Exposure cell number during feeder cell growth-arrest by Mitomycin C is a critical pharmacological aspect in stem cell culture system.

Introduction: Growth-arrested feeder cells following Mitomycin C treatment are instrumental in stem cell culture allowing development of regenerative strategies and alternatives to animal testing in drug discovery. The concentration of Mitomycin C and feeder cell type was described to affect feeder performance but the criticality of feeder cell exposure density was not addressed. We hypothesize that the exposure cell density influences the effectiveness of Mitomycin C in an arithmetic manner.

Leprosy Reactions Show Increased Th17 Cell Activity and Reduced FOXP3+ Tregs with Concomitant Decrease in TGF-β and Increase in IL-6.

Background: 50% of leprosy patients suffer from episodes of Type 1/ reversal reactions (RR) and Type 2/ Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) reactions which lead to morbidity and nerve damage. CD4+ subsets of Th17 cells and CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to play a major role in disease associated immunopathology and in stable leprosy as reported by us and others. The aim of our study was to analyze their role in leprosy reactions.

Expression of prostaglandin receptors in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected recurrent spontaneous aborters.

A study was undertaken to quantify the expression of prostaglandin (PG) receptors and find the effect of gestational age on expression of PG receptor genes in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected recurrent spontaneous aborters (RSA). Endometrial curettage tissue (ECT) was collected from 130 RSA (Group I) and 100 age-matched controls (Group II) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi (India). PCR was performed for diagnosis of C.

Probing binding mechanism of interleukin-6 and olokizumab: in silico design of potential lead antibodies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Computer-aided antibody engineering has been successful in the design of new biologics for disease diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a well-recognized drug target for various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis, was investigated in silico to design potential lead antibodies. Here, crystal structure of IL-6 along with monoclonal antibody olokizumab was explored to predict antigen-antibody (Ag - Ab)-interacting residues using DiscoTope, Paratome, and PyMOL.

Evaluation of cellular immunological responses in mono- and polymorphic clinical forms of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in India.

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a chronic dermal complication that occurs usually after recovery from visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The disease manifests into macular, papular and/or nodular clinical types with mono- or polymorphic presentations. Here, we investigated differences in immunological response between these two distinct clinical forms in Indian PKDL patients.

Clinical manifestations and molecular mechanisms in the changing paradigm of vivax malaria in India.

Background: Plasmodium vivax once considered benign is now being increasingly associated with complicated malaria where the spectrum of complications is vast and like Plasmodium falciparum. The clinical data is important with respect to the immunopathological status of the patient. Several genes like the vir genes and pvcrt-o are speculated to be attributing to the severity of P.

Is CXCL10/CXCR3 axis overexpression a better indicator of leprosy type 1 reaction than inducible nitric oxide synthase?

Background & Objectives: Leprosy type 1 reactions (T1R) are acute episodes of immune exacerbation that are a major cause of inflammation and nerve damage. T1R are diagnosed clinically and supported by histopathology. No laboratory marker is currently available that can accurately predict a T1R.

Clinico-epidemiological analysis of Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases in India over last two decades: a hospital based retrospective study.

Background: Patients with Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) are considered a reservoir of Leishmania donovani. It is imperative to identify and treat them early for control of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a current priority in the Indian subcontinent. We explored trends in clinico-epidemiological features of PKDL cases over last two decades, for improving management of the disease.

Esophageal Cancer Epigenomics and Integrome Analysis of Genome-Wide Methylation and Expression in High Risk Northeast Indian Population.

Esophageal cancer is a major global health burden with a strong host-environment interaction component and epigenomics underpinnings that remain to be elucidated further. Certain populations such as the Northeast Indians suffer at a disproportionately higher rate from this devastating disease. Promoter methylation is correlated with transcriptional silencing of various genes in esophageal cancer.

Decline in Clinical Efficacy of Oral Miltefosine in Treatment of Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) in India.

Background: Recent studies have shown significant decline in the final cure rate after miltefosine treatment in visceral leishmaniasis. This study evaluates the efficacy of miltefosine in the treatment of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients recruited over a period of 5 years with 18 months of follow-up.

Methodology: In this study 86 confirmed cases of PKDL were treated with two different dosage regimens of miltefosine (Regimen I- 50mg twice daily for 90 days and Regimen II- 50 mg thrice for 60 days) and the clinical outcome assessed monthly.

Do IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis have protective role in humoral immunity: a study in reactive arthritis patients.

Chlamydia trachomatis-induced genitourinary Reactive Arthritis (ReA) can serve as good model for host-pathogen interaction. However, due to poor antigen presentation, cell-mediated immunity does not contribute as anticipated. Present study aims to evaluate protective role of anti-C.

Leishmania donovani-specific Ub-related modifier-1: an early endosome-associated ubiquitin-like conjugation in Leishmania donovani.

