Quantitative analysis of cell distribution in injection molded microcellular foam

The microstructure of cellular materials, in particular microcellular polymers, is commonly characterized by the mean cell size and cell population density. Although the physical properties of foamed polymers are highly dependent on cell distribution, very insignificant work has been carried out to quantify the distribution of cells. This experimental study correlates the influential processing parameters of microcellular injection molding with the cell distribution, mean cell size and population density. For the first time, “Cell Distribution Index (CDI)”, a quantitative parameter for characterization of foams has been defined in this paper. Foamed samples of polystyrene were prepared via microcellular injection molding process. The design of experiment includes five influential processing parameters (factors) at five different levels. Molded samples were fractured cryogenically and micrographs were obtained using a table top scanning electron microscope. With the help of image processing package, mean cell size, cell population density, frequency and newly defined term CDI were calculated for each micrograph. Finally, the effect of processing parameters on cell distribution was analyzed by plotting the CDI against the processing parameters.

Costimulatory blockade-induced allograft survival requires Beclin1

Autophagy is required for T cell homeostasis and activation-induced T cell expansion. Whether autophagy participates in tolerance induction to foreign antigens, including allografts, is unknown. We tested the role of an essential autophagy protein, Beclin1, in heart transplant survival in mice. We observed that long-term allograft survival induced by donor-specific transfusion plus anti-CD154 mAb required homozygous lymphocyte expression of Beclin1. Following adoptive transfer into allogeneic recipients, autophagy-deficient, Beclin1 heterozygous effector T cells (Teffs) exhibited enhanced proliferation with diminished cell death and increased production of interferon gamma. Whereas the induction and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in Beclin1 heterozygous mice were normal, Teffs from these mice were resistant to Treg-mediated suppression. Our findings identify a requisite role for Beclin1 in facilitating Teff death during tolerance induction.

Acaricidal activity of extract of Artemisia absinthium against Rhipicephalus sanguineus of dogs

The objective of the study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of different concentrations of chloroform extract obtained from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium in comparison to amitraz on adults, eggs and larvae of the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus using the adult immersion test (AIT), egg hatchability test (EHT) and larval packet test (LPT), respectively. Five concentrations of the extract (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %) with three replications for each concentration were used in all the bioassays. A control group was established (water + dimethylsulphoxide) together with a positive control group (amitraz), with three repetitions each. In AIT, the mortality rates were 0.0, 13.3, 16.7, 33.3 and 93.3 % in concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %, respectively, and the variation was significant (p=0.0151). The LC50 (CI) and LC95 (CI) values were calculated as 8.793 % (8.217-9.408) and 34.59 % (29.71-40.26), respectively. The egg production was reduced by 6.6, 6.6, 18.3, 42.5 and 85.1 % in the concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %, respectively, and it was statistically significant (p=0.0274). In EHT, hatching was completely inhibited at 5, 10 and 20 % displaying 100 % ovicidal action while at the concentrations of 1.25 and 2.5 %, the inhibition rates were 20 and 60 %, respectively. In LPT, the extract caused 100 % mortality of larvae in the concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 % after 24 h while at the concentrations of 1.25 and 2.5 %, the mortality rates were 54.3 and 96.7 %, respectively. The LC50 (CI) and LC95 (CI) values were determined to be 1.11 % (1.099-1.121) and 2.37 % (2.328-2.423), respectively. The results show that the extract of A. absinthium has acaricidal properties and could be useful in controlling R. sanguineus which is an efficient vector of pathogens both in dogs and humans.

Occurrence of Setaria digitata in a cow

The present investigation reports the occurrence of filarial worm, Setaria digitata, recovered during the surgery of a cow suffering from intussusception. The worms were thread like, milky white, long with tapering ends especially towards the hind end with an average size of 62.8 ± 9.89 mm in length. On examination of anterior end, the cuticular rings surrounding the mouth region with dorsal, ventral and lateral prominences were observed. The posterior end had few spines along with a pair of appendages near the tip of the tail. On the basis of morphological characteristics the worms were identified as female S. digitata.

Effect of physiologically relevant heat shock on development, apoptosis and expression of some genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos produced in vitro

For investigating the effects of physiologically relevant heat shock, buffalo oocytes/embryos were cultured at 38.5°C (control) or were exposed to 39.5°C (Group II) or 40.5°C (Group III) for 2 h once every day throughout in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC). Percentage of oocytes that developed to 8-cell, 16-cell or blastocyst stage was lower (p < 0.05) and the number of apoptotic nuclei was higher (p < 0.05) for Group III > Group II > controls. At both 8-16-cell and blastocyst stages, relative mRNA abundance of stress-related genes HSP 70.1 and HSP 70.2 and pro-apoptotic genes CASPASE-3, BID and BAX was higher (p < 0.05) in Groups III and II than that in controls with the exception of stress-related gene HSF1. Expression level of anti-apoptotic genes BCL-XL and MCL-1 was also higher (p < 0.05) in Groups III and II than that in controls at both 8-16-cell and blastocyst stages. Among the genes related to embryonic development, at 8-16-cell stage, the expression level of GDF9 was higher (p < 0.05) in Group III than that in controls, whereas that of GLUT1, ZAR1 and BMP15 was not significantly different among the three groups. At the blastocyst stage, relative mRNA abundance of GLUT1 and GDF9 was higher (p < 0.05) in Group II than that in controls, whereas that of ZAR-1 and BMP15 was not affected. The results of this study demonstrate that exposure of buffalo oocytes and embryos to elevated temperatures for duration of time that is physiologically relevant severely compromises their developmental competence, increases apoptosis and affects stress-, apoptosis- and development-related genes.

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of Syzygium aromaticum, Ocimum sanctum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum plant extracts against Enterococcus faecalis: a preliminary study

AIM

To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Ocimum sanctum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Syzygium aromaticum and 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against Enterococcus faecalis in planktonic suspension and biofilm phenotypes.

METHODOLOGY

The antibacterial efficacy of different concentrations of aqueous ethanolic extracts of O. sanctum, C. zeylanicum and S. aromaticum against E. faecalis at various time intervals was assessed using the agar well diffusion test, microdilution test and biofilm susceptibility assay (BSA) on cellulose nitrate membrane as well as in a tooth model. NaOCl was used as the positive control. Distilled water was used as negative control for agar diffusion and microdilution tests and phosphate-buffered saline for the BSA. The results of the agar diffusion test were analysed statistically using anova and Tukey's tests.

RESULTS

Cinnamomum zeylanicum, S. aromaticum and O. sanctum exhibited minimum bactericidal concentration at 10%, 10% and 40%, respectively. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, S. aromaticum, O. sanctum and NaOCl showed complete bacterial inhibition in planktonic form after exposure of 30, 15, 35 and 1 min, respectively. In BSA on cellulose nitrate membrane, NaOCl was associated with complete bacterial inhibition after contact of 2 min, whilst 10% C. zeylanicum, 10% S. aromaticum and 40% O. sanctum showed cessation of growth after 12, 12 and 24 h, respectively. The results of BSA on tooth model were similar except for O. sanctum, which was not included in the model.

CONCLUSION

Cinnamomum zeylanicum, S. aromaticum and O. sanctum demonstrated antimicrobial activity against planktonic and biofilm forms of E. faecalis with C. zeylanicum and S. aromaticum having better antimicrobial efficacy than O. sanctum. NaOCl had superior antimicrobial efficacy amongst all the groups.

