OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of antipsychotics on immune-challenged peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from twelve patients with first-episode schizophrenia. The PBMCs were separated and cultures were prepared and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C]), and then separately treated with a typical antipsychotic (haloperidol) or atypical antipsychotic (clozapine, quetiapine, or risperidone). Pro-inflammatory (interferon gamma [IFN-gamma]) and anti-inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels were measured in the LPS- or poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures treated with antipsychotics. RESULTS: Haloperidol and quetiapine significantly increased the IL-4 levels (p<0.05) in LPS-stimulated PBMC cultures, while clozapine and quetiapine significantly enhanced the IL-4 levels (p<0.05) in poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures. Only treatment with haloperidol resulted in a significant increase in IL-10 production (p<0.05) in LPS-stimulated PBMC cultures, whereas clozapine, quetiapine, and risperidone treatment significantly increased IL-10 production (p<0.05) in poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures. All of the antipsychotics reduced the IFN-gamma level significantly (p<0.05) in LPS- and poly(I:C)-stimulated PBMC cultures. CONCLUSION: Antipsychotic treatment altered immune function by raising the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) and suppressing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma).
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Clozapine ; Cytokines ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia* ; Quetiapine Fumarate

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare condition in adults, especially when it is limited to a single area of the skull, known as solitary calvarial involvement. In this case report, we present a unique instance of LCH affecting the parietal bone with a pus-draining fistula. This is a rare and unusual presentation at this location, which has been scarcely reported in medical literature. A 30-year-old woman with no prior comorbidity presented with complaints of headache that persisted for a year. She also had swelling on her scalp and a yellowish discharge for 3 weeks, but no neurological problems were observed. Radiology revealed thinning of the calvaria, with ragged margins along the inner table, multiple focal erosions, and involvement of overlying soft tissue and bony sequestrum. The patient underwent biparietal craniotomy and excision of the lesion. The histopathology report showed LCH. After 8 months of follow-up, there was no recurrence. The management of solitary calvarial involvement by LCH with masquerading presentation as a scalp infection can be achieved through complete excision of the lesions, resulting in a favorable outcome.

Shoot tips of a traditional table banana (Musa spp. cv. Kanthali) of Bangladesh were evaluated for in vitro propagation. Initial surface sterilization (with 0.1% HgCl2 for 12 minutes) of shoot tips was successful but microbial contamination (mostly bacteria) at the rhizomatous base of the explants was observed within 6-15 days after inoculation which eventually killed 85% of inoculated explants. So, for contamination free culture establishment explants were soaked in two broad spectrum antibiotics namely ampicillin and gentamicin. Cent percent contamination free cultures were established by soaking the explants in 400 mg/L ampicillin or 200 mg/L gentamicin for 1h. Antibiotic treated explants were found to be full contamination free but failed to regenerate after 3 weeks of culture. But some of them absorbed media for up to 2nd subculture and showed swelling of explants and some color changes from pale white to light/deep green. Finally, a few days after 3rd subculture, no growth of explants was observed and all treated explants eventually started to die. Among the untreated alive explants the best medium for single shoot development was MS + 4.0 mg/L BA + 0.5 mg/L KT + 15% CW and average time required for shoot development was 18-21 days. But the regeneration percentage was very low (30%). The best medium for shoot multiplication was MS + 4.0 mg/L BA + 2.0 mg/L IAA + 15% CW and only average 3-4 shoots were formed per shoot. Finally, in vitro proliferated shoots produced roots with maximum frequency (90%) in half strength of MS medium fortified with 0.5 mg/L IBA.
Bangladesh ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Musa ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Rhizome ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Sterilization

