A report on clinical importance of serum glycoconjugates in oral cancer

For evolving a potential Biochemical index for early diagnosis of oral cancer, serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid bound sialic acid (LSA), mucoid proteins and hexoses (galactose and mannose) were determined in 30 patients with oral cancer. The results were compared with similar values obtained for 30 patients with oral precancerous conditions, 24 healthy controls and 15 normal individuals with a habit of tobacco chewing. All the biomarkers were significantly elevated in oral cancer patients compared to the controls, the normal chewers and precancer patients. The levels of glycoconjugates showed significant increase in patients with oral precancerous conditions compared to the controls. Only LSA and hexoses showed significantly elevated levels in oral precancer patients compared to the normal chewers. The levels of glycoconjugates were more or less comparable between normal chewers and the controls. The parameters evaluated in the oral cancer patients also showed a progressive rise with the clinical stage of the malignant disease. The levels of the four glycoconjugates were also higher in patients with metastasis compared to those with only primary disease. The present findings suggest that the glycoconjugates have clinical utility in diagnosis of the patients with cancer of the oral cavity as well as in staging the disease.     

A comparative study of reactive oxygen species (ROS) related parameters in rat tissues

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are believed to be responsible for pathogenesis of various diseases affecting tissues and systems. ROS generated by mitochondrial electron transport chain as well as extra-mitochondrially are eliminated by the respective defense mechanisms. We checked the activity of ROS generating system such as xanthine oxidase and also the parameter of ROS defense mechanism e.g. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPox), reduced glutathione content (GSH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in mitochondrial and post-mitochondrial fractions from various tissues (liver, kidney, brain and heart) of normal rats. Extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO) which is immediate consequence of ROS generation was also examined. Our results shows that significant tissue-specific differences exist in mitochondrial and cytosolic ROS generating systems and ROS defense mechanisms.     

Evaporation-based microfluidic production of oil-free cell-containing hydrogel particles

We demonstrate an evaporation-based microfluidic strategy to produce oil-free cell containing hydrogel particles. Perfluoro-n-pentane, which is used as the continuous oil phase to generate cell-containing hydrogel (Extracel) particles, is removed at an elevated temperature. Human colon cancer cells (HCT116) encapsulated in the hydrogel particles show higher viability than cells encapsulated in particles that are produced via a non-evaporative oil phase. In addition, single HCT116 cells can be cultured for a week in such particles and respond to inflammatory stimuli, highlighting the potential applications of the developed strategy for 3D cell culture, drug testing, and cell-based drug delivery.     

Childhood abuse and neglect in body dysmorphic disorder

OBJECTIVE: No published studies have examined childhood abuse and neglect in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This study examined the prevalence and clinical correlates of abuse and neglect in individuals with this disorder. METHODS: Seventy-five subjects (69.3% female, mean age=35.4+/-12.0) with DSM-IV BDD completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and were interviewed with other reliable and valid measures. RESULTS: Of these subjects, 78.7% reported a history of childhood maltreatment: emotional neglect (68.0%), emotional abuse (56.0%), physical abuse (34.7%), physical neglect (33.3%), and sexual abuse (28.0%). Forty percent of subjects reported severe maltreatment. Among females (n=52), severity of reported abuse and neglect were .32-.57 standard deviation units higher than norms for a health maintenance organization (HMO) sample of women. Severity of sexual abuse was the only type of maltreatment significantly associated with current BDD severity (r=.23, p=.047). However, severity of sexual abuse did not predict current BDD severity in a simultaneous multiple regression analysis with age and current treatment status. There were other significant associations with childhood maltreatment: history of attempted suicide was related to emotional (p=.004), physical (p=.014), and sexual abuse (p=.038). Childhood emotional abuse was associated with a lifetime substance use disorder (r=.26, p=.02), and physical abuse was negatively associated with a lifetime mood disorder (r=-.37, p=.001). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of individuals with BDD reported childhood abuse and neglect. Certain types of abuse and neglect appear modestly associated with BDD symptom severity and with gender, suicidality, and certain disorders.     

