The telopode- and filopode-projecting heterogeneous stromal cells of the human sclera niche.

Telocytes (TCs) are stromal cells defined by the presence of long and slender prolongations (telopodes). They are a biologically and functionally heterogeneous population that has not been previously investigated in the sclera. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence and characteristics of scleral telocytes through a combined immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study using samples from ten adult patients. Stromal cells with a TC-like morphology expressed CD34, CD45, CD105, vimentin and occasionally CD68 but were negative for collagen III, CD31, CD133, and CD146. Conjunctival epithelial cells expressed CD45, CD105, CD146, and vimentin. These phenotypes support a scleral niche with immune TCs and haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In TEM, we often found spindle-shaped stromal cells projecting telopodes or filopodes, with extremely long nuclei extended even within those prolongations. We separated these cells into a light subtype, which contained a complete set of organelles, and a dark subtype, consisting of undifferentiated stem/progenitor cells. The light cells contained dense vesicles, Weibel-Palade bodies, and rounded α-granule-like structures. These storage areas for the von Willebrand factor (vWF) are known to express selectins that are critically involved in HSC homing and could also indicate endothelial progenitors. The dark cells were scarcely myoid, populated the episcleral perivascular niches and the scleral stroma, and were equipped with lipid storage areas such as lamellar bodies and lipid droplets (LDs). Previously, unreported intranuclear LDs were found in these cells, which is characteristic of an HSC population. It appears that the human scleral stroma is a niche harbouring TC-like cells with immune and HSC phenotypes, and the mere presence or characteristics of telopodes are not enough to differentiate them.

Telocyte-like cells containing Weibel-Palade bodies in rat lamina fusca.

Telocytes (TCs) are cells with long, thin and moniliform processes called telopodes. These cells have been found in numerous tissues, including the eye choroid and sclera. Lamina fusca (LF), an anatomical structure located at the sclera-choroid junction, has outer fibroblastic lamellae containing cells with long telopodes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, via transmission electron microscopy, the LF for the presence of endothelial-specific ultrastructural features, such as Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), in the residing TCs. We found that the outer fibroblastic layer of LF lacked pigmented cells but contained numerous cells with telopodes. These cells had incomplete or absent basal laminae, were united by focal adhesions and close contacts, and displayed scarce caveolae and shedding vesicles. Within the stromal cells of LF, numerous WPBs in various stages of maturation and vesicular structures, as secretory pods that ensure the exocytosis of WPBs content, were observed. The WPBs content of the cells with telopodes in the LF could indicate either their involvement in vasculogenesis and/or lymphangiogenesis or that they are the P-selectin- and CD63-containing pools that play roles in scleral or choroidal inflammation.

Nutritional and nutraceutical comparison of Jamaican Psidium cattleianum (strawberry guava) and Psidium guajava (common guava) fruits.

Psidium cattleianum (strawberry guava) is one of many underutilised edible fruits that grow wild in Jamaica, and could potentially be commercially exploited to yield health and economic benefits. In this study, the total phenolics, proximate contents, and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities of P. cattleianum and P. guajava (common guava), a well-known species, were compared. Strawberry guavas were found to be superior to common guavas in antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, total phenolics and vitamin C content. They also possessed relatively high fibre content (24.9%). The hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of strawberry guavas showed cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme inhibitory activities of 18.3% and 26.5%, respectively (250 µg/mL), indicating anti-inflammatory activity. The EtOAc and MeOH extracts of P. guajava showed 56.4% (COX-2) and 44.1% (COX-1) inhibitory activity, respectively. Additionally, nine compounds were isolated from strawberry guava fruits, some of which demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. These results indicate that strawberry guavas are beneficial for health.

Biological activity and chemical composition of the essential oil from Jamaican Hyptis verticillata Jacq.

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Hyptis verticillata Jacq. was elucidated by a combination of GC and GC-MS analyses. The oil was dominated by the sesquiterpenoids cadina-4,10(15)-dien-3-one (15.1%) (1) and aromadendr-1(10)-en-9-one (squamulosone) (30.7%) (2). The oil exhibited chemosterilant activities against the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus Canest., and toxic action against adult Cylas formicarius elegantulus Summer, the most destructive pest of sweet potato (Ipomoea species).

Mikanolide from Jamaican Mikania micrantha.

Mikanolide [systematic names: 1,10:2,3-diepoxy-6,8-dihydroxy-11-vinylgermacr-4-ene 12,14-di-gamma-lactone and 7,10a-dimethyl-1a,1b,2a,6a,7,9a,10,10a-octahydro-4H-6,3-methenofuro[3,2-c]bisoxireno[f,h]oxacycloundecin-4,8(6H)-dione], C(15)H(14)O(6), derived from a variety of Mikania micrantha growing in Portland, Jamaica, contains a methylcyclodecane ring fused to an unsaturated planar alpha,gamma-lactone, an envelope-type near-planar vinyl-beta,gamma-lactone and two epoxide moieties. The crystal packing shows stacks of mikanolide molecules interlocked via a network of non-classical C-H...O hydrogen bonds between the lactone units.

[The role and importance of antidrug educational program in preventing toxicomania in adolescents]. / Rolul si importanta programelor educationale antidrog în prevenirea toxicomaniei la adolescenti.

If before 1989 the use of drugs in Romania was an exceptional situation, in the last few years our country evolved from a transit area to a potential market. The drug users in Romania a coming from all the social classes (workers, unemployed, students and even medical staff), but more vulnerable are the adolescents and the young unemployed people. There is a certain risk that the drug use in Romania to become a wide spread phenomenon, with a tendency of getting out of control. Thus we need an operational program in the fight against the drug use.

Examination of human stomach biopsies, saliva, and dental plaque for Campylobacter pylori.

To examine possible sources of Campylobacter pylori and to determine the routes by which it is transmitted to the human stomach, samples of dental plaque and saliva from 71 patients undergoing endoscopy in addition to stomach biopsies were collected and cultured on selective noninhibitory Skirrow medium. A total of 29 (40.8%) of the stomach biopsies yielded C. pylori. None of the saliva samples and only one of the dental plaque samples was found positive for C. pylori, and thus neither saliva nor dental plaque could be implicated as a significant reservoir of this organism.

Expanded clinical spectrum of infections caused by Proteus penneri.

Strains of Proteus penneri from seven abdominal wounds (after bowel resection), five urine samples, and eight other sites were isolated in mixed cultures. Seven urine isolates were in pure cultures. All infections were nosocomially acquired, indicating that complete identification of P. penneri in the clinical laboratory is warranted.