Using microscopy to understand wound healing

Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are using advanced imaging techniques to uncover the early stages of wound healing in the hope of improving our understanding of how the human body heals itself.

(PressZoom) - Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are using advanced imaging techniques to uncover the early stages of wound healing in the hope of improving our understanding of how the human body heals itself.

When you cut yourself your body is able to heal the wound, often without scarring, because neighbouring cells move in to fill the gap. But how do those cells know when and where a wound has formed?

With funding from BBSRC, scientists at the University of Birmingham are using high powered microscopes to investigate this fundamental cellular puzzle.

Cell migration is the mechanism by which cells move to new locations. It is important in a number of clinical processes, yet no one really knows how it happens, particularly when groups of cells move together such as during wound healing. Sometimes cells don't move when we would like them to (as in ulcers) while other cells migrate when we don't want them to (like when cancers spread through the body). The University of Birmingham scientists have been investigating how a process called endocytosis could play a key role in the cell migration involved in repairing damage to organs such as the skin, lungs and kidney.

Endocytosis is the mechanism by which cells take in substances from their surroundings and previous research has shown that cells do not move properly when endocytosis is inhibited.

Using microscopes in the Birmingham Advanced Light Microscopy (BALM) facility, the researchers showed that migrating cells used endocytosis to take in proteins from their surface. The key, though, was to find which of these proteins was the most important.

Dr Josh Rappoport who led the study explains: "Normally, the epithelial cells which line surfaces in our bodies are bound tightly together to form a protective barrier like a line of people holding hands. When this line gets broken, like in a wound, the rest of the cells move forward to fill in the gap. We've known for a while that when these cells migrate they have to remove certain molecules from their surface, kind of like a ship raising its anchor, but we didn't know which molecules or why."

The team identified two candidate protein molecules which they suspected played a key role in migration. These proteins both help to moor a cell in place and act as sensors by which cells detects changes in their environment. Based on what researchers had seen in other types of cells, the team initially expected that the cells on the edge of a wound would use endocytosis to draw in the molecules that make structures called focal adhesions, which allow a cell to cling to its surroundings. However, when they used a powerful form of microscopy called total internal reflection fluorescence, or TIRF, microscopy to study migrating cells in the lab, they were surprised to find that endocytosis was not involved in rearranging the focal adhesions during wound healing. Instead, the team uncovered a different story.

Using another imaging technique called confocal microscopy the team found that a different protein, called occludin, was being taken in via endocytosis.

In a healthy tissue occluding holds epithelial cells together to form a single flat layer. When the researchers created a layer of epithelial cells in culture and then made a wound the cells on the edge pulled occludin in via endocytosis and then moved forward to fill the gap.

Interestingly though, when the researchers added additional occludin to the spaces between cells the wound was not filled as quickly.

"It seems simple, but how does a cell know when and where the wound has formed?" adds Dr Rappoport. "Cells generally grow until there is no space left, but when cell layers are wounded a big gap opens up for cells to fill. The can be compared to being in a crowded lift, or the tube. When the doors open and people exit, others move forward to fill in the space that has opened up.

"This process was slowed down by the addition of extra occludin but we don't know why exactly. It could be that presence of occludin left over at the wound edge gets in the way of movement or that by internalising the occludin at the wound edge the cell knows which way to move."

The research, published in the journal Biology of the Cell,has uncovered a key component in early events following wound formation. The next step is to understand how these components work together to create a fuller picture of the healing process.

Dr Rappoport and his team have produced a video explaining the science behind their work.

Contact
Media Office
press.office@bbsrc.ac.uk
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fax: 01793 413382

http://presszoom.com/story_172911.html

Hernias are a condition you probably associate with men, but women can suffer from hernias, too.

Updated: 7:48 PM Feb 14, 2012

A common condition for men being overlooked for women
Hernias are a condition you probably associate with men, but women can suffer from hernias, too.
Posted: 3:48 PM Feb 14, 2012
Reporter: Maureen McFadden@wndu.com
Email Address: maureen.mcfadden@wndu.com

Hernias are a condition you probably associate with men, but women can suffer from hernias, too.


They can be painful and debilitating, and while a simple surgery can fix the problem. Sometimes the hardest part for women is getting the right diagnosis.

Author Martine Ehrenclou writes about how patients can take charge of their health care, but recently, Martine had to follow her own advice when she started experiencing severe abdominal pain.

Martine Ehrenclou, suffered from hernias, describes what the pain felt like, "The pain felt like a red hot poker in my lower abdominals."

Martine saw 12 different doctors and spent 10 months in intense pain, still no one could tell her what was wrong. Then she found a doctor who finally gave her an accurate diagnosis.

Ehrenclou describes the moment when she found a doctor that could help her, "She walked in and said this is what you have, and 'I can help you' and I cried!"

http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/A_common_condition_for_men_being_miss_diagnosed_for_women_139310308.html

Pergamum completes patient recruitment to the Phase II clinical trial for prevention of post-surgical adhesions

Pergamum completes patient recruitment to the Phase II clinical trial for prevention of post-surgical adhesions
* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.
Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:01am EST


SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM - February 10, 2012. Pergamum AB announced today that the last patient has been dosed in a randomized Phase II trial of PXL01 for prevention of post-surgical adhesions. Karolinska Development AB is the majority owner of Pergamum.

