Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells genetically engineered to overexpress interleukin-10 promotes alternative inflammatory response in rat model of traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause for long-term disability, yet the treatments available that improve outcomes after TBI limited. Neuroinflammatory responses are key contributors to determining patient outcomes after TBI. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which release trophic and pro-repair cytokines, represents an effective strategy to reduce inflammation after TBI. One such pro-repair cytokine is interleukin-10 (IL-10), which reduces pro-inflammatory markers and trigger alternative inflammatory markers, such as CD163. In this study, we tested the therapeutic effects of MSCs that were engineered to overexpress IL-10 when transplanted into rats following TBI in the medial frontal cortex. METHODS: Thirty-six hours following TBI, rats were transplanted with MSCs and then assessed for 3 weeks on a battery of behavioral tests that measured motor and cognitive abilities. Histological evaluation was then done to measure the activation of the inflammatory response. Additionally, immunomodulatory effects were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. RESULTS: A significant improvement in fine motor function was observed in rats that received transplants of MSCs engineered to overexpress IL-10 (MSCs + IL-10) or MSCs alone compared to TBI + vehicle-treated rats. Although tissue spared was unchanged, anti-inflammatory effects were revealed by a reduction in the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein cells and CD86 cells in both TBI + MSCs + IL-10 and TBI + MSC groups compared to TBI + vehicle rats. Microglial activation was significantly increased in the TBI + MSC group when compared to the sham + vehicle group. Western blot data suggested a reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the TBI + MSCs + IL-10 group compared to TBI + MSC group. Immunomodulatory effects were demonstrated by a shift from classical inflammation expression (CD86) to an alternative inflammation state (CD163) in both treatments with MSCs and MSCs + IL-10. Furthermore, co-labeling of both CD86 and CD163 was detected in the same cells, suggesting a temporal change in macrophage expression. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings suggest that transplantation of MSCs that were engineered to overexpress IL-10 can improve functional outcomes by providing a beneficial perilesion environment. This improvement may be explained by the shifting of macrophage expression to a more pro-repair state, thereby providing a possible new therapy for treating TBI.

Prompt diagnosis of Scedosporium apiospermum soft tissue infection: Life-saving in a renal transplant recipient.

Scedosporium apiospermum, an ubiquitous filamentous fungus, a known cause of mycetoma, is emerging as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. We report a case of painful foot abscess in a renal allograft recipient on immunosuppressive therapy, which was clinically diagnosed as a suppurative bacterial abscess. Pus was aspirated, which showed septate, branching hyphal elements and culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar yielded S. apiospermum, which was identified based on its macroscopic and microscopic features. There are very few reports of scedosporiasis from India. High index of suspicion for unusual fungal infection helps in prompt etiological diagnosis in a transplant recipient and rapid management prevents further dissemination.

Interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimers.

We study the complexation of nontoxic, native poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimers with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The interaction was monitored by measuring the quenching of inherent fluorescence of the dendrimer. The dendrimer-nanotube binding also resulted in the increased electrical resistance of the hole doped SWNT, due to charge-transfer interaction between dendrimer and nanotube. This charge-transfer interaction was further corroborated by observing a shift in frequency of the tangential Raman modes of SWNT. We also report the effect of acidic and neutral pH conditions on the binding affinities. Experimental studies were supplemented by all atom molecular dynamics simulations to provide a microscopic picture of the dendrimer-nanotube complex. The complexation was achieved through charge transfer and hydrophobic interactions, aided by multitude of oxygen, nitrogen, and n-propyl moieties of the dendrimer.

Influence of stabilizers on quality of sandesh from buffalo milk.

