Evaluation of Bone Marrow Processing Protocol for Therapeutic Applications via Culture and Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

INTRODUCTION

Human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow (hMSCs) have broad therapeutic potential. These cells can be are readily isolated from bone marrow by their property to adhere to tissue culture treated culture wares. However, the proliferation rates and other properties of the cells gradually change during expansion. This study aims to validate the protocol of isolation and differentiation of hMSCs from bone marrow for therapeutic applications.

METHODS

Sixty ml of bone marrow was extracted from 5 patients and MSCs were isolated. These were characterized by Flow Cytometry, CFU assay and were differentiated into bone, fat cells and neurocytes.

RESULTS

The cells were having healthy morphology. These were positive for the markers CD105, CD90 and CD73 and negative for CD45, CD34 and HLA-DR. The cells could differentiate into fat, bone and neural cells.

CONCLUSION

MSCs from the bone marrow were isolated and differentiated. These cells were morphologically healthy and passed CFU assay. The cells exhibited differentiation potential into bone, fat and neural tissue. These cells can be used in therapeutic applications.

Predictors of successful closure of patent ductus arteriosus with indomethacin

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether platelet counts can predict the likelihood of successful closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of infants <32 weeks' gestational age (GA) and birth weight <1500 g with PDA. Clinical characteristics between infants who achieved ductal closure with indomethacin and those who failed were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of successful ductal closure.

RESULTS

In infants with hemodynamically significant PDA, older GA (odds ratio=1.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.12 to 2.13), male gender (odds ratio=3.02; 95% confidence interval: 1.08 to 8.49) and higher platelet count (odds ratio=1.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 2.17) prior to indomethacin treatment were associated with successful ductal closure with indomethacin.

CONCLUSION

Older GA, male gender and higher platelet count at time of treatment of hemodynamically significant PDA are predictors of successful ductal closure with indomethacin.

Tuning of electron transfer reactions in pluronic-surfactant supramolecular assemblies

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) reaction between an anionic acceptor, coumarin-343 (C343), and a neutral donor, N,N-dimethylaniline (DMAN), has been investigated in composite supramolecular assemblies (mixed micelles) comprised of a pluronic copolymer (P123: EO20-PO70-EO20 or F88: EO103-PO39-EO103 where EO: ethylene oxide and PO: propylene oxide) and a cationic surfactant (CTAC: cetyltrimethylammonium chloride), following fluorescence quenching studies. Systematic increase in the quenching rates for the studied donor-acceptor system with the increasing CTAC to pluronic molar ratio in the mixed micelles demonstrates a large modulation in the ET rates. The mixed micellar systems in the present cases are formed through the incorporation of the hydrocarbon chains of CTAC into the poly-PO core of the pluronic micelles whereby the cationic head groups of CTAC are placed at the periphery of the micellar core, protruded into the hydrated poly-EO corona region, leading to the formation of a positively charged layer deep inside these mixed micelles. Thus, the anionic C343 dye, initially dissolved at the micelle-water interface, experiences a gradually increasing electrostatic attraction and is therefore systematically dragged deeper inside the micellar corona, as the CTAC composition is increased in the mixed micellar systems. Consequently, the ET rate of the C343-DMAN pair undergoes a large enhancement in the studied mixed micellar systems with the increasing CTAC to pluronic molar ratio. The present strategy of modulating ET reactions using such composite supramolecular assemblies can find applications in areas where bimolecular ET is an integral reaction step.

Correlation of Radiographic Mental Foramen Position and Occulusion in Three Different Indian Populations

BACKGROUND

The knowledge of the position of the mental foramen (MF) is important for administering local anaesthesia for diagnostic, surgical or operative procedures.

AIMS

To determine the shape, position, symmetry of MF and its continuity with the inferior dental canal (IDC) on a digital panoramic view and to find its correlation with Angle's molar relations in three Indian subpopulations. The study also determines the correlation of inter-foramen distance in both genders of three Indian subpopulations.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty digital panoramic radiographs were evaluated from three Indian subpopulations (Punjab, Rajasthan and Northeast [NE]). The assessment of occlusion was based on Angle's molar relationships. The data obtained were statistically analysed.