101 AMNIOTIC FLUID STEM SELLS IN BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS): IDENTIFICATION OF PLURIPOTENCY MARKERS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND GUIDED DIFFERENTIATION INTO NEUROGENIC, ADIPOGENIC, AND OSTEOGENIC LINEAGES

Amniotic fluid (AF) holds great promise as a stem-cell source. We report expression of various pluripotency molecular and immunocytochemical markers and chemically induced differentiation of bubaline (Bubalus bubalis) AF cells into neurogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic lineages. Expression of pluripotecy-related markers, namely Oct-4 (also known as POU5F1), Sox-2, nestin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF-5), Nanog, alkaline phosphatase (AP), 18S rRNA, stem cell factor (SCF), cyclin A, β-actin, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and GATA-4, was observed in the cells, with amplicons of 314, 277, 307, 210, 317, 180, 162, 216, 421, 178, 180, and 334 bp, respectively. A semiquantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed the overexpression of Oct-4, Nanog, Sox-2, SCF, nestin, and FGF-5. Furthermore, the immunocytochemical staining confirmed the expression of Oct-4, Nanog, Sox-2, SSEA-1, SSEA-4, tumor rejection antigens (TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81), and AP in AF cells. The undifferentiated cells were found to have a normal karyotype before and after their cryopreservation. We conclude that AF cells may contribute toward establishing nonembryonic pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells for various therapeutic and reproductive biotechnological applications in this species, and possibly in other livestock species.

Development and Validation of a RP-HPLC Method for Estimation of Prulifloxacin in Tablet Dosage Form

A simple, precise, rapid, accurate and economic reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the estimation of prulifloxacin in tablet dosage form. The separation was achieved by using octadecylsilane column (C₁₈) and KH₂PO₄ buffer: acetonitrile adjusted to pH 7.3 with triethyl amine in proportion of 10:90 v/v as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The detection was carried out at 278 nm. The retention time of prulifloxacin was found to be 2.4 min. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were found to be 0.14 μg/ml and 0.42 μg/ml respectively. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed method was ascertained by evaluating various validation parameters like linearity, precision, accuracy and specificity according to ICH guidelines. The proposed method provides an accurate and precise quality control tool for routine analysis of prulifloxacin in tablet dosage form.

Lung-enriched organisms and aberrant bacterial and fungal respiratory microbiota after lung transplant

RATIONALE

Long-term survival after lung transplantation is limited by infectious complications and by bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a form of chronic rejection linked in part to microbial triggers.

OBJECTIVES

To define microbial populations in the respiratory tract of transplant patients comprehensively using unbiased high-density sequencing.

METHODS

Lung was sampled by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and upper respiratory tract by oropharyngeal wash (OW). Bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer sequencing was used to profile organisms present. Outlier analysis plots defining taxa enriched in lung relative to OW were used to identify bacteria enriched in lung against a background of oropharyngeal carryover.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Lung transplant recipients had higher bacterial burden in BAL than control subjects, frequent appearance of dominant organisms, greater distance between communities in BAL and OW indicating more distinct populations, and decreased respiratory tract microbial richness and diversity. Fungal populations were typically dominated by Candida in both sites or by Aspergillus in BAL but not OW. 16S outlier analysis identified lung-enriched taxa indicating bacteria replicating in the lower respiratory tract. In some cases this confirmed respiratory cultures but in others revealed enrichment by anaerobic organisms or mixed outgrowth of upper respiratory flora and provided quantitative data on relative abundances of bacteria found by culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory tract microbial communities in lung transplant recipients differ in structure and composition from healthy subjects. Outlier analysis can identify specific bacteria replicating in lung. These findings provide novel approaches to address the relationship between microbial communities and transplant outcome and aid in assessing lung infections.

Treatment practices in pulmonary tuberculosis by private sector physicians of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

BACKGROUND

Majority of the qualified medical practitioners in the country are in the private sector and more than half of patients with tuberculosis (TB) seek treatment from them. The present study was conducted with the objective of assessing the treatment modalities in pulmonary tuberculosis by the private physicians in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh, India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out covering all the private physicians (graduates and postgraduates in Medicine and Chest Diseases) registered under the Indian Medical Association, Meerut Branch (n = 154). The physicians were interviewed by a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire about the treatment modalities practiced by them.

RESULTS

Only 43.5% private physicians had attended any Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) training in the past five years. Only 33.1% of them were aware of the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC). Fifty-three different regimens were used to treat the patients. Majority of physicians (76%) prescribed daily regimens while 24% administered both daily and intermittent treatment. None of the private physicians prescribed exclusive intermittent regimen. Eighty-seven different treatment regimens were used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) with none of them prescribing standard treatment under RNTCP.