In total, 138 patients undergoing hand surgery have been included in Pergamum's placebo controlled, multi-center trial that has been conducted in Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of the novel therapeutic peptide PXL01 to improve mobility and function of the hand after surgery. Many patients undergoing hand surgery today suffer from debilitating scar formation which reduces the range of motion and complicates daily activities. PXL01 is a product under development with the purpose to reduce the formation of obstructing scars and restore mobility and function back to the patient's normal level. The final patient will be followed-up for a period of 12 weeks and results from the study are expected to be presented later this year.

"It is an important milestone to be able to finalize the recruitment to this exciting study. PXL01 has the potential of becoming, the first pharmaceutical product registered to target post-surgical adhesions. We believe that this new treatment concept can have a great impact on the surgical outcome, not only for hand surgery patients but also for patients undergoing knee and shoulder surgery, after which adhesion formation is a considerable debilitating side-effect", said Jonas Ekblom, CEO of Pergamum.

According to a Lancet article, there are more than 230 million surgical procedures performed in the world annually and in many of these cases the patients are at risk for the formation of surgical adhesions. Pergamum estimates that the global market for surgical sealants, wound closure and anti-adhesion was in excess of USD 9bn in 2011. Currently there are no pharmaceutical products available for prevention of adhesion. A successful Phase II trial would open up the possibility for the development of similar treatments for a variety of surgical procedures.

"The dermatology and wound care field represents a huge market opportunity, with over USD 13bn in global annual sales in wound care alone, according to Espicom. Many products on the market are old and innovation in the field has been scarce. PXL01 is one of several innovative projects in Pergamum's pipeline aiming at creating unique specialty care products in this area", said Torbjörn Bjerke, CEO of Karolinska Development AB and Chairman of Pergamum AB.

For further information, please contact:
Jonas Ekblom, CEO, Pergamum AB
Phone: +46 (0)70 551 66 60, e-mail: jonas.ekblom@pergamum.com

Torbjörn Bjerke, CEO, Karolinska Development AB
Phone: +46 (0)72 744 41 23, e-mail: torbjorn.bjerke@karolinskadevelopment.com

TO THE EDITORS

About Pergamum AB
Pergamum is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of therapeutic peptides for treatment of skin infections and wounds. Within Pergamum, companies and projects are managed as fully integrated operating units with access to a core team of experienced professionals within drug development and business management. This model provides Pergamum with an attractive diversified product pipeline while minimizing development cost and time-to-market and mitigating risk. Three programs are currently in clinical phase. For further information, please visit www.pergamum.com

About Karolinska Development AB
Karolinska Development aims to create value for investors, patients, and researchers by developing innovations from world class science into products that can be sold or out-licensed with high returns. The business model is to: SELECT the most commercially attractive medical innovations; DEVELOP innovations to the stage where the greatest return on investment can be achieved; and COMMERCIALIZE the innovations through the sale of companies or out-licensing of products. An exclusive deal flow agreement with Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB, along with other cooperation agreements with leading Nordic universities, delivers a continuous flow of innovations. Today, the portfolio consists of 34 projects, of which 14 are in clinical development. For more information, please visit www.karolinskadevelopment.com.

Karolinska Development is listed on NASDAQ OMX. Karolinska Development may be required to disclose the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/idUS60000+10-Feb-2012+HUG20120210

Karl Storz Abdo-Lift Malpractice ~ Endogyn Kruschinski Steward Scammers!

IHRT told Kruschinski bout this long ago and of course he raved it was a DIFFERENT abdominal Wall Lift. Well as we revisit the story, it is a karl storz abdo-lift! Another Kruschinski shout down of the truth!

Karl Storz Abdo-Lift Malpractice ~ Endogyn Kruschinski Steward Scammers!
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Left behind part of instrument during elective laparoscopic bariatric procedure

http://www.iscrs.org/cd/Avrutis%20O.%200029.htm

O. Avrutis, O. Sibirsky, J. Meshoulam, V. Michalevsky, A. Durst

Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem


Background: The incidence of the retention of a foreign body in abdominal operations varied from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 1500 procedures. Reasons for retained instruments after surgical interventions remain unclear. One well designed and controlled study claimed forgetting instruments and sponges were more common in emergency operations, unplanned changes in the course of the procedures and high BMI. There are few if any reports regarding these errors in laparoscopic surgery.

Case report: A 27 year-old woman was referred to our department with intolerance to Gore-Tex nonadjustable gastric band implanted laparoscopically for morbid obesity (BMI 43) nine months ago. Laparoscopic debanding was performed successfully. On the next day, swallow study detected a large metal foreign body in the right subphrenic area. It was looking as a part of Abdo-Lift (Karl Storz), a tool obviously using during laparoscopic gastric banding performing in the other hospital. CT scan depicted the foreign body laying free in the abdominal cavity. This 15cm long part of broken appliance was removed laparoscopically. Presented Video shows the details of this unique case.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic instruments might be left behind during procedures in spite of small incisions using in laparoscopy. It is necessary to count and check instruments in laparoscopic procedures as in open surgery.

Adhesions - Clear Passage Therapies Natural Treatment

If you have tried this, please leave a comment. Good or bad, we'd like to know. Thank you.

Carly's Awareness of Adhesions ~ Video diary ....but you don't look sick...

Patient viewpoint on Adhesion Awareness ~ Video by Carly

Well done Carly and thank you. Adhesions can occur spontaneously, from any surgery, from trauma or infection. There is no cure for the complex set of symptoms cause by compromise from adhesions known as Adhesion Related Disorder.