Buffalo milk standardized to solids-not-fat (SNF) to fat ratio of 1.4 was added separately with 0.1% (w/w) each of carrageenan, sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose and then heated, cooled and coagulated to obtain chhana which was converted into sandesh by adding 1.5% (w/w) wheat flour and 25% (w/w) cane sugar followed by heating (40 min/kg chhana). The treated samples of sandesh were compared with control prepared similarly manner but without stabilizer. Addition of stabilizer decreased hardness, fracturability, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness of sandesh and improved sensory body and texture, colour and appearance as well as overall acceptability of the product when compared with control. Textural and sensory properties of different samples of sandesh indicated that the product made by adding carrageenan proved best. Carrageenan at 0.1% produced better results in terms of textural and sensory profile of sandesh as compared to 0, 0.075 and 0.125% (w/w) of carrageenan.

Evaluation of the role of substrate and albumin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm morphology through FESEM and FTIR studies on polymeric biomaterials.

Bacterial biofilms pose the greatest challenge to implant surgeries leading to device-related infections and implant failure. Our present study aims at monitoring the variation in the biofilm architecture of a clinically isolated strain and ATCC 27853 strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on two polymeric biomaterials, used in implants. The perspective of our study is to recognize the potential of these two biomaterials to create biofilm infections and develop the understanding regarding their limitations of use and handle patients with this deeper insight. The final goal, however, is an accurate interpretation of substrate-microbe interactions in the two biomaterials, which will provide us the knowledge of possible surface modifications to develop of an efficacious anti-biofilm therapy for deterring implant infections. The reference strain ATCC 27853 and a clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa collected from urinary catheters of patients suffering from urinary tract infections, have been used as microbes while clinical grades of polypropylene and high density polyethylene, have been used as 'substrates' for biofilm growth. The variation in the nature of the 'substrate' and 'conditioning layer' of BSA have been found to affect the biofilm architecture as well as the physiology of the biofilm-forming bacteria, accompanied by an alteration in the nature and volume of EPS (extracellular polysaccharide) matrices.

Targeted deletion of GD3 synthase protects against MPTP-induced neurodegeneration.

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition for which there is no cure. Converging evidence implicates gangliosides in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting a potential new class of therapeutic targets. We have shown that interventions that simultaneously increase the neuroprotective GM1 ganglioside and decrease the pro-apoptotic GD3 ganglioside - such as inhibition of GD3 synthase (GD3S) or administration of sialidase - are neuroprotective in vitro and in a number of preclinical models. In this study, we investigated the effects of GD3S deletion on parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). MPTP was administered to GD3S-/- mice or controls using a subchronic regimen consisting of three series of low-dose injections (11 mg/kg/day × 5 days each, 3 weeks apart), and motor function was assessed after each. The typical battery of tests used to assess parkinsonism failed to detect deficits in MPTP-treated mice. More sensitive measures - such as the force-plate actimeter and treadmill gait parameters - detected subtle effects of MPTP, some of which were absent in mice lacking GD3S. In wild-type mice, MPTP destroyed 53% of the tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and reduced striatal dopamine 60.7%. In contrast, lesion size was only 22.5% in GD3S-/- mice and striatal dopamine was reduced by 37.2%. Stereological counts of Nissl-positive SNc neurons that did not express TH suggest that neuroprotection was complete but TH expression was suppressed in some cells. These results show that inhibition of GD3S has neuroprotective properties in the MPTP model and may warrant further investigation as a therapeutic target.

Use of an Innovative Simple Method for Anaerobiosis in the Diagnosis and Management of Infections in Two Unusual Cases.

Technical limitations restrict routine anaerobe isolation from clinical materials in resource-limited laboratories. An innovative two steps combustion candle jar technique may be suitable for such setup. This system was tried with one case of chronic osteomyelitis developed on supracondyler compound fracture. Porphyromonas spp. was isolated and identified. Vancomycin was recommended based on in vitro sensitivity test, but the leg was amputed after receiving a resistant drug gentamycin. While in another child with hydrocephalous, V-P shunt associated infection by Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was successfully controlled by sensitive drug vancomycin. These two eye-opener cases insisted us for large scale application of the technique.

