scholarly journals Incorporation of Barium Ions into Biomaterials: Dangerous Liaison or Potential Revolution?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 5772
Author(s):  
Ilijana Kovrlija ◽  
Janis Locs ◽  
Dagnija Loca

In the present manuscript, a brief overview on barium, its possible utilization, and the aftermath of its behavior in organisms has been presented. As a bivalent cation, barium has the potential to be used in a myriad of biochemical reactions. A number of studies have exhibited both the unwanted outcome barium displayed and the advantages of barium laden compounds, tested in in vitro and in vivo settings. The plethora of prospective manipulations covered the area of hydrogels and calcium phosphates, with an end goal of examining barium’s future in the tissue engineering. However, majority of data revert to the research conducted in the 20th century, without investigating the mechanisms of action using current state-of-the-art technology. Having this in mind, set of questions that are needed for possible future research arose. Can barium be used as a substitute for other biologically relevant divalent cations? Will the incorporation of barium ions hamper the execution of the essential processes in the organism? Most importantly, can the benefits outweigh the harm?

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 969
Author(s):  
Xingyi Jiang ◽  
Qinchun Rao

Fish allergy is a life-long food allergy whose prevalence is affected by many demographic factors. Currently, there is no cure for fish allergy, which can only be managed by strict avoidance of fish in the diet. According to the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee, 12 fish proteins are recognized as allergens. Different processing (thermal and non-thermal) techniques are applied to fish and fishery products to reduce microorganisms, extend shelf life, and alter organoleptic/nutritional properties. In this concise review, the development of a consistent terminology for studying food protein immunogenicity, antigenicity, and allergenicity is proposed. It also summarizes that food processing may lead to a decrease, no change, or even increase in fish antigenicity and allergenicity due to the change of protein solubility, protein denaturation, and the modification of linear or conformational epitopes. Recent studies investigated the effect of processing on fish antigenicity/allergenicity and were mainly conducted on commonly consumed fish species and major fish allergens using in vitro methods. Future research areas such as novel fish species/allergens and ex vivo/in vivo evaluation methods would convey a comprehensive view of the relationship between processing and fish allergy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pia Montanucci ◽  
Silvia Terenzi ◽  
Claudio Santi ◽  
Ilaria Pennoni ◽  
Vittorio Bini ◽  
...  

Alginate-based microencapsulation of live cells may offer the opportunity to treat chronic and degenerative disorders. So far, a thorough assessment of physical-chemical behavior of alginate-based microbeads remains cloudy. A disputed issue is which divalent cation to choose for a high performing alginate gelling process. Having selected, in our system, high mannuronic (M) enriched alginates, we studied different gelling cations and their combinations to determine their eventual influence on physical-chemical properties of the final microcapsules preparation,in vitroandin vivo. We have shown that used of ultrapure alginate allows for high biocompatibility of the formed microcapsules, regardless of gelation agents, while use of different gelling cations is associated with corresponding variable effects on the capsules’ basic architecture, as originally reported in this work. However, only the final application which the capsules are destined to will ultimately guide the selection of the ideal, specific gelling divalent cations, since in principle there are no capsules that are better than others.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Nilufar Z. Mamadalieva ◽  
Davlat Kh. Akramov ◽  
Ludger A. Wessjohann ◽  
Hidayat Hussain ◽  
Chunlin Long ◽  
...  

The genus Lagochilus (Lamiaceae) is native to Central, South-Central, and Eastern Asia. It comprises 44 species, which have been commonly used as herbal medicines for the treatments of various ailments for thousands of years, especially in Asian countries. This review aims to summarize the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of species from the genus Lagochilus to unveil opportunities for future research. In addition, we provide some information about their traditional uses, botany, and diversity. More than 150 secondary metabolites have been reported from Lagochilus, including diterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, iridoid glycosides, lignans, steroids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, volatile, non-volatile and aromatic compounds, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and other secondary metabolites. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on the crude extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from Lagochilus species showed hemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, cytotoxic, enzyme inhibitory, antispasmodic, hypotensive, sedative, psychoactive, and other activities.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamkant B. Badgujar ◽  
Vainav V. Patel ◽  
Atmaram H. Bandivdekar

Foeniculum vulgareMill commonly called fennel has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers. The review aims to gather the fragmented information available in the literature regarding morphology, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology ofFoeniculum vulgare. It also compiles available scientific evidence for the ethnobotanical claims and to identify gaps required to be filled by future research. Findings based on their traditional uses and scientific evaluation indicates thatFoeniculum vulgareremains to be the most widely used herbal plant. It has been used for more than forty types of disorders. Phytochemical studies have shown the presence of numerous valuable compounds, such as volatile compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids. Compiled data indicate their efficacy in severalin vitroandin vivopharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory enhancing property.Foeniculum vulgarehas emerged as a good source of traditional medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development/formulation of new drugs and future clinical uses.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Camelliti ◽  
Gil Bub ◽  
Daniel J Stuckey ◽  
Christian Bollensdorff ◽  
Damian J Tyler ◽  
...  

Sarcomere length (SL) is a fundamental parameter underlying the Frank Starling relation in the heart, as it offers an absolute representation of myocardial stretch. Previous studies addressed the Frank Starling relation by measuring SL in isolated myocytes or muscle strips. Here, we report first data obtained using a novel technique to measure sub-epicardial SL in perfused hearts. Rat hearts were Langendorff perfused (normal Tyrode solution) at a constant pressure of 90mmHg, labeled with the fluorescent membrane marker di-4-ANEPPS, and then arrested with high-K + Tyrode for either 2-photon microscopy (n=4) or MRI (n=4). Image analysis software was developed to extract SL at the cell level from >1,400 2-photon images (Fig 1 ) and correct for cell angle. SL increased by 10±2 % between 30 and 80 min of perfusion (1.98±0.04 to 2.17±0.03 μm; p<0.05; Fig 1 ). Measurements of left ventricular myocardial volume (LVMV) were made in vivo and in perfused hearts using 3D MRI. LVMV increased by 24±7% from in vivo to 30 min of perfusion, and by 11±3 % between 30 and 90 min (539±35; 664±44; 737±49 mm 3 , respectively; p<0.05; Fig 1 ). We show that SL can be measured in isolated perfused hearts. The method allowed monitoring of changes in SL over time, and showed that SL and LVMV increase to a similar extent during 30–80 min perfusion with crystalloid solution, probably due to tissue oedema. This result, together with the increase in LVMV during the first 30 min, highlights the pronounced differences between in vivo , in situ , and in vitro model systems for studies of cardiac physiology and mechanics. Future research will compare changes in SL in healthy hearts and disease models involving contractile dysfunction. Figure 1: Left: 2-photon microscopy image of di-4-ANEPPS labeled myocardium. Right: SL and LVMV changes over time.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0053
Author(s):  
Jianying Zhang ◽  
Daibang Nie ◽  
Guangyi Zhao ◽  
Susheng Tan ◽  
MaCalus Hogan ◽  
...  

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Entheses have a special fibrocartilage transition zone where tendons and ligaments attach to bone. Enthesis injury is very common, and the reattachment of tendon to bone is a great challenge because healing takes place between a soft tissue (tendon) and a hard tissue (bone). We have now developed a kartogene (KGN)-containing polymer scaffold (KGN-P) that can precisely deliver KGN to damaged enthesis area. The effects of the KGN-containing polymer on the healing of wounded TBJ were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The proliferation and chondrogenesis of rat Achilles tendon stem cells (TSCs) grown in four conditions were measured: normal medium (Control); normal medium with 100 nM KGN (KGN); lysine diisocyanate (LDI)-glycerol scaffold with normal medium (LDI-P); LDI-glycerol-KGN scaffold with normal medium (KGN-P).A wound (1 mm) was created on each hind leg Achilles enthesis of all 8 rats (3 months old). The wounds were then treated either with 10 ul saline (Wound); or 10 ul of 10 uM KGN (KGN); or LDI polymer scaffold (LDI-P); or KGN-containing polymer scaffold (KGN-P). The rats were sacrificed on day 15 and 30 post-surgery, and their Achilles entheses were collected for gross inspection and histochemical analysis. Results: KGN-containing polymers have sponge-like structures (Fig. 1A-D), and release KGN in a time- and temperature-dependent manner (Fig. 1E). KGN-P scaffold induced chondrogenesis of TSCs (Fig. 2D, 2H) without changing cell proliferation (Fig. 2I), and enhanced fibrocartilage-like tissue formation (Fig. 3E). KGN (Fig. 3C) and LDI-P (Fig. 3D) treated groups exhibited unhealed wound areas as in saline group (Fig. 3B). Finally, KGN-P and KGN treated rat TSCs underwent chondrogenesis by upregulating collagen II, aggrecan, and SOX-9 expression (Fig. 3F). Conclusion: Our results showed that KGN-containing polymer scaffold enhanced wounded enthesis healing by inducing TSC chondrogenesis and promoting the formation of the fibrocartilage in the wound site. The KGN-P may be used for regeneration of wounded entheses in clinical settings. Future research will focus on optimizing KGN concentration and releasing rate in the polymer scaffold during enthesis healing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e67649
Author(s):  
Marta Sánchez ◽  
Elena González-Burgos ◽  
Irene Iglesias ◽  
M. Pilar Gómez-Serranillos Cuadrado

Valeriana officinalis L. (Caprifoliaceae family) has been traditionally used to treat mild nervous tension and sleep problems. The basis of these activities are mainly attributed to valerenic acid through the modulation of the GABA receptor. Moreover, V. officinalis is claimed to have other biological activities such as cardiovascular benefits, anticancer, antimicrobial and spasmolytic.  The current review aims to update the biological and pharmacological studies (in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials) of V. officinalis and its major secondary metabolites in order to guide future research. Databases PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus were used for literature search including original papers written in English and published between 2014 and 2020. There have been identified 33 articles which met inclusion criteria. Most of these works were performed with V. officinalis extracts and only a few papers (in vitro and in vivo studies) evaluated the activity of isolated compounds (valerenic acid and volvalerenal acid K). In vitro studies focused on studying antioxidant and neuroprotective activity. In vivo studies and clinical trials mainly investigated activities on the nervous system (anticonvulsant activity, antidepressant, cognitive problems, anxiety and sleep disorders). Just few studies were focused on other different activities, highlight effects on symptoms of premenstrual and postmenopausal syndromes. Valeriana officinalis continues to be one of the medicinal plants most used by today's society for its therapeutic properties and whose biological and pharmacological activities continue to arouse great scientific interest as evidenced in recent publications. This review shows scientific evidence on traditional uses of V. officinalis on nervous system.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin P Holder ◽  
Catherine A. A. Beauchemin

Background For a typical influenza infection in vivo, viral titers over time are characterized by 1–2 days of exponential growth followed by an exponential decay. This simple dynamic can be reproduced by a broad range of mathematical models which makes model selection and the extraction of biologically-relevant infection parameters from experimental data difficult. Results We analyze in vitro experimental data from the literature, specifically that of single-cycle viral yield experiments, to narrow the range of realistic models of infection. In particular, we demonstrate the viability of using a normal or lognormal distribution for the time a cell spends in a given infection state (e.g., the time spent by a newly infected cell in the latent state before it begins to produce virus), while exposing the shortcomings of ordinary differential equation models which implicitly utilize exponential distributions and delay-differential equation models with fixed-length delays. Conclusions By fitting published viral titer data from challenge experiments in human volunteers, we show that alternative models can lead to different estimates of the key infection parameters.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amparo López-Carrasco ◽  
Susana Martín-Vañó ◽  
Rebeca Burgos-Panadero ◽  
Ezequiel Monferrer ◽  
Ana P Berbegall ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Increased tissue stiffness is a common feature of malignant solid tumors, often associated with metastasis and poor patient outcomes. Vitronectin, as an extracellular matrix anchorage glycoprotein related to a stiff matrix, is present in a particularly increased quantity and specific distribution in high-risk neuroblastoma. Furthermore, as cells can sense and transform the proprieties of the extracellular matrix into chemical signals through mechanotransduction, genotypic changes related to stiffness are possible. Methods We have applied high density SNPa and NGS techniques to in vivo and in vitro models (orthotropic xenograft vitronectin knock-out mice and 3D bioprinted hydrogels with different stiffness) using two representative neuroblastoma cell lines (the MYCN amplified SK-N-BE(2) and the ALK mutated SH-SY5Y), to discern how tumor genomics patterns and clonal heterogeneity of both cell lines are affected. Results We describe a remarkable subclonal selection of some genomic aberrations in SK-N-BE(2) cells grown in knock-out vitronectin xenograft mice that also emerged when cultured for long times in stiff hydrogels. Specially, we detected an enlarged subclonal cell population with chromosome 9 aberrations in both models. Similar abnormalities were found in human high-risk neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification. Genomics of the SH-SY5Y cell line remained stable when cultured in both models. Conclusions Focus on heterogeneous intratumor segmental chromosome aberrations and mutations, as a mirror image of tumor microenvironment, is a vital area of future research.


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