End-point immobilization of heparin on plasma-treated surface of electrospun polycarbonate-urethane vascular graft.

Unlabelled: Small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts have high failure rate due to primarily surface thrombogenicity, and effective surface chemical modification is critical to maintain the patency of the grafts. In this study, we engineered a small-diameter, elastic synthetic vascular graft with off-the-shelf availability and anti-thrombogenic activity. Polycarbonate-urethane (PCU), was electrospun to produce nanofibrous grafts that closely mimicked a native blood vessel in terms of structural and mechanical strength.

Nanoparticle delivery of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein and donor DNA induces homology-directed DNA repair.

CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutics, especially those that can correct gene mutations via homology directed repair (HDR), have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic diseases. However, HDR-based therapeutics are challenging to develop because they require simultaneous delivery of Cas9 protein, guide RNA and donor DNA. Here, we demonstrate that a delivery vehicle composed of gold nanoparticles conjugated to DNA and complexed with cationic endosomal disruptive polymers can deliver Cas9 ribonucleoprotein and donor DNA into a wide variety of cell types, and efficiently correct the DNA mutation that causes Duchenne muscular dystrophy in mice via local injection, with minimal off-target DNA damage.

Serum adiponectin levels in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a unique situation in which there is a physiological temporary increase in insulin resistance (IR). The mechanisms responsible for the gestational-induced IR are not completely understood.

In resource limited areas complete enteral feed in stable very low birth weight infants (1000-1500 g) started within 24 h of life can improve nutritional outcome.

Objective: To evaluate feasibility of complete enteral feed (CEF) in stable very low birth weight neonates weighing 1000-1500 g.

Subjects And Interventions: One hundred and three stable very low birth weight (vlbw) neonates (1000-1500 g) irrespective of gestational age (GA) were randomized to receive either CEF with expressed breast milk (EBM) (n = 51) or minimal enteral feed (MEF) supplemented with intravenous fluid (IVF). (MEF) (n = 52).

Characterization of three dimensional volumetric strain distribution during passive tension of the human tibialis anterior using Cine Phase Contrast MRI.

Intramuscular pressure correlates strongly with muscle tension and is a promising tool for quantifying individual muscle force. However, clinical application is impeded by measurement variability that is not fully understood. Previous studies point to regional differences in IMP, specifically increasing pressure with muscle depth.

Dual-component collagenous peptide/reactive oligomer hydrogels as potential nerve guidance materials - from characterization to functionalization.

Toward a new generation of improved nerve guidance conduits (NGCs), novel biomaterials are required to address pressing clinical shortcomings in peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR) and to promote biological performance. A dual-component hydrogel system formed by cross-linking reaction between maleic anhydride groups in an oligomeric building block for cross-linking of free amine functionalities in partially hydrolyzed collagen is formulated for continuous processing and NGC fabrication. The influence of the gelation base is optimized for processing from a double syringe delivery system with a static mixer.

Carotid intimo-medial thickness: A predictor for cardiovascular disorder in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in the South Indian population.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine problem, which is now recognized as not only a reproductive but also a metabolic disorder with long-term effects on women's health, it has a prevalence of 5-10% in India. Among PCOS, it has been reported to have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disorders. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between an increase in the carotid intimo-medial wall thickness (CIMT) and cardiovascular dysfunction.

The relationship between women's experiences of mistreatment at facilities during childbirth, types of support received and person providing the support in Lucknow, India.

Background: a growing body of literature has highlighted the prevalence of mistreatment that women experience around the globe during childbirth, including verbal and physical abuse, neglect, lack of support, and disrespect. Much of this has been qualitative. Research around the world suggests that support during childbirth can improve health outcomes and behaviours, and improve experiences.

Bio-inspired strategies for designing antifouling biomaterials.

Contamination of biomedical devices in a biological medium, biofouling, is a major cause of infection and is entirely avoidable. This mini-review will coherently present the broad range of antifouling strategies, germicidal, preventive and cleaning using one or more of biological, chemical and physical techniques. These techniques will be discussed from the point of view of their ability to inhibit protein adsorption, usually the first step that eventually leads to fouling.

