Altered neurite morphology and cholinergic function of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from a patient with Kleefstra syndrome and autism.

The aim of the present study was to establish an in vitro Kleefstra syndrome (KS) disease model using the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology. Previously, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patient with Kleefstra syndrome (KS-ASD) carrying a deleterious premature termination codon mutation in the EHMT1 gene was identified. Patient specific hiPSCs generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the KS-ASD patient were differentiated into post-mitotic cortical neurons.

Neonatal solid tumors.

Background: Neonatal tumors are different from tumors of the older children and knowledge gained from treating older children can not be extrapolated to neonates. Neonates have immature physiology and their haematopoietic and immune systems are not fully developed and the response to therapy is unpredictable. Hence it is imperative to study these tumors as separate entity.

Temporal gradients limit the accumulation of neutrophils towards sources of chemoattractant.

Neutrophil trafficking during inflammation is a highly orchestrated process, coordinating neutrophil recruitment, sterilization of the wound, and inflammation resolution. Although the chemotactic signals guiding neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation are relatively well understood, mechanisms controlling cessation of neutrophil recruitment and return to normal tissue physiology remain undefined. To gain insights into these processes, we designed a microfluidic device with an array of chemoattractant reservoirs, which mimics the microenvironment in infected tissues, when multiple clusters of microbes are present.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Marine Sediments of East Coast of Tamil Nadu Affected by Different Pollution Sources.

The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the sediments of Periyakalapet to Parangipettai coast, east coast of Tamil Nadu, by using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. The average heavy metal concentrations in the sediment samples were found in the order Al>Fe>Ca>Ti>K>Mg>Mn>Ba>V>Cr>Zn>La>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd>Cu. The average heavy metal concentrations were below the world crustal average.

Dosimetric Comparison between Single and Dual Arc-Volumetric Modulated Arc Radiotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using a Simultaneous Integrated Boost Technique.

Backround: Plan quality and performance of dual arc (DA) volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) , single arc (SA) VMAT and nine field (9F) intensity modulated radiotherapy were compared using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique. Methods: Twelve patients treated in Elekta Synergy Platform (mlci2) by 9F-IMRT were replanned with SA/DA-VMAT using a CMS Monaco Treatment Planning System (TPS) with Monte Carlo simulation. Target delineation was conducted as per Radiation Therapy Oncology Protocols (RTOG0225 and 0615).

The effects of 100% wild blueberry () juice consumption on cardiometablic biomarkers: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in adults with increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

Background: Wild blueberries have a high content of polyphenols, but there is limited data evaluating their health benefits in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes. The objective of the study was to investigate whether consumption of 100% wild blueberry juice improves cardiometabolic biomarkers associated with type 2 diabetes risk.

Methods: A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design trial was conducted in which adults (women,  = 19, ages 39-64 y) at risk for type 2 diabetes consumed 240 mL of wild blueberry juice or a placebo beverage as part of their free-living diet for 7 days.

Thermal scribing to prototype plastic microfluidic devices, applied to study the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Innovation in microfluidics-based biological research has been aided by the growing accessibility of versatile microscale fabrication techniques, particularly in rapid prototyping of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based devices. However, the use of PDMS presents considerable and often unexpected limitations, particularly in interpreting and validating biological data. To rapidly prototype microfluidic culture systems in conventional plastics commonly used in cell culture, we developed 'thermal scribing', a one-step micromachining technique in which thermoplastics are locally patterned by a heated tip, moving in user-controlled patterns.

Shear Dependent LC Purification of an Engineered DNA Nanoswitch and Implications for DNA Origami.

As DNA nanotechnology matures, there is increasing need for fast, reliable, and automated purification methods. Here, we develop UHPLC methods to purify self-assembled DNA nanoswitches, which are formed using DNA origami approaches and are designed to change conformations in response to a binding partner. We found that shear degradation hindered LC purification of the DNA nanoswitches, removing oligonucleotides from the scaffold strand and causing loss of function.

Genome editing: a robust technology for human stem cells.

Human pluripotent stem cells comprise induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells, which have tremendous potential for biological and therapeutic applications. The development of efficient technologies for the targeted genome alteration of stem cells in disease models is a prerequisite for utilizing stem cells to their full potential. Genome editing of stem cells is possible with the help of synthetic nucleases that facilitate site-specific modification of a gene of interest.

Ferroelectricity, Antiferroelectricity, and Ultrathin 2D Electron/Hole Gas in Multifunctional Monolayer MXene.

The presence of ferroelectric polarization in 2D materials is extremely rare due to the effect of the surface depolarizing field. Here, we use first-principles calculations to show the largest out-of-plane polarization observed in a monolayer in functionalized MXenes (ScCO). The switching of polarization in this new class of ferroelectric materials occurs through a previously unknown intermediate antiferroelectric structure, thus establishing three states for applications in low-dimensional nonvolatile memory.

Determination of kinetic parameters in the pyrolysis operation and thermal behavior of Prosopis juliflora using thermogravimetric analysis.

