Enhanced Detection of Desmoplasia By Targeted Delivery of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles To the Tumour-Specific Extracellular Matrix

Diagnostic imaging of aggressive cancer with a high stroma content may benefit from the use of imaging contrast agents targeted with peptides that have high binding affinity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we report the use of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (IO-NP) conjugated to a nonapeptide, CSGRRSSKC (CSG), which specifically binds to the laminin-nidogen-1 complex in tumours. We show that CSG-IO-NP accumulate in tumours, predominantly in the tumour ECM, following intravenous injection into a murine model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PNET). In contrast, a control untargeted IO-NP consistently show poor tumour uptake, and IO-NP conjugated to a pentapeptide. CREKA that bind fibrin clots in blood vessels show restricted uptake in the angiogenic vessels of the tumours. CSG-IO-NP show three-fold higher intratumoral accumulation compared to CREKA-IO-NP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2-weighted scans and T2 relaxation times indicate significant uptake of CSG-IO-NP irrespective of tumour size, whereas the uptake of CREKA-IO-NP is only consistent in small tumours of less than 3 mm in diameter. Larger tumours with significantly reduced tumour blood vessels show a lack of CREKA-IO-NP uptake. Our data suggest CSG-IO-NP are particularly useful for detecting stroma in early and advanced solid tumours

Oral health status of 5 years and 12 years old school going children in rural Gurgaon, India: An epidemiological study

Background and Aims: Oral health is an essential component of health throughout life. Hardly any information is available on the oral health status of children in Gurgaon. Thus, the present study was conducted among 5-year-old and 12-years-old children in schools in rural Gurgaon. Materials and Methods: A total of 1003 children were examined of which 619 were in 5 years age group and 384 in 12 years group. The prevalence of dental caries was studied using dentition status and treatment needs index. For dental calculus criteria of Community Periodontal and for dental fluorosis Dean′s index was used. Results: In 5 years age group prevalence of dental caries was 68.5%, dental fluorosis was 22.5% and treatment needs were 63.7%. In 12 year age group prevalence of dental caries was 37.5%, dental fluorosis was 76.04%, highest community periodontal index score was 2, seen in 80.2% and overall treatment needs were 44.3%. Conclusion: Preventive approaches seem to be a viable alternative to tackle the overwhelming problem of dental caries and other oral diseases. Provision of oral health education in schools and school based preventive programs are important for improvement of this situation

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Not AvailableAn ideal biomaterial for wound dressing applications should possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties without any toxicity to the host cells while providing the maximum healing activity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) possess antimicrobial activity and enhance wound healing, but the questions regarding their safety arise before application to the biological systems. We synthesized ZnONPs-loaded-sodium alginate-gum acacia hydrogels (SAGA-ZnONPs) by cross linking hydroxyl groups of the polymers sodium alginate and gum acacia with the aldehyde group of gluteradehyde. Here, we report the wound healing properties of sodium alginate/gum acacia/ZnONPs, circumventing the toxicity of ZnONPs simultaneously. We demonstrated the concentration-dependent zones of inhibition in treated cultures of Pseudomonas aerigunosa and Bacillus cereus and biocompatability on peripheral blood mononuclear/fibroblast cells. SAGA-ZnONPs hydrogels showed a healing effect at a low concentration of ZnONPs using sheep fibroblast cells. Our findings suggest that high concentrations of ZnONPs were toxic to cells but SAGA-ZnONPs hydrogels significantly reduced the toxicity and preserved the beneficial antibacterial and healing effect.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableZinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO nps) are known to be effective against a wide array of microorganisms. At nanoscale, they have higher toxicity and they need to be rendered less toxic and more biocompatible. To achieve this, ZnO nps were incorporated in nanohydrogel particles made out of sodium alginate/gum acacia and cross-linker glutaraldehyde in order to ensure their gradual and sustained release instead of burst release, and hence lowering their toxicity. The particles synthesized were in the nano-range, i.e., 70–100 nm size and their in vitro release studies indicated that release of upto 68% of ZnO nps was prolonged to over 2 weeks following the Higuchi model. Cytotoxicity studies on vero cell line (African green monkey kidney cell line) revealed that toxicity of ZnO nps-loaded nanohydrogels was substantially lower as compared to ZnO nps. At the same time, it demonstrated desired level of antibiotic activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an antibiotic resistant microbial model. In conclusion, this work led to successful preparation of novel formulation of ZnO incorporated in nanohydrogels that are not only safer but also retain adequate antibacterial activity due to their ability for gradual and sustained release of the active constituent.Not Availabl

Clinical comparison of efficacy of Alloplast (Biograft HT) and PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin) in the treatment of intrabony defects

Introduction: Clinical and Radiographic comparison of the efficacy of an alloplast (Biograft-HT®*) and Platelet rich fibrin (PRF)  in the treatment of intrabony defects.  Materials and Methods: A total number of 88 sites in 32 subjects were selected for the study and divided in two groups on basis of material use for treatment i.e platelet rich fibrin (PRF) and biograft-HT®.  Results: The statistical analysis was done using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Version 15.0 statistical Analysis Software. At baseline there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: The comparison of PPD and CAL measurements between the two groups at different time intervals revealed no statistically significant difference. The defect fill and the percentage defect fill from 3 to 6 months was statistically significant in two groups

Complete genome sequence and comparative analysis of antibiotic resistance plasmids in carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli from bovine mastitis

113-123The present study illustrates plasmidome and resistome profile of two carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from milk of two different cows with recurrent subclinical mastitis from semi-urban region of Kolkata, India. Both E.coli strains (IVRI KOL CP4 and CM IVRI KOL-1) were sequenced and subreads were de novo assembled. Genomeanalysis and gene prediction data revealed the presence of multi-resistance plasmids conferring resistance to β-lactams,sulphonamide, tetracycline, trimethoprim, aminoglycosides even to the last-resort drugs carbapenem in both the strains. Thestrain IVRI Kol CP4 carried 3 plasmids: a 92840 bp IncFII plasmid (CP034254) with blaTEM-1B, blaNDM-5, sul-1, dfra12,rmtB, aadA2 genes; a 50882 bp IncI plasmid (CP034255) with blaCMY-42 gene and a 28652 bp undermined replicon typeplasmid (CP034256) having blaTEM-1B, mphA and tet(A) genes. Other strain CM IVRI Kol-1 also had 3 plasmids: a146286 bp IncFIA plasmid (CP033159) with blaTEM-1B, blaNDM-5, mph(A), sul1, tet(A), dfra12, rmtB, aadA2,and TetR genes; a 62055 bp IncI plasmid (CP033160) with two copy of blaCMY-42 and a 6346 bp plasmid (CP033161) ofunknown replicon type. Additionally, two plasmids (CP034254 and CP033159) harboured dfra12-aadA2 gene cassette inthe variable region of int1 conferring resistance to trimethoprim and aminoglycoside. We compare our five plasmidsequences with publicly available data to know the evolutionary picture of how multiple drug resistant (MDR) evolutionoccurs across the plasmids from different locations. This first-ever study on the whole genome sequence of NDM-5producing E. coli from bovine milk in India highlights the role of IncF type plasmid as a common vehicle for the carriageand spread of NDM-5 gene in food animals