Suppression of experimental myasthenia gravis, a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease, by blockade of IL-18.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production and IL-12-driven Th1 phenotype polarization. Increased expression of IL-18 has been observed in several autoimmune diseases. In this study we have analyzed the role of IL-18 in an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and elucidated the mechanisms involved in disease suppression mediated by blockade of IL-18, using experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) as a model. EAMG is a T cell-regulated, antibody-mediated autoimmune disease in which the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is the major autoantigen. Th1- and Th2-type responses are both implicated in EAMG development. We show that treatment by anti-IL-18 during ongoing EAMG suppresses disease progression. The protective effect can be adoptively transferred to naive recipients and is mediated by increased levels of the immunosuppressive Th3-type cytokine TGF-beta and decreased AChR-specific Th1-type cellular responses. Suppression of EAMG is accompanied by down-regulation of the costimulatory factor CD40L and up-regulation of CTLA-4, a key negative immunomodulator. Our results suggest that IL-18 blockade may potentially be applied for immunointervention in myasthenia gravis.

Sexual risk factors for cervical cancer among rural Indian women: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The association between sexual behaviour and cervical cancer is well established. Despite a high incidence of cervical cancer in India, its role has not been widely investigated in Indian women among whom the rate of sexual promiscuity is known to be very low. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out to investigate the role of sexual risk factors in cervical cancer among rural Indian women. METHODS: A case-control design was used in which a total of 268 subjects, comprising 134 women with invasive cervical cancer as cases and 134 control women were studied. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The risk factors found to be associated with cervical cancer were early age at first coitus, extramarital sex partners of women and the time interval since first exposure. In a multiple logistic regression model, independent effects were observed for early age at first coitus, showing maximum risk in women who reported their first intercourse at < 12 years of age, compared to that of women at > or = 18 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.5. 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-10.9). Increased risk was also seen for women who had extramarital sex relationships (OR = 5.5, 95% CI: 1.5-19.5). The significant effect of early age at first coitus persisted after adjustment for latency period which also showed its independent risk association with cervical cancer in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the association between early age at first coitus and cervical cancer in women with a low rate of sexual promiscuity and define the role of these risk factors in cervical carcinogenesis among rural Indian women.

PIP: The association between sex behavior and cervical cancer was investigated among rural Indian women known to have very low levels of promiscuity. 134 women with invasive cervical cancer were matched with 134 controls and analysis performed using a multiple logistic regression model. Risk factors associated with cervical cancer were early age at first coitus, extramarital sex partners of women, and the time interval since first exposure. Independent effects were observed for early age at first coitus, with maximum risk among women who reported their first intercourse at younger than age 12 years compared to that of women at age 18 years or older. Increased risk was also seen for women who had extramarital sex relationships. The significant effect of early age at first coitus persisted after adjustment for a latency period which also showed its independent risk association with cervical cancer in the multivariate analysis.

Histoplasmosis in eastern India: the tip of the iceberg?

Systemic histoplasmosis has various clinical presentations and is of especially concern in immunocompromised patients. A high index of suspicion is required for its diagnosis. A total of 38 cases had been reported from India up to 1996. The most frequent occurrence of cases was around Calcutta in eastern India where the previous case was detected 20 years earlier. However, we have diagnosed 5 cases in the past 2 years from eastern India which are reported here. These cases may indicate under-diagnosis and under-reporting of histoplasmosis in India. All 5 patients had disseminated disease with multisystem involvement including 2 with bilateral adrenal enlargement. Two were diabetic and only 1 patient was infected with HIV.

Human monoclonal antibody BT32/A6 and a cell cycle-independent glioma-associated surface antigen.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain how various growth parameters may influence the labeling of SK-MG-1, a human glioma cell line, by BT32/A6, a human immunoglobulin M monoclonal antibody (MAb). By growing SK-MG-1 cells at different culture split ratios, significant trends in cell growth rate, culture viability, and cell cycle state were produced. Labeling of SK-MG-1 cells by BT32/A6, however, was shown to be unaffected by culture split ratio (p > 0.05) and is therefore independent of cell growth rate, culture viability, and cell cycle state. Using flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, BT32/A6 was shown to label a cell surface antigen on viable, clonogenic cells of SK-MG-1. Approximately 100% of SK-MG-1 cells were shown by flow cytometry to express the BT32/A6 antigen. The recognition of a glioma-associated, cell cycle-independent surface antigen by MAb BT32/A6 makes it a promising candidate for further studies aimed at elucidating its usefulness as an adjunct in the treatment of human malignant gliomas.

