Transcriptome meta-analysis identifies immune signature comprising of RNA binding proteins in ulcerative colitis patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a persistent inflammatory illness, which is clinically categorised as Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting millions of people worldwide. The precise cause behind the pathology of the disease remains unknown. However, the involvement of multiple factors including genetic predisposition, immunological deregulations, microbiota imbalance, and environmental triggers has been suggested.

Molecular dynamics of pancreatic transcription factors in bioengineered humanized insulin producing neoorgan.

Background: The present study has been aimed to identify molecular dynamics of pancreatic transcription factors (pTFs) during events of directed trans-differentiation of human hepatic progenitor cells (hHPCs) into insulin producing cells (InPCs) within bioengineered humanized neoorgan. The study demonstrates applicability of acellularized whole splenic scaffold (ASOS) to generate insulin producing humanized transplantable neoorgan through activation of pancreatic transcription factors.

Methods: An efficient acellularization process was developed for xenogeneic rat spleen using change in different gradients of reagents perfusion through splenic artery for varying time points.

Insertion element mediated disruption and presence of ISKpn28 in colistin-resistant isolates from Saudi Arabia.

Background: In and components of pmrHFIJKLM operon play a major role in colistin resistance.

Methods: We analyzed 23 nonduplicating colistin-resistant isolates, collected during the years 2011-2015, for the possible mechanism underlying their nonsusceptibility to colistin. Isolates were tested for their minimum inhibitory concentrations and antibiotic resistance determinants and genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

Protective Role of Hypothermia Against Heat Stress in Differentiated and Undifferentiated Human Neural Precursor Cells: A Differential Approach for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Introduction: The present study aimed to explore protective mechanisms of hypothermia against mild cold and heat stress on highly proliferative homogeneous human Neural Precursor Cells (NPCs) derived from Subventricular Zone (SVZ) of human fetal brain.

Methods: CD133+ve enriched undifferentiated and differentiated human NPCs were exposed to heat stress at 42°C. Then, Western-blot quantification was performed using Hsp-70 (70 kilodalton heat shock proteins) recombinant protein.

Prevalence of Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus Among Patients with Cholelithiasis: A Single-centered, Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction Gallstone disease (GD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the west and most of the countries worldwide. Cholelithiasis and diseases of the biliary tract are becoming more prevalent with the socioeconomic burden in developing countries like Pakistan. GD is a chronic, recurrent hepatobiliary disease, the basis of which is the impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile acids, which is characterized by the formation of gallstones in the hepatic bile duct, common bile duct, or gallbladder.

Association of CD14 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene polymorphisms with inflammatory microRNAs expression levels in ankylosing spondylitis and polyarthralgia.

This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and polyarthralgia (PA) conditions among Indian subjects through genotyping two immune regulatory genes CD14 (-159C>T) and MIF (-173G>C) and find their association with the expression levels of three circulating inflammatory miRNAs. This investigation may provide early genetic cause of these two forms of arthritis and more optimal biological targets to predict early therapeutic outcomes. A total of 140 patients (AS: 70 and PA: 70) and 156 controls were recruited from Indian population.

Clonal diversity and genetic profiling of antibiotic resistance among multidrug/carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The nexus between resistance determinants, plasmid type, and clonality appears to play a crucial role in the dissemination and survival of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). The incidence of infections involving CRKP in Saudi Arabia is increasing and there is a need for detailed molecular profiling of this pathogen for CRKP surveillance and control.

Methods: The resistance determinants of 71 non-redundant CRKP isolates were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.

Lifestyle Practices and Obesity in Nepalese Youth: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction Understanding the lifestyle factors associated with obesity is critical to create a successful intervention that would prevent or reduce the obesity beforehand. However, these factors have not been assessed among Nepalese youths thus far. This study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity and to explore the potential lifestyle risk factors in young university students of Nepal.

Clinical outcomes of current medical approaches for Middle East respiratory syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by MERS coronavirus. Because of lack of vaccination, various studies investigated the therapeutic efficacy of antiviral drugs and supportive remedies. A systematic literature search from 10 databases was conducted and screened for relevant articles.

Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Low-income Country-Nepal: Cost, Efficacy, and Safety.

Intravenous alteplase is the only approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase, a genetically engineered, mutant tissue plasminogen activator, is an alternative thrombolytic agent. The economic feasibility of stroke treatment has been a matter of huge debate and discussion thus far.

In vitro hemocompatability evaluation of gold nanoparticles capped with Lactobacillus plantarum derived lipase1.

Background: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are key diagnostic and therapeutic agents in biomedical sciences. Several studies have been carried out in different therapeutic areas such as in cancer treatment, antibacterial topical agents, imaging agents etc. There is a necessity to evaluate the gold nanoparticles cytotoxicity at all fronts.

Role of drug transporters and heat shock proteins during ethanol exposure to human neural precursor cells and its lineages.

Introduction: Ethanol exposure to developing brain may alter the growth and differentiation of neurological cells resulting in unfavorable pathologies. Earlier studies have provided very limited mechanistic insights of cellular and molecular mechanisms which do not mimic with human situation due to varying cell types and poses potential challenges for investigation. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of ABC transporters and heat shock proteins mediated response in human neural precursor cells (NPCs) and its lineages during proliferation and lineage differentiation against ethanol exposure.

