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.     

Nonobese diabetic mice,hypoglycaemia and liver necrosis: a case report

This study investigates a case in a type I diabetic animal model, using nonobese diabetic mice, affected with hypoglycaemia and liver necrosis with other symptomatic complications. This particular animal was markedly different from other animals in the colony, and the investigations we carried out diagnosed various conditions such as growth retardation, frank diabetes, hypoinsulinaemia, hypoglycaemia and multiple foci liver necrosis with nucleomegaly. From the differential diagnosis, we hypothesize that this abnormality might be due to carbohydrate metabolic deficiency giving rise to diabetes and liver necrosis. We postulate that in these conditions, the liver controls the pancreas and that the liver should be the key target organ to control diabetes coupled with hypoglycaemia. Further investigations into the relationship between the carbohydrate metabolism, liver failure and overt diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) animal models might have relevance to human disease.     

Elemental composition in mud crab Scylla serrata from Mahanadi estuary,India: In situ irradiation analysis by external PIXE

During the present study concentration of nine elements (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br and Pb) in different tissues of mud crab Scylla serrata from Mahanadi estuary, India were determined by the external PIXE set up at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, India. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the technique in analyzing both soft and hard tissue samples from marine organisms and opens the door for non-destructive, multi-elemental analysis of tissue samples with a very little sample preparation by direct irradiation. This technique can be well utilized for analyzing the tissue samples for environmental, toxicological and nutritional purposes. The study also demonstrates the elemental concentrations from tissue samples of any crustaceans from Mahanadi estuary for the first time. Sex based difference in the elemental concentration of the mud crabs were marked, which may be related to the growth rate and other biological activities. No significant difference in the concentration of elements (Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) in the tissues of juveniles and adults of respective sex is observed, which indicated the active regulation of these elements by S. serrata.     

Elemental analysis of coal and coal ASH by PIXE technique

Coal and coal ash samples were characterized by particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopic technique. Sixteen elements, namely K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Y and Pb were quantified in this study. Elements like K, Ca, Ti and Fe were present as major elements, whereas, other elements like V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr and Pb were present in trace level. The enrichment ratio of different ash samples with respect to coal were also estimated and discussed.     

Unusual problems in renal hypertension.

Ten cases of renal hypertension with uncommon causes were presented and unusual problems in their diagnosis and surgical management were discussed. These causes included segmental stenosis involving aberrant renal artery, renal artery stenosis in association with renal arteriovenous fistula, postoperative renal hypertension and hypertension secondary to renal tuberculosis. A high index of clinical suspicion and increasing awareness will help in diagnosing such rare and unusual cases of renal hypertension.     

Analysis of Indian cholesterol gallstones by particle-induced X-ray emission and thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that the role of some minor elements plays a significant role in the formation of gallstones. The relationship between minor and trace element concentrations was established in the present investigation and the trace element profile of the current investigation was compared with the literature values of south Indian gallstone samples in order to determine their possible role in stone formation and growth. The rate of weight loss and classification of cholesterol type of gallstones were also investigated by thermal analysis. BASIC METHODS: The trace element profile of the cholesterol gallstones was determined by proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopic technique and the thermal properties of the cholesterol stones were studied by thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry analysis. RESULTS: It was observed that 14 minor/trace elements, namely S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb, were present in the cholesterol stone samples. The average concentration of Fe in south Indian (Chennai region) gallstone samples (503.4 ppm) is about 2.5 times more than that of the east Indian gallstone samples (205.0 ppm), whereas the concentration of Fe is still higher in other parts of south India (848.2 ppm) as analysed by Ashok et al. CONCLUSIONS: The higher concentration of Cu (in some parts of south India except the Chennai region) and Fe in south Indian cholesterol stone samples may be due to the intake of tamarind (Garcinia camborginia) as their regular food. The thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry curves provided information on the thermal decompositions of cholesterol stones.     

ED-XRF spectrometric analysis of comparative elemental composition of in vivo and in vitro roots of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees—a multi-medicinal herb

The multi-elemental composition of in vitro—proliferated root tissues of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees was compared with that of the naturally grown in vivo plants. Trace elements namely Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr and Pb in addition to two macro-elements K and Ca were identified and quantified in root tissues of both sources using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) technique. ED-XRF analysis was performed using Mo K X-rays generated from a secondary molybdenum target. The elemental content of in vitro roots was found to be at par with that of naturally grown plants of the same species. This opens up a possibility of exploiting in vitro root cultures as a viable, alternative and renewable source of phytochemicals of relevance, besides providing a means for conservation of the valuable natural resources.     

Synthesis of spherical hydroxyapatite granules with interconnected pore channels using camphene emulsion

The aim of this study was to fabricate porous spherical hydroxyapatite (HA) granules with interconnected pore channels for use as a bone graft substitute. Various weights of camphene porogen were mixed with nano-sized HA powder (camphene/HA = 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90% w/w) and 10% gelatin aqueous solution then added to the mixture. The water-in-oil emulsion method was employed to obtain spherical-shaped granules, of which those 1000-2000 μm in diameter were selectively classified using a standard sieve set. Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction were used to determine optimal sintering conditions. The sintered granules were characterized using field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), microcomputed tomography, and porosimetry. The pore size and porosity of spherical HA granules increased with the addition of camphene. Granules with a HA/camphene ratio of 90% (HG90) demonstrated macropores (>50 μm) with interconnected pore channels (porosity: 58.49%). In addition, FE-SEM examination of HG90 coated with polycaprolactone showed that the granule may hold promise as a drug delivery carrier. We concluded that these HG90 granules merit consideration as a bone graft substitute or drug delivery carrier in bone tissue engineering.