MicroRNA-129-5p-regulated microglial expression of the surface receptor CD200R1 controls neuroinflammation.

CD200R1 is an inhibitory surface receptor expressed in microglia and blood macrophages. Microglial CD200R1 is known to control neuroinflammation by keeping the microglia in resting state, and therefore, tight regulation of its expression is important. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ß (CEBPß) is the known regulator of CD200R1 transcription. In the present study, our specific intention was to find a possible posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism of CD200R1 expression. Here we investigated a novel regulatory mechanism of CD200R1 expression following exposure to an environmental stressor, arsenic, combining in silico analysis, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, as well as validation in human samples. The in silico analysis and in vitro studies with primary neonatal microglia and BV2 microglia revealed that arsenic demethylates the promoter of a microRNA, miR-129-5p, thereby increasing its expression, which subsequently represses CD200R1 by binding to its 3'-untranslated region and shuttling the CD200R1 mRNA to the cytoplasmic-processing body in mouse microglia. The role of miR-129-5p was further validated in BALB/c mouse by stereotaxically injecting anti-miR-129. We found that anti-miR-129 reversed the expression of CD200R1, as well as levels of inflammatory molecules IL-6 and TNF-α. Experiments with a CD200R1 siRNA-induced loss-of-function mouse model confirmed an miR-129-5p→CD200R1→IL-6/TNF-α signaling axis. These main findings were replicated in a human cell line and validated in human samples. Taken together, our study revealed miR-129-5p as a novel posttranscriptional regulator of CD200R1 expression with potential implications in neuroinflammation and related complications.

Understanding systemic disruption from the Covid-19-induced semiconductor shortage for the auto industry.

Covid-19 has allowed us to study systemic disruptions that impact entire industries. This paper explores how disruptions start, propagate, and continue over time by examining the semiconductor chip shortage faced by the auto industry during the years following Covid-19 in 2020. First, we carried out a thematic analysis of 209 pertinent newspaper articles. The analysis resulted in a thematic model of such disruptions with the interplay of various factors leading to the prolonged disruption to the auto sector. Second, we present the results from a stylized supply chain planning model run at different times to show how disruptions propagate to the auto and other sectors, causing systemic shortages. Overall, we contribute to the supply chain risk literature by focusing on system disruptions impacting entire industries versus normal disruptions affecting a particular company's supply chain.

Low-dose naltrexone rescues inflammation and insulin resistance associated with hyperinsulinemia.

The incidence of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic diseases has reached an epidemic status worldwide. Insulin resistance is a common link in the development of these conditions, and hyperinsulinemia is a central hallmark of peripheral insulin resistance. However, how hyperinsulinemia leads to systemic insulin resistance is less clear. We now provide evidence that hyperinsulinemia promotes the release of soluble pro-inflammatory mediators from macrophages that lead to systemic insulin resistance. Our observations suggest that hyperinsulinemia induces sirtuin1 (SIRT1) repression and stimulates NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and transactivation of NF-κB to promote the extracellular release of pro-inflammatory mediators. We further showed that low-dose naltrexone (LDN) abrogates hyperinsulinemia-mediated SIRT1 repression and prevents NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. This, in turn, attenuates the hyperinsulinemia-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reinstates insulin sensitivity both in in vitro and in vivo diet-induced hyperinsulinemic mouse model. Notably, our data indicate that Sirt1 knockdown or inhibition blunts the anti-inflammatory properties of LDN in vitro Using numerous complementary in silico and in vitro experimental approaches, we demonstrated that LDN can bind to SIRT1 and increase its deacetylase activity. Together, these data support a critical role of SIRT1 in inflammation and insulin resistance in hyperinsulinemia. LDN improves hyperinsulinemia-induced insulin resistance by reorienting macrophages toward anti-inflammation. Thus, LDN treatment may provide a novel therapeutic approach against hyperinsulinemia-associated insulin resistance.

Control Release of Adenosine Potentiate Osteogenic Differentiation within a Bone Integrative EGCG-g-NOCC/Collagen Composite Scaffold toward Guided Bone Regeneration in a Critical-Sized Calvarial Defect.

