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The differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic (DA) fate is relevant for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Shortcuts to obtaining DA cells through direct reprogramming often include forced expression of the transcription factor LMX1A. Although reprogramming with LMX1A can generate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells, their regional identity remains elusive. Using an in vitro model of early human neural tube patterning, we report that forced LMX1A expression induced a ventral-to-dorsal fate shift along the entire neuroaxis with the emergence of roof plate fates despite the presence of ventralizing molecules. The LMX1A-expressing progenitors gave rise to grafts containing roof plate-derived choroid plexus cysts as well as ectopically induced TH-positive neurons of a forebrain identity. Early activation of LMX1A prior to floor plate specification was necessary for the dorsalizing effect. Our work suggests using caution in employing LMX1A for the induction of DA fate, as this factor may generate roof plate rather than midbrain fates., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests A.K. is the owner of Kirkeby Cell Therapy APS, performs paid consultancy to Novo Nordisk A/S, and is a co-inventor on patents WO2016162747A2/A3 and WO2019016113A1 on the generation of DA cells for treatment of PD., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The study aims to measure the surface roughness (Ra) of three resin composites subsequent to polishing with diamond-impregnated polishing paste., Materials and Methods: Sixty specimens (10 mm × 2 mm) were prepared in metal molds using three nanocomposites: GC Sculpt, Filtek Z350 XT, and Tetric N Ceram. Specimens were then subjected to baseline roughening with #600 grit sandpaper and were polished with DirectDia paste according to the manufacturer's instructions. After polishing, the Ra of resin composites of all the specimens was measured using profilometer and the surfaces were seen under scanning electron microscope., Results: Tetric N Ceram specimens were significantly smoother and had the least R a value compared to other groups., Conclusion: Among the three resin composites tested, Tetric N Ceram exhibited the least R a value owing to the small size of inorganic filler particles., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Conservative Dentistry.)

The study of brain development in humans is limited by the lack of tissue samples and suitable in vitro models. Here, we model early human neural tube development using human embryonic stem cells cultured in a microfluidic device. The approach, named microfluidic-controlled stem cell regionalization (MiSTR), exposes pluripotent stem cells to signaling gradients that mimic developmental patterning. Using a WNT-activating gradient, we generated a neural tissue exhibiting progressive caudalization from forebrain to midbrain to hindbrain, including formation of isthmic organizer characteristics. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that rostro-caudal organization was already established at 24 h of differentiation, and that the first markers of a neural-specific transcription program emerged in the rostral cells at 48 h. The transcriptomic hallmarks of rostro-caudal organization recapitulated gene expression patterns of the early rostro-caudal neural plate in mouse embryos. Thus, MiSTR will facilitate research on the factors and processes underlying rostro-caudal neural tube patterning.

Background: Neurological complications, especially encephalopathy and seizures, are commonly seen in bone marrow transplant patients. Infections, chemotoxicity, graft versus host disease, or secondary central nervous system malignancies are the most common underlying etiologies. There is increased awareness that autoimmune encephalitis may cause neurological dysfunction in immunocompetent children. The potential role of such a mechanism in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation is unknown., Methods: We report a boy who developed autoimmune encephalitis with voltage-gated potassium channel-associated and thyroid autoantibodies subsequent to transplantation., Results: A 7-year-old boy presented with a change in behavior, poor attention, cognitive deficits, and abnormal movements 15 months after undergoing transplantation for idiopathic aplastic anemia. He had clinical and subclinical seizures and brain magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensities bilaterally in the uncal regions. His evaluation revealed high titers of voltage-gated potassium channel, leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 protein, and thyroglobulin antibodies suggestive of autoimmune limbic encephalitis. He showed significant improvement in behavior and neuropsychological testing and has remained seizure-free on levetiracetam after immunotherapy with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin., Conclusion: Systemic autoimmune manifestations in bone marrow transplant patients have been well-documented, but autoimmune encephalitis after transplantation has yet to be described in children., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.) (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of fevers, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach aches, toothaches, insect bites, infertility, and problems with menstruation and labor during childbirth. The feverfew herb has a long history of use in traditional and folk medicine, especially among Greek and early European herbalists. Feverfew has also been used for psoriasis, allergies, asthma, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. The plant contains a large number of natural products, but the active principles probably include one or more of the sesquiterpene lactones known to be present, including parthenolide. Other potentially active constituents include flavonoid glycosides and pinenes. It has multiple pharmacologic properties, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, antispasmodic, an emmenagogue, and as an enema for worms. In this review, we have explored the various dimensions of the feverfew plant and compiled its vast pharmacologic applications to comprehend and synthesize the subject of its potential image of multipurpose medicinal agent. The plant is widely cultivated to large regions of the world and its importance as a medicinal plant is growing substantially with increasing and stronger reports in support of its multifarious therapeutic uses.

The present investigations evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of Helicteres isora (L.) fruits belonging to the family Sterculiaceae. The hot water extract of Helicteres isora fruits was prepared and screened for its in vitro antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl,2-picryl hydrazyl assay, ss-carotene-linoleate model and microsomal lipid peroxidation or thiobarbituric acid reactive species assays and the IC(50) values were calculated. Antidiabetic effect was studied using the in vitro glucose uptake in the isolated rat hemi-diaphragm model. The hot water extract of Helicteres isora showed maximum activity with IC(50) value 25.12+/-0.18 mug/ml for 1,1-diphenyl,2-picryl hydrazyl assay method, and low activity with IC(50) value 740.64+/-4.76 mug/ml for microsomal lipid peroxidation assay. In the ss-carotene-linoleate model, the extract showed 45.63% antioxidant activity. The extract produce a significant (P<0.05) uptake of glucose by isolated rat hemi-diaphragm but less effective to that of the reference drug, metformin. The hot water extract of fruit of Helicteres isora exhibited significant antioxidant activity and moderate antidiabetic activity and merits further investigation in animal models and isolation of its active constituents.

The effect of hot water extract of fruits of Helicteres isora on glucose uptake was studied in rodent skeletal muscle cells (L-6 cells) involved in glucose utilization. H. isora is an antidiabetic medicinal plant being used in Indian traditional medicine. Hot water extracts were analysed for glucose uptake activity and found to be significantly active at 200 mug/ml dose comparable with insulin and metformin. Elevation of glucose uptake by H. isora in association with glucose transport supported the upregulation of glucose uptake. It was concluded that hot water extract of H. isora activate glucose uptake in L-6 cell line of mouse skeletal muscles.

The hydro-chemical character of lakes around Udaipur city has been studied for a period of five years. But for the lake Udaisagar, the salinity of water in lakes Badi, Fatehsagar, Pichhola and Swaroopsagar is less than 750 microSiemens per centimeter and fluctuates marginally in dry and wet period. The waters are Ca-Mg-HCO3 type and have calcite saturation. All the lakes have shown dissolved oxygen more than 8.0 mg/L despite of varying level of pollution. The lake Udaisagar is most polluted and exhibits eutrophic character along with the lakes Swaroopsagar and Pichhola.