Filamentous fungi as emerging cell factories for the production of aromatic compounds.

Microbial production of aromatic compounds from renewable feedstocks has gained increasing interest as a means towards sustainable production of chemicals. The potential of filamentous fungi for production of aromatic compounds has nonetheless not yet been widely exploited. Notably, many filamentous fungi can naturally break down lignin and metabolize lignin-derived aromatic compounds.

CRISPR Screen Reveals PACT as a Pro-Viral Factor for Dengue Viral Replication.

The dengue virus is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus that infects ~400 million people worldwide. Currently, there are no approved antivirals available. CRISPR-based screening methods have greatly accelerated the discovery of host factors that are essential for DENV infection and that can be targeted in host-directed antiviral interventions.

Preclinical evaluation of hydrogel sealed fluropassivated indigenous vascular prosthesis.

Background & Objectives: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) graft, designed and developed at our institute for vascular reconstruction, is porous to promote optimal incorporation and neointima formation, requiring pre-clotting or biomodification by sealing the pores before implantation. The objective of this study was to characterize, test and perform preclinical evaluation of hydrogel (alginate dialdehyde cross-linked gelatin) sealed fluoropassivated PET vascular prosthesis in pig model, so as to avoid pre-clotting, for its safety and efficacy before employing the indigenous and less expensive graft for clinical use.

Methods: Hydrogel sealed, fluoropassivated PET vascular prosthesis were tested for haemocompatibility and toxicity followed by small animal toxicology tests and in vivo experiments in pigs receiving implantation at thoracic aorta.

Long-term healing of mildly cross-linked decellularized bovine pericardial aortic patch.

Glutaraldehyde treated bovine pericardium is extensively used in cardiovascular surgery. However, frequent occurrence of failure modes, such as calcification and structural failure, has hard pressed the need for finding an alternate technology. Decellularized bovine pericardium is an emerging technology.

Effect of chronic inflammation and immune response on regeneration induced by decellularized bovine pericardium.

Decellularised tissue produces a variety of host responses ranging from constructive remodeling to scarring on account of its differences in the source of tissue, processing or sterilization methods. In this study, in vivo regeneration induced by decellularised bovine pericardium with or without mild glutaraldehyde crosslinking was studied in relation to its immune and inflammatory response using rat abdominal regeneration model. Mild glutaraldehyde crosslinking was done to subdue inflammatory and immune response without compromising host cell incorporation and graft remodeling.

Appraisal of transverse nasal groove: a study.

Background: Transverse nasal groove is a condition of cosmetic concern which awaits due recognition and has been widely described as a shallow groove that extends transversely over the dorsum of nose. However, we observed variations in the clinical presentations of this entity, hitherto undescribed in literature.

Aims: We conducted a clinicoepidemiological study of transverse nasal lesions in patients attending our outpatient department.

Glutaraldehyde treatment elicits toxic response compared to decellularization in bovine pericardium.

Glutaraldehyde-stabilized bovine pericardium is used for clinical application since 1970s because of its desirable features such as less immunogenicity and acceptable durability. However, a propensity for calcification is reported on account of glutaraldehyde treatment. In this study, commercially available glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine pericardium was evaluated for its in vitro cytotoxic effect, macrophage activation, and in vivo toxic response in comparison to decellularized bovine pericardium.

Severe renal injuries in children following blunt abdominal trauma: selective management and outcome.

Introduction: Blunt trauma accounts for the majority of pediatric renal injuries. Most injuries are often minor and can be managed without surgical intervention. We have retrospectively reviewed our series of children with severe (grade IV/V) renal injuries, their management and outcome.

Short duration gluteraldehyde cross linking of decellularized bovine pericardium improves biological response.

Gluteraldehyde stabilized bovine pericardium is used for clinical application since 1970s because of its desirable features such as less immunogenicity and acceptable durability. However, a propensity for calcification and long term implant failure is reported because of gluteraldehyde treatment. There is also failure of implant to integrate into host tissue because of its resistance to tissue remodeling.

In vitro and in vivo performance of a dual drug-eluting stent (DDES).

