No abstract

Tissue engineering has been extensively investigated and proffered to be a potential platform for novel tissue regeneration. The utilization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from various sources has been widely explored and compared. In this regard, MSCs derived from bone marrow have been proposed and described as a promising cell resource due to their high yield of isolated cells with colony-forming potential, self-renewal capacity, MSC surface marker expression, and multi-lineage differentiation capacities in vitro . However, there is evidence for bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) both in vitro and in vivo from different species presenting identical and distinct potential stemness characteristics. In this review, the fundamental knowledge of the growth kinetics and stemness properties of BM-MSCs in different animal species and humans are compared and summarized. Finally, to provide a full perspective, this review will procure results of current information studies focusing on the use of BM-MSCs in clinical practice.

The study was aimed to identify bacteria associated with upper respiratory disorders in pythons. Epiglottis-tracheal swabs were collected aseptically from eight pythons (Malayopython reticulatus, Python bivittatus, and Python regius) with respiratory disorders. Common clinical signs were presented with frothy nasal discharge, nasal discharge, wheezing, mild coughing, crackle sound and star-gazing. Samples were cultured and sub-cultured on Blood Agar (BA) and MacConkey Agar (MCA). Colonies were identified by performing Gram staining, standard biochemical and phenotypic tests procedures. One colony was identified using API 20NE kit. Of all seven different colonies that were previously isolated, Neisseria sp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Klebsiella sp., and Burkholderia cepacia were identified. We suggest that bacterial infections among captive pythons could be closely related to the immune system because of the commensal flora becoming pathogenic.

Successful COVID-19 prevention requires additional measures beyond vaccination, social distancing, and masking. A nasal spray solution containing human IgG1 antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (COVITRAP™) was developed to strengthen other COVID-19 preventive arsenals. Here, we evaluated its pseudovirus neutralization potencies, preclinical and clinical safety profiles, and intranasal SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory effects in healthy volunteers (NCT05358873). COVITRAP™ exhibited broadly potent neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 with PVNT50 values ranging from 0.0035 to 3.1997 μg/ml for the following variants of concern (ranked from lowest to highest): Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Ancestral, Delta, Omicron BA.1, Omicron BA.2, Omicron BA.4/5, and Omicron BA.2.75. It demonstrated satisfactory preclinical safety profiles based on evaluations of in vitro cytotoxicity, skin sensitization, intracutaneous reactivity, and systemic toxicity. Its intranasal administration in rats did not yield any detected circulatory levels of the human IgG1 anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at any time point during the 120 hours of follow-up. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) was conducted on 36 healthy volunteers who received either COVITRAP™ or a normal saline nasal spray at a 3:1 ratio. Safety of the thrice-daily intranasal administration for 7 days was assessed using nasal sinuscopy, adverse event recording, and self-reporting questionnaires. COVITRAP™ was well tolerated, with no significant adverse effects in healthy volunteers for the entire 14 days of the study. The intranasal SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory effects of COVITRAP™ were evaluated in nasal fluids taken from volunteers pre- and post-administration using a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization test. SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory effects in nasal fluids collected immediately or six hours after COVITRAP™ application were significantly increased from baseline for all three variants tested, including Ancestral, Delta, and Omicron BA.2. In conclusion, COVITRAP™ was safe for intranasal use in humans to provide SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory effects in nasal fluids that lasted at least six hours. Therefore, COVITRAP™ can be considered an integral instrument for COVID-19 prevention.

hytoestrogens are active compounds, derived from plants, which have a similar structure and function as estrogen. Phytoestrogens are commonly found in legumes. Oncom, which is assumed containing phytoestrogens, is one of the most famous legumes food from Indonesia and widely consumed daily in West Java. This study was aimed to determine the effect of oncom extract on estrous cycle, endometrium thickness, and the number of antral follicles in productive age rats (Rattus novergicus). This experimental study was using 21 three-to-four-month-old fertile female rats and divided into three groups. Group I (K) was considered as a control group without any treatment. Group II and III were treatment groups which were given black (H) and red (M) oncom extracts 0.005 g/g body weight, respectively, orally with a feeding tube for 14 days. The length of the estrous cycle was measured by performing vaginal swab with interval 12 hours after first treatment was given and during the treatment. Endometrium thickness and the number of antral follicles were measured by collecting the organs uterus and ovary for histological purpose with paraffin method after rats were euthanized post-treatment oncom extracts for 14 days. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and continued with LSD test. The total length of estrous cycle of control group, black oncom extract group, and red oncom extract group was 107,43±3,16 hours, 141,43±15,36 hours, and 161,14±17,10 hours, respectively. The mean of endometrium thickness of control group, black oncom extract group, and red oncom extract group was 346,945±65,88 ?m, 485,740±86,69 ?m, and 533,904±78,93 ?m, respectively. The number of antral follicles of control group, black oncom extract group, and red oncom extract group was 6,00±1,54, 8,43±2,99, and 9,14±2,72, respectively. Results showed that black and red oncom extracts had a significant effect on the length of estrous cycle and endometrium thickness in rats, yet there is no significant difference in the number of antral follicles. In summary, black and red oncom extracts had effects on the length of estrous cycle and endometrium thickness, yet there was no effect on the number of antral follicles.