Thermochromic Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms for Thermal Ablation Based on Polyacrylamide Gel

In recent years, thermal ablation has played an increasingly important role in treating various tumors in the clinic. A practical thermochromic phantom model can provide a favorable platform for clinical thermotherapy training of young physicians or calibration and optimization of thermal devices without risk to animals or human participants. To date, many tissue-mimicking thermal phantoms have been developed and are well liked, especially the polyacrylamide gel (PAG)–based phantoms. This review summarizes the PAG-based phantoms in the field of thermotherapy, details their advantages and disadvantages and provides a direction for further optimization. The relevant physical parameters (such as electrical, acoustic, and thermal properties) of these phantoms are also presented in this review, which can assist operators in a deeper understanding of these phantoms and selection of the proper recipes for phantom fabrication.     

Novel pathogenic variants in an Indian cohort with epidermolysis bullosa: Expanding the genotypic spectrum

BackgroundEpidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a genodermatosis characterized by skin fragility and blisters with variable severity. Patients with Dystrophic EB (DEB) or Junctional EB (JEB) mainly present to clinic due to greater functional impairment. Pathogenic sequence variations in COL7A1 are implicated in DEB.ObjectiveWe have tried to decipher the molecular spectrum and genotype phenotype correlation of 21 Indian patients with EB.MethodsNext generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to determine the pathogenic variants. Sanger sequencing was also done for validation of the variants in eleven individuals.ResultsPathogenic variants were detected in 20 individuals (diagnostic yield of 95%). Majority of them (90%) had sequence variation in COL7A1 while two had pathogenic variants in ITGB4 and KRT14 respectively. Out of the 18 patients confirmed to have DEB, 3 had Dominant DEB (DDEB) whereas 15 patients had Recessive DEB (RDEB). Amongst 23 sequence variations identified, 12 were found to be novel (3 were missense, 5 were premature termination codon variants while 4 were splice-site changes).ConclusionGenotype phenotype correlation was noted with milder manifestations in those with dominant inheritance types. Exact molecular diagnosis can be ascertained by NGS in majority of cases.     

Regulation of glucose transporter-4 intervention with S. saman leaves extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is the leading disorder and affects more than millions of people worldwide. Nowadays, the usage of herbal drugs is said to control adiposity and hyperglycemia. The current research investigated the anti-adiposity and antidiabetic activity of S. saman leaf extract and bioactive compounds. Therefore, the results lower the sugar absorption into the blood and reveal the extract's antidiabetic properties. STZ-induced diabetic rats, Samanea saman methanolic extract show improvement in the parameters like fasting blood glucose levels, body weight, other biochemical parameters supported by the histopathological analysis, and an increase in serum levels in the experimental groups. The antioxidant plays a vital role by increasing SOD and catalase activity levels and decreasing lipid peroxidation levels. The methanolic extract protects the tissue from oxidation stress, which is responsible for the glycemic properties. According to the findings, diabetic-treated rats had overnight blood glucose levels lower and near standard biochemical markers. Histopathology of the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and adipose tissues supported the pharmacological observations.Further, we screened and documented S. saman extract used for in vitro and in vivo methods. In terms of effectiveness, the crude extracts exhibit 0.8-fold GLUT4 down-regulation. Consequently, this result contributes to clinical trials and develops antidiabetic therapy as a substitute for synthetic pharmaceuticals.     

双重实时荧光PCR快速鉴别人参和西洋参＊

目的 建立一种能够快速鉴定人参和西洋参的双重实时荧光PCR方法。方法 通过对人参属及其近似种基因序列的分析比对，设计特异性的引物探针，建立双重实时荧光PCR检测方法。PCR反应体系为Premix Ex Taq （Probe qPCR） 10 μL，人参上下游引物各0.5 μL，西洋参上下游引物各0.3 μL，人参与西洋参特异性探针各0.4 μL，DNA模板2 μL，灭菌去离子水补至20 μL。反应条件为95℃预变性30 s；然后以95℃变性5 s，60℃退火延伸30 s进行40个循环。应用该方法测试了27份DNA样品，包括7份人参、6份西洋参、4份人参与西洋参混合样、10份其他人参属样品及其他常见中药材样品的DNA，以确定该方法的特异性。将人参与西洋参样品DNA混合后10倍稀释成不同浓度后进行检测，用以确定该方法的灵敏度。结果 人参及西洋参样品均在特定的荧光通道下出现典型的阳性扩增曲线，人参与西洋参混合样品均同时出现两条阳性扩增曲线，其它对照样品及空白对照均没有出现阳性扩增曲线。灵敏度检测结果显示该方法检测人参及西洋参的最低检测限均为2 pg DNA/反应。结论 本实验建立的双重实时荧光PCR方法能够同时快速、准确、灵敏地鉴别出人参和西洋参。     

Protective activities of ellagic acid and urolithins against kidney toxicity of environmental pollutants: A review

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two possible mechanisms related to nephrotoxicity caused by environmental pollutants. Ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant phytochemical, may have great relevance in mitigating pollutant-induced nephrotoxicity and preventing the progression of kidney disease. This review discusses the latest findings on the protective effects of ellagic acid, its metabolic derivatives, the urolithins, against kidney toxicity caused by heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and organic air pollutants. We describe the chelating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antiautophagic, and antiapoptotic properties of ellagic acid to attenuate nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, we present the molecular targets and signaling pathways that are regulated by these antioxidants, and suggest some others that should be explored. Nevertheless, the number of reports is still limited to establish the efficacy of ellagic acid against kidney damage induced by environmental pollutants. Therefore, additional preclinical studies on this topic are required, as well as the development of well-designed clinical trials.     

Review of Variables Associated With Positive Surgical Margins Using Scout Reflector Localizations for Breast Conservation Therapy

ObjectiveTo evaluate factors contributing to positive surgical margins associated with reflector guidance for patients undergoing breast conserving therapy for malignancy.Materials and MethodsA retrospective IRB-approved review of our institutional database was performed for malignant breast lesions preoperatively localized from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. The following data was recorded using electronic medical records: lesion type and grade, lesion location, reflector and wire placement modality, use of intraoperative ultrasound, margin status, patient age, family history, BMI, and final pathology. Statistical analysis was performed with univariate summary statistics and logistic regression. P < .05 was significant.ResultsA total of 606 image-guided pre-surgical localizations were performed for lumpectomies of breast malignancies. A total of 352 of 606 (58%) wire localizations and 254 of 606 (42%) SCOUT reflector localizations were performed. Sixty out of 352 (17%) of wire-localized patients had positive surgical margins, whereas forty-eight out of 254 (19%) of reflector-localized patients had positive surgical margins. (OR = 1.12, P value: .59). For reflector guided cases, the use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) was associated with decreased positive margin status (OR = 0 .28, 95% CI = [0.14, 0.58]) while in situ disease was associated with increased positive margin status (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = [1.05, 3.75]). No association between modality used for localization (mammography vs. ultrasound) and positive margin status was observed (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = [0.33, 1.19]). No association between positive margins and age, family history, tumor location and BMI was observed.ConclusionFor reflector guided surgeries, the use of IOUS was associated with decreased positive margins, by contrast the presence of ductal carcinoma in situ was associated with increased positive margins. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical outcomes for reflector-guided localization compared to wire localizations of the breast.