Evaluation of the Bacteriological Pollution of the Waters of the Lake of Sonfonia Commune of Ratoma (Republic of Guinea) 2021

The quality of surface waters is often altered by the presence of bacteria of faecal origin, as a result of untimely discharge of solid and liquid waste from households. The Sonfonia Lake located in the commune of Ratoma is under the influence of various forms of pollution resulting for the most part from anthropic activities. Field visits, interviews with resource persons and bacteriological analysis were carried out to assess the level of this pollution. Two water sampling campaigns were carried out during the low-water period and two others during the flood period of 2021. The comparison of the levels of faecal contamination bacteria in the present study with a previous one carried out in 2018 on the waters of the same lake, indicates an increase in the level of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci that exceed the indicator values recommended by the WHO. These results show that Lake Sonfonia is polluted. This could be related to the increase in anthropogenic and demographic activities during the last four years. On the other hand, the analysis of the results showed the absence of pathogenic germs such as salmonella. The Mann-Whitney U statistical test was used to compare the value of the means of each of the variables observed during the two seasons.

Synthesis and Characterization of Liquid Crystal Elastomer

The thermal and mechanical properties of Liquid Crystal Elastomers (LCEs) were characterized using various techniques for understanding of their physical behavior. The material used for investigation was synthesized by us, using Finklemann procedure, with proper cross linking density in nematic phase. The material is found to have unique coupling between anisotropicorder of liquid crystal component and elasticity of polymer network. The chemical structures were confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fabry Perot Scattering Studies (FPSS), Thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimatory (DSC) were used to study thermal properties. The mechanical properties were studied using force sensor. Our investigation shows that this synthesized Liquid Crystal Elastomer has ability of spontaneous change as a function of temperature and mechanical force, which shows it as a unique class of soft material.

A comparative study of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells in β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), forsterite (Mg_2SiO_4 ) and clinoenstatite (MgSiO_3)

In this study, the effects of forsterite and clinoenstatite powder extracts on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) were investigated and compared with the β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) powder extracts. Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and live-dead staining were performed to evaluate the viability and proliferation of rat ASCs. Osteogenic differentiation of rat ASCs were assayed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and ALP activity test. The expression of osteogenic marker genes (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), collagen type Iα1 (Col1α1), secreted phosphoprotein1 (Spp1, osteopontin), integrin binding sialoprotein (Ibsp), bone gla protein (Bglap)) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The MTT assay and the live-dead staining showed that all the three ceramics possessed good cytocompatibility with rat ASCs. Furthermore, forsterite and clinoenstatite promoted the proliferation of rat ASCs compared with β-TCP. The results of the ALP activity test and the real-time PCR demonstrated that forsterite and clinoenstatite promoted the osteogenic differentiation of rat ASCs. These results suggested that forsterite and clinoenstatite are bioactive ceramics that may be used for preparation of bone tissue engineering (BTE) scaffolds.

Cardiac patches made of brown adipose-derived stem cell sheets and conductive electrospun nanofibers restore infarcted heart for ischemic myocardial infarction

Cell sheet engineering has been proven to be a promising strategy for cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction. However, insufficient mechanical strength and low cell retention lead to limited therapeutic efficiency. The thickness and area of artificial cardiac patches also affect their therapeutic efficiency. Cardiac patches prepared by combining cell sheets with electrospun nanofibers, which can be transplanted and sutured to the surface of the infarcted heart, promise to solve this problem. Here, we fabricated a novel cardiac patch by stacking brown adipose-derived stem cells (BADSCs) sheet layer by layer, and then they were combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-containing electrospun polycaprolactone/silk fibroin nanofibers (CPSN). The results demonstrated that BADSCs tended to generate myocardium-like structures seeded on CPSN. Compared with BADSCs suspension-containing electrospun nanofibers, the transplantation of the CPSN-BADSCs sheets (CNBS) cardiac patches exhibited accelerated angiogenesis and decreased inflammation in a rat myocardial infarction model. In addition, the CNBS cardiac patches could regulate macrophage polarization and promote gap junction remodeling, thus restoring cardiac functions. Overall, the hybrid cardiac patches made of electrospun nanofibers and cell sheets provide a novel solution to cardiac remodeling after ischemic myocardial infarction.

Distribution and characteristics of telocytes as nurse cells in the architectural organization of engineered heart tissues

Interstitial Cajal-like cells are a distinct type of interstitial cell with a wide distribution in mammalian organs and tissues,and have been given the name"telocytes".Recent studies have demonstrated the potential roles of telocytes in heart development,renewal,and repair.However,further research on the functions of telocytes is limited by the complicated in vivo environment.This study was designed to construct engineered heart tissue(EHT)as a three-dimensional model in vitro to better understand the role of telocytes in the architectural organization of the myocardium.EHTs were constructed by seeding neonatal cardiomyocytes in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds followed by culture under persistent static stretch.Telocytes in EHTs were identified by histology,toluidine blue staining,immunofluorescence,and transmission electron microscopy.The results from histology and toluidine blue staining demonstrated widespread putative telocytes with compact toluidine blue-stained nuclei,which were located around cardiomyocytes.Prolongations from the cell bodies showed a characteristic dichotomous branching pattern and formed networks in EHTs.Immunofluorescence revealed positive staining of telocytes for CD34 and vimentin with typical moniliform prolongations.A series of electron microscopy images further showed that typical telocytes embraced the cardiomyocytes with their long prolongations and exhibited a marked appearance of nursing cardiomyocytes during the construction of EHTs.This finding highlights the great importance of telocytes in the architectural organization of EHTs.It also suggests that EHT is an appropriate physical and pathological model system in vitro to study the roles of telocytes during heart development and regeneration.

Efficient GSH delivery using PAMAM-GSH into MPP-induced PC12 cellular model for Parkinson’s disease

Glutathione(GSH)depletion has been an important contributor to the dysfunction of dopamine neurons.Polyamidoamine-GSH(PAMAM-GSH)was synthesized and the delivery effect of GSH into PC12 cells was tested.MTT assessment for cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species(ROS)as well as nitrite oxide(NO)and intracelluar superoxide dismutase(SOD)detection for antioxidative ability were performed.Furthermore,the antiapoptotic ability was analysed by assessing caspase-3,JNK1/2 and Erk1/2 expression.Our data indicated that PAMAM-GSH is an effective agent to replenish GSH into PC12 cells.PAMAM-GSH developed its antioxidative and protective ability for 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium(MPP)-induced PC12 cells by reducing the intracellular levels of ROS and SOD activity as well as decreasing the release of NO.Meanwhile,PAMAM-GSH could inhibit caspase-3 activation and might show its antiapoptotic ability to MPP-induced PC12 cells through JNK2/Erk1/2 pathway.In summary,these studies suggest that PAMAM-GSH conjugate has an intrinsic ability to penetrate PC12 cells and deliver GSH into these cells which may provide a new strategy for clinical applications in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.