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The influence of somatic stem cells in the stimulation of mammalian cardiac muscle regeneration is still in its early stages, and so far, it has been difficult to determine the efficacy of the procedures that have been employed. The outstanding question remains whether stem cells derived from the bone marrow or some other location within or outside of the heart can populate a region of myocardial damage and transform into tissue-specific differentiated progenies, and also exhibit functional synchronization. Consequently, this necessitates the development of an appropriate in vitrothree-dimensional (3D) model of cardiomyogenesis and prompts the development of a 3D cardiac muscle construct for tissue engineering purposes, especially using the somatic stem cell, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). To this end, we have created an in vitro3D functional prevascularized cardiac muscle construct using embryonic cardiac myocytes (eCMs) and hMSCs. First, to generate the prevascularized scaffold, human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (hCMVECs) and hMSCs were cocultured onto a 3D collagen cell carrier (CCC) for 7 days under vasculogenic culture conditions; hCMVECs/hMSCs underwent maturation, differentiation, and morphogenesis characteristic of microvessels, and formed dense vascular networks. Next, the eCMs and hMSCs were cocultured onto this generated prevascularized CCCs for further 7 or 14 days in myogenic culture conditions. Finally, the vascular and cardiac phenotypic inductions were characterized at the morphological, immunological, biochemical, molecular, and functional levels. Expression and functional analyses of the differentiated progenies revealed neo-cardiomyogenesis and neo-vasculogenesis. In this milieu, for instance, not only were hMSCs able to couple electromechanically with developing eCMs but were also able to contribute to the developing vasculature as mural cells, respectively. Hence, our unique 3D coculture system provides us a reproducible and quintessential in vitro3D model of cardiomyogenesis and a functioning prevascularized 3D cardiac graft that can be utilized for personalized medicine.

A simple, precise, accurate, and rapid HPTLC method for quantitative analysis of venlafaxine hydrochloride in the tablet dosage form has been established and validated. Chromatographic separation was performed on 10 cm × 20 cm aluminum backed HPTLC plates coated with 0.2-mm layers of silica gel 60 F254, previously washed with methanol, with toluene-methanol 7:3.5 (v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric evaluation was performed at 228 nm. Experimental conditions, for example size of band applied, chamber saturation time, solvent front migration, slit width, etc., were critically studied and the optimum conditions determined. The drug was satisfactorily resolved at RF0.19. The validated calibration range was 400–2000 ng per band (r= 0.999). The suitability of the method for quantitative analysis of the compound was proved by validation in accordance with the requirements of pharmaceutical regulatory standards. The selectivity, accuracy, precision, and speed of the method make it useful for routine analysis of the pharmaceutical preparation in industrial quality-control and regulatory laboratories.

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that are multipotent. When rat BMSCs were seeded onto a 3-dimensional (3-D) tubular scaffold engineered from aligned type I collagen strands and cultured in osteogenic medium, they simultaneously matured and differentiated into osteoblastic and vascular cell lineages. In addition, these osteoblasts produced mineralized matricellular deposits. BMSCs were seeded at a density of 2 × 106cells/15 mm tube and cultured in basal or osteogenic medium for 3, 6, and 9 days. These cells were subsequently processed for real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemical, cytochemical, and biochemical analyses. Immunolocalization of lineage-specific proteins was visualized using confocal microscopy. In the present study, the expression pattern of key osteogenic markers significantly differed in response to basal and osteogenic media. Alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content increased significantly over the observed period of time in osteogenic medium. The observed up-regulation of transcripts coding for osteoblastic phenotypic markers is reminiscent of in vivoexpression patterns. Abundant sheets of Pecam (CD31) –, Flk-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2) –, CD34–, tomato lectin–, and alpha-smooth muscle actin–positive cells were observed in these tube cultures. Moreover, nascent capillary-like vessels were also seen amid the osteoblasts in osteogenic cultures. Our 3-D culture system augmented the maturation and differentiation of BMSCs into osteoblasts. Thus, our in vitromodel provides an excellent opportunity to study the concurrent temporal and spatial regulation of osteogenesis and vasculogenesis during bone development.

This article discusses the importance of products created at non-woven textiles. The article explains the difference between disposable and durable non-woven products. The article also discusses the use of non-woven products in the medical profession, diaper market trends, and synthetic fibres. Also discussed are market ideas for the future, which includes the use of disposable clothing and aiding the environment.

