High frequency of memory stem cells with a distinct gene signature in HIV patients with treatment interruption.

Reservoirs of HIV remain a major obstacle to the complete eradication of virus despite regular anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Memory stem cells (Tscm), one of the major reservoirs, are relatively less studied owing to their presence in lower numbers and inaccessible anatomical locations. We have evaluated the molecular characteristics of Tscms in patients with ART interruption (n = 15) versus patients on uninterrupted ART (n = 12) using flow cytometry.

Association of serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) with orocecal transit time in irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a multifactorial disorder with altered intestinal motility, secretion, and sensation. Serotonin (5-HT) stimulates gut motility and alters serotonin signaling that may lead to both intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in IBS.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the association of serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in IBS with orocecal transit time (OCTT) measured by lactulose hydrogen breath test.

[Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT imaging for in vivo CXCR4 receptor mapping in different lung cancer histologic sub-types: correlation with quantitative receptors' density by immunochemistry techniques.

Purpose: In vivo CXCR4 receptor quantification in different lung cancer (LC) sub-types using [Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and to study correlation with quantitative CXCR4 receptors' tissue density by immunochemistry analyses.

Methods: [Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT imaging was performed prospectively in 94 (77 M: 17F, mean age 60.1 ± 10.

Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT Demonstrating In Vivo CXCR4 Receptor Overexpression in Rare Lung Malignancies: Correlation with Histologic and Histochemical Findings.

Ga-pentixafor PET/CT imaging allows noninvasive assessment of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression in various malignancies, but its use in rare lung cancer variants has not been reported. Ga-pentixafor PET/CT imaging was performed on 6 patients (3 men, 3 women; mean age, 57.0 ± 16.

Evaluation of breast cancer stem cells in human primary breast carcinoma and their role in aggressive behavior of the disease.

Background And Aim: To delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the intratumoral enrichment of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in aggressive breast tumors, we evaluated the frequency and characteristics of BCSCs within the tumor tissue in primary human breast carcinomas. We assessed the expression profiles of various genes in cancer cells (CC) and stromal cells (SC) from these tumors to delineate the role played by the cellular niche in de novo origin or expansion of intra-tumoral cancer stem cells (CSC).

Method: The study included primary tumor and adjacent normal breast tissue specimens from chemotherapy-naïve breast carcinoma patients.

A T-Cell Epitope-Based Multi-Epitope Vaccine Designed Using Human HLA Specific T Cell Epitopes Induces a Near-Sterile Immunity against Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis in Hamsters.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting 12 million people annually. Even in the second decade of the 21st century, it has remained without an effective vaccine for human use. In the current study, we designed three multiepitope vaccine candidates by the selection of multiple IFN-γ inducing MHC-I and MHC-II binder T-cell specific epitopes from three previously identified antigen genes of from our lab by an immuno-informatic approach using IFNepitope, the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) T cell epitope identification tools, NET-MHC-1, and NET MHC-2 webservers.

Giant gauge factor of Van der Waals material based strain sensors.

There is an emergent demand for high-flexibility, high-sensitivity and low-power strain gauges capable of sensing small deformations and vibrations in extreme conditions. Enhancing the gauge factor remains one of the greatest challenges for strain sensors. This is typically limited to below 300 and set when the sensor is fabricated.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells induce tissue repair and regeneration in collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Unlabelled: The immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have prompted their therapeutic application in several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MSCs derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue has earlier been tried with limited success. However, Wharton's jelly present in human umbilical cord is discarded after delivery which makes a rich source of MSCs with least ethical issues.

and evaluation of clastogenicity of second-line antitubercular drug loaded PLGA nanoparticles.

Sustained release nanoformulations of second line antitubercular drugs levofloxacin and ethionamide had shown promise in pharmacokinetics and acute and sub-acute toxicity studies. The present study evaluated the clastogenicity potential of the nanoformulations of these antitubercular agents. Clastogenicity was evaluated by (a) in vitro micronucleus assay (b) in vivo micronucleus assay in Swiss albino mice and (c) sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in CHO cell lines.

Short Communication: Acquisition of Additional Nuclear Factor Kappa B Binding Sites in Long Terminal Repeat of Genetically Evolving HIV-1 Subtype C Viral Species in Host with Comorbidities.

HIV-1 causes millions of deaths around the world. Higher disease progression and mortality are seen in HIV positive individuals with comorbidities. Two of the most pertinent conditions are coinfection with and Intravenous Drug abuse.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Subtype-C Genetically Diversify to Acquire Higher Replication Competence in Human Host with Comorbidities.

Unusual disease progression is observed in the HIV-1 infected patients who are either coinfected with (Mtb) or concomitantly on intravenous drug use (IDU). The mechanism involved in the breakdown of host immune defense and the synergistic effect in both the conditions are still not well understood. In this study, we aimed to highlight the emergence of genetically diversified variants of virus in these two cohorts among HIV-1 subtype-C infected population from a Northern state of India.

