Abdominal surgery is linked with peritoneal adhesions. We investigated that the anti‐fibrotic agent pirfenidone (PFD) has immune modulating activities and evaluated its effects on the function of T helper type 1 (Th1), Th2 and T regulatory (Treg) cells, which may play important roles in peritoneal adhesions. Eighteen female Wistar rats underwent right‐sided parietal peritoneal and right uterine horn adhesion model. Rats were randomized into 3 groups as group 1 (control) (closure of midline abdominal incision without any agent administrations), group 2 (closure of incision after intraperitoneal administration of PFD) and group 3 (closure of incision and only oral administration of PFD for 14 days). Relaparotomy was performed 14 days after the first surgery. Effect of PFD on adhesion formation was assessed on Th1, Th2 and Treg cells counts using Anti‐T‐bet, Anti‐GATA‐3 Anti‐FOXP3 antibodies respectively. Th1 counts were moderate in the control group, and didn't show a significant difference between all groups. Th2 cell counts were very high in the control group, but both intraperitoneal and oral administration of PFD resulted in a significant reduction in Th2 cell counts. Treg cell counts were low in number in the control group. In the intraperitoneal administration of PFD group, Treg cell counts were significantly lower than control group. There was no difference of the Treg cells between control groups and the oral administration of PFD group. PFD has prevention effect on intraperitoneal adhesions. This prevention effect seems to be related with the reduction in the numbers of Th2 and Treg cells.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) has pleiotropic biological functions in the female reproductive tract. HB-EGF has a function in the menstruation cycle, implantation, decidualization, placenta development, and also inhibition of apoptosis. This study aims to investigate a possible role of HB-EGF in missed abortion. Decidual and placental tissue samples were obtained from women with unwanted pregnancy as the control group and from women with missed abortions as the patient group. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to compare HB-EGF expression of fibroblast and decidual cells in uterine decidual stroma and fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells in placental villous stroma; the TUNEL technique was used to detect apoptotic cells within the decidual and placental tissues of the two groups. It was demonstrated that HB-EGF expression in both uterine decidual stroma and placenta stroma was increased in the missed abortion group (142.70 ± 12.80; 116.10 ± 14.16, respectively), compared with the normal pregnancy group (101.60 ± 14.18; 81.60 ± 10.74, respectively). It was also shown that there was no difference in TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP Nick End Labelling) positive cells between the uterine decidual stroma (11.4 ± 3%; 13.6 ± 3%, respectively), placental villous stroma (13.7 ± 3%; 15.9 ± 3%, respectively), and cytotrophoblast-syncytiotrophoblast cells (7.3 ± 2; 9.8 ± 3, respectively) of the two groups. This data supports the hypothesis that increased HB-EGF expression in a missed abortion may prevent the discharge of the dead fetus.

Objective: To investigate the early protective effects of amifostine against radiation-induced damage on rat testis tissue. Methods: Eighty adult male Wistar rats were randomized to 4 groups: Saline solution was given to group A for control, 200 mg/kg amifostine (WR-2721) to group B, a single fraction of 6 Gy local irradiation to testes in group C and 200 mg/kg amifostine 15–30 min before 6 Gy testicular irradiation to group D. Animals were sacrificed 3 weeks after treatment and their testes were removed for macroscopic, microscopic and ultrastructural histopathological examination. Results: The weights, widths and lengths of testes in the last 3 groups had decreased significantly when compared with the control group, but the decrease in widths after irradiation was found to be significantly less only in the amifostine plus radiation group. There was a significant reduction of testis weights in relation to the individual body weights in the irradiated testes compared with the other groups (p < 0.005), while there was no significant change of testis weight/total body weight ratio in amifostine plus irradiation group. Spermatogonium A and primary spermatocyte counts were also less in the treatment groups, and primary spermatocyte numbers were significantly higher in amifostine plus radiation group when compared with radiation alone group (p < 0.005). Pretreatment with amifostine reduced the decrease of primary spermatocyte counts by a factor of 1.28. Electron microscopic analysis did not show any cytotoxic effect of amifostine alone, and furthermore, ultrastructural findings were normal with the addition of amifostine prior to irradiation, though there was damage in the radiation exposure group. Conclusion: Amifostine when given alone by itself appears to cause adverse alterations in testis tissue; however, it has a radioprotective effect on spermiogenetic cells when used prior to radiation.

The aim of the current study was to determine whether the MWCNT-based scaffold has a suitable structure for cell growth and provides a biocompatible environment for human MDA-MB-231 cell lines. MWCNT-based nanostructured scaffolds were produced by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded on MWCNTs-textured silicon scaffolds and on pristine silicon surfaces. After 1 week of culturing, the scaffolds were prepared for SEM analysis and immunocytochemical staining was performed for the two groups (MWCNT scaffold and pristine silicon surface), using MMP-2, MMP-9, PI3K, AKT and NF-κB primary antibodies. SEM analyses showed that the MDA-MB-231 cells better adhered to the MWCNT-based nanostructured scaffold than the pristine silicon surface. Immunohistochemical activity of the MDA-MB-231 cells on both materials has similar staining with anti-AKT MMP-2, MMP-9 and NF-κB primary antibodies. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that the MWCNT-based scaffolds enhanced cell adhesion to the scaffold and exhibited more biomimetic properties and physiological adaptation with the potential to be used for in vitro metastasis studies of BrCa cell lines.

IMR Press is a leading publisher of open access peer-reviewed biomedical and life sciences journals. We aim to facilitate the dissemination of high-quality research in the area of biomedical science. With a long tradition and wide readership, IMR Press is dedicated to making positive contributions to academics, corporate libraries as well as to readers and authors. All the editors in IMR Press will provide the best service for researchers, allowing them to have a easy and smooth publication experience and helping maximize the impact and visibility of their research.