Science to Practice: What Causes Arterial Infarction in Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections, and Which Steroid Is Safest?

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) are associated with rare but devastating neurologic complications. Every published case has been associated with a particulate steroid suspension, and the presumed but not proven mechanism is embolization and occlusion of end arterioles. Through an in vivo murine model and in vitro experiments on human red blood cells (RBCs), the study by Laemmel et al (1) in this issue of Radiology elucidates the potential mechanisms for steroid-induced vascular compromise.

Competitive Adsorption of Plasma Proteins Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance.

Proteins that get adsorbed onto the surfaces of biomaterials immediately upon their implantation mediate the interactions between the material and the environment. This process, in which proteins in a complex mixture compete for adsorption sites on the surface, is determined by the physicochemical interactions at the interface. Competitive adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA), fibronectin (Fn), and collagen type I (Col I), sequentially and from mixtures, was investigated so as to understand the performances of different surfaces used in biomedical applications.

Self-Assembly and Critical Aggregation Concentration Measurements of ABA Triblock Copolymers with Varying B Block Types: Model Development, Prediction, and Validation.

The dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation technique is a coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics-based approach that can effectively capture the hydrodynamics of complex systems while retaining essential information about the structural properties of the molecular species. An advantageous feature of DPD is that it utilizes soft repulsive interactions between the beads, which are CG representation of groups of atoms or molecules. In this study, we used the DPD simulation technique to study the aggregation characteristics of ABA triblock copolymers in aqueous medium.

Multiscale approach for the construction of equilibrated all-atom models of a poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel.

A multiscale modeling approach is presented for the efficient construction of an equilibrated all-atom model of a cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel using the all-atom polymer consistent force field (PCFF). The final equilibrated all-atom model was built with a systematic simulation toolset consisting of three consecutive parts: (1) building a global cross-linked PEG-chain network at experimentally determined cross-link density using an on-lattice Monte Carlo method based on the bond fluctuation model, (2) recovering the local molecular structure of the network by transitioning from the lattice model to an off-lattice coarse-grained (CG) model parameterized from PCFF, followed by equilibration using high performance molecular dynamics methods, and (3) recovering the atomistic structure of the network by reverse mapping from the equilibrated CG structure, hydrating the structure with explicitly represented water, followed by final equilibration using PCFF parameterization. The developed three-stage modeling approach has application to a wide range of other complex macromolecular hydrogel systems, including the integration of peptide, protein, and/or drug molecules as side-chains within the hydrogel network for the incorporation of bioactivity for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery applications.

Design of barrier coatings on kink-resistant peripheral nerve conduits.

Here, we report on the design of braided peripheral nerve conduits with barrier coatings. Braiding of extruded polymer fibers generates nerve conduits with excellent mechanical properties, high flexibility, and significant kink-resistance. However, braiding also results in variable levels of porosity in the conduit wall, which can lead to the infiltration of fibrous tissue into the interior of the conduit.

Bridging the gap in 1(st) year dental material curriculum: A 3 year randomized cross over trial.

Background: Case-oriented small group discussions (COSGDs) can help students to correlate and integrate the basic science of dental materials into clinical application. We used COSGDs along with didactic lectures in dental material curriculum and hypothesized that case-oriented group discussions would be more effective than traditional lecture alone in terms of performance of students, student perception on the above two teaching methodologies and the feasibility in classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Methods: A total of 170 students were taught using both COSGD and didactic lecture in a randomized controlled crossover trial design.

Method of quantifying 3D strain distribution in skeletal muscle using cine phase contrast MRI.

Intramuscular pressure (IMP), a correlate of muscle tension, may fill an important clinical testing void. A barrier to implementing this measure clinically is its non-uniform distribution, which is not fully understood. Pressure is generated by changes in fluid mass and volume, therefore 3D volumetric strain distribution may affect IMP distribution.

Hydrogel Pore-Size Modulation for Enhanced Single-Cell Western Blotting.

