Assessing the Effects of Cytoprotectants on Selective Neuronal Loss, Sensorimotor Deficit and Microglial Activation after Temporary Middle Cerebral Occlusion.

Although early reperfusion after stroke salvages the still-viable ischemic tissue, peri-infarct selective neuronal loss (SNL) can cause sensorimotor deficits (SMD). We designed a longitudinal protocol to assess the effects of cytoprotectants on SMD, microglial activation (MA) and SNL, and specifically tested whether the KCa3.1-blocker TRAM-34 would prevent SNL.

Effects of hyperoxia on 18F-fluoro-misonidazole brain uptake and tissue oxygen tension following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rodents: Pilot studies.

Purpose: Mapping brain hypoxia is a major goal for stroke diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment monitoring. 18F-fluoro-misonidazole (FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET) is the gold standard hypoxia imaging method. Normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) is a promising therapy in acute stroke.

Brain hypoxia mapping in acute stroke: Back-to-back T2' MR versus F-fluoromisonidazole PET in rodents.

Background Mapping the hypoxic brain in acute ischemic stroke has considerable potential for both diagnosis and treatment monitoring. PET using F-fluoro-misonidazole (FMISO) is the reference method; however, it lacks clinical accessibility and involves radiation exposure. MR-based T2' mapping may identify tissue hypoxia and holds clinical potential.

Normobaric hyperoxia markedly reduces brain damage and sensorimotor deficits following brief focal ischaemia.

'True' transient ischaemic attacks are characterized not only clinically, but also radiologically by a lack of corresponding changes on magnetic resonance imaging. During a transient ischaemic attack it is assumed that the affected tissue is penumbral but rescued by early spontaneous reperfusion. There is, however, evidence from rodent studies that even brief focal ischaemia not resulting in tissue infarction can cause extensive selective neuronal loss associated with long-lasting sensorimotor impairment but normal magnetic resonance imaging.

What is the Optimal Duration of Middle-Cerebral Artery Occlusion Consistently Resulting in Isolated Cortical Selective Neuronal Loss in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat?

Introduction And Objectives: Selective neuronal loss (SNL) in the reperfused penumbra may impact clinical recovery and is thus important to investigate. Brief proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) results in predominantly striatal SNL, yet cortical damage is more relevant given its behavioral implications and that thrombolytic therapy mainly rescues the cortex. Distal temporary MCAo (tMCAo) does target the cortex, but the optimal occlusion duration that results in isolated SNL has not been determined.

Cortical selective neuronal loss, impaired behavior, and normal magnetic resonance imaging in a new rat model of true transient ischemic attacks.

Background And Purpose: New-definition transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are frequent but difficult to diagnose because magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative by definition. However, hidden underlying cell damage might be present and account for the reported long-lasting cognitive impairment after TIAs. Most prior rodent models of true TIA targeted the striatum or have not been fully characterized.

Regional distribution of selective neuronal loss and microglial activation across the MCA territory after transient focal ischemia: quantitative versus semiquantitative systematic immunohistochemical assessment.

Histopathologic assessment in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) rodent models generally lacks comprehensiveness and exposes to interobserver bias. Here we compared a novel quantitative assessment of regional infarction, selective neuronal loss (SNL) and microglial activation (MA) across the MCA territory to a previously published semiquantitative visual protocol. NeuN and OX42 immunohistochemistry was applied after either 15 or 45 minutes distal MCAo to maximize SNL and infarction, respectively.

Mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan and Lambda-cyhalothrin - in vitro study describing individual and combined effects of pesticides.

Excessive use of pesticides poses increased risks to non target species including humans. In the developing countries, lack of proper awareness about the toxic potential of pesticides makes the farmer more vulnerable to pesticide linked toxicities, which could lead to diverse pathological conditions. The toxic potential of a pesticide could be determined by their ability to induce genetic mutations and cytotoxicity.

Monitoring impacts of air pollution: PIXE analysis and histopathological modalities in evaluating relative risks of elemental contamination.

