Cannabidiol promotes adipogenesis of human and mouse mesenchymal stem cells via PPARγ by inducing lipogenesis but not lipolysis.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Human exposure to CBD can be through recreational marijuana use, commercially available CBD-containing products, and medical treatments. Previous studies found that cannabidiol may activate the master regulator of adipogenesis, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ).

Nonspecific amplification of human DNA by LytA primer.

Background: Determination of various analytical parameters is essential for the validation of primers used for in-house nucleic acid amplification tests. While standardising a high-resolution melt analysis (HRMA) for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in acute pyogenic meningitis, we encountered non-specific amplification of certain base pair sequences of human DNA by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, USA recommended S. pneumoniae LytA primer.

Bacterial identification in the diagnostic laboratory: how much is enough?

The major impetus for bacterial identification came after the advent of solid culture media. Morphological appearance of bacterial colonies was often sufficient for their identification in the laboratory. Even in modern times, preliminary identification of most cultivable bacteria is based on such morphological characters.

Antimicrobial activity of amniotic fluid in South Indian women.

Samples of amniotic fluid obtained from 48 South Indian women in the third trimester of pregnancy were studied for antimicrobial activity. The growth of Staphylococcus albus, Candida albicans and Clostridium perfringens was inhibited by nearly all samples studied while the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis was inhibited by 50%, 42% and 18% of samples respectively. The growth of Streptococcus faecalis was not inhibited.

Rapid screening of fecal samples for Vibrio cholerae by a coagglutination technique.

A coagglutination procedure for detecting Vibrio cholerae was applied directly to 125 watery fecal samples received in the laboratory for bacteriological culture: many of these were from suspected cases of cholera. Of 47 bacteriologically proved cases of cholera, 44 (93.6%) gave positive results by the coagglutination method.

Streptococcal antibodies and complement components in tropical post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Anti-deoxyribonuclease "B' was elevated in 94.9% of 59 cases of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis studied, whereas ASO was elevated only in 54.4% of cases showing that the ADNB titre is a more sensitive indicator of antecedent streptococcal infection than ASO, in tropical countries with a high prevalence of pyoderma.

Micro-indirect hemagglutination test for detection of antibodies to the Ibc protein of group B Streptococcus.

A micro-indirect hemagglutination test was developed for detecting antibody against the Ibc protein of group B Streptococcus. Formalin-preserved, tanned sheep erythrocytes were sensitized with a partially purified preparation of Ibc protein from a type Ic strain of group B streptococci. A total of 76% of 103 sera from pregnant and nonpregnant women had demonstrable antibody against this protein, with titers ranging from 10 to 320.

The reliability and rapidity of the coagglutination technic and its comparison with precipitin technic in the grouping of streptococci.

Three methods of the grouping of 170 strains of beta-hemolytic streptococci belonging to Groups A, B, C, F, and G by capillary and agar-gel precipitation using Lancefield extract and by coagglutination of antibody-coated protein A-containing staphylococci were compared. Capillary and agar-gel precipitin technics correctly grouped all 170 strains, with no cross-reaction. One hundred sixty-nine out of the 170 strains were also correctly grouped by the coagglutination technic, and the one strain with a cross-reaction was correctly grouped after blood--agar subculture.