Dimethoate inhibits extrathyroidal 5'-monodeiodination of thyroxine to 3,3',5-triiodothyronine in mice: the possible involvement of the lipid peroxidative process.

The effects of daily administration of dimethoate (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg body weight for 30 days) on thyroid function in mice were investigated. While serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration was decreased significantly, serum thyroxine (T4) was increased in the medium and highest dose treated groups. However, the serum concentration of thyrotropin was unaltered. Hepatic type-I iodothyronine 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-D) enzyme activity was depressed by the two higher doses of dimethoate. These observations suggest that dimethoate-induced alterations in thyroid function are not mediated through the hypophyseal thyroid axis, but through the changes in extrathyroidal conversion of T4 to T3. To correlate the lipid peroxidation (LPO) with 5'-D activity, hepatic LPO and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, i.e. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were studied. The pesticide increased the activity of SOD and CAT along with hepatic lipid peroxidation. The possible involvement of the lipoperoxidative process in the inhibition of 5'-D activity has been suggested.

Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of actinomycetes isolated from patients of actinomycetoma.

The effectiveness of eight antibiotics against 30 human isolates of actinomycetoma agents belonging to 7 different species were tested by agar dilution and disc diffusion methods to evaluate the susceptibility patterns and to study drug resistance among the organisms. It was found that many of the isolates had developed partial or complete resistance to conventionally used antibiotics like cotrimoxazole, streptomycin and ampicillin, but almost all were sensitive to amikacin and ciprofloxacin. The two methods were equally effective for detecting sensitivity patterns of the Nocardia isolates.

In vitro susceptibility pattern of Sporothrix schenckii strains isolated from three centers in India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: With the availability of more number of antifungal agents in recent years, drugs other than saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) are being increasingly used to treat sporotrichosis. It was therefore considered pertinent to evaluate in vitro antifungal susceptibility pattern of Sporothrix schenckii strains isolated at three centers in India against five commonly used antifungal agents. METHODS: Agar dilution method was used to evaluate 50 clinical isolates (25 from north, 17 from east and 8 from south India) both in its yeast and mycelial forms against amphotericin-B, 5-fluorocytosine, ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole. RESULTS: No resistance was observed in the yeast form of S. schenckii against amphotericin B and azoles. However, 54 per cent strains in the yeast form were resistant to 5-fluorocytosine. None of the strains was susceptible to amphotericin B and ketoconazole, 56 and 10 per cent strains in the mycelial form were susceptible to itraconazole and fluconazole respectively. No significant difference was observed in the antifungal susceptibility pattern among the strains isolated from these three regions in India. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Clinical isolates of S. schenckii from three regions of India had a more or less uniform antifungal susceptibility pattern. Itraconazole had the best in vitro susceptibility results against the clinical isolates of S. schenckii and has the potential to replace SSKI.

Rapid imaging of human melanoma xenografts using an scFv fragment of the human monoclonal antibody H11 labelled with 111In.

