Immunology of gangliosides

301-312This review discusses the immunology of gangliosides from the perspective of tumor, neuronal and general immunology. Antiganglioside antibodies in human sera are invariably IgM and are found in healthy individuals. Their titers decline with age. Persistent high titer of IgM is associated with several diseases, particularly neuropathies. Membrane-bound gangliosides are important tumor-associated antigens and targets for immune attack. Cells enriched with gangliosides can be used as cancer vaccines. Efficacy of these vaccines depends on the viability of whole cells, integrity of the cell membranes, adjuvants and topography of the tumor-associated antigens. The role of antiganglioside IgM is to eliminate the immunosuppressive gangliosides shed from tissues during ageing, degeneration of neural and extraneural tissues, and tumor growth and necrosis. In addition, in vitro observations with human and murine monoclonal antibodies suggest that they are capable of complement dependent cytotoxicity and apoptosis

Supplementation of bone marrow aspirate-derived platelet-rich plasma for treating radiation-induced ulcer after cardiac fluoroscopic procedures: A preliminary report

Background: The frequency of encountering radiodermatitis caused by X-ray fluoroscopic procedures for ischaemic heart disease is increasing. In severe cases, devastating ulcers with pain, for which conservative therapy is ineffective, emerge. Radiation-induced ulcers are notorious for being difficult to treat. Simple skin grafting often fails because of the poor state of the wound bed. A vascularized flap is a very good option. However, the non-adherence of the well-vascularized flap with the irradiated wound bed is frequently experienced. Aim: To ameliorate the irradiated wound bed, bone marrow-derived platelet-rich plasma (bm-PRP) was delivered during the surgery. Materials and Methods: Four patients with severe cutaneous radiation injury accompanied by unbearable pain after multiple fluoroscopic procedures for ischaemic heart disease were treated. Wide excision of the lesion and coverage with a skin flap supplemented with bm-PRP injection was performed. Results: All patients obtained wound closure and were relieved from pain. No complication concerning the bone marrow aspiration and delivery of bm-PRP was observed. Conclusions: Supplementation of bm-PRP can be an option without major complications, time, and cost to improve the surgical outcome for irradiated wounds

Infrared venography of the hand in Apert syndrome

As well as craniofacial synostosis, complex syndactyly of hands is a distinctive feature of Apert syndrome. Consideration of blood flow to the digits is very important in separation surgery. Several reports offer information about arterial distribution in Apert′s hands. Though, venous pattern has not been well discussed. Infrared venography offers a real-time image with minimal invasion. An Apert syndrome patient underwent a series of finger splitting surgeries. Infrared venography was carried out to assess veins. There was a palmar venous arch, placing distally to the metacarpophalangeal joint. The arch had to be cut to divide fused fingers sufficiently. As well as arterial abnormality, venous uniqueness should be noted in Apert syndactyly surgeries. Infrared venography, which can be carried out easily, offers good information that surgeon require

A new rabbit model of impaired wound healing in an X-ray-irradiated field - Fig 1

<p>A: Schematic diagram of shielding. Irradiation was restricted to a hindlimb. B: An anesthetized rabbit in a shielding apparatus was placed in an X-ray irradiation unit.</p

Picrosirius red staining just below epidermal defect.

<p>Two weeks after wound creation; 20x objective lens; bar: 100 micro meters. R-: without irradiation, PBS injected. R+: irradiated, PBS injected. pb: irradiated, peripheral blood-derived PRP injected. bm: irradiated, bone marrow aspirate-derived PRP injected. PR: Picrosirius red stain, bright-field view. PP: Picrosirius red stain, polarized view. Green areas indicate fine fibers; yellow areas indicate thick fibers. Marked collagen fiber decrease can be observed in irradiated wounds. See also <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184534#pone.0184534.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>.</p

Tracking of implanted cells.

<p>DiI-labeled cells were fluorescently identified (red) by CD31/PECAM1 in sections stained with DAB and counterstained with hematoxylin. Objective lens: 40x; bar: 50 micro meters. pb: pb-PRP injected, bm: bm-PRP injected, f: fluorescent view, m: merged with bright-field view. A: 2 weeks after injection. In both pb and bm, fluorescence was identified in wound bed muscular layer. B: 4 weeks after injection. In pb, fluorescence was hardly observed, whereas in bm, robust fluorescence was confirmed. Correlation between fluorescence and DAB stain was unclear.</p

Histological view of the wounds 2 weeks after the surgery.

<p>Serial sections were prepared and stained; 2x objective lens; bar: 1 mm. R-: without irradiation, PBS injected. R+: irradiated, PBS injected. pb: irradiated, peripheral blood-derived PRP injected. bm: irradiated, bone marrow aspirate-derived PRP injected. HE: hematoxylin-eosin stain. CD31: DAB stained with anti-CD31/PECAM1 antibody, counterstained with hematoxylin. PR: Picrosirius red stain, bright-field view. PP: Picrosirius red stain, polarized view. Black triangles in first row (HE) indicate epidermal edges.</p

Percentage of colored areas in picrosirius red-stained, polarized images of normal and post-irradiated skin.

<p>Percentage of colored areas in picrosirius red-stained, polarized images of normal and post-irradiated skin.</p

Picrosirius red staining just below epidermal defect.

<p>Four weeks after wound creation; 20x objective lens; bar: 100 micro meters. R-: without irradiation, PBS injected. R+: irradiated, PBS injected. pb: irradiated, peripheral blood-derived PRP injected. bm: irradiated, bone marrow aspirate-derived PRP injected. PR: Picrosirius red stain, bright-field view. PP: Picrosirius red stain, polarized view. See also <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184534#pone.0184534.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>.</p