Enzyme-Responsive Materials as Carriers for Improving Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a mini-invasive therapy on malignancies via reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by photosenitizer (PS) upon light irradiation. However, poor target of PS to tumor limits the clinical application of PDT. Compared with normal tissues, tumor tissues have a unique enzymatic environment. The unique enzymatic environment in tumor tissues has been widely used as a target for developing smart materials to improve the targetability of drugs to tumor. Enzyme-responsive materials (ERM) as a smart material can respond to the enzymes in tumor tissues to specifically deliver drugs. In PDT, ERM was designed to react with the enzymes highly expressed in tumor tissues to deliver PS in the target site to prevent therapeutic effects and avoid its side-effects. In the present paper, we will review the application of ERM in PDT and discuss the challenges of ERM as carriers to deliver PS for further boosting the development of PDT in the management of malignancies.

Uptake Dynamics of Cubosome Nanocarriers at Bacterial Surfaces and the Routes for Cargo Internalization

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant threat to humanity. Gram-negative strains have demonstrated resistance to last resort antibiotics, partially due to their outer membrane, which hinders transport of antimicrobials into the bacterium. Nanocarrier (NC)-mediated drug delivery is one proposed strategy for combating this emerging issue. Here, the uptake of self-assembled lipid nanocarriers of cubic symmetry (cubosomes) into bacteria revealed fundamental differences in the uptake mechanism between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. For Gram-positive bacteria, the NCs adhere to the outer peptidoglycan layers and slowly internalize to the bacterium. For Gram-negative bacteria, the NCs interact in two stages, fusion with the outer lipid membrane and then diffusion through the inner wall. The self-assembled nature of the cubosomes imparts a unique ability to transfer payloads via membrane fusion. Remarkably, the fusion uptake mechanism allowed rapid NC internalization by the Gram-negative bacteria, overcoming the outer membrane responsible for their heightened resilience. Here this is demonstrated by the marked reduction in the minimal inhibition concentration required for antibiotics against a pathogenic strain of Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. These results provide mechanistic insight for the development of lipid NCs as a new tool to combat bacteria.

Sclerotium oryzae biocontrol in flooded rice fields with floating microcarrier technology: The effect of chitosan molecular weight

BACKGROUND

Biocontrol strategies are of significant concern for their application in crops. Various green practices have been designed, but almost all of them had delivery constraints. In particular, to design biocontrol strategies against Sclerotium oryzae in flooded rice fields, the active agent should be retained on the plant leaves by spreading application, nevertheless the direct application onto the water produces the biocontrol agent dilution. An effective delivery model was needed. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan molecular weight on the formation of positively charged Pseudomonas fluorescens-chitosan complex as a floating microcarrier against Sclerotium oryzae. To this end, three different sizes of chitosan [molecular weights (MWs) 20 000, 250 000, and 1 250 000 g mol^-1 ] at different pH values (4, 6, and 7) were tested. The electrostatic interaction was analyzed through ζ-potential measurement. An adjustment of the experimental values was carried out for making predictions. The bacteria antifungal activity into the carrier with different chitosan MWs was analyzed.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that it is possible to form a bacteria-chitosan complex with a net positive charge under condition that improve bacteria incorporation to the microcarrier technology without harming bacteria viability and antifungal activity. Thus, high chitosan MW (1 250 000 g mol^-1 ) at pH 6 is preferable for microcarrier technology.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide relevant information about bacteria-chitosan interaction and may be useful in biocontrol programs that involved these two components as well as situations in which bacteria adsorption to an anionic carrier or anionic surface is desirable.

Descriptive analysis of bleeding symptoms in haemophilia carriers enrolled in the ATHNdataset

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported that haemophilia carriers have a bleeding tendency independent of factor activity. However, investigations have been fraught with methodological concerns. The ATHNdataset houses the largest data set of haemophilia carriers in the world. We undertook an analysis of haemophilia carriers in this data set using methodologies that characterize bleeding symptoms in carriers.