Background: Due to extensive fibrosis during revision surgery, adequate exposure is essential and it can be achieved with several extensile approach options, such as tibial tubercle osteotomy. Information regarding surgical exposure during revision arthroplasty is limited in developing countries, such as Pakistan, due to the lack of adequate data collection and follow-up. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of tibial tubercle osteotomy on final outcome of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: A total of 231 revision TKAs were performed between January 2008 and December 2017. Twenty-nine patients underwent tibial tubercle osteotomy for adequate exposure during revision surgery. Of these, 27 patients with complete follow-up were included in our study. Factors examined include age at the time of revision surgery, gender, comorbidities, arthroplasty site (right or left), body mass index (BMI), and primary indications for the tibial tubercle osteotomy during revision TKA. Functional outcome was measured by using Knee Society score (KSS) at 3 months and the final follow-up. All statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 with a p-value < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Out of 27 patients, 6 patients (22.2%) were men and 21 patients (77.7%) were women. Right knee revision arthroplasty was performed in 15 patients (55.5%), left knee revision arthroplasty was performed in 12 patients (44.4%), and bilateral revision surgery was performed in only 1 patient (3.7%). The mean BMI was 29.2 kg/m 2 . We used a constrained condylar knee in 20 patients (74%), a rotating hinge knee in 5 patients (18.5%), and mobile bearing tray plus metaphyseal sleeves in 2 patients (7.4%).The KSS was 52.21 ± 4.05 preoperatively, and 79.42 ± 2.2 and 80.12 ± 1.33 at 3 months and 12 months, respectively. Radiological union was achieved in all patients at 3 months. Of 27 patients, only 1 patient (3.7%) had proximal migration of the osteotomy site at 6 months: the patient was asymptomatic and union was also achieved and, therefore, no surgical intervention was performed. Conclusions Tibial tubercle osteotomy during revision TKA can be a safe and reliable technique with superior outcomes and minimal complication rates.

Objective: To verify possible associations between polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase Mu (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase θ (GSTT1) and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) genes and susceptibility to lung cancer. Methods: A total of 106 lung cancer patients and 116 controls were enrolled in a case-control study. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 were analyzed using PCR while GSTP1 was analyzed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Risk of lung cancer was estimated as odds ratio at 95% confidence interval using unconditional logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and tobacco use. Results: GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes did not show a significant risk for developing lung cancer. A significantly elevated lung cancer risk was associated with GSTP1 heterozygous, mutant and combined heterozygous+mutant variants of rs1695. When classified by tobacco consumption status, no association with risk of lung cancer was found in case of tobacco smokers and nonsmokers carrying null and present genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1. There is a three-fold (approximately) increase in the risk of lung cancer in case of both heterozygous (AG) and heterozygous+mutant homozygous (AG+GG) genotypes whereas there is an eightfold increase in risk of lung cancer in cases of GG with respect to AA genotype in smokers. Conclusions: Carrying the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype is not a risk factor for lung cancer and GSTP1Ile105Val is associated with elevated risk of lung cancer.

Exosome is an excellent vesicle for in vivo delivery of therapeutics, including RNAi and chemical drugs. The extremely high efficiency in cancer regression can partly be attributed to its fusion mechanism in delivering therapeutics to cytosol without endosome trapping. However, being composed of a lipid-bilayer membrane without specific recognition capacity for aimed-cells, the entry into nonspecific cells can lead to potential side-effects and toxicity. Applying engineering approaches for targeting-capacity to deliver therapeutics to specific cells is desirable. Techniques with chemical modification in vitro and genetic engineering in cells have been reported to decorate exosomes with targeting ligands. RNA nanoparticles have been used to harbor tumor-specific ligands displayed on exosome surface. The negative charge reduces nonspecific binding to vital cells with negatively charged lipid-membrane due to the electrostatic repulsion, thus lowering the side-effect and toxicity. In this review, we focus on the uniqueness of RNA nanoparticles for exosome surface display of chemical ligands, small peptides or RNA aptamers, for specific cancer targeting to deliver anticancer therapeutics, highlighting recent advances in targeted delivery of siRNA and miRNA that overcomes the previous RNAi delivery roadblocks. Proper understanding of exosome engineering with RNA nanotechnology promises efficient therapies for a wide range of cancer subtypes.