Scaffolding fundamentals and recent advances in sustainable scaffolding techniques for cultured meat development.

In cultured meat (CM) production, Scaffolding plays an important role by aiding cell adhesion, growth, differentiation, and alignment. The existence of fibrous microstructure in connective and muscle tissues has attracted considerable interest in the realm of tissue engineering and triggered the interest of researchers to implement scaffolding techniques. A wide array of research efforts is ongoing in scaffolding technologies for achieving the real meat structure on the principality of biomedical research and to replace serum free CM production. Scaffolds made of animal-derived biomaterials are found efficient in replicating the extracellular matrix (ECM), thus focus should be paid to utilize animal byproducts for this purpose. Proper identification and utilization of plant-derived scaffolding biomaterial could be helpful to add diversified options in addition to animal derived sources and reduce in cost of CM production through scaffolds. Furthermore, techniques like electrospinning, modified electrospinning and 3D bioprinting should be focused on to create 3D porous scaffolds to mimic the ECM of the muscle tissue and form real meat-like structures. This review discusses recent advances in cutting edge scaffolding techniques and edible biomaterials related to structured CM production.

A Rare Case of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis with Variable Presentations: A case report.

We diagnosed and treated a case of Primary SjoGren's Syndrome with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in a 65 years old woman who presented with dyspnoea and multiple joint pains for 5 years and remained undiagnosed. She had variable presentation and was initially established as a case of mixed connective tissue disease which consists of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Systemic Sclerosis and Dermatomyositis. She complained of xerostomia, xerophthalmia, difficulty in opening mouth, progressive dysphagia with solid foods and raynaud's phenomenon. In addition to this she noticed photosensitive rash, oral ulcers and difficulty in raising arms above head especially while combing hair. Examination revealed bi basal fine end inspiratory crepitations unaltered while coughing, bed side 6 minutes walking test showed exertional desaturation of SpO2 from 92.0% to 84.0%. Grade 2 tenderness was noted in wrists, knees, elbows and small joints of hands and feet except DIP. However, no oral lesions or dental carries were found. Unstimulated salivary flow rate was 1.0 ml in 15 minutes and sublingual salivary pool was significantly reduced. Schirmer's test was positive. HRCT lung revealed reticulonodular shadowing, honey combing and traction bronchiectasis in basal segments of both lobes, suggestive of usual interstitial pneumonia in both lungs. Auto antibody tests revealed ANA, RA, anti CCP and anti ds DNA negative, CPK was 63U/L. ENA (Extractable Nuclear Antigen) profile demonstrated positive Anti SS- A antibody while it remained insignificant for anti SS-B, anti RNP, anti Sm antibody, anti Scl-7o, anti Jo-1. According to the American-European Consensus Criteria for SjoGren's Syndrome, it meets all the criteria to be diagnosed as Primary Sjogren's Syndrome. We finally diagnosed a case of Primary SjoGren's syndrome with IPF and the patient was treated with pirfenidone, prednisolone, artificial tears and vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcal pneumoniae. The 10 year survival rate for such patients is nearly 80.0%.

The Additive Effects of Midazolam in Sub Arachnoid Block in Elective Caesarian Section: A Randomized Control Trial.

The incidence of visceral pain among caesarean section can be as high as 50% in sub arachnoid block (SAB) in spite adequate sensory block, which requires conversion to general anesthesia. Different types of adjuvant have been used to augment the effect of local anesthetics but their use is limited due to adverse effects. The effect of intrathecal midazolam along with hyperbaric bupivacaine in sub arachnoid block is less known. So this randomized, double blind study was conducted to evaluate the additive effect of 0.4ml midazolam to 0.5% 3ml bupivacaine on sub arachnoid block in scheduled elective caesarean section. This study demonstrated that the addition of intrathecal 0.4ml midazolam to spinal 0.5% bupivacaine kept all the characteristics of block unaffected, furthermore pain score VAS 3.4±1.3 in Group A and 1.8±1.22 in Group B which is statistically significant, the requirement of intraoperative analgesia and also increased the duration of postoperative analgesia that is 130.3±5.4 minute in Group A, 265.1±3.6 minute in Group B and also statistically significant. Therefore addition of 2.0mg midazolam with 0.5% bupivacaine significantly reduces the VAS score, reduces the intraoperative visceral pain and need of analgesia.

