Hypoxic Culture Conditions as a Solution for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Based Regenerative Therapy

Cell-based regenerative therapies, based on in vitro propagation of stem cells, offer tremendous hope to many individuals suffering from degenerative diseases that were previously deemed untreatable. Due to the self-renewal capacity, multilineage potential, and immunosuppressive property, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as an attractive source of stem cells for regenerative therapies. However, poor growth kinetics, early senescence, and genetic instability during in vitro expansion and poor engraftment after transplantation are considered to be among the major disadvantages of MSC-based regenerative therapies. A number of complex inter-and intracellular interactive signaling systems control growth, multiplication, and differentiation of MSCs in their niche. Common laboratory conditions for stem cell culture involve ambient O-2 concentration (20%) in contrast to their niche where they usually reside in 2-9% O-2. Notably, O-2 plays an important role in maintaining stem cell fate in terms of proliferation and differentiation, by regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) mediated expression of different genes. This paper aims to describe and compare the role of normoxia (20% O-2) and hypoxia (2-9% O-2) on the biology of MSCs. Finally it is concluded that a hypoxic environment can greatly improve growth kinetics, genetic stability, and expression of chemokine receptors during in vitro expansion and eventually can increase efficiency of MSC-based regenerative therapies.Article Link: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2013/632972

Some chemical properties of oil palm decanter meal

The aims of this study were to investigate the rancidity and chemical properties of oil palm decanter meal (OPDM) after been kept over an extended period of time. Samples were collected daily and analyzed for some rancidity properties, including peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and for chemical composition, including proximate analysis, fiber, mineral and fatty acid (FA) content. The correlation coefficient between time of storage and the rancidity (PV and TBA) of OPDM were positive with R2 of 0.9792 and 0.9678, respectively. During ten days of observation, the compositions of longchain FA, including stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic except for palmitic were significantly (P<0.05) different. The compositions of short-chain FA, including acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butiryc, isovaleric and valeric, were also significantly (P<0.05) different. Furthermore, PV and TBA were significantly (P<0.05) different during the extended time of 10-days storage. The correlation coefficient between PV and long-chain FA (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic) were 0.61, 0.16, -0.82, -0.3 and -0.84, respectively, and the correlation composition between TBA and the composition of long-chain FA (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic) were 0.40, 0.34, -0.91, -0.02 and 0.62, respectively. It could be summarized that physically and chemically, the fresh OPDM might be used as an alternative feed, especially for ruminant.Key word: Oil palm decanter meal, fatty acid, oxidation, rancidity, peroxide, thiobarbituric

Aplikasi Asap Cair Pada Lateks

Asap cair (liquid smoke) atau dengan nama lain bio oil merupakan salah satu sumber energi terbarukan yang dapat digunakan untuk berbagai keperluan baik pangan maupun non pangan. Salah satu aplikasinya pada non pangan yaitu untuk menggumpalkan lateks dan mencegah timbulnya bau dan tumbuhnya jamur pada lembaran sit lateks. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa asap cair yang berasal dari tempurung kelapa dengan konsentrasi 1 % dan 2% dapat menggumpalkan lateks dan menghambat tumbuhnya jamur pada lembaran Sit yang dibuat serta mencegah timbulnya bau

Petrography and Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Taloka and Dukamaje Formations, Southern Gadon Mata, Goronyo, Sokoto Basin-Nigeria

Petrographic study of the various rock units from Gadon Mata area of Goronyo in Sokoto Basin was carried out. Sedimentary structures were used for Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Taloka and Dukamaje Formations from Sokoto Basin-Nigeria. The two formations which forms part of Rabah Sheet 11NE lies in the southeastern sector of the Iullemmeden Basin. The study area is bounded by latitudes 13018'38"N to 13021'58"N and longitudes 5047'47"E to 5050'35"E covering 30Km2. The mapping exercise was carried out using a topographic base map on the scale of 1:30,000. The area is made up of Maastrichtian sediments-Taloka and Dukamaje Formations. Taloka Formation is of deltaic/brackish water environment and is made up of white, grey, brown siltstones, friable sandstones, claystones and biogenic structures. It is of tidal flat depositional environment as confirmed by sedimentary structures like abundant bioturbation, rhythmic bedding and the wavy beddings. The Dukamaje Formation is of marginal marine environment comprising of shales, limestones and mudstones with vertebrate fragments. The abundance of mudcrack can be useful in the interpretation of paleoclimate as they are common in warmer climates. Similarly, while the calcite crystals exhibiting spherulitic texture observed in the thin section implies deposition in shallow agitated marine water of the Dukamaje Formation. Keywords: Petrographic, Sedimentary structures, Paleoenvironmental, Taloka, Dukamaje, Formation, Iullemmeden

Geographical inequalities in health in a time of austerity: Baseline findings from the Stockton-on-Tees cohort study

