Acellular Bone Marrow Extracts Significantly Enhance Engraftment Levels of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Mouse Xeno-Transplantation Models

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) derived from cord blood (CB), bone marrow (BM), or mobilized peripheral blood (PBSC) can differentiate into multiple lineages such as lymphoid, myeloid, erythroid cells and platelets. The local microenvironment is critical to the differentiation of HSCs and to the preservation of their phenotype in vivo. This microenvironment comprises a physical support supplied by the organ matrix as well as tissue specific cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. We investigated the effects of acellular bovine bone marrow extracts (BME) on HSC in vitro and in vivo. We observed a significant increase in the number of myeloid and erythroid colonies in CB mononuclear cells (MNC) or CB CD34+ cells cultured in methylcellulose media supplemented with BME. Similarly, in xeno-transplantation experiments, pretreatment with BME during ex-vivo culture of HSCs induced a significant increase in HSC engraftment in vivo. Indeed, we observed both an increase in the number of differentiated myeloid, lymphoid and erythroid cells and an acceleration of engraftment. These results were obtained using CB MNCs, BM MNCs or CD34+ cells, transplanted in immuno-compromised mice (NOD/SCID or NSG). These findings establish the basis for exploring the use of BME in the expansion of CB HSC prior to HSC Transplantation. This study stresses the importance of the mechanical structure and soluble mediators present in the surrounding niche for the proper activity and differentiation of stem cells

Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: a review

Garlic and its preparations have been widely recognized as agents for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, thrombosis, hypertension and diabetes. Effectiveness of garlic in cardiovascular diseases was more encouraging in experimental studies, which prompted several clinical trials. Though many clinical trials showed a positive effect of garlic on almost all cardiovascular conditions mentioned above, however a number of negative studies have recently cast doubt on the efficary of garlic specially its cholesterol lowering effect of garlic. It is a great challenge for scientists all over the world to make a proper use of garlic and enjoy its maximum beneficial effect as it is the cheapest way to prevent cardiovascular disease. This review has attempted to make a bridge the gap between experimental and clinical study and to discuss the possible mechanisms of such therapeutic actions of garlic

A model for homeopathic remedy effects: low dose nanoparticles, allostatic cross-adaptation, and time-dependent sensitization in a complex adaptive system

BACKGROUND: This paper proposes a novel model for homeopathic remedy action on living systems. Research indicates that homeopathic remedies (a) contain measurable source and silica nanoparticles heterogeneously dispersed in colloidal solution; (b) act by modulating biological function of the allostatic stress response network (c) evoke biphasic actions on living systems via organism-dependent adaptive and endogenously amplified effects; (d) improve systemic resilience. DISCUSSION: The proposed active components of homeopathic remedies are nanoparticles of source substance in water-based colloidal solution, not bulk-form drugs. Nanoparticles have unique biological and physico-chemical properties, including increased catalytic reactivity, protein and DNA adsorption, bioavailability, dose-sparing, electromagnetic, and quantum effects different from bulk-form materials. Trituration and/or liquid succussions during classical remedy preparation create “top-down” nanostructures. Plants can biosynthesize remedy-templated silica nanostructures. Nanoparticles stimulate hormesis, a beneficial low-dose adaptive response. Homeopathic remedies prescribed in low doses spaced intermittently over time act as biological signals that stimulate the organism’s allostatic biological stress response network, evoking nonlinear modulatory, self-organizing change. Potential mechanisms include time-dependent sensitization (TDS), a type of adaptive plasticity/metaplasticity involving progressive amplification of host responses, which reverse direction and oscillate at physiological limits. To mobilize hormesis and TDS, the remedy must be appraised as a salient, but low level, novel threat, stressor, or homeostatic disruption for the whole organism. Silica nanoparticles adsorb remedy source and amplify effects. Properly-timed remedy dosing elicits disease-primed compensatory reversal in direction of maladaptive dynamics of the allostatic network, thus promoting resilience and recovery from disease. SUMMARY: Homeopathic remedies are proposed as source nanoparticles that mobilize hormesis and time-dependent sensitization via non-pharmacological effects on specific biological adaptive and amplification mechanisms. The nanoparticle nature of remedies would distinguish them from conventional bulk drugs in structure, morphology, and functional properties. Outcomes would depend upon the ability of the organism to respond to the remedy as a novel stressor or heterotypic biological threat, initiating reversals of cumulative, cross-adapted biological maladaptations underlying disease in the allostatic stress response network. Systemic resilience would improve. This model provides a foundation for theory-driven research on the role of nanomaterials in living systems, mechanisms of homeopathic remedy actions and translational uses in nanomedicine