Identifying influence of perceived quality and satisfaction on the utilization status of the community clinic services; Bangladesh context.

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh is one among the few countries of the world that provides free medical services at the community level through various public health facilities. It is now evident that, clients' perceived quality of services and their expectations of service standards affect health service utilization to a great extent. The aim of the study was to develop and validate the measures for perception and satisfaction of primary health care quality in Bangladesh context and to identify their aspects on the utilization status of the Community Clinic (CC) services. METHODS: This mixed method cross sectional survey was conducted from January to June 2012, in the catchment area of 12 Community Clinics (CCs). Since most of the outcome indicators focus mainly on women and children, women having children less than two years of age were randomly assigned and interviewed for the study purpose. Data for the development of perceived service quality and satisfaction tools were collected through Focus Group Discussion (FGD), key informants interview and data for measuring the utilization status were collected by an interviewer administered pretested semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: About 95% of the respondents were Muslims and 5% were Hindus. The average age of the respondents was 23.38 (SD ± 4.15) years and almost all of them are home makers. The average monthly expenditure of their family was 7462.92 (SD ± 2545) BDT equivalent to 95 (SD ± 32) US$. To measure lay peoples' perception and satisfaction regarding primary health care service quality two scales e.g. Slim Haddad's 20-item scale for measuring perceived quality of primary health care services (PQPCS) validated in Guinea and Burkina Fuso and primary care satisfaction survey for women (PCSSW) developed by Scholle and colleagues 2004; is a 24-item survey tool validated in Turkey were chosen as a reference tools. Based on those, two psychometric research instruments; 24 items PQPCS scale (chronbach's α =0.89) and 22-items Community Clinic Service Satisfaction (CCSS) scale (chronbach's α = 0.97), were constructed and validated for measuring perceived service quality and satisfaction in Bangladesh context. This study showed mothers with preprimary education [(χ2 = 4.20, p = 0.04), AOR with 95% CI = 1.89 (1.03, 3.53)] utilized the limited curative care services more than educated mothers. On the contrary, higher income families [for income group 5000-10,000 BDT χ2 = 8.83, p = 0.003 and AOR with 95% CI = 0.37(0.19, 0.71)] and [for income group above 10,000 BDT χ2 = 5.02, p = 0.025 and AOR with 95% CI = 0.40 (0.18, 0.89)] and families having cultivable lands [for 5-10 decimal group χ2 = 5.51, p = 0.19, and AOR with 95% CI = 0.56 (0.35, 0.91)] and [for > 10 decimal group χ2 = 6.70, p = 0.010, and AOR with 95% CI = 0.50 (0.29, 0.84)] utilized the limited curative care services less than their poorer and landless counterpart. The same relationship was observed in case of health education and Antenatal Care (ANC) and Postnatal Care (PNC) services. Women who lived in their own residence used health education services more frequently than those who lived in a rental house [χ2 = 24.00, p = 0.000 and AOR with 95% CI = 1.21, (1.12, 1.30)] and they also increasingly used maternal and child health services χ2 = 27.49, p = 0.000 and AOR with 95% CI 1.61, (1.35, 1.93)]. Perceptions concerning skill and competence of the health care provider [χ2 = 16.90, p = 0.000 and AOR with 95% CI = 1.14, (1.07, 1.22)] and satisfaction indicating interpersonal communication and attitude of the care provider [χ2 = 7.07, p = 0.008 AOR with 95% CI = 1.08, (1.02, 1.15)] were found significant predictors for limited curative care service utilization of CC. Perception related to the quality of management, administration, physical environment of the service point and satisfaction addressing health promotion and women health issues also played significant role on CC's services utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Besides parental education and income, client's perception and satisfaction played significant role in CC service utilization. Provider's perception of service quality should be studied. The study findings will enable policy-makers .to improve quality of primary health care services, realizing providers' and patients' ideas of CC service quality.

