Evaluation of Microparticulate Ovarian Cancer Vaccine via Transdermal Route of Delivery

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most commonly occurring malignancy in women, with the highest mortality rate among all the gynecological tumors. Microparticulate vaccine can serve as an immunotherapeutic approach with a promising antigenic delivery system without a need for conventional adjuvants. In this study, a microparticulate vaccine using whole cell lysate of a murine ovarian cancer cell line, ID8 was prepared by spray drying. Further, the effect of interleukins (ILs) such as IL-2 and IL-12 was evaluated in a separate study group by administering them with vaccine particles to enhance the immune response. The vaccine microparticles were administered to C57BL/6 female mice via transdermal alone and in combination with the oral route. The transdermal vaccine was delivered using a metallic microneedle device, AdminPen™. Orally administered microparticles also included an M-cell targeting ligand, Aleuria aurantia lectin, to enhance the targeted uptake from microfold cells (M-cells) in Peyer\u27s patches of small intestine. In case of combination of routes, mice were given 5 transdermal doses and 5 oral doses administered alternatively, beginning with transdermal dose. At the end of vaccination, mice were challenged with live tumor cells. Vaccine alone resulted in around 1.5 times tumor suppression in case of transdermal and combination of routes at the end of 15th week when compared to controls. Inclusion of interleukins resulted in 3 times tumor suppression when administered with transdermal vaccine and around 9 times tumor suppression for the combination route of delivery in comparison to controls. These results were further potentiated by serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a titers. Moreover, CD8+ T-cell, CD4+ T-cell and NK (natural killer) cell populations in splenocytes were elevated in case of vaccinated mice. Thus, vaccine microparticles could trigger humoral as well as cellular immune response when administered transdermally and via combination of route of delivery. However overall, vaccine administered with interleukins, via combination of route, was found to be the most efficacious to suppress the tumor growth and lead to a protective immune response

Can Multimedia Tools Promote Big Data Learning and Knowledge in a Diverse Undergraduate Student Population?

Background and Purpose: Multimedia tools are an integral part of teaching and learning in today’s technology-driven world. The present study explored the role of a newly-developed video introducing the emerging field of big data to a diverse undergraduate student population. Particularly, we investigated whether introduction of a multimedia tool would influence students’ self-perceived knowledge related to various big data concepts and future interest in pursuing the field, and what factors influence these. Methods: Students (n = 331) completed a survey on-line after viewing the video, consisting of Likerttype and quantitative questions about students’ learning experience, future interest in big data, and background. The dataset was analyzed via ANOVA and multiple linear regression methods. Results: Gender, major, and intended degree were significantly associated with students’ learning experience and future interest in big data. Moreover, students who had no prior exposure to big data reported a better learning experience, although they also reported less likelihood to pursue it in the future. Conclusion: Multimedia tools may serve as an effective learning tool in introducing and creating interest in a diverse group of students related to introductory big data science concepts. Both similarities and differences were observed regarding such behaviors among different student sub-groups

Role of Color Doppler in predicting perinatal outcome in preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, which increases both fetal and maternal mortality and morbidity. Since preeclampsia is characterized by abnormal placenta formation leading to inadequate uteroplacental blood flow, Doppler ultrasonography can prove to be a useful tool to assess fetal outcome in PIH patients. Through this study, we sought to determine the perinatal outcome on the basis of Doppler changes seen in Umbilical and Middle Cerebral artery.Methods: This was a prospective study conducted from September 2014 to August 2017 in a tertiary care hospital where 150 singleton pregnant patients with preeclampsia were examined with Doppler ultrasound of the Umbilical artery and Middle cerebral Artery. Serial Doppler examination was performed and the results of the last Doppler examination within 10 days of delivery was considered. Perinatal outcome was studied in the form of perinatal death, mean APGAR at 1 and 5 minutes, birth weight and admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Results: Abnormal Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery (increased resistance, AEDV, REDV) were significantly associated with poor perinatal outcome in the form of low birth weight, APGAR of ≤7 at five minutes of birth and NICU admission. However, S/D ratio of the Middle cerebral artery could not positively predict poor perinatal outcome in this study.Conclusions: Doppler technology has provided the best opportunity for repetitive non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring in human pregnancy. Umbilical artery Doppler findings are slight better predictor of adverse perinatal outcome than an abnormal MCA

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Care during the Early Years of Affordable Care Act Implementation in California

Background and Purpose: Following the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance expansions, this study asks: did racial/ethnic group disparities in access to care remain? And specifically, did Latinos experience worse access to care after the ACA expansions compared to other racial/ethnic groups? Methods: Dataset: 2015 California Health Interview Survey (n=21,034; N=29,083,000). Participants: Adults, ages 18 and older, in California. Analyses: Bivariate chi-square tests and logistic multivariate regressions, including stratification by insurance. Results: Bivariate tests showed associations between racial/ethnic group and access to care. Latinos had lowest rates of having a usual source of care among uninsured (49.5%) and job-based coverage (85.2%). One-fifth of uninsured non-Latino whites (21%) report foregoing needed care. In the multivariate models, non-Latino whites had significantly higher odds of having a usual source of care (OR=1.32;

9-Ethyl-N-(3-nitro­benzyl­idene)-9H-carbazol-3-amine

The title compound, C21H17N3O2, crystallizes with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The carbazole groups show relatively small deviations from planarity [maximum displacements from the mean carbazole plane are 0.077 (7) and 0.101 (7) Å]. The dihedral angles between the 3-nitro­benzyl­idene­amine and carbazole groups are 37.9 (1) and 37.0 (1)° in the two mol­ecules

Exaggerated placental site reaction: case report of a rare benign trophoblastic lesion

Exaggerated placental site is a rare benign non-neoplastic trophoblastic lesion in which the intermediate trophoblastic cells extensively infiltrate into the endometrium and the underlying myometrium. The importance of this lesion lies in that the cells of this lesion display an identical morphological and immunophenotypic profile to the intermediate trophoblastic cells found placental site trophoblastic tumour, which are closely related neoplastic lesions Also differentials for this lesion are placental site nodule, choriocarcinoma and epithelioid trophoblastic tumour all of which have varied lines of treatment and interventions. We present a rare case of an exaggerated placental site reaction in a lady, who was in her first trimester of pregnancy and presented with signs of a septic abortion

5-Methyl-7,8,9,10-tetra­hydro­cyclo­hepta­[b]indol-6(5H)-one

In the title mol­ecule, C14H15NO, the dihedral angle between the benzene and pyrrole rings is 1.99 (12)°. The cyclo­heptene ring adopts a slightly distorted boat conformation

Stem Cells from a Biological Perspective in Animals: A Review

Cells are the smallest living units of living system. Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide to produce more stem cells. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. (Thomson et al., 1998). ES cells are pluripotent and give rise during development to all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Adult stem cells, also called somatic stem cells, they are stem cells which maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found (Behrens et al., 2014). Pluripotent adult stem cells are rare and generally small in number, but they can be found in umbilical cord blood and other tissues. Embryonic stem cells can be grown relatively easily in culture. Adult stem cells are rare in mature tissues. Cell potency is a cell's ability to differentiate into other cell types. Stem cells resembling totipotent blastomeres from 2-cell stage embryos can arise spontaneously in the embryonic stem cell cultures. (Macfarlan et al., 2012). New research related to multipotent cells suggests that multipotent cells may be capable of conversion into unrelated cell types. In one case, fibroblasts were converted into functional neurons. Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition