Multivariate approach for optimization of galactomannan extraction from seeds of Egyptian Trigonella foenum-graecum with insights on its pharmacological activities.

Response surface methodology (RSM), based on the central composite design (CCD), was used for the systemic optimization of galactomannan (GAL) extraction from Trigonella foenum-graecum. GAL was reported to possess a variety of pharmacological effects and is commercialized as adjuvant therapy for diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. Seven process variables were evaluated (12 experiments in a Plackett-Burman design) to screen the significant factors affecting the extraction yield. The three most significant variables were evaluated in CCD at two levels (twenty experimental designs) to obtain the utmost percentage yield. The yield of GAL extraction was influenced by the volume of the precipitating solvent to the volume of the soaking water and reached a maximum of 10.1% at a ratio of 3.633:1. Exploring the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-microbial activities of GAL revealed cytotoxic activity against LS174-T colorectal cancer cells, weak antioxidant activity, and moderate antimicrobial activity against Candida tropicalis and Micrococcus species.

Phyto-complexation of galactomannan-stabilized calcium hydroxide and selenium-calcium hydroxide nanocomposite to enhance the seed-priming effect in Vigna radiata.

The evaluation of nano-priming effect with galactomannan stabilized Phyto-complexed calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), selenium oxyanion­calcium hydroxide SeO-(Ca(OH)2), and selenium­calcium hydroxide Se-(Ca(OH)2) nanocomposites was carried out in Vigna radiata (Green gram) seeds. The green source Cassia angustifolia seed rich in galactomannan and other phytoconstituents was detected experimentally and characterized with GC-MS, UV, FT-IR, NMR, XRD, and SEM studies. The highly active galactomannan and other biomolecules, enable their terminal oxygen and hydroxide groups to bind with calcium and selenium ions through bidentate and monodentate chelation, followed by bio-reduction. On the mild-thermal agitation, bio-stabilized (Ca(OH)2), SeO-(Ca(OH)2), and Se-(Ca(OH)2) nanocomposite coated with seed-derived biomolecules were precipitated under an alkaline condition. The size and morphological parameters of bio-fabricated nanocomposites were characterized to exhibit the spherical and hexagonal shape in nanoscale images of size 17.9 nm for (Ca(OH)2), 56.2 nm for SeO-(Ca(OH)2), and 69.3 nm Se-(Ca(OH)2). The sub-standard seed lot of Vigna radiata (Green gram) seeds (71%) was examined using synthesized nanocomposites at various concentrations, and the obtained physiological parameters in seedlings were compared with hydro-primed seeds. The nano-priming action of all the Phyto-complexed nanocomposites was predicted with a positive response, where the porous Se-(Ca(OH)2) possess high efficacy interaction on seed embryos and beneficially results at 90% germination.

Holistic review of polysaccharides isolated from pumpkin: Preparation methods, structures and bioactivities.

Pumpkin polysaccharides have arrested researchers' attention in fields of food supplements for healthy product and traditional Chinese medicine due to their multiple bioactivities with non-toxic and highly biocompatible. This review emphatically summarized recent progresses in the primary and spatial structural features, various bioactivities, structure-to-function associations, different preparation techniques, and absorption characteristics across intestinal epithelial and in vivo bio-distribution of pumpkin polysaccharides. Additionally, current challenges and future trends in development of pumpkin polysaccharides were pointed out. We found that pumpkin polysaccharides were primary structure (e.g. glucan, galactoglucan, galactomannan, galactan, homogalacturonan (HG), and rhamnogalacturonan-Ι (RG-Ι)) and special structure diverse (e.g. hollow helix, linear, and sphere-like) and significant functional foods or therapeutic agents (e.g. oral hypoglycemic agents). Moreover, we found that the molecular weight (Mw), uronic acid, linkage types, and modifications all could affect their bioactivities (e.g. anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, and anti-diabetic activities), and pumpkin polysaccharides may across intestinal epithelial into the blood reaching to target organs. Collectively, the structures diversity and pharmacological values of pumpkin polysaccharides support their therapeutic potentials and sanitarian functions.

