Hematological and biochemical reference intervals of wild‑caught and inhouse adult Indian rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) / 한국실험동물학회지

Background@#Nonhuman primates are used for research purposes such as studying diseases and drug discovery and development programs. Various clinical pathology parameters are used as biomarkers of disease conditions in biomedical research. Detailed reports of these parameters are not available for Indian-origin rhesus macaques. To meet the increasing need for information, we conducted this study on 121 adult Indian rhesus macaques (57 wild-sourced and 64 inhouse animals, aged 3–7 years). A total of 18 hematology and 18 biochemistry parameters were evaluated and reported in this study. Data from these parameters were statistically evaluated for significance amongst inhouse and wild-born animals and for differences amongst sexes. The reference range was calculated according to C28-A3 guidelines for reporting reference intervals of clinical laboratory parameters. @*Results@#Source of the animals and sex appeared to have statistically significant effects on reference values and range. Wild-born animals reported higher WBC, platelets, neutrophils, RBC, hemoglobin, HCT, MCV, and total protein values in comparison to inhouse monkeys. Sex-based differences were observed for parameters such as RBCs, hemoglobin, HCT, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, albumin, and total protein amongst others. @*Conclusions@#Through this study, we have established a comprehensive data set of reference values and intervals for certain hematological and biochemical parameters which will help researchers in planning, conducting, and interpreting various aspects of biomedical research employing Indian-origin rhesus monkeys.

Birth of a healthy infant after bone marrow-derived cell therapy / 대한생식의학회지

Bone marrow-derived cell (BMDC) therapy has numerous applications as potential biological cells for use in regenerative medicine. Here, we present an original case of endometrial atrophy associated with genital tuberculosis in a woman who achieved a live birth with BMDC. This 27-year-old woman came to our center with endometrial atrophy and primary infertility. She had a past history of genital tuberculosis and amenorrhea. Her husband’s semen quality was normal. The patient was counseled for hysteroscopy due to thin endometrium and advised in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donor eggs in lieu of poor ovarian reserve. Several attempts of IVF with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were made, but the desired thickness of the endometrium was not achieved. Uterine artery injection of BMDC through interventional radiology was given, followed by HRT for three months, which resulted in improved endometrium. This was subsequently followed by IVF with donor egg. The treatment resulted in the conception and delivery of a 3.1-kg baby boy through lower segment caesarean section with no antenatal, intranatal or postnatal complications. Recently, there has been massive interest in stem cells as a novel treatment method for regenerative medicine, and more specifically for the regeneration of human endometrium disorders like Asherman syndrome and thin endometrium, which was the reason behind using this strategy for treatment.

Birth of a healthy infant after bone marrow-derived cell therapy / 대한생식의학회지

Bone marrow-derived cell (BMDC) therapy has numerous applications as potential biological cells for use in regenerative medicine. Here, we present an original case of endometrial atrophy associated with genital tuberculosis in a woman who achieved a live birth with BMDC. This 27-year-old woman came to our center with endometrial atrophy and primary infertility. She had a past history of genital tuberculosis and amenorrhea. Her husband’s semen quality was normal. The patient was counseled for hysteroscopy due to thin endometrium and advised in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donor eggs in lieu of poor ovarian reserve. Several attempts of IVF with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were made, but the desired thickness of the endometrium was not achieved. Uterine artery injection of BMDC through interventional radiology was given, followed by HRT for three months, which resulted in improved endometrium. This was subsequently followed by IVF with donor egg. The treatment resulted in the conception and delivery of a 3.1-kg baby boy through lower segment caesarean section with no antenatal, intranatal or postnatal complications. Recently, there has been massive interest in stem cells as a novel treatment method for regenerative medicine, and more specifically for the regeneration of human endometrium disorders like Asherman syndrome and thin endometrium, which was the reason behind using this strategy for treatment.

