Symbiotic culture of nanocellulose pellicle: A potential matrix for 3D bioprinting.

Nanocellulose pellicle is produced as a byproduct during the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast in kombucha. It shows good mechanical strength, biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. However, it has limited application in tissue engineering due to its low processability. In this work, bacterial cellulose-based sustainable kombucha (KBC) sheet has been produced and it was acid-treated to partially hydrolyse. This controlled process improves its extrusion and shape formation ability. The physical, functional and biological properties were studied to assess its potential as a 3D printed scaffold. Two different cell lines (Human dermal fibroblast cells and mouse osteoblast cells) were used to study the cytocompatibility. Both the cell types showed good attachment, growth and proliferation on the pure and treated KBC. They attained almost full confluence within 3 days. This study indicates that the controlled partial hydrolysis of KBC can make it suitable for 3D printing retaining its mechanical strength and cytocompatibility. This sustainable microbial biopolymer shows the possibility to be used as a bioink for 3D bioprinting.

Evaluation of Effect of Antiepileptic Drugs on Serum Lipid Profile among Young Adults with Epilepsy in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pondicherry.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported that commonly used antiepileptic drugs like phenytoin, and carbamazepine increase serum High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, while some others documented no such effect. Further, some researchers also observed that valproic acid and other newer antiepileptic drugs like lamotrigine and levetiracetam has no influence on serum lipid profile. The present study was planned to assess and compare serum lipid profile of young adult patients on commonly used antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, oxcarbazepine and valproic acid) and newer antiepileptic drug (levetiracetam) attending Neurology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, India compared to normal subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in Tertiary care hospital. Epileptic patients attending Department of Neurology and taking antiepileptic drugs for last six months or more and on regular follow up; approximately 60 patients on commonly used antiepileptic drugs (20 on phenytoin, 20 on oxcarbazepine, 20 on valproic Acid) and 20 patients on newer antiepileptic drug (levetiracetam) was included in the study. Age and sex matching 80 controls were taken. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics explained using mean ± SD. Inferential statistics was used depending on the nature of variables. We used one-way-ANOVA and followed by independent t-test for comparison with control group and statistically significant was considered at p-value <0.05. RESULTS: We observed statistically significant high mean TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG levels in the group receiving phenytoin for more than six months when compared with control group. We observed statistically significant high mean TC, HDL-C and TG levels in the group receiving oxcarbazepine for more than six months when compared with control. However, no significant difference was observed in mean LDL-C levels when compared to control. We did not observe any statistically significant difference among mean TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG levels in the group receiving valproate. We did not observe any statistically significant difference among mean TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG levels in the group receiving levetiracetam. CONCLUSION: From the present study we can conclude that CYP enzyme inducer anti epileptic medicines like phenytoin and oxcarbazepine is strongly associated with increased levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG where as valproate and levetiracetam showed no significant change. Therefore, the serum cholesterol level should be regularly monitored in patients undergoing therapy with inducer anti epileptic medicines.

Anti-cobra venom activity of plant Andrographis paniculata and its comparison with polyvalent anti-snake venom.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the anti-cobra venom effect of alcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After calculating the LD(99) of snake venom, the venom-neutralizing ability of plant extract at the dose 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg was determined using in vitro and in vivo methods. The alleviation in the mean survival time of the animals were used to infer the antivenom property of the drug after challenging with LD(99) of snake venom. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract of plant A. paniculata significantly increases mean survival time and the protection fold, but could not protect animals from death when used alone. The higher dose, i.e., 2 g/kg was found better than that of the lower. ASV was found more effective than the plant extract. When ASV was given along with plant extract, it potentiates its effect. CONCLUSION: The observation demonstrates the anti-cobra venom activity of ethanolic extract of A. paniculata which is comparable with ASV.