AIM

Determine the proportion of haemophilia carriers who have a normal bleeding score (BLS) and factors that affect the BLS.

METHODS

The ATHNdataset was queried for haemophilia carriers with a documented BLS. Collected data included demographics, ISTH-BAT score, factor activity level, type of haemophilia (A or B), genotype and geographic residence.

RESULTS

Nine hundred twenty-two haemophilia carriers in the ATHNdataset reported a BLS. When adjusted for age, 74% reported a normal score. Logistic regression identified age, factor activity level, ethnicity and region of residence as risk factors for an abnormal score.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of haemophilia carriers (74%) in the ATHNdataset had a normal BLS, including the majority (59%) with factor activity levels < 40 IU/dl. Conversely, 24% of haemophilia carriers with a factor activity level > 40 IU/dl reported an abnormal BLS. These results are consistent with previous studies of haemophilia carriers. Additional investigation is needed to determine why a majority of haemophilia carriers with low factor activity levels report normal BLSs while a significant minority of haemophilia carriers with normal activity levels report abnormal BLSs.

Efficacy of a Single Dose of Pregabalin on Signs of Anxiety in Cats During Transportation-A Pilot Study

Objectives: The aim of this clinical pilot study was to evaluate the dosage, efficacy, and clinical safety of a single oral dose of pregabalin in cats that experience fear and anxiety when placed into a carrier and transported by car.

Methods: Thirteen client-owned cats were enrolled in a blinded, randomized, crossover study with three treatment days approximately 1 week apart. The cats were assigned to receive pregabalin oral solution at dosages of 5 and 10 mg/kg and placebo in a randomized order, one treatment per week. Treatment was administered ~90 min before placing the cat into a carrier and starting transportation. Efficacy was assessed by the owners using a categorical scale and, based on video recordings, by an external observer, both blinded to the treatment.

Results: Owners assessed that cats given pregabalin displayed less vocalization, restlessness, and panting during transportation than did cats given placebo. Correlation between owners' and external observer's assessment of the overall treatment effect was good (0.63, p < 0.01), which confirms the owners' ability to observe reliably their own cat's behavior. Transient mild ataxia was the most common adverse event reported. The human commercial formulation used in this study was found difficult or very difficult to administer by 79% of the owners.

Conclusions and Relevance: Based on results of this pilot study, a single oral dose of pregabalin was well tolerated and decreased signs of anxiety and fear associated with car transportation in cats, as evaluated by blinded owners and external observer. The use of pregabalin prior to traveling may improve cat welfare and compliance for transportation. Further studies are needed to investigate the use of oral pregabalin in cats to alleviate signs of anxiety and fear associated with transportation and sequelae, like veterinary visits, and to develop a more user-friendly formulation.

Molecular Mechanisms of Skewed X-Chromosome Inactivation in Female Hemophilia Patients-Lessons from Wide Genome Analyses

Introduction: Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked bleeding disorder caused by factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency or dysfunction due to F8 gene mutations. HA carriers are usually asymptomatic because their FVIII levels correspond to approximately half of the concentration found in healthy individuals. However, in rare cases, a carrier may exhibit symptoms of moderate to severe HA primarily due to skewed inactivation of her non-hemophilic X chromosome. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) patterns in HA carriers, with special emphasis on three karyotypically normal HA carriers presenting with moderate to severe HA phenotype due to skewed XCI, in an attempt to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying skewed XCI in these symptomatic HA carriers. The study was based on the hypothesis that the presence of a pathogenic mutation on the non-hemophilic X chromosome is the cause of extreme inactivation of that X chromosome. Methods: XCI patterns were studied by PCR analysis of the CAG repeat region in the HUMARA gene. HA carriers that demonstrated skewed XCI were further studied by whole-exome sequencing (WES) followed by X chromosome-targeted bioinformatic analysis. Results: All three HA carriers presenting with the moderate to severe HA phenotype due to skewed XCI were found to carry pathogenic mutations on their non-hemophilic X chromosomes. Patient 1 was diagnosed with a frameshift mutation in the PGK1 gene that was associated with familial XCI skewing in three generations. Patient 2 was diagnosed with a missense mutation in the SYTL4 gene that was associated with familial XCI skewing in two generations. Patient 3 was diagnosed with a nonsense mutation in the NKAP gene that was associated with familial XCI skewing in two generations. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the main reason for skewed XCI in our female HA patients was negative selection against cells with a disadvantage caused by an additional deleterious mutation on the silenced X chromosome, thus complicating the phenotype of a monogenic X-linked disease. Based on our study, we are currently offering the X inactivation test to symptomatic hemophilia carriers and plan to expand this approach to symptomatic carriers of other X-linked diseases, which can be further used in pregnancy planning.

