The effect of oxidation on the degradation of photocrosslinkable alginate hydrogels

Recently, we reported on a new photocrosslinkable alginate-based hydrogel, which has controllable physical and cell adhesive properties. The macromer solution containing cells can be injected in a minimally invasive manner into a defect site and crosslinked while maintaining high cell viability. The number of hydrolyzable ester bonds in the formed crosslinks may be controlled by altering the degree of methacrylation on the alginate polymer backbone. However, the degradation rate of the hydrogels has been found to be slower in vivo than in vitro. The purpose of this study was to develop photocrosslinked alginate hydrogels with an increased range of biodegradation rates for more rapid in vivo biodegradation in regenerative medicine and bioactive factor delivery applications. Therefore, we oxidized alginate prior to methacrylation to change the uronate residue conformations to an open-chain adduct, which makes it more vulnerable to hydrolysis. Here, we demonstrate that the swelling behavior, degradation profiles, and storage moduli of photocrosslinked hydrogels formed from oxidized, methacrylated alginates (OMAs) are tunable by varying the degree of alginate oxidation. The OMA macromers and photocrosslinked OMA hydrogels exhibited cytocompatibility when cultured with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). In addition, hMSCs derived from bone marrow or adipose tissue photoencapsulated within these hydrogels remained viable, and their proliferation rate was a function of alginate oxidation level and initial hydrogel weight fraction. Oxidation permits a wider range of photocrosslinked OMA hydrogels physical properties, which may enhance these therapeutic materials' utility in tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.     

Prompt initiation of ART With therapeutic food is associated with improved outcomes in HIV-infected Malawian children with malnutrition

This retrospective observational study of 140 HIV-infected children with uncomplicated malnutrition in urban Malawi tested the hypothesis that initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 21 days of outpatient therapeutic feeding (prompt ART) improved clinical outcomes. Children receiving prompt ART were more likely to recover nutritionally (86% vs. 60%, P < 0.01) and had higher rates of weight gain (3.6 vs. 1.6 g/k/day; P = 0.02). Logistic regression modeling found prompt ART was associated with increased likelihood of nutritional recovery (odds ratio: 5.4, 95% confidence interval: 2.0 to 14.5). This suggests that prompt ART is associated with improved outcomes in HIV-infected Malawian children with uncomplicated malnutrition.     

Direct drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis for rapid detection of multidrug resistance using the Bactec MGIT 960 system: a multicenter study

Conventional indirect drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with liquid medium is well established and offers time-saving and reliable results. This multicenter study was carried out to evaluate if drug susceptibility testing (DST) can be successfully carried out directly from processed smear-positive specimens (direct DST) and if this approach could offer substantial time savings. Sputum specimens were digested, decontaminated, and concentrated by the laboratory routine procedure and were inoculated in Bactec MGIT 960 as well as Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium for primary isolation. All the processed specimens which were acid-fast bacterium (AFB) smear positive were used for setting up direct DST for isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF). After the antimicrobial mixture of polymyxin B, amphotericin B, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, and azlocillin (PANTA) was added, the tubes were entered in the MGIT 960 instrument using the 21-day protocol (Bactec 960 pyrazinamide [PZA] protocol). Results obtained by direct DST were compared with those obtained by indirect DST to establish accuracy and time savings by this approach. Of a total of 360 AFB smear-positive sputum specimens set up for direct DST at four sites in three different countries, 307 (85%) specimens yielded reportable results. Average reporting time for direct DST was 11 days (range, 10 to 12 days). The average time savings by direct DST compared to indirect DST, which included time to isolate a culture and perform DST, was 8 days (range, 6 to 9 days). When results of direct DST were compared with those of indirect DST, there was 95.1% concordance with INH and 96.1% with rifampin. These findings indicate that direct DST with the Bactec MGIT 960 system offers further time savings and is a quick method to reliably detect multidrug resistance (MDR) cases.     

