SV40 enhances the risk of malignant mesothelioma among people exposed to asbestos: a molecular epidemiologic case-control study

We conducted a case-control study on asbestos exposure and presence of SV40 in tumor samples of malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) and bladder urotheliomas (BUs). PCR analysis revealed the presence of SV40 DNA (SV40+) in eight (42.1%) MMs and 6 (33.3%) BUs. The odds ratio for MM Asb- and SV40+ was 0.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.03-4.0], for Asb+ and SV40- was 3.6 (95% CI, 0.6-21.0), and for Asb+ and SV40+ was 12.6 (95% CI, 1.2-133.9). Our results suggest that SV40 increases the risk of MM among individuals exposed to asbestos.     

Topical Boswellic acids for treatment of photoaged skin

Boswellic acids (BAs) are pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from the gum resins of the tropical tree Boswellia serrata . They are orally administered in traditional Indian medicine for the treatment of several inflammatory disease and cancer because of their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities as well as stimulatory effects on fibroblasts.
The present authors have investigated efficacy, tolerability, and safety of a base cream containing 0.5% BAs in the treatment of clinical manifestations of photoaging of facial skin with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face study.
Fifteen female volunteers applied the creams with or without BAs on the half sides of the face once daily for 30 days. Significant improvements of the Dover's global score for photoaging, tactile roughness, and fine lines, as well as, with noninvasive diagnostic techniques, an increase of elasticity, a decrease of sebum excretion, and a change of echographic parameters were observed with topical BAs in comparison with placebo. The treatment was always well tolerated without adverse effects. The present findings seem to indicate that topical application of BAs may represent a suitable treatment option for selected features of skin photoaging.     

Re: Baumgarten et al.: Vitrectomy with and without encircling band for pseudophakic retinal detachment with inferior breaks: VIPER Study Report No. 3. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2018 Nov;256(11):2069–2073. doi: 10.1007/s00417-018-4106-6. Epub 2018 Aug 23

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology -     

The nested graft acts by inducing the process of de‐senescence of the fibroblasts in chronic venous ulcers

Senescent fibroblasts, which are present in chronic ulcers, are the reason for the wound becoming chronic. In this study, we introduce full‐thickness micro skin grafts in the ulcer, a surgical technique known as a ‘nested graft’, which gave encouraging results leading to complete wound healing in all patients. The assessment of fibroblast cultures taken from the wound before and after treatment and comparison with fibroblasts from healthy skin showed that the fibroblasts taken from the ulcer after the nested graft treatment acquire morpho‐functional characteristics overlapping those of fibroblasts from healthy skin. This surgical approach is, therefore, able to lead to the healing of chronic ulcers through the de‐senescence of the fibroblasts.