The regeneration of critical-sized bone defects with biomimetic scaffolds remains clinically challenging due to avascular necrosis, chronic inflammation, and altered osteogenic activity. Two confounding mechanisms, efficacy manipulation, and temporal regulation dictate the scaffold's bone regenerative ability. Equally critical is the priming of the mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) toward lineage-specific differentiation into bone-forming osteoblast, which particularly depends on varied mechanochemical and biological cues during bone tissue regeneration. This study sought to design and develop an optimized osteogenic scaffold, adenosine/epigallocatechin gallate-N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan/collagen type I (AD/EGCG-g-NOCC@clgn I), having osteoinductive components toward swift bone regeneration in a calvarial defect BALB/c mice model. The ex vivo findings distinctly establish the pro-osteogenic potential of adenosine and EGCG, stimulating MSCs toward osteoblast differentiation with significantly increased expression of alkaline phosphatase, calcium deposits, and enhanced osteocalcin expression. Moreover, the 3D matrix recapitulates extracellular matrix (ECM) properties, provides a favorable microenvironment, structural support against mechanical stress, and acts as a reservoir for sustained release of osteoinductive molecules for cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration during matrix osteointegration observed. Evidence from in vivo experiments, micro-CT analyses, histology, and histomorphometry signify accelerated osteogenesis both qualitatively and quantitatively: effectual bone union with enhanced bone formation and new ossified tissue in 4 mm sized defects. Our results suggest that the optimized scaffold serves as an adjuvant to guide bone tissue regeneration in critical-sized calvarial defects with promising therapeutic efficacy.

Endometrial stromal cell inflammatory phenotype during severe ovarian endometriosis as a cause of endometriosis-associated infertility.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Do endometrial stromal cells from primary infertile patients with severe ovarian endometriosis display differential secretory profiles of inflammation-associated cytokines during the implantation window that may cause infertility? DESIGN: Forty-eight cytokines were measured in conditioned medium of isolated endometrial stromal cells obtained from primary infertile patients without endometriosis (control group, n = 12) or with stage IV ovarian endometriosis (ovarian endometriosis group, n = 14) using multiplex assays. Key cytokines showing differential secretory profiles were validated using Western immunoblotting. Cellular phenotypic validation was carried out in vitro by comparing proliferation and migration capacity between control (n = 6) and ovarian endometriosis (n = 7) groups. RESULTS: CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CXCL10, FGF2, IFNG, IL1RN, IL5, TNFA, and VEGF could be detected only in the conditioned media of stromal cells obtained from the ovarian endometriosis group. Among other cytokines detected in the conditioned media of both groups, CCL2 (P = 0.0018), CSF3 (P = 0.0017), IL1B (P = 0.0066), IL4 (P = 0.036), IL6 (P = 0.0039) and IL13 (P = 0.036) were found to be higher, whereas the concentration of IL18 was lower (P = 0.023) in the ovarian endometriosis group. Concentrations of CCL2, IL1B, IL4 and IL13 in conditioned medium reflected significant diagnostic performance for predicting ovarian endometriosis. Cellular phenotypic validation in vitro revealed an enhanced proliferative phenotype (P = 0.046) with no change in cell migratory capacity of endometrial stromal cells from the ovarian endometriosis group. CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial stromal cells derived from severe ovarian endometriosis samples displayed a hyperinflammatory and hyperproliferative bias in the endometrial stroma during the 'window of implantation' putatively causing loss of fecundability.

IUPS Physiology Education Workshop series in India: organizational mechanics, outcomes, and lessons.

Active learning promotes the capacity of problem solving and decision making among learners. Teachers who apply instructional processes toward active participation of learners help their students develop higher order thinking skills. Due to the recent paradigm shift toward adopting competency-based curricula in the education of healthcare professionals in India, there is an emergent need for physiology instructors to be trained in active-learning methodologies and to acquire abilities to promote these curriculum changes. To address these issues, a series of International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) workshops on physiology education techniques in four apex centers in India was organized in November 2018 and November 2019. The "hands-on" workshops presented the methodologies of case-based learning, problem-based learning, and flipped classroom; the participants were teachers of basic sciences and human and veterinary medicine. The workshop series facilitated capacity building and creation of a national network of physiology instructors interested in promoting active-learning techniques. The workshops were followed by a brainstorming meeting held to assess the outcomes. The aim of this report is to provide a model for implementing a coordinated series of workshops to support national curriculum change and to identify the organizational elements essential for conducting an effective Physiology Education workshop. The essential elements include a highly motivated core organizing team, constant dialogue between core organizing and local organizing committees, a sufficient time frame for planning and execution of the event, and opportunities to engage students at host institutions in workshop activities.

