Expression of ornithine decarboxylase enzyme in central nervous system tissue in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the Lewis rat

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the primary and rate-limiting enzyme in the natural synthesis of polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine, which have been implicated in the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the initial event in the pathogenesis of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS). This thesis INOUid like to suggest that there is increased expression of ODC during heightened disease expression in EAE, and therefore that ODC is involved in the development of EAE and MS through the polyamine synthetic pathway. To assess the levels of ODC enzyme in central nervous system (CNS) tissue, which included cerebellum, cervical spinal cord and medulla, the tissue was first homogenised and the protein concentration of the resulting sample determined. This required the establishment of an appropriate protein estimation mP.thod i.e. a suitable protein assay. Much time and experimentation was spent on achieving this because of the effect of interfering substances on the assays used. Assessment of the levels of ODC in a model of EAE using normal tissue, CFA treated tissue (control), day-13 post inoculation (PI) (height of disease) and day-21 PI (early recovery stage) was carried out by Western blotting. The studies show that there is increased expression of ODC at the height of disease i.e. day-13 PI in cerebellum and medulla pons tissue but not cervical spinal cord tissue

Synthesis and Characterization of Hemocompatible Antibiotic Nanoparticles

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a causative agent of periodontal disease and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Novel treatment of periodontal disease using nanomaterials can supplement or replace the use of antibiotics and mechanical debridement. Nanomaterials can be optimized for effectiveness and specificity and minimum toxicity. Synthesized Ag nanoparticles stabilized in Pluronic F127 were used to produce bimetallic core/shell Ag/Au nanoparticles with optimized Ag+ release and reduced toxicity. We tested the F127-stabilized nanoparticles for their antimicrobial activity and hemocompatibility in planktonic bacteria and citrated whole blood, respectively. Both Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles inhibited P. gingivalis W83 growth. We then evaluated the hemocompatibility of the nanoparticles and the stabilizer F127 by probing their impact on platelet activation. Pluronic F127, over a range from 1 – 10-11 % w/v, on its own activated platelets above baseline (p-value 0.05). In contrast, Pluronic 127-stabilized Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles did not induce platelet activation above baseline (p-value 0.05). Our results suggest the Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles are effective inhibitors of bacterial growth, and stabilizer Pluronic F127 can activate platelets. More careful characterization of the role of Pluronic F127 in the context of thrombosis/hemostasis is needed

From Immortality to Borrowed Time: Correlates and Challenges

The history of the human race is marked by the entrance of corruption, which also represents the loss of immortality. After the Fall, humans, and animals experienced death. By contrast, unfeeling organisms/cells may have several design functions. Plants, for example, photosynthesize and then are eaten and digested; unsuccessful sperm and ova are discarded and decay. These examples were in God’s original plan. Following the entrance of sin, adverse events such as environmental, genetic, and ecological changes, alterations in human attitudes, and manipulation of germplasm occurred. The image of God found in humans at the beginning was marred by the Fall and accounts for the adverse human attitude changes noted today. Despite this, God offers all individuals a make-over in their physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual/moral domains. Acceptance of the offer in its fullness would result in focused attention to health and efforts to repair and restore the environment, among other valuable outcomes. Keywords: Immortality, corruption, aging, design function, environmental change

Antibacterial Activity of Partially Oxidized Ag/Au Nanoparticles against the Oral Pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis

Advances in nanotechnology provide opportunities for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. While physicochemical properties of Ag containing nanoparticles (NPs) are known to influence the magnitude of their toxicity, it is thought that nanosilver can be made less toxic to eukaryotes by passivation of the NPs with a benign metal. Moreover, the addition of other noble metals to silver nanoparticles, in the alloy formulation, is known to alter the silver dissolution behavior. Thus, we synthesized glutathione capped Ag/Au alloy bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) via the galvanic replacement reaction between maltose coated Ag NPs and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) in 5% aqueous triblock F127 copolymer solution. We then compared the antibacterial activity of the Ag/Au NPs to pure Ag NPs on Porphyromonas gingivalis W83, a key pathogen in the development of periodontal disease. Only partially oxidized glutathione capped Ag and Ag/Au (Au : Ag ≈ 0.2) NPs inhibited the planktonic growth of P. gingivalis W83. This effect was enhanced in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, which simulates the oxidative stress environment in the periodontal pocket during chronic inflammation