Superfast Active Droplets as Micromotors for Locomotion of Passive Droplets and Intensification of Mixing

Micromotors are fascinating objects that are able to move autonomously and perform various complex tasks related to drug delivery, chemical processes, and environmental remediation. Among the types of micromotors, droplet-based micromotors are characterized by a wide range of functional properties related to the capability of encapsulation and deformation and the possibility of using them as microreactors. Relevant problems of micromotor utilization in the chemical processes include intensification of mixing and locomotion of passive objects. In this paper, the technique for preparation of superfast active droplets, which can be used as micromotors for effective locomotion of passive droplets in the oil-in-water emulsion, is demonstrated. The possibility of passive droplet locomotion in the emulsion is determined by a relation between the diameters of active and passive droplets. If the diameter of active droplets is larger than the diameter of passive droplets, the agglomerates form spontaneously in the emulsion and move in a straight line. In the case of the opposite relation between diameters, the agglomerates consisting of active and passive droplets rotate intensively. This makes it impossible to move the passive droplets to a given distance. Such micromotors can achieve unprecedentedly high velocities of motion and can be used to intensify mixing on the microscales.

Insights into the Development of Phototrophic Biofilms in a Bioreactor by a Combination of X-ray Microtomography and Optical Coherence Tomography

As productive biofilms are increasingly gaining interest in research, the quantitative monitoring of biofilm formation on- or offline for the process remains a challenge. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a fast and often used method for scanning biofilms, but it has difficulty scanning through more dense optical materials. X-ray microtomography (μCT) can measure biofilms in most geometries but is very time-consuming. By combining both methods for the first time, the weaknesses of both methods could be compensated. The phototrophic cyanobacterium Tolypothrix distorta was cultured in a moving bed photobioreactor inside a biocarrier with a semi-enclosed geometry. An automated workflow was developed to process µCT scans of the biocarriers. This allowed quantification of biomass volume and biofilm-coverage on the biocarrier, both globally and spatially resolved. At the beginning of the cultivation, a growth limitation was detected in the outer region of the carrier, presumably due to shear stress. In the later phase, light limitations could be found inside the biocarrier. µCT data and biofilm thicknesses measured by OCT displayed good correlation. The latter could therefore be used to rapidly measure the biofilm formation in a process. The methods presented here can help gain a deeper understanding of biofilms inside a process and detect any limitations.

Potential Zoonotic Pathovars of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Detected in Lambs for Human Consumption from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) pathovars impact childhood health. The southern region of Argentina shows the highest incidence of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children of the country. The big island of Tierra del Fuego (TDF) in Argentina registered an incidence of five cases/100,000 inhabitants of HUS in 2019. This work aimed to establish the prevalence of STEC, EPEC, and EAEC in lambs slaughtered in abattoirs from TDF as well as to characterize the phenotypes and the genotypes of the isolated pathogens. The prevalence was 26.6% for stx+, 5.7% for eae+, and 0.27% for aagR+/aaiC+. Twelve STEC isolates were obtained and belonged to the following serotypes: O70:HNT, O81:H21, O81:HNT, O102:H6, O128ab:H2, O174:H8, and O174:HNT. Their genotypic profiles were stx_1c (2), stx_1c/ehxA (3), stx_2b/ehxA (1), stx_1c/stx_2b (2), and stx_1c/stx₂/ehxA (4). Six EPEC isolates were obtained and corresponded to five serotypes: O2:H40, O32:H8, O56:H6, O108:H21, and O177:H25. All the EPEC isolates were bfpA- and two were ehxA+. By XbaI-PFGE of 17 isolates, two clusters were identified. By antimicrobial susceptibility tests, 8/12 STEC and 5/6 EPEC were resistant to at least one antibiotic. This work provides new data to understand the ecology of DEC in TDF and confirms that ovine are an important carrier of these pathogens in the region.

Comparison of The Carrier Frequency of Pathogenic Variants of DMD Gene in an Indian Cohort

BACKGROUND

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disorder caused due to large deletions, duplications,and small pathogenic variants. This article compares the carrier frequency of different pathogenic variants in the DMD gene for the first time in an Indian cohort.

METHODS

Ninety-one mothers of genetically confirmed DMD probands are included in this study. Pathogenic variants in the DMD gene in probands were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) or next-generation sequencing (NGS). Maternal blood samples were evaluated either by MLPA or Sanger sequencing. The demographic and clinical details for screening of muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy were collected from the confirmed carriers.

RESULTS

Out of 91 probands, large deletions and duplications were identified in 46 and 6 respectively, while 39 had small variants. Among the small variants, substitutions predicted to cause nonsense mutations were the most common (61.5%), followed by frameshift causing small insertion/deletions (25.6%) and splice affecting intronic variants (12.8%). Notably, 19 novel small variants predicted to be disease-causing were identified. Of the 91 mothers, 53 (58.7%) were confirmed to be carriers. Exonic deletions had a significantly lower carrier frequency of 47.8% as compared to small variants (64.1%). The mean age of the carriers at evaluation was 30 years. Among the carriers, two were symptomatic with onset in the 4th decade, manifesting with progressive proximal muscle weakness and dilated cardiomyopathy.

CONCLUSION

Carrier frequency of small pathogenic variants differs significantly from large deletions. Small pathogenic variants are more commonly inherited, whereas large deletions arise de novo.

A study of elective genome sequencing and pharmacogenetic testing in an unselected population

BACKGROUND

Genome sequencing (GS) of individuals without a medical indication, known as elective GS, is now available at a number of centers around the United States. Here we report the results of elective GS and pharmacogenetic panel testing in 52 individuals at a private genomics clinic in Alabama.

METHODS

Individuals seeking elective genomic testing and pharmacogenetic testing were recruited through a private genomics clinic in Huntsville, AL. Individuals underwent clinical genome sequencing with a separate pharmacogenetic testing panel.

RESULTS

Six participants (11.5%) had pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants that may explain one or more aspects of their medical history. Ten participants (19%) had variants that altered the risk of disease in the future, including two individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential. Forty-four participants (85%) were carriers of a recessive or X-linked disorder. All individuals with pharmacogenetic testing had variants that affected current and/or future medications.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights the importance of collecting detailed phenotype information to interpret results in elective GS.

An Overview on Recent Patents and Technologies on Solid Dispersion

The oral bioavailability enhancement of poorly water-soluble medicaments is still one of the most complicated aspects of the formulation development. Various approaches are currently available for solubility and rate of dissolution enhancement such as salt formation, solubilization and reduction of particle size, each with its own limitations and advantages. Solid dispersion is one of the most suitable approaches for the formulation development of poorly water-soluble drugs. The popularity of solid dispersion is evident from the increasing number of patent applications and patents granted in this field during recent years. This article reviews the various approaches for the preparation of solid dispersion such as a solvent melting, hot-melt extrusion method, solvent evaporation method, cryogenic processing approaches etc. from the perspective of patents filed or granted for these techniques. Some of the aspects taken into account before the preparation of solid dispersions are carrier selection and physic-chemical testing along with an insight into the molecular arrangement of medicaments in solid dispersion. The manuscript further highlights various commercial patented technology platforms such as Solumer^tm, Hovione and Kinetisol which are based on the concept of solid dispersions.

