The fate of neurons after traumatic spinal cord injury in rats: a systematic review

Objective(s): To reach an evidence-based knowledge in the context of the temporal-spatial pattern of neuronal death and find appropriate time of intervention in order to preserve spared neurons and promote regeneration after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Materials and Methods: The study design was based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA)-guided systematic review. PubMed and EMBASE were searched (24 October, 2015) with no temporal or linguistic restrictions. Hand-search was performed in the bibliographies of relevant articles. Non-interventional animal studies evaluating time-dependent neuronal death following acute mechanical trauma to the spinal cord were included. We separately evaluated the fate of various populations of neurons including propriospinal neurons, ventral motor neurons, Clarke’s column neurons, and supraspinal neurons. Results: We found 11,557 non-duplicated studies. Screening through the titles and abstracts led to 549 articles, 49 of which met the inclusion criteria. Both necrotic and apoptotic neuronal deaths occur after TSCI, though necrosis is the prominent mechanism. There are differences in the responses of intrinsic neurons of the spinal cord to the TSCI. Also, the extent of neuronal death in the supraspinal neurons depends on the anatomical location of their axons. Conclusion: In order to develop new therapies, selection of the injury model and time of intervention has a crucial role in the efficacy of therapy. In addition, examining the safety and efficacy of an intervention by reliable methods not confounded by the injury-related changes would promote translation of therapies to the clinical application

Drug use evaluation of Meropenem at a tertiary care university hospital: A report from Northern Iran

Objective: The inappropriate use of antibiotics remains the primary factor in antimicrobial drug resistance. In this study, we evaluate the use of meropenem in surgical/medical wards of Imam Khomeini Tertiary Referral Hospital, Sari, Iran. Methods: This retrospective observational study was used to assess rational use of meropenem. The study was conducted by reviewing medical records of 100 admitted patients who received meropenem during March 2013 to January 2014. Findings: Meropenem was prescribed most frequently in Intensive Care Unit (22%), and pneumonia was the most common diagnosis (35%). The third-generation cephalosporins were the most frequently prescribed antimicrobials after meropenem (53%). In 21% of the patients, imipenem was changed to meropenem. Most of the inappropriate uses were seen in terms of frequency of meropenem use (34%), followed by duration of meropenem therapy (28%). Conclusion: Comparing our study results has shown higher inappropriate use. It is necessary to take action to improve prescribing habit in order to reduce the unnecessary usage of antibiotic thus enhance rational antibiotic use

Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable polymeric films as a corneal stroma substitute

Background: Biodegradable elastomeric materials such as poly glycerol sebacate (PGS) have gained much current attention in the field of soft tissue engineering. The present study reports the synthesis of PGS with molar ratios of 1:1, 2:3, and 3:2 of glycerol and sebacic acid via polycondensation reaction and tests the effect of PGS on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells viability in vitro. Materials and Methods: PGS films were prepared by the casting method. We tried to fabricate PGS with different compositions and various properties as being a viable alternative to the corneal stroma in cornea tissue engineering. The chemical properties of the prepared polymer were investigated by means of attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis and the in vitro cytotoxicity was investigated by the Alamarblue method. Results: The functional groups observed in the PGS FTIR spectrums of PGS with various molar ratios were the same. However, the main difference was the time of completing the cross-linking reaction. The PGS prepared by 2:3 ratio as a molar ratio had the fastest and the 3:2 ratio had the lowest cross-linking rate because of the higher amount of sebacic acid. Results of the Alamarblue cytotoxicity test assay showed no deleterious effect on HCE cell viability and proliferation. Conclusions: PGS is a potentially good candidate material for corneal tissue engineering because of its lack of in vitro HCE cell toxicity

EphB4 Tyrosine Kinase Stimulation Inhibits Growth of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells in a Dose and Time Dependent Manner

Background. EphB4 receptor tyrosine kinase is of diagnostic and therapeutic value due to its overexpression in breast tumors. Dual functions of tumor promotion and suppression have been reported for this receptor based on presence or absence of its ligand. To elucidate such discrepancy, we aimed to determine the effect of time- and dose-dependent stimulation of EphB4 on viability and invasion of breast cancer cells via recombinant ephrinB2-Fc. Methods. Cells were seeded into multiwell plates and were stimulated by various concentrations of preclustered ephrinB2-Fc. Cell viability was measured on days 3 and 6 following treatment using alamar-blue when cells were in different states of confluence. Results. Stimulation of cells with ephrinB2 did not pose any significant effect on cell viability before reaching confluence, while inhibition of cell growth was detected after 6 days when cells were in postconfluent state following a dose-dependent manner. EphrinB2 treatment did not affect tubular formation and invasion on matrigel. Conclusion. This study showed that EphB4 can differentially inhibit cells at post confluent state and that presence of ligand manifests growth-inhibitory properties of EphB4 receptor. It is concluded that growth inhibition has occurred possibly due to long treatment with ligand, a process which leads to receptor downregulation