Skin dendritic cells increase in number during early response to wounding

Among the cells that may participate to wound response and wound healing, coordinate with other cell types, dendritic cells have been little studied until now and the least so in humans. This issue has been addressed on samples of wounded and control skin taken at autopsy and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and morphometry. Langerhans cell number in the epidermis and the relative volume of MHC II+ cells in the dermis increased transiently upon wounding, with a significant peak in the first and the second half hour after wounding respectively. Dermal MHC II+ cells became part of a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate visible in the subpapillary dermis since between 30 and 60 after wounding and which contained also MC. Cells at the periphery of the infiltrates were also DC-SIGN+ and CD11c+, i.e. were well differentiated connective tissue dendritic cells. Mast cells underwent degranulation associated to an increase in number in the first hours after wounding. These modifications of dendritic cells and mast cells and the respective tissue course suggest that epidermal and dermal dendritic cells participate to the early response to wounding in humans, coordinately with mast cells and possibly stimulating the recruitment and activation of the cells involved in injury response at later time points

Contacts between mast cells and dendritic cells in the human skin

Langerhans cells are a dendritic cell type characteristic of the epidermis. Since mast cells secrete molecules potentially influent on dendritic cell differentiation, we have addressed the degree of proximity between these two cell types in biopsies of skin diseases characterized by massive influx of dendritic cell precursors. By fluorescence microscopy, avidin labeled mast cells were found in contact with CD1a+ dendritic cells. By electron microscopy, contacts between mast cells and blunty dendritic cells were found in areas corresponding to those where CD1a+ cells were localized by immunohistochemistry. We propose that mast cells can induce the differentia­ tion of precursors into Langerhans cells through both the release of short range acting soluble factors and contact­mediating plasma membrane molecules

Evaluation of swine fertilisation medium (SFM) efficiency in preserving spermatozoa quality during long-term storage in comparison to four commercial swine extenders

In pig production, artificial insemination is widely carried out and the use of fresh diluted semen is predominant. For this reason, there are increasing interests in developing new extenders and in establishing the optimal storage conditions for diluted spermatozoa. In the last few decades, we utilised a homemade diluent (swine fertilisation medium (SFM)) for spermatozoa manipulation and biotechnological application as the production of transgenic pigs utilising the sperm-mediated gene transfer technique. The purpose of the present study is therefore to analyse the ability of SFM, in comparison to four commercial extenders, in preserving the quality of diluted boar semen stored at 16.58C till 15 days. We utilised some of the main predictive tests as objectively measured motility, acrosome and sperm membrane integrity, high mitochondrial membrane potential and pH. Based on our in vitro study, SFM could be declared as a good long-term extender, able to preserve spermatozoa quality as well as Androhep Enduraguard for up to 6 to 9 days and more

La metodologia Sei Sigma nei servizi

This book explains how the methodological approach of the Six Sigma can be used to provide an effective solution to one of the most widespread problems faced by Small and Medium Enterprises: the frequent undercapitalisation linked to short-term investments often funded by bank loans. The Six Sigma method enables the problem to be tackled by studying, in an analytical and statistical manner, both the payments that the enterprises are to receive and the possible conditions of the funding, proposing solutions to optimise these processes and improve the financial performance of the SMEs. Hence the book is offered as both a methodological analysis and as an operative tool for the sphere of enterprise.Il libro mostra come l'approccio metodologico del Sei Sigma possa essere utilizzato per fornire un'efficace soluzione ad un problema molto sentito dalle Piccole e Medie Imprese: la frequente sottocapitalizzazione legata agli investimenti a breve periodo, spesso finanziati con dei prestiti bancari. La metodologia Sei Sigma permette di affrontare il problema studiando in modo analitico e statistico sia i pagamenti che le aziende devono ricevere, sia le possibili condizioni di finanziamento, proponendo delle soluzioni per ottimizzare questi processi e migliorare la performance finanziaria di una PMI. In tal senso si propone allo stesso tempo come un saggio di analisi metodologica e come uno strumento operativo per la realtà imprenditoriale

Pathobiology of ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma

The authors revise the concept of ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in the light of the recently updated WHO classification of Tumors of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues both on biological and clinical grounds. The main histological findings are illustrated as well as the phenotypic, molecular and clinical characteristics. Finally, the biological rationale for possible innovative targeted therapies is presented

Implementation of an Industry 4.0 system to optimally manage chemical plant operation

The evolution of the process industry in the direction of automation and digitalization is nowadays a consolidated phenomenon. In this direction, Industry 4.0 paradigms are leading many industrial companies to significantly update their facilities. This paper presents a scheduling algorithm that takes the role of a real-time optimization (RTO) element in a larger project framework where the various network components are aimed to be all highly interconnected. The proposed methodology is applied to an Italian chemical industrial site, in order to best manage the production rates of the various products and the sales plan for the different clients. Numerous plants and processes are considered into the model: batch and continuous production lines, saleable and non-storable products. Concepts of linear optimization and batch operation scheduling are used in the algorithm construction. This whole structure lays the foundation for a full integration between different elements of the facility, that is, the control systems and the selling department

Cell interactions between mast cells and dendritic cells in human skin wounds

The response to wounding passes through different phases and mast cells (MC) respond to injury since early [1]. These cells can interact with dendritic cells (DC) and lymphocytes in vitro to control immune responses [2], but possible interactions between MC and DC in the early response to wounding in vivo have not yet been investigated. To address this issue, cryosections of skin wounded since 0-24 h taken at autopsy were stained with fluorescent avidin (MC) and UEA-1 (Ulex europaeus-1 lectin: endothelium), and immunolabeled for MHC-II (DC), CD1a (Langerhans cells, i.e. epidermal DC) and PDGF (endothelium). Fluorescence microscopy was followed by computerized image analysis. Intact neighbor skin was used as control. Langerhans cells number increased significantly with a peak 5 min after wounding. The intensity of MHC-II expression and the relative volume of MHC-II+ cells in the dermis increased significantly since 5 min after wounding and remained high for several hours. These cells became part of a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate visible in the subpapillary dermis since 60 min after wounding, which contained also MC strictly close to MHC-II positive cells. Upon wounding the number of capillaries labeled by UEA-1 and for PDGF increased markedly. The results suggest that: immature cells residing in the epidermis may come to express CD1a quickly; DC recruitment and redistribution in the dermis may occur quite fast upon injury; the latter cells participate to the response to wounding since the early steps, coordinately with MC and close to capillaries. Therefore DC, together with MC, may be candidate to regulate early injury response in human skin. [1] Bacci et al. J. Forensic. Sci. 2011 (in press) [2] Dudeck et al. Eur. J. Immunol. 2011; doi: 10.1002/eji.201040994