Frequency of carriers for rare recessive Mendelian diseases in a Brazilian cohort of 320 patients

Several Mendelian disorders follow an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Epidemiological information on many inherited disorders may be useful to guide health policies for rare diseases, but it is often inadequate, particularly in developing countries. We aimed to calculate the carrier frequencies of rare autosomal recessive Mendelian diseases in a cohort of Brazilian patients using whole exome sequencing (WES). We reviewed the molecular findings of WES from 320 symptomatic patients who had carrier status for recessive diseases. Using the Hardy-Weinberg equation, we estimated recessive disease frequencies (q² ) considering the respective carrier frequencies (2pq) observed in our study. We calculated the sensitivity of carrier screening tests based on lists of genes from five different clinical laboratories that offer them in Brazil. A total of 425 occurrences of 351 rare variants were reported in 278 different genes from 230 patients (71.9%). Almost half (48.8%) were carriers of at least one heterozygous pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant for rare metabolic disorders, while 25.9% of epilepsy, 18.1% of intellectual disabilities, 15.6% of skeletal disorders, 10.9% immune disorders, and 9.1% of hearing loss. We estimated that an average of 67% of the variants would not have been detected by carrier screening panels. The combined frequencies of autosomal recessive diseases were estimated to be 26.39/10,000 (or ~0.26%). This study shows the potential research utility of WES to determine carrier status, which may be a possible strategy to evaluate the clinical and social burden of recessive diseases at the population level and guide the optimization of carrier screening panels.

Association of IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism with active chronic HBV infection

Interleukin-32 (IL-32), a multiple proinflammatory cytokine, plays a vital role in immune-related diseases and infectious diseases. The promoter region of IL-32, which showed functional polymorphism, could regulate IL-32 expression. Although IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism has been related to a lot of inflammatory diseases, the association of IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism with a hepatic flare of chronic HBV infection has not been reported. In the present study, IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism was genotyped in 104 chronic HBV carriers and 151 active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The frequency of IL-32 T/T genotype in patients with active CHB was significantly higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. Furthermore, the frequency of the T allele at IL-32 rs28372698 in active CHB patients was also higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. The serum level of IL-32 in active CHB patients was higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. Our results imply that IL-32 T/T polymorphism might be associated with a hepatic flare of chronic HBV infection.

Neurodegenerative Disease Risk in Carriers of Autosomal Recessive Disease

Genetics has driven significant discoveries in the field of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). An emerging theme in neurodegeneration warrants an urgent and comprehensive update: that carrier status of early-onset autosomal recessive (AR) disease, typically considered benign, is associated with an increased risk of a spectrum of late-onset NDDs. Glucosylceramidase beta (GBA1) gene mutations, responsible for the AR lysosomal storage disorder Gaucher disease, are a prominent example of this principle, having been identified as an important genetic risk factor for Parkinson disease. Genetic analyses have revealed further examples, notably GRN, TREM2, EIF2AK3, and several other LSD and mitochondria function genes. In this Review, we discuss the evidence supporting the strikingly distinct allele-dependent clinical phenotypes observed in carriers of such gene mutations and its impact on the wider field of neurodegeneration.

[Effects of Vitrification with Self-made Carriers and Slow Programmed Freezing on Ovarian Tissue of Sheep]

Objective To investigate the effects of self-made carriers on the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue of sheep. Methods Thirty-two ovaries were randomly assigned to fresh group,programmed freezing group,self-made carrier I vitrification group,and self-made carrier Ⅱ vitrification group.The morphology,proliferation,apoptosis,and estrogen level of the ovarian tissue in each group were observed. Results After cryopreservation,the morphology normal rate of the primordial follicles in programmed freezing group,self-made carrier I vitrification group,and self-made carrier Ⅱ vitrification group were 74.2%,72.8%,and 72.3%,respectively,lower than that(83.7%)in the fresh group(χ²=13.079,P=0.004).The percentage of normal primary follicles in programmed freezing group was lower than that in the fresh group(χ²=12.486,P=0.000).The percentage of normal primary follicles showed no significant difference between vitrification groups and fresh group(P=1.000,P=0.972).There was no significant difference in estrogen level or the positive expression rate of PCNA among the 4 groups(F=0.363,P=0.780;χ²=0.359,P=0.949).The number of apoptotic cells in cryopreservation groups was significantly higher than that in the fresh group(F=37.584,P=0.000),and it was significantly higher in the programmed freezing group than in the two vitrification groups(F=18.992,P=0.000). Conclusion Compared with slow programmed freezing,the vitrification with self-made carriers could well preserve the activity of cells in large sheep ovarian tissue blocks.