RESULTS

The commonest position of the MF in the Rajasthan and NE populations was position 4 bilaterally, while in the Punjab population, it was position 3 on the right and position 4 on the left side. The majority of the MF was round in shape followed by oval. The mean distance between two MF was highest among the Punjab male population and least among the NE female population. The most frequent pattern of MF continuity with IDC was diffuse in Rajasthan population, separated in NE and continuous in Punjab. Correlation between Angle's molar relation with MF position was significant for Classes I and II but not for Class III. Correlation of inter-foramen distance between genders was highly significant in the NE and Punjab populations.

CONCLUSION

The commonest MF position was aligned with the 1st premolar and between the 1st and 2nd premolar.

Morphology and morphometry of mental foramen in adult human mandibles of North Indian population

Background and aim : Mental foramen is an oval or circular opening present on the anterior surface of mandible through which the mental nerve and vessels exit It forms an intportant landmark for human mandible for both invasive and noninvasive procedures. Its position vary according to the age and race. The aim of the study is to provide data on morphology and morphometry of mental foramen. Materials and Methods : The present study was done on ninety dried adult human mandibles of unknown age and sex. Incidences and shapes of the mental and accessory mental foramen were observed. Size and the distances from the various landmarks were noted with the help of digital Vernier calipers. Results: Mental forantina were found bilaterally in all (100%) the mandibles. Accessory mental foramina were found in five mandibles (5.5%) on right side and three mandibles (3.3%) on left side. Shape of the mental foramina was predominantly rounded. Average size of mental and accessory mental foramina was 2.56 mm and 1 mm respectively. The position of the mental foramina below the apex of second premolar , between the first and second premolar and between the second premolar and first molar and below the apex of first premolar tooth were 64.4%, 21.1%, 8.8% and 5.5% respectively. The average distance of the accessory mental forantina from the mental foramen was 0.66 mm and average location was below the first molar tooth. Conclusion: All these findings can supplement useful data for population diversities and can help the surgeons, anatomists, orthodontists and paleoanthropologists to carry out their procedures successfully.

Complete occipitalization of atlas vertebra with other congenital malformations - a rare variation

Occipitalization of the atlas vertebra or atlantooccipital fusion represents the most cephaled blocked vertebra found in the vertebral column. It is defined as the congenital bony fusion of the atlas vertebra to the base of the occipital bone of the skull. Out of the sixty skulls studied in the Department of Anatomy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, we come across a dry adult human skull with the total synostosis of the whole atlas vertebra with the occipital bone of the skull. The awareness of this anatomical variation in the patients showing abnormalities of the neck region can help the neurosurgeons, radiologists anaesthetologists andorthopaedic surgeons to reach at a correct diagnosis.

Intriguing multichannel photoinduced electron transfer in lanthanide(iii)–diphenylamine systems

Trivalent lanthanide ions interact with excited diphenylamine through the photoinduced electron transfer mechanism intriguingly engaging their multiple vacant electronic states.

Correlation of Palatal Rugoscopy with Gender, Palatal Vault Height and ABO Blood Groups in Three Different Indian Populations

Background:

Palatal rugae (PR) are asymmetrical irregular elevations, recorded during maxillary cast fabrication, that can be used for identification purpose if previous comparative sources are available.

Aim:

This study investigated uniqueness of PR patterns in relation to gender, palatal vault forms, and ABO blood groups in three (North-East [N-E], Northern and Western) populations of India.

Subjects and Methods:

The study was conducted on randomly selected 90 students, 30 from each sub population. Design - The palatal vault was recorded as Types I, II, and III. The maxillary casts were analyzed for each subject. The blood group of each subject was also recorded. Pearson's correlation coefficient tests were performed on cross-tabulations to evaluate significant relationship among different variables.

Results:

The PR number was more among females with an insignificant correlation among gender and mean rugae size on both sides. Types I and II hard palate vaults were seen associated with straight forwardly directed PR pattern, while Type III with curved forwardly directed PR. On the right side, straight rugae shape was most common type. On the left side, straight rugae shape was most common in Northern population while in N-E and Western populations curved rugae was the dominating type. A highly significant correlation was found between ABO blood groups and different PR patterns.

Conclusions:

PR possesses unique characteristics and can be used along with palatal vault forms as well as ABO blood groups for racial and individualistic soft tissue oral print in forensic cases.

