Clustering of hepatitis C virus antibody positivity within households and communities in Punjab, India.

To better understand hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology in Punjab state, India, we estimated the distribution of HCV antibody positivity (anti-HCV+) using a 2013-2014 HCV household seroprevalence survey. Household anti-HCV+ clustering was investigated (a) by individual-level multivariable logistic regression, and (b) comparing the observed frequency of households with multiple anti-HCV+ persons against the expected, simulated frequency assuming anti-HCV+ persons are randomly distributed. Village/ward-level clustering was investigated similarly. We estimated household-level associations between exposures and the number of anti-HCV+ members in a household (N = 1593 households) using multivariable ordered logistic regression. Anti-HCV+ prevalence was 3.6% (95% confidence interval 3.0-4.2%). Individual-level regression (N = 5543 participants) found an odds ratio of 3.19 (2.25-4.50) for someone being anti-HCV+ if another household member was anti-HCV+. Thirty households surveyed had ⩾2 anti-HCV+ members, whereas 0/1000 (P < 0.001) simulations had ⩾30 such households. Excess village-level clustering was evident: 10 villages had ⩾6 anti-HCV+ members, occurring in 31/1000 simulations (P = 0.031). The household-level model indicated the number of household members, living in southern Punjab, lower socio-economic score, and a higher proportion having ever used opium/bhuki were associated with a household's number of anti-HCV+ members. Anti-HCV+ clusters within households and villages in Punjab, India. These data should be used to inform screening efforts.

The burden of hepatitis C virus infection in Punjab, India: A population-based serosurvey.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalence is believed to be elevated in Punjab, India; however, state-wide prevalence data are not available. An understanding of HCV prevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution can be used to plan control measures in Punjab. METHODS: A cross-sectional, state-wide, population-based serosurvey using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design was conducted October 2013 to April 2014. Children aged ≥5 years and adults were eligible to participate. Demographic and risk behavior data were collected, and serologic specimens were obtained and tested for anti-HCV antibody, HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) on anti-HCV positive samples, and HCV genotype. Prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios for risk factors were calculated from weighted data and stratified by urban/rural residence. RESULTS: 5,543 individuals participated in the study with an overall weighted anti-HCV prevalence of 3.6% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 3.0%-4.2%) and chronic infection (HCV Ribonucleic acid test positive) of 2.6% (95% CI: 2.0%-3.1%). Anti-HCV was associated with being male (adjusted odds ratio 1.52; 95% CI: 1.08-2.14), living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio 2.53; 95% CI: 1.62-3.95) and was most strongly associated with those aged 40-49 (adjusted odds ratio 40-49 vs. 19-29-year-olds 3.41; 95% CI: 1.90-6.11). Anti-HCV prevalence increased with each blood transfusion received (adjusted odds ratio 1.36; 95% CI: 1.10-1.68) and decreased with increasing education, (adjusted odds ratio 0.37 for graduate-level vs. primary school/no education; 95% CI: 0.16-0.82). Genotype 3 (58%) was most common among infected individuals. DISCUSSION: The study findings, including the overall prevalence of chronic HCV infection, associated risk factors and demographic characteristics, and genotype distribution can guide prevention and control efforts, including treatment provision. In addition to high-risk populations, efforts targeting rural areas and adults aged ≥40 would be the most effective for identifying infected individuals.

CXorf48 is a potential therapeutic target for achieving treatment-free remission in CML patients.

Although the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has improved overall survival of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), about half of the patients eventually relapse after cessation of TKIs. In contrast, the remainder of the patients maintain molecular remission without TKIs, indicating that the patients' immune system could control proliferation of TKI-resistant leukemic stem cells (LSCs). However, the precise mechanism of immunity against CML-LSCs is not fully understood. We have identified a novel immune target, CXorf48, expressed in LSCs of CML patients. Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) induced by the epitope peptide derived from CXorf48 recognized CD34+CD38- cells obtained from the bone marrow of CML patients. We detected CXorf48-specific CTLs in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CML patients who have discontinued imatinib after maintaining complete molecular remission for more than 2 years. Significantly, the relapse rate of CXorf48-specific CTL-negative patients was 63.6%, compared to 0% in CXorf48-specific CTL-positive patients. These results indicate that CXorf48 could be a promising therapeutic target of LSCs for immunotherapy to obtain durable treatment-free remission in CML patients.

In-vitro evaluation of copper nanoparticles cytotoxicity on prostate cancer cell lines and their antioxidant, sensing and catalytic activity: One-pot green approach.

In this study, Broccoli green extract was reported as a green and environmental friendly precursor for the one-pot biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis, FTIR, TEM, DLS, XRD and cyclic voltammetry. The TEM and DLS results showed that the NPs are in spherical and monodispersed with an average particle size of ~4.8nm. The FTIR results confirmed the occurrence of bioactive functional groups that are responsible for reducing cupric sulphate to copper ions. The UV-vis spectrophotometry was used for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and its dynamic reaction in Britton-Robinson buffer solution. This catalytic activity was further supported with methylene blue and methyl red dyes degradation. The nanocatalyst can be recovered from the reaction mixture and reused many times with none vital loss of catalytic activity. The Broccoli green extract modified copper nanoparticles coated on screen printing electrode laid a new sensing platform and has an excellent electrocatalytic activity. Furthermore, surface modified CuNPs with Broccoli green extract exhibited no cytotoxicity at the concentration ranging from 0.5 to 1.5µM on the prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines. The maximum scavenging % of Broccoli green extract modified CuNPs was found to be >70.50% at the concentration of 0.25mM against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

The determination of cobalt(II) at DME using catalytic hydrogen current technique in various water samples, agricultural materials and pharmaceuticals.

Two novel and facile ligands ammonium piperidine dithiocarbamate (Amm Pip-DTC) and ammonium morpholine dithiocarbamate (Amm Mor-DTC) were synthesized for the development of rapid and cost effective catalytic hydrogen current technique to analyze cobalt(II) in the presence of NH(4)Cl-NH(4)OH at pH 7.8 and 8.4 with Amm Pip-DTC and Amm Mor-DTC. These ligands produce catalytic hydrogen currents with Co(II) at peak potentials -1.24 V and -1.44 V vs. SCE respectively. Quantitative experimental conditions are developed by studying effect of pH, supporting electrolyte (NH(4)Cl), ligand and metal ion concentrations and effect of adverse ions on peak height to improve the sensitivity, selectivity and detection limits of the catalytic hydrogen current technique and compared it in terms of Student's t test and variance ratio f test with differential pulse polarographic (DPP) method. The developed technique was applied for the analysis of cobalt(II) in various water samples, agricultural materials and pharmaceuticals and the results obtained are in good agreement with the DPP data.