scholarly journals Broadband Time Domain Diffuse Optical Reflectance Spectroscopy: A Review of Systems, Methods, and Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 5465
Author(s):  
Sanathana Konugolu Venkata Sekar ◽  
Pranav Lanka ◽  
Andrea Farina ◽  
Alberto Dalla Mora ◽  
Stefan Andersson-Engels ◽  
...  

This review presents recent developments and a wide overview of broadband time domain diffuse optical spectroscopy (TD-DOS). Various topics including physics of photon migration, advanced instrumentation, methods of analysis, applications covering multiple domains (tissue chromophore, in vivo studies, food, wood, pharmaceutical industry) are elaborated. The key role of standardization and recent studies in that direction are discussed. Towards the end, a brief outlook is presented on the current status and future trends in broadband TD-DOS.

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Coppin ◽  
Etienne Sokal ◽  
Xavier Stéphenne

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently studied and used in numerous clinical trials. Nevertheless, some concerns have been raised regarding the safety of these infusions and the thrombogenic risk they induce. MSCs express procoagulant activity (PCA) linked to the expression of tissue factor (TF) that, when in contact with blood, initiates coagulation. Some even describe a dual activation of both the coagulation and the complement pathway, called Instant Blood-Mediated Inflammatory Reaction (IBMIR), explaining the disappointing results and low engraftment rates in clinical trials. However, nowadays, different approaches to modulate the PCA of MSCs and thus control the thrombogenic risk after cell infusion are being studied. This review summarizes both in vitro and in vivo studies on the PCA of MSC of various origins. It further emphasizes the crucial role of TF linked to the PCA of MSCs. Furthermore, optimization of MSC therapy protocols using different methods to control the PCA of MSCs are described.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Bonesi ◽  
Mariarosaria Leporini ◽  
Maria C. Tenuta ◽  
Rosa Tundis

Natural compounds have always played a key role in drug discovery. Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites belonging to the flavonoids family responsible for the purple, blue, and red colour of many vegetables and fruits. These phytochemicals have attracted the interest of researchers for their important implications in human health and for their use as natural colorants. Many in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the potential effects of anthocyanins and anthocyanins-rich foods in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. This review reports the recent literature data and focuses on the potential role of anthocyanins in drug discovery. Their biological activity, analysis of structure-activity relationships, bioavailability, metabolism, and future prospects of their uses are critically described.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna Maria Santos ◽  
Fazle Hussain

Background: Reduced levels of magnesium can cause several diseases and increase cancer risk. Motivated by magnesium chloride’s (MgCl2) non-toxicity, physiological importance, and beneficial clinical applications, we studied its action mechanism and possible mechanical, molecular, and physiological effects in prostate cancer with different metastatic potentials.Methods: We examined the effects of MgCl2, after 24 and 48 hours, on apoptosis, cell migration, expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and V-H+-ATPase, myosin II (NMII) and the transcription factor NF Kappa B (NFkB) expressions.Results: MgCl2 induces apoptosis, and significantly decreases migration speed in cancer cells with different metastatic potentials.  MgCl2 reduces the expression of V-H+-ATPase and myosin II that facilitates invasion and metastasis, suppresses the expression of vimentin and increases expression of E-cadherin, suggesting a role of MgCl2 in reversing the EMT. MgCl2 also significantly increases the chromatin condensation and decreases NFkB expression.Conclusions: These results suggest a promising preventive and therapeutic role of MgCl2 for prostate cancer. Further studies should explore extending MgCl2 therapy to in vivo studies and other cancer types.Keywords: Magnesium chloride, prostate cancer, migration speed, V-H+-ATPase, and EMT.


2002 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. GRUNEBAUM ◽  
M. BLANK ◽  
S. COHEN ◽  
A. AFEK ◽  
J. KOPOLOVIC ◽  
...  

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 357
Author(s):  
Muddassar Hameed ◽  
Abdul Wahaab ◽  
Mohsin Nawaz ◽  
Sawar Khan ◽  
Jawad Nazir ◽  
...  

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which is primarily prevalent in Asia. JEV is a Flavivirus, classified into a single serotype with five genetically distinct genotypes (I, II, III, IV, and V). JEV genotype III (GIII) had been the most dominant strain and caused numerous outbreaks in the JEV endemic countries until 1990. However, recent data shows the emergence of JEV genotype I (GI) as a dominant genotype and it is gradually displacing GIII. The exact mechanism of this genotype displacement is still unclear. The virus can replicate in mosquito vectors and vertebrate hosts to maintain its zoonotic life cycle; pigs and aquatic wading birds act as an amplifying/reservoir hosts, and the humans and equines are dead-end hosts. The important role of pigs as an amplifying host for the JEV is well known. However, the influence of other domestic animals, especially birds, that live in high abundance and close proximity to the human is not well studied. Here, we strive to briefly highlight the role of birds in the JEV zoonotic transmission, discovery of birds as a natural reservoirs and amplifying host for JEV, species of birds susceptible to the JEV infection, and the proposed effect of JEV on the poultry industry in the future, a perspective that has been neglected for a long time. We also discuss the recent in vitro and in vivo studies that show that the newly emerged GI viruses replicated more efficiently in bird-derived cells and ducklings/chicks than GIII, and an important role of birds in the JEV genotype shift from GIII to GI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4670
Author(s):  
Cinzia Buccoliero ◽  
Manuela Dicarlo ◽  
Patrizia Pignataro ◽  
Francesco Gaccione ◽  
Silvia Colucci ◽  
...  

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) is a protein that promotes transcription of numerous genes, particularly those responsible for the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. Evidence for a key role of PGC1α in bone metabolism is very recent. In vivo studies showed that PGC1α deletion negatively affects cortical thickness, trabecular organization and resistance to flexion, resulting in increased risk of fracture. Furthermore, in a mouse model of bone disease, PGC1α activation stimulates osteoblastic gene expression and inhibits atrogene transcription. PGC1α overexpression positively affects the activity of Sirtuin 3, a mitochondrial nicotinammide adenina dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, on osteoblastic differentiation. In vitro, PGC1α overexpression prevents the reduction of mitochondrial density, membrane potential and alkaline phosphatase activity caused by Sirtuin 3 knockdown in osteoblasts. Moreover, PGC1α influences the commitment of skeletal stem cells towards an osteogenic lineage, while negatively affects marrow adipose tissue accumulation. In this review, we will focus on recent findings about PGC1α action on bone metabolism, in vivo and in vitro, and in pathologies that cause bone loss, such as osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.


Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Budani ◽  
Gian Mario Tiboni

Nitric oxide (NO) is formed during the oxidation of L-arginine to L-citrulline by the action of multiple isoenzymes of NO synthase (NOS): neuronal NOS (nNOS), endotelial NOS (eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS). NO plays a relevant role in the vascular endothelium, in central and peripheral neurons, and in immunity and inflammatory systems. In addition, several authors showed a consistent contribution of NO to different aspects of the reproductive physiology. The aim of the present review is to analyse the published data on the role of NO within the ovary. It has been demonstrated that the multiple isoenzymes of NOS are expressed and localized in the ovary of different species. More to the point, a consistent role was ascribed to NO in the processes of steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and oocyte meiotic maturation in in vitro and in vivo studies using animal models. Unfortunately, there are few nitric oxide data for humans; there are preliminary data on the implication of nitric oxide for oocyte/embryo quality and in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) parameters. NO plays a remarkable role in the ovary, but more investigation is needed, in particular in the context of human ovarian physiology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 132-132
Author(s):  
Sergio Calsamiglia ◽  
Maria Rodriguez-Prado ◽  
Gonzalo Fernandez-Turren ◽  
Lorena Castillejos

Abstract In the last 20 years there has been extensive in vitro research on the effects of plant extracts and essential oils on rumen microbial fermentation. The main objectives have been to improve energy metabolism through a reduction in methane emissions and an increase in propionate production; and to improve protein metabolism by reducing proteolysis and deamination. While the positive results from in vitro studies has stimulated the release of commercial products based on blends of essential oils, there is limited in vivo evidence on the rumen fermentation and production performance effects. A literature search was conducted to select in vivo studies where information on rumen fermentation and animal performance was reported. For dairy cattle, we identified 37 studies of which 21 were adequate to test production performance. Ten studies reported increases and 3 decreases in milk yield. For beef cattle, we identified 20 studies with rumen fermentation profile and 22 with performance data. Average daily gain improved in 7 and decreased in 1 study. Only 1 out of 16 studies reported an improvement in feed efficiency. Data indicate that out of more than 500 products tested in vitro, only around 20 have been tested in vivo in different mixtures and doses. The use of statistical approaches will allow to describe the conditions, doses and responses in dairy and beef cattle performance. The search for postruminal effects offers another alternative use. Evidence for effects on the intestinal and systemic effects on the immune system and antioxidant status (i.e., capsicum, garlic, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde curcuma, catechins, anethol or pinene), and in the modulation of metabolic regulation (capsicum, cinnamaldehyde, curcuma or garlic) may open the opportunity for future applications. However, stability of the product in the GI tract, description of the mechanisms of action and the impact of these changes on performance needs to be further demonstrated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Jabir ◽  
Abdullatif Aydin ◽  
Hussain Al-Jabir ◽  
M. Shamim Khan ◽  
Prokar Dasgupta ◽  
...  

Introduction: We undertook a systematic review of the use of wet lab (animal and cadaveric) simulation models in urological training, with an aim to establishing a level of evidence (LoE) for studies and level of recommendation (LoR) for models, as well as evaluating types of validation. Methods: Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for English-language studies using search terms including a combination of surgery, surgical training, and medical education. These results were combined with wet lab, animal model, cadaveric, and in-vivo. Studies were then assigned a LoE and LoR if appropriate as per the education-modified Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine classification. Results: A total of 43 articles met the inclusion criteria. There was a mean of 23.1 (±19.2) participants per study with a median of 20. Overall, the studies were largely of low quality, with 90.7% of studies being lower than 2a LoE (n=26 for LoE 2b and n=13 for LoE 3). The majority (72.1%, n=31) of studies were in animal models and 27.9% (n=12) were in cadaveric models. Conclusions: Simulation in urological education is becoming more prevalent in the literature, however, there is a focus on animal rather than cadaveric simulation, possibly due to cost and ethical considerations. Studies are also predominately of a low LoE; more higher LoEs, especially randomized controlled studies, are needed.


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