Biodiesel production from Custard apple seeds and Euglena Sanguinea using CaO nano-catalyst.

This short communication investigated biodiesel production from Euglena Sanguineamicroalgaeand custard appleusing nano CaO as a heterogeneous catalyst. Different solvents were used to extract the oil at a fixed speed, time, and temperature for the samples to estimate the optimized oil yield%. The catalyst was synthesized by sol gel method in nano-scale. It was further characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and XRD. The algal oil was pre-treated and trans-esterified with a catalyst to produce alkyl esters. The optimized process variables were determined using response surface methodology by varying parameters such as methanol to oil ratio and catalyst weight% for algal bio-oil and MeOH to oil ratio, time, and catalyst weight% for seed oil. The GC-MS was done to characterize the presence of biodiesel. Kinetic studies were done for the optimized condition for the algal oil and seed oil and it follows the pseudo-first order reaction.

Reduction of pTau and APP levels in mammalian brain after low-dose radiation.

Brain radiation can occur from treatment of brain tumors or accidental exposures. Brain radiation has been rarely considered, though, as a possible tool to alter protein levels involved in neurodegenerative disorders. We analyzed possible molecular and neuropathology changes of phosphorylated-Tau (pTau), all-Tau forms, ß-tubulin, amyloid precursor protein (APP), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1), myelin basic protein (MBP), and GAP43 in Frontal Cortex (FC), Hippocampus (H) and Cerebellum (CRB) of swine brains following total-body low-dose radiation (1.79 Gy). Our data show that radiated-animals had lower levels of pTau in FC and H, APP in H and CRB, GAP43 in CRB, and higher level of GFAP in H versus sham-animals. These molecular changes were not accompanied by obvious neurohistological changes, except for astrogliosis in the H. These findings are novel, and might open new perspectives on brain radiation as a potential tool to interfere with the accumulation of specific proteins linked to the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders.

Bone tissue engineering: Scaffold preparation using chitosan and other biomaterials with different design and fabrication techniques.

In the recent years, a paradigm shift is taking place where metallic/synthetic implants and tissue grafts are being replaced by tissue engineering approach. A well designed three-dimensional scaffold is one of the fundamental tools to guide tissue formation in vitro and in vivo. Bone is a highly dynamic and an integrative tissue, and thus enormous efforts have been invested in bone tissue engineering to design a highly porous scaffold which plays a critical role in guiding bone growth and regeneration. Numerous techniques have been developed to fabricate highly interconnected, porous scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications with the help of biomolecules such as chitosan, collagen, gelatin, silk, etc. We aim, in this review, to provide an overview of different types of fabrication techniques for scaffold preparation in bone tissue engineering using biological macromolecules.

Effects of flavonoids incorporated biological macromolecules based scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.

Skeletal tissue damage caused by trauma, injury, or disease can often result in considerable morbidity and the need for new, more reliable strategies for skeletal regeneration. So, to address the unmet need for bone augmentation, bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have evolved in the recent years. Bone tissue engineering harnesses novel scaffolds, stem cells and biological factors that promise enhanced and more reliable bone formation. Increasingly phytochemicals, particularly flavonoids are gaining renowned interest lately for their therapeutic potential on bone. Intake of flavonoids has shown to improve bone health due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Inclusion of biomaterials for flavonoids delivery has potential towards bone tissue engineering. Hence, this review was aimed to provide an overview of recent developments in bone tissue engineering focusing on flavonoids and their potent biological properties that enhance bone health.

Sustained release of chrysin from chitosan-based scaffolds promotes mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and osteoblast differentiation.

Numerous phytochemical compounds have recently been reported to stimulate osteogenesis. In this study, the bioavailability and osteogenic effects of chrysin, a natural flavonoid, were investigated. Chrysin was incorporated at different concentrations into biocomposite scaffolds containing carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, and nano-hydroxyapatite, through the freeze-drying method. The physicochemical and material characteristics of chrysin-incorporated scaffolds were investigated, and chrysin had no effect on them. These chrysin-containing scaffolds were not cytotoxic to mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs). Chrysin released from scaffolds stimulated cell proliferation and promoted osteoblast differentiation. Osteoblast differentiation enhanced by chrysin from scaffolds could be due to downregulation of co-repressors of the osteoblast differentiation transcription factor Runx2 in these cells. Thus, chrysin release from scaffolds has potential effects on proliferation and differentiation of mMSCs; hence, it has potential application in bone tissue engineering.

Correlation of presence of Candida and epithelial dysplasia in oral mucosal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Candida and epithelial dysplasia have long been associated with oro-mucosal lesions. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the correlation between presence of Candida organisms and epithelial dysplasia in various oral mucosal lesions associated with areca nut and tobacco use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 individuals were selected, between age range of 19-70 y. Three separate cytosmears were prepared for each participant. All the slides were stained with PAS stain and the best slide was viewed for candidal organisms. STATISTICAL TESTS: The data was analysed using the SPSS version16. Chi square test was performed. RESULTS: Out of these, samples of 26 participants displayed presence of Candida. It was further observed that all the samples that were positive for presence of Candida displayed the organism in hyphal form. Out of 50 biopsy specimens stained for presence of Candida using PAS stain, samples of only 2 participants demonstrated presence of Candida in hyphal form, whereas the biopsy specimens stained for demonstrating dysplastic changes using H&E stain displayed various levels of cellular atypia in samples of 16 participants. Out of these 12 were mild, 3 were moderate & 1 displayed severe dysplastic changes. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a statistically non significant correlation between the presence of Candida and epithelial dysplasia in oral mucosal lesions.