Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Infection Among Blood Donors in a Tribal-Preponderant State of India: A Seven-Year Retrospective Observational Study.

Background Blood transfusion is an essential and lifesaving procedure for many acute and chronic diseases. Though saving millions of lives, it carries the risk of transfusion of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), including hepatitis B. Detection of this infection prior to transfusion saves potentially vulnerable patients from an additional burden and prevents the further spread of disease. Aim and objectives Our present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Jharkhand, a tribal-preponderant state of India. Materials and methods After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee, a retrospective observational study was conducted among the eligible blood donors visiting RIMS from April 2016 to March 2023. A total of 195,507 subjects were included in the study. All blood donation samples collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) vials were tested for five TTIs: human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2, HBV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), malaria and syphilis. HBV testing was conducted via chemiluminescence technique to check f or the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in plasma. Results Among the study sample of 195,507 donors, the prevalence of HBsAg positivity was 0.87%. Among all the TTIs, more than 50% (51.93%) were HBsAg positive. The positivity percentage was higher in male donors and HBsAg positivity rose with an increase in replacement donors. Conclusions HBV is a major health concern in developing countries such as India due to its high endemicity. Therefore, early detection of HBV carriers in the blood donor population helps in curbing the spread of further infection and it also helps policymakers to develop different health programs to reduce further incidence of the infection in the general population.

TTI-101 targets STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathway to suppress cervical cancer progression: an integrated experimental and computational analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is a significant global health concern, demanding the consideration of novel therapeutic strategies. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway has been implicated in cancer progression and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of TTI-101, a small molecule STAT3 inhibitor, in CC and investigate its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Molecular docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the binding interaction between TTI-101 and STAT3 and assess the stability of the STAT3-TTI-101 complex. Cell viability assays, wound healing assays, colony formation assays, flow cytometry analysis, and gene expression analysis were conducted. In vivo xenograft models were used to assess the antitumor efficacy of TTI-101. RESULTS: The in silico analysis shows a stable binding interaction between TTI-101 and STAT3. TTI-101 treatment inhibits cell viability, clonogenic ability, and cell migration in CC cells. Furthermore, TTI-101 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Analysis of apoptosis-related markers demonstrated dysregulation of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 upon TTI-101 treatment. Moreover, TTI-101 caused G2/M phase arrest accompanied by a decrease in CDK1 and Cyclin B1 at mRNA levels. In the xenograft model, TTI-101 significantly inhibited tumor growth without adverse effects on body weight. CONCLUSION: TTI-101 exhibited anticancer effects by targeting the STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathway, inducing cell cycle arrest, and promoting apoptosis in CC cells. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies for cervical cancer. Further investigation is warranted to validate the clinical application of TTI-101.

Serological markers of transfusion transmissible infections and ABO blood groups in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) across diverse donor groups in the Najran province. Additionally, to establish a potential association between the development of TTI and the donors' blood group, as determined by the ABO/Rh blood grouping system. METHODS: Blood donation data of 4120 donors, spanning from January to December 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. The blood were screened for TTI markers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2 (anti-HIV1&2), anti-human T-lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (anti-HTLV-1&2), and syphilis antigen. RESULTS: Positive TTI markers were detected in 10.9% of the donors. The most detected TTI marker was anti-HBc (8.9%), followed by HBsAg (0.7%). Other markers were individually detected in <1% of the donors. Anti-HBc-positive was significantly elevated among non-Saudi blood donors. There was an association between age groups and anti-HCV (p=0.002), anti-HTLV (p=0.004) and syphilis antigen (p=0.02) markers positivity. The AB positive blood group exhibited the most positivity for TTI markers, followed by O positive blood group. Similarly, association was found between ABO group and HBsAg (p=0.01), anti-HBc (p=0.001), and anti-HCV (p<0.001) markers positivity. CONCLUSION: Emphasis on implementing robust screening measures for donated blood is underscored by this study. There is the need for future study to extensively evaluate TTI status to enhance our understanding of the trend in TTI.

Emerging Concepts of Mechanisms Controlling Cardiac Tension: Focus on Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and Sarcomere-Directed Therapies.