CONCLUSION

As majority of private practitioners do not follow RNTCP guidelines for treating TB, there is an urgent need for their continued education in this area.

Conformationally controlled mechanistic aspects of BACE 1 inhibitors

This study highlights conformationally controlled mechanistic aspects of peptide inhibitors for BACE 1. Peptide inhibitors with reduced molecular weight tend to have cyclic conformation leading to reduced interactions with catalytic motif. Conformation plays a major role in determining potency of peptide inhibitors. An attempt has been made at designing lead compound with reduced molecular weight along with proper conformation suitable for active site and retention of specificity analogous to natural substrate. Reduced molecular weight should hopefully lead to enhanced bioavailability.

Apparent diffusion coefficient with higher b-value correlates better with viable cell count quantified from the cavity of brain abscess

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

DWI by using higher b-values provides tissue diffusivity with less T2 shinethrough effect. VCD in the abscess cavity correlates with ADC values. The purpose of this study was to investigate which b-value-derived ADC correlates better with VCD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with brain abscess underwent conventional MR imaging and DWI with b = 1000, 2000, and 3000 s/mm(2) on a 3T MR imaging scanner. ADC values were quantified by placing regions of interest inside the abscess cavity in all sections where the lesion was apparent on coregistered ADC maps derived from different b-values. VCD was measured on pus aspirated.

RESULTS

An increase in b-value was associated with a decrease in ADC values in normal parenchyma as well as in the abscess cavity. The most significant negative correlation of VCD was observed with b = 3000 s/mm(2) (r = -0.98, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

VCD in the abscess cavity can be best assessed at b = 3000 s/mm(2) secondary to the reduction in the T2 shinethrough effect. DWI with b = 3000 s/mm(2) is of promising value in the assessment of the therapeutic response of brain abscess.

A novel method of plasmid isolation using laundry detergent

Since the discovery of plasmid, various methods have been developed to isolate plasmid DNA. All the methods have one common and important target of isolating plasmid DNA of high quality and quantity in less time. These methods are not completely safe because of use of toxic chemicals compounds. The developed protocol for plasmid extraction is based on the alkaline lysis method of plasmid preparation (extraction atpH 8.0) with slight modifications. Cell lysis reagent sodium dodecyl sulfate is replaced by lipase enzyme present in laundry detergent. A good plasmid preparation can be made, which is well suited for subsequent molecular biology applications. By taking safety measures on count, contaminants like, RNA and protein can be completely avoided with maximized plasmid yield. The resultant plasmid quality and quantity can be well comparable to other prevalent methods.

Topographical continuity of bacterial populations in the healthy human respiratory tract

RATIONALE

Defining the biogeography of bacterial populations in human body habitats is a high priority for understanding microbial-host relationships in health and disease. The healthy lung was traditionally considered sterile, but this notion has been challenged by emerging molecular approaches that enable comprehensive examination of microbial communities. However, studies of the lung are challenging due to difficulties in working with low biomass samples.

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to use molecular methods to define the bacterial microbiota present in the lungs of healthy individuals and assess its relationship to upper airway populations.

METHODS

We sampled respiratory flora intensively at multiple sites in six healthy individuals. The upper tract was sampled by oral wash and oro-/nasopharyngeal swabs. Two bronchoscopes were used to collect samples up to the glottis, followed by serial bronchoalveolar lavage and lower airway protected brush. Bacterial abundance and composition were analyzed by 16S rDNA Q-PCR and deep sequencing.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Bacterial communities from the lung displayed composition indistinguishable from the upper airways, but were 2 to 4 logs lower in biomass. Lung-specific sequences were rare and not shared among individuals. There was no unique lung microbiome.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to other organ systems, the respiratory tract harbors a homogenous microbiota that decreases in biomass from upper to lower tract. The healthy lung does not contain a consistent distinct microbiome, but instead contains low levels of bacterial sequences largely indistinguishable from upper respiratory flora. These findings establish baseline data for healthy subjects and sampling approaches for sequence-based analysis of diseases.