Molecular differences between neonatal and adult stria vascularis from organotypic explants and transcriptomics.

Summary: The stria vascularis (SV), part of the blood-labyrinth barrier, is an essential component of the inner ear that regulates the ionic environment required for hearing. SV degeneration disrupts cochlear homeostasis, leading to irreversible hearing loss, yet a comprehensive understanding of the SV, and consequently therapeutic availability for SV degeneration, is lacking. We developed a whole-tissue explant model from neonatal and adult mice to create a robust platform for SV research.

Awareness, Perception, and Practice Regarding Needle-Stick Injury and Its Prevention Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India.

Background Needle stick injuries caused by various sharp and other items like hypodermic needles and intravenous cannulas are important occupational hazards for healthcare workers (HCW). Preventing injuries is the most effective way to protect workers and requires good awareness and perceptions associated with practice on a daily basis. Therefore, we did a descriptive cross-sectional study involving healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital to find the level of awareness, perception, and practice associated with needle stick injury and its prevention.

Profile of Splash, Sharp and Needle-Stick Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India.

Background and objective Among biological hazards faced by healthcare workers, one of the most commonly reported is sharp-related injury. Needle-stick and sharp injuries transmit infectious diseases, especially blood-borne viruses. The conditions in which these exposures occur vary.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein alters the neuronal secretome and stimulates the release of TGFβ and proteins that affect neural plasticity.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and Nogo inhibit neurite outgrowth by binding to receptors such as NgR1, PirB and LRP1, and they have also been shown to induce phosphorylation of Smad2, a key intermediate in the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signalling pathway. In this study, we determined that MAG and Nogo do not transactivate the TGFβ receptor through their canonical receptors or discoidin domain receptor 1, which we identified as a novel receptor for MAG and Nogo. Instead, MAG and Nogo promoted Smad2 phosphorylation by stimulating secretion of TGFβ.

Hearing Function, Degeneration, and Disease: Spotlight on the Stria Vascularis.

The stria vascularis (SV) is a highly vascularized tissue lining the lateral wall of the cochlea. The SV maintains cochlear fluid homeostasis, generating the endocochlear potential that is required for sound transduction. In addition, the SV acts as an important blood-labyrinth barrier, tightly regulating the passage of molecules from the blood into the cochlea.