H11 is a human IgM monoclonal antibody which recognizes a novel tumour-associated antigen expressed on melanoma, glioma, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and B-cell lymphoma. In this study, a recombinant single-chain Fv (scFv) fragment of H11 labelled with 111In was investigated for tumour imaging in athymic mice implanted subcutaneously with A-375 human melanoma xenografts. H11 scFv was derivatized with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) for labelling with 111In. The immunoreactivity of DTPA-H11 scFv against A-375 cells in vitro ranged from 23% to 36%. 111In-DTPA-H11 scFv was rapidly eliminated from the blood and most normal tissues (except the kidneys) reaching maximum tumour/blood ratios of 12:1 at 48 h post-injection. Tumours were imaged as early as 40 min after injection. The kidneys accumulated the highest concentration of radioactivity (up to 185% injected dose/g). Tumour uptake was 1-3% injected dose/g. The whole-body radiation absorbed dose predicted for administration of 185 MBq of 111In-DTPA-H11 scFv to humans was 37 mSv. The radiation absorbed dose estimates for the kidneys, spleen and intestines were 405 mSv, 698 mSv and 412 mSv, respectively. The results of this preclinical study and a concurrent phase I trial suggest a promising role for H11 scFv for tumour imaging.

Mechanism of anti-stress activity of Ocimum sanctum Linn, eugenol and Tinospora malabarica in experimental animals.

Effects of restraint stress (RS) and its modulation by O. sanctum (Os), eugenol and T. malabarica (Tm) were evaluated on some biochemical and biophysical parameters in rats. RS induced elevations in blood glucose and urea levels, were unaffected by either Os, eugenol or Tm pretreatment. However, both Os and eugenol lowered RS-induced cholesterol levels. RS also caused a generalized increase in enzyme activity and Os, eugenol or Tm effectively lowered the RS-induced elevations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase. RS also induced (a) increased membrane protein clusterization, (b) increased membrane fluidity and (c) reduced membrane thickness--in RBC membrane, whereas, the effects on the synaptosomal membrane were less marked. The RS-induced changes in RBC membrane dynamics were attenuated/reversed by Os, eugenol or Tm, in a differential manner. These biochemical and membrane changes during Rs and their modulation by the adaptogens are discussed in light of the possible mechanisms of action of these agents, during such aversive stimuli.

Neonatal candidemia.

Fifty five clinically diagnosed cases of neonatal septicaemia of the nursery ward, Medical College Hospital Calcutta were subjected to blood culture on two consecutive days in all cases. Bacterial isolates were found in 34 (61.8%) cases as pure growth and candida species from 9 (16.4%) as pure culture. Remaining 12 samples did not yield any growth. Species distribution of candida showed C. albicans 6, C. parapsilosis 2, and C. guillermondii 1. Asphyxia neonatorum was the common feature in all cases of candidaemia. All neonates with candidal infection were low-birth-weight and premature. C. albicans, the predominant species (66.6%) recovered, was responsible for a localised outbreak of infection in the nursery.

Anaerobic culture on growth efficient bi-layered culture plate in a modified candle jar using a rapid and slow combustion system.

Success for maximum isolation of anaerobes depends on maintaining critically low oxygen levels throughout and growth in a reduced medium with exclusion of inhibitory substances. Hence a dual system was used equipped with candle combustion for instant exhaustion of major part of oxygen from a sealed jar, along with acidified steel wool for residual oxygen purging. For inhibitory substances removal, test anaerobes were grown on anaerobic medium layered on buffer charcoal agar bed. After 48 hours incubation average colony sizes were compared with that of growths in conventional Gas-Pak system. Better growths were noted in the innovative system.

SEMEDS: an important tool for air pollution bio-monitoring.

Plant canopies act as absorbers of air-borne dust particles. Characterization of the dusts present over the leaf surfaces can indicate the nature of contaminant present in the surrounding area and possible sources as well. Dust particulates get adsorbed on both the surfaces of leaves, however more dust particulates get deposited on the upper surface. These dusts contain many inorganic elements, which were analyzed in the present study. For the present investigation, SEMEDS technique used to characterize the dusts adsorbed over the leaf surfaces. Using SEMEDS the samples were analyzed by two types of methods i.e. point analysis and elemental mapping. Both the methods showed the presence of elements like Si, Al, Fe, Mg, and Ca in the dusts adsorbed over the leaf surfaces. Thus, SEMEDS can be used for in situ air pollution monitoring using tree leaves from the area concerned.