Pore-gradient microgel arrays enable thousands of parallel high-resolution single-cell protein electrophoresis separations for targets accross a wide molecular mass (25-289 kDa), yet within 1 mm separation distances. Dual crosslinked hydrogels facilitate gel-pore expansion after electrophoresis for efficient and uniform immunoprobing. The photopatterned, light-activated, and acid-expandable hydrogel underpins single-cell protein analysis, here for oncoprotein-related signaling in human breast biopsy.

Competing Risk Approach (CRA) for Estimation of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY's) for Female Breast Cancer in India.

Background: Competing Risk Approach (CRA) has been used to compute burden of disease in terms of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) based on a life table for an initially disease-free cohort over time.

Objective: To compute Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality, Years of life lost due to Disability (YLD), DALYs and loss in expectation of life (LEL) using competing risk approach for female breast cancer patients for the year 2008 in India.

Materials And Methods: The published data on breast cancer by age & sex, incidence & mortality for the year 2006-2008 relating to six population based cancer registries (PBCR) under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), general mortality rates of 2007 in India, published in national health profile 2010; based on Sample Registration System (SRS) were utilized for computations.

The adductor magnus "mini-hamstring": MRI appearance and potential pitfalls.

Objective: To examine the anatomic MRI characteristics of the adductor magnus mini hamstring (AMMH) and explore its involvement in cases of hamstring avulsion.

Materials And Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review of patients undergoing "hamstring protocol" MRI between March 2009 and June 2014 was performed. Two musculoskeletal radiologists recorded multiple AMMH anatomic characteristics and involvement in cases of hamstring avulsion.

Fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections at a quaternary-care teaching institution: effect of trainee involvement and patient body mass index on fluoroscopy time and patient dose.

Aim: To investigate whether there are differences in fluoroscopy time and patient dose for fluoroscopically guided lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) performed by staff radiologists versus with trainees and to evaluate the effect of patient body mass index (BMI) on fluoroscopy time and patient dose, including their interactions with other variables.

Materials And Methods: Single-level lumbar TFESIs (n=1844) between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2013 were reviewed. Fluoroscopy time, reference point air kerma (Ka,r), and kerma area product (KAP) were recorded.

Severe paraneoplastic hypoglycemia secondary to a gastrointestinal stromal tumour masquerading as a stroke.

Unlabelled: We report the case of a 70-year-old previously healthy female who presented acutely to the Accident and Emergency department with left-sided vasomotor symptoms including reduced muscle tone, weakness upon walking and slurred speech. Physical examination confirmed hemiparesis with VIIth nerve palsy and profound hepatomegaly. A random glucose was low at 1.

Physical Delivery of Macromolecules using High-Aspect Ratio Nanostructured Materials.

There is great need for the development of an efficient delivery method of macromolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and peptides, to cell cytoplasm without eliciting toxicity or changing cell behavior. High-aspect ratio nanomaterials have addressed many challenges present in conventional methods, such as cell membrane passage and endosomal degradation, and have shown the feasibility of efficient high-throughput macromolecule delivery with minimal perturbation of cells. This review describes the recent advances of in vitro and in vivo physical macromolecule delivery with high-aspect ratio nanostructured materials and summarizes the synthesis methods, material properties, relevant applications, and various potential directions.

Imaging and Clinical Characteristics Predict Near-Term Disablement From Bone Metastases: Implications for Rehabilitation.

Objective: To distinguish which patients with bone metastases are at risk for near-term disablement in order to assist clinicians in assessing the appropriateness of referrals for rehabilitation services.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center imbedded in a tertiary medical center.

A biodegradable adamantane polymer with ketal linkages in its backbone for gene therapy.

In this report we present a polyketal, termed pADK, which has adamantane groups embedded in its backbone, and degrades into neutral excretable compounds. pADK was synthesized via click chemistry and had a MW of 49 472 and a PDI of 1.74.

Music versus lifestyle on the autonomic nervous system of prehypertensives and hypertensives--a randomized control trial.

Objectives: Ragas of Indian music are said to be beneficial in normalizing blood pressure (BP). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of passive listening to relaxing raga on the autonomic functions of hypertensives and prehypertensives and provide scientific evidence.

Methods: Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional review board.