Nasopharyngeal Microbiomes in Donkeys Shedding Streptococcus equi Subspecies equi in Comparison to Healthy Donkeys

Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) is the pathogen causing strangles, a highly infectious disease that can affect equids including donkeys of all ages. It can persistently colonize the upper respiratory tract of animals asymptomatically for years, which serves as a source of infection. Several strangles outbreaks have been reported in the donkey industry in China in the last few years and pose a great threat to health, production, and the welfare of donkeys. Nasopharyngeal swab samples for culture and PCR are used widely in strangles diagnosis. Additionally, microbiomes within and on the body are essential to host homoeostasis and health. Therefore, the microbiome of the equid nasopharynx may provide insights into the health of the upper respiratory tract in animals. There has been no study investigating the nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy donkeys, nor in donkeys shedding S. equi. This study aimed to compare nasopharyngeal microbiomes in healthy and carrier donkeys using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from 16 donkeys recovered from strangles (group S) and 14 healthy donkeys with no history of strangles exposure (group H). Of those sampled, 7 donkeys were determined to be carriers with positive PCR and culture results in group S. In group H, all 14 donkeys were considered free of strangles based on the history of negative exposure, negative results of PCR and culture. Samples from these 21 donkeys were used for microbial analysis. The nasopharyngeal microbiome composition was compared between the two groups. At the phylum level, relative abundance of Proteobacteria was predominantly higher in the S. equi carrier donkeys than in healthy donkeys (P < 0.01), while Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were significantly less abundant in the S. equi carrier donkeys than in healthy donkeys (P < 0.05). At the genus level, Nicoletella was detected in the upper respiratory tract of donkeys for the first time and dominated in carrier donkeys. It is suspected to suppress other normal flora of URT microbiota including Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Corynebacterium spp. We concluded that the nasopharyngeal microbiome in S. equi carrier donkeys still exhibited microbial dysbiosis, which might predispose them to other airway diseases.

Yeast cells for encapsulation of bioactive compounds in food products: A review

Nowadays bioactive compounds have gained great attention in food and drug industries owing to their health aspects as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant attributes. Nevertheless, their bioavailability, bioactivity, and stability can be affected in different conditions and during storage. In addition, some bioactive compounds have undesirable flavor that restrict their application especially at high dosage in food products. Therefore, food industry needs to find novel techniques to overcome these problems. Microencapsulation is a technique, which can fulfill the mentioned requirements. Also, there are many wall materials for use in encapsulation procedure such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and various kinds of polymers. The utilization of food-grade and safe carriers have attracted great interest for encapsulation of food ingredients. Yeast cells are known as a novel carrier for microencapsulation of bioactive compounds with benefits such as controlled release, protection of core substances without a significant effect on sensory properties of food products. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was abundantly used as a suitable carrier for food ingredients. Whole cells as well as cell particles like cell wall and plasma membrane can act as a wall material in encapsulation process. Compared to other wall materials, yeast cells are biodegradable, have better protection for bioactive compounds and the process of microencapsulation by them is relatively simple. The encapsulation efficiency can be improved by applying some pretreatments of yeast cells. In this article, the potential application of yeast cells as an encapsulating material for encapsulation of bioactive compounds is reviewed.