Aggregation studies of dipolar coumarin-153 dye in polar solvents: a photophysical study

Photophysical studies have been carried out to explore the aggregation behavior of coumarin-153 (C153) dye in polar organic solvents of both aprotic and protic nature, namely acetonitrile (ACN) and ethanol (EtOH). No unusual behavior is observed in aprotic ACN solvent, suggesting only the monomers of the dye as the single emitting species in the solution. In protic EtOH solvent, however, the dye shows the presence of multiple emitting species in the solution. The concentration-, temperature- and wavelength-dependent changes in the fluorescence decays, and the time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) and area-normalized emission spectra (TRANES) suggest the coexistence of dye aggregates along with the dye monomers in the EtOH solution. Observed results indicate that the emission spectra of the aggregates are substantially blue-shifted compared to the spectra of the monomers, suggesting the H-aggregation of the dye in the present cases. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy, ultrafast fluorescence up-conversion measurements and scanning electron microscopy studies support the aggregation of the dye in EtOH solution. Strong dipole-dipole interaction is supposedly responsible for the aggregation of C153 dye (dipole moment ∼6.4 D) and the polar protic solvent EtOH apparently stabilizes the aggregates through solute-solvent hydrogen bonding interaction, which is not possible in aprotic ACN solvent. This is further supported by the time-resolved fluorescence results in a strongly hydrogen bond donating solvent, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. Aggregation of C153 dye observed in the present study in polar protic organic solvent is an intriguing finding, as the dye is widely used as a fluorescent probe for various photochemical studies, where overlooking such aggregation will definitely mislead the observed results.

Measurement of velocity profiles of nanofluids in laminar channel flow using Particle Image Velocimetry

The objective of the paper is to measure the velocity profiles of water based nanofluids for flow through channels in order to understand whether the nanofluids behave Newtonian. For this purpose, experiments were carried for flow through a rectangular channel in laminar regime. Four different nanofluids were used, i. e. Al2O3, CuO, TiO2 and SiO2 with base fluid as water. Experiments were conducted at low concentration of these particles. The velocity profiles were measured using Particle Image Velocimetry. The results indicate that the velocity profiles are similar for all the fluids indicating the flows to be Newtonian.

Regenerative therapy in experimental parkinsonism: mixed population of differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells, rather than magnetically sorted and enriched dopaminergic cells provide neuroprotection

AIM

The objective of the study was to develop regenerative therapy by transplanting varied populations of dopaminergic neurons, differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) in the striatum for correcting experimental parkinsonism in rats.

METHODS

mES differentiated by default for 7 days in serum-free media (7D), or by enhanced differentiation of 7D in retinoic acid (7R), or dopaminergic neurons enriched by manual magnetic sorting from 7D (SSEA-) were characterized and transplanted in the ipsilateral striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced hemiparkinsonian rats. Neurochemical, neuronal, glial and neurobehavioral recoveries were examined.

RESULTS

7R and SSEA- contained significantly reduced NANOG and high MAP2 mRNA and protein levels as revealed, respectively, by reverse transcriptase-PCR and immunocytochemistry, compared with 7D. Striatal engraftment of 7D resulted in a significantly better behavioral and neurochemical recovery, as compared to the animals that received either 7R or SSEA-. The 7R transplanted animals showed improvement neither in behavior nor in striatal dopamine level. The grafted striatum revealed increased GFAP staining intensity in 7D and SSEA-, but not in 7R cells transplanted group, suggesting a vital role played by glial cells in the recovery. Substantia nigra ipsilateral to the side of the striatum, which received transplants showed more tyrosine hydroxylase immunostained neurons, as compared to 6-hydroxydopamine-infused animals.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that default differentiated mixed population of cells are better than sorted, enriched dopaminergic cells, or cells containing more mature neurons for transplantation recovery in hemiparkinsonian rats.

Comparative pharmacognosy of Pashanbhed

BACKGROUND

Pashanbhed is a commercially available diuretic and lithotropic drug, used to treat renal problems. It is a controversial name as it is assigned to various plants such as Bergenia ligulata, Kalanchoe pinnata, Coleus aromaticus and Rotula aquatica.

OBJECTIVE

To perform the comparative preliminary phytochemical screening, diuretic activity, and thin layer chromatography (TLC) finger printing profile of three plants (B. ligulata, C. aromaticus, and K. pinnata), most commonly used as Pashanbhed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Diuretic potential of methanolic extract (ME) of three plants were evaluated at two dose levels (500 and 1,000 mg/kg p.o.), using normal Wistar rats (Lipschitz method). Furosemide (20 mg/kg p.o.) was used as a standard drug. The effect on urine output and electrolyte changes were measured for 24 h and compared. All MEs were screened preliminarily for their constituents and their TLC finger printing profiles were prepared. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The MEs of all three plants have shown diuresis in normal rats. However, in intercomparison of the ME C. aromaticus (1,000 mg/kg p.o.) produced more significant diuresis (P < 0.05) and electrolyte excretion compared to other test groups, the effect was at par with furosemide. The ME of these plants showed presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, etc.

