I Nyoman Semita, Dwikora Novembri Utomo, Heri Suroto, I Ketut Sudiana, and Parama Gandi. Korean J Pain 2023;36:72-83. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.22279

The lungs function as the organs responsible for the respiratory system and they are essential for breathing, where any dysfunction can impair the respiratory processes. Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that progresses slowly and is not contagious. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of airborne microplastic exposure on the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines, and on fibroblast cell formation in Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain rats. This research was a quantitative analytical study with a laboratory experimental approach that used experimental animals as research subjects. The research design was a true experimental design with a randomized posttest-only group design. The research was conducted at the molecular level, and the indicators measured were molecular biomarkers. This design involved dividing the experimental animals into six groups: a control group (X0) and five treatment groups (X1, X2, X3, X4, and X5), which received doses of 0.025, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/L, respectively. Biomarkers and microscopic changes were then measured after 90 days of treatment. In Wistar rats, microplastic exposure significantly increased the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines, which play an important role in the early phase of the inflammatory response in the lungs, as well as the formation of fibroblast cells as indicators of pulmonary fibrosis. Subchronic inhalation exposure to polyethylene microplastics significantly increased the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines, and the formation of fibroblast cells, leading to pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: The most common type of breast cancer is the ductal type (IDC), followed by lobular type (ILC). Surgery is the main therapy for early-stage breast cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy might be given to those at high risk of recurrence. We aimed to determine the mechanisms in early local recurrence in both types. Methods: An observational case-controlled study was used. Early-stage IDC and ILC patients who received modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and adjuvant taxan and anthracycline base chemotherapy had recurrence within two years. We examined vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and clustered differentiation (CD95) Results: In the ductal type group, there were 25 samples revealing local recurrence and 25 samples that did not recur. The lobular type group comprised six participants who did not have a recurrence, while seven subjects had a recurrence. There were significant differences in the expression of vimentin (p = 0.000 and 0.021, respectively), PDGF (p = 0.000 and 0.002), and CD95 (p = 0.000 and 0.045) in ductal and lobular cancer types, respectively. MMP1 (p = 0.000) and α-SMA (p = 0.000) only showed a significant difference in the ductal type. The pathway analysis showed that in the ductal type, the mechanism of recurrence was enabled by two factors: α-SMA and CD95. Meanwhile, for the lobular type, the recurrence mechanism was through the CD95 pathway. Conclusions: The tumor microenvironment and immune system both affect recurrence in IDC, whereas the immune system is more important in ILC. This study suggests that immune system enhancement may be an option for treating cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the response of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and NF-κB to the closure of skull defect with periosteum as a scaffolding material in bone healing used after surgery. Methods: Thirty Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbits underwent a craniotomy to create a 20 mm diameter round defect in the parietal bones. The parietal bones were returned to its place and stabilized by an internal plate fixation. The defects were either left empty or implanted with periosteum. At 6 weeks, the specimens were euthanized and examined. Results: Histological examination showed a more well-developed formation of woven bone in the periosteum group. Immunohistochemical examinations showed that the use of periosteum in the closure of skull defects reduced the NF-κB and IL-8 response which affected the ossification process. Conclusion: The experiment showed that the use of periosteum was linked with IL-8 and NF-κB downregulation toward ossification effects at any point throughout the trial. Periosteum usage might be beneficial as a scaffolding material in bone healing for autograft cranioplasty in animal model and could be applied to clinical practice.

Study Design: Experimental animal study.Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of treatment with human neural stem cell (HNSC) secretomes on subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) post-laminectomy by analyzing interleukin-10 (IL-10), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) score locomotors as expressions of neurological recovery.Overview of Literature: In the United States, SCI has a recovery rate of 0.08%, tetraplegia 58.7%, and paraplegia 40.6%. Therapeutic approaches to SCI have focused on modulating the secondary cascade to prevent neurological deterioration and glial scar formation. Increasing evidence has shown that the success of cell-based SCI therapy is attributed to the secretomes rather than the cells themselves, but the effect of treatment with HNSC secretomes in SCI is unclear.Methods: This experimental study investigated 15 Rattus norvegicus rats that were divided into three groups: (1) normal, (2) SCI+nonsecretome, and (3) SCI+secretome (30 μL, intrathecal Th10). Model subacute SCI post-laminectomy was performed in 60 seconds using an aneurysm Yasargil clip with a closing forceps weighing 65 g (150 kdyn). At 35 days post-injury, the specimens were collected, and the immunohistochemicals of IL-10, MMP9, and TGF-β were analyzed. Motor recovery was evaluated based on the BBB scores.Results: The SCI post-laminectomy of rats treated with HNSC secretomes showed improvements in their locomotor recovery based on the BBB scores (p =0.000, mean=18.4) and decreased MMP9 (p =0.015) but had increased the levels of IL-10 (p =0.045) and TGF-β (p =0.01).Conclusions: These results indicate that the factors associated with the HNSC secretomes can mitigate their pathophysiological processes of secondary damage after SCI and improve the locomotor functional outcomes in rats.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC), the third most common malignant disease worldwide, is associated with estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). ERβ is known to down-regulate IL-6 in prostate cancer, lung carcinoma, and CRC cell lines; however, its effect on human with CRC remains unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the association between ERβ and IL-6 expressions with the clinicopathological features of CRC.METHODS: This was an analytic observational study using 40 paraffin blocks of CRC patients. ERβ and IL-6 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The percentage of immunoreactive tumor cell per 1000 cells was manually recorded and tumor differentiation as well as tumor infiltration were determined. Tumor differentiation was graded according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 criteria, while tumor infiltration was defined based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition.RESULTS: Fifty percent of samples were well-differentiated CRC, and 57.5% samples were T3 infiltration tumors. IHC staining showed 35.5% of samples were positive for ERβ expression, while 70.86% were positive for IL-6 expression. There were negative correlation of ERβ expression with tumor differentiation (p=0.018; r=-0.371), but no correlation with tumor infiltration (p=0.836) were found. There was no correlation between ERβ expression with IL-6 expression (p=0.154).CONCLUSION: There is statistically significant correlation between tumor differentiation and ERβ expression, wherein improved tumor differentiation is linked to higher levels of positive ERβ expression. However, there is no discernible relationship between IL-6 and tumor differentiation. These findings suggest that while IL-6 was involved in the growth of the tumor, ERβ expression might have an impact on tumor differentiation.KEYWORDS: colorectal carcinoma, estrogen receptor beta, interleukin-6, cell differentiation