The antimicrobial activity of oil-in-water microemulsions is predicted by their position within the microemulsion stability zone

It has been shown previously that thermodynamically stable oil-in-water microemulsions have significant antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells and biofilm cells over short periods of exposure. It was the aim of this study to identify whether the position of the microemulsion within the microemulsion stability zone of the pseudo-ternary phase structure predicts the efficiency of the antimicrobial action of the microemulsion. Microemulsions were formulated at different points within the microemulsion stability zone. Experiments were performed to observe the kinetics of killing of these microemulsions against selected test microorganisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404). The results indicated that the antimicrobial activity of the microemulsion is dependant upon its position within the zone of stability and is greater nearer the centre of that zone. The results indicate that significant antimicrobial activity can be observed at all points within the zone of microemulsion stability, but that maximal activity is to be found at the centre of that area

A protocol for primary isolation and culture of adipose-derived stem cells and their phenotypic profile

Background: Adipose tissue (AT) is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), however, there is no standardized protocol for stem cell isolation and culture. This leads to inconsistency of the results and limits the comparison of the data from different laboratories. Our aim was to provide an applied protocol for ASCS isolation and expansion, study the cell behavior and define their cellular surface markers. ASCs were cultured from both resected adipose tissue (RAT) obtained following abdominoplasty or breast reduction and lipoaspirates (LPA) following laser-free liposuction. Method: the protocol entailed coculturing of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) with RAT as raw pieces using DMEM medium with varying glucose concentration. The coculture protocol aimed to mimic the normal physiological conditions required for cell growth. ASCs were immunophenotyped to define their MSCs surface markers by flowcytometry. Results: ASCs were isolated from coculturing RAT with SVF with fibroblast-like adherent cells morphology. The ASCs yield isolated from LPA was significantly greater than from RAT on day 14 and 28 (p = 0.002, <0.001, respectively). Significant increase in ASCs proliferation rate was detected when ASCs were cultured under high glucose (4.5 g/L) compared to low glucose (1 g/ L) condition on day 7 and 14 (p = 0.04, 0.015, respectively). ASCs isolated from both protocols were positive for CD34, CD49d, CD73, CD90 and CD105 and negative for CD3, CD14, CD19, CD45 and HLA-DR. Conclusion: We concluded that the cells harvested by our protocol were ASCs. Hence, our method can be an efficient isolation tool to obtain primary ASCs under culture conditions mimicking normal physiological status. This will help in providing ASCs which can be similar to cells in human tissue for further study

Aligned macroporous monoliths with intrinsic microporosity via a frozen-solvent-templating approachd

Aligned macroporous monoliths of an organic cage, a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1), and a metal–organic framework (HKUST-1) are prepared by a controlled freezing approach. In addition to macropores, all the monoliths contain the intrinsic micropores.</p

SOSIALISASI & PENGENALAN PERKULIAHAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI PADA SMK NUSANTARA 1 CIPUTAT

Perkembangan Zaman yang semakin maju membuat kita mau tidak mau harus mengikuti berbagai kemajuan teknologi di era globalisasi ini. Penggunaan teknologi informasi seperti gadget telah membuat segala pekerjaan yang kita lakukan menjadi mudah. Misalnya bertukar informasi, dan berkomunikasi dengan orang lain. Dengan semakin mudahnya memperoleh informasi tersebut baik dari internet maupun media massa, jika tidak diimbangi dengan pemahaman tentang dampak penggunaannya bisa menyebabkan kita terjerumus kedalam hal-hal yang negatif. tidak hanya mengetahui dari segi pemakaian dan pemanfaatan-nya saja namun kita juga harus mengetahui dari segi menciptakan teknologi-teknologi dan informasi yang mengarah kepada hal yang positif. Maka dari itu kami bermaksud dengan diadakan-nya kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini kami bisa memberikan wawasan dan pembelajaran bagaimana dunia perkuliahan dibidang Teknologi Informasi ini&nbsp; berjalan dan supaya siswa – siswa&nbsp; SMK Nusantara 1 Ciputat yang ingin lanjut ke jenjang perkuliahan nantinya sudah mendapatkan gambaran untuk kedepannya. Dan tugas kita mengarahkan agar mereka semua bisa membawa Teknologi Informasi ke hal yang lebih positif ke generasi berikutnya. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini yaitu dengan melakukan penyuluhan/Edukasi kepada siswa mengenai penggunaan teknologi. Tujuan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini, tidak hanya untuk memperkanalkan pengenalan dan penyuluhan bagaimana mereka menggunakan&nbsp; Teknlogi Informasi saja , namun ini bisa menjadi contoh dan pedoman mereka dalam menyikapi kemajuan teknologi baik secara nasional saja maupun seluruh dunia pada masa yang akan datang

Door-to-balloon Time for ST-elevation MI in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era

In patients presenting with ST-elevation MI, prompt primary coronary intervention is the preferred treatment modality. Several studies have described improved outcomes in patients with door-to-balloon (D2B) and symptom onset-to-balloon (OTB) times of less than 2 hours, but the specific implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on D2B and OTB times are not well-known. This review aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on D2B time and elucidate both the factors that delay D2B time and strategies to improve D2B time in the contemporary era. The search was directed to identify articles discussing the significance of D2B times before and during COVID-19, from the initialization of the database to December 1, 2020. The majority of studies found that onset-of-symptom to hospital arrival time increased in the COVID-19 era, whereas D2B time and mortality were unchanged in some studies and increased in others

Comparative antibacterial potential of selected aldehyde-based biocides and surfactants against planktonic Pseudomonas fluorescens

The antimicrobial efficacy of two aldehydebased biocides (glutaraldehyde, GTA, and orthophthalaldehyde, OPA) and two surfactants (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, CTAB, and sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS) was tested against planktonic Pseudomonas fluorescens. The antimicrobial effects were evaluated by respiratory activity as a measure of the oxygen uptake rate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release, outer membrane proteins (OMP) expression and cellular colour changes. The results were compared with the bacterial characteristics without chemical treatment. Tests in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), in order to mimic a disinfection process in the real situation under dirty conditions, were performed according to the European Standard EN-1276. P. fluorescens was completely inactivated with OPA (minimum bactericidal concentration, MBC = 0.5 mM) and CTAB (MBC = 5 mM) and was resistant to GTA and SDS. Only CTAB promoted cellular disruption and consequent ATP release. The antimicrobial action of the chemicals tested was significantly reduced when BSA was introduced into the bacterial cultures, increasing markedly the MBC values. Additionally, the presence of BSA acted as a disruption protective agent when CTAB was applied and stimulated the bacterial respiratory activity when lower concentrations of SDS were tested. The OMP of the bacterial cells was affected by the application of both surfactants. OMP expression remained unaltered after biocide treatment. Bacterial colour change was noticed after treatment with biocides and surfactants. In summary, P. fluorescens was extremely resistant to GTA and SDS, with antimicrobial action being quenched markedly by the reaction with BSA.Instituto de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (IBQF).Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - (Project CHEMBIO - POCI/BIO/61872/2004