Novel therapies for the treatment of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are lacking. Shaping research directions to clinical needs is critical. Triggers for the progression of the disorder commonly occur due to specific gene variants that affect the production of sarcomeric/cytoskeletal proteins. Generally, these variants cause a decrease in tension by the myofilaments, resulting in signaling abnormalities within the micro-environment, which over time result in structural and functional maladaptations, leading to heart failure (HF). Current concepts support the hypothesis that the mutant sarcomere proteins induce a causal depression in the tension-time integral (TTI) of linear preparations of cardiac muscle. However, molecular mechanisms underlying tension generation particularly concerning mutant proteins and their impact on sarcomere molecular signaling are currently controversial. Thus, there is a need for clarification as to how mutant proteins affect sarcomere molecular signaling in the etiology and progression of DCM. A main topic in this controversy is the control of the number of tension-generating myosin heads reacting with the thin filament. One line of investigation proposes that this number is determined by changes in the ratio of myosin heads in a sequestered super-relaxed state (SRX) or in a disordered relaxed state (DRX) poised for force generation upon the Ca2+ activation of the thin filament. Contrasting evidence from nanometer-micrometer-scale X-ray diffraction in intact trabeculae indicates that the SRX/DRX states may have a lesser role. Instead, the proposal is that myosin heads are in a basal OFF state in relaxation then transfer to an ON state through a mechano-sensing mechanism induced during early thin filament activation and increasing thick filament strain. Recent evidence about the modulation of these mechanisms by protein phosphorylation has also introduced a need for reconsidering the control of tension. We discuss these mechanisms that lead to different ideas related to how tension is disturbed by levels of mutant sarcomere proteins linked to the expression of gene variants in the complex landscape of DCM. Resolving the various mechanisms and incorporating them into a unified concept is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of DCM. This deeper understanding is not only important for diagnosis and treatment strategies with small molecules, but also for understanding the reciprocal signaling processes that occur between cardiac myocytes and their micro-environment. By unraveling these complexities, we can pave the way for improved therapeutic interventions for managing DCM.

International review of blood donation nucleic acid amplification testing.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT), in blood services context, is used for the detection of viral and parasite nucleic acids to reduce transfusion-transmitted infections. This project reviewed NAT for screening blood donations globally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey on NAT usage, developed by the International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on Transfusion-transmitted Infectious Diseases (ISBT WP-TTID), was distributed through ISBT WP-TTID members. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Forty-three responses were received from 32 countries. Increased adoption of blood donation viral screening by NAT was observed over the past decade. NAT-positive donations were detected for all viruses tested in 2019 (proportion of donations positive by NAT were 0.0099% for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], 0.0063% for hepatitis C virus [HCV], 0.0247% for hepatitis B virus [HBV], 0.0323% for hepatitis E virus [HEV], 0.0014% for West Nile virus [WNV] and 0.00005% for Zika virus [ZIKV]). Globally, over 3100 NAT-positive donations were identified as NAT yield or solely by NAT in 2019 and over 22,000 since the introduction of NAT, with HBV accounting for over half. NAT-positivity rate was higher in first-time donors for all viruses tested except WNV. During 2019, a small number of participants performed NAT for parasites (Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia spp., Plasmodium spp.). CONCLUSION: This survey captures current use of blood donation NAT globally. There has been increased NAT usage over the last decade. It is clear that NAT contributes to improving blood transfusion safety globally; however, there is a need to overcome economic barriers for regions/countries not performing NAT.

Benchmarking Time-to-Treatment Initiation in Sarcoma Care Using Real-World-Time Data.

Benchmarking is a fundamental tool for enhancing quality within a patient-centered healthcare framework. This study presents an analysis of time-to-treatment initiation (TTI) for sarcoma patients, utilizing a database encompassing 266 cases from the Swiss Sarcoma Network. Our findings indicate a median TTI of 30 days across the cohort, with bone sarcomas and deep soft tissue sarcomas demonstrating a shorter median TTI of 28 days, followed by superficial soft tissue sarcomas at 42 days. The data reveal that the use of real-world-time data (RWTD) may account for a longer TTI observed, as it offers more comprehensive capture of patient journeys, unlike conventional datasets. Notably, variability in TTI was observed between different treatment institutions, which underscores the need for standardized processes across centers. We advocate for a selective referral system to specialized centers to prevent capacity overload and ensure timely treatment initiation. Our analysis also identified significant delays in TTI for unplanned 'whoops'-resections, highlighting the importance of early specialist referral in optimizing treatment timelines. This study emphasizes the potential benefits of a streamlined, data-informed approach to sarcoma care. However, further research is required to establish the direct impact of integrated care models on TTI and patient outcomes in the context of sarcoma treatment.

