Determination of serum glycated albumin and high sensitivity C - reactive protein in the insight of cardiovascular complications in diabetic chronic kidney disease patients

BackgroundLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been proved as one among the cardiovascular complications and predominant in patients with CKD. In CKD patients, Glycated albumin (GA) express a superior marker of glycemic control than HbA1c. Nevertheless, the precision of GA for the prediction of cardiovascular diseases among the CKD population has been ineffectively reported. The present study looks at the part of GA, HbA1c in CKD to envisage vascular complications.Materials and methodsOne hundred and ninety-four patients were selected in the present study. The study has a control group (Group I, N: 52) and participants were divided into two groups based on vein diseases (Group II, N: 42; two vessels and group III, N: 100; triple vessel disease). Serum glycated albumin, hsCRP and other routine parameters were estimated in all the three groups. 2-dimensional echocardiography (2D Echo) has been done by a cardiologist to all the study patients for assessing ejection fraction and distinguish the sort of vessel diseases.ResultsGroup I compared with group II and III shown there was a significant association among blood glucose, serum creatinine, HbA1c, mean blood glucose, GA, ejection fraction and hsCRP. Additionally, observed that increased levels of HbA1c, GA and creatinine inversely related to the left ventricle ejection fraction. Notwithstanding, GA and hsCRP predict precisely the left ventricle ejection fraction than different parameters.ConclusionGA alongside hsCRP might be appropriate markers for anticipating cardiovascular diseases particularly left ventricle hypertrophy in diabetic CKD population.     

Anxiolytic-like effects of mitragynine in the open-field and elevated plus-maze tests in rats

The effects of mitragynine on anxiety-related behaviours in the open-field and elevated plus-maze tests were evaluated. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were orally treated with mitragynine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) or diazepam (10 mg/kg) 60 min before behavioural testing. Mitragynine doses used in this study were selected on the basis of approximately human equivalent doses with reference to our previous literature reports. Acute administration of mitragynine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) or diazepam (10 mg/kg) increased central zone and open arms exploration in the open-field and elevated plus-maze tests respectively. These anxiolytic-like effects of mitragynine were effectively antagonized by intraperitoneal administration of naloxone (2 mg/kg), flumazenil (10 mg/kg), sulpiride (0.5 mg/kg) or SCH 23390 (0.02 mg/kg) 15 min before mitragynine treatments. These findings reveal that the acute administration of mitragynine produces anxiolytic-like effects and this could be possibly attributed to the interactions among opioidergic, GABAergic and dopaminergic systems in brain regions involved in anxiety.     

Effect of platelet-rich plasma on bone regeneration after removal of cysts and benign tumours of the jaws

Introduction

Platelets are involved in regeneration at sites of pathology, apart from their role in clotting. A preparation composed mainly of platelets (platelet-rich plasma gel) applied to sites of bony pathology, after surgical treatment of lesions, may hasten bone regeneration.

Materials and methods

An autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel was prepared using a standardized technique, without using thrombin clot accelerator, and applied to surgical site in six patients of study group. Five patients were enrolled as controls, in whom PRP gel was not used. The differences in the occurrence of radiographic changes between the study and control group at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks after surgery were analysed with chi-square test. Intragroup radiographic changes, i.e. within the study and control groups occurring over the 24 weeks of follow-up, were analysed with Friedman test.

Results

A trend towards more rapid healing was observed in the study group at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks. However, these differences between the study and control group were not statistically significant. Both the study and control group demonstrated significant healing changes over the 24 weeks of follow-up.

Conclusions

It is possible to prepare platelet-rich plasma gel without using thrombin clot accelerator. PRP, as prepared and applied to surgical sites in this study, was not observed to significantly enhance bone regeneration. All surgical sites, both in the PRP and control group, showed significant healing changes over 6 months.     

