Characterisation of the Novel HLA-DQB1*06:469 Allele by Next-Generation Sequencing.

The novel HLA-DQB1*06:469 allele differs from HLA-DQB1*06:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 187 in exon 3.

Personalized medicine: An alternative for cancer treatment.

The incidence of cancer continues to increase worldwide, resulting in significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges for individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems. Cancer is projected to be responsible for approximately 10 million deaths in 2020, accounting for one in six deaths globally. Prostate, colon, lung, and breast cancers are the most common types of cancer.

Identification of the Novel HLA-DPB1*03:01:27 Allele by Next-Generation Sequencing.

The novel HLA-DPB1*03:01:27 allele differs from HLA-DPB1*03:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 199 exon 4.

Navigating the Roadblocks: Progress and Challenges in Cell-Based Therapies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Cell-based therapies represent a major advancement in the treatment and management of HIV/AIDS, with a goal to overcome the limitations of traditional antiretroviral therapy (ART). These innovative approaches not only promise a functional cure by reconstructing the immune landscape but also address the persistent viral reservoirs. For example, stem cell therapies have emerged from the foundational success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in curing HIV infection in a limited number of cases.

Engineering high affinity antigen-binders: Beyond conventional antibodies.

For decades, antibodies have remained the archetypal binding proteins that can be rapidly produced with high affinity and specificity against virtually any target. A conventional antibody is still considered the prototype of a binding molecule. It is therefore not surprising that antibodies are routinely used in basic scientific and biomedical research, analytical workflows, molecular diagnostics etc.

Immunotherapy guided precision medicine in solid tumors.

Cancer is no longer recognized as a single disease but a collection of diseases each with its defining characteristics and behavior. Even within the same cancer type, there can be substantial heterogeneity at the molecular level. Cancer cells often accumulate various genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations over time, leading to a coexistence of distinct subpopulations of cells within the tumor.

A journey from omics to clinicomics in solid cancers: Success stories and challenges.

The word 'cancer' encompasses a heterogenous group of distinct disease types characterized by a spectrum of pathological features, genetic alterations and response to therapies. According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for one in six deaths and hence imposes a significant burden on global healthcare systems. High-throughput omics technologies combined with advanced imaging tools, have revolutionized our ability to interrogate the molecular landscape of tumors and has provided unprecedented understanding of the disease.

Prediction of an immunogenic peptide ensemble and multi-subunit vaccine for Visceral leishmaniasis using bioinformatics approaches.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease of public health importance in the Indian subcontinent. Despite consistent elimination initiatives, the disease has not yet been eliminated and there is an increased risk of resurgence from active VL reservoirs including asymptomatic, post kala azar dermatitis leishmaniasis (PKDL) and HIV-VL co-infected individuals. To achieve complete elimination and sustain it in the long term, a prophylactic vaccine, which can elicit long lasting immunity, is desirable.

Genetic association of IL1B gene variants with primary glaucoma in a North Indian Punjabi cohort: An original study and meta-analysis.

Interleukin (IL) 1B is an important candidate gene in glaucoma pathogenesis as it affects the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In the present study, -511T/C and +3953C/T polymorphisms in the IL1B were assessed as genetic risk factors for primary open angle (POAG) and angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in a North Indian Punjabi cohort comprising 867 samples (POAG cases = 307; PACG cases = 133 and controls = 427). Genetic association, diplotype and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses were performed.

Recent advances in co-digestion conjugates for anaerobic digestion of food waste.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process that breaks down organic waste materials, such as food waste (FW) that produces biogas and digestate. The biogas can be utilized as biofuel, and digestate could be applied as fertilizer. However, AD of FW alone has limitations on optimal degradation, digester stability and biogas yield.

Discovery of DRP-104, a tumor-targeted metabolic inhibitor prodrug.

6-Diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) is a glutamine antagonist that suppresses cancer cell metabolism but concurrently enhances the metabolic fitness of tumor CD8 T cells. DON showed promising efficacy in clinical trials; however, its development was halted by dose-limiting gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities. Given its clinical potential, we designed DON peptide prodrugs and found DRP-104 [isopropyl()-2-(()-2-acetamido-3-(1-indol-3-yl)-propanamido)-6-diazo-5-oxo-hexanoate] that was preferentially bioactivated to DON in tumor while bioinactivated to an inert metabolite in GI tissues.

Interrogation of T Cell-Enriched Tumors Reveals Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Implications of Polyamine Metabolism.

Metabolic features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) antagonize anti-tumor immunity. We hypothesized that T cell infiltrated tumors with a known antigen should exhibit superior clinical outcomes, though some fare worse given unfavorable metabolic features leveraging T cell-infiltrated (Thi), human papillomavirus-related (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSC) to test this hypothesis. Expression of 2,520 metabolic genes were analyzed among Thi HPV+ HNSCs stratified by high-risk molecular subtype.