Enzymatic time-temperature indicator with cysteine-loaded chitosan microspheres/silver nanoparticles.

A time-temperature indicator (TTI) based on acid-base reaction was developed by applying a new pH dye composed of cysteine-loaded chitosan (Cys-CS) microspheres and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). It was hypothesized that cysteine released by the disintegration of Cys-CS microspheres at a critical pH would cause AgNPs to aggregate, leading to color change. Cys-CS microspheres were produced as water-in-oil (paraffin oil, MCT oil, soybean oil) emulsions according to the KOH addition method. An enzymatic TTI was made using glucose oxidase, glucose, and catalase. Only paraffin oil produced Cys-CS microspheres (average diameter, 335 ± 100 µm), whereas the others did not, probably due to saponification with KOH. FTIR analysis confirmed that cysteine was encapsulated in the microspheres. The microspheres disintegrated at pH 6.18 in a titration test. The TTI pH gradually decreased and showed a sudden color change at pH 6.10, which was similar to the critical pH of microsphere disintegration.

Systematic review of prevalence and risk factors of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors, and blood safety improvements in Southern Africa.

Blood and blood products are listed as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to inadequate supply, most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) nations fail to meet their blood needs because many donated blood units are discarded because they are contaminated with transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). We sought to estimate the prevalence of TTIs, identify the risk factors for TTIs among blood donors, and identify the efforts and interventions that have been made to improve blood safety in Southern African nations, particularly the nations of the South African Development Community (SADC). We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for TTIs, blood safety interventions, and blood quality improvement in the SADC region from major PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and HINARI databases from 1 January 2011 to 31 April 2021. All investigations followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). In meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled TTIs prevalence and summarised the same using forest plots. A total of 180 articles published from the SSA region were identified covering our three targeted themes: TTI prevalence, risk factors for TTIs, and blood safety improvements. Of these 180 articles, only 27 (15%) focused on the SADC region. The overall pooled TTI prevalence estimate was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0-3.0) and hepatitis B was the most prevalent TTI in the region (prevalence = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0-5.0). The prevalence of HIV, HCV, and syphilis was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0-4.0), 1.0% (95% CI: 0.0-2.0), and 2.0% (95% CI: 0.0-8.0), respectively. In general, replacement donors and first-time donors were more likely to be infected with TTIs than repeat donors. Twelve articles explored blood safety research in the region; however, they vary greatly highlighting the need for consistent and more comprehensive research. Few publications were identified that were from the SADC region, indicating lack of research or resources towards improving both quantity and quality of blood donation. TTI prevalence remains one of the highest in the world and blood safety recommendations vary across the region. More effort should be directed towards developing a cohesive regional blood transfusion policy and effective blood monitoring and evaluation strategies.

Prioritizing parotid gland surgery: A call for the implementation of the MSRSGC classification.

BACKGROUND: The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) is developed to aid diagnosis and management of salivary gland tumors. This study evaluates the time-to-treatment initiation (TTI) for parotid gland tumors in the Netherlands and relates these to the MSRSGC classification. Subsequently, the use of the MSRSGC in the Netherlands is evaluated. METHODS: Data regarding fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histopathological resections of the parotid were gathered from the Dutch nationwide pathology data bank (PALGA). The TTI was calculated for each MSRSGC category and type of treating center. FNACs performed from 2018 to 2021 were gathered from PALGA to estimate how frequently the MSRSGC classification was applied. RESULTS: Median TTI in days were 86 for nondiagnostic (MSRSGC I), 75 for nonneoplastic (MSRSGC II), 65 for atypia of unknown significance (AUS) (MSRSGC III), 89 for benign (MSRSGC IVa), 52 for salivary gland neoplasm of unknown malignant potential (SUMP) (MSRSGC IVb), 31 for suspected malignant (MSRSGC V), and 30 for malignant (MSRSGC VI) categories. Significant variation in the TTI between the types of treating centers was found for the nondiagnostic, nonneoplastic, AUS, SUMP, and suspected malignant categories. In the first 3 years after the introduction of the MSRSGC, the pathologist stated the MSRSGC classification in 6.4% of all reports. CONCLUSIONS: The median TTI for most categories is long, and there is significant interhospital variation in TTI. Preoperative risk stratification and treatment prioritization in parotid gland surgery in the Netherlands should be improved. The MSRSGC could contribute to this. Until 2021, the MSRSGS classification was implemented on a limited scale in the Netherlands.

