Extracellular matrices,artificial neural scaffolds and the promise of neural regeneration

Over last 20 years, extracellular matrices have been shown to be useful in promoting tissue regeneration. Recently, they have been used and have had success in achieving neurogenesis. Recent developments in extracellular matrix design have allowed their successful in vivo incorporation to engender an environment favorable for neural regeneration in animal models. Promising treatments under investigation include manipulation of the intrinsic extracellular matrix and incorporation of engineered naometer-sized scaffolds through which inhibition of molecules serving as barriers to neuroregeneration and delivery of neurotrophic factors and/or cells for successful tissue regeneration can be achieved. Further understanding of the changes incurred within the extracellular matrix following central nervous system injury will undoubtedly help design a clinically efficacious extracellular matrix scaffold that can mitigate or reverse neural degeneration in the clinical setting.     

Analysis of the 2012-2016 drought in the northeast Brazil and its impacts on the Sobradinho water reservoir

The northeast region of Brazil (NEB) suffers with the worst drought during 2012–2016 that has greatly affected water availability in general, in particular the hydropower reservoirs. We have analyzed a large dataset of satellite measurements and images to understand the variability of precipitation, land surface temperature (LST) and their association with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), indicator of water and vegetation stress. The drought conditions during 2012–2016 show association of poor rainfall in the year 2012, an increase of LST 7ºC above the average, reduction in NDVI upto 30% and a sharp decrease upto 28% in Relative Humidity (RH). The largest reservoir of the NEB, Sobradinho, shows decline in surface water upto about 50% which is clearly evident from the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) for the period 2015–2016 compared to the year 2011.     

Evaluation of Gold’s nomogram for predicting recurrence-free survival in gastrointestinal stromal tumors in Indian patients

Gold described a nomogram for prediction of recurrence-free survival (RFS) after surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). This retrospective study was intended to evaluate the utility of this nomogram for predicting a 2-year RFS in our patients. Twenty-eight consecutive eligible patients from January 2009 to January 2013 who underwent R0 resection and had histopathologically proven GIST were included in the study. Nomogram predicted RFS was compared with observed RFS in four groups as in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Fletcher classification. Calibration was assessed by plotting the predicted probabilities of RFS against the actual outcome. For validation of the nomogram, the graph obtained should be closer to the 45-degree line. The observed overall 2-year RFS was 85.7 % (24 patients). Four patients had recurrence within 2 years. The observed RFS was 87.5 %, 77.8 %, 90 %, and 100 % in the high, intermediate, low, and very low risk groups, respectively. The nomogram predicted the 2-year RFS was 40 %, 84.8 %, 88.6 %, and 90 % for high, intermediate, low, and very low risk groups, respectively. Thus, the predicted probabilities of the 2-year RFS in intermediate, low, and very low risk groups were similar to the observed outcomes. However, for the high risk group, the observed RFS was better than predicted RFS. This variation in the high risk group may be due to the use of adjuvant imatinib in our study.