Bioassays were conducted with Bacillus sphaericus(Neide) 1593M (Bsph) and a neem based biopesticide formulation, Neemtox® (0.03% azadirachtin), independently and in different combinations, to evaluate any synergistic effects on Culex quinquefasciatusSay (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae susceptible to Bsph.The results indicated that the two biopesticides have no synergistic interaction on the larvae. These results are discussed in light of earlier experiments with resistant C. quinquefasciatus, in which Bspfe-Neemtox synergism was seen. Des bioessais ont été conduits séparément et selon différentes combinaisons, avec Bacillus sphaericus(Neide) 1593M (Bsph) et une formulation de biopesticide à base de neem., Neemtox® (0.03% azadirachtine), pour évaluer d’éventuels effets synergiques sur des larves de Culex quinquefasciatusSay (Diptera: Culicidae) sensibles au Bsph.Les résultats indiquent que les deux biopesticides n’ont pas d’action synergique sur les larves. On discute de ces résultats à la lumière d’expérimentations antérieures conduites sur des C. quinquefasciatusrésistants pour lesquels un synergisme Bsph- Neemtox a été observé.

Organophosphorus-derived pesticides are commonly used to control Culex quinquefasciatus, the principal vector of filariasis in India. This paper reports on the susceptibility of C. quinquefasciatusfrom Madurai city, Tamil Nadu and its environs, to the organophosphate Malathion. It was observed that both larval and adult mosquitoes had low levels of resistance to the pesticide, with resistance ratios at LC50, LC90, and LC95varying from 0.94 to 3.07 in larvae, and 0.93 to 34.68 in adults. This observation indicates the possibility of higher resistance developing in C. quinquefasciatuspopulations, the limitation of organophosphorus compounds as larvicides in mosquito breeding sites as a measure to control filariasis, and the importance of research into alternative measures for managing C. quinquefasciatus. Les insecticides dérivés d’organophosphorés sont couramment utilisés pour lutter contre Culex quinquefasciatus, le principal vecteur de la filariose en Inde. Cet article s’intéresse à la sensibilité des C. quinquefasciatusde la ville de Madurai, de Tamil Nadu et de leurs environs, à l’organophosphate Malathion. On constate que les larves et les adultes du moustique ont de faibles niveaux de résistance à l’insecticide, avec des taux de résistance aux DL50, DL90et DL95compris entre 0,94 et 3,07 chez les larves et 0,93 et 34,68 chez les adultes. Ce résultat indique la possibilité du développement d’une forte résistance chez les populations de C. quinquefasciatus, la limite d’utilisation des composés organophosphorés pour lutter contre les gîtes larvaires afin de contrôler la filariose et, l’importance de rechercher des méthodes alternatives de lutte pour gérer C. quinquefasciatus.

A zone melting-refining technique, with a horizontal sample-holding pattern for incorporating grain orientation in sintered bismuth-based superconductor (BPSCCO) is presented. Acrylate precursor-derived BPSCCO powder was uniaxially compacted into strips of 60 mm×10 mm ×2mm and sintered at 845°C for 20 h to obtain 90% density. These strips were zone melted in a three-zone furnace which had an independent temperature control system for each zone. The grain orientation in the sample was studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. In the case of a BPSCCO-Ag (5%) composite, the silver was seen to flow along the intergrannular boundaries of the BPSCCO grains. The present technique is an easy and fast method to introduce orientation of grains with large aspect ratio into sintered BPSCCO or Ag-BPSCCO composite under partial melting-refining conditions. The possibility of extending the present technique to silver-sheathed wire and tapes is also indicated.

Tissue homogenates of the Indian riverine major carp Catla catla revealed the extent of alkaline phosphatase activity to be higher than that of acid phosphatase activity. Phosphatases activity as a function of sublethal concentrations of chromium evidenced a general decline reflecting injury to lysosome due to stress in the biological system. Dose as well as exposure period dependent statistically significant (p < 0.05) inhibition in acid phosphatase activity in liver and intestine, and alkaline phosphatase activity in muscle, liver, gill and intestine of Catla catla are advocated as bioindicators of water borne heavy metal chromium stress.

Abstract: Systemic hypertension after renal transplantation in children is frequent, occurring in 85% of the cases and may be the cause of severe neurologic complications. This can be due to multiple factors such as: rejection, recurrence of initial disease, steroid, etc. ... Among those factors, renal transplant artery stenosis (RTAS) must be identified as it may be cured by angioplasty. We report our experience in 18 children who had undergone angioplasty for RTAS. Angioplasty was performed under general anesthesia with 3F, 4F or 5F balloon catheters. Angioplasty was successful in 14 cases (77%) immediately (10 cases), progressively (2 cases) or after a successfully redilated recurrence (2 cases). Two of the 4 failures were due to technical problems, a successful surgical treatment was then performed. The 2 others failures were explained by a severe transplant rejection. The complications were rare: 1 femoral artery thrombosis and spasms of the intra renal arteries but without repercussion on the renal function. In our experience, angioplasty seems to be the treatment of choice in RTAS in children. However the indications must be carefully established taking in account other possible causes of hypertension in such patients.