Inhibition of Aberrant α(1,2)-Fucosylation at Ocular Surface Ameliorates Dry Eye Disease.

Fucosylation is involved in a wide range of biological processes from cellular adhesion to immune regulation. Although the upregulation of fucosylated glycans was reported in diseased corneas, its implication in ocular surface disorders remains largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the expression of a fucosylated glycan on the ocular surface in two mouse models of dry eye disease (DED), the NOD.B10.H2b mouse model and the environmental desiccating stress model. We furthermore investigated the effects of aberrant fucosylation inhibition on the ocular surface and DED. Results demonstrated that the level of type 2 H antigen, an α(1,2)-fucosylated glycan, was highly increased in the cornea and conjunctiva both in NOD.B10.H2b mice and in BALB/c mice subjected to desiccating stress. Inhibition of α(1,2)-fucosylation by 2-deoxy-D-galactose (2-D-gal) reduced corneal epithelial defects and increased tear production in both DED models. Moreover, 2-D-gal treatment suppressed the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the ocular surface and the percentages of IFN-γ+CD4+ cells in draining lymph nodes, whereas it did not affect the number of conjunctival goblet cells, the MUC5AC level or the meibomian gland area. Together, the findings indicate that aberrant fucosylation underlies the pathogenesis of DED and may be a novel target for DED therapy.

Production performance, egg quality, plasma biochemical constituents and lipid metabolites of aged laying hens supplemented with incomplete degradation products of galactomannan.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of incomplete degradation products of galactomannan (IDPG) on the production performance, egg quality, plasma parameters, and lipid metabolites of laying hens. A total of 288 laying hens were allocated into 4 treatments and fed diets supplemented with 0%, 0.01%, 0.025%, and 0.05% IDPG. Results showed that IDPG supplementation significantly increases egg production and decreases feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Eggs laid by hens receiving IDPG exhibited higher eggshell strength (P < 0.05). Moreover, IDPG supplementation significantly increased the serum albumin content, and decreased the blood ammonia content as well as triglyceride levels in serum and liver (P < 0.05). Overall, IDPG can be considered as an effective feed additive due to its capacity of improving egg production, increasing plasma protein, and changing lipid metabolism of laying hens.

Dietary Phytogenics and Galactomannan Oligosaccharides in Low Fish Meal and Fish Oil-Based Diets for European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles: Effects on Gill Structure and Health and Implications on Oxidative Stress Status.

An effective replacement for fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) based on plant-based raw materials in the feed of marine fish species is necessary for the sustainability of the aquaculture sector. However, the use of plant-based raw materials to replace FM and FO has been associated with several negative health effects, some of which are related to oxidative stress processes that can induce functional and morphological alterations in mucosal tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary oligosaccharides of plant origin (5,000 ppm; galactomannan oligosaccharides, GMOS) and a phytogenic feed additive (200 ppm; garlic oil and labiatae plant extract mixture, PHYTO) on the oxidative stress status and mucosal health of the gills of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). The experimental diets, low FM and FO diets (10%FM/6%FO) were supplemented with GMOS from plant origin and PHYTO for 63 days. GMOS and PHYTO did not significantly affect feed utilization, fish growth, and survival. GMOS and PHYTO downregulated the expression of ß-act, sod, gpx, cat, and gr in the gills of the fish compared with that in fish fed the control diet. The expression of hsp70 and ocln was upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in the GMOS group compared with that in the control group, whereas the expression of zo-1 was downregulated in the PHYTO group compared with that in the GMOS group. The morphological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical parameters of the fish gills were mostly unaffected by GMOS and PHYTO. However, the PHYTO group had lower incidence of lamellar fusion than did the control group after 63 days. Although the tissular distribution of goblet cells was unaffected by GMOS and PHYTO, goblet cell size showed a decreasing trend (-11%) in the GMOS group. GMOS and PHYTO significantly reduced the concentration of PCNA+ in the epithelium of the gills. The above findings indicated that GMOS and PHYTO in low FM/FO-based diets protected the gill epithelia of D. labrax from oxidative stress by modulating the expression of oxidative enzyme-related genes and reducing the density of PCNA+ cells in the gills of the fish.