NORMAL COORDINATES FOR VINYL FLUORIDE AND THE SEVEN DEUTEROVINYL FLUORIDES

$^{1}$ B. Bak and D. Christensen, Spectrochim, Acta 12, 355 (1958). $^{2}$ J. R. Scherer and W. J. Potts, J. Chem Phys. 31, 1691 (1959).Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, Thermodynamic Research Center Texas A\&M UniversityAnnual coordinate calculation was carried out for these eight isotopic molecules based mainly on the experimental data reported by Bak and $Christensen.^{1}$ A perturbation program was used and the most general quadratic valence force potential function was assumed. A six-constant potential function did reproduce very closely the 24 out-of-plane vibrations. The results agree very well with those of Scherer and $Potts.^{2}$ A least-squares fit of the 72 calculated to the observed in-plane frequencies was obtained using a 45-constant potential function. On the basis of these calculations, the in-plane fundamental vibrational assignments of Bak and Christensen were reexamined and modified. The new assignments as well as the final set of potential functions will be presented and discussed

NORMAL COORDINATES FOR VINYL CHLORIDE AND THE SEVEN DEUTEROVINYL CHLORIDES.

Author Institution: Chemical Thermodynamic Properties Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A\&M UniversityAvailable vibrational data on the eight isotopic molecules were used to carry out a normal coordinate treatment for the purpose of properly assigning the 72 in-plane and 24 out-of-plane fundamental vibrations. A 7094 digital computer was used and the most general quadratic valence force potential function was assumed. Through a perturbation program, the set of the 36 involved potential constants of the in-plane potential function was obtained, that gave the best least-squares fit of the calculated to the observed fundamentals. The final set of potential constants reproduced all the 72 assigned in-plane fundamentals of the eight molecules to within about one percent. The final fundamental assignments as well as the final set of potential constants will be presented and discussed. Normal coordinates for the out-of-plane vibrations are in progress

NORMAL COORDINATE TREATMENT, MEAN SQUARE AMPLITUDES OF VIBRATION, CORIOLIS COUPLING COEFFICIENTS, AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES FOR SOME CH2XYCH_{2}XY SUBSTITUTED HALOMETHANESastHALOMETHANES^{ast}

$^{\ast}$ This investigation was performed as part of the work of the Manufacturing Chemists Association Research Project and of the National Bureau of Standards National Standard Reference Data Program.Author Institution: Chemical Thermodynamic Properties Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A. and M. UniversityNormal coordinate treatment for the series $CH_{2}XY$ halogenated methanes $(X=F or I, Y = Cl or Br)$ was carried out using a 709 digital computer. The most general quadratic, valence force, potential function was assumed. A reasonable set of 34 force constants was obtained for each member, that reproduced exactly the observed frequencies using a peturbation method. These calculations favor the assignments for the fundamentals of these molecules as given by Pitzer and Gelles. These fundamentals are (in $cm^{-1})$: [FIGURE] The following mean square amplitudes of vibration at $298.16^{\circ}K$ were obtained (in $10^{-3}A^{2}$):[FIGURE] Coriolis coupling coefficients as well as thermodynamic properties are being calculated and will be reported

Vibrational spectra of fluorinated aromatics. X. p-fluorochloro-, p-fluorobromo-, and p-fluoroiodobenzene

The infrared absorption spectra of liquid p-fluorochloro-, p-fluorobromo-, and p-fluoroiodobenzene, and the stronger bands of the first two compounds in the gaseous state, have been obtained in the region 2-38μ with NaCl and CsBr prisms. The Raman spectra of the compounds in the liquid state have been photographed with a 3-prism glass spectrograph of linear dispersion 15 A/mm at 4358 A, and depolarization ratios have been measured for the stronger Raman bands of p-fluorochloro- and p-fluorobromobenzene. Complete assignments of the fundamental vibrational frequencies have been made, and the spectra are interpreted in detail

Tax ubiquitylation and SUMOylation control the dynamic shuttling of Tax and NEMO between Ubc9 nuclear bodies and the centrosome

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