Abstracts are not published in this journal

Post-sintering treatments, such as zone melting under a thermal gradient, have been conducted on sintered YBCO tape cast films. YBCO precursor powder was derived through decomposition of a mixture of nitrates of cations in a microwave oven for ~ 4 min. The resulting powder was characterized and made into thin sheets by tape casting and then sintered at 945 °C for 5 h. The sintered tapes were subjected to repeated zone refining operations at the relatively high speed of ~ 30 mm h-1. A microstructure having uniformly orientated grains in thea-b plane throughout the bulk of the sample was obtained by three repeated zone refining operations. Details of precursor preparation, microwave processing and its advantages, zone refining conditions and microstructural features are presented in this paper.

Cytogenetic observations on an extensive material of the Anopheles culicifacies complex from the Thenpennai river area, Tamil Nadu, South India show that the populations are made up of four cytologically distinct species. Three of these, labeled A, B and C have already been described. A fourth one, monomorphic for the inversion arrangement +a +b in the X chromosome and il+hl in the second chromosome, is designated as D, another morphologically indistinguishable sibling species. Each sibling species is characterized by a species-specific type of Y-chromosome. Both of these criteria, inversions and Y-chromosomes can be used to distinguish these important malaria vectors.

A non-rotating, chronically implanted microdrive for small animals is described. The unit can be used for recording both slow wave and single unit activity.

We evaluated CD1a-positive cells in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). All children with multifocal LCH and pulmonary symptoms scored higher than 5% (30.6% +/- 7.2%), whereas those with other lung disorders scored much less than 5%. In children with multifocal LCH, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid abnormalities can precede pulmonary symptoms. During chemotherapy the CD1a-positive cell count tends to decrease. (J Pediatr 1996;129:913-5)

Introduction:Functional bioengineered cardiac muscle constructs using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs) derived cardiovascular cells have been proved to hold a great potential for myocardial infarct (MI) treatment. However, one of the major challenges to these approaches has been the inability to vascularize/perfuse the in vitro engineered tissue constructs. Strategies aiming at the improvement of neovascularization of engineered tissues are critical importance, and is one method of providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells contained in the biomaterial constructs. N-cadherin (CDH2), a cell adhesion protein widely expressed in heart, had been demonstrated to enhance angiogenesis and correlated with the efficacy of stem cells therapy for myocardial repair.Hypothesis:In this study, using a mouse MI model, we have investigated whether the reparative potency of hiPSC-derived cardiac myocytes (CMs) can be enhanced through overexpression of CDH2 on a three-dimensional (3D) prevascularized collagen cell carrier (CCC) scaffold.Methods:Prevascularized cardiac constructs (VCCs) were generated using hiPSC-derived endothelial (hiPSC-ECs), smooth muscle cells (hiPSC-SMCs), and either CDH2-overexpressing or wild-type CMs (hiPSC-CDH2-CMs/hiPSC-WT-CMs) on CCCs. MI was induced in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice through permanent coronary artery ligation. Next, the mice were treated with VCC. Animal groups included: MI heart treated with CDH2-VCC (hiPSC-CDH2-CMs); WT-VCC (hiPSC-WT-CMs); MI heart treated with cell-free CCC (MI+CCC); or with no CCC (MI group). Cardiac functions were evaluated by echocardiography, and the engraftment rate and infarct size were evaluated histologically.Results:In vivo, measurement of cardiac functions, such as left-ventricular ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), infarct size, and cell engraftment rate at day 28 post MI, were significantly greater in the CDH2-VCC treatment MI group than in the WT-VCC treatment MI group, and in both cell-treatment groups compared with MI only group.Conclusions:The 3D prevascularized VCCs consisting of hiPSC-CDH2-CMs improve not only the engraftment but also the reparative potency of implanted CCC patch in the failing hearts.

Two simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the estimation of Famciclovir (FCR) in bulk and tablet dosage form. Methods A and B are based on the formation of ion-pair complexes of the drug with dyes such as orange II (OG-II) and alizarin red S (AR-S) in acidic medium followed by their extraction with chloroform to give colored chromogen with absorption maxima at 480 nm and 440 nm respectively. Beer’s law is valid in the concentration range of 2-10 mcg/mL for both the methods. These developed methods were validated for precision, accuracy, ruggedness and robustness. Statistical analysis proves that the methods are reproducible and selective for the routine analysis of the said drug.

Two simple spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the estimation of tadalafil in both pure and tablet dosage form. Methods A and B are based on the formation of ion-pair complexes of the drug with dyes such as bromothymol blue (BTB) and bromocresol green (BCG) in acidic buffer solution followed by their extraction with chloroform to form yellow colored chromogen with absorption maxima at 420 nm and 415 nm respectively. Beer’s law is valid in the concentration range of 10-50 mcg/mL for both the methods. These developed methods were validated for precision, accuracy, ruggedness and robustness. Statistical analysis proves that the methods are reproducible and selective for the routine analysis of the said drug.