Microfluidic separation of live and dead yeast cells using reservoir-based dielectrophoresis

Separating live and dead cells is critical to the diagnosis of early stage diseases and to the efficacy test of drug screening, etc. This work demonstrates a novel microfluidic approach to dielectrophoretic separation of yeast cells by viability. It exploits the cell dielectrophoresis that is induced by the inherent electric field gradient at the reservoir-microchannel junction to selectively trap dead yeast cells and continuously separate them from live ones right inside the reservoir. This approach is therefore termed reservoir-based dielectrophoresis (rDEP). It has unique advantages as compared to existing dielectrophoretic approaches such as the occupation of zero channel space and the elimination of any mechanical or electrical parts inside microchannels. Such an rDEP cell sorter can be readily integrated with other components into lab-on-a-chip devices for applications to biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics.     

Non Transferrin Bound Iron: Nature, Manifestations and Analytical Approaches for Estimation

Iron is an essential trace element and plays a number of vital roles in biological system. It also leads the chains of pathological actions if present in excess and/or present in free form. Major portion of iron in circulation is associated with transferrin, a classical iron transporter, which prevent the existence of free iron. The fraction of iron which is free of transferrin is known as “non transferrin bound iron”. Along with the incidence in iron over loaded patient non transferrin bound iron has been indicated in patients without iron overload. It has been suggested as cause as well as consequence in a number of pathological conditions. The major organs influenced by iron toxicity are heart, pancreas, kidney, organs involved in hematopoiesis etc. The most commonly suggested way for iron mediated pathogenesis is through increased oxidative stress and their secondary effects. Generation of free oxygen radicals by iron has been well documented in Fenton chemistry and Haber–Weiss reaction. Non transferrin bound iron has obvious chance to generate the free reactive radicals as it is not been shielded by the protective carrier protein apo transferrin. The nature of non transferrin bound iron is not clear at present time but it is definitely a group of heterogenous iron forms free from transferrin and ferritin. A variety of analytical approaches like colorimetry, chromatography, fluorimetry etc. have been experimented in different research laboratories for estimation of non transferrin bound iron. However the universally accepted gold standard method which can be operated in pathological laboratories is still to be developed.     

Best practices and emerging trends in assessment of trauma in students with autism spectrum disorder

Children and adolescents with autism have a higher likelihood of being exposed to bullying, abuse, and sexual assault which, through repeated exposure, has been demonstrated to impede academic, social, and physical functioning among this population. However, the complexity of unpacking the characteristics of autism and trauma can pose a challenge for school psychologists in using the most appropriate clinical method of intervention. This paper summarizes the co-occurrence of autism and trauma in an effort to better inform practitioners and recommends the need for valid and reliable assessments that measure adverse experiences for children with autism. A practitioner assessment guide of childhood trauma and autism spectrum disorder is also provided to facilitate a comprehensive assessment process. We conclude that there is a pressing need for more research examining the relationship between autism and trauma by better understanding the relationship of these constructs, and for the development of more effective assessments to provide more evidence-based interventions.     

“Because uni is totally different than what you do at TAFE”: protective strategies and provisions for diploma students traversing their first professional experience placement at university

Students who enrol in a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) at the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University, with a Diploma in Children’s Services attained from a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) often experience challenges in their first professional experience unit. Utilising a phenomenological approach to understand the students’ previous knowledge and experiences as they navigated through their first professional experience unit, this qualitative study identified factors including institutional structures and course content as challenging to the diploma student. To ensure diploma students can successfully transition to and participate in their first professional experience unit at university, all stakeholders including the university, the academics teaching the students, and the students themselves need to commit to a multilevel support programme. Key findings from this study support the previous research on this student cohort.     

To succeed or not to succeed: A critical review of issues in learned helplessness

A critical analysis of theoretical and methodological issues in learned helplessness is presented. Researchers have tended to focus upon learned helplessness as a behavioral trait independent of contextual conditions. Learned helplessness has been studied exclusively in achievement settings using achievement tasks, perceived as maladaptive behavior requiring some intervention strategy or retraining program. It has not been studied as an adaptive response to situational demands. It is the purpose of this paper to analyze the theoretical backgrounds and methodological limitations of much of the research in learned helplessness and to suggest new directions and implications for education.