Allergic sensitization enhances anion current responsiveness of murine trachea to PAR-2 activation

Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) is a G protein-coupled receptor possibly involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. PAR-2 also modulates ion transport in cultured epithelial cells, but these effects in native airways are controversial. The influence of allergic inflammation on PAR-2-induced changes in ion transport has received little attention. Here, we studied immediate changes in transepithelial short circuit current (I _sc) induced by PAR-2 activation in the tracheas of naive and allergic mice. Activation of PAR-2 with an apically added activation peptide (AP) induced a small increase in I _sc, while a much larger increase was observed following basolateral AP addition. In ovalbumin-sensitized and -challenged animals used as a model of allergic airway inflammation, the effect of basolateral AP addition was enhanced. Responses to basolateral AP in both naive and allergic mice were not decreased by blocking sodium absorption with amiloride or CFTR function with CFTR_inh172 but were reduced by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin and largely blocked (>80%) by niflumic acid, a calcium-activated chloride channels’ (CaCC) blocker. Allergic mice also showed an enhanced response to ATP and thapsigargin. There was no change in mRNA expression of Par-2 or of the chloride channels Ano1 (Tmem16a) and Bestrophin 2 in tracheas from allergic mice, while mRNA levels of Bestrophin 1 were increased. In conclusion, basolateral PAR-2 activation in the mouse airways led to increased anion secretion through apical CaCC, which was more pronounced in allergic animals. This could be a protective mechanism aimed at clearing allergens and defending against mucus plugging.     

Infection level of the Asian tapeworm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bothriocephalus acheilognathi</Emphasis>) in the cyprinid fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizothorax niger</Emphasis>, from Anchar Lake,relative to season,sex, length and condition factor

Various studies have shown that the Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi causes great economic loss in hatcheries, fish farms as well as in lakes. In order to understand the seasonal variation of infection in a nutrient-enriched lake, parasitological investigation was carried out in the indigenous cyprinid fish, Schizothorax niger Heckel 1838 from September, 2008 to August, 2009. Overall, this study revealed definite seasonality of infection (p < 0.05), with greater infection in summer (prevalence = 39.5%) and lesser in winter (prevalence = 8.1%). The prevalence among different seasons revealed significant differences (p < 0.05). Sex was not an important factor influencing the prevalence of the Asian tapeworm. A strong positive correlation (Pearson’s correlation, r = 0.7; p = 0.02) between total length of S. niger and number of Asian fish tapeworms was observed. Similarly, a strong positive correlation existed between weight of fish and number of tapeworms (Pearson’s correlation, r = 0.7; p = 0.005). Prevalence and mean abundance were positively and significantly correlated with water temperature (r = 0.8, p < 0.01 and r = 0.8, p < 0.01, respectively). Thus seasonal dynamics, total length and weight of the host significantly influenced the tapeworm infection. The above findings will be useful in devising the appropriate control strategies for the Asian tapeworm in wild fish in Kashmir valley as well as in similar climatic zones of other parts of the world. Also, information from this study will be used to assess the spread and extent of B. acheilognathi which is a potential threat to the indigenous fish fauna of Anchar Lake.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cryptosporidium parvum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cryptosporidium hominis</Emphasis> in human patients in Cairo,Egypt

Cryptosporidium is a significant cause of diarrheal disease in developing and industrialized nations. Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum are the main agents of cryptosporidiosis in humans. In Egypt, very little is known about genetic structure of Cryptosporidium spp. Therefore, this study was designed to examine samples from sporadic cases of cryptosporidiosis in Egyptians in order to identify the species involved in infection as well as the transmission dynamics and distribution of the parasite in the Great Cairo area. A total of 391 human faecal samples were collected, between May 2008 and March 2009, from ten public hospitals in Great Cairo. Initial screening by immunochromatographic detection kit “the Stick Crypto-Giardia; Operon” showed 23 possible positive cases. Twenty of them were confirmed by microscopic examination. PCR was performed by amplification of the oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene where 18 out of 23 samples were positive, one not detected by microscopy. Cryptosporidium genotyping was performed by RFLP analysis of PCR products of the diagnosis PCR. Only 15 samples rendered a digestion pattern. The genotyping distribution was nine cases showing C. hominis genotype, three showing C. parvum genotype and three showing mixed infection by C. hominis and C. parvum. The data showed an elevated prevalence of C. hominis (80.0%), the most anthroponotic species, suggesting a human–human transmission. Furthermore, the presence of up to 40% of samples infected with C. parvum shows that further investigations are required to determine the subgenotypes of C. parvum to clarify the mode of transmission in order to improve the control measures.     