Amino acid starvation sensing dampens IL-1β production by activating riboclustering and autophagy.

Activation of the amino acid starvation response (AAR) increases lifespan and acute stress resistance as well as regulates inflammation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that activation of AAR pharmacologically by Halofuginone (HF) significantly inhibits production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and provides protection from intestinal inflammation in mice.

Intervention for phantom limb pain: A randomized single crossover study of mirror therapy.

Introduction: Mirror therapy suggested to help relieve phantom limb pain (PLP) by resolving the visual- proprioceptive dissociation in the brain, but studies so far either had shorter follow-up or smaller sample size.

Materials And Methods: In this randomized single crossover trial, 64 amputees with PLP in the age group of 15-75 years of age were distributed into test and control groups by simple randomization method. Of these 28 in control and 32 in test groups, respectively, completed the 4 weeks of mirror therapy and 12 weeks of follow-up assessments.

Comparison of efficacy and pharmacoeconomics of two eradication regimens in peptic ulcer disease.

Background: , the cause of most peptic ulcer diseases, infects approximately 50% of the population worldwide. Indian data on cost and effectiveness of the standard first-line therapies for eradication are scarce. Thus, the present study was aimed at comparing the cost and efficacy of two standard first-line therapies: Regimen I comprising pantoprazole (40 mg) plus amoxicillin (750 mg) plus clarithromycin (500 mg) (PAC) and Regimen II comprising rabeprazole (20 mg) plus amoxicillin (625 mg) plus metronidazole (200 mg) (RAM).

Bioengineered humanized livers as better three-dimensional drug testing model system.

Aim: To develop appropriate humanized three-dimensional model system for drug testing.

Methods: Bioengineered humanized livers were developed in this study using human hepatic stem cells repopulation within the acellularized liver scaffolds which mimics with the natural organ anatomy and physiology. Six cytochrome P-450 probes were used to enable efficient identification of drug metabolism in bioengineered humanized livers.

Controversies in Serotonin Syndrome Diagnosis and Management: A Review.

Over the past few years, Serotonin Syndrome (SS) has become a significant clinical concern. Over the last decade, United States saw a surge in antidepressant use. SS characteristically presents as the triad of altered mental status, autonomic dysfunction and neuromuscular excitation.

Bioresorbable vascular scaffold versus metallic stent in percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the AIDA trial.

Drug-eluting stents have significantly improved the long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by decreasing the excessive growth of neointima. However, conventional stents have some limitations. PCI with a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) has emerged as an alternative since the presence of the prosthesis in the coronary artery is transient.

Endovascular management of iatrogenic renal vascular injuries complicating percutaneous nephrolithotomy: Role of renal angiography and embolization; an analysis of 159 cases.

Objective: To describe the use of renal angiography in the detection of renal vascular injuries following percutaneous nephrolithotomy and to assess the efficacy of endovascular management of these complications.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective review of 159 consecutive patients over a period of 12 years from 2005 to 2016 who presented with significant post nephrolithotomy hemorrhage and who were evaluated by renal angiography as a first-line diagnostic study, followed by embolization of identified renal vascular injuries in the same session. The parameters assessed for each patient included type of renal vascular injury identified, type of embolic material and therapeutic outcome.

"Neo-PIRO": Introducing a Novel Grading System for Surgical Infections of Neonates.

Introduction: Quantification of surgical sepsis was never done beyond superficial, subfascial, and deep surgical site infection (SSI). Invasive surgical sepsis with systemic manifestation has not been tried to be quantified in general and pediatric surgery in particular. Hence, this attempts to develop a novel grading system to quantify neonatal surgical infections.

Enhanced neuroprotective effect of mild-hypothermia with VPA against ethanol-mediated neuronal injury.

Introduction: Progress in understanding pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of targeted regenerative strategies have been hampered by the lack of predictive disease models, specifically for the conditions to which affected cell types are inaccessible. The present study has aimed to unearth the role of valproic acid (VPA) and mild hypothermia (MH) as promising strategy to enhance the neuroprotective mechanisms in undifferentiated and differentiated human neural precursor cells (hNPCs) against ethanol-induced damage.

Methods: 5mM VPA alone or in combination with MH (33°C) was used to prevent the damage in proliferating and differentiating hNPCs.

Use of Biocompatible Sorafenib-gold Nanoconjugates for Reversal of Drug Resistance in Human Hepatoblatoma Cells.

The present study identifies the potential of highly biocompatible SF-GNP nano-conjugate to enhance the chemotherapeutic response to combat drug resistance in cancer cells. We developed a stable colloidal suspension of sorafenib-gold nanoconjugate (SF-GNP) of <10 nm size in aqueous medium for reverting the cancer drug resistance in SF-resistant HepG2 cells in a 3D ex-vivo model system. In-vivo biocompatibility assay of SF-GNPs showed absence of systemic toxicological effects including hematological, biochemical and histological parameters.