Adjunctive immunotherapy with α-crystallin based DNA vaccination reduces Tuberculosis chemotherapy period in chronically infected mice.

By employing modified Cornell model, we have evaluated the potential of adjunctive immunotherapy with DNA vaccines to shorten the tuberculosis chemotherapy period and reduce disease reactivation. We demonstrate that α-crystallin based DNA vaccine (DNAacr) significantly reduced the chemotherapy period from 12 weeks to 8 weeks when compared with the chemotherapy alone. Immunotherapy with SodA based DNA vaccine (DNAsod) reduced the pulmonary bacilli only as much as DNAvec.

Multicenter study of banked third-party virus-specific T cells to treat severe viral infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Virus-specific T cell (VST) lines could provide useful antiviral prophylaxis and treatment of immune-deficient patients if it were possible to avoid the necessity of generating a separate line for each patient, often on an emergency basis. We prepared a bank of 32 virus-specific lines from individuals with common HLA polymorphisms who were immune to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, or adenovirus. A total of 18 lines were administered to 50 patients with severe, refractory illness because of infection with one of these viruses after hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Busulfan dose intensity and outcomes in reduced-intensity allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia.

Comparisons of myeloablative conditioning versus reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) have demonstrated a tradeoff between relapse and toxicity. Dose intensity across RIC regimens vary and may affect treatment outcomes. In this retrospective analysis, we investigated the effect of i.

A β-glucan from the alkaline extract of a somatic hybrid (PfloVv5FB) of Pleurotus florida and Volvariella volvacea: structural characterization and study of immunoactivation.

A water soluble polysaccharide isolated from the alkaline extract of the somatic hybrid mushroom (PfloVv5FB), obtained through protoplast fusion between Pleurotus florida and Volvariella volvacea strains was found to contain d-glucose only. Structural investigation was carried out using acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis; periodate oxidation, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT-135, TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, and HMBC). On the basis of the above mentioned experiments the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established as: This polysaccharide exhibited strong immunoactivation of macrophages, splenocytes as well as thymocytes.

A heteroglycan from the mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus: structure determination and study of antioxidant properties.

A heteroglycan (PS) isolated from the mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus was found to consist of l-fucose, d-mannose, and d-glucose in a molar ratio of nearly 1:2:3. On the basis of acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR studies (1H, 13C, TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC, and DEPT), the structure of the repeating unit of the PS was determined. The repeating unit had a branched backbone composed of (1→6)-linked α and βd-glucose and (1→2)-linked α-l-fucose.

Mechanistic studies of lifestyle interventions in type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To investigate the effect of lifestyle interventions in the non-pharmacological management of type 2 diabetes via a mechanistic approach.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out on 60 type 2 diabetic male and female volunteers that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with their proper consent and permission of the International Electrotechnical Commission for 1 year. 30 patients were included in the test group and 30 patients in the control group.

Perspectives for Developing New Tuberculosis Vaccines Derived from the Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis: I. Basic Principles, II. Preclinical Testing, and III. Clinical Testing.

Part I. Basic Principles. TB vaccines cannot prevent establishment of the infection.

Non-micro-short RNAs: the new kids on the block.

The advent of ultra-high-throughput sequencing has led to the discovery of a large group of small, noncoding RNAs that are not microRNAs. The functional relevance of microRNAs has been well established over the last decade. In this Perspective, we focus on the non-micro-short RNAs that comprise a variety of functional classes and range from 16-40 nucleotides in size.

Healing of apical rarefaction of three nonvital open apex anterior teeth using a white portland cement apical plug.

The major challenge of performing root canal treatment in an open apex pulp-less tooth is to obtain a good apical seal. MTA has been successfully used to achieve a good apical seal, wherein the root canal obturation can be done immediately. MTA and White Portland Cement has been shown similarity in their physical, chemical and biological properties and has also shown similar outcome when used in animal studies and human trials.

The C. elegans rab family: identification, classification and toolkit construction.

Rab monomeric GTPases regulate specific aspects of vesicle transport in eukaryotes including coat recruitment, uncoating, fission, motility, target selection and fusion. Moreover, individual Rab proteins function at specific sites within the cell, for example the ER, golgi and early endosome. Importantly, the localization and function of individual Rab subfamily members are often conserved underscoring the significant contributions that model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans can make towards a better understanding of human disease caused by Rab and vesicle trafficking malfunction.

Structure and immunology of a heteroglycan from somatic hybrid mushroom of Pleurotus florida and Calocybe indica var. APK2.

A water soluble polysaccharide was isolated from the aqueous extract of the fruit bodies of somatic hybrid mushroom PCH3FB, obtained through protoplast fusion between the strains Pleurotus florida and Calocybe indica var. APK2. On the basis of sugar analysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT-135, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC and HMBC), the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established as: [formula, see text] This molecule showed macrophage, splenocyte and thymocyte activations.

Notch3 and Mef2c proteins are mutually antagonistic via Mkp1 protein and miR-1/206 microRNAs in differentiating myoblasts.

Background: Notch3 is expressed in myogenic precursors, but its function is not well known.

Results: Notch3 represses the activity of Mef2c and is in turn inhibited by the microRNAs-1 and -206.

Conclusion: Notch3 serves as a regulator for preventing premature myogenic differentiation.

Expression of α4β7 integrin on memory CD8(+) T cells at the presentation of acute intestinal GVHD.

