Polydopamine-modified konjac glucomannan scaffold with sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor to promote angiogenesis

The fabrication of scaffolds capable of the sustained release of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to promote angiogenesis in long time remains a challenge in tissue engineering. Here, we report a facile approach for effectively fabricating a bioactive scaffold that gradually releases VEGF to promote angiogenesis. The scaffold was fabricated by coating polydopamine (PDA) on a konjac glucomannan (KGM) scaffold, followed by the surface immobilization of VEGF with PDA. The resulting VEGF-PDA/KGM scaffold, with a porous and interconnected microstructure (392 μm pore size with 84.80 porosity), combined the features of long-term biodegradability (10 weeks with 51 % degradation rate), excellent biocompatibility, and sustained VEGF release for up to 21 days. The bioactive VEGF-PDA/KGM scaffold exhibited multiple angiogenic activities over time, as confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments. For example, the scaffold significantly promoted the attachment and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the formation of vascular tubes in vitro. Moreover, the in vivo results demonstrated the formation and maturation of blood vessels after subcutaneous implantation in rats for four weeks. This promising strategy is a feasible approach for producing bioactive materials that can induce angiogenesis in vivo. These findings provide a new avenue for designing and fabricating biocompatible and long-term biodegradable scaffolds for sustained VEGF release to facilitate angiogenesis.

Tough, self-healing and injectable dynamic nanocomposite hydrogel based on gelatin and sodium alginate

Biomacromolecules based injectable and self-healing hydrogels possessing high mechanical properties have widespread potential in biomedical field. However, dynamic features are usually inversely proportional to toughness. It is challenging to simultaneously endow these properties to the dynamic hydrogels. Here, we fabricated an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel (CS-NPs@OSA-l-Gtn) stimultaneously possessing excellent autonomous self-healing performance and high mechanical strength by doping chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) into dynamic polymer networks of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and gelatin (Gtn) in the presence of borax. The synergistic effect of the multiple reversible interactions combining dynamic covalent bonds (i.e., imine bond and borate ester bond) and noncovalent interactions (i.e., electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond) provide effective energy dissipation to endure high fatigue resistance and cyclic loading. The dynamic hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical properties like maximum 2.43 MPa compressive strength, 493.91 % fracture strain, and 89.54 kJ/m3 toughness. Moreover, the integrated hydrogel after injection and self-healing could withstand 150 successive compressive cycles. Besides, the bovine serum albumin embedded in CS-NPs could be sustainably released from the nanocomposite hydrogel for 12 days. This study proposes a novel strategy to synthesize an injectable and self-healing hydrogel combined with excellent mechanical properties for designing high-strength natural carriers with sustained protein delivery.

Genetic data of 22 autosomal STR loci in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan population of Pakistan using PowerPlex® fusion system

In this study we have provided forensic genetic data of 22 autosomal STRs for Pakhtun, Balochi and Balti population of Pakistan in total of 601 samples. Among these loci, Penta E was found the most discriminatory in all groups and allele 15 was observed most frequent at D22S1045 in Balti whereas in other two populations allele 8 was more common at TPOX. The combined power of discrimination, combined power of exclusion and the combined matching probability was calculated as 0.999999999999999999999999998385, 0.999999988089728 and 1.615 × 10^-27 respectively. Based on population differentiation test, significant differences were observed when compared with other populations however, phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic associations among Pakistani Populations.

Corrigendum: Physical Organohydrogels With Extreme Strength and Temperature Tolerance

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00102.].

[Medicaments and oral healthcare. Adverse effects of medications on the oral mucosa]

Many medications prescribed in the Netherlands have adverse effects on the oral mucosa. Adverse events often described are stomatitis, white lesions, abnormal pigmentation and sensibility disorders. Stomatitis is frequently observed in patients using medications for the treatment of malignancies or auto-immune diseases. Important causative classes of medicines are alkylating agents, anthracyclines, monoclonal antibodies, protein kinase inhibitors, purine derivatives, pyrimidine antagonists, taxanes and vinca alkaloids. White oral lesions often concern candidiasis and are frequently seen in patients using certain immunosuppressants and antibiotics. Abnormal pigmentation is frequently seen in patients using hydroxycarbamide, an antineoplastic agent. Sensibility disorders of the oral mucosa are described in several classes of medications, including protein kinase inhibitors. It is very important oral healthcare professionals can recognise possible adverse effects of medications on the oral mucosa. When it is probable an anomaly of the oral mucosa is caused by medication, the oral healthcare professional should contact the prescribing physician to discuss the possibility of adjusting or discontinuing the medication.