Therapeutic approaches for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-An update on clinical trials.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common non-skin cancer with a tobacco consumption and infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) being major risk factors. Despite advances in numerous therapy modalities, survival rates for HNSCC have not improved considerably; a vast number of clinical outcomes have demonstrated that a combination strategy (the most well-known docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) is the most effective treatment choice. Immunotherapy that targets immunological checkpoints is being tested in a number of clinical trials, either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or targeted therapeutic drugs.

A Dual-Channel PPG Readout System With Motion-Tolerant Adaptability for OLED-OPD Sensors.

An adaptive PPG (Photoplethysmography) readout system for a dual-channel OLED-OPD flexible sensor is designed and developed with motion artifact (<1Hz) and ambient lighting interference successfully compensated without any additional motion sensors. The compensation is made possible by adopting multi-feedbacks and an additional reference OPD channel to cancel effectively DC drifts. In result, the quality of measured PPG is improved to the level such that long-time, continuous quality monitoring of bio-sign such as heart rate (HR) is possible.

Use of Foley's catheter as a tourniquet for the management of vascular lesion of lip in Mowat-Wilson syndrome.

Background: Vascular malformation of lower lip is a very rare anomaly. The lesion leads to facial asymmetry, difficulty in speech and eating and drooling of saliva. Treatment goals include symmetrical reconstruction of the lip with minimal scarring, provide adequate bulk for the reconstruction of vermillion, in toto removal of the lesion and prevent recurrence.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 mediated neuroprotective effect of interleukin-6 on cobalt chloride mimetic hypoxic cell death in R28 cells.

Background: Hypoxic injury to retinal ganglionic cells and adjoining glia is implicated in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. The present study evaluates the effect of IL-6 on R28 retinal precursor cell line exposed to hypoxic injury.

Methods And Results: Apoptotic cell death induced by hypoxia mimetic CoCl in R28 cells with or without IL-6 treatment was measured using cell viability assays and apoptotic markers.

Association of TGFB -509C>T promoter polymorphism with primary angle closure glaucoma in a North Indian Punjabi cohort.

Purpose: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) is an important candidate gene implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis because it affects retinal ganglionic cell survival. The present study assessed the genetic association of -509C > T variant in the TGFB promoter region with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in a North Indian Punjabi population.

Method: A total of 867 subjects (307 POAG, 133 PACG cases and 427 controls) were recruited from the targeted population.

IL-10 and TGF-β Induced Arginase Expression Contributes to Deficient Nitric Oxide Response in Human Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an anti-microbial effector of the innate immune system which plays major role in non-specific killing of various pathogens including protozoan parasites. However, due to subversion of the host's immune processes by pathogens, suboptimal production of NO is frequently found in many infection models. Previous studies have shown suppressed NO production during infection, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

Neutrophils and Visceral Leishmaniasis: Impact on innate immune response and cross-talks with macrophages and dendritic cells.

Neutrophils with their array of microbicidal activities are the first innate immune cells to guard against infection. They are also most crucial for the host's initial defense against Leishmania parasites which cause clinically diverse diseases ranging from self-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) to a more severe visceral form, visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Neutrophils are recruited in large numbers at the infection site after bite of sandfly, which is the vector for the disease.

External temperature sensor assisted a new low power photoplethysmography readout system for accurate measurement of the bio-signs.

This study presents an external temperature sensor assisted a new low power, time-interleave, wide dynamic range, and low DC drift photoplethysmography (PPG) signal acquisition system to obtain the accurate measurement of various bio signs in real-time. The designed chip incorporates a 2-bit control programmable transimpedance amplifier (TIA), a high order filter, a 3:8 programmable gain amplifier (PGA) and 2 × 2 organic light-emitting diode (OLED) driver. Temperature sensor is used herein to compensate the adverse effect of low-skin-temperature on the PPG signal quality.

A Comparative Study Between Concentric Single-Needle Puncture Technique and Conventional 2-Needle Technique for Temporomandibular Joint Arthrocentesis Plus Corticosteroid Injections.

The purpose of the study was to compare 2 techniques of arthrocentesis, to find out the efficacy of one over the other at various parameters, and to contribute to the scarce literature of these 2 techniques. Forty patients reported with a chief complaint of pain in temporomandibular joint (TMJ), clicking in TMJ, and restricted mouth opening were included in this study. Twenty patients were divided into 2 groups, all reporting with temporomandibular disorders.

Cementoblastoma associated with the primary second molar: An unusual case report.

Cementoblastoma is a rare benign odontogenic neoplasm of jaws mostly occurring in younger age group. Here, we present a case of swelling associated with deciduous second molar. Based on the clinical and radiographic features, a provisional diagnosis of cementoblastoma was made.

JunB defines functional and structural integrity of the epidermo-pilosebaceous unit in the skin.

Transcription factors ensure skin homeostasis via tight regulation of distinct resident stem cells. Here we report that JunB, a member of the AP-1 transcription factor family, regulates epidermal stem cells and sebaceous glands through balancing proliferation and differentiation of progenitors and by suppressing lineage infidelity. JunB deficiency in basal progenitors results in a dermatitis-like syndrome resembling seborrheic dermatitis harboring structurally and functionally impaired sebaceous glands with a globally altered lipid profile.