Immunological markers for identifying recent HIV infection in North-West India.

Background & Objectives: Being more efficient and widely used, limiting antigen (LAg)-avidity enzyme immunoassay (EIA) based on the recent infection testing algorithm (RITA) has been developed for differentiating recent and established HIV-1 infection. So far, LAg-avidity EIA has not been validated among the Indian population. Hence, the present study was planned to identify recent HIV infections in high risk patients in the North-West region of India using modified LAg-avidity RITA.

Neutrophil dysfunction predicts 90-day survival in patients with acute on chronic liver failure: A longitudinal case-control study.

Background And Aim: Innate immune disarray is a key component in the development and progression of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) and predisposition to infections. We evaluated the neutrophil dysfunction and its impact on outcomes in patients with ACLF.

Methods: Forty patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis (10 each of grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 ACLF) and 10 healthy controls were prospectively evaluated for neutrophil immunophenotype (NP), neutrophil phagocytic capacity (NPC), and oxidative burst (OB) in both resting and stimulated conditions.

Prognostic role of immune cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with rising incidence rates, is the most commonly occurring malignancy of the liver that exerts a heavy disease burden particularly in developing countries. A dynamic cross-talk between immune cells and malignant cells in tumor microenvironment governs the hepatocarcinogenesis. Monitoring immune contexture as prognostic markers is quite relevant and essential to evaluate clinical outcomes and to envisage response to therapy.

Natural history and profile of selective cytokines in patients of acute pancreatitis with acute kidney injury.

Objectives: To study the natural course of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) with acute kidney injury (AKI) and their cytokine profile.

Methods: Natural course of patients with AP and AKI was studied in 97 individuals. Levels of TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8 and IL-1β were measured at presentation and at 72 h in patients who developed AKI.

Signature genes associated with immunological non-responsiveness to anti-retroviral therapy in HIV-1 subtype-c infection.

Objective: HIV-infected individuals undergoing therapy may show an immunological-discordant response to therapy, with poor CD4+ T cells recovery, despite viral suppression below the detection limit. The present study was carried out to delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms of immunological non-responsiveness to HIV therapy.

Design: We conducted microarray-based whole gene expression profiles of 30 subjects infected with HIV-1 subtype C, in peripheral blood to discern the signature genes associated with immunological non-responsiveness.

A juggernaut of innate & adaptive immune cells in chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, the causal organism for chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis leads to inflammation of liver, causing cirrhosis, fibrosis and steatosis, which may ultimately lead to liver cancer in a few cases. Innate and adaptive immune responses play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCV infection, thus acting as an important component in deciding the fate of the disease.

Electrical Contact Barriers between a Three-Dimensional Metal and Layered SnS.

Field-effect transistors derived from traditional 3D semiconductors are rapidly approaching their fundamental limits. Layered semiconducting materials have emerged as promising candidates to replace restrictive 3D semiconductor materials. However, contacts between metals and layered materials deviate from Schottky-Mott behavior when determined by transport methods, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements suggest that the contacts should be at the Schottky limit.

Sub-millimeter size high mobility single crystal MoSe monolayers synthesized by NaCl-assisted chemical vapor deposition.

Monolayer MoSe is a transition metal dichalcogenide with a narrow bandgap, high optical absorbance and large spin-splitting energy, giving it great promise for applications in the field of optoelectronics. Producing monolayer MoSe films in a reliable and scalable manner is still a challenging task as conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or exfoliation based techniques are limited due to the small domains/nanosheet sizes obtained. Here, based on NaCl assisted CVD, we demonstrate the simple and stable synthesis of sub-millimeter size single-crystal MoSe monolayers with mobilities ranging from 38 to 8 cm V s.

High Selectivity Gas Sensing and Charge Transfer of SnSe.

SnSe is an anisotropic binary-layered material with rich physics, which could see it used for a variety of potential applications. Here, we investigate the gas-sensing properties of SnSe using first-principles calculations and verify predictions using a gas sensor made of few-layer SnSe grown by chemical vapor deposition. Theoretical simulations indicate that electrons transfer from SnSe to NO, whereas the direction of charge transfer is the opposite for NH.

Change in serum levels of inflammatory markers reflects response of percutaneous catheter drainage in symptomatic fluid collections in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Background: Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) is used as the first step in the management of symptomatic fluid collections in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). There are limited data on the effect of PCD on inflammatory markers.

Aim: To study the effects of PCD on serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, and IL-10 and its correlation with the outcome.

Monocyte human leukocyte antigen - Antigen D related, neutrophil oxidative burst and cytokine analysis in patients of decompensated cirrhosis with and without acute-on chronic liver failure.

Background And Aim: Due to a dysregulated immune response, patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) have increased risk of infection and multi organ failure in comparison to compensated cirrhosis. The comparative data on the presence of 'immune paresis' in patients with ACLF and decompensated cirrhosis without ACLF is not available. Aim of the present study was to compare the immunological parameters in patients with decompensated cirrhosis with and without ACLF.