16 research outputs found

    Mathematical modeling of two strains tuberculosis and COVID-19 vaccination model: a co-infection study with cost-effectiveness analysis

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    Tuberculosis and COVID-19 co-infection is currently the major issue of public health in many nations, including Ghana. Therefore, to explore the effects of the two Tuberculosis strains on COVID-19, we suggest a Tuberculosis and COVID-19 co-infection model. The study also provides the most economical and effective control methods to reduce the co-infection of tuberculosis and COVID-19. Based on the behavioral patterns of the two Tuberculosis strains and COVID-19 reproduction numbers, the stability of the co-infection model is examined. We explore the sensitivity of the parameters to examine the effect of the drug-resistant and drug-sensitive strain of Tuberculosis on the co-infection of COVID-19. We determine the most cost-effective and optimal treatment strategies that aim to maximize outcomes while minimizing tuberculosis and/or COVID-19 incidences, cost-effectiveness, and optimization approaches. The outcomes of this work contribute to a better understanding of Tuberculosis and COVID-19 epidemiology and provide insights into implementing interventions needed to minimize Tuberculosis and COVID-19 burden in similar settings worldwide

    Preparation and Basic Properties of Praseodymium-Neodymium-Chromium Containing Imitation Gemstone Glass

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    Imitation gemstone glass has numerous characteristics, including low cost, rich colour, stable colouring, and the formation of colour-changing effects that can meet the jewellery market demand for beautiful gemstones of middle and low grades. In this study, four types of gem-imitating glass were prepared by the elemental substitution of praseodymium, neodymium and chromium elements based on rare earth glass and examined by combining refractive index, density, spectral characteristics and colour parameters. Sample 1 contained only Pr6O11 and showed a golden-yellow colour like chrysoberyl. Sample 2 contained only Nd2O3 and showed a blue-purple colour like amethyst. Sample 3 contained Pr6O11 and Nd2O3 and appeared green under D65 light source and red under A light source, with a colour-change effect like alexandrite. Sample 4 contained Pr6O11, Nd2O3 and Cr2O3 and showed a highly saturated green colour like emerald because of the strong colouring effect of Cr3+ in the glass. The findings revealed that all four samples are transparent, with a refractive index greater than 1.5 and a density higher than 2.6 g/cm3. The comprehensive performance of the four imitation gemstone glasses can be found in the corresponding natural gemstones, which has a certain practical value

    Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Proliferation, Viability, and Odontogenic Differentiation of Neural Crest Stem-Like Cells Derived from Human Dental Apical Papilla

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    Objective. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on proliferation, viability, and odontogenic differentiation of neural crest stem-like cells (NCSCs) derived from human dental apical papilla. Materials and Methods. Cells from apical papillae were obtained and then induced to form neural spheres. The expression of NCSC markers p75NTR and HNK-1 in neural sphere cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Human PRP was prepared by a 2-step centrifugation method and activated by CaCl2 and thrombin. The concentrations of PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 in whole blood and PRP were measured by an ELISA kit. PRP in five different concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 25%) was applied to culture NCSCs. On the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days, cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK8. Cell viability was tested by a live/dead staining kit. mRNA and protein expression of DSPP and BMP4 were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blot, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test or t-test. Results. Dental apical papilla cells formed neural spheres, from which cells displayed positive expression of p75NTR and HNK-1. The concentrations of PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 in PRP were about 3.5-fold higher than those in whole blood. 5% and 10% PRP significantly promoted proliferation of NCSCs, while 25% and 50% PRP inhibited cell proliferation from Day 3 to Day 7. Low-concentration (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) PRP slightly improved viability of NCSCs on Day 7. On the other hand, high-concentration (25% and 50%) PRP significantly inhibited viability of NCSCs from Day 3 to Day 7. RT-qPCR and western blot results indicated that 10% PRP could promote odontogenic differentiation of NCSCs on Day 7. mRNA and protein expression of DSPP and BMP4 were significantly upregulated in the 10% PRP group compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions. PRP is a simply acquirable blood derivative which contains high concentration of growth factors like PDGF-BB and TGF-β1. PRP in a proper concentration could promote proliferation, viability, and odontogenic differentiation of NCSCs derived from human dental apical papilla

    Preoperative CT findings and prognosis of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: comparison with conventional NSCLC of similar tumor size