Genomic evidence of Y chromosome microchimerism in the endometrium during endometriosis and in cases of infertility.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies, which were primarily based on the fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) technique, revealed conflicting evidence regarding male foetal microchimerism in endometriosis. FISH is a relatively less sensitive technique, as it is performed on a small portion of the sample. Additionally, the probes used in the previous studies specifically detected centromeric and telomeric regions of Y chromosome, which are gene-sparse heterochromatised regions. In the present study, a panel of molecular biology tools such as qPCR, expression microarray, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR were employed to examine the Y chromosome microchimerism in the endometrium using secretory phase samples from fertile and infertile patients with severe (stage IV) ovarian endometriosis (OE) and without endometriosis. METHODS: Microarray expression analysis followed by validation using RNA-seq and qRT-PCR experiments at the RNA levels and further validation at the DNA level by qPCR of target inserts for selected targets in eutopic endometrium samples obtained from control (CON) and stage IV ovarian endometriosis (OE), either from fertile (FCON and FOE; n = 30/each) or infertile (ICON and IOE; n = 30/each) women, were performed. RESULTS: Six coding (AMELY, PCDH11, SRY, TGIF2LY, TSPY3, and USP9Y) and 10 non-coding (TTTY2, TTTY4C, TTTY5, TTTYY6, TTTY8, TTTY10, TTTY14, TTTY21, TTTY22, and TTTY23) genes exhibited a bimodal pattern of expression characterised by low expression in samples from fertile patients and high expression in samples from infertile patients. Seven coding MSY-linked genes (BAGE, CD24, EIF1AY, NLGN4Y, PRKY, VCY and ZFY) exhibited differential regulation in microarray analysis, and this change was validated by RNA-seq or qRT-PCR. DNA inserts for 7 genes in various samples were validated by qPCR. The prevalence and concentration of PCR-positive target inserts for BAGE, PRKY, TTTY9A and ZFY displayed higher values in the fertile, control (FCON) patients compared with the fertile, endometriosis patients (FOE). CONCLUSION: Several coding and non-coding MSY-linked genes displayed microchimerism as evidenced by the presence of their respective DNA inserts, along with their differential transcript expression, in the endometrium during endometriosis and in cases of infertility.

An assessment of the multifactorial profile of steroid-metabolizing enzymes and steroid receptors in the eutopic endometrium during moderate to severe ovarian endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of expression profiles of major endometrial effectors of steroid physiology in endometriosis have yielded markedly conflicting conclusions, presumably because the relative effects of type of endometriosis, fertility history and menstrual cycle phases on the measured variables were not considered. In the present study, endometrial mRNA and protein levels of several effectors of steroid biosynthesis and action in patients with stage III-IV ovarian endometriosis (OE) with known fertility and menstrual cycle histories were compared with the levels in control endometrium to test this concept. METHODS: Endometrial samples were collected from patients without endometriosis (n = 32) or OE stages III-IV (n = 52) with known fertility and cycle histories. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting experiments were performed to measure levels of NR5A1, STAR, CYP19A1, HSD17Bs, ESRs and PGR transcripts and proteins, respectively. Tissue concentrations of steroids (P4, T, E1 and E2) were measured using ELISAs. RESULTS: The levels of expression of aromatase and ERß were lower (P < 0.0001) and 17ß-HSD1 (P < 0.0001) and PRA (P < 0.01) were higher in OE endometrium. Lower aromatase levels and higher 17ß-HSD1 levels were detected in fertile (aromatase: P < 0.05; 17ß-HSD1: P < 0.0001) and infertile (aromatase: P < 0.0001; 17ß-HSD1: P < 0.0001) OE endometrium than in the matched control tissues. Both proliferative (PP) and secretory (SP) phase OE samples expressed aromatase (P < 0.0001) and ERß (PP: P < 0.001; SP: P < 0.01) at lower levels and 17ß-HSD1 (P < 0.0001) and PRA (PP: P < 0.01; SP: P < 0.0001) at higher levels than matched controls. Higher 17ß-HSD1 (P < 0.01) and E2 (P < 0.05) levels and a lower (P < 0.01) PRB/PRA ratio was observed in infertile secretory phase OE endometrium than in control. CONCLUSIONS: We report that dysregulated expression of 17ß-HSD1 and PGR resulting in hyperestrogenism and progesterone resistance during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, rather than an anomaly in aromatase expression, was the hallmark of eutopic endometrium from infertile OE patients. Furthermore, the results provide proof of concept that the fertility and menstrual cycle histories exerted relatively different effects on steroid physiology in the endometrium from OE patients compared with the control subjects.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles attenuate hepatic steatosis development in high-fat-diet fed mice through activated AMPK signaling axis.

