An injectable hydrogel of porcine cholecyst extracellular matrix for accelerated wound healing.

Hydrogel formulations of xenogeneic extracellular matrices have been widely used for topical wound care because of their exceptional tunability over other formulations like lyophilized sheets, powders, non-injectable gels, pastes, and ointments. This is important in the treatment of wounds with irregular shapes and depth. This study identified an injectable hydrogel formulation of porcine cholecyst extracellular matrix (60%) in medical-grade carboxymethyl cellulose (40%) as vehicle and evaluated its biomaterial properties.

Hybrid and haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Vechur cattle - elucidating genetic variation.

Cattle contribute to the nutritional needs and economy of a place. The performance and fitness of cattle depend on the response and adaptation to local climatic conditions. Genomic and genetic studies are important for advancing cattle breeding, and availability of relevant reference genomes is essential.

Wound-Healing Efficacy of Insulin-Loaded Strontium-Cross-Linked Alginate-Based Hydrogels in Diabetic Rats.

The wound-healing effect of insulin is well studied and reported. However, prolonged topical application of insulin without compromising its biological activity is still a challenge. In this study, the effect of topically delivered insulin on promoting wound healing in diabetic animals was evaluated.

Mitigation of Fibrosis after Myocardial Infarction in Rats by Using a Porcine Cholecyst Extracellular Matrix.

Fibrosis that occurs after nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) is an irreversible reparative cardiac tissue remodeling process characterized by progressive deposition of highly cross-linked type I collagen. No currently available therapeutic strategy prevents or reverses MI-associated fibrotic scarring of myocardium. In this study, we used an epicardial graft prepared of porcine cholecystic extracellular matrix to treat experimental nonfatal MI in rats.

A Case-Control Study of the Association of Leptin Gene Polymorphisms with Plasma Leptin Levels and Obesity in the Kerala Population.

Background: Over the last few years, the importance of leptin in energy metabolism has been extensively studied in both animal models and in humans. Very few results are available on the association between human leptin gene () variants and obesity traits in India. We designed this study to analyse the polymorphisms in human leptin gene and the association of sequence variants with obesity among the population in Kerala, South India.

A porcine cholecystic extracellular matrix conductive scaffold for cardiac tissue repair.

Cardiac tissue engineering using cells, scaffolds or signaling molecules is a promising approach for replacement or repair of damaged myocardium. This study addressed the contemporary need for a conductive biomimetic nanocomposite scaffold for cardiac tissue engineering by examining the use of a gold nanoparticle-incorporated porcine cholecystic extracellular matrix for the same. The scaffold had an electrical conductivity (0.

Gelatin-Modified Cholecyst-Derived Scaffold Promotes Angiogenesis and Faster Healing of Diabetic Wounds.

Compromised angiogenesis is a major factor contributing delayed wound healing in diabetic patients. Graft-assisted healing using synthetic and natural scaffolds supplemented with micromolecules for stimulating angiogenesis is the contemporary tissue engineering strategy for treating diabetic wounds. This study deployed the carbodiimide chemical reaction for coupling gelatin with a porcine cholecyst-derived scaffold (CDS) for enhancing angiogenesis.

Surface Modification of Polypropylene Mesh with a Porcine Cholecystic Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel for Mitigating Host Tissue Reaction.

Polypropylene (PP) meshes are widely used for repairing skeletal muscle defects like abdominal hernia despite the chances of undesirable pro-inflammatory tissue reactions that demand revision surgeries in about 45% of cases. Attempts have been made to address the problem by modifying the mesh surface and architecture. These procedures have yielded only incremental improvements in the management of overall postoperative complications, and the search for a clinically viable therapeutic strategy continues.

Tinospora cordifolia ameliorated titanium dioxide nanoparticle-induced toxicity via regulating oxidative stress-activated MAPK and NRF2/Keap1 signaling pathways in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TNP) has been suggested for use in fish farms to prevent or alleviate bacterial diseases owing to its bactericidal property. Unfortunately, the interaction of TNP with cells impaired the host defenses of fish resulting in increased mortality during bacterial challenges. The present study evaluated the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCE) as a dietary supplement in ameliorating TNP induced toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Assessing physical activity in people with mental illness: 23-country reliability and validity of the simple physical activity questionnaire (SIMPAQ).

Background: Physical inactivity is a key contributor to the global burden of disease and disproportionately impacts the wellbeing of people experiencing mental illness. Increases in physical activity are associated with improvements in symptoms of mental illness and reduction in cardiometabolic risk. Reliable and valid clinical tools that assess physical activity would improve evaluation of intervention studies that aim to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in people living with mental illness.

Controlled cross-linking of porcine cholecyst extracellular matrix for preparing tissue engineering scaffold.

Treatment with cross-linking agents for stabilizing biomolecules is an integral step during the preparation of many extracellular matrix-based tissue engineering scaffolds from mammalian organs. However, excess cross-linking may cause nonavailability of biomolecules and consequent deterioration of bioinductive properties of the scaffold. The present study considered controlling the extent of cross-linking in a porcine cholecyst extracellular matrix scaffold prepared by a nonenzymatic and nondetergent method, by ex situ incubation of the source organ in varying concentrations of neutral buffered formaldehyde (10, 4, 1 or 0%; v/v) for in situ cross-linking of biomolecules.

Hepatoprotective effect of Lobelia alsinoides Lam. in Wistar rats.

Background: Traditional healing practitioners of South India use fine paste (an Ayurvedic dosage form known as 'kalka') of Lobelia alsinoides Lam., an ethno medicinal plant for curing hepatic diseases.

Objective: To evaluate in-vivo hepatoprotective effect of a candidate formulation viz.

Reliability and validity of PHQ-9 when administered by health workers for depression screening among women in primary care.

Background: Depression is twice more prevalent among women but remains unidentified in primary care.

Objective: We aimed to estimate the reliability and validity of PHQ-9, when administered by health workers, a cadre of public health staff, posted in primary health centres. We translated PHQ-9 to Malayalam, a language spoken by 30 million people in Kerala, India.

A porcine-cholecyst-derived scaffold for treating full thickness lacerated skin wounds in dogs.

In regenerative medicine, despite the chances of graft-rejection, scaffolds prepared from extracellular matrices of various mammalian organs/tissues are widely used. Graft-assisted healing of full thickness skin-wounds is a major use of these bioscaffolds. Therefore, considering its prospective clinical use as a wound healing matrix, this study evaluated the healing potential of porcine cholecyst-derived scaffold (CDS) prepared by a non-detergent/enzymatic method for treating naturally occurring full thickness lacerated wounds in dogs.

Effectiveness of community-based depression intervention programme (ComDIP) to manage women with depression in primary care- randomised control trial.

Background: In low and middle income countries where mental health resources are limited, community based depression intervention models, which can be implemented through the existing health system, are extremely relevant.

Objective: To test the effectiveness of Community based Depression Intervention Programme (ComDIP), newly developed by us, to reduce severity of depression in women, compared to the treatment as usual (TAU).

Methods: An RCT (Trial registration Number: CTRI/2011/08/001978, Clinical Trials Registry -India) was conducted in a primary care setting in Trivandrum, Kerala, South India.

An Immunopathological Evaluation of the Porcine Cholecyst Matrix as a Muscle Repair Graft in a Male Rat Abdominal Wall Defect Model.

With the increasing use of animal-based biomaterials for regenerative medical applications, the need for their safety assessment is paramount. A porcine cholecyst-derived scaffold (CDS), intended as a muscle repair graft, prepared by a nondetergent/enzymatic method was engrafted in a rat abdominal wall defect model. Host tissue-scaffold interface samples were collected 2, 8, and 16 weeks postimplantation and evaluated by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy.

BRCA1 regulation on β-hCG: a mechanism for tumorigenicity in BRCA1 defective breast cancer.

Human chorionic gonadotropin β (β-hCG) has been implicated in breast tumorigenesis. However, the role of this hormone is highly controversial as certain studies suggest it has anti-tumor properties while others have found it to be pro-tumorigenic. To unveil the truth, we have analyzed the expression of β-hCG in breast cancer.

A gold nanoparticle coated porcine cholecyst-derived bioscaffold for cardiac tissue engineering.

Extracellular matrices of xenogeneic origin have been extensively used for biomedical applications, despite the possibility of heterogeneity in structure. Surface modification of biologically derived biomaterials using nanoparticles is an emerging strategy for improving topographical homogeneity when employing these scaffolds for sophisticated tissue engineering applications. Recently, as a tissue engineering scaffold, cholecyst derived extracellular matrix (C-ECM) has been shown to have several advantages over extracellular matrices derived from other organs such as jejunum and urinary bladder.

Primary care Screening Questionnaire for Depression: reliability and validity of a new four-item tool.

Background: Unidentified depression in primary care is a public health concern, globally. There is a need for brief, valid and easily administered tools in primary care.

Aims: To estimate reliability and validity of the newly developed Primary care Screening Questionnaire for Depression (PSQ4D), a four-item tool, with 'yes' or 'no' options.

Expression of protocadherin 11Yb (PCDH11Yb) in seminal germ cells is correlated with fertility status in men.

Protocadherin 11 Y-linked (PCDH11Y), a member of the cadherin superfamily, is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system, is encoded by the Yp11.2 locus and exists in three isoforms: 11Ya, 11Yb and 11Yc. PCDH11Y is upregulated by retinoic acid signalling and is essential for spermatogonial differentiation and initiation of meiosis.

Increased sensitivity of BRCA defective triple negative breast tumors to plumbagin through induction of DNA Double Strand Breaks (DSB).

We have earlier shown that Plumbagin (PB) can induce selective cytotoxicity to BRCA1 defective ovarian cancer cells; however, the effect of this molecule in BRCA1 mutated breast cancers has not been analyzed yet. Here, we report that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by PB resulted in DNA DSB and activates downstream signaling by ATR/ATM kinases and subsequent apoptosis. PB reduces DNA- dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) expression and inhibits NHEJ (Non Homologous End Joining) activity in BRCA1 defective breast cancer cells.