This study reports on a dual drug-eluting stent (DDES) that has an anti-proliferative and an anti-thrombotic in a biodegradable polymer-coated onto a cobalt-chromium stent. The DDES was prepared by spray coating the bare metal stent with a biodegradable polymer loaded with sirolimus and triflusal, to treat against restenosis and thrombosis, respectively. The 2-layered dual-drug coated stent was characterized in vitro for surface properties before and after expansion, as well as for possible delamination by cross-sectioning the stent in vitro.

The short-term effect on restenosis and thrombosis of a cobalt-chromium stent eluting two drugs in a porcine coronary artery model.

The aim of this article was to study the effect of dual drug-eluting stent (DES) on both restenosis and thrombosis in a porcine coronary artery model. This study reports on the use of two drugs coated on the stent to simultaneously minimize both restenosis and thrombosis. The DES was prepared by spray coating a bare metal stent with a biodegradable polymer loaded with sirolimus and triflusal, to treat against restenosis and thrombosis, respectively.

Comparative evaluation of cytokines, T-cell apoptosis, and costimulatory molecule expression in tuberculous and nontuberculous pleurisy.

In this study, we compared several immune parameters in tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculosis (NTB) pleurisy to gain an understanding of the mechanism behind enhanced Th1 apoptosis that occurs at sites of active Myobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. An initial evaluation of the accumulated cytokines in pleural fluid (PF) demonstrated that both TB and NTB pleurisy were associated with prointflammatory cytokines, while only TB pleurisy had augmented expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma and soluble Fas ligand (sFASL).

Effect of blood flow on drug release from DES: an experimental study.

DES has made stenting a successful treatment modality. Still problems exists such as late thrombosis and continued neo-intimal proliferation. Blood flow affects the drug retained in the stent and subsequently on the time frame of vascular healing.

Endocardial endothelial cells stimulate proliferation and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts.

Given that vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the modulation of vascular structure and function, we hypothesized that endocardial endothelial cells (EECs) may have a modulator role in regulating the cardiac interstitial cells. Endocardial endothelial cells were isolated from freshly collected pig hearts and cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from 3- to 4-d-old Wistar rats. Fibroblasts were cultured in the presence or absence of conditioned medium from EECs.

Evaluation of an in situ forming hydrogel wound dressing based on oxidized alginate and gelatin.

Wound dressings that can be formed in situ offer several advantages over the use of preformed dressings such as conformability without wrinkling or fluting in the wound bed, ease of application and improved patient compliance and comfort. Here we describe such an in situ forming hydrogel wound dressing from gelatin, oxidized alginate and borax. Periodate oxidized alginate rapidly cross-links proteins such as gelatin in the presence of borax to give in situ forming hydrogels that are both non-toxic and biodegradable.

Comparative evaluation of absorbable hemostats: advantages of fibrin-based sheets.

Bioactive hemostats and wound dressings consist of either inherently active materials or act as delivery vehicles which contain such materials. Fibrin is a natural hemostat and scaffold, guiding the direction of wound contraction and closure. In order to improve the ease of application of liquid fibrin glue, we have made a freeze-dried form of polymerized fibrin that supports hemostasis and wound healing.

Fibrin glue as an osteoinductive protein in a mouse model.

Fibrin sealant or fibrin glue (FG) has been found to be effective as a wound-healing substance in surgery. However, its role in bone fracture healing and osseous tissue response is not fully understood. This ambiguity questions the potential of FG as an inductive protein.

An improved method for isolation of anti-viper venom antibodies from chicken egg yolk.

The production of antibodies and its purification from mammalian blood has been found low yielding and laborious. Therefore, anti snake venom antibodies for therapeutic use is obtained mostly as polyvalent whole serum or partially purified polyvalent immunoglobulin. The side effects of anti snake venom (ASV) therapy are mainly serum sickness and renal failure, which may be reduced by using sufficiently pure antibodies.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor is upregulated in aortic smooth muscle cells during hypervitaminosis D.

Several studies have demonstrated that excess of vitamin D3 is toxic particularly to vascular tissues. A notable pathological feature is arterial calcification. The nature of the toxic metabolite in hypervitaminosis D and the pathogenesis of arterial calcification are not clearly understood.