Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage Following Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Report and A Short Review

Pulmonary complications are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Both infective and non-infective etiologies can involve the lungs during this period and differentiating them clinically is a challenging task and management differs in each case. We present here a case of acute myeloid leukemia, in whom following allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage developed.     

Uncommon and rarely reported adverse events of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become a primary tool for the treatment of biliary and pancreatic ductal diseases. It is essential for the endoscopist carrying out the ERCP to have a thorough understanding of the potential adverse events. Typically, endoscopists are well familiar with common adverse events such as post‐ERCP pancreatitis, cholangitis, post‐sphincterotomy bleeding, post‐sphincterotomy perforation, and sedation‐related cardiopulmonary compromises. However, there are other less common adverse events that arecritical to promptly recognize in order to provide appropriate therapy and prevent disastrous outcomes. This review focuses on the presentation and management of the less common and rare adverse events of an ERCP from the perspective of the practicing endoscopist.     

Oxidative stress generated at nickel oxide nanoparticle interface results in bacterial membrane damage leading to cell death

Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have shown enhanced antibacterial effects against many bacteria. Thus, understanding the potential antibacterial effects of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria is an urgent need to enable the exploration of NiO NP use in biomedical sciences. To this end, NiO NPs were synthesized by microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis method. The synthesized NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transfer Infrared (FT-IR) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The morphological features of the synthesized NiO NPs were analysed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and FE-SEM analysis. The antibacterial activity of NiO NP was explored using different antimicrobial and biophysical studies. The obtained data reveals that the NiO NP has stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria compared to Gram-negative bacteria. The mechanism behind the antibacterial activity of the NiO NP was explored by evaluating the amount of ROS generation at the NiO NP interface. The effect of ROS generation on the bacterial membrane was evaluated by BacLight assay and morphological analysis of the bacterial membrane using FE-SEM. The data altogether suggested that the oxidative stress generated at the NiO NP interface resulted in membrane damage leading to bacterial cell death.

Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have shown enhanced antibacterial effects against many bacteria.     

Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz) Tirveng and Sastre: Potential Application from Traditional Remedies to Modern Therapeutics

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz) Tirveng and Sastre (Rubiaceae) is a small edible medicinal plant utilized in...     

Dietary supplementation of milk fermented with probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum enhances systemic immune response and antioxidant capacity in aging mice

Although probiotics are known to enhance the host immune response, their roles in modulating immunosenescence, resisting infection, and improving redox homeostasis during aging remain unclear. Therefore, the present study was devised in aging mice to assess the antiimmunosenescence potential from the consumption of milk that is fermented with probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC 5898 (LF). We hypothesized that probiotic supplementation would boost immunity, improve antioxidant capacity, and resist severity of pathogenic infection in aging mice. To test this hypothesis, during a trial period of 2 months, 16-month-old male Swiss mice were kept on 3 experimental diets: basal diet (BD), BD supplemented with skim milk, and BD supplemented with probiotic LF-fermented milk. A concurrent analysis of several immunosenescence markers that include neutrophil functions, interleukins profile, inflammation and antibody responses in the intestine as well as analysis of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and red blood cells was performed. Neutrophil respiratory burst enzymes and phagocytosis increased significantly in probiotic LF-fed groups, whereas no exacerbation in plasma levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and tumor necrosis factor α was observed. Splenocytes registered increased interferon-γ but decreased interleukin 4 and interleukin 10 production, whereas humoral antibodies registered decreases in immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1)/IgG2a ratio and IgE levels in the probiotic-fed groups. Antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) in LF-fed groups showed increased activities, which were more pronounced in the liver than in red blood cell. An Escherichia coli–based infection model in aging mice was also designed to validate the protective attributes of LF. Administration of probiotic LF significantly reduced E coli population in organs (intestine, liver, spleen, and peritoneal fluid), as compared with control groups, by enhancing E coli–specific antibodies and inflammatory proteins. Based on these results, it appears that LF supplementation alleviated immunosenescence, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and resisted E coli infection in aging mice; thereby, signifying its potential in augmenting healthy aging.     

Endophytic Microbes from Diverse Wheat Genotypes and Their Potential Biotechnological Applications in Plant Growth Promotion and Nutrient Uptake

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Endophytic microbes residing inside the tissues of plants play a significant role to enhance the growth and...     

Longitudinal In Vivo Changes in Radial Peripapillary Capillaries and Optic Nerve Head Structure in Non-Human Primates With Early Experimental Glaucoma

PurposeThere is conflicting evidence regarding whether a loss of radial peripapillary capillaries (RPCs) precedes neuronal loss in glaucoma. We examined the time course of in vivo changes in RPCs, optic nerve head (ONH) structure, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in experimental glaucoma (EG).MethodsSpectral domain optical coherence tomography images were acquired before and approximately every two weeks after inducing unilateral EG in nine rhesus monkeys to quantify mean anterior lamina cribrosa surface depth (ALCSD), minimum rim width (MRW), and RNFLT. Perfused RPC density was measured from adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope images acquired on the temporal half of the ONH. The time of first significant change was quantified as when values fell and remained outside of the 95% confidence interval established from control eyes.ResultsMean ALCSD and/or MRW were the first parameters to change in eight EG eyes. RPC density changed first in the ninth. At their first points of change, mean ALCSD posteriorly deformed by 100.2 ± 101.2 µm, MRW thinned by 82.3 ± 65.9 µm, RNFLT decreased by 25 ± 14 µm, and RPC density decreased by 4.5 ± 2.1%. RPC density decreased before RNFL thinning in 5 EG eyes. RNFLT decreased before RPC density decreased in two EG eyes, whereas two EG eyes had simultaneous changes.ConclusionsIn most EG eyes, RPC density decreased before (or simultaneous with) a change in RNFLT, suggesting that vascular factors may play a role in axonal loss in some eyes in early glaucoma.