Environmental toxicants invariably affect all biological organisms resulting to sufferings ranging from subclinical to debilitating clinical conditions. This novel research aimed to determine the toxic burdens of increased environmental elements in some vital organs/tissues of the wild animals (starling, owl, crow and pigeon), exposed to air polluted environment were assessed using particle induced X-ray emission and histopathological approaches. The presence of significantly elevated amounts of elemental toxicants namely: Aluminum (Al), Chlorine (Cl), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Silicon (Si) and Vanadium (V) from the skin, muscle, lungs, liver and kidney of sampled animals were in concurrence with the observed histopathological changes.

MRI and neuropathological validations of the involvement of air pollutants in cortical selective neuronal loss.

Vehicles are a major source of air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) pollution, throughout the world and auto-rickshaws are considered main contributors to this air pollution. PM, in addition to causing respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, has potential to gain access to the brain and could induce neuroinflammation leading to different neurological disorders. Therefore, in the current project, MRI and immunohistochemistry techniques were adopted to ascertain the neurotoxic potential of the chronic exposure to different PM generated by two-stroke auto-rickshaws (TSA), four-stroke auto-rickshaws (FSA), and aluminum sulfate (AS) solution in rats.

In vitro toxic action potential of anti tuberculosis drugs and their combinations.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading infectious causes of death due to single infectious agent after HIV/AIDS. Rifampicin (RIF), Isoniazid (INH), Ethambutol (EMB), Pyrazinamide (PZA) and/or their combinations are extensively prescribed to treat TB. Despite several therapeutic implications, these drugs also produce several toxic effects at cellular level.

Cytotoxic, phytotoxic, and mutagenic appraisal to ascertain toxicological potential of particulate matter emitted from automobiles.

Vehicular air pollution is a mounting health issue of the modern age, particularly in urban populations of the developing nations. Auto-rickshaws are not considered eco-friendly as to their inefficient engines producing large amount of particulate matter (PM), thus posing significant environmental threat. The present study was conducted to ascertain the cytotoxic, phytotoxic, and mutagenic potential of PM from gasoline-powered two-stroke auto-rickshaws (TSA) and compressed natural gas-powered four-stroke auto-rickshaws (FSA).

A comparison of four PET tracers for brain hypoxia mapping in a rodent model of stroke.

Introduction: Severe brain hypoxia in the territory of the occluded artery is a key feature of ischemic stroke. This region can be imaged using positron emission tomography (PET) and the standard hypoxia radiotracer (18)F-fluoromisonidazole ((18)F-FMISO). However, the utility of (18)F-FMISO is limited by its slow accumulation in the lesion.

Monitoring trace elements generated by automobiles: air pollutants with possible health impacts.

Major transformations in the environmental composition are principally attributable to the combustion of fuels by automobiles. Motorized gasoline-powered two-stroke auto-rickshaws (TSA) and compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered four-stroke auto-rickshaws (FSA) are potential source of air pollution in south Asia and produce toxic amount of particulate matter (PM) to the environment. In this study, we attempted to characterize elemental pollutants from the PM of TSA and FSA using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis.

Assessment of the cytotoxic and anti-viral potential of aqueous extracts from different parts of Acacia nilotica (Linn) Delile against Peste des petits ruminants virus.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV); a negative sense single stranded RNA enveloped virus that causes Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), is dramatically affecting the health status of ruminants all around the world resulting in extensive economical losses in livestock sector. Acacia nilotica (Linn) Delile; a tannin-rich medicinal plant distributed throughout subcontinent, is traditionally used as food for ruminants and possesses anti-viral potential against different RNA viruses. In the current study, aqueous extracts from the bark, leaves and pods of A.

Characterizing infarction and selective neuronal loss following temporary focal cerebral ischemia in the rat: a multi-modality imaging study.

Background And Purpose: Current models dictate that, depending on occurrence of early reperfusion, the ischemic penumbra either undergoes or escapes infarction (i.e., "pan-necrosis").

Exploratory study using proton induced X-ray emission analysis and histopathological techniques to determine the toxic burden of environmental pollutants.

