Delayed identification of treatment failure causes high levels of acquired drug resistance and less future drug options among HIV-1-infected South Indians

PURPOSE

HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations (DRMs) among Immunological failure (IF) on NRTI based first-line regimens, Thymidine analogue (TA) - AZT & D4T and Non-Thymidine Analogue (NTA) -TDF; and predict viral drug susceptibility to gain vision about optimal treatment strategies for second-line.

METHODS

Cross-sectionally, 300 HIV-1 infected patients, failing first-line HAART were included. HIV-1 pol gene spanning 20-240 codons of RT was genotyped and mutation pattern was examined, (IAS-USA 2014 and Stanford HIV drug resistance database v7.0).

RESULTS

The median age of the participants was 35 years (IQR 29-40), CD4 T cell count of TDF failures was low at 172 cells/μL (IQR 80-252), and treatment duration was low among TDF failures (24 months vs. 61 months) (p < 0.0001). Majority of the TDF failures were on EFV based first-line (89 % vs 45 %) (p < 0.0001). Level of resistance for TDF and AZT shows, that resistance to TDF was about one-third (37 %) of TDF participants and onefourth (23 %) of AZT participants; resistance to AZT was 17 % among TDF participants and 47 % among AZT participants; resistance to both AZT and TDF was significantly high among AZT participants [21 % vs. 8 %, OR 3.057 (95 % CI 1.4-6.8), p < 0.0001].

CONCLUSION

Although delayed identification of treatment failure caused high levels of acquired drug resistance in our study. Thus, we must include measures to regularize virological monitoring with integrated resistance testing in LMIC (Low and Middle Income Countries) like in India; this will help to preserve the effectiveness of ARV and ensure the success of ending AIDS as public health by 2030.

Molecular docking analysis of Bcl-2 with phyto-compounds

The Bcl-2 protein is liked in several cancers and drug resistance to therapy is also known in this context. There are many Bcl-2 inhibitors under clinical trials. It is of further interest to design new Bcl2 inhibitors from phyto compounds such as artesunate, bruceantin, maytansin, Salvicine, indicine N-oxide, kamebanin and oxyacanthine. We report the optimal binding features of these compounds with Bcl-2 for further consideration towards in vitro and in vivo validation.

Molecular docking data of piperine with Bax, Caspase 3, Cox 2 and Caspase 9

Several apoptotic signalling proteins such as Bax, Caspase 3, Cox 2 and Caspase 9 are known to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). It is of interest to study the interaction of these proteins with piperine a known drug candidate. We document the binding energy, hydrogen bond interaction and hydrophobic interaction between the piperine and apoptotic proteins for further consideration.

Docking analysis of importin-11 homology model with the phyto compounds towards colorectal cancer treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most familiar malignancy worldwide. Hence, searching for novel therapeutic options is of highest priority. Therefore, it is of interest to design inhibitors to the protein target importin-11, which transports β-catenin linked to colon cancer cells. However, the structure of importin-11 is not known. Hence, we use a homology model of importin-11 to dock potential interactions with five phyto compounds using molecular interaction features for further consideration.

"Role of the adipocyte hormone leptin in cardiovascular diseases - a study from Chennai based Population"

Background

Obesity is currently regarded as a pro-inflammatory condition during which leptin (Ob gene product) might act as a risk factor for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) including Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). There is a marked increase in circulating leptin concentrations and inflammatory markers such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in AMI patients but still the association of leptin with inflammation during AMI is not known. The present study suggest that elevated levels of leptin might elicit the risk for CVD by signaling for the secretion of inflammatory cytokines especially, TNF-α.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 100 CVD subjects diagnosed for AMI immediately after their admission to the hospital and serum leptin, insulin, glucose, lipids and inflammatory marker such as TNF-α were measured. 5 ml random (non-fasting) blood was collected from 100 non-CVD (control) subjects and the results obtained in case of AMI subjects were compared with that of the control subjects. The subjects under study included both men and women belonging to the age group of 35 – 75 and they were classified based on their BMI as normal weight, overweight and obese.

Results

Circulating levels of leptin are found to be elevated in obese control subjects and in patients with AMI irrespective of their Body Mass Index (BMI). In addition, leptin is also found to be positively correlated to serum triglycerides, insulin and TNF-α in AMI subjects. MANOVA analysis suggests that leptin might influence the synthesis of insulin and TNF-α. This is the first report relating leptin to TNF-α in Chennai based population, India.

Conclusions

Hyperleptinemia might act as a risk marker for AMI. The present study suggests that at elevated levels, leptin may favor atherosclerosis by promoting the synthesis of TNF-α and insulin. However, our report warrants further investigation both in vitro and in vivo to determine the exact mechanism behind the pro-atherogenic role of leptin. The observed positive correlation between leptin and BMI in both AMI and control subjects suggests that obese subjects manifest leptin resistance and hence, they possess a greater risk for the incidence of CVD.

Effect of plant fruits--Indian gall nut, bedda nut and gooseberry--on hypercholesterolemic rats

The effect of supplementation of three fruits, Indian gall nut, bedda nut and gooseberry, on serum lipid levels and excretion of bile acids was investigated. Rats made hypercholesterolemic by feeding hypercholesterolemia inducing diet (HID) for a period of 30 days were used as the test model. Feeding of a dried powder of these fruits along with the HID resulted in significant (p<0.01) reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. HDL cholesterol remained unchanged in groups fed gall nut and bedda nut. However, the levels were significantly (p<0.01) higher in groups fed mixed and gooseberry diets in comparison to the control diet. Excretion of bile acids was found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher in animals receiving the three fruits in combination in comparison to those receiving the individual fruits.