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Presents a study which determined the remanence curves of cobalt ferrite powders obtained by fractionation of a suspension through a silica gel column. Method of the study; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

For an arborescence T, a directed pathos block line cut-vertex digraph Q = DPBLc(T) has vertex set V (Q) = A(T) ∪C(T) ∪B(T) ∪P(T), where C(T) is the cutvertex set, B(T) is the block set, and P(T) is a directed pathos set of T. The arc set A(Q) consists of the following arcs: ab such that a, b ∪A(T) and the head of a coincides with the tail of b; Cd such that C ∪C(T) and d ∪A(T) and the tail of d is C; dC such that C ∪C(T) and d ∪A(T) and the head of d is C; Bc such that B ∪B(T) and c ∪A(T) and the arc c lies on the block B; Pa such that a ∪A(T) and P ∪P(T) and the arc a lies on the directed path P; PjPj such that Pj, Pj ∪P(T) and it is possible to reach the head of Pj from the tail of Pj through a common vertex, but it is possible to reach the head of Pj from the tail of Pj . The problem of reconstructing an arborescence from its DPBLc(T) is discussed. We present the characterization of digraphs whose DPBLc(T) are planar and outer planar. In addition, a necessary and sufficient condition for DPBLc(T) to have crossing number one is presented. Further we show that for any arborescence T, DPBLc(T) never be maximal outer planar and minimally nonouterplanar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we define the digraph valued function (digraph operator) namely, the line cut vertex digraph Lc(D) of a digraph D. The problem of reconstructing a digraph from its line cut vertex digraph is presented. Also, outer planarity and maximal outer planarity properties of these digraphs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jump graph J(G), pathos, Smarandache pathos-cut jump graph, crossing number cr(G), outerplanar, minimally non-outerplanar, inner vertex number i(G). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce the concept of pathos adjacency blict graph PBn(T) of a tree T and present the characterization of graphs whose pathos adjacency blict graphs are planar, outerplanar, minimally non-outerplanar and Eulerian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Occlusion in primary teeth varies among children of different populations and races. Aim. To assess and compare the occlusal characteristics and spacing in primary dentition among 3-6-year-old Dravidian children. Materials and Methods. The study included 2281 school going children. The primary molar relation, canine relation, overjet, and overbite were assessed using Foster and Hamilton criteria. Spacing conditions were registered according to Kisling and Krebs criteria. Results. The flush terminal plane molar relation (80.3%) was the most common primary molar relation. The distal step molar relation was more frequently found in female children (12.8%) than in males (8.6%). Class 1 canine relation was the most prevalent canine relation (81.3%) among males and females. Ideal overjet (84.3%) and overbite (72.7%) were observed among the majority of the children. Spaced type of arches occurred more frequently than closed arches in this sample. The incidence of primate spaces was more in males than in females. Conclusion. The study population has fewer deviations from normal occlusion which indicates decreased tendency for malocclusion in permanent dentition. However, further longitudinal studies are necessary to identify the potential limitations of a clinical approach relying on early orthodontic diagnosis and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The onset of neurodegenerative disorders is characterized by the progressive dysfunction and loss of subpopulations of specialized cells within specific regions of the central nervous system (CNS). Since CNS has a limited ability for self-repair and regeneration under such conditions, clinical transplantation of stem cells has been explored as an alternative. Although embryonic stem cells (ESCs) offer a promising therapeutic platform to treat a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, the niche microenvironment, which could regulate their differentiation into specialized lineages on demand, needs to be optimized for successful clinical transplantation. Here, we evaluated the synergistic role of matrix microenvironment (type, architecture, composition, stiffness) and signaling molecules (type, dosage) on murine ESC differentiation into specific neural and glial lineages. ESCs were cultured as embryoid bodies on either 2D substrates or within 3D scaffolds, in the presence or absence of retinoic acid (RA) and sonic hedgehog (Shh). Results showed that ESCs maintained their stemness even after 4 days in the absence of exogenous signaling molecules, as evidenced by Oct-4 staining. RA at 1 μm dosage was deemed optimal for neural differentiation and neurite outgrowth on collagen-1 coated substrates. Significant neural differentiation with robust neurite outgrowth and branching was evident only on collagen-1 coated 2D substrates and within 3D matrigel scaffolds, in the presence of 1 μm RA. Blocking α6 or β1 integrin subunits on differentiating cells inhibited matrigel-induced effects on neural differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Hydrogel concentration strongly regulated formation of neural and astrocyte lineages in 1 μm RA additive cultures. When RA and Shh were provided, either alone or together, 3D collagen-1 scaffolds enhanced significant motor neuron formation, while 3D matrigel stimulated dopaminergic neuron differentiation. These results suggest a synergistic role of microenvironmental cues for ESC differentiation and maturation, with potential applications in cell transplantation therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To formulate and characterize nanoparticles containing silybin, and evaluate their activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver toxicity. Methods: Silybin nanoparticles were formulated by o/w emulsion solvent evaporation technique using poly-e-caprolactone as polymer. Four different nanoparticle formulations (NP1, NP2, NP3 and NP4) were prepared by varying the drug/polymer ratio. The particles were characterized for particle size, drug content and in vitro drug release. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the silybin formulations in male Wistar rats were evaluated following i. v. administration, using silybin solution as reference. The hepatoprotective activity of the formulations was also determined in a CCl4-treated rat model. Results: Silybin nanoparticles were successfully prepared using o/w emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The nanoparticles sustained the release of the drug both in vitro and in vivo for up to 10 days and offered better pharmacokinetic properties than the free drug itself. Intravenous nanoparticulate administration reversed serum liver enzyme levels by 95 % compared to only 50 % for the drug solution. Conclusion: The developed silybin nanoparticles showed superior pharmacokinetic properties and hepatoprotective activity to silybin solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfluidic devices allow for precise control of the cellular and noncellular microenvironment at physiologically relevant length- and time-scales. These devices have been shown to mimic the complex in vivo microenvironment better than conventional in vitro assays, and allow real-time monitoring of homotypic or heterotypic cellular interactions. Microfluidic culture platforms enable new assay designs for culturing multiple different cell populations and/or tissue specimens under controlled user-defined conditions. Applications include fundamental studies of cell population behaviors, high-throughput drug screening, and tissue engineering. In this review, we summarize recent developments in this field along with studies of heterotypic cell-cell interactions and tissue specimen culture in microfluidic devices from our own laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying neurite guidance by diffusible or substrate bound gradients is challenging with current techniques. In this study, we present the design, fabrication and utility of a microfluidic device to study neurite guidance under chemogradients. Experimental and computational studies demonstrated the establishment of a steep gradient of guidance cue within 30 min and stable for up to 48 h. The gradient was found to be insensitive to external perturbations such as media change and movement of device. The effects of netrin-1 (0.1–10 µg mL−1) and brain pulp (0.1 µL mL−1) were evaluated for their chemoattractive potential on neurite turning, while slit-2 (62.5 or 250 ng mL−1) was studied for its chemorepellant properties. Hippocampal or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were seeded into a micro-channel and packed onto the surface of a 3D collagen gel. Neurites grew into the matrix in three dimensions, and a gradient of guidance cue was created orthogonal to the direction of neurite growth to impact guidance. The average turning angle of each neurite was measured and averaged across multiple devices cultured under similar conditions to quantify the effect of guidance cue gradient. Significant positive turning towards gradient was measured in the presence of brain pulp and netrin-1 (1 µg mL−1), relative to control cultures which received no external guidance cue (p< 0.001). Netrin-1 released from transfected fibroblasts had the most positive turning effect of all the chemoattractive cues tested (p< 0.001). Slit-2 exhibited strong chemorepellant characteristics on both hippocampal and DRG neurite guidance at 250 ng mL−1concentration. Slit-2 also showed similar behavior on DRG neuron invasion into 3D collagen gel (p< 0.01 relative to control cultures). Taken together, the results suggest the utility of this microfluidic device to generate stable chemogradients for studying neurobiology, cell migration and proliferation, matrix remodeling and co-cultures with other cell lines, with potential applications in cancer biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—: Elastography is a noninvasive method of imaging tissue elasticity using standard ultrasound equipment. In conventional elastography, axial strain elastograms are generated by cross-correlating pre- and postcompression digitized radio frequency (RF) echo frames acquired from the tissue before and after a small uniaxial compression, respectively. The time elapsed between the pre- and the postcompression frames is referred to as the interframe interval. For in vivo elastography, the interframe interval is critical because uncontrolled physiologic motion such as heartbeat, muscle motion, respiration and blood flow introduce interframe decorrelation that reduces the quality of elastograms. To obtain a measure of this decorrelation, in vivo experimental data (from human livers and thyroids) at various interframe intervals were obtained from 20 healthy subjects. To further examine the effect of the different interframe intervals on the elastographic image quality, the experimental data were also used in combination with elastographic simulation data. The deterioration of elastographic image quality was objectively evaluated by computing the area under the strain filter (SF) at a given resolution. The experimental results of this study demonstrate a statistical exponential behavior of the temporal decay of the echo signal cross-correlation amplitudes from the in vivo tissues due to uncontrollable motion. The results also indicate that the dynamic range and height of the SF are reduced at increased interframe intervals, suggesting that good objective image quality may be achieved provided only that a high frame rate is maintained in elastographic applications. (E-mail: Jonathan.Ophir@uth.tmc.edu). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: The goals of this study were to (i) evaluate the feasibility and results of monitoring patients prior to and following catheter ablation of AF with the mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT) system and to (ii) correlate symptoms and the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results: A total of 19 consecutive patients (12 men [63%]; age 60 ± 6 years) with highly symptomatic drug refractory AF underwent catheter ablation. Each was provided with a MCOT monitor (CardioNet, USA) and asked to wear it 5 days immediately before the ablation, and 5 days per month starting with the ablation for 6 consecutive months. When patients experienced any symptoms, they were asked to activate the system and to record associated symptoms. A total of 494 days (11,856 hours) were monitored. Out of the total 390 events triggered by patient's symptoms, 40% were confirmed as AF events (156) and 60% were confirmed as non-AF events (234). Only shortness of breath and chest discomfort were highly associated with AF (P < 0.05). At the end of 6 months of follow-up, out of 10 patients that completed the study, 7 (70%) patients were free of symptomatic AF recurrences whereas only 5 (50%) patients achieved success when asymptomatic AF recurrences were included in the outcome. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the potential utility of wireless monitoring systems in the follow-up of AF ablation patients, while also identifying poor patient compliance with an intensive monitoring protocol as an important limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. Introduction: There are currently no studies systematically evaluating pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) using the anatomic PV ablation approach. Methods and Results: Forty-one patients with AF underwent anatomic PV ablation under the guidance of a three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping system. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in all patients prior to and 8–10 weeks after ablation procedures for screening of PV stenosis. A PV stenosis was defined as a detectable (≥3 mm) narrowing in PV diameter. The severity of stenosis was categorized as mild (<50% stenosis), moderate (50–70%), or severe (>70%). A total 157 PVs were analyzed. A detectable PV narrowing was observed in 60 of 157 PVs (38%). The severity of stenosis was mild in 54 PVs (34%), moderate in five PVs (3.2%), and severe in one PV (0.6%). All mild PV stenoses displayed a concentric pattern. Moderate or severe PV stenosis was only observed in patients with an individual encircling lesion set. Multivariable analysis identified individual encircling lesion set and larger PV size as the independent predictors of detectable PV narrowing. All patients with PV stenosis were asymptomatic and none required treatment. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that detectable PV narrowing occurs in 38% of PVs following anatomic PV ablation. Moderate or severe PV stenosis occurs in 3.8% of PVs. The high incidence of mild stenosis likely reflects reverse remodeling rather than pathological PV stenosis. The probability of moderate or severe PV stenosis appears to be related to creation of individual encircling rather than encircling in pairs lesion. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 16, pp. 1-8, August 2005) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation. Introduction: The aims of this study were to identify predictors of recurrence after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and to report the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of AF using an irrigated-tip ablation catheter. Methods and Results: Seventy-five consecutive patients (51 men [68%]; age 54 ± 13 years) with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal (42 patients), persistent (21 patients), or permanent (12 patients) AF underwent catheter ablation of AF using an irrigated-tip ablation catheter and a standard ablation strategy, which involved electrical isolation of all pulmonary veins (PVs) and creation of a cavotricuspid linear lesion. At 10.5 ± 7.5 months of follow-up following a single (n = 75) or redo ablation procedure (n = 11), 39 (52%) of the 75 patients were free of AF, 10 were improved (13%), and 26 had experienced no benefit from the ablation procedure (35%). Seventy-six percent of patients with paroxysmal AF were free from recurrent AF. The most significant complications were two episodes of pericardial tamponade, mitral valve injury in one patient, two strokes, and complete but asymptomatic PV stenosis in one patient. Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression analysis identified the presence of persistent AF, permanent AF, and age >50 years prior to the ablation are the only independent predictors of AF recurrence after the first PV isolation procedure. Conclusion: Catheter ablation of AF using a strategy involving isolation of all PVs and creation of a linear lesion in the cavotricuspid isthmus using cooled radiofrequency energy is associated with moderate efficacy and an important risk for complications. The best results of this procedure are achieved in the subset of patients who are younger than 50 years and have only paroxysmal AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 692-697, June 2004) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary Vein Angiography. Introduction: Delineation of pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy is an integral part of the PV isolation procedure. The aims of the present study were to (1) describe the technique of selective PV angiography, (2) show the typical fluoroscopic locations and appearance of the PVs, and (3) compare the ostial diameters of PVs measured by angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods and Results: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing a PV isolation procedure underwent selective PV angiography using a deflectable 8-French lumened catheter (Naviport, Cardima). The left superior PV (LSPV) runs upward and away from the spine in the right anterior oblique (RAO) projection and upward and toward the spine in the left anterior oblique (LAO) projection. The opposite is true for the right superior PV (RSPV). The left inferior PV (LIPV) has a bull's-eye appearance in the RAO projection, and the right inferior PV (RIPV) has a bull's-eye appearance in the LAO projection due to their end-on trajectories. The LIPV in the LAO projection and the RIPV in the RAO projection run horizontally toward the spine. An excellent correlation was noted in PV ostial size as assessed by angiography and MRI (r2 < 0.90, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study describes the technique and results of PV angiography and fluoroscopy. The study also demonstrates good correlation of PV ostial diameters by contrast venography and MRI. PV angiography can be used as an alternate to MRI or computed tomographic imaging, particularly when these tests are unavailable or are contraindicated in the patient. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 21-26, January 2004) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inactivation rate constant or inactivation coefficient (specific lethality) quantifies the rate at which a chemical sanitizer inactivates a microorganism. This study presents a modified disinfection kinetics model to evaluate the potential effect of organic content on the chlorine inactivation coefficient of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in fresh produce wash processes. Results show a significant decrease in the bactericidal efficacy of free chlorine (FC) in the presence of organic load compared to its absence. While the chlorine inactivation coefficient of Escherichia coli O157:H7 is 70.39 ± 3.19 L/mg/min in the absence of organic content, it drops by 73% for a chemical oxygen demand (COD) level of 600–800 mg/L. Results also indicate that the initial chlorine concentration and bacterial load have no effect on the chlorine inactivation coefficient. A second-order chemical reaction model for FC decay, which utilizes a proportion of COD as an indicator of organic content in fresh produce wash was employed, yielding an apparent reaction rate of (9.45 ± 0.22) × 10−4 /μM/min. This model was validated by predicting FC concentration in multi-run continuous wash cycles with periodic replenishment of chlorine. • Depleting free chlorine levels promote pathogen survival in wash water and transfer to uncontaminated produce in wash cycles. • The chlorine inactivation coefficient of Escherichia coli O157:H7 drops by ~73% in chemical oxygen demand level of 600–800 mg/L. • Organic load not only consumes free chlorine but also reduces the bactericidal efficacy of free chlorine. • Disinfection kinetics of pathogens during produce wash is modeled and predicts survival of pathogens during this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health concern with significant cardiovascular complications (CVD). Despite extensive epidemiological data, the molecular mechanisms relating hyperglycemia to CVD remain incompletely understood. We here investigated the impact of chronic hyperglycemia on human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) cultured under varying glucose conditions in vitro, mimicking normal (5 mmol/L), pre-diabetic (10 mmol/L), and diabetic (20 mmol/L) conditions, respectively. Normal HASMC cultures served as baseline controls, and patient-derived T2DM-SMCs served as disease controls. Results showed significant increases in cellular proliferation, area, perimeter, and F-actin expression with increasing glucose concentration (p < 0.01), albeit not exceeding the levels in T2DM cells. Atomic force microscopy analysis revealed significant decreases in Young's moduli, membrane tether forces, membrane tension, and surface adhesion in SMCs at higher glucose levels (p < 0.001), with T2DM-SMCs being the lowest among all the cases (p < 0.001). T2DM-SMCs exhibited elevated levels of selected pro-inflammatory markers (e.g., ILs-6, 8, 23; MCP-1; M-CSF; MMPs-1, 2, 3) compared to glucose-treated SMCs (p < 0.01). Conversely, growth factors (e.g., VEGF-A, PDGF-AA, TGF-β1) were higher in SMCs exposed to high glucose levels but lower in T2DM-SMCs (p < 0.01). Pathway