Kyriakos Spanoudes

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a severe and invariably fatal disease affecting both domestic and wild felines with limited effective therapeutic options available. By considering the significant immunomodulatory effects of vitamin E observed in both animal and human models under physiological and pathological conditions, we have provided a full in silico investigation of vitamin E and related compounds and their effect on the crystal structure of feline infectious peritonitis virus 3C-like protease (FIPV-3CL^pro). This work revealed the β-tocotrienol and δ-tocotrienol analogs as inhibitor candidates for this protein, suggesting their potential as possible drug compounds against FIP or their supplementary use with current medicines against this disease.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a severe and invariably fatal disease affecting both domestic and wild felines with limited effective therapeutic options available. By considering the significant immunomodulatory effects of vitamin E observed in both animal and human models under physiological and pathological conditions, we have provided a full in-silico investigation of vitamin E and related compounds and their effect on the crystal structure of feline infectious peritonitis virus 3C-like protease (FIPV-3CLpro). This work revealed the β-tocotrienol and δ-tocotrienol analogues as inhibitor candidates for this protein, suggesting their potential as possible drug compounds against FIP or their supplementary use with current medicines against this disease.

Background: A prototype robotic system that uses magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology is presented. It features three degrees of freedom (DOF) and is intended for thermal ablation of abdominal cancer.Methods: The device is equipped with three identical transducers being offset between them, thus focussing at different depths in tissue. The efficacy and safety of the system in ablating rabbit liver and kidney was assessed, both in laboratory and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conditions.Results: Despite these organs' challenging location, in situ coagulative necrosis of a tissue area was achieved. Heating of abdominal organs in rabbit was successfully monitored with MR thermometry.Conclusions: The MRgFUS system was proven successful in creating lesions in the abdominal area of rabbits. The outcomes of the study are promising for future translation of the technology to the clinic.

Background A Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) guided robotic device for focused ultrasound therapy of prostate cancer was developed. The device offers movement in 5 degrees of freedom (DOF) and uses a single element transducer that operates at 3.2 MHz, has a diameter of 25 mm and focuses at 45 mm. Methods The MRI compatibility of the system was evaluated in a 1.5 T scanner. The ability of the transducer to create lesions, was evaluated in laboratory and MRI settings, on ex vivo pork tissue and in vivo rabbit thigh tissue. Results Cavitational and thermal lesions were created on the excised pork tissue. In vivo experiments proved the efficacy of the system in ablating muscle tissue without damaging intervening areas. Conclusions The MRI compatible robotic system can be placed on the table of any commercial MRI scanner up to 7 T. The device has the ability of future use for transrectal focal therapy of prostate cancer with the patient in supine position.

Cellular therapies play an important role in tendon tissue engineering, with tenocytes being the most prominent and potent cell population available. However, for the development of a rich extracellular matrix tenocyte-assembled tendon equivalent, prolonged in vitro culture is required, which is associated with phenotypic drift. Recapitulation of tendon tissue microenvironment in vitro with cues that enhance and accelerate extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition, whilst maintaining tenocyte phenotype, may lead to functional cell therapies. Herein, we assessed the synergistic effect of low oxygen tension (enhances extracellular matrix synthesis) and macromolecular crowding (enhances extracellular matrix deposition) in human tenocyte culture. Protein analysis demonstrated that human tenocytes at 2% oxygen tension and with 50 μ g ml ⁻¹ carrageenan (macromolecular crowder used) significantly increased synthesis and deposition of collagen types I, III, V and VI. Gene analysis at day 7 illustrated that human tenocytes at 2% oxygen tension and with 50 μ g ml ⁻¹ carrageenan significantly increased the expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1, procollagen-lysine 2- oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 2, scleraxis, tenomodulin and elastin, whilst chondrogenic (e.g. runt-related transcription factor 2, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, aggrecan) and osteogenic (e.g. secreted phosphoprotein 1, bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein) trans-differentiation markers were significantly down-regulated or remained unchanged. Collectively, our data clearly illustrates the beneficial synergistic effect of low oxygen tension and macromolecular crowding in the accelerated development of tissue equivalents.

Doping in race horses affects thousands of equine athletes worldwide. Illicit administration of medical compounds aims to improve the horse’s performance either through altering the athletic capacity, or through covering the symptoms of pathologic conditions. Nicosia race track has a significant number of confirmed doping cases when considering the small equine population of the island, reflecting the lack of credibility of racing in Cyprus. The most frequently administered medications are anabolic steroids, human recombinant erythropoietin, stimulants, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, bronchodilators and coagulants. Interestingly, published literature on the effectiveness of these substances is inconclusive or contradictory. This article constitutes a cumulative presentation of confirmed doping cases in Nicosia race track and a brief review on the published literature regarding the effectiveness of the most commonly administered compounds.

Biomimetic tissue engineering aspires to develop bioinspired implantable devices that would positively interact with the host. Given that glycosaminoglycans are involved in many physiological processes, whereas their deprivation is associated with pathophysiologies, functionalization of implantable devices with natural and/or synthetic carbohydrate moieties is at the forefront of scientific research and industrial innovation. Herein, we venture to assess the influence of various concentrations (0.01%, 0.1%, 1%) of hyaluronic acid and Ficoll on the structural, thermal, biomechanical and biological (human osteoblasts) properties of electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) fibers. The addition of hyaluronic acid and Ficoll reduced the fiber diameter, with the 1% hyaluronic acid exhibiting the smallest fibers diameter (p < 0.001). Neither the addition of hyaluronic acid nor the addition Ficoll significantly affected the onset and peak temperatures (p > 0.05). All hyaluronic acid and Ficoll treatments significantly reduced stress at break, strain at break and elastic modulus values (p < 0.001). Hyaluronic acid and Ficoll did not affect osteoblast viability and metabolic activity temperatures (p > 0.05); the 1% hyaluronic acid and Ficoll significantly increased (p < 0.001) osteoblast proliferation at day 21. By day 21, the 1% hyaluronic acid and 1% Ficoll fibers showed the highest alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. At day 21, osteocalcin was not detected, whereas osteopontin was detected on all samples. Collectively, our data clearly illustrate the biological benefit of nonsulfated polysaccharides as functionalization molecules.