Directing osteogenesis of stem cells with hydroxyapatite precipitated electrospun eri–tasar silk fibroin nanofibrous scaffold

Stimulating stem cell differentiation without growth factor supplement offers a potent and cost-effective scaffold for tissue regeneration. We hypothesise that surface precipitation of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) over blends of non-mulberry silk fibroin with better hydrophilicity and RGD amino acid sequences can direct the stem cell towards osteogenesis. This report focuses on the fabrication of a blended eri–tasar silk fibroin nanofibrous scaffold (ET) followed by nHAp deposition by a surface precipitation (alternate soaking in calcium and phosphate solution) method. Morphology, hydrophilicity, composition, and the thermal and mechanical properties of ET/nHAp were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy, TEM, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, TGA and contact angle measurement and compared with ET. The composite scaffold demonstrated improved thermal stability and surface hydrophilicity with an increase in stiffness and elastic modulus (778?±?2.4?N/m and 13.1?±?0.36?MPa) as compared to ET (160.6?±?1.34?N/m and 8.3?±?0.4?MPa). Mineralisation studies revealed an enhanced and more uniform surface deposition of HAp-like crystals, while significant differences in cellular viability and attachment were observed through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and confocal microscopy study. The cell viability and expression of adhesion molecules (CD 44 and CD 29) are found to be optimum for subsequent stages of growth proliferation and differentiation. The rates of proliferation have been observed to decrease owing to the transition of MSC from a state of proliferation to a state of differentiation. The confirmation of improved osteogenic differentiation was finally verified through the alkaline phosphatase assay, pattern of gene expression related to osteogenic differentiation and morphological observations of differentiated cord blood human mesenchymal stem cells under fluorescence microscope. The results obtained showed the improved physicochemical and biological properties of the ET/nHAp scaffold for osteogenic differentiation without the addition of any growth factors.     

Resonance energy transfer-assisted random lasing in light-harvesting bio-antenna enhanced with a plasmonic local field

Thanks to the advent of the random laser, new light applications have opened up, ranging from biophotonic to security devices. Here, by using the well-known but unexplored light-harvesting bio-pigment of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea, CT) flower extract, generation of continuous-wave (CW) random lasing at ∼660 nm has been demonstrated. Furthermore, a wavelength tunability of ∼30 nm in the lasing emission was obtained by utilizing the resonance energy transfer (RET) mechanism in a gain medium with a binary mixture of CT extract and a commercially available methylene blue (MB) dye as the gain medium. In the CT extract–dye mixture, the bio-pigments are acting as donors and the MB dye molecules are acting as acceptors. Amplification in intensity of the lasing emission of this binary system has further been achieved in the presence of optimized concentrations of metal (Ag)–semiconductor (ZnO) scattering nanoparticles. Interestingly, the lasing threshold has been reduced from 128 to 25 W cm⁻², with a narrowed emission peak just after loading of the Ag nanoplasmon in the ZnO-doped binary gain medium. Thanks to the strong localized electric field in the metal nanoplasmon, and the multiple scattering effects of ZnO, the lasing threshold was reduced by approximately four times compared to that of the gain medium without the use of scatterers. Thus, we believe that our findings on wavelength-tunable, non-toxic, biocompatible random lasing will open up new applications, including the design of low-cost biophotonic devices.

Tuning of the lasing emission from a bio-pigment using the resonance energy transfer process, with the help of a semiconductor and plasmonic scatterer.     

Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats

Objective:To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis(E.officinalis)fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats.Methods:Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats.The rats were divided into nine groups including control groups receiving water,type 2 diabetic controls,type 2 diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide(T2GT)and type 2diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of E.officinalis.They were fed orally for8 weeks with a single feeding.Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip on 0 and 28 days and by decapitation on 56 day.Packed red blood cells and serum were used for evaluating different biochemical parameters.Results:Four weeks administration of aqueous extract of E.officinalis improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats and after 8 weeks it caused significant(P0.007)reduction in fasting serum glucose level compared to 0 day.Triglycerides decreased by 14%but there was no significant change in serum ALT,creatinine,cholesterol and insulin level in any group.Furthermore,reduced erythrocyte malondialdehyde level showed no significant change(P0.07)but reduced glutathione content was found to be increased significantly(P0.05).Conclusions:The aqueous extract of E.officinalis has a promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and may be considered for further clinical studies in drug development.     

Adjunctive balloon dilatation after stent deployment: beneficial or deleterious?

The practice of adjunctive balloon post-dilatation is not consistent among interventionalists, particularly in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). There have been some concerns about the risks of adjunctive balloon post-dilatation, particularly in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This review will examine the data on the angiographic and clinical effects, and the risks of adjunctive balloon post-dilatation of stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease.     

Dukes C colorectal cancer: is the metastatic lymph node ratio important?

Purpose  

Although the regional lymph node status is essential for staging of colorectal cancer, the importance of the total number of collected nodes remains controversial. Our aim was to examine the impact of the metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) on the survival of patients with Dukes C colorectal cancer.     

Total and free testosterone concentrations are strongly influenced by age and central obesity in men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes but correlate weakly with symptoms of androgen deficiency and diabetes-related quality of life

Objective Testosterone levels are commonly lowered in men with diabetes, but it is unclear how these relate to symptoms of hypogonadism and quality of life. We sought to investigate the relationship between testosterone levels, symptoms of androgen deficiency, erectile function and quality of life in men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Design and subjects Cross‐sectional study of 115 men with type 2 diabetes, 93 men with type 1 diabetes and 121 healthy controls. Measurements Total, bioavailable and free testosterone levels were measured or calculated by Vermuelen’s formula. Quality of life and symptom scores were assessed by the Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL), androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires. Results Forty‐five and sixty‐one per cent of men with type 2 diabetes had low total and calculated free testosterone (CFT) levels, respectively. Total testosterone (TT) levels were not lowered in men with type 1 diabetes, but 32% had low CFT. After adjustment for age and waist circumference, only CFT in men with type 2 diabetes (?0·037 nm , 95% CI ?0·075 to ?0·0003, P = 0.048) remained lowered compared with controls. CFT correlated weakly with ADAM (r = ?0·26, 95% CI ?0.42 to ?0·08, P = 0·006), IIEF (r = 0.19, 95% CI 0.01–0.37, P = 0.042) and ADDQoL (r = 0.21, 95% CI 0·03 to 0·38, P = 0·022) scores in men with type 2, but not type 1 diabetes. Age exerted the predominant effect on erectile function in both groups, in a model incorporating age, testosterone level and complications. Conclusions Testosterone levels are strongly affected by age and central obesity in men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes but correlate weakly with symptoms of androgen deficiency and erectile function. Testosterone levels do not appear to be a major determinant of quality of life in patients with diabetes.