Functional characterization of a novel 3D model of the epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit
Background/Aim: Epithelial-mesenchymal communication plays a key role in tissue homeostasis and abnormal signaling contributes to chronic airways disease such as COPD. Most in vitro models are limited in complexity and poorly represent this epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit. We postulated that cellular outgrowth from bronchial tissue would enable development of a mucosal structure that recapitulates better in vivo tissue architecture. Materials and Methods: Bronchial tissue was embedded in Matrigel and outgrowth cultures monitored using time-lapse microscopy, electrical resistance, light and electron microscopy. Cultures were challenged repetitively with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Res…
Nodular histiocytic/mesothelial hyperplasia as consequence of chronic mesothelium irritation by sub-phrenic abscess.
Nodular histiocytic/mesothelial hyperplasia (NHMH) is a benign localized alteration, first described in 1975 by Rosai in the hernia sac [1]. Few pulmonary cases have been reported in literature [2–6]. Sometimes it has been reported in the pericardium [7,8] or presenting as an inguinal mass [9]. The ‘mesothelial/monocytic incidental cardiac excrescence’, first described by Weinot et al. in 1994 [10] is now considered a similar lesion to NHMH [11]. It consists of a reactive proliferation of histiocytes and mesothelium secondary to chronic irritation and it has been observed in pleura-damaging processes, such as pneumothorax [5], or as consequence of cardiac catheterization, inflammation, mech…
Asymptomatic Bone Cement Pulmonary Embolism after Vertebroplasty: Case Report and Literature Review
Introduction. Acrylic cement pulmonary embolism is a potentially serious complication following vertebroplasty. Case Report. A 70-year-old male patient was treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic nontraumatic vertebral collapse of L5-S1. Asymptomatic pulmonary cement embolism was detected on routine postoperative chest radiogram and the patient was treated with enoxaparin, amoxicillin, and dexamethasone. At the followup CT scan no further migration of any cement material was reported; and the course was uneventful. Discussion. The frequency of local leakage of bone cement is relatively high (about 80–90%), moreover, the rate of cement leakage into the perivertebral veins (…
Functional characterization of a novel 3D model of the epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit
Background/Aim: Epithelial-mesenchymal communication plays a key role in tissue homeostasis and abnormal signaling contributes to chronic airways disease such as COPD. Most in vitro models are limited in complexity and poorly represent this epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit. We postulated that cellular outgrowth from bronchial tissue would enable development of a mucosal structure that recapitulates better in vivo tissue architecture. Materials and Methods: Bronchial tissue was embedded in Matrigel and outgrowth cultures monitored using time-lapse microscopy, electrical resistance, light and electron microscopy. Cultures were challenged repetitively with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Res…