Effects of seleno-Sesbania canabina galactomannan on anti-oxidative and immune function of macrophage.

Seleno-polysaccharides have become a major topic for research owing to their high anti-oxidative capacity and immune-enhancing activities. In this study, galactomannan (GM) was isolated from Sesbania cannabina, and next modified using HNO3-Na2SeO3 method to obtain six varieties of seleno-galactomannans (SeGMs). FT-IR and GPC results showed the changes in chemical structure of SeGMs, indicating successful combination of selenium and GM. By measuring superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde, the SeGMs showed a stronger protective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in vitro than unmodified GM using macrophage RAW264.7 cell as a model, and the effect of SeGMs-14 was prominent. However, the selenylation modification did not show any obvious effect on the immunomodulatory activity of GM, as determined by the index of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1ß. Overall, the prepared SeGMs from galactomannan could potentially serve as a dietary supplement of Se or an organic antioxidant.

Selective extraction of galactomannan from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed husk and its enzyme inhibitory potential associated with hyperglycaemia.

BACKGROUND: Fenugreek seeds host various bioactive compounds, and galactomannan (GM) is a significant soluble fibre. In this study, selective extraction is adapted to extract fenugreek seed GM to improvise the yield recovery. The seeds are fractionated, separated and classified as husk and cotyledons. Comparative studies have been performed to evaluate the crude and pure GM yield between different groups such as the whole seed, and the classified fractions. Characterization is done using Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, monosaccharide composition and optical density, and the structure is elucidated through nuclear magnetic resonance. The GM obtained through extraction is used to study its enzyme inhibitory property associated with hyperglycaemia. RESULTS: GM yield extracted from the husk is highly significant compared to other groups. Crude GM and pure GM yield was 2 and 3.25 times higher than that obtained through whole seed samples. The characterization of the pure GM is on a par with the existing reports. The purified GM inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro, with an IC50 of 21.08 ± 0.085 and 67.17 ± 5.15 µg mL-1 , respectively. CONCLUSION: Selective extraction prompts enhancement in the recovery of the bioactive compound, minimal use of resources, and promotes industrial viability. Characterization of the compound confirms the structure. Its enzyme inhibitory property makes GM a valuable compound in diabetic prevention/treatment. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Bacillius Coagulans and Galactomannans on Obese Patients Undergoing Sleeve Gastrectomy, A Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of probiotics and prebiotics (LactoWise®) on weight loss, blood pressure, and clinical lab values in morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). MATERIALS METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing LSG were recruited to participate in the study and randomized into either a LactoWise® or placebo group. The LactoWise® group (LWG) received 4.5 billion live cells of bacillus coagulans and galactomannans (300 mg); the placebo group received 600 mg of calcium citrate yielding 126 mg of elemental calcium. Both groups took their assigned capsule daily for 3-months post-surgery. Standard clinical lab values were measured pre-surgery and at 3-months post-surgery. Weight and blood pressures were measured at baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months post-surgery. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients with a mean age of 47.7 ± 12.4 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 46.6 ± 8.2 kg/m2 completed the study. There was a significant difference in BMI at baseline between the two study groups (43.0 ± 7.0 vs. 49.2 ± 8.3, P = .02). Weight loss was greater in the LWG compared to placebo at 6 weeks but showed no significant difference at 3 months post-op. In addition, there was a significant drop in triglycerides (TG) (P = .02) over time in the LWG (P = .01). The LWG had a significant decrease in AST and LDL compared to the placebo group (P = .03). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery (BS) produces positively impacting metabolic results in morbidly obese patients. Our study shows that in the case of triglycerides, LDL, weight loss and AST, administering of a probiotic/prebiotic blend may play a role in improving clinical outcomes of morbidly obese patients undergoing LSG.

