Biodegradable and plasma‐treated electrospun scaffolds coated with recombinant Olfactomedin‐like 3 for accelerating wound healing and tissue regeneration

Three‐dimensional biomimetic scaffolds resembling the native extracellular matrix (ECM) are widely used in tissue engineering, however they often lack optimal bioactive cues needed for acceleration of cell proliferation, neovascularization, and tissue regeneration. In this study, the use of the ECM‐related protein Olfactomedin‐like 3 (Olfml3) demonstrates the importance and feasibility of fabricating efficient bioactive scaffolds without in vitro cell seeding prior to in vivo implantation. First, in vivo proangiogenic properties of Olfml3 were shown in a murine wound healing model by accelerated wound closure and a 1.4‐fold increase in wound vascularity. Second, subcutaneous implantation of tubular scaffolds coated with recombinant Olfml3 resulted in enhanced cell in‐growth and neovascularization compared with control scaffolds. Together, our data indicates the potential of Olfml3 to accelerate neovascularization during tissue regeneration by promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration. This study provides a promising concept for the reconstruction of damaged tissue using affordable and effective bioactive scaffolds.     

Oral administration of antioxidants improves skin wound healing in diabetic mice

Oxidative stress aggravates several long‐term complications in diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the effectiveness of the oral administration of antioxidants (vitamins E and C, 40 and 100 mg/kg b.w., respectively) on skin wound healing acceleration in alloxan‐induced diabetic mice. Mice were wounded 30 days after the induction of diabetes. Antioxidants were effective in preventing oxidative stress, as assessed by TBARS. The enzymes catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were increased in diabetics on the 3rd day post‐wounding; catalase and glutathione peroxidase remained still augmented in diabetics after 14th day postwounding, and the treatment with vitamins restored their activities to control. After 3 days, diabetic mice showed lower infiltration of inflammatory cells (including CD11b⁺ and Ly6G⁺ cells) and reduced levels of KC, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐12 p40 when compared with control mice. The treatment restored cytokine levels. After 14 days, diabetic mice showed late wound closure, persistent inflammation and delayed reepithelialization, accompanied by an increase in MIG⁺/CD206^? macrophages whereas CD206⁺/MIG^? macrophages were decreased. Cytokines IL‐12p40, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and KC were increased and normal levels were restored after treatment with antioxidants. These results suggest that oxidative stress plays a major role in diabetic wound healing impairment and the oral administration of antioxidants improves healing by modulating inflammation and the antioxidant system with no effect on glycemia.     

Impact of MammaPrint on Clinical Decision‐Making in South African Patients with Early‐Stage Breast Cancer

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of MammaPrint on treatment decision‐making in patients with breast cancer. Clinicopathologic information of all breast cancer patients referred for MammaPrint testing in South Africa was collected from 2007 until 2014. A total of 107 patients (109 tumors) with estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor‐2 negative tumors were selected with tumors ≥10 mm, or when 1–3 nodes were involved without extra‐nodal extension. None of the clinical indicators correlated significantly with the MammaPrint risk classification, which changed the decision for adjuvant chemotherapy in 52% of patients. Of 60 patients who were clinically high risk, 62% had a low‐risk MammaPrint result and of the 47 clinically low ‐risk patients 40% had a high‐risk MammaPrint result. This study indicates that MammaPrint could reduce the need for adjuvant chemotherapy by 17% using the selection criteria stipulated. The significant impact on treatment decisions confirmed the clinical utility of MammaPrint independent of standard clinicopathologic risk factors as supported by long‐term clinical outcome studies.