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    Abstract Background Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but differs in terms of treatment strategies compared with conventional-NSCLC (c-NSCLC). However, preoperative CT differentiation between PSC and c-NSCLC remains a challenge. This study aimed to explore the CT findings and prognosis of PSC compared with c-NSCLC of similar tumor size. Methods Clinical data and CT findings of 31 patients with PSC and 87 patients with c-NSCLC were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data included sex, age, and smoking history. CT findings included tumor size, tumor location, calcification, vacuole/cavity, pleural invasion, mean CT value, and low-attenuation area (LAA) ratio. Kaplan‒Meier curves and log-rank tests were used for survival analysis. A Cox regression model was constructed to evaluate prognostic risk factors associated with overall survival (OS). The Spearman correlation among clinicoradiological outcomes were analyzed. Results The mean tumor size of PSC and c-NSCLC were both 5.1 cm. The median survival times of PSC and c-NSCLC were 8 months and 34 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Calcification and vacuoles/cavities were rarely present in PSC. Pleural invasion occurred in both PSC and c-NSCLC (P = 0.285). The mean CT values of PSC and c-NSCLC on plain scan (PS), arterial phase (AP), and venous phase (VP) were 30.48 ± 1.59 vs. 36.25 ± 0.64 Hu (P = 0.002), 43.26 ± 2.96 vs. 58.71 ± 1.65 Hu (P < 0.001) and 50.26 ± 3.28 vs. 64.24 ± 1.86 Hu (P < 0.001), the AUCs were 0.685, 0.757 and 0.710, respectively. Compared to c-NSCLC, PSC had a larger LAA ratio, and the AUC was 0.802, with an optimal cutoff value of 20.6%, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.645 and 0.862, respectively. Combined with the mean CT value and LAA ratio, AP + VP + LAA yielded the largest AUC of 0.826. The LAA ratio were not independent risk factors for PSC in this study. LAA ratio was negatively correlated with PS (r = -0.29), AP (r = -0.58), and VP (r = -0.66). LAA showed a weak positive correlation with tumor size(r = 0.27). Conclusions PSC has a poorer prognosis than c-NSCLC of similar tumor size. The mean CT value and LAA ratio contributes to preoperative CT differentiation of PSC and c-NSCLC

    Foxc2 and BMP2 Induce Osteogenic/Odontogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Human Stem Cells from Apical Papilla

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    As a transcription factor regulated by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), Forkhead c2 (Foxc2) plays a pivot role in osteogenesis/odontogenesis. However, the role of Foxc2 and BMP2 in regulating osteo-/odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) is still uncertain. In this research, overexpression of Foxc2 gene significantly improved the proliferation of SCAP four days and eight days after transfection, but overexpression of both Foxc2 and BMP2 genes significantly inhibited the proliferation of SCAP eight days after transfection. RT-qPCR and western blot results indicated that SCAP-Foxc2-BMP2 significantly upregulated osteo-/odontogenic genes and proteins at most of the time points in SCAP after transfection. Moreover, SCAP-Foxc2-BMP2 formed notably more alkaline phosphatase-positive and alizarin red-positive mineralized nodules than other three group cells sixteen days after transfection. In conclusion, our findings revealed that Foxc2 and BMP2 synergistically promoted osteo-/odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of SCAP in vitro

    Efficient generation of induced pluripotent stem cell lines from healthy donors’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells of different genders

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    Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) are recognized as a conveniently collected reprogramming resource. Several methods are available in academia to reprogram PBMC into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). In this research, we reprogrammed PBMC of different genders by using non-integrative non-viral liposome electrotransfer containing the reprogramming factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC. The three obtained iPSC cell lines were karyotypically normal and showed significant tritiated differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. Our study provided an efficient procedure for reprogramming PBMC into iPSC and obtained three well-functioning iPSC, that may contribute to advance personalized cell therapy in the future

    Enhanced Stability of Immobilized Platinum Nanoparticles through Nitrogen Heteroatoms on Doped Carbon Supports

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    Catalysts in the form of dispersed platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) immobilized on carbon usually suffer from deactivation through sintering under reaction conditions. In this contribution, we report the enhanced stability of highly dispersed Pt NPs on surface-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) against thermal and electrochemical sintering by N heteroatoms in the N-doped carbon support. The improved antisintering property of Pt NPs under thermal condition is characterized by <i>in situ</i> transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while the stability in electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is further examined at <i>identical location</i> (IL) using an advanced IL-TEM technique. A correlation of the Pt NP growth with the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and the mass activity in MOR has been inferred. Our results indicate that both the surface oxygen groups and nitrogen-doped species are responsible for the fine dispersion of Pt NPs on the surface-modified CNTs, while the Pt NPs can be effectively stabilized under thermal and electrochemical conditions through the strong metal–support interaction <i>via</i> N heteroatoms. We further reveal that the mass activity of Pt NP is closely associated with the ECSA rather than directly affected by N-doping to CNTs
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