Acceleration of bone formation using in situ-formed hyaluronan-hydrogel containing bone morphogenetic protein-2 in a mouse critical size bone defect model

BACKGROUND

An enzymatic crosslinking strategy using hydrogen peroxide and horseradish peroxidase is receiving increasing attention for application with in situ-formed hydrogels (IFHGs). IFHGs may also be ideal carrier materials for bone repair, although their ability to carry bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) has yet to be examined.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the effectiveness of an IFHG made of hyaluronan (IFHG-HA) containing BMP2 for promoting bone formation in a mouse critical size bone defect model.

METHODS

C57/BL6J mice received a 2-mm femoral critical-sized bone defect before being randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups (n = 6): control (no treatment), IFHG-HA only, PBS with BMP2, and IFHG-HA with BMP2. X-ray radiographs were utilized to track new bone formation, and micro-computed tomography and histological examination were performed on new bone formed at the bone defect site two weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

Mice treated with PBS with BMP2 and IFHG-HA with BMP2 had greater bone volume (BV) and bone mineral content (BMC) than those receiving control, and successfully achieved consolidation. Mice treated with IFHG-HA with BMP2 had significantly higher BV and BMC than those treated with PBS with BMP2.

CONCLUSIONS

IFHG-HA may be an effective carrier for BMP2 to enable delivery for bone defect repair.

Bacterial Nanocellulose toward Green Cosmetics: Recent Progresses and Challenges

In the skin care field, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a versatile polysaccharide produced by non-pathogenic acetic acid bacteria, has received increased attention as a promising candidate to replace synthetic polymers (e.g., nylon, polyethylene, polyacrylamides) commonly used in cosmetics. The applicability of BNC in cosmetics has been mainly investigated as a carrier of active ingredients or as a structuring agent of cosmetic formulations. However, with the sustainability issues that are underway in the highly innovative cosmetic industry and with the growth prospects for the market of bio-based products, a much more prominent role is envisioned for BNC in this field. Thus, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent (last 5 years) and relevant developments and challenges in the research of BNC applied to cosmetic, aiming at inspiring future research to go beyond in the applicability of this exceptional biotechnological material in such a promising area.

Effect of Different Carriers on In vitro and In vivo Drug Release Behavior of Aceclofenac Proniosomes

BACKGROUND

Improved bioavailability of Aceclofenac (ACE) may be achieved through proniosomes, which is considered as one of the most effective drug delivery systems and is expected to represent a valuable approach for the development of a better oral dosage form as compared to the existing product. However, the carrier in this system plays a vital role to control the drug release and modulate drug dissolution. Accordingly, a comparative study between different carriers can give clear ideas on the selection of carriers to prepare ACE proniosomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the role of maltodextrin, glucose, and mannitol as carriers on in vitro and in vivo performance of Aceclofenac (ACE) proniosomes.

METHODS

Three formulations of proniosomes were prepared by the slurry method using the 100 mg ACE, 500 mg Span 60, 250 mg Cholesterol with 1300mg of different carriers, i.e., Glucose (FN1), Maltodextrin (FN2), and Mannitol (FN3). In vitro, drug release studies were conducted by the USP paddle method, while in vivo studies were performed in albino rats. Pure ACE was used as a reference in all the tests. Lastly, the results were analyzed using the High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method, and data were evaluated using further kinetic and statistical tools.

RESULTS

No significant differences (p > 0.05) in entrapment efficiency (%EE) of FN1, FN2, and FN3 (82 ± 0.5%, 84 ± 0.66%, and 84 ± 0.34% respectively) were observed and formulations were used as such for further in vitro and in vivo evaluations. During in vitro drug release studies, the dissolved drug was found to be 42% for the pure drug, while 70%, 17% 30% for FN1, FN2, and FN3 respectively at 15 min. After 24 hrs, the pure drug showed a maximum of 50 % release while 94%, 80%, 79% drug release were observed after 24 hr for FN1, FN2, and FN3, respectively. The in vivo study conducted using albino rats showed a higher Cmax and AUC of FN1 and FN2 in comparison with the pure ACE. Moreover, the relative oral bioavailability of proniosomes with maltodextrin and glucose as carriers compared to the pure drug was 183% and 112% respectively. Mannitol based formulation exhibited low bioavailability (53.7%) may be attributed to its osmotic behavior.