Physical Organohydrogels With Extreme Strength and Temperature Tolerance

Tough gel with extreme temperature tolerance is a class of soft materials having potential applications in the specific fields that require excellent integrated properties under subzero temperature. Herein, physically crosslinked Europium (Eu)-alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) organohydrogels that do not freeze at far below 0°C, while retention of high stress and stretchability is demonstrated. These organohydrogels are synthesized through displacement of water swollen in polymer networks of hydrogel to cryoprotectants (e.g., ethylene glycol, glycerol, and d-sorbitol). The organohydrogels swollen water-cryoprotectant binary systems can be recovered to their original shapes when be bent, folded and even twisted after being cooled down to a temperature as low as -20 and -45°C, due to lower vapor pressure and ice-inhibition of cryoprotectants. The physical organohydrogels exhibit the maximum stress (5.62 ± 0.41 MPa) and strain (7.63 ± 0.02), which is about 10 and 2 times of their original hydrogel, due to the synergistic effect of multiple hydrogen bonds, coordination bonds and dense polymer networks. Based on these features, such physically crosslinked organohydrogels with extreme toughness and wide temperature tolerance is a promising soft material expanding the applications of gels in more specific and harsh conditions.

Quality of life of students of a private medical college

Objective:

To determine the quality of life of students of a private medical college in Karachi in Pakistan.

Methods:

This cross sectional study was conducted among 217 medical students of Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi from June 2017 to March 2018. Students were selected by a stratified sampling method and the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF Instruments (WHO QOL-BREF) was used for the above-mentioned study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 21 and Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Independent t-test was used as p <0.05 significant.

Results:

A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed among 2^nd year, 3^rd year, 4^th year and final year students and the response rate was 86.8%. Among them 48.5% (n=105) students were male and 51.5% (n=112) students were female, while 9.2% (n=20) students were currently ill and the other 90.8% (n=197) were healthy.

Conclusion:

Medical education influences the quality of life (QOL) of students adversely. Social relationships and environmental domain were satisfactory in private medical institutes whereas physical and psychological progress was low due to academic load which requires improvement either by physical activities such as fitness classes or other extra-curricular activities.

Ethnic variation in osteoporosis risk factors: dietary calcium, vitamin D intake and body mass index (BMI)

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in humans, representing a major public health problem. Few studies have investigated osteoporosis risk factors such as calcium and vitamin D intake, quality of life and body mass index (BMI) among multi-ethnic adults in the Malaysian context. This study aimed to determine the ethnic variation in osteoporosis risk factors among students in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). A cross-sectional study via a self-administrated questionnaire was carried out among 198 respondents aged 19 to 25 years from UMT. The data in the present study included a three -day food record and anthropometric measurements. Nutritionist ProTM analysis software version 5.3 was used to calculate dietary calcium and vitamin D intake from the diet histories, based on the Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Food Database guidance for the dietary calcium intake and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for vitamin D intake. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and ChiSquare tests. The findings indicate the median calcium intake was 348.3 mg/day while for vitamin D intake was only 1.37 µg/day. Indian participants had a significantly lower intake level of calcium (243.5 mg/day), followed by Chinese (362.3 mg/day) and Malays (440.4 mg/day). The median vitamin D intakes of Malay, Chinese, and Indian adults were 2.15 μg/day, 1.37 μg/day and 1.14 μg/day, respectively. Furthermore, the BMI among respondents at 20.88 (6.4) kg/m2 categorized as normal weight. It was found that there was no significant difference (p> 0.05) in BMI across ethnicity. Lastly, there was a significant association (p< 0.05) between ethnicity and calcium intake (p = 0.001).

ZnO nanoparticles and zeolite influence soil nutrient availability but do not affect herbage nitrogen uptake from biogas slurry

Recently, there is a growing interest among agriculturists to use nanotechnology for the development of nutrient-use efficient fertilizers. However, its sustainable use for the synthesis of mineral or organic nano-fertilizers requires a thoughtful of the mechanism as well as the fate of nutrients and their interaction with soil-plant systems. Therefore, the aim of current study was to investigate the mixing of three different application rates of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs: 1.4, 2.8 and 3.6 mg kg^-1 soil) as well as zeolite (141, 282 and 423 mg kg^-1 soil) with biogas slurry (AS) on soil nutrient availability and herbage nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) uptake in a standard pot experiment. We found that both ZNPs and zeolite significantly increased mineral N content in soil compared to AS alone (P < 0.05). On the other hand, plant available phosphorus or potassium and microbial biomass carbon (C) in the soil were neither significantly affected by any application rate of ZNPs nor zeolite mixed AS. Soil microbial biomass N was significantly higher in second and third application rates of both ZNPs and zeolite amended AS treatments compared to AS alone. However, this increment in mineral N did not influence shoot uptake and herbage apparent recovery of this nutrient from AS. Similarly, co-mixing of both ZNPs and zeolite in AS did not influence shoot N uptake but Zn uptake was significantly higher in this treatment compared to AS alone. Therefore, this combination would be considered for improving crop Zn uptake under such fertilizer management regimes.