enrichment analysis showed significant increases in the expression of inflammatory cytokine-associated pathways, especially involving IL-10, IL-4 and IL-13 signaling in genes that are up-regulated by elevated glucose levels. Differentially regulated gene analysis showed that compared to SMCs receiving normal glucose, 513 genes were upregulated and 590 genes were downregulated in T2DM-SMCs; fewer genes were differentially expressed in SMCs receiving higher glucose levels. Finally, the altered levels in genes involved in ECM organization, elastic fiber synthesis and formation, laminin interactions, and ECM proteoglycans were identified. Growing literature suggests that phenotypic switching in SMCs lead to arterial wall remodeling (e.g., change in stiffness, calcific deposits formation), with direct implications in the onset of CVD complications. Our results suggest that chronic hyperglycemia is one such factor that leads to morphological, biomechanical, and functional alterations in vascular SMCs, potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of T2DM-associated arterial remodeling. The observed differences in gene expression patterns between in vitro hyperglycemic models and patient-derived T2DM-SMCs highlight the complexity of T2DM pathophysiology and underline the need for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric muscle loss (VML), which involves the loss of a substantial portion of muscle tissue, is one of the most serious acute skeletal muscle injuries in the military and civilian communities. The injured area in VML may be so severely affected that the body loses its innate capacity to regenerate new functional muscles. State-of-the-art biofabrication methods such as bioprinting provide the ability to develop cell-laden scaffolds that could significantly expedite tissue regeneration. Bioprinted cell-laden scaffolds can mimic the extracellular matrix and provide a bioactive environment wherein cells can spread, proliferate, and differentiate, leading to new skeletal muscle tissue regeneration at the defect site. In this study, we engineered alginate–gelatin composite inks that could be used as bioinks. Then, we used the inks in an extrusion printing method to develop design-specific scaffolds for potential VML treatment. Alginate concentration was varied between 4–12% w/v, while the gelatin concentration was maintained at 6% w/v. Rheological analysis indicated that the alginate–gelatin inks containing 12% w/v alginate and 6% w/v gelatin were most suitable for developing high-resolution scaffolds with good structural fidelity. The printing pressure and speed appeared to influence the printing accuracy of the resulting scaffolds significantly. All the hydrogel inks exhibited shear thinning properties and acceptable viscosities, though 8–12% w/v alginate inks displayed properties ideal for printing and cell proliferation. Alginate content, crosslinking concentration, and duration played significant roles (p < 0.05) in influencing the scaffolds' stiffness. Alginate scaffolds (12% w/v) crosslinked with 300, 400, or 500 mM calcium chloride (CaCl2) for 15 min yielded stiffness values in the range of 45–50 kPa, i.e., similar to skeletal muscle. The ionic strength of the crosslinking concentration and the alginate content significantly (p < 0.05) affected the swelling and degradation behavior of the scaffolds. Higher crosslinking concentration and alginate loading enhanced the swelling capacity and decreased the degradation kinetics of the printed scaffolds. Optimal CaCl2 crosslinking concentration (500 mM) and alginate content (12% w/v) led to high swelling (70%) and low degradation rates (28%) of the scaffolds. Overall, the results indicate that 12% w/v alginate and 6% w/v gelatin hydrogel inks are suitable as bioinks, and the printed scaffolds hold good potential for treating skeletal muscle defects such as VML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First in situ apparent reaction rate between free chlorine and amino acids during fresh produce wash. • Deterministic model can be used predictively for a variety of fresh produce. • Reaction rate of chlorine with amino acids in our model is robust to scaling effects. • Potential to use our model to optimize free chlorine efficacy at industry scale. We establish the total amino acids (AA) concentration in wash water as an alternative indicator of free chlorine (FC) levels, and develop a model to predict FC concentration based on modeling the reaction kinetics of chlorine and amino acids. Using single wash of iceberg lettuce, green cabbage, and carrots, we report the first in situ apparent reaction rate β between FC and amino acids in the range of 15.3 – 16.6 M−1 s−1 and an amplification factor γ in the range of 11.52–11.94 for these produce. We also report strong linear correlations between AA levels and produce-to-water ratio (R 2 = 0.87), and between chemical oxygen demand (COD) and AA concentrations (R 2 = 0.87). The values of the parameters γ and β of the model were validated in continuous wash experiments of chopped iceberg lettuce, and predicted the FC (R 2 = 0.96) and AA (R 2 = 0.92) levels very well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports the detection of the magnetic properties of neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) films made by r.f. sputtering using platinum (Pt) underlayers. X-ray diffraction analysis of an annealed NdFeB film on a Pt underlayer; Experimental methods; Results and discussion.

Studies surface roughness of bias sputtered CoCrTa thin films on glass substrates using an Atomic Force Microscope and an interferometer optical technique. Contact angle measurement; Wetting characteristics of a liquid on a solid surface.

Cell surface receptors are the key contributors of macrophage function. Most macrophage cell surface receptors are glycoproteins with sialic acids at the terminal of their glycans. It is well recognized that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces cell surface sialylation changes that may in turn contribute to macrophage functions. In addition, cellular mechanics such as elasticity is also a major determinant of macrophage function, which in turn is modulated by LPS. In this report, we characterized the sialylation status of macrophages upon LPS stimulation and assessed the changes in its mechanical properties and function. Specifically, we confirmed that sialylation status is closely related to macrophage biomechanical characteristics (elastic modulus, tether force, tether radius, adhesion force, and membrane tension) and thus directly involved in macrophage function. Further, we modulated macrophage sialylation status by feeding the cell with exogenous free sialic acid (Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc) and sialidase inhibitors, and examined the resulting effects on cellular mechanics and function. A systematic recognition of sialylation status related to cellular mechanics of macrophages will contribute to defining their phenotypes and elucidate macrophage functional diversity. Image 1 • Sialylation status of THP-1 macrophages and their elastic properties were quantitatively investigated. • LPS induced desialylation, which contributed to increase in cellular elasticity of THP-1 macrophages. • Sialic acids and sialidase inhibitors prevented desialylation and reduced cellular elasticity of LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine if exposure to pesticides is a risk factor for PD and if living in an endemic area for Japanese encephalitis (JE) increases the risk for PD. Materials and Methods: Hospital-based case-control study consisting of 100 PD patients attending the Neurology out-patient at NIMHANS, India, between August 2005 and December 2006 and an equal number of age (± 3 years) and sex matched hospital based apparently healthy controls. Data on various risk factors was collected using standardized FAME (Farming And Movement Evaluation study) questionnaire modified to add questions about living in JE endemic areas and use of mosquito repellants. Results: We observed rural living, farming, handling farming chemicals, exposure to insecticides were associated with increased risk of developing Young onset PD (YOPD) but this association was lacking for Late onset PD (LOPD). Use of mosquito repellants (Prallethrin, d-trans Allethrin) for more than 10 yrs was associated with an increased risk for YOPD. Education status, well water drinking, exposure to in-house insecticide (excluding mosquito repellants) were not associated with an increased risk of PD. Living in JE endemic areas was not a risk factor for developing PD Conclusion: Environmental factors (rural living, farming, handling farming chemicals, exposure to insecticides, and commonly used mosquito repellants containing Prallethrin, d-trans Allethrin play a role in the causation of YOPD. Living in JE endemic areas does not increase risk for developing PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory trial was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of different locally available floral preservatives on extension of vase life of cut gerbera cv. Savannah under ambient storage condition. All the cut gerberas were precooled at 5 °C for 6 hours and followed by pulsing with sucrose at 20%+sodium hypochlorite at 50 ppm for 12 hours and then kept in locally available preservative floral solutions i.e. sugar, commercial vinegar, lime (Citrus aurantifolia) juice, commercial bleach (calcium hypochlorite-CaOCl2) and neem (Azadirachta indica) extract at different concentrations in combination with 4% sucrose. Using the solution of neem extract at 1% coupled with 4% sucrose significantly maintained water relations and reduced scape bending curvature as compared to all other treatments. Total soluble solids in flower stalk and anthocyanin content in ligules of cut gerberas kept in neem extract at 1%+4% sucrose solution were also highest i.e. (10.08 °Brix) and (5.83 mg Congo Red g-1 f wt) respectively. The cut gerberas held in solution of neem extract at 1%+sucrose at 4% recorded lowest optical density (0.041) which was attributed with lowest microbial count (4.26×105 cfu ml-1) and resulted in highest vase life (11.76 days) compared to control (4.53 days) which recorded highest microbial count (8.99×106 cfu ml-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of thiourea (TU), salicylic acid (SA), potassium nitrate (KNO3) and giberellic acid (GA3) with two corm soaking periods on growth, flowering and post harvest life of two gladiolus cultivars Darshan and Dhiraj was investigated during two consecutive years, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Cv. Darshan was early in flowering and performed better than the cv. Dhiraj with respect to vegetative and floral parameters. Pre-planting soaking of corms for 24 h improved vegetative and flowering attributes. SA 150 ppm followed by TU 2% was more effective in increasing vegetative growth and reducing number of days to flowering. SA 150 ppm followed by GA3 150 ppm were effective in improving flowering performance of gladiolus cultivars in terms of increasing number of spikes per plant, spike length and weight and number of florets per spike. Post harvest studies revealed that soaking of corms for 24 h recorded significantly less number of days to first floret opening. Pre-planting treatment of corms with SA 150 ppm recorded minimum days to first floret opening, maximum number of florets opened at a time per spike and vase life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During nervous system development, numerous cues within the extracellular matrix microenvironment (ECM) guide the growing neurites along specific pathways to reach their intended targets. Neurite motility is controlled by extracellular signal sensing through the growth cone at the neurite tip, including chemoattractive and repulsive cues. However, it is difficult to regenerate and restore neurite tracts, lost or degraded due to an injury or disease, in the adult central nervous system. Thus, it is important to evaluate the dynamic interplay between ECM and the concentration gradients of these cues, which would elicit robust neuritogenesis. Such information is critical in understanding the processes involved in developmental biology, and in developing high-fidelity neurite regenerative strategies post-injury, and in drug discovery and targeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative conditions. Here, we quantitatively investigated this relationship using a combination of mathematical modeling and in vitro experiments, and determined the synergistic role of guidance cues and ECM on neurite outgrowth and turning. Using a biomimetic microfluidic system, we have shown that cortical neurite outgrowth and turning under chemogradients (IGF-1 or BDNF) within 3D scaffolds is highly regulated by the source concentration of the guidance cue and the physical characteristics of the scaffold. A mechanistic-driven partial differential equation model of neurite outgrowth has been proposed, which could also be used prospectively as a predictive tool. The parameters for the chemotaxis term in the model are determined from the experimental data using our microfluidic assay. Resulting model simulations demonstrate how neurite outgrowth was critically influenced by the experimental variables, which was further supported by experimental data on cell-surface-receptor expressions. The model results are in excellent agreement with the experimental findings. This integrated approach represents a framework for further elucidation of biological mechanisms underlying neuronal responses of specialized cell types, during various stages of development, and under healthy or diseased conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of different plant growth regulator sprays (GA3, TIBA, CPPU and BR) on growth and flowering of two gladiolus cultivars Darshan and Dhiraj was investigated for two consecutive years, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Growth regulators were sprayed at 3rd and 6th leaf stage. Cv. Darshan differed significantly with cv. Dhiraj in respect to plant height, leaf area and flowered earlier GA3 150 ppm followed by brassinosteroid (BR) 10 ppm recorded maximum plant height, number of leaves and leaf area during vegetative growth and resulted in earlier flowering. TIBA 100 ppm, TIBA50 ppm and control recorded significantly minimum leaf area and showed delayed flowering. Cv. Dhiraj recorded maximum percentage of plants flowered than the cv.Darshan. Cv Darshan recorded significantly highest spike length and inter floret length and minimum days to wilting of spike over the cv. Dhiraj. Cv Dhiraj was significantly superior over cv. Darshan in respect of number of florets per spike and longevity of spike. Maximum spike