Cultivation of Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) on Lignocellulosic Wastes and Evaluation of Substrate Bioconversion

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The research evaluated the changes in degradability of some agro-forest wastes such as poplar sawdust, wheat...     

Hind limb perconditioning renoprotection by modulation of inflammatory cytokines after renal ischemia/reperfusion

Purpose Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common clinical problem associated with significant mortality and morbidity. One newly described strategy to reduce this damage is remote perconditioning (RPEC), in which short-time ischemia of a limb during renal ischemia reduces the I/R-induced kidney injury. This study aimed to assess whether RPEC confer protection through changes in pro-inflammatory mediators. Methods Rats were subjected to right nephrectomy and randomized into: sham (no intervention), I/R (subjected to 45-min left renal ischemia) and RPEC group (subjected to four cycles of 5-min I/R of the femoral artery administered during renal ischemia). After 24-h, blood, urine, and kidney samples were collected. Biochemical indicators of renal dysfunction were measured in the cases of Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and N-acetyl-B-diglucosaminidase (NAG) activity. Inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, TNF-α] expression in the renal tissues as well as Periodic acid-Schiff stained histological sections were evaluated. Results I/R resulted in renal dysfunction, as evidenced by higher renal NGAL expression and urinary NAG activities. This was accompanied by increased TNF-α and IL-6 expressions as well as histological changes in this group. However, RPEC improved renal histology and function compared with the I/R group. Furthermore, the RPEC group showed decreases in TNF-α and IL-6 expression. Conclusions These results suggest that RPEC reduces the dysfunction and injury associated with I/R of the kidney. This technique reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokine in the kidney. RPEC could be a promising strategy against I/R-induced acute kidney injury partly by down-regulation of inflammatory mediators.     

Orofacial complications associated with forward repositioning of the mandible in snore guard users

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) result from a collapse of the tongue, soft palate, and pharynx, causing temporary airway blockage. Acrylic mandibular advancement splints and Herbst appliances are used to relieve snoring and mild OSA. Repositioning the mandible forward may have an adverse effect on the orofacial and dentoalveolar structures of susceptible individuals. This article reports two cases in which orofacial complications developed following the utilization of snore guard appliances.     

Pontocerebellar hypoplasia: review of classification and genetics, and exclusion of several genes known to be important for cerebellar development

The pontocerebellar hypoplasias are a heterogeneous group of rare and devastating conditions characterized by multiple structural abnormalities of the ventral pons, inferior olive, and cerebellum. Here, we briefly review these conditions and discuss genes recently discovered to be involved in pontocerebellar hypoplasia pathogenesis. We then present data that exclude several genes important for cerebellar development as causes of pontocerebellar hypoplasia-4 and pontocerebellar hypoplasia-5, and we demonstrate that not all cases of clinically defined pontocerebellar hypoplasia-4 result from mutations in TSEN54. We conclude that classification based on clinical, imaging, and neuropathological findings does not differentiate between pontocerebellar hypoplasia subtypes with different genetic causes.     

White matter brain and trigeminal nerve abnormalities in temporomandibular disorder

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a prevalent chronic pain disorder that remains poorly understood. Recent imaging studies reported functional and gray matter abnormalities in brain areas implicated in sensorimotor, modulatory, and cognitive function in TMD, but it is not known whether there are white matter (WM) abnormalities along the trigeminal nerve (CNV) or in the brain. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging, and found that, compared to healthy controls, TMD patients had 1) lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in both CNVs; 2) a negative correlation between FA of the right CNV and pain duration; and 3) diffuse abnormalities in the microstructure of WM tracts related to sensory, motor, cognitive, and pain functions, with a highly significant focal abnormality in the corpus callosum. Using probabilistic tractography, we found that the corpus callosum in patients had a higher connection probability to the frontal pole, and a lower connection probability to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, compared to controls. Finally, we found that 1) FA in tracts adjacent to the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and tracts coursing through the thalamus negatively correlated with pain intensity; 2) FA in the internal capsule negatively correlated with pain intensity and unpleasantness; and 3) decreases in brain FA were associated with increases in mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity, markers of inflammation and oedema. These data provide novel evidence for CNV microstructural abnormalities that may be caused by increased nociceptive activity, accompanied by abnormalities along central WM pathways in TMD.     

Parvovirus B19‐induced severe anemia in heart transplant recipients: Case report and review of the literature

We report a case of a 64‐year‐old woman who developed transfusion‐dependent anemia after cardiac transplantation, the etiology of which was unknown after initial comprehensive evaluation. At the suggestion of the Transplant Infectious Diseases consultant, microbial agents with red blood cell tropism pertinent to this patient such as Parvovirus B 19 (B19V) were investigated. The B19V viral load by PCR in peripheral blood was >100 000 000 copies/ml and after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), her anemia resolved. Here, we summarize the clinical and virologic characteristics, treatment, and outcome of fifteen cases of B19V‐induced anemia in heart transplant recipients. Spontaneous recovery from anemia secondary to B19V has also been reported in some heart transplant recipients, possibly due to an absence of their B19V P‐antigen receptor and/or reduction in their immunosuppression. Therefore, in heart transplant patients, B19V should be suspected early as a cause of severe anemia of unknown etiology. The extent that B19V‐induced anemia is underdiagnosed in heart transplant recipients is unknown.