Abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the possibility of salivary cytokines for the screening of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. We carried out a case-control study, including 19 children with ADHD and 17 healthy children (controls). A multiplex bead array immunoassay was used to conduct a multi-analysis of 27 different salivary cytokines. Six salivary cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, IL12p70, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) were significantly associated with the presence of ADHD (p < 0.05). An informative salivary cytokine panel was developed using VEGF by logistic regression analysis (odds ratio: 0.251). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that assessment of a panel using VEGF showed “good” capability for discriminating between ADHD patients and controls (area under the curve: 0.778). ADHD has been hypothesized to be associated with reduced cerebral blood flow in the frontal cortex, due to reduced VEGF levels. Our study highlights the possibility of utilizing differential salivary cytokine levels for point-of-care testing (POCT) of biomarkers in children with ADHD.
Abstract: Endothelial Progenitor Cell (EPC) based therapies continue to be of interest to treat ischemic events based on their proven role to promote blood vessel formation and thus tissue re-vascularisation. Current strategies for the production of clinical-grade EPCs requires the in vitro isolation of EPCs from peripheral blood followed by cell expansion to provide sufficient quantities EPCs for cell therapy. This study aims to examine the use of different biomolecules to significantly improve the current strategy of EPC capture and expansion on collagen type I (Col I). In this study, four different biomolecules were immobilised on a surface and then investigated for their capacity to support EPC capture and proliferation. First, a cell microarray platform was fabricated by coating a glass surface with epoxy functional allyl glycidyl ether plasma polymer (AGEpp) to mediate biomolecule binding. The four candidate biomolecules tested were Col I, collagen type II (Col II), collagen type IV (Col IV) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), which were arrayed on the epoxy-functionalised surface using a non-contact printer. The surrounding area between the printed biomolecules was passivated with polyethylene glycol-bisamine (A-PEG) to prevent non-specific cell attachment. EPCs were seeded onto the microarray platform and cell numbers quantified after 1 h (to determine capture) and 72 h (to determine proliferation). All of the extracellular matrix (ECM) biomolecules printed demonstrated an ability to capture EPCs within 1 h of cell seeding with Col II exhibiting the highest level of attachment when compared to the other biomolecules. Interestingly, Col IV exhibited the highest increase in EPC expansion after 72 h when compared to Col I, Col II and VEGF-A. These results provide information for significant improvement in the capture and expansion of human EPC for further application.
Abstract: In mammalian reproductive tract, the oviduct secretes
huge number of growth factors and cytokines that create an optimal
micro-environment for the initial stages of preimplantation embryos.
Secretion of these growth factors is stage-specific. Among them,
VEGF is a potent mitogen for vascular endothelium and stimulates
vascular permeability. Apart from angiogenesis, VEGF in the oviduct
may be involved in regulating the oocyte maturation and subsequent
developmental process during embryo production in vitro. In
experiment 1, to evaluate the effect of VEGF during IVM of porcine
COC and subsequent developmental ability after PA and SCNT. The
results from these experiments indicated that maturation rates among
the different VEGF concentrations were not significant different. In
experiment 2, total intracellular GSH concentrations of oocytes
matured with VEGF (5-50 ng/ml) were increased significantly
compared to a control and VEGF group (500 ng/ml). In experiment 3,
the blastocyst formation rates and total cell number per blastocyst
after parthenogenesis of oocytes matured with VEGF (5-50 ng/ml)
were increased significantly compared to a control and VEGF group
(500 ng/ml). Similarly, in experiment 4, the blastocyst formation rate
and total cell number per blastocyst after SCNT and IVF of oocytes
matured with VEGF (5 ng/ml) were significantly higher than that of
oocytes matured without VEGF group. In experiment 5, at 10 hour
after the onset of IVF, pronuclear formation rate was evaluated.
Monospermy was significantly higher in VEGF-matured oocytes than
in the control, and polyspermy and sperm penetration per oocyte
were significantly higher in the control group than in the VEGFmatured
oocytes. Supplementation with VEGF during IVM
significantly improved male pronuclear formation as compared with
the control. In experiment 6, type III cortical granule distribution in
oocytes was more common in VEGF-matured oocytes than in the
control. In conclusion, the present study suggested that
supplementation of VEGF during IVM may enhance the
developmental potential of porcine in vitro embryos through increase
of the intracellular GSH level, higher MPN formation and increased
fertilization rate as a consequence of an improved cytoplasmic
maturation.
Abstract: Hyperglycemia-mediated accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a pivotal role in the development of diabetic complications by inducing inflammation. In the present study, we evaluated the possible effects of water/ethanol (1/1, v/v) extracts (WEE) and its fractions from Canarium album Raeusch. (Chinese olive) which is a fruit used on AGEs-stimulated oxidative stress and inflammation in monocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Co-incubation of EA.hy926 endothelial cells with WEE and its fractions for 24h resulted in a significant decrease of monocyte–endothelial cell adhesion, the expression of ICAM-1, generation of intracellular ROS and depletion of GSH induced by AGEs. Chinese olive fruit extracts also reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediates, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in THP-1 cells. These findings suggested that Chinese olive fruit was able to protect vascular endothelium from dysfunction induced by AGEs.
Abstract: In the paper the mathematical model of tumor
growth is considered. New capillary network formation,
which supply cancer cells with the nutrients, is taken into the
account. A formula estimating a tumor growth in connection
with the number of capillaries is obtained.