Opposing effects of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms on the risk for breast cancer in western Indian women: a pilot study

In an earlier study, the genotypes associated with higher level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were found to reduce the risk for breast cancer in western Indian women. This observation implied that gene polymorphisms affecting the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may influence the risk for breast cancer in this population. Hence, we performed genotyping for three more functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) responsible for variations in the levels of cytokines associated with inflammation. To that effect, polymorphisms in genes coding for IL-4 (IL-4 C-590T; rs2243250), IFN-γ (IFN-G A + 874T; rs2430561) and MCP-1 (MCP-1 A-2578G; rs1024611) were examined in premenopausal, healthy women (N = 239) and patients with breast cancer (N = 182) from western India. In carriers of the IL-4*590T allele, a reduced risk for the disease (dominant model; OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.37-0.98) was seen similar to that seen in TGF-B1*10C carriers. An opposite trend was observed with respect to the alleles associated with higher expression of MCP-1 or IFN-γ. In individuals positive for three or more alleles associated with higher levels of either pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines, an additive effect on the modulation of risk for the disease was evident (for TGF-B1 & IL-4, OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12-0.87; for IFN-G & MCP-1, OR = 2.29, 95% CI 0.95-5.51). In the context of contrasting observations in other populations, these results indicate a significant contribution of anti-inflammatory genotypes in the modulation of risk for breast cancer in western Indian women.

B cell responses to the 2011/12-influenza vaccine in the aged

Antibody and B cell responses to influenza A viruses were measured over a period of 2 months in 30 aged and 15 middle-aged individuals following vaccination with the 2011/12 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine by micro-neutralization assays, ELISAs, ELISpot assays and cell surface staining with lineage-defining antibodies followed by multicolor flow cytometry. Both cohorts developed comparable antibody responses to the H3N2 virus of the vaccine while responses to the H1N1 virus were compromised in the aged. ELISpot assays of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) gave comparable results for the two cohorts. Analysis by flow cytometry upon staining of CD19+IgD-CD20- PBMCs with antibodies to CD27 and CD38 showed markedly reduced increases of such cells following vaccination in the aged. Additional analysis of cells from a subset of 10 younger and 10 aged individuals indicated that in the aged a portion of IgG producing cells lose expression of CD27 and reduce expression of CD38.

Application of Laguerre based adaptive predictive control to Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator

This paper discusses the use of an existing adaptive predictive controller to control some Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) linear actuators. The model consists in a truncated linear combination of Laguerre filters identified online. The controller stability is studied in details. It is proven that the tracking error is asymptotically stable under some conditions on the modelling error. Moreover, the tracking error converge toward zero for step references, even if the identified model is inaccurate. Experimental results obtained on two different kind of actuator validate the proposed control. They also show that it is robust with regard to input constraints.

pH-responsive drug delivery of chitosan nanoparticles as Tamoxifen carriers for effective anti-tumor activity in breast cancer cells

Tamoxifen (Tam) has a broad spectrum of anticancer activity, but is limited in clinical application. The aim of this study was to explore the smart pH-responsive drug delivery system (DDS) based on chitosan (CH) nanoparticles (NPs) for its potential in enabling more intelligent controlled release and enhancing chemotherapeutic efficiency of Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen was loaded onto CH-nanoparticles by forming complexes and Tamoxifen was released from the DDS much more rapidly at pH 4.0 and 6.0 than at pH 7.4, which is a desirable characteristic for tumor-targeted drug delivery. Tamoxifen-loaded CH nanoparticles induced remarkable improvement in anticancer activity, as demonstrated by MTT-assay, AO/EtBr and Hoechst nuclear staining. Furthermore, the possible signaling pathway was explored by RT-PCR. For instance, in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, it was demonstrated that Tamoxifen-loaded CH nanoparticles increase intracellular concentration of Tamoxifen and enhance its anticancer efficiency by inducing apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner, indicating that drug loaded nanoparticles could act as an efficient DDS importing Tamoxifen into target cancer cells.

Prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasitic infection among HIV infected patients who are taking antiretroviral treatment at Jimma Health Center, Jimma, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

One of the major health problems among HIV sero-positive patients are superimposed infections due to the deficient immunity. Furthermore, intestinal parasitic (IP) infections, which are also one of the basic health problems in tropical regions, are common in these patients. Infection by opportunistic pathogens, including various forms of intestinal parasites has been the hall mark of HIV since the beginning of the epidemic.

