Prevalence and patterns of diverticulosis in patients undergoing colonoscopy in a southern Indian hospital

The prevalence of diverticular disease of colon of colon is reportedly low in Asian compared to Western countries. We analyzed the prevalence of colonic diverticulosis in a selected cohort of patients undergoing colonoscopy. Retrospective study of records of patients undergoing colonoscopy in a tertiary hospital in southern India.     

Mouse MOV10L1 associates with Piwi proteins and is an essential component of the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are essential for silencing of transposable elements in the germline, but their biogenesis is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that MOV10L1, a germ cell–specific putative RNA helicase, is associated with Piwi proteins. Genetic disruption of the MOV10L1 RNA helicase domain in mice renders both MILI and MIWI2 devoid of piRNAs. Absence of a functional piRNA pathway in Mov10l1 mutant testes causes loss of DNA methylation and subsequent derepression of retrotransposons in germ cells. The Mov10l1 mutant males are sterile owing to complete meiotic arrest. This mouse mutant expresses Piwi proteins but lacks piRNAs, suggesting that MOV10L1 is required for piRNA biogenesis and/or loading to Piwi proteins.     

Possible role of glial cells in the onset and progression of Lyme neuroborreliosis

Background  

Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) may present as meningitis, cranial neuropathy, acute radiculoneuropathy or, rarely, as encephalomyelitis. We hypothesized that glia, upon exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent, produce inflammatory mediators that promote the acute cellular infiltration of early LNB. This inflammatory context could potentiate glial and neuronal apoptosis.     

Preparation and characterization of Antheraea assama silk fibroin based novel non‐woven scaffold for tissue engineering applications

The quest for novel materials as scaffolds with suitable micro‐architecture for supporting tissue neogenesis in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is continuing. In this paper we report an Antheraea assama silk‐based non‐woven fibroin scaffold for applications in TERM. The novel three‐dimensional scaffold is highly interconnected and porous, with a pore size of 150 µm, porosity of 90% and water uptake capacity of 85%. FTIR revealed a typical β‐sheet structure of fibroin. The scaffold has thermal and mechanical properties superior to those of Bombyx mori, as revealed by DSC, TGA and tensile tests. The scaffold exhibited satisfactory blood compatibility, as determined by thrombogenicity, haemolysis, platelet/leukocyte count, platelet adhesion and protein adsorption studies. The scaffold was found to be cytocompatible with human cell lines A549, KB, HepG2 and HeLa for a period of up to 4 weeks. SEM analysis revealed excellent attachment, spreading and migration of cells in the scaffold. MTT assay was performed to estimate the viability and growth of cells in the matrix. Quantification of collagen in cell–scaffold constructs was done by picro‐Sirius red assay. Ex ovo chorioallantoic membrane assay and nitric oxide estimations in spent culture medium showed the scaffold's ability to promote angiogenesis. Finally, the biodegradability of the scaffold was determined by the weight loss observed upon treatment with trypsin over a period of 4 weeks. The results reveal that the fibroin from A. assama is a promising candidate as a biocompatible, biomimetic and biodegradable biomaterial of natural origin for applications in TERM. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery

BACKGROUND: To reduce surgical trauma and the drawbacks associated with sternotomy, we performed robotically controlled, video-assisted mitral valve surgery, using either the port-access or the transthoracic clamp technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between September 1997 and September 2000, 221 patients (78 males, 143 females) underwent mitral valve surgery through a small right minithoracotomy using the port-access endovascular cardiopulmonary bypass system. Mitral valve exposure was facilitated with an endoscope attached to a voice-controlled robotic arm (AESOP 3000) allowing stabilization and voice-activated camera positioning. Twenty-six patients underwent mitral valve repair and 195 had valve replacement. In 197 patients, mitral valve surgery was the primary operation, while 24 were redo cases. Skin-to-skin mean operating time was 3.5 +/- 1.2 hours and aortic cross-clamp time was 58 +/- 16 min, mean intensive care unit stay was 22 +/- 7 hours and hospital stay 6.4 +/- 1.2 days. There was no re-exploration for bleeding. There was no late death or re-operation on mean follow-up of 16.4 +/- 12.2 months. Patients showed improvement in their NYHA functional class from 2.6 +/- 0.5 to 1.4 +/- 0.8 postoperatively. Outcomes were compared with those of our previous 220 patients who underwent mitral valve surgery with the median sternotomy approach. CONCLUSIONS: The use of video and robotic assistance in port-access mitral valve surgery not only minimizes the length of the incision, but also gives full visualization of the entire mitral valve apparatus. This approach provides comparable results with the sternotomy approach, as well as marked advantages of reduced intensive care unit stay. ,ower blood transfusion requirement, better cosmesis and earlier hospital discharge.     

Reversible myocardial dysfunction: basics and evaluation

Large areas of non-functional but viable myocardium with reversible dysfunction are commonly seen in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Both reperfusion of acutely ischemic myocardium and chronic myocardial ischemia may produce a reversible forms of ventricular dysfunction. The two main conditions that lead to reversible myocardial dysfunction are stunned myocardium and hibernating myocardium. Myocardial stunning represents post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction that persists despite restoration of normal flow, with gradual return of contractile function. Hibernating myocardium is a state of persistently impaired myocardial function at rest due to reduced coronary blood flow owing to residual stenosis that can be restored toward normal by revascularization. The success of the revascularization procedures depends on the presence of amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium. The basics and evaluation of reversible myocardial dysfunction are reviewed.