Dietary fiber components, microstructure, and texture of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera, L.).

Date fruits vary widely in the hardness of their edible parts and they are classified accordingly into soft, semi-dry, and dry varieties. Fruit texture, a significant parameter in determining consumer acceptance, is related to the tissue structure and chemical composition of the fruit, mainly the ratio of sucrose to reducing sugars. This study aimed to understand the relationship between the chemical composition, microstructure, and texture profile of 10 major Emirati date fruits. The soluble sugars, glucose and fructose, represent ca 80 g/100 g of the fruits on the basis of dry weight (DW) while the dietary fiber contents varied 5.2-7.4 g/100 dg D.W. with lignin being the main determinant of the variability. The textures of the samples were studied using instrumental texture profile analysis. While no correlation was found between the soluble sugar and texture parameters in this study, the different fiber constituents correlated variably with the different parameters of date fruit texture. Lignin, arabinoxylan, galactomannan, and pectin were found to correlate significantly with fruit hardness and the related parameters, gumminess and chewiness. Both lignin and arabinoxylan correlated with resilience, and arabinoxylan exhibited a strong correlation with cohesiveness.

Effect of an oral probiotic nutraceutical containing Aspergillus-derived ingredients on a serum and urine galactomannan antigen assay in dogs.

A commercial Aspergillus galactomannan antigen (GMA) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used to support a diagnosis of systemic aspergillosis in dogs. In human patients, false positive results have been associated with administration of medications derived from molds. We sought to determine the effect of administration of a commercially available oral probiotic nutraceutical that contained Aspergillus-derived ingredients on serum and urine Aspergillus GMA levels in dogs by conducting a prospective, cross-over study. Galactomannan index (GMI) was measured on the solubilized probiotic nutraceutical and was positive (GMI ≥ 0.5) with a mean of 7.91. Serum and urine galactomannan indices were measured in 10 healthy dogs before (day 0) and after 1 week (day 7) of probiotic nutraceutical administration, then again 2 weeks after the probiotic nutraceutical was discontinued (day 21). Median (range) serum GMI were 0.19 (0.08-0.62), 0.22 (0.07-1.15) and 0.17 (0.14-0.63) at day 0, 7 and 21, respectively. Two of 10 dogs developed positive GMI (≥0.5) results after probiotic nutraceutical administration; however, no significant changes were noted over the study period. Median (range) urine GMI results were 0.06 (0.04-0.22), 0.07 (0.05-0.41) and 0.06 (0.03-0.16) at day 0, 7 and 21, respectively. A trend towards an increase urine GMI was noted between day 0 and 7 (P = 0.18), and decrease was noted between day 7 and 21 (P = 0.09). Administration of probiotics containing Aspergillus-derived ingredients to dogs did not reliably result in elevated Aspergillus GMA levels.

An antioxidative galactomannan extracted from Chinese Sesbania cannabina enhances immune activation of macrophage cells.

In the present study, the antioxidant activities and immunostimulatory ability of a polysaccharide extracted from Chinese Sesbania cannabina, which was identified to be a galactomannan in our previous study, were investigated. The extracted polysaccharide exhibited strong DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and ferrous ion chelating activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The immune-enhancing effect of our polysaccharide on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells was investigated by determining the cell viability, phagocytic activity, NO and intracellular ROS production and mRNA expression of cytokines. The results indicated that the polysaccharide could increase the production of NO and intracellular ROS, as well as effectively trigger transcriptional activation of TLR-2/4, NF-κB, IL-10/1ß/6, IFN-γ, Ik-Bα, iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α. These findings provide useful information for potential application of the polysaccharide extracted from Chinese Sesbania cannabina in the food industry.

