Analysis of blood flow and drug concentration distribution in tumor-affected cerebral artery tissue region

Brain tumors occur in the brain with the growth of abnormal cells. Despite the advancements in medical technologies and treatments, the complex geometry of the brain impedes the treatment of tumors in brain. A promising and efficient drug targeting to the diseased regions with the limited dosage input reduces the risk of potential damage of healthy tissue cells in the vicinity of tumor. Insertion of drug particles into the blood stream through intravenous administration is one of the efficient treatment methods which is gaining importance. Currently, extensive research is being conducted in the areas of treating brain tumors effectively with direct administration of drug through blood. In this study a three-dimensional computational simulation model of the artery capillary network with cerebral part is developed and reconstructed using multiple CT and MRI scan images of a tumor affected patient. The simulation model includes solution of governing equations of blood flow dynamics based on Navier-Stokes equations and mass species transport based on Lagrangian particle flow dynamics in the artery network and capillaries of the adjacent tissue-tumor regions subjected to typical cardiac cycle. Computational analysis is performed to evaluate and analyze the blood flow and drug particle distributions around the targeted region with varying concentrations. The main objective of this study is to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of the drug delivery to the internal targeted tumor region for different input drug parameters such as drug type, density and dose concentrations

La contribution des jeunes à l’alternance politique au Sénégal : Le rôle de Bul faale et de Y’en a marre

Ce document est une contribution à l’étude du rôle des jeunes dans les processus de démocratisation en Afrique. Plus spécifiquement, il se borne à analyser l’influence de Bul Faale et de Y’en a marre dans les deux alternances politiques survenues au Sénégal en 2000 et 2012. Ces deux mouvements, issus du hip-hop, ont été au premier plan dans les mobilisations qui ont permis ces changements de majorité au pouvoir. Cela contraste avec la situation de marginalisation politique et économique dans laquelle se trouvent les jeunes.Mots-clés: Sénégal, jeunes, alternance politique, Bul faale, Y’en a marreAbstractThis paper is a contribution to the research on the role of youth in the democratization process in Africa. More precisely, its analysis is confined to the influence of Bul Faale and Y’en a marre in political changes that occurred in Senegal, both in 2000 and in 2012. Always originating from hip-hop, these two movements have been at the forefront of mobilizations that sparked changes in the ruling majority. Interestingly, this contrasts with the situation of political and economic marginalization the youth continues to struggle with.Keywords: Senegal, Youth, Political Change, Bul faale, Y’en a marr

Editorial V.13 N.30

Editorial V.13 N.3

PMCA Applications for Prion Detection in Peripheral Tissues of Patients with Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessReview PMCA Applications for Prion Detection in Peripheral Tissues of Patients with Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease by Giorgio Giaccone and Fabio Moda * [ORCID] Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Division of Neurology 5—Neuropathology, 20133 Milan, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Biomolecules 2020, 10(3), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10030405 Submission received: 13 February 2020 / Revised: 2 March 2020 / Accepted: 5 March 2020 / Published: 5 March 2020 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Prion Disease Biomarkers: Recent Advances) Download keyboard_arrow_down Versions Notes Abstract Prion diseases are neurodegenerative and invariably fatal conditions that affect humans and animals. In particular, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) are paradigmatic forms of human and animal prion diseases, respectively. Human exposure to BSE through contaminated food caused the appearance of the new variant form of CJD (vCJD). These diseases are caused by an abnormal prion protein named PrPSc (or prion), which accumulates in the brain and leads to the onset of the disease. Their definite diagnosis can be formulated only at post-mortem after biochemical and neuropathological identification of PrPSc. Thanks to the advent of an innovative technique named protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), traces of PrPSc, undetectable with the standard diagnostic techniques, were found in peripheral tissues of patients with vCJD, even at preclinical stages. The technology is currently being used in specialized laboratories and can be exploited for helping physicians in formulating an early and definite diagnosis of vCJD using peripheral tissues. However, this assay is currently unable to detect prions associated with the sporadic CJD (sCJD) forms, which are more frequent than vCJD. This review will focus on the most recent advances and applications of PMCA in the field of vCJD and other human prion disease diagnosis

COMBINED USE OF VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPY AND FIBEROPTIC FOR AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN A PATIENT WITH FIXED CERVICAL SPINE

Airway management may be difficult in patients with fixed cervical spine who have undergone previous spine surgery. Among the various techniques, fiber-optic intubation is a preferred method for securing the airway in such situation. However, it has some limitations also like identification of landmarks, especially in a case of distorted anatomy of the airway. To overcome this inadequacy, we used video laryngoscopy as a complement, to guide the tip of bronchoscope beneath the epiglottis into the trachea and thus achieving the goal. We present a case of difficult airway of fixed cervical spine with distorted anatomy in which combined use of fiberoptic and video laryngoscopy was performed to secure the airway. In our opinion, this technique can be utilized for other difficult airway case scenario also

IMPLEMENTASI METODE EKSPERIMEN PADA MATERI PERUBAHAN WUJUD BENDA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR SISWA DI SDN III PUU WERI KABUPATEN SUMBA BARAT

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa kelas III di SDN Puu Weri, Kabupaten Sumba Barat, terkait materi perubahan wujud benda melalui penggunaan metode eksperimen. Latar belakang dari studi ini ialah rendahnya pemahaman siswa mengenai konsep perubahan wujud benda dalam proses belajar yang telah dilakukan sebelumnya. Penelitian ini mengadopsi pendekatan tindakan kelas dengan dua siklus, di mana setiap siklus mencakup perencanaan, pelaksanaan, observasi, dan refleksi. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah 20 siswa kelas III. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini mencakup observasi terhadap proses pembelajaran, pemberian tes untuk mengetahui pencapaian hasil belajar siswa, serta analisis dokumen yang relevan Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan metode eksperimen dapat meningkatkan partisipasi aktif siswa serta pemahaman mereka terhadap  materi. Terjadi peningkatan hasil belajar siswa dari tahap sebelum tindakan ke siklus I dan siklus II. Dengan demikian, metode eksperimen terbukti efektif digunakan untuk meningkatkan  hasil belajar siswa pada materi ini

Tackling amyloidogenesis in Alzheimer's disease with A2V variants of Amyloid-β

We developed a novel therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) exploiting the properties of a natural variant of Amyloid-β (Aβ) carrying the A2V substitution, which protects heterozygous carriers from AD by its ability to interact with wild-type Aβ, hindering conformational changes and assembly thereof. As prototypic compound we designed a six-mer mutated peptide (Aβ1-6A2V), linked to the HIV-related TAT protein, which is widely used for brain delivery and cell membrane penetration of drugs. The resulting molecule [Aβ1-6A2VTAT(D)] revealed strong anti-amyloidogenic effects in vitro and protected human neuroblastoma cells from Aβ toxicity. Preclinical studies in AD mouse models showed that short-term treatment with Aβ1-6A2VTAT(D) inhibits Aβ aggregation and cerebral amyloid deposition, but a long treatment schedule unexpectedly increases amyloid burden, although preventing cognitive deterioration. Our data support the view that the AβA2V-based strategy can be successfully used for the development of treatments for AD, as suggested by the natural protection against the disease in human A2V heterozygous carriers. The undesirable outcome of the prolonged treatment with Aβ1-6A2VTAT(D) was likely due to the TAT intrinsic attitude to increase Aβ production, avidly bind amyloid and boost its seeding activity, warning against the use of the TAT carrier in the design of AD therapeutics

The Effect of Soya and Genistein Supplementation on Serum Lipid Profile of Male Dawley Sprague Rat

Background: Non-medical therapy is needed to reduce blood lipid levels and prevent atherosclerosis. Foods that contain Isoflavones can improve lipid profiles in the blood.Aim: To determine the effect of soya and genistein supplementation in various doses on total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Methods: 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6-8 weeks were divided into 7 groups, control group; low, medium, and high doses of soy milk; and low, moderate, and high doses of genistein. The treatment was given orally for 60 days. The control used was mice with standard feed. On the 61st day, blood and hepatic tissue samples were taken and checked for lipid profiles using the Friedewald formula. Statistical analysis was carried out by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc test and Dunnet test, then regression analysis.Results: There was a significant increase in total cholesterol levels (p <0.05) and  LDL levels in low and moderate doses of soy milk group compared to all groups of genistein. There was no significant differences in HDL levels in soya and genistein groups. There was significant increase in Triglyceride levels in all groups of soy milk and low and moderate doses of Genistein compared to high doses of genistein.Conclusion:  Soya and genistein supplementation had increased effect on the Total Cholesterol, LDL and Triglycerides but no effect on HDL in all groups