Use of bone marrow derived stem cells in a fracture non-union

This is an attempt of using in vitro cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow in joining of a fracture non-union. Bone marrow cells were obtained and differentially centrifuged for MSCs that were grown in vitro in mesenchymal stem cell basal medium aseptically, for 10 d. The cell mass was injected around the fracture non-union. Healthy conditions of development of tissue regeneration at the trauma site and due bone joining were recorded. It is concluded that in vitro cultured MSCs had a blithesome effect on the fracture non-union.     

Evaluation of beta defensin 2 production by chicken heterophils using direct MALDI mass spectrometry

Beta defensins (BD) are cysteine rich, cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) produced mainly by epithelial and myeloid cells such as neutrophils. In birds, the neutrophil equivalent heterophils produce avian beta defensins (AvBD) of which AvBD2 is the major isoform. Heterophils recognize pathogens or their derived products through a series of pattern recognition receptors called toll-like receptors (TLR) leading to their antimicrobial activities. This work is the first report of TLR modulation of AvBD2 expression in chickens. To measure the effect of TLR activation on AvBD2 production, the heterophils were cultured with different TLR agonists for 6 h. Modulation of AvBD2 levels by TLR activation was measured using direct MALDI mass spectrometry without stable isotopic labeling or chromatographic separation. Chemical modification of the conditioned media was performed using reduction/alkylation with dithiothreitol/iodoacetamide to distinguish TLR treated AvBD2 (reduced/alkylated) from controls (non-reduced). Changes in corrected ion intensity ratios were assumed to reflect AvBD2 modulation in heterophils upon activation with different TLR agonists. In general, TLR agonists increased AvBD2 production with LPS showing the greatest induction and CpG-ODN showing little or no effect. These data show that the direct MALDI-MS coupled with reduction/alkylation may provide a rapid relative quantitative approach to the measurement of agonist-induced differential expression of AvBD2.     

Prediction of clinical outcomes in Crohn’s disease by using confocal laser endomicroscopy: results from a prospective multicenter study

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Brain delivery of intranasal in situ gel of nanoparticulated polymeric carriers containing antidepressant drug: behavioral and biochemical assessment

This study was aimed for brain delivery of Tramadol HCl (centrally acting synthetic opioid) following intranasal administration for treatment of depression. Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by ionic gelation method followed by the addition of developed NPs with in the Pluronic and HPMC-based mucoadhesive thermo-reversible gel. Developed formulation optimized based on the various parameters such as particle size, entrapment efficiency, in vitro release study. Depression induction was done by forced swim test and evaluated by various behavioral and biochemical parameters. Furthermore, results showed significantly increased in locomotors activity, body weight as compared to control group. It also showed alteration in biochemical parameters such glutathione level and catalase levels significantly increased other than lipid peroxidation and nitrite level was found to be decreased after intranasal administration of formulation. Thus, intranasal TRM HCl NP-loaded in situ gel was found to be a promising formulation for the treatment of depression.     

Formulation development,in vitro and in vivo evaluation of microemulsion-based gel loaded with ketoprofen

Abstract

Background: Anti-inflammatory agents are widely used to relieve inflammation caused by various factors.

Aim: This study was initiated with the intention to deliver low aqueous soluble ketoprofen to enhance its solubility by developing microemulsion system as a template and then incorporating it into gel phase.

Materials and methods: Initially ketoprofen was solubilized into microemulsion preparation made up of clove oil, Tween 20 and propylene glycol as oil phase, surfactant and co-surfactant respectively, then it was incorporated into different concentration of gelling phase using gelling agents namely Carbopol 940, Carbopol 934 and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose K₄M (HPMC K₄M). Formulated emulgels were evaluated for their physical appearance, pH, rheological properties, globule size, extrudability, drug content, spreadability, bioadhesion strength, in vitro and ex vivo drug release, skin irritation test and anti-inflammatory activity.

Results: Microemulsion had shown globule size 396?nm, pH 6–6.7, viscosity 29.4?cps and zeta potential ?12?mV indicating good stability. Formulated emulgels showed good physical appearance, skin acceptable pH 6–6.9, non-Newtonian shear thinning system, drug content 99.28?±?0.16%, bioadhesion strength 48.4 gram force, globule size 473?nm, spreadability 22.96?gm.cm/s, good extrudability, in vitro release, ex vivo release did not showed any irritation reaction and possess a good anti-inflammatory activity.

Conclusions: Selected batch showed enhanced drug release (92.42?±?4.66%) as compared to marketed gel (65.94?±?3.30). Similarly ex vivo release of formulation showed 72.22% release through mice skin compared with marketed gel. Formulations followed Korsmeyer–Peppas diffusion kinetic model. It was observed from the results that the formulated emulgel can provide promising delivery of ketoprofen.     

Methotrexate suppresses passive adjuvant arthritis: studies on the metabolism of methotrexate in mononuclear cells derived from normal and adjuvant arthritic rats

Passive transfer of adjuvant arthritis by spleen cells is suppressed by methotrexate. Mononuclear cells derived from spleens of normal and adjuvant arthritic Lewis rats were incubated with [3H]-methotrexate and harvested at various periods of time. The amount of methotrexate and its various polyglutamates were quantitated. The results of these studies indicate that the kinetics of uptake of methotrexate by mononuclear cells from normal and adjuvant arthritic rats are similar. However, the amount of methotrexate polyglutamates accumulating in the mononuclear cells of adjuvant arthritic rats was significantly lower than that observed in mononuclear cells derived from normal rats.     

Anorectal dysfunction and rectal prolapse in progressive systemic sclerosis

Our aim was to characterize the clinical spectrum of anorectal dysfunction among eight patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) who presented with altered bowel movements with or without fecal incontinence. The anorectum was assessed by physical examination, proctosigmoidoscopy, and anorectal manometry. There was concomitant involvement of the other regions of the digestive tract in all patients as determined by barium studies, endoscopy, or manometry: eight esophageal, three gastric, four small bowel, and two colonic. Seven patients had fecal incontinence, and four also had second-degree complete rectal prolapse. Abnormal anorectal function, particularly abnormal anal sphincter resting pressures, were detected in all patients; anal sphincter pressures were lower in those with rectal prolapse. Rectal capacity and wall compliance were impaired in seven of seven patients. Successful surgical correction of prolapse in three patients resulted in restoration of incontinence for six months and seven years in two of the three patients. We conclude that rectal dysfunction and weakness of the anal sphincters are important factors contributing, respectively, to altered bowel movements and fecal incontinence in patients with gastrointestinal involvement by PSS. Rectal prolapse worsens anal sphincter dysfunction and should be sought routinely as it is a treatable factor aggravating fecal incontinence in patients with PSS.This work was presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association, May 1992, and appears in abstract form in Gastroenterology 1992;102:A473.Supported in part by the General Clinical Research Center Grant 00585 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Cluster Analysis of Vulnerable Groups in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Objective

To analyze the complex relation between various social indicators that contribute to socioeconomic status and health care barriers.