Attenuation of cytotoxicity induced by tBHP in H9C2 cells by Bacopa monniera and Bacoside A

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major global health issues leading to morbidity and mortality across the world. In the present study Bacopa monniera and its major bioactive component, Bacoside A (Bac-A) was used to evaluate its cytoprotective property in H9C2 cardiomyocytes against tBHP (150?μM) induced ROS-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis. Our results implicate that pre-treatment with hydroalcoholic extract of Bacopa monniera (BME) and Bac-A (125?μg/ml and 6?μg/ml respectively) significantly restored oxidative stress by scavenging the free radicals and also elevated phase II antioxidant defensive enzymes such as (SOD, CAT, GR, GPx and GSH). Membrane integrity was estimated by MMP and LDH assays and found 89 and 72% of the protective effect. Further immunoblotting studies confirmed anti-apoptotic effects by regulating protein expression like Bcl2 was up-regulated to 99 and 85% and Bax was down-regulated to 122 and 181%, iNOS by 154.38 and 183.45% compared to tBHP (277.48%) by BME and Bac-A. BME and Bac-A exerts cytoprotective efficacy by attenuation of ROS generated through oxidative stress by an increase in the concentration of antioxidant enzymes and sustain membrane integrity which leads to restoring the damage caused by tBHP.     

In vitro hemocompatibility and vascular endothelial cell functionality on titania nanostructures under static and dynamic conditions for improved coronary stenting applications

The usefulness of nanoscale topography in improving vascular response in vitro was established previously on hydrothermally modified titanium surfaces. To propose this strategy of surface modification for translation onto clinically used metallic stents, it is imperative that the surface should be also hemocompatible: an essential attribute for any blood-contacting device. The present in vitro study focuses on a detailed hemocompatibility evaluation of titania nanostructures created through an alkaline hydrothermal route on metallic Ti stent prototypes. Direct interactions of TiO₂ nanocues of various morphologies with whole blood were studied under static conditions as well as using an in vitro circulation model mimicking arterial flow, with respect to a polished Ti control. Nanomodified stent surfaces upon contact with human blood showed negligible hemolysis under constant shear and static conditions. Coagulation profile testing indicated that surface roughness of nanomodified stents induced no alterations in the normal clotting times, with insignificant thrombus formation and minimal inflammatory reaction. Endothelialized nanomodified Ti surfaces were found to inhibit both activation as well as aggregation of platelets compared with the control surface, with the endothelium formed on the nanosurfaces having an increased expression of anti-thrombogenic genes. Such a nanotextured Ti surface, which is anti-thrombogenic and promotes endothelialization, would be a cost-effective alternative to drug-eluting stents or polymer-coated stents for overcoming in-stent restenosis.     

Oral Myiasis

Myiasis is a pathologic condition in humans occurring because of parasitic infestation. Parasites causing myiasis belong to the order Diptera. Oral myiasis is seen secondary to oral wounds, suppurative lesions, and extraction wounds, especially in individuals with neurological deficit. In such cases, neglected oral hygiene and halitosis attracts the flies to lay eggs in oral wounds resulting in oral myiasis. We present a case of oral myiasis in 40-year-old male patient with mental disability and history of epilepsy.     

Mouse chromosome 9 quantitative trait loci for soft tissue regeneration: Congenic analysis and fine mapping

Development of gene therapies for wound healing will depend on the identification of the genes involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Previous quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies in mice using the ear punch model have shown that major QTL exist on chromosome (Chr) 9 for soft tissue regeneration. In this study, we have developed a congenic line that contains the Chr 9 QTL chromosomal region from super healer MRL/MpJ in the genomic background of poor-healing SJL/J. The phenotypic effect of this QTL was confirmed in male mice, where the congenic line has shown significant healing improvement over SJL. Fine mapping of the Chr 9 QTL region with 23 markers at an average distance of 4.2 Mb using a total of 1,564 MRL/MpJ x SJL/J F(2) mice revealed the presence of at least three QTL peaks, implying that three separate loci may contribute to the phenotypic effect of this QTL. Based on the 2-LOD intervals, the total QTL region was confined to a combined length of no more than 28.2 Mb. Application of a Bayesian shrinkage estimation indicated that a major locus was located in a region of just 1.3 Mb.     

A novel catalytic kinetic method for the determination of mercury(ii) in water samples

Mercury(ii) ions act as catalyst in the substitution of cyanide ion in hexacyanoruthenate(ii) by pyrazine (Pz) in an acidic medium. This property of Hg(ii) has been utilized for its determination in aqueous solutions. The progress of reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the increase in absorbance of the yellow colour product, [Ru(CN)₅Pz]³⁻ at 370 nm (λ_max, ε = 4.2 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) under the optimized reaction conditions; 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ M [Ru(CN)₆⁴⁻], 7.5 × 10⁻⁴ M [Pz], pH 4.00 ± 0.02, ionic strength (I) = 0.05 M (KCl) and temp. 45.0 ± 0.1 °C. The proposed method is based on the fixed time procedure under optimum reaction conditions. The linear regression (calibration) equations between the absorbance at fixed times (t = 15, 20 and 25 min) and [Hg(ii)] were established in the range of 1.0 to 30.0 × 10⁻⁶ M. The detection limit was found to be 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ M of Hg(ii). The effect of various foreign ions on the proposed method was also studied and discussed. The method was applied for the determination of Hg(ii) in different wastewater samples. The present method is simple, rapid and sensitive for the determination of Hg(ii) in trace amount in the environmental samples.

Mercury(ii) ions act as catalyst in the substitution of cyanide ion in hexacyanoruthenate(ii) by pyrazine (Pz) in an acidic medium.     

Pepsinogen-II 100 bp ins/del gene polymorphism and its elevated circulating levels are associated with gastric cancer,particularly with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> infection and intestinal metaplasia

Background

Polymorphism in the gene of pepsinogen-II (PG-II) and its serum level are effective biomarkers for terminal differentiation of gastric mucosa into gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer (GC) in relationship to Helicobacter pylori infection.

Methods

Genotyping of the PG-II 100 bp insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism was performed in patients with GC (n = 192) and age- and gender-matched H. pylori-associated dyspepsia (n = 180) and healthy subjects (HS, n = 240) by PCR. IgG anti-H. pylori (in all subjects) and serum PG-II levels were estimated in 145 patients each with GC and dyspepsia and in 65 healthy controls (HC) using ELISA (Biohit Oyj, Finland).

Results

Five alleles were amplified by PCR: allele 5 (510 bp), allele 4 (480 bp), allele 3 (450 bp), allele 2 (400 bp), and allele 1 (shorter allele, 310 bp). Allele 1 carriage was infrequent, and serum PG-II level was higher among patients with GC than in HC [OR 0.43 (95 % CI, 0.29–0.85), p < 0.001 and mean ± SD; 17.53 ± 12.60 vs. 12.77 ± 7.53 µg/l, p = 0.005, respectively], particularly in the presence of H. pylori [OR 0.42 (0.25–0.71), p = 0.001 and 18.78 ± 12.63 vs. 13.97 ± 8.14, p = 0.034]. However, allele 1 carriage and PG-II levels were comparable among patients with GC and dyspepsia. Patients with IM also carried allele 1 infrequently and had higher levels of PG-II than those without [OR 0.5 (0.29–0.85), p = 0.011 and 20.07 ± 14.22 vs. 16.61 ± 12.08, p = 0.048].

Conclusions

Carriage of the shorter allele of the PG-II 100 bp ins/del polymorphism and elevated levels of PG-II are associated with GC, particularly with H. pylori infection and IM.