Time Trend and Prevalence Analysis of Transfusion Transmitted Infections among Blood Donors: A Retrospective Study from 2001 to 2016.

Context: Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) remain a major threat to the patients receiving blood. The incidence of the transmission of various infectious agents has reduced ever since the introduction of various molecular techniques for detection. Aims: The study tried to figure out accurate estimates of risk and trend of TTI over a period of sixteen years, essential for monitoring the safety of blood supply and evaluating the efficacy of the currently employed screening procedures. Methods and Material: A total of 57942 blood donors' records were analyzed for the period from January 2001 to December 2016. Chi-square test (χ2) was used to evaluate the relationship between serological positivity and particular donor characteristics. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 57942 donations, overall prevalence of TTI was 2.7%. Of these, the reactivity rate of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and malaria was 1.8%, 0.42%, 0.2%, 0.31%, and 0.017%, respectively with significant P value (P < 0.05, CI: 95%). Overall prevalence was higher in replacement donors as compared to voluntary blood donors. Trend of TTI prevalence decreased from 2001 to 2016. Conclusions: This epidemiological research on TTI is important for the region, as estimated disease burden based on comprehensive epidemiological research provides the foundation for public policy to ensure an easily accessible and adequate supply of safe and quality blood and blood components to the needy patients.

TTT (Tel2-Tti1-Tti2) Complex, the Co-Chaperone of PIKKs and a Potential Target for Cancer Chemotherapy.

The heterotrimeric Tel2-Tti1-Tti2 or TTT complex is essential for cell viability and highly observed in eukaryotes. As the co-chaperone of ATR, ATM, DNA-PKcs, mTOR, SMG1, and TRRAP, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PIKKs) and a group of large proteins of 300-500 kDa, the TTT plays crucial roles in genome stability, cell proliferation, telomere maintenance, and aging. Most of the protein kinases in the kinome are targeted by co-chaperone Cdc37 for proper folding and stability. Like Cdc37, accumulating evidence has established the mechanism by which the TTT interacts with chaperone Hsp90 via R2TP (Rvb1-Rvb2-Tah1-Pih1) complex or other proteins for co-translational maturation of the PIKKs. Recent structural studies have revealed the α-solenoid structure of the TTT and its interactions with the R2TP complex, which shed new light on the co-chaperone mechanism and provide new research opportunities. A series of mutations of the TTT have been identified that cause disease syndrome with neurodevelopmental defects, and misregulation of the TTT has been shown to contribute to myeloma, colorectal, and non-small-cell lung cancers. Surprisingly, Tel2 in the TTT complex has recently been found to be a target of ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug that has been used by millions of patients. This discovery provides mechanistic insight into the anti-cancer effect of ivermectin and thus promotes the repurposing of this Nobel-prize-winning medicine for cancer chemotherapy. Here, we briefly review the discovery of the TTT complex, discuss the recent studies, and describe the perspectives for future investigation.

A Chromatic Enzymatic Time-Temperature Integrator Device Based on the Degradation of Phenolic Compounds for the Real-Time Prediction of the Quality and Shelf Life of Cherries.

The particular characteristics of cherries, such as color, firmness, and palate increase their demand, as does, among other things, their antioxidant properties that benefit human health. However, their high perishability leads to a reduced shelf life and consequently generates undesirable changes in the cherry flow chain. To ensure food quality and safety and prevent food waste, a smart device prototype is proposed. The concepts related to the formulation and design of the enzymatic-type chromatic time-temperature integrator (TTI) device used to monitor the real-time quality of cherries are described. The kinetic parameters for thermal inactivation of cultivar Santina cherries were determined based on the degradation of phenolic compounds that are substrates of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme, whose hydroxylation reaction of a monophenol to o-diphenol leads to the oxidation in o-quinone. The proposed device concept aims to help retailers and consumers decide upon selling and buying according to the remaining shelf life, thus promoting sustainability related to food processes.

Bi-allelic TTI1 variants cause an autosomal-recessive neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly.

