Biodegradable nanofiber coated human umbilical cord as nerve scaffold for sciatic nerve regeneration in albino Wistar rats.

Background: Human umbilical cord (hUC) is encompassed by a mucoid connective tissue called Wharton's jelly (WJ), made of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and stromal cells to support the blood vessels of hUC. This study was aimed to determine the in vitro neuronal differentiation of WJ-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs), and in vivo axonal regeneration potential of nanofiber coated human Wharton's jelly as a neuronal graft after sciatic nerve injury in immunosuppressed albino Wistar rats.

Materials And Methods: Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells could be differentiated to neuron-like cells by inducing with neuronic supplementing media.

Advanced imaging and digitization of preserved heart specimens using virtual reality - A primer.

Introduction: Preserved congenital heart specimens are an important component of training professionals working with children and adults with congenital heart disease. They are curated in few institutions worldwide and not freely accessible. This was a proof-of-concept project to explore the use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities (computed tomography [CT] and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and virtual reality (VR) simulation to assess the feasibility and identify the best method of imaging curated cardiac pathology specimens.

Deep sequencing unveils altered cardiac miRNome in congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) surges from fetal cardiac dysmorphogenesis and chiefly contributes to perinatal morbidity and cardiovascular disease mortality. A continual rise in prevalence and prerequisite postoperative disease management creates need for better understanding and new strategies to control the disease. The interaction between genetic and non-genetic factors roots the multifactorial status of this disease, which remains incompletely explored.

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction: a quest for ideal management.

Management of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction has undergone much change over the last century. Techniques described in the literature include anatomical repairs and the use of various patches, conduits, and innovative grafts. However, many of these approaches require reoperations or catheter-based interventions, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and cost.

Correlative Studies Unravelling the Possible Mechanism of Cell Death in Tideglusib-Treated Human Ovarian Teratocarcinoma-Derived PA-1 Cells.

This study aims to unravel the use of GSK-3 inhibitors as viable apoptotic inducers for teratocarcinoma-derived ovarian PA-1 cells. MTT assay was carried out to assess inhibitory concentrations of LiCl and TDG. AO/EB staining and Hoechst 33258 staining were employed to assess the damage.

GSK-3 Inhibitors: A Double-Edged Sword? - An Update on Tideglusib.

GSK-3 inhibitors are an emerging tool for clinical interventions in human diseases and represent a niche area in combinational therapy. They possess diverse facets in applications of nervous system disorders, Type 2 diabetes, regenerative medicine and cancer. However, conflicting reports suggest the controversial role of GSK-3 inhibitors in cancers.

In-stent restenosis: surgical and histopathological perspective.

Background In-stent restenosis has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity that warrants a repeat procedure either in the form of percutaneous reintervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. Multivessel grafting with endarterectomy and explantation of the stent is rarely performed, with few cases reported in the literature. We aim to study the pathomorphology of the stent-vascular interface in coronary vessels undergoing in-stent restenosis.

MitraClip and mitral annuloplasty device as a bridge to transplantation.

A 42-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy and endstage heart failure was evaluated for heart transplantation. He received a MitraClip and Carillon annuloplasty device for functional mitral regurgitation as palliation for his heart failure. Subsequently, he underwent successful heart transplantation.

3D Printing to Model Surgical Repair of Complex Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries.

We report the use of three-dimensional (3D) modeling to plan surgery for physiologic repair of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries with pulmonary atresia, dextrocardia, and complex intra cardiac anatomy. Based on measurements made from the 3D printed model of the actual patient's anatomy, we anticipated using a composite valved conduit (Dacron tube graft, decellularized bovine jugular vein, and aortic homograft) to establish left ventricle-to-pulmonary artery continuity with relief of stenosis involving the pulmonary artery confluence and bilateral branch pulmonary arteries.

Role of Antioxidants in Horse Serum-mediated Vasculitis in Swine: Potential Relevance to Early Treatment in Mitigation of Coronary Arteritis in Kawasaki Disease.

Background: Horse serum-induced immune complex coronary vasculitis in swine is the first experimental model to mimic most of the pictures of Kawasaki disease. Immune complex mechanism has been implicated as one of the possible mechanisms in the pathogenesis of vasculitis in Kawasaki disease. Antioxidants have a significant role in the reduction of cardiovascular diseases in both human and animal studies.

Tideglusib induces apoptosis in human neuroblastoma IMR32 cells, provoking sub-G0/G1 accumulation and ROS generation.

Neuroblastoma is the most common tumor amongst children amounting to nearly 15% of cancer deaths. This cancer is peculiar in its characteristics, exhibiting differentiation, maturation and metastatic transformation leading to poor prognosis and low survival rates among children. Chemotherapy, though toxic to normal cells, has shown to improve the survival of the patient with emphasis given more towards targeting angiogenesis.