Reversed Phase SPE and GC-MS Study of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water Samples from the River Buriganga, Bangladesh.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) categorized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). PAHs are ubiquitous in terrestrial, atmospheric, and particularly aquatic environments throughout the world and have been detected in lakes, ground waters, and rivers. This research work involved the analysis of five PAHs, anthracene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, in water sample collected from the river Buriganga, Bangladesh. The extraction of water samples was carried out by reversed phase solid-phase extraction (RP-SPE) technique with C-18 SPE cartridges. A solvent mixture of dichloromethane and hexane (1 : 2) with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min was used as eluent. Percentage recoveries of five PAHs for this technique were in the range of 81.47 ± 1.16 to 98.60 ± 0.61%. PAHs quantification was achieved by using an ion trap gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) interfaced to gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a fused silica capillary column. Helium was used as carrier gas with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The commonly detected PAH compounds in the river water were anthracene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene at the concentration ranges of 0.451 to 3.201, 0.033 to 3.1131, and 0.320 to 2.546 µg/mL, respectively. The results reflect that PAHs presented in this river water were mostly from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources.

Supplementation of urea-molasses-straw based diet with different levels of concentrate for fattening of emaciated bulls.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of Urea-Molasses-Straw (UMS) based diet with different levels of concentrate for fattening emaciated bulls. The unsupplemented control diet T0 was composed of UMS (80%) and green grass (20%). In the treatment diets T1, T2 and T3 concentrate mix was added at 10, 20 and 30% of DM requirement, respectively to replace the same amounts of UMS and green grass. There was significant (p < 0.01) difference in average DM intake, which were 3.42, 4.65, 4.79 and 5.14 kg for T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The animals fed supplemented diets T3, T2 and T1 gained significantly (p < 0.01) higher live weight (56.0, 46.0 and 40.0 kg, respectively) and had better feed conversion ratio (6.58, 7.34 and 8.22, respectively; non-significantly) than the animals fed on T0 (Live weight gain 11.0 kg and feed conversion ratio 21.95). There was a tendency to increase nutrient digestibility with increased levels of concentrate supplementation. The highest cost for each kg meat production was recorded for diet T0 (Tk. 143.45) followed by diets T3 (Tk. 75.67), T2 (Tk. 72.91) and the lowest was recorded for diet T1 (Tk. 68.73).

Existing situation & problems surrounding clinical oncology in Bangladesh.

Over all Government health infrastructure for health care delivery in Bangladesh is very good, though current scenario in relation to the Clinical Oncology in Bangladesh administered by a National Council for cancer control is inadequate. And the facilities for creating cancer awareness, screening, diagnosis, and treatment (i.e. multidisciplinary approach, radiation treatment facilities, availability of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, palliative care facilities are not sufficient enough to meet the need of cancer afflicted patients. Most of the patients present themselves in an very advanced stage due to illiteracy, ignorance, lack of cancer awareness, religious prejudice, cheaper and easy availability of non traditional i.e. quackery treatment, inadequate diagnostic facilities to most of the cancer centers, and low socioeconomic status. Top ranking malignancies in male are: Bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoma of the oropharynx, esophagus, oral cavity, stomach, hypopharynx, carcinoma of unknown primary sites (CUP), lymphoma and carcinoma of the liver. Top ranking malignancies in female are: Carcinoma of the cervix, breast, esophagus, bronchus, oropharynx, ovary, larynx, stomach, oral cavity, & hypopharynx. Irrespective of sex, the top ranking malignancies are: carcinoma of the bronchus, esophagus, oropharynx, cervix, & larynx. Head neck cancers comprise about more than one third of all malignancies, which is more significant findings in our country. Early detection and prevention of cancer deserves a serious thought and urgent attention especially for developing country like ours, where cost benefit analysis is the predominant factor.

