Prevention of nonimmunologic loss of transplanted islets in monkeys.

The nonimmunologic loss of islets in the pre-, peri-, and early post-islet transplant periods is profound. To determine the potential role that transplantation of only a marginal mass of functioning beta cells may play in triggering late nonimmunologic graft loss, we studied the effect of treatment with alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in the autologous cynomolgus islet transplant model. A marginal mass of autologous islets, that is islets prepared from 70% to 80% of the pancreas, was transplanted at 1600-4100 IEQ/kg into subtotal pancreatectomized, streptozotocin-treated and insulin-deficient diabetic hosts. In this marginal mass islet transplant model, islet function is insidiously lost over time and diabetes recurs in all untreated monkeys by 180 days posttransplantation. Short-term treatment with AAT, an acute phase reactant, in the peri-transplant period serves to terminate inflammation through effects upon expression of TGFß, NFκB and AKT and favorably altering expression of cell death and survival pathways, as detected by a system biology approach and histology. These effects enabled functional expansion of the islet mass in transplanted hosts such that graft function improves rather than deteriorating over time.

Association of leukocyte count and hsCRP with metabolic abnormalities in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (CURES - 64).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the association of leukocyte count and high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP) with metabolic abnormalities in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. METHODS: Subjects with Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT) (n = 865) were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study [CURES]. Standard methods were used for assessing hsCRP [Nephelometry, in a subset] and leukocytes [Flowcytometry, Sysmex SF-3000]. Insulin resistance was calculated using the Homeostasis Assessment model (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HOMA IR and hsCRP increased significantly with increasing tertiles of leukocyte count [p for trend < 0.001]. Both leukocyte count and hsCRP showed a positive correlation with cardiovascular risk factors. Leukocyte count showed a positive correlation with hsCRP [p = 0.008]. Both mean leukocyte count [p < 0.001] and hsCRP [p = 0.04] were higher in subjects with Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which increased with increase in number of metabolic abnormalities [p for trend < 0.001]. Regression models showed leukocyte count [p < 0.001] and hsCRP [p = 0.03] to be associated with MS, even after adjusting for age and gender. CONCLUSION: A significant association exists between systemic inflammation [leukocyte count and hsCRP] and MS/cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians even among non-diabetic subjects.

Dielectric relaxation studies of collagen - surfactant complexes in aqueous buffer solution.

Dielectric relaxation studies of rat tail tendon collagen with anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and nonionic Tween 80 in aqueous buffer solutions at four different temperatures have been carried out in the frequency range 1 GHz to 25 GHz using time domain dielectric spectroscopy. The frequency dependent normalized dielectric modulus function P of the collagen and surfactant solutions show up as peaks around 1-2 GHz which is due to the bound water around collagen macromolecule and surfactant micelles. For the collagen - surfactant complexes, the peak in normalized dielectric modulus function P is shifted towards high frequency side near 2-3 GHz upon addition of surfactants to collagen in buffer solution. The water structure around collagen is altered in the presence of micelle forming surfactant additives and this change may affect the degrees of freedom of their motion. Hence the significant changes are observed in the relaxation time of bound water around collagen macromolecule in the presence of surfactants. Further, it was observed that no considerable change in relaxation time of hydration water of the complexes with respect to change in temperature within the studied temperature range. The activation enthalpy and activation entropy for the dipolar orientation corresponding to the free water for the surfactants and their complexes with collagen have been calculated from the Arrhenius plot. Our thermodynamic results suggest that the two­hydrogen-bonded model may be possible in SDS and Tween 80 environments, whereas the one­hydrogen-bonded model is likely to be possible in buffer and CTAB environments.

Barriers to research among residents in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery around the world.

OBJECTIVES: To document the challenges faced by residents in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS) around the world to successfully complete research projects. The second objective is to assess if the challenges are uniform worldwide. METHODS: A survey was sent to all OTL-HNS under 45 years old from the 2017 IFOS meeting. This survey was conducted by the YO-IFOS group (Young Otolaryngologists of the International Federation of Otolaryngological Societies). Data was collected for a period of 1 month. Demographic characteristics, information regarding research projects conducted and data concerning perceived barriers to completion of research projects were collected. RESULTS: Among the 2787 attendees, 928 responded to the survey (response rate=33.3%). Of these 928 answers, 267 responses were from residents/interns in OTL-HNS, while 635 responses were from certified otolaryngologists. The three most frequent obstacles to conducting research projects for trainees were limited dedicated time (64%), insufficient financial resources (55%) and lack of education in research (45%). There was no statistical difference in these barriers among the different countries (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first international study that provides insight on trainee's challenges to conduct research projects during residency. Despite the notion that research is essential for generating new knowledge to guide patient care, many residents fail to successfully incorporate research in their surgical curriculum. These obstacles must be addressed by Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery programs in order to facilitate and support resident's research.

Design and development of an in-line sputtering system and process development of thin film multilayer neutron supermirrors.

Neutron supermirrors and supermirror polarizers are thin film multilayer based devices which are used for reflecting and polarizing neutrons in various neutron based experiments. In the present communication, the in-house development of a 9 m long in-line dc sputtering system has been described which is suitable for deposition of neutron supermirrors on large size (1500 mm × 150 mm) substrates and in large numbers. The optimisation process of deposition of Co and Ti thin film, Co/Ti periodic multilayers, and a-periodic supermirrors have also been described. The system has been used to deposit thin film multilayer supermirror polarizers which show high reflectivity up to a reasonably large critical wavevector transfer of ∼0.06 Å(-1) (corresponding to m = 2.5, i.e., 2.5 times critical wavevector transfer of natural Ni). The computer code for designing these supermirrors has also been developed in-house.

Pharmacological validation of Kantha chendooram for antiulcer activity in modified pylorus ligated (shay) rat model.

The use of metals and minerals is predominant in siddha system of medicine. As per siddha concept, peptic ulcer is known as Valigunmam, the basic abnormality appears to be the derangement of metabolism in the stomach and duodenum resulting in malfunctioning of the secretory process of gastric mucosa. Chendooram is a group of siddha drugs which is used for anemia, obesity, rheumatic diseases; abdominal tumours etc.During the present study standardized Kantha chendooram was selected and evaluated for its anti-ulcer activity, which could not be attempted by researchers earlier.