Glaucoma is a group of progressive optic neuropathies that share common biological and clinical characteristics including irreversible changes to the optic nerve and visual field loss caused by the ...death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The loss of RGCs manifests as characteristic cupping or optic nerve degeneration, resulting in visual field loss in patients with Glaucoma. Published studies on in vitro RGC differentiation from stem cells utilized classical RGC signaling pathways mimicking retinal development in vivo. Although many strategies allowed for the generation of RGCs, increased variability between experiments and lower yield hampered the cross comparison between individual lines and between experiments. To address this critical need, we developed a reproducible chemically defined in vitro methodology for generating retinal progenitor cell (RPC) populations from iPSCs, that are efficiently directed towards RGC lineage. Using this method, we reproducibly differentiated iPSCs into RGCs with greater than 80% purity, without any genetic modifications. We used small molecules and peptide modulators to inhibit BMP, TGF-β (SMAD), and canonical Wnt pathways that reduced variability between iPSC lines and yielded functional and mature iPSC-RGCs. Using CD90.2 antibody and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorter (MACS) technique, we successfully purified Thy-1 positive RGCs with nearly 95% purity.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
To establish if SNPs in
and
genes are associated with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) in African Americans (AA). We also determined whether plasma TNF-α and IL-2 levels could serve as biomarkers ...for POAG in African Americans using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
A single SNP association analysis was performed to investigate the association between potential gene variants in
and
genes and POAG in the AA population. Plasma samples from 190 African Americans (72 from normal subjects and 118 POAG cases) were obtained for TNF- α studies and 367 samples (135 from normal subjects and 232 from POAG cases) were obtained for IL-2 studies. TNF-α levels and IL-2 levels were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and analyzed to see if they reached significance in cases with POAG and endophenotypes when compared to normal subjects.
The SNP, rs1800630, in TNF-α gene was found to be marginally associated with POAG. SNPs in
gene were not associated with POAG in the case-control analysis. No significant difference was found between TNF-α levels and IL-2 levels in normal and POAG case subjects in our study. IL-2 levels were inversely correlated with high IOP in POAG cases.
Although we found a marginal SNP association of TNF-α, assessing the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-2 may serve as promising biomarkers for African American POAG. Further investigation is needed to determine if POAG can be subdivided into more specified cohorts of the disease, which may affect plasma cytokine levels differently.
•High CD4 count does not necessarily protect against aggressive AIDS-defining diseases, particularly, HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma.•Extremely elevated HHV-8, HIV, and EBV viral loads could predict ...aggressive HIV-associated KS disease course.•Anemia and thrombocytopenia in HIV/AIDS could be autoimmune like ITP and AIHA or bone marrow infiltration-related, by Kaposi sarcoma, for instance, or both.
Bone marrow infiltration by Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients is rare, with only a few cases reported in patients with a CD4 count greater than 200 cells/ml. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bone marrow involvement in HIV-associated KS in which the CD4 count is greater than 400 cells/ml. In this article, we present a patient with HIV-associated KS with skin, lymph node, bone, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and bone marrow involvement despite a high CD4 count. This is the highest CD4 count associated with bone marrow invasion in the medical literature. A high CD4 count does not protect untreated HIV patients against aggressive, diffuse KS-related lesions, including bone marrow infiltration.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Triboluminescence (TL) is the emission of cold light that is created when materials are fractured. Europium tetrakis dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium (EuD
4
TEA) is one of the brightest ...triboluminescent materials that exist. In 2010, efforts began to introduce additives to the synthesis to increase the triboluminescent yield of EuD
4
TEA. To date, this research has increased the overall emission yield of EuD
4
TEA by nearly two fold. This paper explores the effects of adding samarium to EuD
4
TEA. The effects of this additive on the decay time and photoluminescent emission spectra are reported. In addition, the effects of europium on samarium tetrakis dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium are also determined. The effects of europium on the decay time and photoluminescent emission spectra are also reported. Results will show that both additives have an adverse effect on the triboluminescent emission yield.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The ability of an object to emit light upon fracture is known as triboluminescence (TL). While no complete theory on TL exists, its applications are limitless. One such use of TL is for detecting ...damage on aircraft or Lunar habitats. In order to make these sensors more effective, the TL must be bright. Europium dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium (EuD4TEA) is one of the brightest known materials. In 2010, the authors began investigating the use of dopants to increase the TL even further. Thus far they have been successful in increasing the TL of EuD4TEA by nearly 200%. This paper explores the effects of doping EuD4TEA with dysprosium. In addition, the effects of this addition on the decay time and the emission spectra are also reported.