Imaging of the adult male urethra,penile prostheses and artificial urinary sphincters

Abdominal Radiology - To discuss the imaging appearances of various pathologies affecting adult male urethra and to review the role of imaging in the assessment of artificial urinary sphincters and...     

Oral Administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Increases Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Level in an Animal Brain

As a redox-sensitive coenzyme, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) plays a central role in cellular energy metabolism and homeostasis. Low NAD⁺ levels are linked to multiple disease states, including age-related diseases, such as metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, restoring/increasing NAD⁺ levels in vivo has emerged as an important intervention targeting age-related neurodegenerative diseases. One of the widely studied approaches to increase NAD⁺ levels in vivo is accomplished by using NAD⁺ precursors, such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). Oral administration of NMN has been shown to successfully increase NAD⁺ levels in a variety of tissues; however, it remains unclear whether NMN can cross the blood–brain barrier to increase brain NAD⁺ levels. This study evaluated the effects of oral NMN administration on NAD⁺ levels in C57/B6J mice brain tissues. Our results demonstrate that oral gavage of 400 mg/kg NMN successfully increases brain NAD⁺ levels in mice after 45 min. These findings provide evidence that NMN may be used as an intervention to increase NAD⁺ levels in the brain.     

Highly Thermotolerant SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Elicits Neutralising Antibodies against Delta and Omicron in Mice

As existing vaccines fail to completely prevent COVID-19 infections or community transmission, there is an unmet need for vaccines that can better combat SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC). We previously developed highly thermo-tolerant monomeric and trimeric receptor-binding domain derivatives that can withstand 100 °C for 90 min and 37 °C for four weeks and help eliminate cold-chain requirements. We show that mice immunised with these vaccine formulations elicit high titres of antibodies that neutralise SARS-CoV-2 variants VIC31 (with Spike: D614G mutation), Delta and Omicron (BA.1.1) VOC. Compared to VIC31, there was an average 14.4-fold reduction in neutralisation against BA.1.1 for the three monomeric antigen-adjuvant combinations and a 16.5-fold reduction for the three trimeric antigen-adjuvant combinations; the corresponding values against Delta were 2.5 and 3.0. Our findings suggest that monomeric formulations are suitable for upcoming Phase I human clinical trials and that there is potential for increasing the efficacy with vaccine matching to improve the responses against emerging variants. These findings are consistent with in silico modelling and AlphaFold predictions, which show that, while oligomeric presentation can be generally beneficial, it can make important epitopes inaccessible and also carries the risk of eliciting unwanted antibodies against the oligomerisation domain.     

Nanotherapy silencing the interleukin‐8 gene produces regression of prostate cancer by inhibition of angiogenesis

Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) is a pro‐angiogenic cytokine associated with aggressive prostate cancer (CaP). We detected high levels of IL‐8 in sera from patients with CaP compared with healthy controls and patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy. This study examines the role of IL‐8 in the pathogenesis of metastatic prostate cancer. We developed a biocompatible, cationic polylactide (CPLA) nanocarrier to complex with and efficiently deliver IL‐8 small interfering RNA (siRNA) to CaP cells in vitro and in vivo. CPLA IL‐8 siRNA nanocomplexes (nanoplexes) protect siRNA from rapid degradation, are non‐toxic, have a prolonged lifetime in circulation, and their net positive charge facilitates penetration of cell membranes and subsequent intracellular trafficking. Administration of CPLA IL‐8 siRNA nanoplexes to immunodeficient mice bearing human CaP tumours produced significant antitumour activities with no adverse effects. Systemic (intravenous) or local intra‐tumour administration of IL‐8 siRNA nanoplexes resulted in significant inhibition of CaP growth. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography of experimental animals demonstrated reduction of tumour perfusion in vivo following nanoplex treatment. Staining of tumour sections for CD31 confirmed significant damage to tumour neovasculature after nanoplex therapy. These studies demonstrate the efficacy of IL‐8 siRNA nanotherapy for advanced, treatment‐resistant human CaP.