length and weight, number of florets per spike and spike field life were recorded with GA3 150 ppm Lowest values in respect of flower parameters were recorded with TIBA treatments and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Water contamination, at source and during household storage, is a major cause of enterically transmitted infections in developing countries. This study assessed contamination of the municipal water in a south Indian town, which obtains its water intermittently from a surface lake and by pumping subsurface water from a dry river bed, and monitored microbial contamination during household storage. All samples of the ‘treated'' municipal water were contaminated when freshly pumped, and on household storage, 25/37 (67%) showed increased contamination during storage periods from 1 to 9 days. Household storage in brass, but not in containers of other materials significantly decreased contamination of water (p=0.04). This was confirmed in the laboratory by testing water seeded with 103 to 105 Escherichia coli per 100 ml stored in containers of different materials (p&#60;0.01). Despite the requirements for provision of safe drinking water in municipal areas, in practice the water supplied in Vellore is contaminated and current household storage practices increase the level of contamination in at least two-thirds of households. The implementation of locally appropriate point-of-use disinfection and safe household storage practices in developing countries is an urgent need to ensure a safe, reliable year-round supply in areas where clean water is not available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Kindlin3 (K3), a FERM domain containing protein expressed in hematopoietic cells controls integrin activation and thus hemostatic and inflammatory responses. However, its role in the mechanics of plasma membrane remains unclear. Here, we show that genetic knockout of K3 in microglia and macrophages resulted in defective plasma membrane tension and membrane blebbing. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of K3-deficient cells revealed a significant loss in membrane-to-cortex attachment (MCA), and consequently reduced membrane tension. This loss in MCA is amplified by the mislocalization of the cell cortex proteins—ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM)—to the plasma membrane of microglia and macrophages. Re-expression of K3 in K3-deficient macrophages rescued the defects and localization of ERMs implying a key role for K3 in MCA. Analysis of two K3 mutants, K3int affecting integrin binding and activation, and K3pxn/act disrupting binding to paxillin and actin but not integrin functions, demonstrated that the role of K3 in membrane mechanics is separate from integrin activation. The K3pxn/act mutant substantially diminished both membrane tension and Yes-associated protein (YAP) translocation to the nucleus, while preserving integrin activation, cell spreading, and migration. Together, our results show that K3 coordinates membrane mechanics, ERM protein recruitment to the membrane, and YAP translocation by linking integrin at the membrane to paxillin and actin of the cytoskeleton. This novel function of K3 is distinct from its role in integrin activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized in microfluidic mixers by means of response surface methodology (RSM). A reverse‐staggered herringbone micromixer was employed and reaction temperature, concentration ratio of reactants, Reynolds number, and pH of chloroauric acid were varied, with desired responses being particle size and peak intensity from UV spectroscopy. RSM was performed by simultaneously optimizing variable ranges to identify the best fit of polynomial equations to experimental data. Results revealed the individual and synergistic roles of each reaction variable on particle size and UV peak intensity, leading to identification of the largest design space. The effect of reaction variables on AuNP synthesis and particle size was confirmed in serpentine mixers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the free chlorine (FC) availability in wash water during sanitization of fresh produce enhances our ability to reduce microbial levels and prevent cross‐contamination. However, maintaining an ideal concentration of FC that could prevent the risk of contamination within the wash system is still a technical challenge in the industry, indicating the need to better understand wash water chemistry dynamics. Using bench‐scale experiments and modeling approaches, we developed a comprehensive mathematical model to predict the FC concentration during fresh‐cut produce wash processes for different lettuce types (romaine, iceberg, green leaf, and red leaf), carrots, and green cabbage as well as Escherichia coli O157:H7 cross‐contamination during fresh‐cut iceberg lettuce washing. Fresh‐cut produce exudates, as measured by chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels, appear to be the primary source of consumption of FC in wash water, with an apparent reaction rate ranging from 4.74×10−4 to 7.42×10−4 L/mg·min for all produce types tested, at stable pH levels (6.5 to 7.0) in the wash water. COD levels increased over time as more produce was washed and the lettuce type impacted the rate of increase in organic load. The model parameters from our experimental data were compared to those obtained from a pilot‐plant scale study for lettuce, and similar reaction rate constant (5.38 × 10-4 L/mg·min) was noted, supporting our hypothesis that rise in COD is the main cause of consumption of FC levels in the wash water. We also identified that the bacterial transfer mechanism described by our model is robust relative to experimental scale and pathogen levels in the wash water. Finally, we proposed functions that quantify an upper bound on pathogen levels in the water and on cross‐contaminated lettuce, indicating the maximum potential of water‐mediated cross‐contamination. Our model results could help indicate the limits of FC control to prevent cross‐contamination during lettuce washing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting data on the effects of antipsychotic medications on delirium in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we assigned patients with acute respiratory failure or shock and hypoactive or hyperactive delirium to receive intravenous boluses of haloperidol (maximum dose, 20 mg daily), ziprasidone (maximum dose, 40 mg daily), or placebo. The volume and dose of a trial drug or placebo was halved or doubled at 12-hour intervals on the basis of the presence or absence of delirium, as detected with the use of the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU, and of side effects of the intervention. The primary end point was the number of days alive without delirium or coma during the 14-day intervention period. Secondary end points included 30-day and 90-day survival, time to freedom from mechanical ventilation, and time to ICU and hospital discharge. Safety end points included extrapyramidal symptoms and excessive sedation. RESULTS: Written informed consent was obtained from 1183 patients or their authorized representatives. Delirium developed in 566 patients (48%), of whom 89% had hypoactive delirium and 11% had hyperactive delirium. Of the 566 patients, 184 were randomly assigned to receive placebo, 192 to receive haloperidol, and 190 to receive ziprasidone. The median duration of exposure to a trial drug or placebo was 4 days (interquartile range, 3 to 7). The median number of days alive without delirium or coma was 8.