CONCLUSION

The ME of C. aromaticus (1,000 mg/kg p.o.) has showed highest diuretic action (4.2) among the tested extracts. This suggests the use of C. aromaticus leaves as "Pashanbhed"; the most effective diuretic drug.

Status of forensic odontology in metro and in tier 2 city in urban India

Dentist can play a significant role in identifying the victims or perpetrators of crime as well as in disasters. Knowledge about the various aspects of forensic science as well as dental and related evidences can help a dental practitioner in assisting the civil agencies in such cases.

Unusual H-type aggregation of coumarin-481 dye in polar organic solvents

Coumarin-481 (C481) dye shows intriguing time-resolved (TR) fluorescence behavior in polar organic solvents of both protic and aprotic nature, namely, ethanol (EtOH) and acetonitrile (ACN), demonstrating the presence of multiple emitting species in the solution. Following concentration-dependent and wavelength-dependent TR fluorescence measurements and the time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) and time-resolved area-normalized emission spectra (TRANES) subsequently constructed using wavelength dependent decay parameters, we convincingly conclude that in the studied solvents a part of the dissolved dye undergoes H-type of aggregation, even at a very low dye concentration. This is quite an unusual finding because the dye C481 apparently shows reasonably good solubility in these organic solvents. As the TR measurements indicate, major contribution in the fluorescence decays is due to monomeric dye, having reasonably short lifetime (∼0.64-0.68 ns), which is in accordance with the conversion of fluorescent intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state to nonfluorescent twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state suggested for the dye in high polarity solvents, causing an efficient nonradiative deexcitation. The minor contributions arising from the aggregated dyes show its clear presence in the decays at the blue edge of the emission spectra and have relatively longer lifetimes (∼1.2-5.2 ns) because the steric hindrance caused by the stacked dyes resists the ICT to TICT conversion. Aggregation of C481 dye as observed in the present study in polar organic solvents is an intriguing finding, as the dye is a widely used fluorescent probe for various photochemical studies, where overlooking such aggregation can mislead the observed results.

An anomalous variation in the division pattern of the common peroneal nerve

The muscles of the leg are partitioned into three compartments (anterior, lateral, and posterior) by two intermuscular septa that have separate innervations. Anterior compartment is innervated by the deep peroneal nerve and lateral compartment is innervated by the superficial peroneal nerve. Common peroneal nerve divides into superficial and deep peroneal nerve at the neck of fibula. An unusual finding in the dividing pattern of the common peroneal nerve in the male cadaver on the left side was observed. This finding is of academic interest and clinical significance to the orthopedician operating on the proximal fibula for nerve decompression, high tibial osteotomy, and nerve transfer operations.

Fast ion surface energy loss and straggling in the surface wake fields

We have measured the stopping powers and straggling of fast, highly ionized atoms passing through thin bilayer targets made up of metals and insulators. We were surprised to find that the energy losses as well as the straggling depend on the ordering of the target and have small but significantly different values on bilayer reversal. We ascribe this newly found difference in energy loss to the surface energy loss field effect due to the differing surface wake fields as the beam exits the target in the two cases. This finding is validated with experiments using several different projectiles, velocities, and bilayer targets. Both partners of the diatomic molecular ions also display similar results. A comparison of the energy loss results with those of previous theoretical predictions for the surface wake potential for fast ions in solids supports the existence of a self-wake.

Multiple cerebral cavernous haemangiomas in an infant

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular malformations causing seizures and cerebral hemorrhages. We report a 20-month old male with multiple CCMs associated with Krev interaction trapped 1 (KRIT1) c.845 + 1 G > C heterozygous transversion mutation. This case demonstrates the importance of molecular genetic analysis in cases of multiple CCM.

Plexiform neurofibroma affecting the upper parietal scalp, with cerebellar hamartoma: role of histopathology, colour Doppler imaging and magnetic resonance imaging

We report a patient with plexiform neurofibroma, which is pathognomonic for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) affecting the upper parietal region of the scalp. Cerebellar hamartoma was present, a finding that, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously. We highlight the role of histopathology, ultrasonography, colour Doppler imaging and magnetic resonance imaging, in addition to the seven existing criteria, for the diagnosis of NF1.