Insulin resistance is thought to be a common link between obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). NAFLD has now reached epidemic status worldwide and identification of molecules or pathways as newer therapeutic strategies either to prevent or overcome insulin resistance seems critical. Dysregulated hepatic lipogenesis (DNL) is a hallmark of NAFLD in humans and rodents. Therefore, reducing DNL accretion may be critical in the development of therapeutics of NAFLD. In our in vivo model (high-fat-diet fed [HFD] obese mice) we found Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) significantly decreased HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and peripheral insulin resistance. This protective mechanism of ZnO NPs was signaled through hepatic SIRT1-LKB1-AMPK which restricted SREBP-1c within the cytosol limiting its transcriptional ability and thereby ameliorating HFD mediated DNL. These observations indicate that ZnO NP can serve as a therapeutic strategy to improve the physiological homeostasis during obesity and its associated metabolic abnormalities.

Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Microvascular Dysfunction in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) imaging for quantifying microvascular changes in skeletal muscle using a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Study groups were young, standard chow-fed male C57BL/6J mice (lean group) and high fat diet-fed older mice (obese group). After an overnight fast, dynamic contrast-enhanced US imaging was performed on the proximal hind limb adductor muscle group for 10 minutes at baseline and again at 1 and 2 hours during administration of a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Dynamic contrast-enhanced US images were collected on a clinical US scanner (Acuson Sequoia 512; Siemens Healthcare, Mountain View, CA) equipped with a 15L8 linear array transducer. Dynamic contrast-enhanced US images were processed with a spatiotemporal filter to remove tissue clutter. Individual microbubbles were localized and counted to create an SR-US image. A frame-by-frame analysis of the microbubble count was generated (ie, time-microbubble count curve [TMC]) to estimate tissue perfusion and microvascular blood flow. The conventional time-intensity curve (TIC) was also generated for comparison. RESULTS: In vivo SR-US imaging could delineate microvascular structures in the mouse hind limb. Compared with lean animals, insulin-induced microvascular recruitment was attenuated in the obese group. The SR-US-based TMC analysis revealed differences between lean and obese animal data for select microvascular parameters (P < .04), which was not true for TIC-based measurements. Whereas the TMC and TIC microvascular parameters yielded similar temporal trends, there was less variance associated with the TMC-derived values. CONCLUSIONS: Super-resolution US imaging is a new modality for measuring the microvascular properties of skeletal muscle and dysfunction from type 2 diabetes.

Planning, implementation, and evaluation of multicomponent, case-based learning for first-year Indian medical undergraduates.

Didactic lecture is an effective method to quickly pass on a high volume of information to a large number of students. However, if not well designed, lectures can be monotonous and provide only passive learning, with little scope for higher order learning skills. To address this drawback of lectures, we supplemented it with case-based learning (CBL), which has been shown to promote self-learning. After giving an overview of gastrointestinal physiology through lectures, CBL on peptic ulcer disease was implemented for first-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery students. The present study aimed to evaluate the students' and teachers' opinions on the notion of supplementing lectures with CBL. In previous reports, discussion using clinical cases was primarily employed as the solitary component for conducting CBL. In the present study, three different but mutually exclusive components, such as case discussion, concept map, and critical thinking exercise on a specific topic in gastrointestinal pathophysiology, were integrated to form the multicomponent CBL (MC-CBL). Students reported that MC-CBL could promote application of the knowledge learned in lectures in a more appropriate context (92.42% positive response), enhance their learning efficiency (98.46% positive response), promote their active participation in the learning process (98.48% positive response), and help them in integrating physiological concepts with clinical science (98.46% positive response). Teachers observed that MC-CBL could promote active learning, analytic, and problem-solving skills of students. In conclusion, MC-CBL appeared to be an effective supplement for the lectures, providing an opportunity for the students to relate the knowledge learned during lectures.

Renal Clearable New NIR Probe: Precise Quantification of Albumin in Biofluids and Fatty Liver Disease State Identification through Tissue Specific High Contrast Imaging in Vivo.