Acute intestinal GVHD remains a major source of morbidity after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). α4β7 integrin is a cell surface molecule that mediates lymphocyte trafficking to intestinal tissue. In this analysis, peripheral blood was collected at the time of presentation of symptoms of acute GVHD and before any treatment.

Development of the first oligonucleotide microarray for global gene expression profiling in guinea pigs: defining the transcription signature of infectious diseases.

Background: The Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is one of the most extensively used animal models to study infectious diseases. However, despite its tremendous contribution towards understanding the establishment, progression and control of a number of diseases in general and tuberculosis in particular, the lack of fully annotated guinea pig genome sequence as well as appropriate molecular reagents has severely hampered detailed genetic and immunological analysis in this animal model.

Results: By employing the cross-species hybridization technique, we have developed an oligonucleotide microarray with 44,000 features assembled from different mammalian species, which to the best of our knowledge is the first attempt to employ microarray to study the global gene expression profile in guinea pigs.

miR-26a is required for skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration in mice.

Multiple microRNAs are known to be induced during the differentiation of myoblasts to myotubes. Yet, experiments in animals have not provided clear evidence for the requirement of most of these microRNAs in myogenic differentiation in vivo. miR-26a is induced during skeletal muscle differentiation and is predicted to target a well-known inhibitor of differentiation, the transforming growth factor β/bone morphogenetic protein (TGF-β/BMP) signaling pathway.

Benzyl 3-[(E)-(furan-2-yl)methyl-idene]-2-methyldithio-carbazate.

In the title compound, C(14)H(14)N(2)OS(2), the furan ring exhibits rotational disorder over two orientations, with an occupancy ratio of 0.508 (7):0.492 (7).

The expanding frontier of hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Over the past several decades there has been a tremendous expansion of the indications for hematopoietic cell transplantation. This growth has been possible because of advances in supportive care, more effective graft versus host disease prophylaxis and the advent of reduced intensity conditioning regimens which have greatly reduced transplant related morbidity and allowed for the transplantation of older patients and patients with significant co-morbid disease. The role of flow cytometry in transplantation is crucial to both clinical care, for accuracy of diagnosis and monitoring of disease, and research.

Phase II trial of parathyroid hormone after double umbilical cord blood transplantation.

Transplantation of 1 or 2 umbilical cord blood products is a useful alternative stem cell source. However, the limited number of stem cells in each infusion results in slow engraftment. In mouse models, administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an effective way to enhance the ability of limited numbers of hematopoietic stem cells to support hematopoiesis.

Bis(2,S-dimethyl-dithio-carbazate-κ(2)N(3),S)(nitrato-κO)copper(II) nitrate.

The title complex, [Cu(NO(3))(C(3)H(8)N(2)S(2))(2)]NO(3), represents a low-symmetry polymorph (P-1, Z = 4) of a previously reported form [P-1, Z = 2; Ali et al. (2011 ▶). Polyhedron, 30, 542-548].

Human papillomavirus 16 L1-E7 chimeric virus like particles show prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in murine model of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is found to be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with HPV16 being the most prevalent. An effective vaccine against HPV can thus, be instrumental in controlling cervical cancer. An ideal HPV vaccine should aim to generate both humoral immune response to prevent new infection as well as cell-mediated immunity to eliminate established infection.

Chitosan microspheres in novel drug delivery systems.

The main aim in the drug therapy of any disease is to attain the desired therapeutic concentration of the drug in plasma or at the site of action and maintain it for the entire duration of treatment. A drug on being used in conventional dosage forms leads to unavoidable fluctuations in the drug concentration leading to under medication or overmedication and increased frequency of dose administration as well as poor patient compliance. To minimize drug degradation and loss, to prevent harmful side effects and to increase drug bioavailability various drug delivery and drug targeting systems are currently under development.

Benzyl 2-methyl-3-[(E)-(thio-phen-2-yl)methyl-idene]dithio-carbazate.

In the title compound, C(14)H(14)N(2)S(3), the thione S atom and methyl group are syn, as are the two thio-ether S atoms. The mol-ecule is twisted, the dihedral angles between the central (C(2)N(2)S(2)) residue and the pendent 2-thienyl and phenyl rings being 21.57 (6) and 77.

The conceptions of hearing impairment, causes and its management: a train survey.

Objective: To identify the perception of the train passengers about the cause and the management of hearing loss.

Methodology: A total of 115 passengers, 90 males and 25 females, in the age range of 13-80 years (mean: 39.19, standard deviation: 15.

Heteroglycan from an alkaline extract of a somatic hybrid mushroom (PfloVv1aFB) of Pleurotus florida and Volvariella volvacea: structural characterization and study of immunoenhancing properties.

A water soluble heteroglycan, isolated from the alkaline extract of the fruit bodies of the somatic hybrid mushroom (PfloVv1aFB), raised through protoplast fusion between the strains of Pleorutus florida and Volverilla volvacea, was found to consist of (1→3)-, (1→6)-, (1→3,4)-linked, and terminal β-D-Glcp along with (1→2,6)-α-D-Galp and terminal α-D-Manp in a relative proportion of approximately 1:1:1:1:1:1. This polysaccharide exhibited strong immunostimulating activity of macrophages as well as splenocytes and thymocytes. Structural investigation was carried out using sugar analysis, methylation analysis; periodate oxidation study, and NMR experiments ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT-135, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC).