Phosphorylated chitosan accelerates dermal wound healing in diabetic wistar rats.

Phosphorylated chitosan (PC), a water-soluble derivative of chitosan possesses several biological and chemical properties suitable for diabetic wound healing. In the present study, we report the synthesis and diabetic wound healing capabilities of PC. Elemental analysis, FT-IR, 13C-NMR and 31P-NMR techniques were employed for the chemical characterization of PC. In vitro, antioxidant properties of PC were determined in terms of Fe3+ reducing, metal chelating, lipid peroxidation and superoxide scavenging ability. The wound healing potential of PC was assessed in diabetic excisional wound rat model. PC exhibited good water solubility, and in vitro antioxidant capacity. Wound contraction was higher in PC-treated wounds (91.11%) as compared to untreated wounds (67.26%) on 14th-day post wound creation. Histopathology of PC-treated wounds revealed improved tissue morphology with higher number of fibroblasts, a thicker epithelial layer, enhanced collagen deposits and angiogenesis as compared to untreated wounds. An overall increase of 57% and 25% in hydroxylamine and hexosamine content respectively were noted as compared to untreated wounds. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in SOD activity and a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxides were recorded in PC-treated wounds as compared to untreated wounds. These observations demonstrated that PC can be used as an effective agent in diabetic wound healing. Illustration of phosphorylated chitosan (PC) synthesis and its wound healing potential: Chitosan was phosphorylated to impart diabetic wound healing properties. Chemical characterizations such as elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR confirmed successful phosphorylation of chitosan. PC exhibited good in vitro antioxidant properties. To assess the diabetic wound healing potential, an excisional wound model was developed in diabetic rats. PC treatment demonstrated accelerated wound healing.

Analysis of Erosive Nature of Fruit Beverages Fortified with Calcium Ions: An In Vitro Study Evaluating Dental Erosion in Primary Teeth.

Background: Since children frequently consume acidic fruit beverages, dental erosion is common in children. The erosive effects on primary teeth are more profound due to the lesser thickness of enamel and dentin. This study evaluated if calcium fortification of fruit beverages could reduce their erosive potential. Methodology. Tropicana Orange Delight was the fruit beverage chosen and fortified with calcium carbonate. Forty noncarious extracted primary teeth were equally distributed into four groups. Samples in group A were exposed to calcium-fortified fruit beverages and group B to nonfortified fruit beverages for 1, 2, and 3 min. The pH and calcium ion concentration of both the fruit beverages were evaluated from baseline through the test period. Samples in groups C and D were then exposed to fortified and nonfortified fruit beverages for 10, 20, and 30 min. The surface roughness and microhardness of these samples were analysed. Results: Due to fortification, the pH and calcium ion concentration of fortified beverages was higher compared to nonfortified beverages at baseline. The calcium ion concentration of fortified beverages decreased from baseline in contrast to an increase in the nonfortified beverage group. This indicates that fortified beverage is less erosive in nature. The surface roughness of samples in the fortified beverage group did not decrease significantly from baseline. In the nonfortified beverage group, surface roughness values at 20 and 30 min of exposure were higher than baseline, suggesting that significant erosive changes occur at the prolonged duration of exposure. The microhardness values of samples in the fortified beverage group increased from baseline through the test period, suggestive of resistance to erosion offered by calcium fortification. The microhardness values of samples in the nonfortified beverage group decreased through the test period, suggestive of erosion. Conclusion: Calcium fortification of this fruit beverage significantly reduces its erosive potential on primary teeth.

Adjunctive Diagnostic Methods for Skin Cancer Detection: A Review of Electrical Impedance-Based Techniques.

Skin cancer is among the fastest-growing cancers with an excellent prognosis, if detected early. However, the current method of diagnosis by visual inspection has several disadvantages such as overlapping tumor characteristics, subjectivity, low sensitivity, and specificity. Hence, several adjunctive diagnostic techniques such as thermal imaging, optical imaging, ultrasonography, tape stripping methods, and electrical impedance imaging are employed along with visual inspection to improve the diagnosis. Electrical impedance-based skin cancer detection depends upon the variations in electrical impedance characteristics of the transformed cells. The information provided by this technique is fundamentally different from other adjunctive techniques and thus has good prospects. Depending on the stage, type, and location of skin cancer, various impedance-based devices have been developed. These devices when used as an adjunct to visual methods have increased the sensitivity and specificity of skin cancer detection up to 100% and 87%, respectively, thus demonstrating their potential to minimize unnecessary biopsies. In this review, the authors track the advancements and progress made in this technique for the detection of skin cancer, focusing mainly on the advantages and limitations in the clinical setting. © 2022 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, mito-TEMPO mitigates initiation phase of N-Nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Targeting mitochondrial oxidative stress during initial stages of hepatocarcinogenesis can be an effective and promising strategy to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, mitochondria targeted antioxidant, mito-TEMPO was administered to male BALB/c mice at a dosage 0.1 mg/kg b.w. (intraperitoneal) twice a week, followed by single N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) intraperitoneal injection (10 mg/kg b.w.). After 24 h of NDEA administration, animals were sacrificed, blood and liver tissue were collected. Liver injury markers, histoarchitecture, antioxidant defence status, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial dysfunction analysis, and mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated. Mito-TEMPO pre-treatment protected animals from the damaging effects of NDEA as observed by normalization of liver injury markers. NDEA metabolism resulted in a significantly increased intracellular and mitochondrial ROS generation with concomitant increase in LPO formation. The activity of mitochondrial complex I, complex II, malate dehydrogenase were significantly reduced and mitochondrial membrane potential was increased. Mito-TEMPO effectively scavenged NDEA-induced ROS generation and reduced LPO formation. A significant improvement was also observed in the activity of mitochondrial complex I, complex II, malate dehydrogenase and normalisation of mitochondrial membrane potential. Results suggested that mito-TEMPO had significant impact on the initiation phase of hepatocarcinogensis which could be one of the reason for its reported chemopreventive effect.