Biomimetic galactomannan/bentonite/graphene oxide film with superior mechanical and fire retardant properties by borate cross-linking.

With the great demand for high-strength integrated materials in various industries, products from renewable resources were expected to replace petroleum-based materials. Inspired by the hierarchical structure of nacre, in this work, bentonite and graphene oxide (GO) were incorporated into the galactomannan (GM) matrix to prepare a ternary nanocomposite, which was further cross-linked and strengthened with borate. The chemical structure of the composite was analyzed with SEM, FTIR, XPS and XRD, revealing a co-assembly reaction between GO, bentonite and GM, accompanied by the borate crosslinking. This synergistic strengthen effect resulted in a composite possessing a maximum tensile stress and toughness of 231.16 MPa and 4.53 MJ/m3, respectively, harder than most of the previously reported hemicellulose composites. Moreover, the nanocomposites showed excellent fire retardant property with a limiting oxygen index of 46.8 % due to the introduction of bentonite and GO, which shows potential application in fire-protective insulation, packaging and coating.

Antioxidant dressing therapy versus standard wound care in chronic wounds (the REOX study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A wound that does not heal in the orderly stages of the healing process or does not heal within 3 months is considered a chronic wound. Wound healing is impaired when the wound remains in the inflammatory stage for too long. A range of factors can delay the healing process: imbalance between proteases and protease inhibitors in the wound bed; bacterial colonization and the presence of biofilm; and oxidative stress. Recently, wound management has improved significantly. A new antioxidant dressing has been developed, which combines an absorbent matrix obtained from locust bean gum galactomannan and a hydration solution with curcumin and N-acetylcysteine. This dressing combines the advantages of moist healing in exudate management and free radical neutralization, achieving wound reactivation. The primary aim of this study is to compare the effect of the antioxidant dressing on chronic wound healing against the use of a standard wound dressing in patients with hard-to-heal wounds. METHODS: We will conduct a multicentre, single-blind, randomized controlled trial with parallel groups. Participants will be selected from three primary public health care centres located in Andalucía (southern Spain). Patients will be randomized into an intervention group (antioxidant dressing) or a control group (standard wound dressing). Assessments will be carried out at weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8. Follow-up will be for a period of 8 weeks or until complete healing if this occurs earlier. DISCUSSION: The findings from this study should provide scientific evidence on the efficacy of the antioxidant dressing as an alternative for the treatment of chronic wounds. This study fills some of the gaps in the existing knowledge about patients with hard-to-heal wounds. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03934671. Registered on 2 May 2019.

Structural Characterization and In Vitro Cytokines Modulation Effect of New Acetylated Galactomannans from Aloe arborescens.

Three new galactomannan components designed as AANP-1, AANP-3, and AAAP-7 were isolated from previously purified Aloe arborescence polysaccharide fractions, using ion-exchange, gel filtration, and preparative chromatographic techniques. Based on Fourier transform-infrared, one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the main backbone of AANP-1 elucidated as (1 → 4)-linked_α-d-deoxyGalp, (1 → 4) d-Manp, and ß-d-2-glup. The sugar residue sequence of AANP-3 was (1 → 4)-linked ß-d-NHAC-GAlp with ß-d-AcManp side chain that attached to O-4 position. The AAAP-7 repeated units were (1 → 4) d-Manp linked with (1 → 4) d-Galp interspersed with (1 → 3)-α-Manp. The results of high performance size-exclusion chromatography indicated that the approximate molecular weights of AANP-1, AANP-3, and AAAP-7 were 4.2, 2.4, and 2.5 kDa, respectively. The cytokine modulation assay revealed that the isolated components promoted a remarkable release of interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in comparison with the negative control group, whereas potent significant induction of IL-2 and interferon gamma was detected more than the positive control phytohemagglutinin (P < .05). This is the first report for isolation galactomannans from Aloe arborescence. Moreover, this finding could provide new insights for exploring the biological modifier mechanism in correlation with the knowledge of structural configuration.