The aim of this novel research was to determine the toxic burden of increased elements in water resources on the inhabitant wild animals (squirrels, turtles, bats), using particle induced x-ray emission (PIXE) and histopathological approaches. PIXE analysis of skin, muscle, lung, liver and kidney revealed significant increase in Al, Cl, Fe, Mg, Mn, Si and V. Moreover, data clearly reflect a significant (P < 0.

Generation of CD2(+)CD8(+) NK Cells from c-kit(+) Bone Marrow Cells in Porcine.

Natural killer (NK) cells provide one of the initial barriers of cellular host defense against pathogens, in particular intracellular pathogens. Because bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), lymphoid protenitors, can give rise to NK cells, NK ontogeny has been considered to be exclusively lymphoid. Here, we show that porcine c-kit(+) bone marrow cells (c-kit(+) BM cells) develop into NK cells in vitro in the presence of various cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, stem cell factor (SCF), and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (FLT3L)].

Ecotoxicological risks associated with tannery effluent wastewater.

The problem of water pollution acquires greater relevance in the context of a developing agrarian economy like Pakistan. Even though, the leather industry is a leading economic sector in Pakistan, there is an increasing environmental concern regarding tanneries because they produce large amounts of potentially toxic wastewater containing both trivalent and hexavalent chromium, which are equally hazardous for human population, aquaculture and agricultural activities in the area. Therefore, we defined the scope of the present study as to employ different bioassays to determine the eco-toxic potential of tannery effluent wastewater (TW) and its chromium based components, i.

Characterization of tannery effluent wastewater by proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis to investigate their role in water pollution.

Introduction: Over the last few decades, the chromium-based tanning industry has shown rapid growth in Pakistan. However, the rules and regulations promulgated by the government are not strictly followed for processing the effluent discharge from the tanneries. Consequently, tannery effluents have become a great source of water pollution in surrounding areas.

Granulomatous pneumonia in a captive freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) caused by Mycobacterium szulgai.

A 25-yr-old male freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) was diagnosed with pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium szulgai. Necropsy revealed fibrinous exudate in the right pleural cavity and white miliary nodules in the right lung lobe. Histopathologic examination revealed well-demarcated granulomas consisting of multinucleated giant cells and epithelioid cells surrounded by fibrous connective tissue.

Vascular and morphogenetic abnormalities associated with exposure of cigarette smoke condensate during chicken and murine embryogenesis.

Objective: Embryonic movements (EM) and angiogenesis pathways are evolutionarily conserved mechanisms which are essential for proper embryonic development. Deviations in these processes by exposure to cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) may cause vascular and morphogenetic disorders.

Methods: Using chicken and mouse embryos, we have demonstrated the in vivo effects of CSC on EM, vascular development, and organogenesis.

Total particulate matter and wound healing: an in vivo study with histological insights.

Objectives: Wound healing in the skin is a multifarious orchestration of cellular processes and cigarette smoking may be a cause for delayed wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the plausible association between exposures of cigarette total particulate matter (TPM) and wound healing.

Methods: An in vivo wound healing model of mice was established for determination of assorted events of wound healing, dermal matrix regeneration, re-epithelialization, and neovascularization.

Pollution dilemma in Asian population: CNG and wound healing.

Automobile exhaust constituents contribute significantly to air pollution in urban areas and compressed natural gas (CNG) is considered one of the most promising fuel alternatives for the future. CNG-powered four-stroke engine auto-rickshaws are ubiquitous in South Asian cities as taxi and for commercial transportation. Automotive exhaust contains several toxins, which are overwhelmingly toxic to the processes of wound healing.

Anti-angiogenic activities associated with exposure of environmental smoke solutions from 2-stroke auto-rickshaw.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is vital for embryonic development and disruption of this process can be a powerful mechanism of abortion. Over the last few decades there has been increasing global concern regarding the public health impact attributed to environmental smoke pollution. However, no study has yet examined the relation between exhaust from 2-stroke auto-rickshaws and angiogenesis.