Stockton-on-Tees has the highest geographical inequalities in health in England with the life expectancy at birth gap between the most and deprived neighbourhoods standing at over 17 years for men and 11 years for women. In this study, we provide the first detailed empirical examination of this geographical health divide by: estimating the gap in physical and general health (as measured by EQ. 5D, EQ. 5D-VAS and SF8PCS) between the most and least deprived areas; using a novel statistical technique to examining the causal role of compositional and contextual factors and their interaction; and doing so in a time of economic recession and austerity. Using a stratified random sampling technique, individual-level survey data was combined with secondary data sources and analysed using multi-level models with 95% confidence intervals obtained from nonparametric bootstrapping. The main findings indicate that there is a significant gap in health between the two areas, and that compositional level material factors, contextual factors and their interaction appear to be the major explanations of this gap. Contrary to the dominant policy discourse in this area, individual behavioural and psychosocial factors did not make a significant contribution towards explaining health inequalities in the study area. The findings are discussed in relation to geographical theories of health inequalities and the context of austerity

Soft skills and dental education

Soft skills and hard skills are essential in the practice of dentistry. While hard skills deal with technical proficiency, soft skills relate to a personal values and interpersonal skills that determine a person's ability to fit in a particular situation. These skills contribute to the success of organisations that deal face-to-face with clients. Effective soft skills benefit the dental practice. However, the teaching of soft skills remains a challenge to dental schools. This paper discusses the different soft skills, how they are taught and assessed and the issues that need to be addressed in their teaching and assessment. The use of the module by the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya for development of soft skills for institutions of higher learning introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia.Article Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eje.12017/abstrac

The Pain Divide: a cross-sectional analysis of chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation in England

Objectives: Our central research question was, in England, are geographical inequalities in opioid use driven by health need (pain)? To answer this question, our study examined: (1) if there are regional inequalities in rates of chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation in England; (2) if opioid use and chronic pain are associated after adjusting for individual-level and area-level confounders. Design: Cross-sectional study design using data from the Health Survey for England 2011. Setting England. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation. Participants: Participant data relating to chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid usage data were obtained at local authority level from the Health Survey for England 2011; in total, 5711 respondents were included in our analysis. Methods: Regional and local authority data were mapped, and a generalised linear model was then used to explore the relationships between the data. The model was adjusted to account for area-level and individual-level variables. Results: There were geographical variations in chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation across the English regions—with evidence of a ‘pain divide’ between the North and the South, whereby people in the North of England more likely to have ‘severely limiting’ or ‘moderately limiting’ chronic pain. The intensity of chronic pain was significantly and positively associated with the use of opioid analgesics. Conclusions: There are geographical differences in chronic pain prevalence, pain intensity and opioid utilisation across England—with evidence of a ‘pain divide’. Given the public health concerns associated with the long-term use of opioid analgesics—and their questionable activity in the management of chronic pain—more guidance is needed to support prescribers in the management of chronic pain, so the initiation of opioids can be avoided

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the gallbladder

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) is a benign, nonmetastasizing proliferation of myofibroblasts with a potential for local infiltration, recurrence and persistent local growth. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 51 year-old female, who had excision of a gallbladder tumour. Histopathology showed it to be IMT of the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: The approach to these tumours should be primarily surgical resection to obtain a definitive diagnosis and relieve symptoms. IMT has a potential for local infiltration, recurrence and persistent local growth

Small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumours and ampullary cancer in Type 1 neurofibromatosis

BACKGROUND: Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disorder with variable penetrance; approximately 50% of cases present as new mutations CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 56 year-old man with Von Recklinghausen's disease, carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and incidental benign gastrointestinal stromal tumours of the jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence between ampullary carcinoid, ectopic pancreatic tissue in the jejunum and neurofibroma of the jejunum in NF-1 has been previously described however; the association of synchronous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the jejunum in NF-1 has not been previously reported

Community empowerment and mental wellbeing: longitudinal findings from a survey of people actively involved in the big local place-based initiative in England

Background: Community empowerment initiatives are receiving increased interest as ways of improving health and reducing health inequalities. Purpose: Longitudinally examine associations between collective control, social-cohesion and mental wellbeing amongst participants in the Big Local community empowerment initiative across 150 disadvantaged areas of England. Methods: As part of the independent Communities in Control study, we analysed nested cohort survey data on mental wellbeing (Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale—SWEMWBS) and perceptions of collective control and social-cohesion. Data were obtained in 2016, 2018 and 2020 for 217 residents involved in the 150 Big Local areas in England. Adjusted linear mixed effect models were utilized to examine changes in SWEMWBS over the three waves. Subgroup analysis by gender and educational level was conducted. Results: There was a significant 1.46 (0.14, 2.77) unit increase in mental wellbeing score at wave 2 (2018) but not in wave 3 (2020) (0.06 [−1.41, 1.53]). Across all waves, collective control was associated with a significantly higher mental wellbeing score (3.36 [1.51, 5.21]) as was social cohesion (1.09 [0.19, 2.00]). Higher educated participants (1.99 [0.14, 3.84]) and men (2.41 [0.55, 4.28]) experienced significant increases in mental wellbeing in 2018, but lower educated participants and women did not. Conclusion: Collective control and social cohesion are associated with better mental wellbeing amongst residents engaged with the Big Local initiative. These health benefits were greater amongst men and participants from higher educational backgrounds. This suggests that additional care must be taken in future interventions to ensure that benefits are distributed equally