Study of embryotoxicity of mentha piperita l. during organogenesis in balb/c mice

Mentha piperita (Labiatae), commonly known as peppermint is a native Iranian herb which is used in folk medicine for various purposes. This study was carried out to reveal the teratogenic effect of Mentha piperita on mice fetuses. In this experimental study, pregnant Balb/c mice divided to four groups. Case group received 600 (treatment I) and 1200 (treatment II) mg/kg/day the hydroalcoholic extract of Mentha piperita during 6-15 of gestational days and one control group received normal saline during GD6-GD15 by gavages and other control group did not receive any matter during 6-15 of gestational days. Mice sacrificed at GD18 and embryos were collected. Macroscopic observation was done by stereomicroscope. 20 fetuses of each group were stained by Alizarin red-S and Alcian blue staining method. The Mean weight of fetuses decreased in treatment groups rather than control (P<0.05) but CRL there was no significant difference between treatments and controls groups. In the treatment I (600 mg/kg/day) and treatment II (1200 mg/kg/day), normal saline and control group, no gross congenital malformations were observed in fetuses. Treated fetuses also had no delayed bone ossification as determined by Alizarin red-S and Alcian blue staining method. This study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Mentha piperita (600 and 1200 mg/ kg/day) has no teratogenic effect in mice fetuses if used continuously during embryonic period

Visible light photoactivity of Polypropylene coated Nano-TiO2 for dyes degradation in water

The use of Polypropylene as support material for nano-TiO2 photocatalyst in the photodegradation of Alizarin Red S in water solutions under the action of visible light was investigated. The optimization of TiO2 pastes preparation using two commercial TiO2, Aeroxide P-25 and Anatase, was performed and a green low-cost dip-coating procedure was developed. Scanning electron microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction analysis were used in order to obtain morphological and structural information of as-prepared TiO2 on support material. Equilibrium and kinetics aspects in the adsorption and successive photodegradation of Alizarin Red S, as reference dye, are described using polypropylene-TiO2 films in the Visible/TiO2/water reactor showing efficient dyes degradation

Bioactive sphene-based ceramic coatings on cpTi substrates for dental implants: An in vitro study

Titanium implant surface modifications have been widely investigated to favor the process of osseointegration. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of sphene (CaTiSiO5) biocoating, on titanium substrates, on the in vitro osteogenic differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (hADSCs). Sphene bioceramic coatings were prepared using preceramic polymers and nano-sized active fillers and deposited by spray coating. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, surface roughness measurements and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed. The chemical stability of the coatings in Tris-HCl solution was investigated. In vitro studies were performed by means of proliferation test of hADSCs seeded on coated and uncoated samples after 21 days. Methyl Thiazolyl-Tetrazolium (MTT) test and immunofluorescent staining with phalloidin confirmed the in vitro biocompatibility of both substrates. In vitro osteogenic differentiation of the cells was evaluated using Alizarin Red S staining and quantification assay and real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). When hADSCs were cultured in the presence of Osteogenic Differentiation Medium, a significantly higher accumulation of calcium deposits onto the sphene-coated surfaces than on uncoated controls was detected. Osteogenic differentiation on both samples was confirmed by PCR. The proposed coating seems to be promising for dental and orthopedic implants, in terms of composition and deposition technology

Teratogenic test of Pandanus conoideus var. yellow fruit extract to development of rat embryo (Rattus norvegicus)