Telomere maintenance 2 (TELO2), Tel2 interacting protein 2 (TTI2), and Tel2 interacting protein 1 (TTI1) are the three components of the conserved Triple T (TTT) complex that modulates activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKKs), including mTOR, ATM, and ATR, by regulating the assembly of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). The TTT complex is essential for the expression, maturation, and stability of ATM and ATR in response to DNA damage. TELO2- and TTI2-related bi-allelic autosomal-recessive (AR) encephalopathies have been described in individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disability (ID), short stature, postnatal microcephaly, and a movement disorder (in the case of variants within TELO2). We present clinical, genomic, and functional data from 11 individuals in 9 unrelated families with bi-allelic variants in TTI1. All present with ID, and most with microcephaly, short stature, and a movement disorder. Functional studies performed in HEK293T cell lines and fibroblasts and lymphoblastoid cells derived from 4 unrelated individuals showed impairment of the TTT complex and of mTOR pathway activity which is improved by treatment with Rapamycin. Our data delineate a TTI1-related neurodevelopmental disorder and expand the group of disorders related to the TTT complex.

TTI1 promotes non-small-cell lung cancer progression by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway.

The role of TELO2-interacting protein 1 (TTI1) in the progression of several types of cancer has been reported recently. The aim of this study was to estimate the expression and potential value of TTI1 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The expression of TTI1 and its prognostic value in NSCLC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed. To verify the bioinformatics findings, a tissue microarray containing 160 NSCLC and paired peritumoral tissues from NSCLC patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry for TTI1. Subsequently, the roles of TTI1 in NSCLC cells were investigated in vivo by establishing xenograft models in nude mice and in vitro by transwell, CCK-8, wound healing, and colony formation assays. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were applied to explore the underlying mechanism by which TTI1 promotes tumor progression. Finally, the relationship between TTI1 and Ki67 expression level in NSCLC was probed, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox analyses were performed to assess the prognostic merit of TTI1 and Ki67 in NSCLC patients. We found that the expression of TTI1 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared to paired peritumoral tissues, which coincides with the bioinformatics findings from the TCGA and GEO databases. TTI1 was highly expressed in NSCLC patients with large tumors, advanced tumor stage, and lymphatic metastasis. In addition, the prognostic analysis identified TTI1 as an independent indication for poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. In vitro, upregulation of TTI1 in NSCLC cells could facilitate cell invasion, metastasis, viability, and proliferation. Mechanistically, our study verified that TTI1 could regulate mTOR activity, which has a pivotal role in human cancer. Consistently, the expressions of TTI1 and Ki67 had a positive relationship in NSCLC cells and tissues. Notably, patients with overexpression of TTI1 or Ki67 had a shorter overall survival rate and a higher disease-free survival rate compared to patients with low expression of TTI1 or Ki67, and the combination of TTI1 and Ki67 was an independent parameter predicting the prognosis and recurrence of NSCLC patients. We conclude that TTI1 promotes NSCLC cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion by regulating mTOR activity, and the combination of TTI1 and Ki67 is a valuable molecular biomarker for the survival and recurrence of NSCLC patients.

A data-driven decision support system with smart packaging in grocery store supply chains during outbreaks.

The unexpected emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how grocery shopping is done. The grocery retail stores need to ensure hygiene, quality, and safety concerns in-store shopping by providing "no-touch" smart packaging solutions for agri-food products. The benefit of smart packaging is to inform consumers about the freshness level of a packaged product without having direct contact. This paper proposes a data-driven decision support system that uses smart packaging as a smart product-service system to manage the sustainable grocery store supply chain during outbreaks to prevent food waste. The proposed model dynamically updates the price of a packaged perishable product depending on freshness level while reducing food waste and the number of rejected customers and maximising profit by increasing the inventory turnover rate of grocery stores. The model was tested on a hypothetical but realistic case study of a single product. The results of this study showed that stock capacities, freshness discount rate, freshness period, and quantity discounts significantly affect the performance of a grocery store supply chain during outbreaks.

Comparing of anteroinferior and posteroinferior tympanostomy tube insertion: a cohort study.

Background: Tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI) is one of the primary treatments for Otitis media with effusion (OME) in children, a common condition in children. However, there is still no conclusion on the better choice of tube position, and no relevant research has been found in the literature. This study analyzed the results of the two commonly selected tube insert positions, anteroinferior quadrant (AQ) and posteroinferior quadrant (PQ), in order to determine which is the better choice. Methods: Children with bilateral OME who received TTI in Beijing Tongren Hospital from May 2020 to January 2021 were selected as subjects. one side on AQ and the other side on PQ randomly. Follow-up visits were arranged at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. The results of audiology and the tube status of the two positions were recorded and compared statistically. Results: A total of 90 patients with bilateral OME were selected. There was no difference in preoperative hearing between the 2 groups. The AQ group's average air conduction threshold was significantly higher than that of the PQ group 1 week after surgery. Although there was no significant difference in tube fall-off rate between the two groups within 6 months, it was significantly higher in AQ group than that in PQ group at 12 months after surgery. Conclusions: Compared to TTI on AQ, TTI on PQ is more stable and better improves hearing, and the operation is also more convenient for surgeons. This study provides reference for a better position of TTI in OME therapy.

