[Growth factors. A new dimension in understanding oncogenesis]

"Platelet-Rich Fibrin Membrane-as a novel biomaterial for pressure injury healing in a person with spinal cord injury: A case report"

INTRODUCTION

Pressure injury (PI) impacts the quality of life, and socioeconomic and psychological well-being negatively in persons with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) showed promising roles in wound healing. PRF is considered a second-generation PRP, contains more growth factors and is more biocompatible than PRP. It possesses an additional favourable impact on wound healing due to its three-dimensional fibrin architecture, and antimicrobial property. There are no studies on PRF membrane use for PI healing in SCI.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 25-year-old male with operated traumatic T10 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A paraplegia with neurogenic bowel, and bladder and a stage II PI over the left greater trochanter, was admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. The chronic non-healing PI which did not show any improvement following normal saline (0.9%) dressing for the past 3 months, was treated with autologous PRF membrane weekly for four weeks. The PI healed completely and no adverse events were noted. Weekly total scores of the Spinal Cord Impairment Pressure Ulcer Monitoring Tool and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing were 6, 6, 5, 2, 0 and 12, 10, 10, 3, and 0 respectively.

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on the healing of PI in SCI with the use of PRF. This novel biomaterial is a safe and effective promising agent for PI management in SCI. But further randomized trials are needed to establish stronger evidence regarding feasibility and effectiveness.

Oncogene coexpression in mesenchymal neoplasia correlates with EGF transcription

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogenic factor for cells of mesodermal and ectodermal origin, and its over-expression is associated with a variety of cancers. We asked whether oncogene coexpression occurs in mesenchymal neoplasms, if coexpression correlates with EGF transcription, and whether coexpression can be attributed to the EGF-induced overexpression of oncogenes. We quantified the mRNA concentrations of EGF and 14 oncogenes in 42 primary sarcomas, 31 benign tumors, and 10 skeletal muscle controls, and compared mRNA concentrations and gene pair correlations in EGF positive (EGF+) tumors to transcript concentrations and correlations in EGF negative (EGF-) tumors. Transcripts were detected by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Pearson's correlation coefficients identified gene associations, and gene synchrony associated with EGF expression was evaluated using chi square. Transcript concentrations in tumors were compared graphically and with t tests. Gene correlations predominated in EGF+ benign tumors and in EGF- primary sarcomas. The dichotomy in oncogene coexpression evident in benign and malignant tumors could not be attributed to statistical differences in mRNA content between EGF+ and EGF- tumors. EGF may enhance, or may indicate the presence of, oncogene coexpression in benign mesenchymal lesions, but counters gene synchronization in sarcomas.

Biotinylated epidermal growth factor: a useful tool for the histochemical analysis of specific binding sites

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was labelled with biotin via modification of either the amino or carboxyl groups, using suitable reagents, namely biotinyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester or biotinamidocaproyl hydrazide. To assure that the specific binding capacity of EGF is retained despite its chemical modification, displacement of the EGF by biotinylated derivatives in a routine binding assay was performed. The inhibitory potency compared to unmodified EGF was only slightly reduced. This result is the prerequisite for testing the usefulness of biotinylated EGF in histochemistry. The biotinylated probes were applied to sections of human tumour tissue and of monkey organs (liver, kidney, uterus of Cynomolgus and Rhesus monkey) to localize the specific binding sites for EGF. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were deparaffinized and incubated with the probes at a concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1 at room temperature for 60 min. Specific binding of the EGF was visualized by the avidin-biotin techniques (ABC). A positive reaction in conjunction with appropriate controls by competitive inhibition was seen for all monkey tissue sections and for the following number of cancer cases: breast carcinoma: 7/10; mesothelioma: 2/4; lung carcinoma: 1/3; colon carcinoma: 1/3. The staining properties were similar for both types of probes that differed in the functional group that is involved in modification by biotin attachment. However, the batches with modification of the amino groups stained more intensely and more distinctly than the carboxyl modified EGF. Overall, the data indicate that the ligand properties of the EGF are not impaired by biotinylation of the two types of functional groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)