Comparison of MR imaging and urodynamic findings in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: In benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it is uncertain whether the size of the prostate is related to the degree of urodynamically demonstrated bladder outlet obstruction. We compared MR imaging findings and urodynamic data in patients with surgically confirmed BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 43 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients in whom transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was planned. We obtained T1- and T2-weighted images in the transverse and sagittal planes with a 1.5 Tesla superconducting unit. The predicted volume of the inner gland and the peripheral zone were obtained on T2-weighted transverse images. Prostatic protrusion into the urinary bladder (IB protrusion) and the inner gland ratio (IG ratio: inner gland volume/total prostatic volume) were determined. RESULTS: IB protrusion and inner IG ratio were significantly greater in patients with severe stenosis than in those without. A surgical capsule (SC) was seen in 20 of 25 patients (80%) with severe stenosis and 8 of 18 (44%) of those without it. The accuracy of IB protrusion + IG ratio, IB protrusion + surgical capsule, and IB protrusion + IG ratio + surgical capsule was 89%, and that of IG ratio + surgical capsule was 86%. CONCLUSION: The inner gland ratio, protrusion into the bladder, and presence of surgical capsule were the most important factors in bladder outlet obstruction. The probability of outlet stenosis increases in patients with more than two of these criteria.

Serum and urinary magnesium in young diabetic subjects in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium imbalance, implicated in diabetes mellitus both as a cause and a consequence, has not yet been investigated in subgroups of subjects with malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus. which is prevalent in young patients in tropical developing countries such as Bangladesh. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the serum and urinary magnesium concentrations in groups of young diabetic subjects in Bangladesh. DESIGN: Forty patients newly diagnosed with diabetes [13 with fibrocalculus pancreatic diabetes (FCPD), 13 with protein-deficient diabetes (PDDM), and 14 with type 2 diabetes mellitus] were studied along with 13 healthy control and 13 malnourished control subjects [body mass index (in kg/m2) < 19]. Magnesium was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Malnutrition itself was not related to the serum glucose (fasting: 3.68+/-0.74 and 4.11+/-0.29 mmol/L; postprandial: 6.30+/-0.41 and 6.00+/-0.24 mmol/L for healthy and malnourished control subjects, respectively) or serum or urinary magnesium (serum: 0.73+/-0.03 and 0.75+/-0.05 mmol/L: urinary: 232+/-124 and 243+/-88 mmol Mg/mol creatinine for healthy and malnourished control subjects, respectively) concentration. Subjects with FCPD and PDDM had significantly lower serum magnesium concentrations (PDDM: 0.68+/-0.06 mmol/L, FCPD: 0.66+/-0.07 mmol/L) than those in both control groups. In contrast with 0% of healthy and 7.7% of malnourished control subjects, 42.85% of type 2 diabetic subjects, 61.54% of those with PDDM, and 69.23% of those with FCPD were hypomagnesemic. Subjects with FCPD and PDDM had significantly higher urinary excretion of magnesium than the healthy and malnourished control subjects and the type 2 diabetic subjects. Hypermagnesuria paralleled hypomagnesemia. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition may not itself give rise to glucose intolerance, and serum magnesium deficiency seems to be a consequence rather than a cause of diabetes mellitus.

Regional changes in brain dopamine utilization during status epilepticus in the rat induced by systemic pilocarpine and intrahippocampal carbachol.

Systemic administration of pilocarpine (400 mg/kg i.p.) or intrahippocampal injection of carbachol (100 micrograms/1 microliters) induced limbic motor seizures in rats, characterized by head weaving and paw treading, rearing and falling, and forepaw myoclonus, developing into status epilepticus. After being in status for 30 min, rats were killed and levels of dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined in eight brain regions by high performance liquid chromatography. Pilocarpine-induced seizures significantly elevated dopamine in the striatum, and in both dorsal and ventral aspects of the hippocampus, but did not affect dopamine in substantia nigra, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, cingulate cortex or amygdala. Metabolite levels were increased in striatum, substantia, nigra, nucleus accumbens and cingulate cortex, and fell in the hippocampus, but remained unchanged in the olfactory tubercle and amygdala. Intrahippocampal carbachol significantly raised the dopamine contents of striatum and nigra, and in both ventral and dorsal aspects of the hippocampus, but not elsewhere. DOPAC and/or HVA were elevated in all brain regions tested, save for amygdala and dorsal hippocampus. These changes translated into seizure-induced increases in dopamine utilization in the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle and cingulate cortex, and to a fall in dopamine utilisation in the hippocampus, with no net change in amygdala. In addition pilocarpine (but not carbachol) increased dopamine utilization in the nigrostriatal axis, possibly through a seizure-unrelated mechanism. The relevance of these findings to seizure development are discussed.

Effects of dopamine D3 receptor agonists on pilocarpine-induced limbic seizures in the rat.

The discrete localization of D3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens and subjacent islands of Calleja bears a close resemblance to the dopamine-sensitive anticonvulsant site in the anteroventral striatum. To determine if these D3 receptors were capable of attenuating limbic motor seizures induced by pilocarpine, dopamine agonists with preferential or non-selective D3 affinity were injected stereotaxically into these limbic brain regions of the rat via indwelling cannulae prior to pilocarpine challenge. Reliable clonic seizures were obtained by administering the proconvulsive dopamine D1 agonist SKF 38393 (10 mg/kg i.p.) followed by a subconvulsant dose of pilocarpine (280-300 mg/kg i.p.). Bilateral intra-accumbens pretreatment with the D3 > D2 agonist RU 24213 (0.2 pmol-7 nmol) significantly delayed the onset of seizures, with a minimum effective dose of 2 pmol, without altering their frequency or severity. The more selective D3 agonist LY 171555 (0.2 pmol-7.8 nmol) was less potent, and only attenuated pilocarpine-induced seizures at a dose (500 pmol) that would have stimulated accumbens D2 receptors as well. Intra-accumbens injections of the highly potent and selective D3 agonist 7-OH-DPAT (20 pmol to 7 nmol) afforded no protection against pilocarpine-induced seizures. Apomorphine, a mixed D1/D2/D3 agonist, delayed seizure onset at 100-500 pmol, but not at higher doses. RU 24213, LY 171555 and 7-OH-DPAT were all modestly anticonvulsant when microinjected into the islands of Calleja at D2/D3 unselective doses. These data support the notion that dopamine systems limit seizure propagation through the limbic forebrain, but suggest this protective effect is mediated by D2 rather than D3 receptors.

Bimodal effects of dopamine D2 receptor agonists on zero Mg(2+)-induced epileptiform activity in the rat cingulate cortex slice.

A previous study demonstrated a dopamine D1 receptor-dependent inhibition of zero Mg(2+)-induced epileptiform discharges in the rat cingulate cortex slice suspended in a grease-gap bath. This investigation considers the role of dopamine D2 receptors in the modulation of paroxysmal activity in this in vitro model. Some 123 of 143 slices exhibited spontaneous paroxysmal depolarizations, which in 105 cases were accompanied by secondary depolarizing after-potentials (SDAPs). In 43.5% of slices tested, dopamine preferentially and irreversibly facilitated SDAP production at low bath concentrations (1-100 microM), but at concentrations > 100 microM suppressed all components of the epileptiform responses. Similar dose-related bimodal responses were obtained with the D2 agonists LY 171555, PHNO and 7-OH-DPAT, but not with lisuride or RU 24213, which were exclusively inhibitory. The excitatory response to LY 171555 was attenuated by the D2 antagonist raclopride (2 microM), but not by the D1 antagonist SCH 39166 (0.5 microM). On the other occasions, the sole effect of dopamine (56.5% of slices) and the other D2 agonists, was to preferentially suppress SDAP number at low concentrations (1-100 microM) and to suppress all parameters of the epileptiform response at higher concentrations. The inhibitory effect of the D2 agonist LY 171555 on SDAP formation was paradoxically attenuated by the D1 antagonist SCH 39166, but not by the D2 antagonist raclopride. These results support the notion that dopamine can modulate epileptiform activity differentially, through its actions at D1 and D2 receptors. The possibility that these effects of dopamine may be mediated indirectly is discussed.