Biochemical and computational approaches to understand venom toxin-toxin interaction.

Snake venoms are mainly composed of proteins and peptides (venom toxins). The venom transcriptomes and proteomes have been extensively investigated; however, venom toxin-toxin interactions remain poorly characterized. We detected the interaction of venom Asp49-PLA2 and 3FTx using biochemical and computational approaches. A stable structure of Asp49-PLA2-3FTx was identified, and the interface of Asp49-PLA2 and 3FTx was analyzed. The approaches will shed light on understanding the venom complexity and deciphering the synergistic effects of venom toxins.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare and incurable group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas that manifest as patches, plaques, tumors, and/or erythroderma in the skin. Standard skin-directed therapies for CTCL are effective in patients with indolent early-stage disease, but more advanced/refractory stage patients require systemic therapies. However, none of the treatments are considered curative and most patients suffer from relapses. Biologic therapies and immunotherapy provide novel treatment options for patients with advanced or refractory disease. AREAS COVERED: This review provides a discussion of recently approved biological and novel therapeutics that are actively developed for the management of the heterogeneous group of CTCL. EXPERT OPINION: Mogamulizumab and brentuximab vedotin have reached the market and are approved for the treatment of CTCL, providing valuable options. Additionally, therapies utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors, miRNA inhibitors, and peptide inhibitors show promising results in clinical trials. Durvalumab, pembrolizumab, TTI-621, BNZ-1, and MRG-106 are several of the emerging treatments still in trials. Further combinatorial studies are needed as none of the treatments have demonstrated long-term remissions.

Comparative evaluation of ADVIA Centaur® XP chemiluminescence system for screening of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis in Indian blood donors.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) in blood donor screening has led to a gradual replacement of enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as the former offers automation, higher sensitivity and lower turn-around-time. However, only a few CLIA platforms are used for blood donor screening in India. The present study evaluated one such newer platform viz., Adiva Centaur XP CLIA for screening of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective comparative study wherein 4843 whole blood donors were screened for HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HIV Ag-Ab and Anti-treponemal antibodies in both Advia Centaur XP and Architect i2000SR platforms. Additional tests were performed in samples which were reactive in only one of the platforms. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, false positive rate and false negative rate of both the platforms were compared. Kappa coefficient was calculated to determine the agreement between the testing platforms. RESULTS: The sensitivity of Advia Centaur platform for HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis detection were 94.9 %, 100 %, 100 % and 100 % respectively as compared to 96.6 %, 100 %, 100 % and 100 % in Architect i2000SR platform. The specificity of both the platforms were 99.8-99.9 % for all the four tests. The agreement between the two platforms was almost perfect for HBV, HCV and syphilis testing; and fair for HIV testing. CONCLUSION: The Advia Centaur CLIA platform was found to be comparable with the Architect CLIA platform for blood donor screening. Unexpected finding was the occurrence of HBV false negatives in both the platforms, possibly due to HBsAg mutations.

Structure of the Human TELO2-TTI1-TTI2 Complex.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKKs) play critical roles in various metabolic pathways related to cell proliferation and survival. The TELO2-TTI1-TTI2 (TTT) complex has been proposed to recognize newly synthesized PIKKs and to deliver them to the R2TP complex (RUVBL1-RUVBL2-RPAP3-PIH1D1) and the heat shock protein 90 chaperone, thereby supporting their folding and assembly. Here, we determined the cryo-EM structure of the TTT complex at an average resolution of 4.2 Å. We describe the full-length structures of TTI1 and TELO2, and a partial structure of TTI2. All three proteins form elongated helical repeat structures. TTI1 provides a platform on which TELO2 and TTI2 bind to its central region and C-terminal end, respectively. The TELO2 C-terminal domain (CTD) is required for the interaction with TTI1 and recruitment of Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). The N- and C-terminal segments of TTI1 recognize the FRAP-ATM-TRRAP (FAT) domain and the N-terminal HEAT repeats of ATM, respectively. The TELO2 CTD and TTI1 N- and C-terminal segments are required for cell survival in response to ionizing radiation.