Assessment of dietary supplementation with galactomannan oligosaccharides and phytogenics on gut microbiota of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax) fed low fishmeal and fish oil based diet.

There is an increasing interest from the aquafeed industry in functional feeds containing selected additives that improve fish growth performance and health status. Functional feed additives include probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and phytogenics (substances derived from plants and their extracts). This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of a mucilage extract rich in galactomannan oligosaccharides (GMOS), a mixture of garlic and labiatae-plants oils (PHYTO), and a combination of them (GMOSPHYTO), on gut microbiota composition of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed with a low fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO) diet. Three experimental diets and a control diet (plant-based formulation with 10% FM and 6% FO) were tested in a 63-days feeding trial. To analyze the microbiota associated to feeds and the intestinal autochthonous (mucosa-adhered) and allochthonous (transient) microbial communities, the Illumina MiSeq platform for sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and QIIME2 pipeline were used. Metabarcoding analysis of feed-associated bacteria showed that the microbial communities of control (CTRL) feed deeply differed from those of experimental diets. The number of reads was significantly lower in CTRL feed than in other feeds. The OTU (operational taxonomic unit) number was instead similar between the feeds, ranging from 42 to 50 OTUs. The variation of resident gut microbiota induced by diet was lower than the variation of transient intestinal microbiota, because feedstuffs are a major source of allochthonous bacteria, which can temporarily integrate into the gut transient microbiome. However, the composition of transient bacterial communities was not simply a mirror of feed-borne bacteria. Indeed, the microbial profile of feeds was different from both faecal and mucosa profiles. Our findings suggest that the dietary inclusion of GMOS (0.5%) and PHYTO (0.02%) in a low FM and FO diet induces changes in gut microbiota composition of European sea bass. However, if on allochthonous microbiota the combined inclusion of GMOS and PHYTO showed an antagonistic effect on bactericidal activity against Vibrionales, at mucosa level, only GMOSPHYTO diet increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidales, Lactobacillales, and Clostridiales resident bacterial orders. The main beneficial effects of GMOS and PHYTO on gut microbiota are the reduction of coliforms and Vibrionales bacteria, which include several potentially pathogenic species for fish, and the enrichment of gut microbiota composition with butyrate producer taxa. Therefore, these functional ingredients have a great potential to be used as health-promoting agents in the farming of European sea bass and other marine fish.

Procuring biologically active galactomannans from spent coffee ground (SCG) by autohydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis.

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are a promising raw material for galactomannan (GalM) production based upon its enrichment in galactomannan polysaccharides. In this work, SCG was pretreated by autohydrolysis for maximumly improving GalM extractability by endo-mannanase. The GalM in the prehydolyzate (GalM-PH) and enzymatic hydrolyzate (GalM-EH) were obtained by ethanol precipitation and characterized. Under the optimized autohydrolysis conditions, 50.1% of GalM in pretreated SCG was converted into free GalM in enzymatic hydrolyzate. Compositional analysis results revealed that GalM-PH was comprised of 81.7% galactomannan, higher than that of GalM-EH (76.4%). The molecular weight of GalM-PH and GalM-EH were 44.5 kDa and 28.0 kDa, respectively. Antioxidant assays indicated that both GalM-EH and GalM-PH could scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radicals and hydroxyl radicals. Immunological and prebiotics analysis showed all GalM preparations exhibited pronounced activities for proliferating the probiotics and proliferating the Macrophages cell for NO production, in which the GalM-EH outperformed the GalM-PH. These results imply that the GalM extracted from SCG are the bioactive substances that can be used as antioxidant, prebiotics, and immunostimulants.

Silica microsphere-resorcinol composite embedded collagen scaffolds impart scar-less healing of chronic infected burns in type-I diabetic and non-diabetic rats.