This work develops a hybrid active power filter (HAPF) in this article to operate in conjunction with the energy storage system (ESS), wind power generation system (WPGS), and solar energy system ...(SES). It employs three level shunt voltage source converters (VSC) connected to the DC-bus. Optimization of the gain values of the fractional-order proportional integral derivative controller (FOPIDC) and parameter values of the HAPF is achieved using the Jaya grey wolf hybrid algorithm (GWJA). The primary objectives of this study, aimed at enhancing power quality (PQ), include: (1) ensuring swift stabilization of DC link capacitor voltage (DCLCV); (2) reducing harmonics and improving power factor (PF); (3) maintaining satisfactory performance under different combinations of loads like EV charging load, non linear load and solar irradiation conditions. The proposed controller's performance is evaluated through three test scenarios featuring different load configurations and irradiation levels. Additionally, the HAPF is subjected to design using other optimization algorithms such as genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and ant colony optimization (ACO) to assess their respective contributions to PQ improvement.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Vesicular system drug design has revitalised the efficacy of previous medications by effectively regulating and sustaining their therapeutic action. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ...feasibility of utilizing pharmaceutical interventions to target novel vesicular drug delivery systems. The objective of innovative medication administration is to minimize adverse effects while ensuring drug efficacy at a predetermined or reasonably consistent level within the body. A novel drug delivery approach is characterized by the controlled release of medication at a predetermined rate, which is determined based on factors such as therapeutic requirements, pharmacological properties, drug characteristics, physiological condition of the organism, and other relevant considerations. At present, there is a lack of medication delivery technologies that effectively achieve the aforementioned objectives while minimizing adverse effects. The utilization of vesicular systems in drug delivery has brought about changes in the understanding and application of diagnosis and therapy across different domains within the biomedical field. The vesicular drug delivery system (VDDS) serves as a means to address the disparity between the theoretical ideal and the presently accessible innovative drug delivery systems, accomplishing this by enclosing active moieties within vesicular structures. Various vesicular drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, niosomes, transferases, pharmacosomes, colloidosomes, herbosomes, sphinosomes, among others, have been developed. This review primarily focuses on the examination of various pharmacological targets, both lipiodal and nonlipoidal, within vesicular systems. Liposomes and niosomes represent innovative drug delivery systems.
To evaluate the accuracy in the femoral and tibial tunnel placement after the use of fluoroscopy along with an indigenously designed grid method to assist in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament ...reconstruction as compared with the tunnel placement without using them and to validate the findings with computed tomography scan performed postoperatively along with assessing the functional outcome at a minimum of 3 years of follow-up.
This was a prospective study conducted on patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Patients were included and segregated into a nonfluoroscopy (group B) and a fluoroscopy group (group A), and both had postoperative computed tomography scans so that femoral and tibial tunnel position could be evaluated. Scheduled follow-up occurred 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months’ postoperatively. Patients were evaluated objectively with the Lachman test, measurement of range of motion, and functional outcome using patient-reported outcome measures, i.e., Tegner Lysholm Knee score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee score.
A total of 113 subjects were included. There were 53 in group A and 60 in group B. The average location of femoral tunnel showed significant differences between the 2 groups. However, the variability in femoral tunnel location was significantly lower in group A as compared with group B for proximal–distal planes only. The average location of the tibial tunnel as per the grid of Bernard et al. showed significant differences in both the planes. The variability in tibial tunnel was greater in the medial–lateral plane as compared with the anterior–posterior plane. There was a statistically significant difference in mean value of the 3 scores among the 2 groups. The variability of the scores was greater in group B as compared with group A. None of the patient was reported as a failure.
The results of our study suggests that fluoroscopy-guided positioning using a grid technique increases the accuracy of anterior cruciate ligament tunnel positioning with decreased variability and is associated with better patient-reported outcomes 3 years after surgery compared with tunnel positioning using landmarks.
Level II, prospective, comparative therapeutic trial.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Introduction: Femoral neck fractures are a common entity in elderly patients. This commonly occurs following trivial injury and the insult is compounded by osteoporosis in this age group. Cemented ...hemiarthroplasty is recommended by several studies and by several registries, due to low comorbidities compared to uncemented hemiarthroplasty. Significantly improved mobility scores, low pain scores make this a treatment of choice. Materials and Methods: This study included 108 patients who presented with fracture neck of the femur with an average age of 68.30 years and were operated with hemiarthroplasty by two consultant orthopedic surgeons in a standard operative setting over 5 years with modular bipolar prosthesis using lateral approach (Hardinge approach). Patients on follow-up were evaluated using Oxford Hip Score and Forgotten Joint Score. Results: The mean Oxford Hip Score was 39.46 suggestive of satisfactory joint function which may not require any further treatment. The mean Forgotten Joint Score was 83.46 suggestive of high degree of forgetting artificial joint. Conclusion: A very high Oxford Hip Scores and very high Forgotten Joint Scores after surgery suggests that the patients have retained or regained their independence and are doing good. This goes on to suggest that in spite of advancements in surgical techniques and implants for osteosynthesis, hemiarthroplasty done in indicated cases gives a good functional outcome and a lasting solution for these fractures.
As the world has taken a hit in this COVID-19 pandemic started in 2019 and widely recognized and tackled in 2020, we orthopedic surgeons too have faced many challenges and are trying to cope with the ...new normal. India being a developing country with various geopolitical and economical differences in this country, it was important for us to understand the preparedness of orthopedic surgeons in this part of the world. We wanted to know and understand what are the protective equipment they are looking for before they take any patient, what is the level and frequency of testing (for COVID-19) that they are doing, and how their practice has been modified in anyways.
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