KCL TEST: an open-source inspired asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance programme in an academic institution.

Rapid and accessible testing was paramount in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our university established KCL TEST: a SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic testing programme that enabled sensitive and accessible PCR testing of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in saliva. Here, we describe our learnings and provide our blueprint for launching diagnostic laboratories, particularly in low-resource settings. Between December 2020 and July 2022, we performed 158277 PCRs for our staff, students, and their household contacts, free of charge. Our average turnaround time was 16 h and 37 min from user registration to result delivery. KCL TEST combined open-source automation and in-house non-commercial reagents, which allows for rapid implementation and repurposing. Importantly, our data parallel those of the UK Office for National Statistics, though we detected a lower positive rate and virtually no delta wave. Our observations strongly support regular asymptomatic community testing as an important measure for decreasing outbreaks and providing safe working spaces. Universities can therefore provide agile, resilient, and accurate testing that reflects the infection rate and trend of the general population. Our findings call for the early integration of academic institutions in pandemic preparedness, with capabilities to rapidly deploy highly skilled staff, as well as develop, test, and accommodate efficient low-cost pipelines.

Rat liver extracellular matrix and perfusion bioreactor culture promote human amnion epithelial cell differentiation towards hepatocyte-like cells.

Congenital and chronic liver diseases have a substantial health burden worldwide. The most effective treatment available for these patients is whole organ transplantation; however, due to the severely limited supply of donor livers and the side effects associated with the immunosuppressive regimen required to accept allograft, the mortality rate in patients with end-stage liver disease is annually rising. Stem cell-based therapy aims to provide alternative treatments by either cell transplantation or bioengineered construct transplantation. Human amnion epithelial cells (AEC) are a widely available, ethically neutral source of cells with the plasticity and potential of multipotent stem cells and immunomodulatory properties of perinatal cells. AEC have been proven to be able to achieve functional improvement towards hepatocyte-like cells, capable of rescuing animals with metabolic disorders; however, they showed limited metabolic activities in vitro. Decellularised extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds have gained recognition as adjunct biological support. Decellularised scaffolds maintain native ECM components and the 3D architecture instrumental of the organ, necessary to support cells' maturation and function. We combined ECM-scaffold technology with primary human AEC, which we demonstrated being equipped with essential ECM-adhesion proteins, and evaluated the effects on AEC differentiation into functional hepatocyte-like cells (HLC). This novel approach included the use of a custom 4D bioreactor to provide constant oxygenation and media perfusion to cells in 3D cultures over time. We successfully generated HLC positive for hepatic markers such as ALB, CYP3A4 and CK18. AEC-derived HLC displayed early signs of hepatocyte phenotype, secreted albumin and urea, and expressed Phase-1 and -2 enzymes. The combination of liver-specific ECM and bioreactor provides a system able to aid differentiation into HLC, indicating that the innovative perfusion ECM-scaffold technology may support the functional improvement of multipotent and pluripotent stem cells, with important repercussions in the bioengineering of constructs for transplantation.

Pharmacological Evidences for Curcumin Neuroprotective Effects against Lead-Induced Neurodegeneration: Possible Role of Akt/GSK3 Signaling Pathway.

One of main herbal compounds with neuroprotective effects is curcumin. Lead poisoning cause neurodegeneration effect but its clear mechanism remains unknown. The current study evaluates the role of Akt/GSK3 signaling pathway in mediating the neuroprotective effects of curcumin against lead -induced neurodegeneration in rats. Sixty adult male rats were divided to: Group 1 and 2 receiving normal saline and drinking water containing 0.075% of lead acetate. Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 were treated concurrently with lead acetate (0.075% in drinking water) and Curcumin (10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg I.P, respectively). Morris water maze (MWM) was used to evaluate cognitive activity, Hippocampal oxidative, anti-oxidant, as well as inflammatory and apoptotic factors and also Akt and GSK3 protein levels were studied. We found that lead poisoning disturbed the learning and memory and simultaneous treatment with Curcumin reduced the lead -induced cognition disturbances. In addition, lead acetate treatment increased lipid peroxidation and the levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α , Bax, GSK3 (total and phosphorylated) while reducing reduced form of GSH, Bcl-2, and Akt3 (total and phosphorylated) levels in the hippocampus. Lead also reduced the activity of SOD, GPx, and GR in the hippocampus. In contrast, various doses of Curcumin attenuated lead -induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation; while elevating P-Akt and reduced of GSK3 levels. Thus, Curcumin via mediation of Akt/GSK3 signaling pathway confers neuroprotection against lead-induced neurodegeneration in hippocampus.