Undifferentiated sinonasal carcinoma in a patient with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder characterized by developmental anomalies and occurrence of multiple basal cell carcinomas and other tumors in early childhood. In this article, the authors report a case of a 19-year-old African American male with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and a history of medulloblastoma at age 2, meningioma at age 14, thyroid follicular adenomas with papillary carcinoma at age 15, and 2 basal cell carcinomas at ages 16 and 18. Recently, he developed sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC). The radiology and pathology of the sinonasal carcinoma are presented in this report. Review of the literature reveals that this is the first case of SNUC occurring in a patient with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.     

Reelin gene polymorphisms in the Indian population: a possible paternal 5'UTR-CGG-repeat-allele effect on autism.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high heritability factor and the reelin gene, which codes for an extracellular matrix protein involved with neuronal migration and lamination is being investigated as a positional and functional candidate gene for autism. It is located on chromosome 7q22 within the autism susceptible locus (AUTS1); identified in earlier genome scans and several investigations have been carried out on various ethnic groups to assess possible association and linkage of the gene with autism. However, the findings are still inconclusive. In the present study which represents the first report of such a study on the Indian population, genotyping analyses of CGG repeat polymorphism at 5'UTR, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at exon 6 and exon 50 were performed in 73 autistic subjects, 129 parents, and 80 controls. The allelic distributions of the repeat polymorphism and exon 50 T/C SNP were quite different from earlier reports in other populations. Allelic and genotypic distribution of the markers did not show any differences between the cases and controls. While our preliminary data on family-based association studies on 58 trios showed no preferential transmission of any allele from the parents to the affected offspring, TDT and HHRR analyses revealed significant paternal transmission distortions for 10- and > or =11-repeat alleles of CGG repeat polymorphism. Thus, the present study suggests that 5'UTR of reelin gene may have a role in the susceptibility towards autism with the paternal transmission and non-transmission respectively of 10- and > or =11-repeat alleles, to the affected offspring.     

Suppressive effect of clozapine but not haloperidol on the increases of neuropeptide-degrading enzymes and glial cells in MK-801-treated rat brain regions

MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, produces neurotoxicity in adult rodent brain, and causes schizophrenia-like psychosis and cognitive dysfunction. Since neuropeptides and neuropeptide-degrading enzymes play important roles in cognitive function, we examined whether or not MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like psychosis is co-related with the changes of these enzymes in rat brain regions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of systemic treatment with MK-801 (0.5mg/kg) on neuropeptide-degrading enzymes, prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) and thimet oligopeptidase (EP 24.15), and glial marker proteins GFAP and CD11b in rat brain regions. The levels of POP and EP 24.15 activities increased significantly three days after treatment with MK-801 in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortices (PC/RSC). Since atypical neuroleptic clozapine but not typical neuroleptic haloperidol prevents the MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like symptoms, we further examined the pretreated effects of the neuroleptics. Clozapine, but not haloperidol, significantly attenuated MK-801-induced changes in the levels of the neuropeptide-degrading enzymes. Immunohistochemical studies on GFAP and CD11b showed the increase in the PC/RSC of MK-801-treated rat brain and the pretreatment with clozapine suppressed these changes. Double immunostain experiments of EP 24.15 and GFAP antibodies demonstrated some co-localization of the neuropeptidase with astrocytes. The present findings suggest that change of neuropeptidases in the brain is in part correlated with changes of glial cells, and may play an important role in the control of schizophrenia-like psychotic disorders.