Natural 3D Extra Cellular Matrix mimicking stem cells seeded decellularized scaffolds as a platform for tendon regeneration.

Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to heel, is the strongest tendon in the body. Despite its strength, it is more prone to injury due to its limited blood supply. Tendon-related injuries are more common in sportspersons, people with labor-intensive work and the aged community. The currently available treatment mode is surgery which is expensive with chances of re-injury. Present study made an attempt to fabricate a tissue-engineered tendon product using decellularized tendon (DT) seeded with stem cells and bioactive components of Tinospora cordifolia extract (TCE). The bare DT tissue scaffold/substitute may also serve as a drug delivery platform for growth factors and cells with a new approach to promote tissue regeneration in clinical applications. DT construct showed good regenerative potential and easily promoted new tissue formation. Decellularization of the tendon was carried out by chemical method using tri (n-butyl) phosphate (TnBP). DT was physicochemically characterized by contact angle measurement, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical testing. Rabbit adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (RADMSCs) were isolated and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry analysis, tri lineage differentiation, and so forth. Further, stem cell seeded DT scaffolds were prepared and found to be non-toxic by cytotoxicity, cell adhesion by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, cell viability by live dead assays, and so forth. The findings of this study yield valid proof for the employability of cell-seeded DT construct as a natural scaffold in repairing injured tendons-the toughest chords of the skeleton. This is a cost effective method for the replacement of injured/damaged tendons for athletes, people in labor-intensive occupations, the elderly population, and so forth-a boon towards the repair of the tendon in damage/injury.

Emphysematous Liver Abscess and Disseminated Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in a Patient from Southern India.

The pyogenic liver abscess is usually polymicrobial and is seen as a complication of biliary disease or peritonitis. Over the past three decades, monomicrobial liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is being increasingly reported from South East Asian countries like Taiwan and Korea. It is a community-acquired infection caused by a distinct strain, hypervirulent K. pneumoniae, different from classical strain related to the healthcare-associated Klebsiella infections. Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor. Reports of the disseminated infection due to hypervirulent Klebsiella are very few in Indian literature. We report the successful management of a diabetic patient with emphysematous liver abscess, brain abscess, and meningitis caused by hypervirulent K. pneumoniae infection. How to cite this article: Nayak AR, Ramadoss R, Ramanathan V, Honnarudraiah NK. Emphysematous Liver Abscess and Disseminated Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in a Patient from Southern India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(3):381-383.