METHODS: Cytokines were measured using a commercial Bio-plex Pro Human Cytokine Grp I Panel 17-plex kit (BioRad, Hercules, CA, USA). Inflammation was assessed by measuring an array of plasma cytokines, and phenotypic alterations in CD4+ T cells including circulating Tfh cells, CD8+ T cells, and TCR iVα7.2+ MAIT cells in chronic HBV, HCV, and HIV-infected patients and healthy controls. The cells were characterized based on markers pertaining to immune activation (CD69, ICOS, and CD27) proliferation (Ki67), cytokine production (TNF-α, IFN-γ) and exhaustion (PD-1). The cytokine levels and T cell phenotypes together with cell markers were correlated with surrogate markers of disease progression.
RESULTS: The activation marker CD69 was significantly increased in CD4+hi T cells, while CD8+ MAIT cells producing IFN-γ were significantly increased in chronic HBV, HCV and HIV infections. Six cell phenotypes, viz., TNF-α+CD4+lo T cells, CD69+CD8+ T cells, CD69+CD4+ MAIT cells, PD-1+CD4+hi T cells, PD-1+CD8+ T cells, and Ki67+CD4+ MAIT cells, were independently associated with decelerating the plasma viral load (PVL). TNF-α levels showed a positive correlation with increase in cytokine levels and decrease in PVL.
CONCLUSION: Chronic viral infection negatively impacts the quality of peripheral MAIT cells and Tfh cells via differential expression of both activating and inhibitory receptors.
METHODS: We investigated whether detecting plasma cytokines could aid in diagnosing LTBI across household contacts (HHCs) positive for IGRA, HHCs negative for IGRA, and healthy controls. We also measured the plasma cytokines using a commercial Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 17-plex assay.
RESULTS: Increased plasma CXCL8 and decreased MCP-1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were associated with LTBI. Regression analysis showed that a combination of CXCL8 and MCP-1 increased the risk of LTBI among HHCs to 14-fold.
CONCLUSIONS: We postulated that CXCL8 and MCP-1 could be the surrogate biomarkers of LTBI, especially in resource-limited settings.
METHODS: The [152Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres were synthesized using solid-in-oil-in-water solvent evaporation. The microspheres underwent neutron activation using a 1 MW open-pool research reactor to produce radioactive [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres via 152Sm(n,γ)153Sm reaction. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectroscopy and in-vitro radionuclide retention efficiency were carried out to evaluate the properties and stability of the microspheres before and after neutron activation.
RESULTS: The [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres achieved specific activity of 5.04 ± 0.52 GBq·g-1 after a 6 h neutron activation. Scanning electron microscopy and particle size analysis showed that the microspheres remained spherical with an average diameter of ~33 μm before and after neutron activation. No long half-life radionuclide and elemental impurities were found in the samples. The radionuclide retention efficiencies of the [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres at 550 h were 99.64 ± 0.07 and 98.76 ± 1.10% when tested in saline solution and human blood plasma, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: A neutron-activated [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microsphere formulation was successfully developed for potential application as a theranostic agent for liver radioembolization. The microspheres achieved suitable physical properties for radioembolization and demonstrated high radionuclide retention efficiency in saline solution and human blood plasma.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the metabolite profile of Chrysanthemum morifolium flower fraction with that of its detannified fraction in relation to XO inhibitory activity using a rapid and effective metabolomics approach.
METHODS: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR)-based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis was utilised to characterise the XO inhibitors related to the antioxidant properties, total phenolic, and total flavonoid contents of the C. morifolium dried flowers.
RESULTS: The highest XO inhibitory activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content with strong positive correlation between them were observed in the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction. Detannified EtOAc showed higher XO inhibitory activity than non-detannified EtOAc fraction. A total of 17 metabolites were tentatively identified, of which three namely kaempferol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and apigenin, could be suggested to be responsible for the strong XO inhibitory activity. Additive interaction between 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and apigenin (or kaempferol) in XO inhibition was demonstrated in the interaction assay conducted.
CONCLUSION: Chrysanthemum morifolium dried flower-part could be further explored as a natural XO inhibitor for its anti-hyperuricemic potential. Metabolomics approach served as an effective classification of plant metabolites responsible for XO inhibitory activity, and demonstrated that multiple active compounds can work additively in giving combined inhibitory effects.
METHODS: We investigated the factors associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG decay in 519 individuals who recovered from COVID-19 illness or received COVID-19 vaccination with two commercial vaccines, viz., an adenoviral vector-based (AZD1222) and a whole-virion-based inactivated (BBV152) vaccine in Chennai, India from March to December 2021. Blood samples collected during regular follow-up post-infection/-vaccination were examined for anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG by a commercial automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA).
RESULTS: Age and underlying comorbidities were the two variables that were independently associated with the development of a breakthrough infection. Individuals who were >60 years of age with underlying comorbid conditions (viz., hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease) had a ~15 times and ~10 times greater odds for developing a breakthrough infection and hospitalization, respectively. The time elapsed since the first booster dose was associated with attrition in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, where each month passed was associated with an ebb in the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels by a coefficient of -6 units.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings advocate that the elderly with underlying comorbidities be administered with appropriate number of booster doses with AZD1222 and BBV152 against COVID-19.