This paper deals with the pyrolysis of Prosopis juliflora fuelwood using thermogravimetric analysis to determine the kinetic parameters at six different heating rates of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C/min. The activation energy of pyrolysis was calculated using different methods, namely Kissinger, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Friedman model and corresponding calculated activation energy were found to be 164.6, 204, 203.

Click-based functionalization of a 2'-O-propargyl-modified branched DNA nanostructure.

DNA has emerged as a versatile building block for programmable self-assembly. DNA-based nanostructures have been widely applied in biosensing, bioimaging, drug delivery, molecular computation and macromolecular scaffolding. A variety of strategies have been developed to functionalize these nanostructures.

Clinical Utility of Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) as a Biomarker to Predict Severity of Disease and Response to Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS) in Asthma Patients.

Introduction: Bronchial asthma is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease diagnosed and is based on symptomatic history and Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT). Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) is exclusively a non-invasive biomarker of on-going eosinophilic airway inflammation which remains unpredictable only with PFTs. FeNO measurement is recommended in predicting asthma severity and Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS) response but further research is required to understand its clinical utility and agreement with current recommendations in a specific population.

Nasal masks or binasal prongs for delivering continuous positive airway pressure in preterm neonates-a randomised trial.

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivered using nasal masks with binasal prongs. We randomly allocated 72 neonates between 26 and 32 weeks gestation to receive bubble CPAP by either nasal mask (n = 37) or short binasal prongs (n = 35). Primary outcome was mean FiO requirement at 6, 12 and 24 h of CPAP initiation and the area under curve (AUC) of FiO against time during the first 24 h (FiO AUC).

Dataset on elemental concentration and group identification of ancient potteries from Tamil Nadu, India.

The dataset contains concentration of major and trace elements of ancient potteries from Tamilnadu and grouping different potteries from the statistical techniques of factor and cluster analysis (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The major and trace elemental concentration data generated using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique (EDXRF) and factor and cluster analysis data obtained using STATISTICA (10.

In vitro metabolism of [C]-benalaxyl in hepatocytes of rats, dogs and humans.

The in vitro comparative animal metabolism study is now a data requirement under EU Directive 1107/2009 for registration of plant protection products. This type of study helps determine the extent of metabolism of a chemical in each surrogate species and whether any unique human metabolite(s) are formed. In the present study, metabolism of racemic [C]-benalaxyl, a fungicide was investigated in cryopreserved rat, dog and human hepatocytes.

Subtelomeric rearrangements in Indian children with idiopathic intellectual disability/developmental delay: Frequency estimation & clinical correlation using fluorescence hybridization (FISH).

Background & Objectives: Subtelomeres are prone to deleterious rearrangements owing to their proximity to unique sequences on the one end and telomeric repetitive sequences, which increase their tendency to recombine, on the other end. These subtelomeric rearrangements resulting in segmental aneusomy are reported to contribute to the aetiology of idiopathic intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD). We undertook this study to estimate the frequency of subtelomeric rearrangements in children with ID/DD.

Association of C-Reactive Protein (rs1205) Gene Polymorphism with Susceptibility to Psoriasis in South Indian Tamils.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a multi-factorial heritable T-helper Th-1/Th-17 mediated inflammatory disease, affecting the skin. It is associated with co-morbidities such as Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a good inflammatory marker.

Profile of Neonatal Sepsis due to Burkholderia capacia Complex.

We report the result of retrospective record review of the clinical profile of 59 neonates who presented to a tertiary-care extramural neonatal unit with Burkholderia cepacia complex infection. Among the 3265 admissions over 45 months, incidence of Burkholderia sepsis was 18 per 1000 admissions. Case fatality rate was 17%.

Prognostic Value of Resistive Index in Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Objective: To evaluate the role of Resistive index measured by cranial doppler ultrasonography in predicting the risk of death/ abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes in term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Methods: We enrolled 50 term asphyxiated neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and measured resistive index within 72 hours from the anterior cerebral artery. Participants underwent tone and developmental assessment at 6-12 months.

Redox control of senescence and age-related disease.

The signaling networks that drive the aging process, associated functional deterioration, and pathologies has captured the scientific community's attention for decades. While many theories exist to explain the aging process, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) provides a signaling link between engagement of cellular senescence and several age-associated pathologies. Cellular senescence has evolved to restrict tumor progression but the accompanying senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) promotes pathogenic pathways.

Locomotor activity and tissue levels following acute administration of lambda- and gamma-cyhalothrin in rats.

Pyrethroids produce neurotoxicity that depends, in part, on the chemical structure. Common behavioral effects include locomotor activity changes and specific toxic syndromes (types I and II). In general these neurobehavioral effects correlate well with peak internal dose metrics.

Astrocyte Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: New Tools for Neurological Disorder Research.

Astrocytes have a central role in brain development and function, and so have gained increasing attention over the past two decades. Consequently, our knowledge about their origin, differentiation and function has increased significantly, with new research showing that astrocytes cultured alone or co-cultured with neurons have the potential to improve our understanding of various central nervous system diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, or Alexander disease. The generation of astrocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) opens up a new area for studying neurologic diseases ; these models could be exploited to identify and validate potential drugs by detecting adverse effects in the early stages of drug development.