AIM

To study the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasitic infection among HIV patients who are taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Jimma, Ethiopia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patient samples were diagnosed by examination of single stool specimen which was examined as fresh wet mounts, formal-ether concentration technique and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Data was obtained from 91 study subjects selected by convenience sampling method.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was found to be 39.56%. Eight types of intestinal parasites was identified, the most dominant being, Ascaris lumbricoides, 21.67%, Entamoeba histolytica, 15% and Cryptosporidium parvum 13.33%. The prevalence of opportunistic parasite was 15.38%, the prevalence of non-opportunistic parasite was 20.87% and the prevalence of both opportunistic and non opportunistic was 3.29%.

CONCLUSIONS

The study indicated that intestinal parasites were still a problem in the study area. Data also showed that among the predisposing factors, habit of hand washing before meal, usage of latrine and duration after treatment was statistically associated with intestinal parasitic infections.

Tuberculosis masquerading as oral malignancy

Tuberculosis of the oral cavity is a rare condition. A 55-year-old labourer was referred as a case of oral cancer for further management. The patient had no systemic symptoms. Biopsy of the lesion revealed caseating granulomatous inflammation. Chest X-ray and sputum revealed evidence of asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. The purpose of this paper is to sensitize clinicians to consider oral tuberculosis as a differential diagnosis in patients with an Non-healing oral cavity ulcer.

Update on bacterial nosocomial infections

With increasing use of antimicrobial agents and advance in lifesaving medical practices which expose the patients for invasive procedures, are associated with the ever increasing of nosocomial infections. Despite an effort in hospital infection control measures, health care associated infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality adding additional health care expenditure which may leads to an economic crisis. The problem is further complicated with the emergence of difficult to treat multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganism in the hospital environment. Virtually every pathogen has the potential to cause infection in hospitalized patients but only limited number of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria are responsible for the majority of nosocomial infection. Among them Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococci takes the leading. Many intrinsic and extrinsic factors predispose hospitalized patients for these pathogens. Following simple hospital hygienic practices and strictly following standard medical procedures greatly reduces infection to a significant level although not all nosocomial infections are avoidable. The clinical spectrum caused by nosocomial pathogens depend on body site of infection, the involving pathogen and the patient's underlying condition. Structural and non structural virulence factors associated with the bacteria are responsible for the observed clinical manifestation. Bacteria isolation and characterization from appropriate clinical materials with antimicrobial susceptibility testing is the standard of laboratory diagnosis.

5HT3 antagonists for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting in breast surgery: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are distressing adverse events following breast cancer surgery with an incidence of up to 80%. 5HT 3 antagonists are commonly employed as drugs of first choice for PONV although there is no clear evidence favoring one pharmacological approach over another.

AIMS

The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of 5HT 3 antagonists against all non-5HT 3 antagonism-based pharmacological approaches as a preemptive strategy for PONV in women undergoing breast surgery.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature search was conducted through PUBMED, reference lists, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials till June 2010 to identify eligible studies. Trials comparing 5-HT 3 antagonists with placebo or active controls for prophylaxis against PONV in women undergoing breast surgery were included. Two reviewers extracted the data independently. Methodological quality of each trial was assessed using Jadad score.

RESULTS

Nineteen trials were included. All trials were of good methodological quality (Jadad score >3). 5HT 3 antagonists were found superior to placebo [Odds ratio (OR)=0.18 (0.13-0.26)] or active controls [OR=0.65 (0.47-0.91)] in the prevention of PONV. 5HT 3 antagonists were also superior to placebo in preventing nausea alone [OR=0.51 (0.34-0.76)], vomiting [OR=0.31 (0.20-0.47)] and the use of rescue antiemetics [OR=0.18 (0.11-0.28)]. No significant difference was observed in the use of rescue antiemetics as compared to active controls [0.59 (0.19 to 1.86)].

CONCLUSION

5HT 3 antagonists are superior to other pharmacological interventions for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing breast surgery under general anesthesia.

Transesterification of edible, non-edible and used cooking oils for biodiesel production using calcined layered double hydroxides as reusable base catalysts

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were produced from edible, non-edible and used cooking oils with different fatty acid contents by transesterification with methanol using calcined layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as solid base catalysts. Among the catalysts, calcined CaAl2-LDH (hydrocalumite) showed the highest activity with >90% yield of FAME using low methanol:oil molar ratio (<6:1) at 65 °C in 5 h. The activity of the catalyst was attributed to its high basicity as supported by Hammett studies and CO(2)-TPD measurements. The catalyst was successfully reused in up to four cycles. Some of the properties such as density, viscosity, neutralization number and glycerol content of the obtained biodiesel matched well with the standard DIN values. It is concluded that a scalable heterogeneously catalyzed process for production of biodiesel in high yields from a wide variety of triglyceride oils including used oils is possible using optimized conditions.