Comparison of safety and analgesic efficacy of diclofenac sodium with etodolac after surgical extraction of third molars: a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study

BACKGROUND: Surgical extraction of third molars is associated with postoperative pain and swelling at the extraction site. Pain is commonly managed using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Postoperative pain is usually moderate to severe in the first 12 h postoperatively and lasts for 3–5 days. However, with NSAIDs, these symptoms usually subside within 24 h. Diclofenac sodium and etodolac are NSAIDs, more selectively cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, with good analgesic efficacies.METHODS: We compared the safety and analgesic efficacy of diclofenac sodium with etodolac peroral after surgical extraction of third molars in a double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study. The subjective pain improvement and pain relief after 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h using the visual analogue scale were measured as the study outcome.RESULTS: Etodolac was equivalent to diclofenac sodium in pain alleviation at all postoperative time periods. No significant differences were found between diclofenac sodium and etodolac groups (P > 0.05). Both study medications were well tolerated and safe with mild adverse effects in only a few participants.CONCLUSION: Diclofenac sodium and etodolac are comparable in terms of analgesic efficacy and safety after surgical removal of third molars.

Differentiation of human male germ cells from Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Recapitulation of the spermatogenesis process in vitro is a tool for studying the biology of germ cells, and may lead to promising therapeutic strategies in the future. In this study, we attempted to transdifferentiate Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) into male germ cells using all-trans retinoic acid and Sertoli cell-conditioned medium. METHODS: Human WJ-MSCs were propagated by the explant culture method, and cells at the second passage were induced with differentiation medium containing all-trans retinoic acid for 2 weeks. Putative germ cells were cultured with Sertoli cell-conditioned medium at 36℃ for 3 more weeks. RESULTS: The gene expression profile was consistent with the stage-specific development of germ cells. The expression of Oct4 and Plzf (early germ cell markers) was diminished, while Stra8 (a premeiotic marker), Scp3 (a meiotic marker), and Acr and Prm1 (postmeiotic markers) were upregulated during the induction period. In morphological studies, approximately 5% of the cells were secondary spermatocytes that had completed two stages of acrosome formation (the Golgi phase and the cap phase). A few spermatid-like cells that had undergone the initial stage of tail formation were also noted. CONCLUSION: Human WJ-MSCs can be transdifferentiated into more advanced stages of germ cells by a simple two-step induction protocol using retinoic acid and Sertoli cell-conditioned medium.

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern in urinary isolates of gram negative bacilli with special reference to AMPC beta-lactamase in a tertiary care hospital

Resistance to higher antimicrobial agent is commonly seen in gram negative bacilli. This issue is a challenging problem to the medical practitioners in addition to it is financial impact on the health care system. To document the prevalence of multi drug resistant gram negative bacilli isolated from urine of patients attending the Urology Department of Tertiary care Hospital of western India in year 2008. Out of total 328 isolates, 118 [35.98%] E.coli, 72 [21.95%] Klebsiella, 64 [19.51%] Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 30 [9.15%] Acinetobacter, 18 [5.49%] Proteus vulgaris, 18 [5.49%] Proteus mirabilis, 6 [1.83%] Providencia rettgerii, 2 [0.61%] Citrobacter freundii. Out of these isolates, 228 [69.51%] were b-lactamase positive, while 100 [30.51%] were beta-lactamase negative. Out of 228 beta-lactamase positive, 104 [45.61%] were AmpC beta-lactamase positive. Stringent protocol such as Antibiotic policy and Hospital infection control program are mandatory to curb these microbes in a tertiary care hospital

Specific interaction of hepatitis C virus glycoproteins with mannan binding lectin inhibits virus entry

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a soluble innate immune protein that binds to glycosylated targets. MBL acts as an opsonin and activates complement, contributing to the destruction and clearance of infecting microorganisms. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) encodes two envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, expressed as non-covalent E1/E2 heterodimers in the viral envelope. E1 and E2 are potential ligands for MBL. Here we describe an analysis of the interaction between HCV and MBL using recombinant soluble E2 ectodomain fragment, the full-length E1/E2 heterodimer, expressed in vitro, and assess the effect of this interaction on virus entry. A binding assay using antibody capture of full length E1/E2 heterodimers was used to demonstrate calcium dependent, saturating binding of MBL to HCV glycoproteins. Competition with various saccharides further confirmed that the interaction was via the lectin domain of MBL. MBL binds to E1/E2 representing a broad range of virus genotypes. MBL was shown to neutralize the entry into Huh-7 cells of HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) bearing E1/E2 from a wide range of genotypes. HCVpp were neutralized to varying degrees. MBL was also shown to neutralize an authentic cell culture infectious virus, strain JFH-1 (HCVcc). Furthermore, binding of MBL to E1/E2 was able to activate the complement system via MBL-associated serine protease 2. In conclusion, MBL interacts directly with HCV glycoproteins, which are present on the surface of the virion, resulting in neutralization of HCV particles.