Pluripotent lineage of CD133 stem cells isolated from human skin samples.

Skin stem cells are very important in cosmetics, pharmacological and regenerative medicine and burn cases. Foreskin samples surgically removed after circumcision from boys below 7 years were collected and primary epidermal cells were prepared by enzymatic and mechanical tituration method. Selecting CD133 (prominin-1) multipotent stem cell marker, enriched stem cells were analyzed by MACS using CD133 antibodies conjugated with magnetic beads. CD133 positive and negative cells with specific skin stem cells markers like - CD34 (Universal stem cells marker), CD29 (integrin beta-1) and CD49f (integrin alpha-6) immunophenotypes were screened and sorted in flowcytometer. Further the expression of four embryonic genes or transcription factors of pluripotent stem cells were analyzed for pluripotent character of sorted cells. It was found that skin stem cell markers associated with CD133 cells, differentially expressed CD34, CD29 and CD49f immunophenotyes on both positive and negative CD133 cells in FACS analysis. The embryonic stem cell markers (induced pluripotent stem cell markers) like Oct4, SOX2, Notch-2 and K19 genes were expressed in CD133 positive epidermal cells. It is therefore evident that foreskin derived epidermal stem cells showed pluripotent or multipotent nature. This finding opens up avenues for new uses of these stem cells for direct cell seeding in wound healing, surgical suturing and drug screening.

Lymph node metastasis of soft tissue tumors: a cytomorphologic study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency of regional lymph node metastasis of soft tissue tumors (STT) and to evaluate the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as an initial investigative modality. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective and retrospective study of over 6 years (1998-2004) was performed to look for frequency of STT metastasizing to lymph nodes. FNAC of enlarged nodes was performed as a routine outpatient procedure after obtaining complete clinical details. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were correlated where available. RESULTS: Lymph node enlargement was seen in 23 of 241 patients with STTs, of which 19 cases showed involvement (7.88%), synchronous with primary in 12 cases and metachronous in 7 cases. The most common sites of primary tumor were the lower extremity and head and neck region with involved regional lymph nodes. STTs commonly involving lymph nodes were rhabdomyosarcoma and extraskeletal Ewing's/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET); other rare tumors included malignant granular cell tumor, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma, angiosarcoma and epithelioid sarcoma. CONCLUSION: Lymph node aspirates should be examined for alien cells, particularly smears that are paucicellular and demonstrate cystic change. Lymph node metastasis of STT is rare and influences staging, treatment and prognosis. Enlarged regional nodes should be examined with FNAC.

Abdominal cocoon due to primary peritonitis: barium meal is valuable in diagnosis.

Abdominal cocoon, a rare condition in which the small bowel is encased in a membrane, resembles peritoneal fibrsis. There are only 16 case reports of this condition in the world literature. A 15-year-old girl presented with recurrent abdominal pain due to distal small bowel obstruction. Abdominal X-ray showed multiple air fluid levels like small intestinal obstruction. Contrast study revealed segregation of the small bowel loops with a dilatedproximal small intestine and gradual narrowing of the distal ileum with the obstruction; the mucosal pattern was preserved till the distal ileum. Contrast was not flowing into the colon. At laparotomy, the small intestine was seen to be encased and coiled up in a membrane. The membrane was excised, resulting in release of the obstruction.