Cell Signaling Pathways Related to Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Metastasis.

The epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a highly complex and dynamic morphogenetic process in which epithelial cells change their cellular characteristics and transform to mesenchymal cells. It plays a key role in tissue remodeling, not only during embryonic development and stem cell biology but also during wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer progression. In EMT, under different extracellular cell signals and stimuli, epithelial cells undergo an orchestrated series of morphological, cellular, biochemical, and molecular changes. The mechanism of cancer cell metastasis is similar to embryonic development, like epithelial cells migrating and differentiating into all tissues of the embryo. In this period, epithelial cells differentiate into mesenchymal cells, migrate, and return to the epithelial cells when necessary. The important cell signaling pathways in embryonic development, such as growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (FGF, HGF, TGF-α), TGF-ß, Wnt, NOTCH, MAPK, JAK/STAT and inflammatory cytokines such as NF-κB, TNF-α, IL6, cathepsin and HIF-1α. All play crucial roles in EMT during cancer cell invasion and metastasis. In cancer progression, similar cell signaling pathways and molecular activation occur in embryonic development; therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of cell signaling pathways related to cancer metastasis and improve new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for resistance to drugs.

A comparison of basilar artery diameters measured by T2WI and TOF MR angiography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to compare basilar artery diameters (BAD) measured by T2WI to diameters measured by TOF MR angiography (MRA). By doing this, we hope to understand how compatible these two methodologies are with each other. METHODS: We used data from 100 patients (59 females, 41 males) who underwent a session of both T2W MRI and TOF MRA at the same time (ages between 18 and 83). We measured BAD by both T2WI and TOF MRA in three different levels. We then compared these diameters measured by two different methodologies to each other. RESULTS: In an area between the vertebrobasilar junction and posterior cerebral artery, all data measured by T2WI and TOF MRA in three different levels were analyzed. Average diameters measured by T2WI and TOF MRA turned out to be 79.5% correlated with each other. As a result of our mathematical model that we came up with through regression analysis, we calculated that measurements taken by T2WI on mid-pontine levels could predict TOF MRA measures with 78.3% accuracy. In T2WI and TOF MRA, average diameters measured were 2.982 ± 0.4717 and 3.205 ± 0.4281 mm, respectively. Statistical analyses showed that images measured by T2W series were significantly smaller than those measured by TOF MRA (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that BAD measured by T2WI were smaller than those measured by TOF MRA. We think that it will be beneficial to refer our results to avoid T2WI and TOF MRA mismatch when evaluating BAD.

Ultrastructural analyses of the novel chimeric hemostatic agent generated via nanotechnology, ABS nanohemostat, at the renal tissue level.

Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), a hemostatic agent of plant origin, has been registered for the prevention of clinical hemorrhages. Currently there is no data regarding the ultrastructural analysis of ABS at the tissue level. The aim of this study is to assess renal tissue effects via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses for the ABS and ABS nanohemostat (formed by the combination of self-assembling peptide amphiphile molecules and ABS). SEM experiments were performed with FEI Nova NanoSEM 230, using the ETD detector at low vacuum mode with 30 keV beam energy. SEM analyses revealed that significant erythroid aggregation are present inside the capillary bed of the renal tissue. However, neither the signs of necrosis nor any other sign of tissue damage are evident in the surrounding renal tissue supplied by the microcapillary vasculature. Our study is important for several reasons. Firstly, in our study we used ABS nanohemostat which was recently developed. This study adds valuable information to the literature regarding ABS nanohemostat. Secondly, this study is the first ultrastructural analysis of ABS that was performed at the tissue level. Thirdly, we disclosed that ABS nanohemostat could induce vital erythroid aggregation at the renal tissue level as detected by SEM. Lastly, we detected that ABS nanohemostat causes no harm to the tissues including necrosis and any other detrimental effects.

Pili annulati with fragility: Electron microscopic findings of a case.

Pili annulati (PA) is typically characterized by shinny beads seen along the hair shaft. PA is accepted to belong to the classification of hair shaft abnormalities without fragility. Herein, we described a 14-year-old, fair skin with dark-haired girl diagnosed as PA with fragility which was demonstrated by weathering features in electron microscopic examinations. The patient had shinny beaded, easily breakable hairs since the age of four. A few broken hairs were observed by a light pull test. Transmitted light microscopy revealed periodic dark bands in the hair shaft. These dark bands disappeared after application of 10% aqueous potassium hydroxide. Multiple cavities within hair shaft and severe cuticular damages representing the weathering pattern were observed in electron microscopic examinations. All these findings were found to be consistent with presence of fragility in PA. This case provides evidences of fragile hair structure of PA which may be due to pathological cavities within hair shafts.