Cancer/testis antigens as molecular drug targets using network pharmacology.

Present chemotherapeutic drugs have limited efficacy and severe side effects. Considering the complexity of cancer, an effective strategy is necessary to discover multiple new drug targets. Cancer/testis antigens are vital for cancer cell progression. We have performed a computational network analysis of cancer/testis antigens and assessed these antigens as drug targets. During this analysis, protein interaction network of 700 human CT antigens was investigated. CT antigen network consisted of eight independent components. Four major hubs and two minor hubs were identified that play nodal role in the flow of information across the largest network. We have predicted 30 potential drug targets by analysing several topological parameters such as betweenness centrality, cluster coefficient and probable protein complexes. Structural and functional roles of potential drug targets have also been anatomized. Analysis of the CT antigen network enables us to pinpoint a set of candidate proteins that if targeted could be detrimental for cancerous cell without affecting any normal cell. The list of putative proteins is a starting point for experimental validation and may help further in the discovery of new anticancer drug targets.

Dynamics of ultrafine particles inside a roadway tunnel.

Size-segregated ultrafine particles from motor vehicles were investigated in the Craeybeckx tunnel (E19 motorway, Antwerp, Belgium) at two measurement sites, at 100 and 300 m inside the tunnel, respectively, during March 2008. It was observed that out of the three size modes, nucleation, Aitken, and accumulation, Aitken mode was the most dominant size fraction inside the tunnel. The diurnal variation in ultrafine particle (UFP) levels closely follows the vehicular traffic inside the tunnel, which was maximum during office rush hours, both in the morning and evening and minimum during night-time around 3 am. The tunnel data showed very high growth rates in comparison with free atmosphere. The average condensation sink during the growth period was 14.1-17.3 × 10(-2) s(-1). The average growth rate (GR) of geometric mean diameter was found to be 18.6 ± 2.45 nm h(-1). It was observed that increase in Aitken mode was related to the numbers of heavy-duty vehicles (HDV), as they emit mainly in the Aitken mode. The higher Aitken mode during traffic jams correlated well with HDV numbers. At the end of the tunnel, sudden dilution leading to fast coagulation was responsible for the sudden drop in the UFP number concentration.

Disparity in cholecalciferol content of commercial preparations available in India.

BACKGROUND: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been reported throughout the India for all age groups. Increased awareness about VDD among treating physicians has led to increased prescriptions of vitamin D preparations. Based on our experience of varied clinical and radiological response with different vitamin D formulations, we decided to assess cholecalciferol content of commonly available vitamin D formulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured cholecalciferol content of 14 commercial preparations (two in the form of tablets and 12 as sachet) available in Indian market. Lab analysis was carried out in Shriram Institute for Industrial Research by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Of the total 14 samples analyzed only 4 (28.57%) were found to be within the acceptable ranges from -90 to +125% as defined by Indian Pharmacopia while 5 (35.7%) had higher and 5 (35.7%) had lower than the acceptable range. The percentage variation in cholecalciferol content as observed from the printed ranged widely from -91% to +65%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a high degree of variability in cholecalciferol content of commercial preparations available in the Indian pharmaceutical market. This variation has many clinical implications as it may lead both, under treatment as well as vitamin D toxicity.