Enhancing laboratory biosafety management: a comprehensive strategy from theory to practice

Objective

This study examines biosafety management practices in a psychiatric hospital's laboratory in China, focusing on how outdated information technology impacts the hospital's ability to respond to public health emergencies. The goal is to enhance the hospital's emergency response capabilities by updating risk assessments, biosafety manuals, and implementing a comprehensive quality management system alongside a specialized infection control system for significant respiratory diseases.

Methods

We utilized an integrated research approach, expanding the scope of risk assessments, updating the biosafety manual according to the latest international standards, and implementing a quality management system. A specialized infection control system for significant respiratory diseases was introduced to improve emergency response capabilities.

Results

Updated risk assessments and a new biosafety manual have significantly improved the identification and management of biosafety threats. Implementing new quality management and infection control systems has enhanced response efficiency and operational standardization.

Conclusion

The measures taken have strengthened the biosafety management and emergency response capabilities of the laboratory department, highlighting the importance of information technology in biosafety management and recommending similar strategies for other institutions.

UGT1A1 morpholino antisense oligonucleotides produce mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in cyclosporine A-induced cardiovascular disorders in BLC57 mice

This study aimed to investigate the induction of mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in hepatic UGT1A1 inhibition by Morpholinos antisense in CsA-treated BLC57 mice in comparison with the efficacy of chitosan (CH) as an anti-hypolipidemic natural product. Antisense morpholino oligonucleotides were injected intravenously into CsA-treated mice for 14 days thrice a week. Serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, and gene expression analysis of eNOS, PPAR-α, NF-kB, cFn, AT1-R, and ETA-R were determined in cardiac tissues with confirmation by histopathology. Inhibition of UGT1A1 significantly elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin within a physiological range. Furthermore, induced mild hyperbilirubinemia reduces hyperlipidemia, improves antioxidant status, and significantly increases the expression of the cardiac PPAR-α gene while decreasing, ETA-R, iNOS, NF-kB, cFn and AT1-R gene expression in CsA-treated mice. Importantly, mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia within physiological ranges may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy to lower hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and the CVD outcomes in CsA- treated transplant recipients.

Photobiostimulation conjugated with stem cells or their secretome for temporomandibular joint arthritis in a rat model

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis is a debilitating, challenging condition and different methods have been implicated for its treatment. This study aimed to test the therapeutic potentials of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) or their derived secretome on a murine model induced arthritis.

METHODS

Forty eight rats were divided into four groups where group I was the sham control, the rest of animals were subjected to arthritis induction using complete Freund's adjuvant, then divided as follows: group II received phosphate buffered saline (PBS) intraarticular injection and irradiation of 0 j/cm2, group III received ADSCs derived secretome and irradiation of 38 j/cm2, and group IV received ADSCs and irradiation of 38 j/cm2 as well. One and three weeks after treatment, animals were euthanized, and paraffin blocks were processed for histological assessment by hematoxylin and eosin stain with histomorphometrical analysis. Histochemical evaluation of joint proteoglycan content was performed through toluidine blue stain, and immunohistochemical staining by the proinflammatory marker tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was performed followed by the relevant statistical tests.

RESULTS

The arthritis group showed histological signs of joint injury including cartilage atrophy, articular disc fibrosis, irregular osteochondral interface, and condylar bone resorption together with high inflammatory reaction and defective proteoglycan content. In contrast, the treated groups III and IV showed much restoration of the joint structure with normal cartilage and disc thickness. The inflammation process was significantly suppressed especially after three weeks as confirmed by the significant reduction in TNF-α positive immunostaining compared to the arthritic group, and the cartilage proteoglycan content also showed significant increase relative to the arthritic group. However, no significant difference between the results of the two treated groups was detected.

CONCLUSION

LLLT conjugated with ADSCs or ADSCs derived secretome can efficiently enhance the healing of arthritic TMJs. Stem cell secretome can be applied as a safe, potent therapy. However, further investigations are required to unravel its mechanism of action and pave its way as a safe, novel, cell free therapy.

Photothermal therapeutic potency of plasmonic silver nanoparticles for apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis in testosterone induced benign prostate hyperplasia in rats

AIMS

In this study, we used a near-infrared laser (NIR) to increase the potency of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to develop a novel, less invasive, and simple photothermal therapy technique for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The shape, particle size, and zeta-potential of polyvinylpyrrolidone coated-AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Zeta-potential, and Particle size analyzer (ELSZ). To induce BPH, thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given intramuscular (i.m) injections of testosterone propionate (TP) at 5 mg/kg body weight (b.w)/day suspended in 0.1 ml of olive oil for 14 days. Photothermal therapy with AgNPs-NIR for 14 days was carried out. Prostate size, prostate index (PI), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), gross, hepatic, and renal toxicity, as well as antioxidant activity, apoptosis, and angiogenesis markers in prostatic tissues were measured. Histological examinations of prostates and biocompatibility of NIR-AgNPs on vital organs were also performed.

KEY FINDINGS

The aggregated spherical AgNPs with a mean size of 50-90 nm and a Zeta potential of -53.22 mV displayed high effectiveness in the NIR (532 nm-1 W) region by decreasing prostate size, PI, DHT, and PSA in BPH rats with no signs of gross, hepatic, or renal damage. As compared to alternative therapies, hyperthermia therapy increased antioxidant activities, induced apoptosis, inhibited angiogenesis, reduced histological alterations in the prostates of BPH rats, and improved biocompatibility of the vital organs.

SIGNIFICANCE

The current study demonstrated the effectiveness of plasmonic AgNPs photothermal therapy in the treatment of BPH.