The conservative treatment of giant omphalocele by tanning with povidone iodine and aqueous 2% eosin solutions

Aim: The aim of this work was to report the result of nonoperative management of giant omphalocele by dressing with povidone iodine and aqueous eosin in Niger.Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted over 5 years (January 2011 to December 2015) in the Departments of Pediatric Surgery in the country. The procedure consisted of applying povidone iodine at the initial phase of the treatment as inpatient followed by aqueous eosine solution application as outpatient, which was continued up to complete epidermization. The clinical aspects, the complications and the mortality of omphalocele were discussed.Results: The study included about 13 patients; the mean age at presentation was 1.7 days (range: 3 h–8 days). The delivery was at home in 38.46% of the cases (five out of 13). The average birth weight was 2810 g. Associated congenital abnormalities were found in 46.15% of cases (six out of 13). The mean initial hospitalization duration was 8 days. The average length of complete epidermization duration was 9±2 weeks. The secondary surgical cure was realized in eight patients. The morbidity rate was 30.77% (four out of 13). The mortality rate was 23.07% (three out of 13).Conclusion: The conservative treatment of giant omphalocele through the application of povidone iodine and aqueous eosine is effective and cost-effective. This procedure should be privileged in our limited resources Health centers where pediatric intensive care unit are lacking.Keywords: conservative management, dressing, epidermization, omphalocel

Paraurethral cysts in two female infants: When opting for surgical procedure

Paraurethral cysts (PC) or Skenes duct cysts are rare cause urogenital masse in females, particularly in newborn or infant. It arise from obstruction of Skenes ducts and diagnosis is usually easy by physical examination. The management of PC is controversial, it can be conservative or surgical. Non regression of cyst after 6 months of following or difficulty in excretion of urine was the indication for surgery. We report two cases of paraurethral cyst in female infant treated by surgical procedure

Decellularized Matrix from Tumorigenic Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Neovascularization with Galectin-1 Dependent Endothelial Interaction

BACKGROUND: Acquisition of a blood supply is fundamental for extensive tumor growth. We recently described vascular heterogeneity in tumours derived from cell clones of a human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) strain (hMSC-TERT20) immortalized by retroviral vector mediated human telomerase (hTERT) gene expression. Histological analysis showed that cells of the most vascularized tumorigenic clone, -BD11 had a pericyte-like alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA+) and CD146+ positive phenotype. Upon serum withdrawal in culture, -BD11 cells formed cord-like structures mimicking capillary morphogenesis. In contrast, cells of the poorly tumorigenic clone, -BC8 did not stain for ASMA, tumours were less vascularized and serum withdrawal in culture led to cell death. By exploring the heterogeneity in hMSC-TERT20 clones we aimed to understand molecular mechanisms by which mesenchymal stem cells may promote neovascularization. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Quantitative qRT-PCR analysis revealed similar mRNA levels for genes encoding the angiogenic cytokines VEGF and Angiopoietin-1 in both clones. However, clone-BD11 produced a denser extracellular matrix that supported stable ex vivo capillary morphogenesis of human endothelial cells and promoted in vivo neovascularization. Proteomic characterization of the -BD11 decellularized matrix identified 50 extracellular angiogenic proteins, including galectin-1. siRNA knock down of galectin-1 expression abrogated the ex vivo interaction between decellularized -BD11 matrix and endothelial cells. More stable shRNA knock down of galectin-1 expression did not prevent -BD11 tumorigenesis, but greatly reduced endothelial migration into -BD11 cell xenografts. CONCLUSIONS: Decellularized hMSC matrix had significant angiogenic potential with at least 50 angiogenic cell surface and extracellular proteins, implicated in attracting endothelial cells, their adhesion and activation to form tubular structures. hMSC -BD11 surface galectin-1 expression was required to bring about matrix-endothelial interactions and for xenografted hMSC -BD11 cells to optimally recruit host vasculature

Identification of a membrane proteomic signature for human embryonic stem cells independent of culture conditions

Proteomic profiling of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) can identify cell fate determination and self-renewal biomarkers. Employing Fourier transform LC-ESI-MS/MS and MS mass spectrometry, we obtained a membrane proteomic signature overlapping between hESC cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders and those grown under MEF-free culture conditions. We identified 444 transmembrane or membrane-associated proteins, of which 157 were common between both culture conditions. Functional annotation revealed CD antigens (10%), adhesion proteins (4%), proliferation-associated proteins (4%), receptors (41%), transport proteins (21%), structural proteins (5%), and proteins with miscellaneous functions (15%). In addition, 15 CD antigens and a number of surface marker molecules not previously observed in hESC at a proteome level, e.g., Nodal modulator 1, CD222, transgelin-2, and CD81, were identified. In conclusion, we describe the first membrane proteome profile of hESC that is independent of culture conditions. These data can be used to define the phenotype of hESC