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6 to 9.9) in the placebo group, 7.9 (95% CI, 4.4 to 9.6) in the haloperidol group, and 8.7 (95% CI, 5.9 to 10.0) in the ziprasidone group (P = 0.26 for overall effect across trial groups). The use of haloperidol or ziprasidone, as compared with placebo, had no significant effect on the primary end point (odds ratios, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.64 to 1.21] and 1.04 [95% CI, 0.73 to 1.48], respectively). There were no significant between-group differences with respect to the secondary end points or the frequency of extrapyramidal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The use of haloperidol or ziprasidone, as compared with placebo, in patients with acute respiratory failure or shock and hypoactive or hyperactive delirium in the ICU did not significantly alter the duration of delirium. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center; MIND-USA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01211522.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous chemicals including environmental toxicants and drugs have not been fully evaluated for developmental neurotoxicity. A key gap exists in the ability to predict accurately and robustly in vivo outcomes based on in vitro assays. This is particularly the case for predicting the toxicity of chemicals on the developing human brain. A critical need for such in vitro assays is choice of a suitable model cell type. To that end, we have performed high-throughput in vitro assessment of proliferation and differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs). Conventional in vitro assays typically use immunofluorescence staining to quantify changes in cell morphology and expression of neural cell-specific biomarkers, which is often time-consuming and subject to variable specificities of available antibodies. To alleviate these limitations, we developed a miniaturized, three-dimensional (3D) hNSC culture with ReNcell VM on microarray chip platforms and established a high-throughput promoter-reporter assay system using recombinant lentiviruses on hNSC spheroids to assess cell viability, self-renewal, and differentiation. Optimum cell viability and spheroid formation of 3D ReNcell VM culture were observed on a micropillar chip over a period of 9 days in a mixture of 0.75% (w/v) alginate and 1 mg/mL growth factor reduced (GFR) Matrigel with 25 mM CaCl 2 as a crosslinker for alginate. In addition, 3D ReNcell VM culture exhibited self-renewal and differentiation on the microarray chip platform, which was efficiently monitored by enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression of four NSC-specific biomarkers including sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), synapsin1, and myelin basic protein (MBP) with the promoter-reporter assay system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural progenitor cell (NPC) fate is influenced by a variety of biological cues elicited from the surrounding microenvironment and recent studies suggest their possible role in pediatric glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) development. Since a few GBM cells also display NPC characteristics, it is not clear whether NPCs transform to tumor cell phenotype leading to the onset of GBM formation, or NPCs migrate to developing tumor sites in response to paracrine signaling from GBM cells. Elucidating the paracrine interactions between GBM cells and NPCs in vivo is challenging due to the inherent complexity of the CNS. Here, we investigated the interactions between human NPCs (ReNcell) and human pediatric GBM-derived cells (SJ-GBM2) using a Transwell ® coculture setup to assess the effects of GBM cells on ReNcells (cytokine and chemokine release, viability, phenotype, differentiation, migration). Standalone ReNcell or GBM cultures served as controls. Qualitative and quantitative results from ELISA ® , Live/Dead ® and BrdU assays, immunofluorescence labeling, western blot analysis, and scratch test suggests that although ReNcell viability remained unaffected in the presence of pediatric GBM cells, their morphology, phenotype, differentiation patterns, neurite outgrowth, migration patterns (average speed, distance, number of cells) and GSK-3β expression were significantly influenced. The cumulative distance migrated by the cells in each condition was fit to Furth's formula, derived formally from Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. ReNcell differentiation into neural lineage was compromised and astrogenesis promoted within cocultures. Such coculture platform could be extended to identify the specific molecules contributing to the observed phenomena, to investigate whether NPCs could be transplanted to replace lesions of excised tumor sites, and to elucidate the underlying molecular pathways involved in GBM-NPC interactions within the tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) is a marker for cerebrovascular disease, coronary atherosclerosis, and death. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of ACAS in the Indian population, and to correlate ACAS with other vascular risk factors. Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 1500 individuals who were older than 40 years and asymptomatic for cerebrovascular disease between June 2003 and December 2014. Evaluation of vascular risk factors was done for all the participants. Color Doppler of bilateral carotid arteries was performed for all the participants. Carotid stenosis of 1–49% and ≥50% was considered to be mild and significant stenosis, respectively. Results: There were 1016 (67.7%) men, with a mean age of 58.1 ± 10.6 years (age range: 40–98 years). The prevalence of significant carotid stenosis was 5.2%. After adjustment using multiple regression analysis, age >70 years (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.48–2.74), hypertension (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.11–2.96), diabetes (OR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.45–3.89), smoking (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.18–6.03), dyslipidemia (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 2.52–6.63), history of migraine (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.54–9.13), history of periodontitis (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.90–5.68), and family history of stroke (OR: 7.1; 95% CI: 4.20–12.2) were significantly associated with >50% stenosis. Duration (>15 years) of hypertension (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.33–6.43), diabetes (OR: 6.2; 95% CI: 3.41–11.3), and smoking (OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 2.20–12.1) markedly worsened the risk. During the 8‑year follow up, 14 participants (1.4%) with mild stenosis and 3 participants (4.7%) with significant stenosis developed stroke. Conclusions: Our study suggests that 5.2% of asymptomatic individuals > 40 years of age harbor significant extracranial carotid artery disease. Presence of multiple vascular risk factors markedly increases the risk of carotid stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) is a marker for cerebrovascular disease, coronary atherosclerosis, and death.Aim: To investigate the prevalence of ACAS in the Indian population, and to correlate ACAS with other vascular risk factors.Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 1500 individuals who were older than 40 years and asymptomatic for cerebrovascular disease between June 2003 and December 2014. Evaluation of vascular risk factors was done for all the participants. Color Doppler of bilateral carotid arteries was performed for all the participants. Carotid stenosis of 1-49% and ≥50% was considered to be mild and significant stenosis, respectively.Results: There were 1016 (67.7%) men, with a mean age of 58.1 ± 10.6 years (age range: 40-98 years). The prevalence of significant carotid stenosis was 5.2%. After adjustment using multiple regression analysis, age >70 years (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.48-2.74), hypertension (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.11-2.96), diabetes (OR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.45-3.89), smoking (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.18-6.03), dyslipidemia (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 2.52-6.63), history of migraine (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.54-9.13), history of periodontitis (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.90-5.68), and family history of stroke (OR: 7.1; 95% CI: 4.20-12.2) were significantly associated with >50% stenosis. Duration (>15 years) of hypertension (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.33-6.43), diabetes (OR: 6.2; 95% CI: 3.41-11.3), and smoking (OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 2.20-12.1) markedly worsened the risk. During the 8-year follow up, 14 participants (1.4%) with mild stenosis and 3 participants (4.7%) with significant stenosis developed stroke.Conclusions: Our study suggests that 5.2% of asymptomatic individuals > 40 years of age harbor significant extracranial carotid artery disease. Presence of multiple vascular risk factors markedly increases the risk of carotid stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the sensitivity of embryonic murine neural stem cells exposed to 10 pM–10 μM concentrations of three heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb), continuously for 14 days within 3D collagen hydrogels. Critical endpoints for neurogenesis such as survival, differentiation and neurite outgrowth were assessed. Results suggest significant compromise in cell viability within the first four days at concentrations ≥10 nM, while lower concentrations induced a more delayed effect. Mercury and lead suppressed neural differentiation at as low as 10 pM concentration within 7 days, while all three metals inhibited neural and glial differentiation by day 14. Neurite outgrowth remained unaffected at lower cadmium or mercury concentrations (≤100 pM), but was completely repressed beyond day 1 at higher concentrations. Higher metal concentrations (≥100 pM) suppressed NSC differentiation to motor or dopaminergic neurons. Cytokines and chemokines released by NSCs, and the sub-cellular mechanisms by which metals induce damage to NSCs have been quantified and correlated to phenotypic data. The observed degree of toxicity in NSC cultures is in the order: lead > mercury > cadmium. Results point to the use of biomimetic 3D culture models to screen the toxic effects of heavy metals during developmental stages, and investigate their underlying mechanistic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report describes a case of Noonan's syndrome from a dental viewpoint. Noonan syndrome is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder. Congenital heart deformities, short stature, thoracic deformities, short neck with webbing, hypertelorism, and malocclusions are some of the frequently observed clinical features. Atypical dental anomalies such as multiple unerupted permanent teeth, multiple submerged and retained deciduous teeth, and supernumerary teeth were found in the present case. Oral prophylaxis and preventive resin restorations were done following which the supernumerary teeth were extracted. 54, 55, 64, 65, 74, 75 and 84 were extracted after orthodontic consultation to facilitate the eruption of permanent teeth. The patient is undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy for forced eruption of unerupted permanent teeth. General dentists should correlate dental anomalies with other systemic features in the diagnosis of such syndromes because of the variability in presentation and the need for multidisciplinary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for hypogammaglobulinemia after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) in pediatric patients. Ig levels were measured pre-transplant, every 2 weeks until day 100 and then monthly post SCT in 185 patients undergoing myeloablative HSCT. Median age was 9 years; 142 (77%) had malignant disease and 114 (62%) received stem cells from an unrelated source. Hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG <500 mg/dL) developed in 143 (77%) of the patients at a median of 56 days (range 15-339) post SCT. The cumulative incidence of hypogammaglobulinemia at 1 year was higher among patients who developed acute GVHD (97% vs 54%, P<0.001), and for those receiving stem cells from an unrelated source (94% vs 51%, P<0.001). The cumulative incidence of TRM was significantly higher for patients with hypogammaglobulinemia (P=0.026). In multivariable analysis, lower pre-transplant IgG level (P<0.001), younger age (P=0.012), diagnosis of malignant disease (P<0.001), receiving unrelated SCT (P<0.001) and development of acute GVHD (P<0.001) were all significantly associated with higher risk of hypogammaglobulinemia post HSCT. We conclude that hypogammaglobulinemia is common, following allogeneic HSCT in pediatric patients, especially in those with malignant diseases, those who receive an unrelated transplant or patients who develop GVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety is a normal emotional behaviour. When it is severe and/or chronic, however, it becomes pathological and can precipitate or aggravate cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders. Although many drugs are available in allopathic medicine to treat anxiety disorders, they produce various systemic side effects or exhibit tolerance upon chronic use. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are the major class of compounds used in anxiety and they remain the most commonly prescribed treatment for anxiety. However BZDs have many unwanted side effects that prompted many researchers to evaluate new compounds in the hope of identifying other anxiolytics with fewer side effects. In the present study, we have attempted to evaluate the anxiolytic-like activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Ocimum sanctum(OS) in rats by employing the two pharmacologically validated models, elevated plus maze and bright and dark arena. The rats were divided into five groups, each group containing six animals. The effects of the test drug OS (at 1.75, 4.25 and 8.5 mg/kg doses), the standard anxiolytic, diazepam (1.0 mg/kg) and control group 1%gum acacia(10ml/kg) were assessed after single and repeated dose administration for ten days. The results suggest that, behavioural disinhibitory effects of OS exhibited anxiolytic like activity comparable to diazepam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]