Cell cross-talk and interactions: a review of structure and function

Cell-cell interactions are central to the function of many organ systems. The contact between cells and their microenvironment is fundamental both during development and for the preservation of tissue structure. Picking out the signals coming from the surrounding environment enables cells to react promptly to changes that may occur. This work provides a comprehensive review on cell interactions and cross-talk in normal physiological and some pathological conditions of different tissues and organs of the human body [e.g. embryonic, vascular, dendritic, natural killer, cardiac, nerve, lung, testicular, epidermal, and dermal cells]. It aimed to explore the nature of this phenomenon and its role in regulating or directing normal cellular function. The mode of cellular interaction was discussed on the basis of biochemical data regarding cytokines or through actual cell contact through different types of junctions or synaptic ribbons. Further understanding of how cell-cell interactions modulate tissue function will allow us to gain fundamental biological insight as well as suggest approaches that will allow the manipulation of tissue function in vitro and for therapeutic applications in vivo

Impact of medical curriculum on conceptualization of professionalism by residents at a University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background: The quality of healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction are affected by communication skills and professionalism of the physician. Medical curricula have substantial influence on physicians' perception of professionalism

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of medical curriculum on the values of the residents at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and their opinions on professionalism and to identify the sources that they describe as most influential in shaping their views

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in 2010/2011. A modified version of the questionnaire designed by Blue and colleagues was distributed among the target group [n=201]. Psychometric analysis of the survey tool showed that it was precise and had construct validity

Results: The return rate was 76.6%. The overall means of the attitudes of both male and female residents toward the attributes of professionalism were low. Attitude toward professionalism showed an insignificant difference between male and female residents. Self-reflection ranked first among all studied attributes. Most male [80%] and female [76.7%] residents believed that working with consultants, specialists, and senior residents in the hospital was the main source of their opinions on professionalism. They considered basic science studies and the other extracurricular courses they attended to be the least helpful in developing their opinions

Conclusion and recommendations: Residents at King Abdulaziz University Hospital feel underserved in the area of developing their values toward professionalism during the preclinical years, relying to some extent on their experiences during their clinical years and mainly on their interactions with consultants, colleagues, and hospital staff to develop their sense of professionalism. Given the recent changes in the curriculum adopted by the university, it is recommended to assess the attitudes of the students under the new curriculum toward professionalism and to compare them with those of students under the traditional curriculum

Endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting [ESVH] versus open saphenous vein harvesting [OSVH]: a light and electron microscopic study

Following the introduction of aorto-coronary bypass grafting in 1968, the use of saphenous veins as conduits for revascularization has become an established method treatment for symptomatic coronary artery disease. The role of damaged endothelium in early graft occlusion has been extensively demonstrated. Seventy percent of early graft occlusions in coronary artery bypasses were caused by thrombi overlying areas of endothelial loss. Was to assess by morphological and histological examination the degree of vascular trauma of saphenous vein conduits harvested by an endoscopic technique compared with those harvested by conventional open methods, in order to evaluate the safety of both techniques. Saphenous vein specimens were collected from 120 patients undergoing elective Coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] surgery and randomized into two groups: Endoscopic Saphenous Vein Harvesting [ESVH] group A and Open Saphenous Vein Harvesting [OSVH] group B. Small parts of the vein were processed for routine light and scanning electron microscopy assessment. Most of the examined sections of the saphenous vein showed mild to moderate histological disruption in the form of intimal endothelial loss and medial tears. Scanning electron microscopy showed some endothelial separation, basement membrane exposure and adherent blood cells and fibrin. These findings were more evident in group A than in group B, but the statistical analysis of the quantitative data showed that this difference was of no significant value. This study proved that ESVH adversely affects the histological structure of the vein more than OSVH, but the difference between both techniques remains statistically insignificant. This means that the OSVH still has the upper hand in preservation of vein integrity compared to ESVH and more skilful training of the surgeons to safely harvest the veins endoscopically is strongly needed

Morphological and morphometric study of cultured fibroblast from treated and untreated abnormal scar

To investigate the morphology of cultured fibroblasts derived from abnormal scars and compare it to those of human normal skin. This study was carried out in the Surgical Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between December 2008 and March 2010. Fifty-two samples of hypertrophic and keloid scar were collected. An in vitro study was conducted in which fibroblasts from normal foreskin; abnormal scars were cultured, studied morphologically and morphometrically. There was a highly significant increase in the length and breadth of fibroblasts from the hypertrophic and keloid scars, and highly significant decrease in the bipolarity index compared to control. There was a significant increase in the mean cell area, mean nuclear area and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of fibroblast of hypertrophic and keloid scars compared to control. There was a significant decrease in the mean cell area and mean nuclear area of the fibroblast of the treated keloid scar [with all used modalities] compared to untreated ones. Morphologically, abnormal scar fibroblasts has abundant spreading cytoplasm with numerous processes and large nuclei. The cytoplasm, of some cells, contained clumped granules in the peri-nuclear region, numerous vacuoles, and dense vesicles. Morphological and morphometric study showed that hyperactive cultured fibroblasts was a characteristic feature of abnormal scars and the studied modalities of treatment reduced, but not completely nullify this activity