Muna L, Astirin OP, Sugiyarto. 2010. Uji teratogenik ekstrak Pandanus conoideus varietas buah kuning terhadap perkembangan embrio tikus putih (Rattus norvegicus). Nusantara Bioscience 2: 126-134. Penelitian ini betujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh pemberian ekstrak Pandanus conoideus Lam. var. buah kuning terhadap persentase fetus hidup, kematian intrauterus, berat dan panjang fetus, keadaan morfologi fetus, serta struktur skeleton fetus tikus putih. Dalam penelitian ini digunakan 25 tikus bunting yang dibagi menjadi lima kelompok secara acak, sehingga masing-masing kelompok terdiri dari lima ekor tikus. Setiap kelompok diberi dosis yang berbeda. P1 (kontrol) diberi 1 mL minyak wijen, P2, P3, P4 dan P5 diberi ekstrak masing-masing: 0,02 mL, 0,04 mL, 0,08 mL dan 0,16 mL. Ekstrak tersebut diberikan secara oral pada kebuntingan hari ke 5 sampai hari ke 17 (fase organogenesis). Pengamatan dilakukan pada hari ke 18 dengan cara bedah sesar untuk mengambil fetus dari uterus. Morfologi fetus diamati setelah fetus dikeluarkan dari uterus, sedangkan untuk pengamatan struktur skeleton dibuat preparat wholemount dengan pewarnaan ganda Alcian blue dan Allizarin Red-S. Hasil percobaan dianalisis dengan ANAVA satu jalur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian ekstrak tidak berpengaruh terhadap persentase fetus hidup, kematian intrauterus, serta berat dan panjang fetus (P≥0,05). Pemberian ekstrak pada induk mengakibatkan kecacatan skeleton (lordosis) fetus pada dosis 0,16 mL dan menghambat osifikasi fetus. Kata kunci: Pandanus conoideus var. buah kuning, teratogenik, tikus putih

Postprandial morphological response of the intestinal epithelium of the Burmese python (Python molurus)

The postprandial morphological changes of the intestinal epithelium of Burmese pythons were examined using fasting pythons and at eight time points after feeding. In fasting pythons, tightly packed enterocytes possess very short microvilli and are arranged in a pseudostratified fashion. Enterocyte width increases by 23% within 24 h postfeeding, inducing significant increases in villus length and intestinal mass. By 6 days postfeeding, enterocyte volume had peaked, following as much as an 80% increase. Contributing to enterocyte hypertrophy is the cellular accumulation of lipid droplets at the tips and edges of the villi of the proximal and middle small intestine, but which were absent in the distal small intestine. At 3 days postfeeding, conventional and environmental scanning electron microscopy revealed cracks and lipid extrusion along the narrow edges of the villi and at the villus tips. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the rapid postprandial lengthening of enterocyte microvilli, increasing 4.8-fold in length within 24 h, and the maintaining of that length through digestion. Beginning at 24 h postfeeding, spherical particles were found embedded apically within enterocytes of the proximal and middle small intestine. These particles possessed an annular-like construction and were stained with the calcium-stain Alizarine red S suggesting that they were bone in origin. Following the completion of digestion, many of the postprandial responses were reversed, as observed by the atrophy of enterocytes, the shortening of villi, and the retraction of the microvilli. Further exploration of the python intestine will reveal the underlying mechanisms of these trophic responses and the origin and fate of the engulfed particles

Death of human tumor endothelial cells in vitro through a probable calcium-associated mechanism induced by bevacizumab and detected via a novel method

We isolated three dimensional cell clusters from fresh human solid tumors and also isolated human neoplastic and normal lymphatic cells. Cells were cultured for 96 hours with and without bevacizumab and other agents. At concentrations of bevacizumab which completely removed VEGF from the culture medium, dead microvascular cells were detected through Fast Green/H&#x26;E staining as previously described. These peculiar staining characteristics suggested the involvement of calcium, and this was confirmed through staining with Alizarin red S. Using Alizarin staining as a marker for endothelial cell death permitted the use of public domain image analysis software which resulted in a sensitive and specific system for identifying active pharmaceuticals which target the tumor microvasculature at the same time direct antitumor cell effects are determined. Our results suggest an important role for calcium in endothelial cell death mediated by bevacizumab and other agents and further suggest that agents promoting calcium influx may potentiate the activity of antiangiogenic agents

Modelo de portal U. Play: Proyecto de desarrollo empresarial: videos universitarios de la Red S. C. S, U. Play

Proyecto empresarial que plantea un modelo de portal llamado U.Play, consistente en una plataforma virtual para la publicación de videos por parte de los estudiantes universitarios de Colombia. Mediante un estudio de mercadeo se detectó que las principales necesidades de los estudiantes estaban relacionadas con la ausencia de espacios virtuales con información audiovisual de calidad. Es por ello, que la plataforma propuesta además de promover el talento audiovisual entre los universitarios de todos los ramos académicos, también se proyecta como un punto de encuentro para la producción de conocimiento, que mediante la entrega de mejores herramientas de publicación, clasificación y acceso online, se genere un alto impacto tecnológico y cultural de los usuarios