Development of a highly photostable, renal clearable, and nontoxic new NIR probe (CyG) for precise quantification of albumin in different biofluids and liver targeted in vivo albumin visualization is demonstrated. CyG's inherent property to interact selectively with albumin among different biomolecules in intracellular environment with high degree of sensitivity helps CyG in targeted liver imaging. In addition to its long excitation/emission wavelengths (λex = 740 nm, λem = 804 nm), which are much above the biological tissue opaque window (400-700 nm) ensuring better photon penetration, diminished tissue autofluorescence and high contrasts, its molecular mass and size are far below the renal cutoff and hence, CyG qualifies as imaging material for clinical studies. We anticipate that CyG will provide new strategies to overcome the pitfall of present day albumin detection methods as well as accelerate the detection process at relatively lower costs without compromising the accuracy of detection. Moreover, the renal excretion kinetic and intrahepatic albumin binding affinity of CyG can further be used to differentiate between fatty liver from healthy liver in an experimentally arrived mouse model using noninvasive technique.

Relationship of serum ferritin level and tic severity in children with Tourette syndrome.

PURPOSE: Tics can be considered hyperkinetic movements akin to restless leg syndrome (RLS). Drawing the analogy of iron deficiency as an etiology of RLS, it is conceivable that iron deficiency may underlie or worsen tics in Tourette syndrome (TS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and tic severity, as well as consequent impact on life, in children with TS. METHODS: Children <18 years, diagnosed with TS during 2009-2015, were reviewed. Only those with serum ferritin testing were included. The following data were collected: tic severity, impact on life, medication, comorbidities, blood count, and serum ferritin at diagnosis and follow-up. RESULTS: In fifty-seven patients, M:F = 2:1, serum ferritin was 48.0 ± 33.28 ng/mL, tic severity score 2.3 ± 0.80, impact on life score 2.2 ± 0.93, and composite score 4.57 ± 1.6. Serum ferritin was not influenced by comorbid obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), or anxiety (P > 0.16). Thirty-eight percent with low serum ferritin (≤50 ng/mL) (n = 37) had severe tics (>5 composite score), compared with 25% in normal ferritin group (n = 20). Over 6-12 months, tic severity score improved in both iron treated groups, deficient (2.70 to 1.90) and sufficient (2.40 to 1.95), whereas tics worsened or remained the same when not treated with iron. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest iron deficiency may be associated with more severe tics with higher impact on TS children, independent of the presence of OCD, ADHD, or anxiety. Iron supplementation showed a trend towards improvement of tic severity upon follow-up. We suggest a double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study to reach a definite conclusion.

Isolation and characterization of microglia from adult mouse brain: selected applications for ex vivo evaluation of immunotoxicological alterations following in vivo xenobiotic exposure.

Microglia play a dual role in neuroprotection as well as in neurodegeneration and thus occupy the focal interest in neurodegenerative disease research. In vitro studies either by using cell lines or neonatal mouse primary microglia correlated xenobiotic induced microglial activation and neuronal death. However, these in vitro studies cannot portray the in vivo scenario. Therefore, environmental pollutant induced in vivo alteration in microglial function can be best assessed by ex vivo analysis, which is not in use because of limitations in the isolation procedure. Therefore, in the first part of the study we describe an optimized isolation procedure and characterization of isolated cells. The second part of the study demonstrates the utility of the isolated cells in evaluation of immunotoxicological alterations following arsenic, as a model xenobiotic, exposure. Purity of the isolated microglia was checked by immunostaining of microglial (CD11b and CD68) and nonmicroglial (GFAP) markers. Immunostaining of activation marker Iba1 proves that cells were not activated during the isolation procedure. Microglia yield and viability from the treated group shows no significant alterations compared to that of the control group. Proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were upregulated following arsenic treatment as in the case of the LPS stimulated group without alterations in anti-inflammatory IL-10. Phagocytic potential was affected significantly following arsenic exposure without alteration in viability. Thus, our protocol can be proficiently used for quick isolation of primary microglia from adult mouse brain without altering their activation status, and most importantly, the isolated cells can be of aid to the ex vivo evaluation of immunotoxicological alterations.

Sperm intrusion into the implantation-stage blastocyst and its potential biological significance.

The human embryo derives from fusion of oocyte and sperm, undergoes growth and differentiation, resulting in a blastocyst. To initiate implantation, the blastocyst hatches from the zona pellucida, allowing access from external inputs. Modelling of uterine sperm distribution indicates that 200-5000 sperm cells may reach the implantation-stage blastocyst following natural coitus. We show ultrastructural evidence of sperm cells intruding into trophectoderm cells of zona-free blastocysts obtained from the uterus of rhesus monkeys. Interaction between additional sperm and zona-free blastocyst could be an evolutionary feature yielding adaptive processes influencing the developmental fate of embryos. This process bears potential implications in pregnancy success, sperm competition and human health.

