REVIEW ON PHYSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ABHYANGA

Lifestyle interventions are the major Ayurvedic preventive and therapeutic approach that helps in building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good digestion and proper excretion. To achieve the aim of Ayurveda, i.e., to preserve and promote the health of healthy, it prescribes many measures in the form of daily routine [Dinacharya], seasonal regime [Rtu charya] etc. Abhyanga has been included as a part of Dinacharya and as a treatment for certain diseases. It is also a part of the pre-therapeutic procedures of Panchakarma (five purificatory measures). It prevents Jara [ageing process], help to overcome Srama [fatigue], cures disease caused by Vata, promotes eyesight, improves texture and quality of skin, longevity etc. Since Vata dominates in the Sparsanendriya (skin) and Taila (oil) possess those qualities opposite to that of Vata, Abhyanga pacify Vata to a great extent. Since Sparsha is also the seat of Pitta dosha, and the eye itself is the seat of Pitta, Drshtiprasada effect of Abhyanga described in classics can be explained. By massaging, through oil application and generating heat by friction, Abhyanga stimulate blood circu- lation and lymphatic circulation. It also serves as the transporting medium of nutritional substances, metabolic end- products etc. So, it is an attempt to explore the physiological effects of Abhyanga as Dinacharya in the body. Keywords: Abhyanga, Pancha karma, Physiology

Paclitaxel Combined with Ticagrelor Inhibits B16F10 and Lewis Lung Carcinoma Cell Metastasis

It is widely accepted that tumor metastasis is the dominant factor leading to cancer-related death. Tumor metastasis is mediated by cell invasion, blood circulation and lymphatic circulation. Paclitaxel, as a common anti-tumor drug and a mitotic inhibitor, promotes microtubule assembly and inhibits microtubule depolymerization. In addition, ticagrelor, an anti-platelet drug, is used to treat acute coronary syndrome. An increasing numbers of studies have reported that platelets can facilitate tumor metastasis. Therefore, inhibiting the effects of platelets can serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer. To explore the effect of anti-tumor and anti-platelet drugs on tumor progression, the murine melanoma cell line, B16F10, and Lewis Lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were treated with paclitaxel and/or ticagrelor. Interestingly, the results demonstrated that paclitaxel and ticagrelor could not only suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of B16F10 and LLC cells, but they could also prevent tumor metastasis to the lungs. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of paclitaxel and ticagrelor was more apparent when both drugs were used in combination. Collectively, the current study demonstrated that the combination of paclitaxel and ticagrelor could be considered as a potential anti-tumor therapy approach.

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FIR FUNCTIONALIZED TEXTILE MATERIALS

Far Infrared (FIR) functionalized textile materials are enjoying a special attention nowadays, as a viable and practical solution for treating a wide range of medical conditions (relief of acute or chronic inflammation and circulatory problems, prevention of microbial infections, improvement of nervous system functions, reduction of skin lipids, improvement of blood circulation, removal of accumulated toxins by improving lymphatic circulation etc.). At the molecular level, FIR compounds and functionalized materials exert strong rotational and vibrational effects, with beneficial biological potential. These materials are based on the principle of absorbing light energy and then irradiating this energy back into the body at specific wavelengths. FIR functionalized textile materials are a new category of functional textiles that have the potential to improve well-being and health. Present paper explored the antimicrobial potential of four textile materials, functionalized with FIR, UV protection and antimicrobial functionalization compounds, tested according to two methods for assessment of antimicrobial character: a testing method in dynamic conditions and a testing method in static conditions. The evaluation of the antimicrobial character showed very good rates of reduction of the microbial population, of the functionalized textile materials, following the testing on four strains of pathogenic fungi: Candida albicans, Epydermophyton floccosum, Tricophyton interdigitale and Aspergillus niger, with reduction rates between 76.16% and 96.06%.

Detection of Metastatic Tumor Cells in the Bone Marrow Aspirate Smears by Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Morphogo System

IntroductionMetastatic carcinomas of bone marrow (MCBM) are characterized as tumors of non-hematopoietic origin spreading to the bone marrow through blood or lymphatic circulation. The diagnosis is critical for tumor staging, treatment selection and prognostic risk stratification. However, the identification of metastatic carcinoma cells on bone marrow aspiration smears is technically challenging by conventional microscopic screening.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to develop an automatic recognition system using deep learning algorithms applied to bone marrow cells image analysis. The system takes advantage of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based method in recognizing metastatic atypical cancer clusters and promoting rapid diagnosis.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed metastatic non-hematopoietic malignancies in bone marrow aspirate smears collected from 60 cases of patients admitted to Zhongshan Hospital. High resolution digital bone marrow aspirate smear images were generated and automatically analyzed by Morphogo AI based system. Morphogo system was trained and validated using 20748 cell cluster images from randomly selected 50 MCBM patients. 5469 pre-classified cell cluster images from the remaining 10 MCBM patients were used to test the recognition performance between Morphogo and experienced pathologists.ResultsMorphogo exhibited a sensitivity of 56.6%, a specificity of 91.3%, and an accuracy of 82.2% in the recognition of metastatic cancer cells. Morphogo’s classification result was in general agreement with the conventional standard in the diagnosis of metastatic cancer clusters, with a Kappa value of 0.513. The test results between Morphogo and pathologists H1, H2 and H3 agreement demonstrated a reliability coefficient of 0.827. The area under the curve (AUC) for Morphogo to diagnose the cancer cell clusters was 0.865.ConclusionIn patients with clinical history of cancer, the Morphogo system was validated as a useful screening tool in the identification of metastatic cancer cells in the bone marrow aspirate smears. It has potential clinical application in the diagnostic assessment of metastatic cancers for staging and in screening MCBM during morphology examination when the symptoms of the primary site are indolent.

Lymphatic circulation and heart failure

Objective: to summarize current knowledge about the interactions between the lymphatic/cardiovascular systems and interstitial tissue, which are associated with heart failure (HF). The authors attempt to answer the fundamental question of whether lymphatic insufficiency is a cause or consequence of HF. Understanding lymph formation processes in HF will allow finding new ways of treating HF.

Mesoporous Aerogel Microparticles Injected into the Abdominal Cavity of Mice Accumulate in Parathymic Lymph Nodes

Mesoporous aerogel microparticles are promising drug delivery systems. However, their in vivo biodistribution pathways and health effects are unknown. Suspensions of fluorescein-labeled silica–gelatin hybrid aerogel microparticles were injected into the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) of healthy mice in concentrations of 52 and 104 mg kg−1 in a 3-week-long acute toxicity experiment. No physiological dysfunctions were detected, and all mice were healthy. An autopsy revealed that the aerogel microparticles were not present at the site of injection in the abdominal cavity at the end of the experiment. The histological study of the liver, spleen, kidneys, thymus and lymphatic tissues showed no signs of toxicity. The localization of the aerogel microparticles in the organs was studied by fluorescence microscopy. Aerogel microparticles were not detected in any of the abdominal organs, but they were clearly visible in the cortical part of the parathymic lymph nodes, where they accumulated. The accumulation of aerogel microparticles in parathymic lymph nodes in combination with their absence in the reticuloendothelial system organs, such as the liver or spleen, suggests that the microparticles entered the lymphatic circulation. This biodistribution pathway could be exploited to design passive targeting drug delivery systems for flooding metastatic pathways of abdominal cancers that spread via the lymphatic circulation.

Effect of body movements in the venous blood flow and lymphatic circulation

The studies of ballistocardiography about the effect of cardiovascular activity in body motion raised the author interest in the research of the influence of body movements in the circulatory flow in venous and lymphatic vessels. These effects follow Sir Isaac Newton laws. With the body movement, the one-way valve structure of these vessels will cause a mobilization of venous blood and lymph to the proximal side. A model was built to demonstrate the effect of oscillatory movement in a liquid flow in a system of one-way valve. There was a rise of the liquid with difference in level that ranged from 9 cm up to 34 cm, depending on the amplitude and frequency. The model tried to mimic a segment of vein with its valve, and evaluate the effectiveness of oscillatory movements in the progression of the liquid, In a preliminary study, to assess the effect of oscillatory movements on leg swelling, this movements was applied in a clinical cases. There was regression of the oedema and circumference on the leg, by oscillatory movements, that was correlated with increase in lymphatic and venous drainage. Venous stasis is a predisposing factor of venous thromboembolism. How we extrapolate from the experimental model, the oscillatory movements of the legs improving venous circulation may contribute to the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism. In conclusion, it is of interest to study its application in some situations of venous thromboembolism risk.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia presenting as limb hemihyperplasia: a case report and literature review

Background Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is an exceedingly rare disorder. Epidemiology is unknown. It usually presents with lower extremity swelling, diarrhea, ascites, and protein-losing enteropathy. Since the pathogenesis of edema is usually due to hypoalbuminemia; both extremities are typically involved. The edema can rarely be due to abnormal lymphatic circulation, causing lymphedema, which usually involves both extremities as well. Diagnosis is made by the constellation of clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, and histological findings. Treatment involves dietary modification, to reduce lymphatic dilation in response to dietary fat. Other pharmacologic (e.g., octreotide) and replacement measures may be indicated as well. The most serious long-term complication is intestinal lymphoma. Herein is a case of Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia presenting with unilateral lower limb swelling. Case presentation A 4-year-old boy presents with left foot swelling since the age of 4 months, in addition to intermittent diarrhea, and abdominal swelling. The foot swelling had been evaluated by different health care professionals in the past, and was mislabeled as either cellulitis, or congenital hemihyperplasia. Physical examination revealed mild ascites, and a non-pitting foot edema with a positive Stemmer’s sign (lymphedema). Blood work revealed hypoalbuminemia (albumin 2 g/dl), and hypogammaglobulinemia. Endoscopy showed dilated lacteals throughout the duodenum. Histopathologic examination revealed massively dilated lamina propria lymphatics in the duodenal biopsies. The patient was diagnosed with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. He was treated with high-protein and low-fat diet, and supplemental formula high in medium chain triglycerides. On follow-up, the patient’s diarrhea completely resolved, and his ascites and edema improved significantly. Conclusions The presence of unilateral lower limb edema should not preclude the diagnosis of systemic disorders, and a high index of suspicion is required in atypical presentations. A good knowledge about Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia manifestations, and physical examination skills to differentiate edema or lymphedema from tissue overgrowth can significantly aid in the diagnosis.

Inflammation rapidly recruits mammalian GMP and MDP from bone marrow into regional lymphatics

Innate immune cellular effectors are actively consumed during systemic inflammation but the systemic traffic and the mechanisms that support their replenishment remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that acute systemic inflammation induces the emergent activation of a previously unrecognized system of rapid migration of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors and committed macrophage-dendritic progenitors, but not other progenitors or stem cells, from bone marrow (BM) to regional lymphatic capillaries. The progenitor traffic to the systemic lymphatic circulation is mediated by Ccl19/Ccr7 and is NFkB independent, Traf6/IkB-kinase/SNAP23 activation dependent, and is responsible for the secretion of pre-stored Ccl19 by a subpopulation of CD205+/CD172a+ conventional dendritic cells type 2 (cDC2) and upregulation of BM myeloid progenitor Ccr7 signaling. Mature myeloid Traf6 signaling is anti-inflammatory and necessary for lymph node (LN) myeloid cell development. This report unveils the existence and the mechanistic basis of a very early direct traffic of myeloid progenitors from BM to lymphatics during inflammation.

Systemic inflammation recruits fast-acting anti-inflammatory innate myeloid progenitors from BM into lymphatics

ABSTRACTInnate immune cellular effectors are actively consumed during systemic inflammation but the systemic traffic and the mechanisms that support their replenishment remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that acute systemic inflammation induces the emergent activation of a previously unrecognized system of rapid migration of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors and committed macrophage-dendritic progenitors, but not other progenitors or stem cells, from bone marrow (BM) to lymphatic capillaries. The progenitor traffic to the systemic lymphatic circulation is mediated by Ccl19/Ccr7 and is NFκB independent, Traf6/IκB-kinase/SNAP23 activation which is responsible for the secretion of pre-stored Ccl19 by a subpopulation of CD205+/CD172a+ conventional dendritic cells type 2 (cDC2) and upregulation of BM myeloid progenitor Ccr7 signaling. The consequence of this progenitor traffic is anti-inflammatory with promotion of early survival and initiation of replenishment of lymph node cDC.