Age effects on extracellular matrix production of vocal fold scar fibroblasts in rats

Vocal fold (VF) fibroblasts are the central subject of interest in fibrogenesis and wound healing after VF injury. Scar fibroblasts (SF) exhibit an aberrant production of several extracellular matrix (ECM) components which lead either to VF fibrosis or scarless wound healing. This study aimed to investigate the role of age at the time of injury on ECM production of SF. This is designed as an animal study. VF injury was established unilaterally in eight male Sprague-Dawley rats [3 months of age (n = 4), 11 months of age (n = 4)], while the other side was left intact. Three months after injury the larynges were excised and fibroblasts were extracted from VF [normal fibroblasts (NF)–scar fibroblasts (SF)] and cultured in vitro. After first passage, VF fibroblasts were plated in 24-well plates and levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen type I were determined enzymatically from supernatant after 24 and 72 h. Cultured SF from younger animals produced significantly higher levels of HA compared to NF fibroblasts from the same animals. HA concentrations of the older animals did not differ significantly between the NF and SF cultures, but the range in SF cultures was large. In contrast to previous studies, we found that even 3 months after VF injury cultured SF from young animals expressed higher levels of HA in comparison to SF from older animals. No difference in collagen levels were observed between the younger and older animals. Age of animals is an essential factor during VF healing and has to be considered for study design.     

Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Healthy School Canteen Intervention among Malaysian Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

This study evaluated implementing a school-based intervention to promote healthier dietary habits in the school environment among Malaysian adolescents using qualitative methods. This qualitative study was conducted in four secondary schools in Perak and Selangor (two urban and two rural schools) that received the intervention (either training or training and food subsidy). A total of eight focus groups (68 students aged 15 years old) and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with canteen operators, school convenience shop operators, school teachers and school principals in each school. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data to identify suitable themes. We found several initiatives and changes by the schools’ stakeholders to change to a healthy school canteen programme. The stakeholders also noticed the students’ food preferences that influence healthy food intake in canteens and convenience shops. The food vendors and school administrators also found that subsidising healthy meals might encourage healthy eating. Among barriers to implementing healthy school initiatives were the student’s perception of healthy food and their eating habits, which also affect the food vendors’ profit if they want to implement a healthy canteen. The school-based intervention has the potential to promotes healthier eating among school adolescents. Continuous training and monitoring of canteen operators and convenience shops are needed, including building partnerships and educating the students on healthy eating to cultivate healthy eating habits.     

Intrauterine Fate of Invasive Trophoblast Cells

Invasion of trophoblast cells into the uterine spiral arteries and the uterine wall is characteristic of hemochorial placentation. In the rat, trophoblast cells penetrate through the uterine decidua and well into the metrial gland. In this report, we examined the fate of these invasive trophoblast cells following parturition. Invasive trophoblast endocrine cells were retained in the postpartum mesometrial uterus in the rat. The demise of invasive trophoblast cells was followed by the appearance of differentiated smooth muscle cells surrounding blood vessels previously lined by invasive trophoblast cells and an infiltration of macrophages. Regulation of intrauterine trophoblast cell fate was investigated following premature removal of the fetus or removal of the fetus and chorioallantoic placenta. The presence of the fetus affected the distribution of invasive trophoblast cells within the uterus but did not negatively impact their survival. Premature removal of all chorioallantoic placentas and associated fetuses from a uterus resulted in extensive removal of intrauterine trophoblast cells. In summary, the postpartum demise of intrauterine invasive trophoblast cells is a dynamic developmental event regulated in part by the removal of trophic signals emanating from the chorioallantoic placenta.     