Microglial Neuroinflammation-Independent Reversal of Demyelination of Corpus Callosum by Arsenic in a Cuprizone-Induced Demyelinating Mouse Model.

Demyelination is the loss of myelin in CNS, resulting in damaged myelin sheath. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation play a key role in inducing demyelinating diseases like MS; hence, controlling oxidative stress and neuroinflammation is important. Cuprizone (CPZ), a copper chelator, generates oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, thereby inducing demyelination. Therefore, the CPZ-induced demyelinating mouse model (CPZ model) is widely used in research. The present study was intended to unravel a mechanism of inhibition of demyelination by arsenic in a CPZ model, which is otherwise known for its toxicity. We investigated an alternative mechanism of inhibition of demyelination by arsenic through the reversal of SOD1 activity employing in silico analysis, analytical chemistry techniques, and in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vivo experiments showed protection of body weight, survivability, and myelination of the corpus callosum in CPZ and arsenic-co-exposed animals, where neuroinflammation was apparently not involved. In vitro experiments revealed that arsenic-mediated reversal of impaired SOD1 activity leads to reduced cellular ROS levels and better viability of primary oligodendrocytes. Reversal of SOD1 activity was also observed in the corpus callosum tissue isolated from experimental animals. In silico and analytical chemistry studies revealed that similar to copper, arsenic can potentially bind to CPZ and thereby make the copper freely available for SOD1 activity. Suitable neurobehavior tests further validated the protective effect of arsenic. Taken together, the present study revealed that arsenic protects oligodendrocytes and demyelination of corpus callosum by reversing CPZ-induced impaired SOD1 activity.

Profiles of cytokines secreted by isolated human endometrial cells under the influence of chorionic gonadotropin during the window of embryo implantation.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated that human pre-implantation embryo-derived chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may influence the implantation process by its action on human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. Despite reports indicating that hCG acts on these cells to affect the production of several cytokines and growth factors (e.g., MIF, IGF-I, VEGF, LIF, IL-11, GMCSF, CXL10 and FGF2), our understanding of the integral influence of hCG on paracrine interactions between endometrial stromal and epithelial cells during implantation is very limited. METHODS: In the present study, we examined the profile of 48 cytokines in the conditioned media of primary cell cultures of human implantation stage endometrium. Endometrial epithelial cells (group 1; n = 20), stromal cells (group 2; n = 20), and epithelial plus stromal cells (group 3; n = 20) obtained from mid-secretory stage endometrial samples (n = 60) were grown on collagen and exposed to different doses (0, 1, 10 and 100 IU/ml) of rhCG for 24 h in vitro. Immunochemical and qRT-PCR methods were used to determine cytokine profiles. Enrichment and process networks analyses were implemented using a list of cytokines showing differential secretion in response to hCG. RESULTS: Under basal conditions, endometrial epithelial and stromal cells exhibited cell type-specific profiles of secreted cytokines. Administration of hCG (100 IU) resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) different cytokine secretion profiles indicative of macropinocytic transport (HGF, MCSF) in epithelial cells, signal transduction (CCL4, FGF2, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-17, VEGF) in stromal cells, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (FGF2, HGF, IL-1b, TNF) in mixed cells. Overall, the administration of hCG affected cytokines involved in the immune response, chemotaxis, inflammatory changes, proliferation, cell adhesion and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: CG can influence the function of the endometrium during blastocyst implantation via its differential action on endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. CG may also affect complex paracrine processes in the different endometrial cell types.

Complications of intrathecal baclofen pumps in children: experience from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy is useful in treating spasticity and dystonia but it has many complications, more so in children. The main aim of the study was to look at the complications of ITB pumps in children with the goal of future prevention. METHODS: Charts of all patients ≤21 years with an ITB pump, implanted by a single pediatric neurosurgeon, at a single center, between 1996 and 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Data regarding an ITB test trial were also recorded. RESULTS: During 1996-2011, 119 children (mean age 13.2 years) underwent ITB pump placement; 84% had spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The gross motor function classification system level was ≥4 for most. The pump was removed in 5 (4.2%) patients due to inefficacy. The mean follow-up was 38 months. Mechanical complications requiring pump and/or catheter revision occurred in 19.3% and infections in an additional 21.8%. Seven patients (6%) had meningitis. No complication was noted after 72 months of initial pump insertion, even after pump reinsertion. CONCLUSION: There is a need for better infection control as well as better pump, catheter and surgical technology to lower the complications of ITB pumps in children.