[The medical-dental interactions scanner: an Electronic Health Record-integrated quality and safety module for medical-dental interactions]

Dental professionals will be confronted more frequently with medically compromised patients due to an increasing life expectancy in Western countries. The patients' systemic diseases and medication usage can both have consequences for oral health and dental treatment. It is often impossible to have all medical-dental interactions handy in the dental practice. To support the dental professional in providing safe healthcare, a tool has been developed. The medical-dental interactions scanner supports both patients and dental professionals in taking a patient's medical history and linking that information to the available literature. By that means, it is possible for the caregiver to provide patient-specific recommendations concerning possible adverse effects of medicaments,intra-oral manifestations of systemic diseases and measures to prevent medical emergencies.

Is chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting lower in smokers?

AIM

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is not understood completely. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of smoking on CINV.

METHODS

121 consecutive patients who received cisplatin (≥ 50 mg/m²) based chemotherapy were included in the study. The patients who reported motion sickness, pain, emesis during past pregnancy, emesis history of previous chemotherapy, with Karnofsky score < 70, peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux, migraine, central nervous system metastasis and patients scheduled to receive radiation therapy were excluded from the study. A standard antiemetic treatment was given to all patients. The nausea and vomiting was assessed by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire. After first cycle of chemotherapy, Grade 2 - 3 nausea and vomiting were questioned.

RESULTS

Grade 2 - 3 nausea and vomiting was higher in non-smokers (p < 0.001). We found that nausea and vomiting in women is more frequent than in men (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In our study we found that smokers had a lower incidence of CINV. Further investigations are needed to confirm the findings of this pilot study.

[The Dutch National Colesterol Test: participants mainly healthy]

OBJECTIVE

To determine, in people who participated in the Netherlands Heart Foundation's National Cholesterol Test in supermarkets, risk factors for cardiovascular disease and expectations concerning the test result using a questionnaire, and to compare their cholesterol levels with reference values.

DESIGN

Descriptive study and questionnaire survey.

METHOD

Participants who underwent the National Cholesterol Test in 9 supermarkets during the summer of 2007 were invited to complete a short questionnaire about risk factors for cardiovascular disease and expectations concerning the test result. Statements about the intention to change behaviour were offered, and the measured total cholesterol level was recorded.

RESULTS

The average age of the 684 respondents was 57 years (SD: 16); 72% were female. Participants had on average a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population; they suffered less frequently from diabetes, hypertension and being overweight, and smoked less. The measured cholesterol level was 5.0-6.5 mmol/l in 37% and > 6.5 mmoll in 11%. Elevated cholesterol levels were less common in this group than in the general population. The intention to change behaviour was substantial.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that the National Cholesterol Test reached relatively many healthy, somewhat worried people. The intention to change behaviour was substantial.

Red cell membrane protein in thalassemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency anemia

Twenty cases of thalassemia major and 20 children with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency were studied for the protein content of their red cell membrane as well as for its fractions, compared to 20 normal controls. The results showed that the total membrane proteins per red cell and the various fraction percentages in both conditions were not significantly different from normal controls. Also the acrylamide gel electrophoretic studies of the red cell membrane proteins gave band patterns identical with those of normal controls. These results are discussed.

Red cell membrane lipids in thalassaemia

Red cell and plasma lipids and their fractions were estimated in 20 cases of thalassaemia and 20 normal controls. In thalassaemia there was reduction in red cell lipids and their fractions, plasma lipids and their fractions, and derangement of liver functions. On the other hand, the intestinal fat absorption, morphology of intestinal mucosa and histochemical studies of fat absorption were normal. Hypolipidaemia may be possibly caused by deranged liver functions and is probably responsible for the diminution in erythrocyte lipids. A genetic factor producing reduction in red cell lipids may be also present.

Study of red cell membrane lipids in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency anemia

Red cell membrane lipids and plasma lipids were studied in 20 patients with G.6.P.D. deficiency, during acute hemolysis and 45-60 days later-20 normal controls were similarly investigated. All lipids in G-6-P-D deficient cells were found to be diminished during the attack of hemolysis and to return back with the exception of lecithin to normal after recovery. Plasma cholesterol and phospholipids were markedly diminished during acute hemolysis, but slightly reduced on recovery.