Exploring the Immunomodulatory Aspect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Severe Coronavirus Disease 19.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped, positive sense, single stranded RNA (+ssRNA) virus, belonging to the genus Betacoronavirus and family Coronaviridae. It is primarily transmitted from infected persons to healthy ones through inhalation of virus-laden respiratory droplets. After an average incubation period of 2-14 days, the majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic and/or mildly symptomatic, whereas the remaining individuals manifest a myriad of clinical symptoms, including fever, sore throat, dry cough, fatigue, chest pain, and breathlessness.

Advances in Smoking Related In Vitro Inhalation Toxicology: A Perspective Case of Challenges and Opportunities from Progresses in Lung-on-Chip Technologies.

The inhalation toxicology of multifaceted particulate matter from the environment, cigarette smoke, and e-cigarette liquid vapes is a major research topic concerning the adverse effect of these items on lung tissue. In vitro air-liquid interface (ALI) culture models hold more potential in an inhalation toxicity assessment. Apropos to e-cigarette toxicity, the multiflavor components of the vapes pose a complex experimental bottleneck.

Cross Talk Between Renal Transporters and Polycystin-1 as a Potential Molecular Target Involved in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: The mutational changes in Polycystin-1(PC-1) encoded by PKD1 gene is the main cause of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The pathological changes in renal epithelial cells and multiple cyst formation occur due to activation of cascade of signalling pathways and membrane renal transporters (RTs). Our study have focused on the identification, of different RTs, their interactions with Polycystin-1 and other selected target proteins to find out their role in pathogenesis.

Challenges in assessing change in autistic adults: scale limitations and discrepancies in reporting in clinical trials.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder marked by deficits in social communication and social interaction, together with restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests. As more adults are being diagnosed with ASD, and more diagnosed children are aging into adulthood, the need for effective treatments and support services for autistic adults is quickly growing. As such, clinical research targeting autistic adults has emerged in recent years.

The Future of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders: A Research Perspective.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) sits at the epicenter of a spectrum of related conditions (often referred to as obsessive-compulsive related disorders (OCRD) or obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSD)) that can be as disabling as they are varied in presentation. Research in the field now encompasses diverse disciplines ranging from inflammatory mechanisms to computational psychiatry, to neurocognitive endophenotypes to functional imaging to pharmacogenomics to brain stimulation approaches. As these disorders become more clearly elucidated, there is a need to continually re-evaluate the implications of research findings and to incorporate these findings into new treatment approaches that benefit both patients and clinicians.

Role of ABO blood type in delayed cerebral ischemia onset and clinical outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in an ethnic minority urban population.

Background: In recent years, the role of ABO blood type moved into focus through the discovery of different hemostaseologic properties with importance in many diseases including subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the role of ABO blood type in delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) onset, clinical progress, and outcome after SAH is to date largely unexplored. Our aim was to explore the role of ABO blood group in DCI and clinical outcomes after aneurysmal SAH (aSAH).

Jaw Elevation Device: Tool for Neck Immobilization to Facilitate Recovery in Endovascular Thrombectomy via Transcervical Access.

Background: Acute stroke resolution via endovascular thrombectomy requires transcarotid access when transfemoral access is not possible. Although postoperative complications such as cervical hematoma and airway compression have been reported, an appropriate postprocedural management is largely unknown yet. We aim to provide new insights and learning points from our experience using the Jaw Elevation Device (JED) as a tool to facilitate recovery post surgery.

Challenges in CO₂ Reforming with Methane for Production of Hydrogen Rich, Stable Syngas.

Production of hydrogen rich syngas is one of the industrial important reactions as a feedstock for many energy applications. This reactor has environmental benefit as it consume CO₂ which is hazardous and creates globe warming. The most economical way to produce syngas is through transformations of hydrocarbons by several reforming process by both fixed bed and fluidized bed reactors.

Plant-based larvicidal agents: An overview from 2000 to 2018.

Current review aims to systematically segregate, analyze and arrange the key findings of the scientific reports published on larvicidal plants including larvicidal formulations. The investigation was carried out by analyzing the published literature in various scientific databases, subsequently, the key findings of the selective scientific reports having larvicidal potency (LC) of extract or isolated oil<100 μg/mL were tabulated to provide the concise and crucial information. Special emphasis was given on reports in which LC of extract or isolated oil was reported to be < 10 μg/mL, genus or species documented in multiple independent studies, advancement in larvicidal formulations and activity of isolated phytoconstituents.

Ir(III)/MPAA-Catalyzed Mild and Selective C-H Amidation of N-Sulfonyl Ketimines: Access To Benzosultam-Fused Quinazolines/Quinazolinones.

Ir(III)-catalyzed unprecedented mild C-H amidation for weakly coordinating cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines, accelerated by a mono protected l-amino acid, has been developed. The method uses 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones as the robust amidating reagent in conjunction with a catalytic amount of silver triflate. It is highly selective and does not require a stoichiometric amount of oxidants or additives.

A dataset for preparing pristine graphene-palladium nanocomposites using swollen liquid crystal templates.

Pristine graphene (G) has not received much attention as a catalyst support, presumably due to its relative inertness as compared to reduced graphene oxide (RGO). In the present work, we used swollen liquid crystals (SLCs) as nano-reactors for graphene-palladium nanocomposites synthesis. The 'soft' confinement of SLCs directs the growth of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles over the G sheets.

