the etiological agents depending upon time, geographical areas and demographic characteristics of the population. A program for the surveillance of meningitis is in progress in Romania, but the available clinical inbformation is incomplete and not well documented by paraclinical data, poorly reflecting the real incidence of the disease.

Cytokine profiling by multiplex immunoassay as an effective approach to assess immunomodulatory activity of bacterial product CANTASTIM.

The bacterial product CANTASTIM (CS) is a purified extract of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that induces non-specific protection against bacterial infection, enhances macrophage effector functions and modulates production of cytokines. Most likely, it interacts with components of the innate immune response. Cytokine production can be used to assess the bioactivity of this product but these biomolecules operate in vivo in a complex regulatory network with reciprocal influences so there is a need for profiling an array of cytokines rather than an individual analysis.

Experimental studies on bacterial product cantastim derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. VII. Activation of immune cells of healthy controls and cancer patients.

CANTASTIM (CS) is a purified extract of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with beneficial effects related to enhancing the immune responses in conditions such as chronic viral and bacterial infections, immunodeficiencies and cancer immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to determine the capacity of this biological product to stimulate in vitro human leukocytes in whole blood. Blood samples from healthy donors and cancer patients were incubated with CS for 24 h and leukocytes were assessed for induction of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) by ELISA and expression of early activation marker CD69 by flow-cytometry.

New insights into the pathogenesis and prognosis of aortic sclerosis.

Aortic valve disease includes a wide spectrum of conditions, from leaflets thickening to hemodynamically significant aortic stenosis and is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Studies performed during the last years bring consistent evidence that these lesions of the aortic valves share remarkable similarities with atherosclerotic lesions. They also reveal new risk factors for its development, which are superposed in fact with the major risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Experimental studies on bacterial product cantastim derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. VI. Protection in tolerant mice.

Endotoxin tolerance is defined as a hyporesponsiveness state to a second stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This refractory state is primarily associated with an attenuated cytokine production. Whether this down-regulation of cytokine production results in an increased susceptibility to infection remains a matter of controversy.

Evidence for immune defects in breast and lung cancer patients.

Immunosuppression is often identified in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate several immune parameters for patients with breast and lung cancer. Immunophenotyping analysis showed that the cancer patients investigated had significantly lower absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes than controls.

Experimental studies on the bacterial product CANTASTIM derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. V. Protective effect in endotoxin shock.

In this paper, we investigated the effect of the treatment with the bacterial immunomodulator CANTASTIM in a model of endotoxin shock in mice. Among the different mouse models described for septic shock, we have chosen the low-dose endotoxin model using D-galactosamine sensitized mice. We noticed a significant increase in the survival rate of the mice treated with CANTASTIM before the endotoxin challenge.