Protein modification by ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like molecules (Ubls) is a diverse biological process that regulates the activity of the target proteins. Systematic studies of Ubls in trypanosomatids like Leishmania, the causative organism of potentially fatal visceral leishmaniasis, would yield a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic targets. The present study is the first to characterize Leishmania donovani-specific Ub-related modifier-1 (LdUrm1) and the associated conjugation pathway.

An evaluation of the choice of feeder cell growth arrest for the production of cultured epidermis.

Growth arrested 3T3 cells have been used as feeder cells in human epidermal keratinocyte cultures to produce cultured epidermal autografts for the treatment of burns. The feeder cells were ideally growth-arrested by gamma-irradiation. Alternatively, growth arrest by mitomycin C treatment is a cost effective option.

Cutaneous and bone metastasis of follicular thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is the second most common type of thyroid cancer after papillary carcinoma. Based on the extent of invasion, it has been classified into minimally and widely invasive subtypes. The minimally invasive type usually grows slowly and is clinically indolent but in rare cases has an aggressive behavior with distant metastases.

Correlation of p53 immunoexpression with DNA ploidy and apoptotic index in subsets of prostate cancer: A marker reiterated in progression and recurrence of prostate cancer.

Background: Prediction of biological behavior in patients of prostate cancer (CaP) is a major challenge as current parameters only partially meet the need for prognostication. p53 as a prognostic indicator has been studied in several human cancers, including breast, lung, and colorectal carcinoma. However, its significance as a predictive biomarker for CaP is less well-studied.

Does aberrant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin-E2 receptor genes lead to abortion in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected women.

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) genes in spontaneously aborted tissues from women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Methods: A total of 135 spontaneous aborters (Group I) and 45 induced aborters (controls; Group II) attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Safdarjung hospital (New Delhi, India), were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed to detect C.

Occurrence and control of sporadic proliferation in growth arrested Swiss 3T3 feeder cells.

Growth arrested Swiss mouse embryonic 3T3 cells are used as feeders to support the growth of epidermal keratinocytes and several other target cells. The 3T3 cells have been extensively subcultured owing to their popularity and wide distribution in the world and, as a consequence selective inclusion of variants is a strong possibility in them. Inadvertently selected variants expressing innate resistance to mitomycin C may continue to proliferate even after treatment with such growth arresting agents.

Epidemiology of prostate cancer in India.

Data from national cancer registries shows that incidence of certain cancers are on rise in India. The cancers which are showing significant increase in incidence rates include prostate, mouth and kidney among male population, corpus uteri, breast and thyroid among female population and lung cancer in both male and female populations. In the present review article we have focused on epidemiology of prostate cancer in Indian subcontinent in terms of incidence, survival, and mortality etc.

Histopathological characteristics of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis: a series of 88 patients.

Background: Post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a sequel to visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar seen predominantly in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Histopathological descriptions of the condition are limited.

Methods: Biopsies of 88 skin and 16 mucosal lesions were evaluated for histopathological findings on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

Role of CD8(+) T cells in protection against Leishmania donovani infection in healed Visceral Leishmaniasis individuals.

Background: Majority of individuals with history of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) exhibit strong immunity to re-infection, however, the mechanism of resistance is poorly understood. It is unclear whether CD8(+) T cells contribute to protection against Leishmania donovani infection through cytotoxic activity. The present study aims to evaluate immunological mechanism associated with resistance to the disease in healed VL (HVL) individuals and further, the contribution of CD8(+) T cells in the protective immunity.

Immunology of leprosy and diagnostic challenges.

Leprosy, caused by noncultivable Mycobacterium leprae (ML), has varied manifestations, which are associated with the host immune responses. The dermal involvement is accompanied by peripheral nerve damage, which leads to sensory motor loss and deformities. Both innate and acquired immune responses are involved.

Copy number polymorphism of glutathione-S-transferase genes (GSTM1 & GSTT1) in susceptibility to lung cancer in a high-risk population from north-east India.

Background & Objectives: Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione-S-transferase genes ( GSTM1 and GSTT1 ) have been studied intensively for their potential role in lung cancer susceptibility. However, most of the studies on association between the polymorphisms and lung cancer do not distinguish between genotypes with one or two copies of the genes. The present study investigates the gene dosage effects of GSTT1 and GSTM1 copy number and their environmental interactions to examine the association of lung cancer risk with trimodular genotypes of the GSTs in a high-risk population from north-east India.

Generation of growth arrested Leishmania amastigotes: a tool to develop live attenuated vaccine candidates against visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is fatal if not treated and is prevalent widely in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of world. VL is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani or Leishmania infantum. Although several second generation vaccines have been licensed to protect dogs against VL, there are no effective vaccines against human VL [1].