Sonic Hedgehog Gene Delivery to the Rodent Heart Promotes Angiogenesis via iNOS/Netrin-1/PKC Pathway

We hypothesized that genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) transgene, a morphogen during embryonic development and embryonic and adult stem cell growth, improved their survival and angiogenic potential in the ischemic heart via iNOS/netrin/PKC pathway.MSCs from young Fisher-344 rat bone marrow were purified and transfected with pCMV Shh plasmid ((Shh)MSCs). Immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blotting showed higher expression of Shh in (Shh)MSCs which also led to increased expression of angiogenic and pro-survival growth factors in (Shh)MSCs. Significantly improved migration and tube formation was seen in (Shh)MSCs as compared to empty vector transfected MSCs ((Emp)MSCs). Significant upregulation of netrin-1 and iNOS was observed in (Shh)MSCs in PI3K independent but PKC dependent manner. For in vivo studies, acute myocardial infarction model was developed in Fisher-344 rats. The animals were grouped to receive 70 microl basal DMEM without cells (group-1) or containing 1x10(6) (Emp)MSCs (group-2) and (Shh)MSCs (group-3). Group-4 received recombinant netrin-1 protein injection into the infarcted heart. FISH and sry-quantification revealed improved survival of (Shh)MSCs post engraftment. Histological studies combined with fluorescent microspheres showed increased density of functionally competent blood vessels in group-3 and group-4. Echocardiography showed significantly preserved heart function indices post engraftment with (Shh)MSCs in group-3 animals.Reprogramming of stem cells with Shh maximizes their survival and angiogenic potential in the heart via iNOS/netrin-1/PKC signaling

Effect of sulphuric acid on plasticized concrete

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the influence of plasticizer on the behaviour of cement and concrete subjected to sulphuric acid attack. Cement mortar and concrete specimens were prepared in different proportions with and without plasticizer. These specimens were cured in one day in air and immersed in 1 N solution of sulphuric acid up to a maximum period of 28 days. The change in weight with time for each specimen was determined at regular intervals. The effect of plasticizer addition on the workability and compressive strength of concrete was also investigated. The study shows that the addition of plasticizer enhances the resistance of concrete to sulphuric acid. The deterioration of concrete subjected to sulphuric acid attack increased with increase in cement content. Concrete with plasticizer showed better workability and compressive strength

Effect of sulphuric acid on plasticized concrete

291-294<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;="" mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the influence of plasticizer on the behaviour of cement and concrete subjected to sulphuric acid attack. Cement mortar and concrete specimens were prepared in different proportions with and without plasticizer. These specimens were cured in one day in air and immersed in 1 N solution of sulphuric acid up to a maximum period of 28 days. The change in weight with time for each specimen was determined at regular intervals. The effect of plasticizer addition on the workability and compressive strength of concrete was also investigated. The study shows that the addition of plasticizer enhances the resistance of concrete to sulphuric acid. The deterioration of concrete subjected to sulphuric acid attack increased with increase in cement content. Concrete with plasticizer showed better workability and compressive strength.</span

Effect of sulfuric acid on plasticized concrete

Results are presented of an exptl. investigation of the effect of plasticizer addn. on the behavior of cement and concrete subjected to attack by H2SO4. Mortar and concrete specimens were prepd. in different proportions with and without plasticizer. The specimens were cured in air for 1 day and immersed in a 1N H2SO4 soln. for ≤28 days. The change in wt. over time for each specimen was detd. at regular intervals. The effect of plasticizer addn. on the workability and compressive strength of concrete was also investigated. The study shows that the addn. of plasticizer enhances the resistance of concrete to H2SO4. The deterioration of concrete subjected to attack by H2SO4 increased with increasing cement content. Concrete with plasticizer showed better workability and compressive strength

De Novo Myocardial Regeneration: Advances and Pitfalls

The capability of adult tissue-derived stem cells for cardiogenesis has been extensively studied in experimental animals and clinical studies for treatment of postischemic cardiomyopathy. The less-than-anticipated improvement in the heart function in most clinical studies with skeletal myoblasts and bone marrow cells has warranted a search for alternative sources of stem cells. Despite their multilineage differentiation potential, ethical issues, teratogenicity, and tissue rejection are main obstacles in developing clinically feasible methods for embryonic stem cell transplantation into patients. A decade-long research on embryonic stem cells has paved the way for discovery of alternative approaches for generating pluripotent stem cells. Genetic manipulation of somatic cells for pluripotency genes reprograms the cells to pluripotent status. Efforts are currently focused to make reprogramming protocols safer for clinical applications of the reprogrammed cells. We summarize the advancements and complicating features of stem cell therapy and discuss the decade-and-a-half-long efforts made by stem cell researchers for moving the field from bench to the bedside as an adjunct therapy or as an alternative to the contemporary therapeutic modalities for routine clinical application. The review also provides a special focus on the advancements made in the field of somatic cell reprogramming. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 13, 1867–1877

Economic analysis of dengue prevention and case management in the Maldives.

As tourism is the mainstay of the Maldives' economy, this country recognizes the importance of controlling mosquito-borne diseases in an environmentally responsible manner. This study sought to estimate the economic costs of dengue in this Small Island Developing State of 417,492 residents. The authors reviewed relevant available documents on dengue epidemiology and conducted site visits and interviews with public health offices, health centers, referral hospitals, health insurers, and drug distribution organizations. An average of 1,543 symptomatic dengue cases was reported annually from 2011 through 2016. Intensive waste and water management on a resort island cost $1.60 per occupied room night. Local vector control programs on inhabited islands cost$35.93 for waste collection and $7.89 for household visits by community health workers per person per year. Ambulatory care for a dengue episode cost$49.87 at a health center, while inpatient episodes averaged $127.74 at a health center,$1,164.78 at a regional hospital, and $1,655.50 at a tertiary referral hospital. Overall, the cost of dengue illness in the Maldives in 2015 was$2,495,747 (0.06% of gross national income, GNI, or $6.10 per resident) plus$1,338,141 (0.03% of GNI or $3.27 per resident) for dengue surveillance. With tourism generating annual income of$898 and tax revenues of $119 per resident, results of an international analysis suggest that the risk of dengue lowers the country's gross annual income by$110 per resident (95% confidence interval $50 to$160) and its annual tax receipts by $14 per resident (95$7 to $22). Many innovative vector control efforts are affordable and could decrease future costs of dengue illness in the Maldives

Case Report: Biallelic Variant in the tRNA Methyltransferase Domain of the AlkB Homolog 8 Causes Syndromic Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) has become very common and is an extremely heterogeneous disorder, where the patients face many challenges with deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors. A single affected family revealed severe disease phenotypes such as ID, developmental delay, dysmorphic facial features, postaxial polydactyly type B, and speech impairment. DNA of a single affected individual was directly subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES), followed by Sanger sequencing. Data analysis revealed a novel biallelic missense variant (c.1511G>C; p.(Trp504Ser)) in the ALKBH8 gene, which plays a significant role in tRNA modifications. Our finding adds another variant to the growing list of ALKBH8-associated tRNA modifications causing ID and additional phenotypic manifestations. The present study depicts the key role of the genes associated with tRNA modifications, such as ALKBH8, in the development and pathophysiology of the human brain