Exploring the relationship of supernumerary recurrent renal calculi formation and tick-borne infections: a case report

A 51-year-old male with a history of Cacchi-Ricci disease and long-standing infection with various species of Borrelia, Babesia, and Bartonella presented with recurrent symptoms of right-sided flank pain. Numerous renal calculi were identified on imaging. The etiology of the calculi had not been previously elucidated. Symptoms intermittently date back to 2002 when uric acid stones were identified. Subsequent calculi analysis revealed calcium oxalate stones. Despite the commonality of nephrolithiasis in patients with Cacchi-Ricci disease, the extreme number of calculi and recurrent presentation of symptoms persisted despite a plethora of medical evaluations, dietary changes, and hereditary testing. This case raises questions of etiology including possible immune deficiency and whether his uncommon microbial history contributes to recurrent stone formation.

Use of human fibroblasts in the development of a xenobiotic-free culture and delivery system for human keratinocytes

Previous work has shown that keratinocytes can be cultured serum-free on an acid-functionalized, plasma-polymerized surface (for subsequent delivery to patients' wound beds) by inclusion of a fibroblast feeder layer. This study seeks to extend this work by substituting human for murine feeder cells in serum-free culture and examining the performance of keratinocytes expanded in this way to transfer to an in vitro human dermal wound bed model. We compared murine and human fibroblasts (both short-term dermal fibroblasts and a fetal lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5, which has a long history in human vaccine production), alternative methods for growth-arresting fibroblasts, establishing culture of cells serum-free, and the impact of culture with fibroblasts on the differentiation of the keratinocytes. Irradiated human and murine fibroblasts were equally effective in supporting initial keratinocyte expansion, both in the presence and absence of serum. Keratinocytes were significantly less differentiated, as assessed by measuring involucrin expression relative to DNA when grown serum-free with fibroblasts than when grown with serum. Initial cultures of fibroblasts and keratinocytes could be initiated serum-free but were much slower to establish than if serum were used. Transfer of keratinocytes from keratinocyte/fibroblast co-cultures cultured on a plasma polymer surface to a human dermal wound bed model was as successful as from monocultures in both serum and serum-free cultures. In summary, we have revisited a well-accepted methodology for expanding human keratinocytes for clinical use and avoided the use of bovine serum and a mouse fibroblast feeder layer by introducing an irradiated human fibroblast feeder layer.

Development of a Stable Chemically Defined Surface for the Culture of Human Keratinocytes under Serum-Free Conditions for Clinical Use

Within the field of tissue engineering there is a need to develop new approaches to achieve effective wound closure in patients with extensive skin loss or chronic ulcers. This article exploits the well-known interdependency of epithelial keratinocytes and stromal fibroblasts in conjunction with plasma surface technology. The aim was to produce a chemically defined surface, which with the aid of a feeder layer of lethally irradiated dermal fibroblasts would improve the attachment and proliferation of the keratinocyte cell from which subconfluent cells can be transferred to wound bed models. Plasma copolymers of acrylic acid/octa-1,7-diene have been prepared and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The fibroblasts and keratinocytes were cultured on plasma polymer-coated 24-well plates. Cell attachment and proliferation were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-eluted stain assay (MTT-ESTA) and DNA assay. Attachment and proliferation of both cell types on plasma polymer surfaces were compared with tissue culture plastic and collagen I, plus a negative control of a pure hydrocarbon layer. A pure acrylic acid surface, fabricated at a power of 10 W and containing 9.2% carboxylate groups, was found to promote both fibroblast and keratinocyte attachment and proliferation and permit the serum-free coculture of keratinocytes and irradiated fibroblasts.