Rhodium-Catalyzed sp C-H Acetoxylation of N-Aryl Azaindoles/N-Heteroaryl Indolines.

A silver- and copper-free rhodium-catalyzed C-H acetoxylation reaction of azaindoles has been achieved at near ambient temperature employing PIDA as a nonmetallic acetoxy source. The method is highly selective, efficient, and scalable and requires acetic anhydride as the sole additive. The scope of the reaction has been successfully tested with a wide array of medicinally important heterocyclic scaffolds with diverse functional group tolerance.

Facile synthesis of pristine graphene-palladium nanocomposites with extraordinary catalytic activities using swollen liquid crystals.

Amazing conductivity, perfect honeycomb sp(2) arrangement and the high theoretical surface area make pristine graphene as one of the best materials suited for application as catalyst supports. Unfortunately, the low reactivity of the material makes the formation of nanocomposite with inorganic materials difficult. Here we report an easy approach to synthesize nanocomposites of pristine graphene with palladium (Pd-G) using swollen liquid crystals (SLCs) as a soft template.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Direct and Selective C-H Cyanation of N-(Hetero)aryl-7-azaindoles.

An efficient, highly regioselective, and scalable ruthenium-catalyzed o-aryl C-H mono-cyanation of N-aryl-7-azaindoles to form N-(2-cyanoaryl)-7-azaindoles has been developed through N-directed ortho C-H activation using N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-toluenesulfonamide as cyanating reagent in the presence of AgOTf and NaOAc in DCE. A range of substrates has furnished cyanated azaindoles in good to excellent yields under the simple reaction conditions. Involvement of C-H metalation has been supported by a kinetic study.

Pediatric patients with refractory central nervous system tumors: experiences of a clinical trial combining bevacizumab and temsirolimus.

Background: Pre-clinical findings suggest that combination treatment with bevacizumab and temsirolimus could be effective against malignant pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors.

Patients And Methods: Six pediatric patients were treated as part of a phase I trial with intravenous temsirolimus 25 mg on days 1, 8, 15, and bevacizumab at 5, 10, or 15 mg/kg on day 1 of each 21-day cycle until disease progression or patient withdrawal.

Results: The median patient age was six years (range=3-14 years).

Pilocytic astrocytoma with leptomeningeal dissemination.

Purpose: Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a common pediatric glioma that is generally characterized by indolent growth. However, there are reports of PA disseminating throughout the central nervous system. Given the rarity of dissemination, the appropriate treatment for these patients is poorly defined.

Childhood medulloblastoma: the paradigm shift in molecular stratification and treatment profile.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, accounting for nearly 25% to 30% of primary central nervous system tumors in children younger than 18 years of age. Risk stratification into low and high risk categories has been based on age of clinical presentation, extent of postsurgical residual tumor, and disease dissemination. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007 recognized 5 histological subtypes as classic, anaplastic, large cell, desmoplastic/nodular, and medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity.

Retinoblastoma: an overview.

Retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular malignancy of childhood arises due to mutation of the retinoblastoma gene on chromosome 13q14. In the hereditary setting this mutation is present in all germ line cells and can occur as early as during development; however it requires a mandatory second "hit" or mutation of the remaining allele for retinoblastoma to develop. The non-hereditary form arises from spontaneous mutation affecting both alleles in a somatic cell of the retina.

Brain tumors in children--current therapies and newer directions.

Brain tumors are the second most common malignancy and the major cause of cancer related mortality in children. Though significant advances in neuroimaging, neurosurgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have evolved over the years, overall survival rate remains less than 75%. Malignant gliomas, high risk medulloblastoma with recurrence and infant brain tumors continue to be a major cause of therapeutic frustration.

Preliminary experience with personalized and targeted therapy for pediatric brain tumors.

Background: A new generation of anticancer drugs has reached clinical care in common diseases, but their use in rare diseases such as pediatric brain tumors lags behind since conventional clinical trial design requires larger patient numbers.

Procedure: We designed individualized treatment protocols for pediatric patients with relapsed brain tumors, based upon the patient's treatment history. In addition, each tumor was analyzed with morphoproteomics using a panel of markers to show treatment targets, resulting in a list of potential novel drugs to be added to chemotherapy.

Treatment of recurrent diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: the MD Anderson Cancer Center experience.

Recurrent diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) are traditionally treated with palliative care since no effective treatments have been described for these tumors. Recently, clinical studies have been emerging, and individualized treatment is attempted more frequently. However, an informative way to compare the treatment outcomes has not been established, and historical control data are missing for recurrent disease.

Induction treatment for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, experience of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Background: The biology of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma remains poorly understood and the dismal prognosis has not changed despite various attempts to add chemotherapy to standard radiation.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out of patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma treated at M.D.

Low early ototoxicity rates for pediatric medulloblastoma patients treated with proton radiotherapy.

Background: Hearing loss is common following chemoradiotherapy for children with medulloblastoma. Compared to photons, proton radiotherapy reduces radiation dose to the cochlea for these patients. Here we examine whether this dosimetric advantage leads to a clinical benefit in audiometric outcomes.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma-current status and future strategies.

Introduction: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas which constitute 15% of all childhood brain tumors are inoperable and response to radiation and chemotherapy has not improved long-term survival. Due to lack of newer effective therapies, mean survival after diagnosis has remained less than 12 months. Trials investigating chemotherapy and/or radiation have proven disappointing.