The existence of diabetes and microbial infection in burn wounds makes the healing process more complex. Herein, we synthesize a collagen based hybrid scaffold incorporated with a silica-resorcinol composite and cross-linked with an oxidized fenugreek seed polysaccharide to stimulate scar-less healing in chronic wounds with type-I diabetes and microbial infection. The spectroscopic analyses of the hybrid scaffolds reveal the chemical and structural integrity of collagen. The hybrid scaffolds are shown to be appropriate for in vivo tissue regeneration through cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility studies. Scaffolds were applied to diabetic albino rats induced with chronically infected burn wounds with respective controls. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the granulation tissue collected from the hybrid scaffold treated animal groups showed improved angiogenesis, reepithelialization and TGF-ß3 expression, which eventually led to scar-less wound healing. The results confirm that the prepared hybrid collagen scaffold could be used for effective scar-less wound healing in chronic burn wounds.

Fabrication and characterization of herbal drug enriched Guar galactomannan based nanofibrous mats seeded with GMSC's for wound healing applications.

Electrospun nanofibrous Guar gum/PVA based scaffold matrix incorporated with standardized extracts of four traditional medicinal plants of wound healing repute namely - Acalypha indica (A.i), Aristolochia bracteolata (A.b), Lawsonia inermis (L.i) and Thespesia populnea (T.p) was developed. Combinatorial ratio optimization of the extracts subject to their impact on nanofibre morphology, thermal and swelling stability resulted in a 4:4:1:1 blend of A.i, A.b, T.p and L.i at 20% of the total weight of the polymer mix. Dermal toxicity studies on female wistar rats established the nontoxicity of the generated Scaffold/Dressing. Cutaneous wound healing ability of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC's) is well characterized to amplify their delivery and efficacy at the wound site. Apart from ease of accessibility, increased immune modulation of Gingival MSC's is their clear merit relative to those conventionally sourced from adipose tissues and bone marrow. A population of cells were isolated from discarded sample of human gingiva, following standard procedures and characterized as per minimal criteria as described by International Society for Cellular Therapy's (ISCT). The Cytocompatibility and proliferation of GMSC's were evaluated by MTT and Calcein AM assay demonstrating the viability of the seeded GMSC's up to 6 days. In vivo efficacy of the scaffold with and without GMSC's showed complete restoration of the tissue with minimal scarring. This investigation thus generated an herb drug enriched nanofibrous mat as a dressing and also a skin like scaffold with GMSC's, integrating the biological and technological benefits of herbal medicine and stem cell therapy respectively for skin regenerative applications.

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) remains difficult to diagnose and to treat. Most common risk factors are prolonged neutropenia, hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplantation, inherited or acquired immunodeficiency, administration of steroids or other immunosuppressive agents including monoclonal antibodies and new small molecules used for cancer therapy. Critically ill patients are also at high risk of IPA. Clinical signs are unspecific. Early computed tomography (CT)-scan identifies the two main aspects, angioinvasive and airway invasive aspergillosis. Although CT-scan findings are not fully specific they usually allow early initiation of therapy before mycological confirmation of the diagnosis. Role of 18F-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is discussed. Confirmation is based on microscopy and culture of respiratory samples, histopathology in case of biopsy, and importantly by detection of Aspergillus galactomannan using an immunoassay in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Deoxyribonucleic acid detection by polymerase chain reaction is now standardized and increases the diagnosis yield. Two point of care tests detecting an Aspergillus glycoprotein using a lateral flow assay are also available. Mycological results allow classification into proven (irrespective of underlying condition), probable or possible (for cancer and severely immunosuppressed patients) or putative (for critically ill patients) IPA. New antifungal agents have been developed over the last 2 decades: new azoles (voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole), lipid formulations of amphotericin B (liposomal amphotericin B, amphotericin B lipid complex), echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin). Results of main trials assessing these agents in monotherapy or in combination are presented as well as the recommendations for their use according to international guidelines. New agents are under development.