Tumor suppressor protein SMAR1 modulates the roughness of cell surface: combined AFM and SEM study

Background  

Imaging tools such as scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) can be used to produce high-resolution topographic images of biomedical specimens and hence are well suited for imaging alterations in cell morphology. We have studied the correlation of SMAR1 expression with cell surface smoothness in cell lines as well as in different grades of human breast cancer and mouse tumor sections.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of anatomical variations in the knee. Part 1: ligamentous and musculotendinous

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now the modality of choice for the investigation of internal derangement of the knee. Technological advances, including the wider availability of stronger magnets and new sequences, allows improved visualisation of smaller structures. Normal variants must be recognised as such, so that both over-investigation and mis-diagnosis are avoided. This article reviews both the well-recognised and the less common ligamentous and musculotendinous anatomical variants within the knee and illustrates their imaging characteristics on MRI.     

A novel chitosan based antimalarial drug delivery against Plasmodium berghei infection

Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide that has attracted significant scientific interest during the last two decades and chitosan based nanodrug delivery systems seem to be a hopeful and viable strategy for improving disease treatment. This study aims to evaluate the potency of the polymer based nanochloroquine in application for attenuation of Plasmodium berghei infection in Swiss mice and effectiveness against the parasite induced oxidative stress and deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA) damage in lymphocytes. Nanoparticle was prepared by ionotropic gelation between chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate. The chloroquine was treated by the actual drug content of effective nanochloroquine and the nanodrug was charged with its effective dose for fifteen days, after successive infection development in Swiss mice. Gimsa staining of thin smear and flow cytometry analysis was pursued to reveal the parasitemia. Different oxidative markers, inflammatory markers, antioxidant enzymes level and also lymphocytic deoxyribo nucleic acid damage study were performed. The present study reveals the potency of the nanodrug which has been found as more prospective than only chloroquine treatment to combat the parasite infection, oxidative stress as well as inflammation and DNA damage. From the study, we conclude this nanodrug may be applicable as potent therapeutic agent than only chloroquine.     

Functional Capacity Following Univentricular Repair—Midterm Outcome

Objective. Previous studies have seldom compared functional capacity in children following Fontan procedure alongside those with Glenn operation as destination therapy. We hypothesized that Fontan circulation enables better midterm submaximal exercise capacity as compared to Glenn physiology and evaluated this using the 6‐minute walk test. Design and Patients. Fifty‐seven children aged 5–18 years with Glenn (44) or Fontan (13) operations were evaluated with standard 6‐minute walk protocols. Results. Baseline SpO₂ was significantly lower in Glenn patients younger than 10 years compared to Fontan counterparts and similar in the two groups in older children. Postexercise SpO₂ fell significantly in Glenn patients compared to the Fontan group. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline, postexercise, or postrecovery heart rates (HRs), or 6‐minute walk distances in the two groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed lower resting HR, higher resting SpO₂, and younger age at latest operation to be significant determinants of longer 6‐minute walk distance. Multiple regression analysis also established that younger age at operation, higher resting SpO₂, Fontan operation, lower resting HR, and lower postexercise HR were significant determinants of higher postexercise SpO₂. Younger age at operation and exercise, lower resting HR and postexercise HR, higher resting SpO₂ and postexercise SpO₂, and dominant ventricular morphology being left ventricular or indeterminate/mixed had significant association with better 6‐minute work on multiple regression analysis. Lower resting HR had linear association with longer 6‐minute walk distances in the Glenn patients. Conclusions. Compared to Glenn physiology, Fontan operation did not have better submaximal exercise capacity assessed by walk distance or work on multiple regression analysis. Lower resting HR, higher resting SpO₂, and younger age at operation were factors uniformly associated with better submaximal exercise capacity.     

Esophageal leiomyomatosis -- an unusual cause of pseudoachalasia.

Esophageal leiomyomatosis is a rare hamartomatous disorder with varied presentation. In the literature, it is described mostly in children, and is associated with Alport's syndrome. A case of leiomyomatosis that presented as achalasia not associated with Alport's syndrome is described in a 35-year-old woman with a 16-year history of dysphagia. Barium swallow showed a smooth narrowing at the lower end of the esophagus with a longer than usual stricture length. Endoscopy showed a dilated esophagus with a submucosal nodule in the region of the cardia. A computed tomography scan revealed circumferential thickening of the esophagus involving the gastroesophageal junction, with fat planes maintained with the adjacent structure. Endoscopic ultrasound demonstrated a lesion arising from the muscularis propria. The manometry findings were suggestive of achalasia. She underwent transhiatal esophagectomy with gastric pull-up. Leiomyomatosis should be considered as a cause of psuedoachalasia in patients with symptoms suggestive of achalasia and atypical barium findings. Attempts should be made to confirm the diagnosis preoperatively using computed tomography and/or endoscopic ultrasound. Esophagectomy is the treatment of choice.