D1 agonists suppress zero Mg(2+)-induced epileptiform activity in the rat cingulate cortex slice.

This study determined whether dopamine can influence epileptiform activity in vitro through an action at D1 receptors. Dopamine (50-1000 microM) and the selective D1 agonists SKF 38393, SKF 75670, SKF 80723 and SKF 82526 (10-250 microM) suppressed the paroxysmal discharges produced in rat cingulate cortex slices by the omission of Mg2+ from the bathing medium. These antiepileptic effects were mimicked by forskolin (10-100 microM), blocked by the D1 antagonist SCH 39166 (0.5 microM), facilitated by IBMX (500 microM) and unaffected by propranolol (2 microM), suggesting the participation of cyclic AMP in the D1 response. Possible mechanisms, including direct postsynaptic inhibition, modulatory enhancement of GABA activity and presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release are considered.

Dopaminergic modulation of pilocarpine-induced motor seizures in the rat: the role of hippocampal D2 receptors.

This study examined the role of hippocampal dopamine D2 receptors in the genesis of limbic seizures induced by muscarinic agonists in the rat. Pilocarpine, 600 mg/kg, elicited rapid and usually fatal convulsions. These were not affected by focal injections of saline (1 microliter) into both hippocampi. Pretreatment of the dorsal, but not the lateral hippocampus, with the D2 agonist trans-(+)-4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9-octahydro-5-propyl-2H-pyrazolo-(3,4-g)quinol ine hydrochloride (LY 171555, 2 micrograms per side), did not alter the frequency of pilocarpine-induced convulsions, but significantly delayed their appearance and reduced their intensity. LY 171555 similarly increased the latency of seizures induced by focal hippocampal injection of carbachol (100 micrograms), without changing the frequency or the severity. The selective D2 antagonist raclopride, injected dorsally into both hippocampi dose-dependently facilitated motor seizures evoked by pilocarpine (100 mg/kg), the cholinomimetic at this dose being ineffective as a convulsant in saline-treated animals. Intrahippocampal administration of the D1 agonist 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride (SKF 38393, 2 micrograms per side) did not facilitate pilocarpine seizures and did not potentiate the proconvulsant action of raclopride. These data demonstrate that activation of the dopaminergic system, via D2 receptors in the dorsal hippocampus, is capable of protecting the animal against limbic motor seizures arising from excessive muscarinic stimulation of the hippocampus. Since the blockade of D2 receptors in the hippocampus markedly lowered the seizure threshold to pilocarpine, this would suggest that the dopaminergic input to the hippocampus is normally tonically active and functions physiologically to prevent epileptogenesis.

Dopaminergic modulation of pilocarpine-induced motor seizures in the rat: the role of hippocampal dopamine D1 receptors.

The present study addressed the role of dopamine D1 receptors in pilocarpine-induced motor seizures in rats. Bilateral pretreatment of the hippocampus with the D1 agonist SKF 38393 (0.1-5 micrograms) did not alter the animals' sensitivity to a threshold (200 mg/kg i.p.) or fully convulsant dose (600 mg/kg i.p.) of pilocarpine, as compared to hippocampal saline-treated controls. Similarly, direct injection of pilocarpine (200 micrograms per side) into both hippocampi elicited low level seizure activity that was not modified by SKF 38393, either coadministered (2 micrograms per side) or injected systemically (30 mg/kg i.p.). On the other hand, intrahippocampal microinjections of the D1 antagonist, SCH 23390 (2 micrograms per side), whilst unable to prevent epileptogenesis to 600 mg/kg pilocarpine, delayed the onset of seizures and reduced their severity. These results suggest that hippocampal dopamine lowers the seizure threshold by activating D1 receptors, an effect which is only disclosed by D1 receptor blockade and is not surmountable by additional D1 stimulation.