Browsing by Author "Paunovic, Jovana (52464213900)"

Corneal diseases and injuries, with their substantial global prevalence and adverse effects on quality of life, demographics, occupations, and lifestyles, pose a pressing healthcare challenge worldwide. Limited treatment options are unable to halt the progression of end-stage conditions, where transplantation is the ideal solution. Unfortunately, the high demand and low supply of corneal tissues, donor-recipient mismatches, and host rejections leading to graft failure limit this ideal option. As a result, there is a critical need for alternative interventions. This article aims to establish a bioengineered corneal model generated from the cadaveric decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) that can repurpose discarded human corneal tissues to potentially increase the supply of transplantable tissues. Comparable studies have primarily focused on reendothelialization and re-epithelialization. Therefore, we hypothesize devising a method to support scaffold reinnervation emanating from prominent nerve plexi spanning the stroma to the epithelium in a patient-centered manner, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. © 2024 The Author(s)

Aim: The escalating demand for corneal transplants significantly surpasses the available supply. To bridge this gap, we concentrated on ethical and sustainable corneal grafting sources. Our objective was to create viable corneal scaffolds from preserved slaughterhouse waste. Materials & methods: Corneas were extracted and decellularized from eyeballs that had been refrigerated for several days. These scaffolds underwent evaluation through DNA quantification, histological analysis, surface tension measurement, light propagation testing, and tensile strength assessment. Results: Both the native and acellular corneas (with ~90% DNA removed using a cost-effective and environmentally friendly surfactant) maintained essential optical and biomechanical properties for potential clinical use. Conclusion: Our method of repurposing slaughterhouse waste, stored at 4°C for several days, to develop corneal scaffolds offers a sustainable and economical alternative xenograft model. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Aim: The escalating demand for corneal transplants significantly surpasses the available supply. To bridge this gap, we concentrated on ethical and sustainable corneal grafting sources. Our objective was to create viable corneal scaffolds from preserved slaughterhouse waste. Materials & methods: Corneas were extracted and decellularized from eyeballs that had been refrigerated for several days. These scaffolds underwent evaluation through DNA quantification, histological analysis, surface tension measurement, light propagation testing, and tensile strength assessment. Results: Both the native and acellular corneas (with ~90% DNA removed using a cost-effective and environmentally friendly surfactant) maintained essential optical and biomechanical properties for potential clinical use. Conclusion: Our method of repurposing slaughterhouse waste, stored at 4°C for several days, to develop corneal scaffolds offers a sustainable and economical alternative xenograft model. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Aim: To determine whether complexity of chromatin structure in kidney macula densa cells (MDC) decreases during postnatal development in mice. Methods The levels of chromatin structural complexity were measured by determining fractal dimension of MDC nuclei. Kidney tissue was obtained from the total of 32 male Swiss albino mice divided into four age groups (n = 8): newborn (0 days), 10 days old, 20 days old and 30 days old. For a total of 640 MDC chromatin structures, fractal dimension, lacunarity, as well as parameters of Grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture were determined. Results: Chromatin fractal dimension in animals aged 10 days, 20 days and 30 days was significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), compared with newborn mice. This complexity reduction of chromatin architecture is in accordance with previously published studies, which detected generalized and sustained loss of both tissue and cell complexity during aging. The loss of complexity was texture-independent, since there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in both chromatin angular second moment and inverse difference moment between the age groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that age-related nuclear intrinsic factors which do not influence chromatin texture may have an important role in MDC postnatal development. © 2012 The Authors. Nephrology © 2012 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.

Periportal hepatocytes (PPHs) and perivenous hepatocytes (PVHs) in standard optical microscopy appear to be morphologically identical. However, the functional properties of these two cell populations and their roles in liver lobules are not the same. Despite significant differences in gene expression between these two hepatocyte populations, it is still unclear whether the differences are present at the higher levels of chromatin organization. In this study, we present results, indicating that periportal and perivenous hepatocytes, when stained using toluidine blue histological dye, have different chromatin textural patterns quantified with gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) method. Hepatic tissue was obtained from ten male, healthy mice. Chromatin structures were analyzed using GLCM. For each structure, we measured the values of angular second moment, inverse difference moment, GLCM Contrast, GLCM Variance, and GLCM Sum Variance. The results indicate that there is a statistically significant difference in all GLCM mathematical parameters except the contrast. In addition, some chromatin GLCM features were in correlation with serum aminotransferase levels in perivenous, but not in periportal hepatocytes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to test the nuclear morphological differences between hepatocytes using GLCM and to investigate the respective relation with serum liver enzymes. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Periportal hepatocytes (PPHs) and perivenous hepatocytes (PVHs) in standard optical microscopy appear to be morphologically identical. However, the functional properties of these two cell populations and their roles in liver lobules are not the same. Despite significant differences in gene expression between these two hepatocyte populations, it is still unclear whether the differences are present at the higher levels of chromatin organization. In this study, we present results, indicating that periportal and perivenous hepatocytes, when stained using toluidine blue histological dye, have different chromatin textural patterns quantified with gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) method. Hepatic tissue was obtained from ten male, healthy mice. Chromatin structures were analyzed using GLCM. For each structure, we measured the values of angular second moment, inverse difference moment, GLCM Contrast, GLCM Variance, and GLCM Sum Variance. The results indicate that there is a statistically significant difference in all GLCM mathematical parameters except the contrast. In addition, some chromatin GLCM features were in correlation with serum aminotransferase levels in perivenous, but not in periportal hepatocytes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to test the nuclear morphological differences between hepatocytes using GLCM and to investigate the respective relation with serum liver enzymes. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Background: Subjects that spend more time working on computers or watching television could have a higher body mass index. Aim: To assess the relationship between time spent in front of a screen and studying, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and sleep duration among university students. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 734 randomly selected students aged 21 ± 2 years (450 females) that responded an anonymous, structured questionnaire about time spent watching television or in front of a computer, time spent studying, number of daily hours of sleep, smoking habits and number of daily meals. Body mass index was also calculated for all subjects Results: Among males, the number of daily sleep hours, time spent working with computers and number of daily meals were signifi cantly higher and time spent studying was signifi cantly lower than females. Nonsmokers ate a signifi cantly higher number of meals and spent less time watching television. No association was observed between time spent in front of a screen and number of sleep hours of body mass index. Conclusions: Men and smokers spend more time working in computers. There is no association between body mass index and time spent in front of screens.

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