CONCLUSION

These findings confirm that a carrier plays a significant role in determining in vitro and in vivo performance of proniosomes and careful selection of carrier is an important aspect of proniosomes optimization.

A Systematic Review of Intracellular Microorganisms within Acanthamoeba to Understand Potential Impact for Infection

Acanthamoeba, an opportunistic pathogen is known to cause an infection of the cornea, central nervous system, and skin. Acanthamoeba feeds different microorganisms, including potentially pathogenic prokaryotes; some of microbes have developed ways of surviving intracellularly and this may mean that Acanthamoeba acts as incubator of important pathogens. A systematic review of the literature was performed in order to capture a comprehensive picture of the variety of microbial species identified within Acanthamoeba following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Forty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, 26 studies (60.5%) examined environmental samples, eight (18.6%) studies examined clinical specimens, and another nine (20.9%) studies analysed both types of samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by gene sequencing was the most common technique used to identify the intracellular microorganisms. Important pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, Mycobacterium spp. and P. aeruginosa, were observed in clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba, whereas Legionella, adenovirus, mimivirus, and unidentified bacteria (Candidatus) were often identified in environmental Acanthamoeba. Increasing resistance of Acanthamoeba associated intracellular pathogens to antimicrobials is an increased risk to public health. Molecular-based future studies are needed in order to assess the microbiome residing in Acanthamoeba, as a research on the hypotheses that intracellular microbes can affect the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba infections.

Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Patients With a New Diagnosis of Carriage or Clinical Infection With Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales: A Retrospective Study

Background: To examine the clinical, demographic, and microbiologic characteristics of new rectal carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) carriers vs. those with a clinical infection, hospitalized at Padeh-Poriya Medical Center between 2014 and 2017 and to examine the susceptibility profiles of isolates from clinical infections.

Methods: In this retrospective, chart analysis, demographic and clinical data were collected from medical charts of 175 adult patients with either new- onset carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) carriage or clinical CPE infection. Collected data included age, ethnic group, place of residence, hospitalizations in the past 90 days, and 30-day mortality. Microbiological analyses considered bacterial genus, molecular resistance mechanism and antibiotic susceptibility.

Results: A significantly higher percentage (42.4%) of CPE carriers were long-term care facility residents, and had been recently hospitalized (56.3%), as compared to patients with clinical CPE infection (29.2 and 45.9%, respectively). Additionally, we noted a high (58.3%) acquision of CPE in our hospital. The most common bacterial isolate was K. pneumoniae and the most common resistance mechanism was Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) carbapenemases (KPC). High susceptibility rates to amikacin and chloramphenicol were also noted.

Conclusions: This study reaffirmed the importance of CPE screening and infection control measures. The observed antibiotic susceptibility profile suggests amikacin and chloramphenicol as potential treatments for CPE infection.

Novel method for identification of the lethal mutation in bovine APAF1 gene and its preliminary prevalence in Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls

The aim of the study was to develop a reliable and cost-effective method for detection of nonsense mutation in APAF1 gene causing lethal effect called HH1 (Holstein Haplotype1) and to evaluate its prevalence in a sample of Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls. One hundred seventy eight bulls born between 1996 and 2017 were included in the analysis. They were kept in four artificial insemination centers and have in the pedigree the known carrier of HH1. All bulls were diagnosed by novel PCR-SSCP technique. Specific amplicons of 261 bp APAF1 gene fragment were used to detect changes in single stranded conformation (SSCP) caused by nonsense mutation C/T responsible for HH1. Each new carrier was used to trace another potential carriers among their offspring available in Polish Holstein Bull Repository Database. Among 178 bulls, 85 HH1 carriers were found. Our results show that nonsense mutation in APAF1 gene is already transmitted and segregating in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle and its frequency may increase if no action will be undertaken against actual carriers.