Medicine

Stem cell manipulation with plasmid-based transcription factor over-expression systems to successfully generate pre-specified cells fates in-vitro;

2023-06-21T08:43:28Z

Stem cell manipulation with plasmid-based transcription factor over-expression systems to successfully generate pre-specified cells fates in-vitro; arachchi, PM Athauda; Chandran, S The differentiation of stem cells in a controlled fashion is essential to achieve a predefined daughter cell types required for research or regenerative therapies. Transcription factors play a key role in switching cellular differentiation fate in-vivo, at initiation of neuro or glial cell fate specification phase in rodents and humans. The aim of the study was to assess if stem cell differentiation can experimentally be manipulated using expression of cDNA of regulatory homeodomain transcription factors Olig2, Nkx2,2 or Ngn2 in-vitro mirroring the invivo development. Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and human foetal neural stem (FNS) cells were cultured according to standard protocol. pIRES plasmid vector system with Olig2 transcription factor expression, with or without the cotranscription factor Nkx2.2 (or Ngn 2), were created using molecular biological techniques and introduced into differentiating stem cells. Using biomarkers, final cell fates were compared with one another, including a placebo version. Both mouse embryonic and human neural precursor cells can be made to prematurely differentiate towards neuroglial fate with forced expression of Olig2 transcription factor, whereas co-expression of Olig2 and Nkx2.2 leads to premature oligodendroglial fate specification, compared to placebo. The quantitative effect of fate switching was marked with embryonic stem cell differentiation. Forced expression of key transcription factors as illustrated, may be an attractive method to control stem cell fate modification in in-vitro, and this may successfully be used to generate rare live human cells (such as Oligodendroglia or other specialised cells) for further experiments.

Analysis of Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 in a Cohort of Patients with Colorectal Cancers in Sri Lanka T Muhinudeen1,

2023-06-21T08:39:31Z

Analysis of Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 in a Cohort of Patients with Colorectal Cancers in Sri Lanka T Muhinudeen1, Muhinudeen, T; Rasnayake, S; Rathnayake, AJIS; Bandara, WMMS Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers globally, accounting for nearly 10% of all cancers. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels have been reported to increase in CRC patients. The studies on IL-6 and IL-8 levels of CRCs have confined to Caucasian populations and levels of these cytokines have not been extensively investigated in South Asian populations. They have the potential of using as markers but are not being used in clinical practice, yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients. Blood samples from thirty five patients with CRCs and thirty five healthy volunteers were obtained after informed consent. The concentrations of IL-8 and IL-6 were measured using ELISA according to manufacturer’s protocols. The mean serum concentration of IL-6 was found to be significantly higher in the CRC patients than controls (p<0.05). Although the mean serum concentration of IL-8 was higher in the CRC patients than controls the difference was not significant (p>0.04). Interestingly, the mean serum [IL-6] in colorectal cancer patients were correlated with the disease stage. The study provided preliminary evidence to use IL-6 as potential biochemical marker to be used in the diagnosis of CRCs. However, it is necessary analyze more patient samples to validate the results of this study.

Reforming for better Primary care in economic crisis situation

2023-06-21T08:35:06Z

Reforming for better Primary care in economic crisis situation Perera, Susie

Importance of Public Health Resilience in the New Normal

2023-06-21T08:33:40Z

Importance of Public Health Resilience in the New Normal Singh, Alaka