Development of an antidiabetic formulation (ADJ6) and its inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase.

There has recently been much advancement in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of metabolic disorders, especially diabetes. Current research around the world is focused on finding an alternative source of treatment from natural resources for diabetic management, apart from the available synthetic medicines. The present study is a preliminary study of a polyherbal formulation using edible natural resources and an assessment of its antidiabetic activity.

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury in a developing country: Prevalence, risk factors and outcome.

Little is known about cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) in children in developing regions of the world. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of CSAKI, associated factors and its impact on mortality and utilization of hospital services. The hospital records of children aged 0-17 years who underwent CS at an Indian hospital were reviewed.

The warden procedure through a posterolateral thoracotomy approach.

The Warden procedure for the correction of a right-sided partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the high superior vena cava is well established. It has the advantages of avoiding sinoatrial node dysfunction and pulmonary and systemic venous obstruction. In the case related here, a 3-year-old girl presented with a superior vena cava type of sinus venosus atrial septal defect and an anomalously draining right upper pulmonary vein, with bilateral superior venae cavae.

Low frequency magnetic force augments hepatic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on a biomagnetic nanofibrous scaffold.

Liver tissue engineering using polymeric nanofibrous scaffold and stem cells holds great promises for treating end-stage liver failures. The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatic trans-differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on a biomagnetic electrospun nanofibrous scaffold fabricated from a blend of poly-L-lactide (PLLA), collagen and fibrin-rich blood clot, under the influence of a low frequency magnetic field. The scaffold was characterized for surface properties, biochemical and biomechanical parameters and bio-magnetic behaviour.

Cruciate Fenestration in Ventricular Septal Defect Patch for High-Risk Patients With High Pulmonary Vascular Resistance.

Late presentation of patients with large ventricular septal defect (VSD) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is not uncommon in developing countries. Surgical VSD closure in these patients carries risks of persistent pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure, and mortality. Several techniques for creation of valved patches or fenestrated patches have been developed to address these issues.

Nanofibers coated on acellular tissue-engineered bovine pericardium supports differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells for tissue engineering.

Aim: This study aimed to develop biodegradable, polymer-based nanofibers coated on acellular tissue-engineered bovine pericardium (ATEBP) for cell interfaces, enabling more exquisite functionality, such as mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) adhesion, proliferation and differentiation into endothelial cells for tissue engineering.

Materials & Methods: ATEBP coated with nanofibers of poly(L-lactic acid)-co-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLACL) and a blend of PLACL and gelatin were analyzed for human bone marrow-derived MSC adhesion, proliferation and differentiation into endothelial cells.

Results: The cell culture-based approach showed an increase in human bone marrow-derived MSC adhesion, proliferation and differentiation into endothelial cells on ATEBP coated with PLACL/gelatin nanofibers compared with ATEBP and PLACL nanofibers coated on ATEBP.

In vitro hepatic trans-differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells using sera from congestive/ischemic liver during cardiac failure.

Cellular therapy for end-stage liver failures using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-derived hepatocytes is a potential alternative to liver transplantation. Hepatic trans-differentiation of hMSCs is routinely accomplished by induction with commercially available recombinant growth factors, which is of limited clinical applications. In the present study, we have evaluated the potential of sera from cardiac-failure-associated congestive/ischemic liver patients for hepatic trans-differentiation of hMSCs.

16S rRNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool in the identification of culture-negative endocarditis in surgically treated patients.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a worldwide problem, and at least one-third of cases are culture-negative despite the use of appropriate laboratory techniques.

Methods: A broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was performed of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by single-strand sequencing for 26 surgically removed heart valves from patients with culture-negative endocarditis who had undergone valve repair or replacement.

Results: Two of the 26 patients were PCR-positive, and sequencing of the amplicon identified the etiological agent.

Nanofiber-reinforced myocardial tissue-construct as ventricular assist device.

Objectives: This study aimed to create a myocardial tissue construct by tissue engineering to repair, replace, and regenerate damaged cardiac tissue.

Methods And Results: Human cardiac muscles harvested from a homograft heart retrieval system were decellularized followed by coating with electrospun nanofibers to make them amenable to scaffolding. These processed cardiac tissues were nourished in modified media having ischemic cardiac tissue conditioned media in 6 separate experimental variants, and cord blood mononuclear cells were injected into 4 of them.

Estimation of serum neopterin in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine neopterin levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome, in which the release of various cytokines activates the cellular immune system. There is an increase in the number and activity of T-cells in unstable atherosclerotic plaques, and of type 1 helper T-cells that produce interferon γ, which in turn produces neopterin, a byproduct of the guanosine triphosphate-biopterin pathway and a marker for activated macrophages.

Methods: We studied 600 subjects consisting of healthy volunteers and patients with noncardiac chest pain, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or unstable angina.