Dietary intake in patients with chronic pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDA progressive reduction in the secretion of pancreatic enzymes in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) results in malabsorption and ultimate malnutrition. However, the pathogenesis of malnutrition is multifactorial and other factors such as chronic inflammation, alcohol excess and poor dietary intake all contribute. Patients may restrict their dietary intake due to poor appetite or to avoid gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal pain. Whilst up to half of patients with chronic pancreatitis are reportedly malnourished, the dietary intake of patients with CP is relatively understudied and has not been systematically reviewed to date. AIMTo perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the dietary intakes of patients with CP compared to healthy controls, and to compare the dietary intake of patients with alcohol-related CP and non-alcohol-related CP.METHODSA systematic literature search was performed using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane review on studies published between 1946 and August 30^th, 2019. Adult subjects with a diagnosis of CP who had undergone dietary assessment were included in the systematic review (qualitative analysis). Studies on patients with other pancreatic diseases or who had undergone pancreatic surgery were not included. Studies comparing the dietary intake of patients with CP to that of healthy controls were included in the meta-analysis (quantitative analysis). Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess quality of studies. RESULTSOf 6715 studies retrieved in the search, 23 were eligible for qualitative analysis while 12 were eligible for quantitative analysis. In the meta-analysis, the total energy (calorie) intake of patients with CP was similar to that of healthy controls [mean difference (MD): 171.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): -226.01, 568.5; P = 0.4], however patients with CP consumed significantly fewer non-alcohol calories than controls [MD: -694.1; 95%CI: -1256.1, (-132.1); P = 0.02]. CP patients consumed more protein, but carbohydrate and fat intakes did not differ significantly. Those with alcohol-related CP consumed more mean (standard deviation) calories than CP patients with a non-alcohol aetiology [2642 (1090) kcal and 1372 (394) kcal, respectively, P = 0.046], as well as more protein, fat, but not carbohydrate.CONCLUSIONAlthough patients with CP had similar calorie intake to controls, studies that analysed the contribution of alcohol to energy intake showed that patients with CP consumed fewer non-alcohol calories than healthy controls. A high calorie intake, made up to a large degree by alcohol, may in part contribute to poor nutritional status in CP.     

Evaluation of multifunctional synthetic tetralone derivatives for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Neurodegeneration, a complex disease state, comprises several pathways that contribute to cell death. Conventional approach of targeting only one of these pathways has not been proven to be entirely successful and has demanded a hypothetical change as to how researchers design and develop new drugs. In this study, effects of a series of α, β‐unsaturated carbonyl‐based tetralone derivatives against Alzheimer's disease (AD) were investigated. Moreover, their activity toward amyloid β‐induced cytotoxicity was also studied. Six compounds including 3f , 3o , 3u , 3ae , 3af , and 3ag were discovered to be most protective against Aβ‐induced neuronal cell death in PC12 cells. The findings of in vitro experiment revealed that most of these compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activity against MAO‐B, AChE, and self‐induced Aβ_1–42 aggregation. The compound 3f exhibited best AChE (IC₅₀ = 0.045 ± 0.02 μm ) inhibitory potential in addition to potent inhibition of MAO‐B (IC₅₀ = 0.88 ± 0.12 μm ). Furthermore, compound 3f disassembled the Aβ fibrils produced by self‐induced Aβ aggregation by 78.2 ± 4.8%. Collectively, these findings suggest that some compounds from this series have potential to be promising multifunctional agents for AD treatment.     

Management of inguinal hernia of childhood as practiced in Karachi,Pakistan

Inguinal hernia in children is a common condition worldwide. Despite improvements in surgical care, it still carries a certain mortality and morbidity. The age group most susceptible to complications is under 2 years of age. There is still delay between diagnosis and surgical intervention. There is no strong evidence at present to recommend simultaneous contralateral exploration in unilateral inguinal hernia.     

Study of fungi and their toxigenic potential isolated from wheat and wheat bran

The present study was designed to investigate the fungi and their toxigenic potentials isolated from the wheat and wheat brans. A total of 67 samples of wheat and 17 samples of wheat bran were collected from Faisalabad district of Pakistan. Forty-five (67.16%) samples of wheat yielded fungi. Frequency distribution based on total samples, Aspergillus was the highest (44.77%) genus followed by Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria. Penicillium verucosum (30.64%) was the most frequently isolated species followed by A. niger aggregates, A. flavus, A. parasiticus, P. chrysogenum, A. ochraceous, A. carbonarius and A. fumigatus. Among Aspergilli, A. niger aggregates (46.67%) were most frequently isolated species. Out of 30 Aspergilli isolates from wheat samples, 17 (56.66%) were found toxigenic. AFB1 produced by aflatoxigenic Aspergilli varied from 1.44 to 836.3?ng/g, while ochratoxin A levels varied from 0.037 to 15 045?ng/g. Among Penicillium species, P. verrucosum (63.15%) were found ochratoxigenic and OTA levels were varied from 7.31 to 8400?ng/g. In wheat bran, 10 (58.82%) samples yielded fungi. Based upon total samples, frequency distribution of Aspergillus (35.28%) was the highest followed by Penicillium and Fusarium. Similar pattern was observed in relative density of isolates. A. niger aggregates and P. verrucosum were predominant species (23.07%) isolated from wheat bran. Among Aspergilli, A. niger aggregates (50%) were the most frequently isolated species followed by A. flavus, A. fumigatus and A. ochraceous (16.67%) each. The OTA levels of fungi isolated from wheat bran varies from 0.292 to 2500?ng/g. Isolation of toxigenic A. niger aggregates from wheat indicates that these species should be considered as possible contributors of OTA contamination in wheat and its by-products in Pakistan.