Let-7i enhances anti-tumour immunity and suppresses ovarian tumour growth

Cancer immunotherapy has seen significant success in the last decade for cancer management by enhancing endogenous cancer immunity. However, immunotherapies developed thus far have seen limited success in the majority of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) ovarian cancer patients. This is largely due to the highly immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment of HGSC and late-stage identification. Thus, novel treatment interventions are needed to overcome this immunosuppression and complement existing immunotherapies. Here, we have identified through analysis of > 600 human HGSC tumours a critical role for Let-7i in modulating the tumoural immune network. Tumoural expression of Let-7i had high positive correlation with anti-cancer immune signatures in HGSC patients. Confirming this role, enforced Let-7i expression in murine HGSC tumours resulted in a significant decrease in tumour burden with a significant increase in tumour T cell numbers in tumours. In concert with the improved tumoural immunity, Let-7i treatment also significantly increased CD86 expression in antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the draining lymph nodes, indicating enhanced APC activity. Collectively, our findings highlight an important role of Let-7i in anti-tumour immunity and its potential use for inducing an anti-tumour effect in HGSC.

miR-146a inhibits ovarian tumor growth in vivo via targeting immunosuppressive neutrophils and enhancing CD8+ T cell infiltration

Immunotherapies have emerged as promising strategies for cancer treatment. However, existing immunotherapies have poor activity in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and the associated low tumoral CD8+ T cell (CTL) infiltration. Through multiple lines of evidence, including integrative analyses of human HGSC tumors, we have identified miR-146a as a master regulator of CTL infiltration in HGSC. Tumoral miR-146a expression is positively correlated with anti-cancer immune signatures in human HGSC tumors, and delivery of miR-146a to tumors resulted in significant reduction in tumor growth in both ID8-p53-/- and IG10 murine HGSC models. Increasing miR-146a expression in tumors improved anti-tumor immune responses by decreasing immune suppressive neutrophils and increasing CTL infiltration. Mechanistically, miR-146a targets IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 adaptor molecules of the transcription factor nuclear factor κB signaling pathway in ID8-p53-/- cells and decreases production of the downstream neutrophil chemoattractant, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1. In addition to HGSC, tumoral miR-146a expression also correlates strongly with CTL infiltration in other cancer types including thyroid, prostate, breast, and adrenocortical cancers. Altogether, our findings highlight the ability of miR-146a to overcome immune suppression and improve CTL infiltration in tumors.

Novel therapeutic approaches for targeting TB and HIV reservoirs prevailing in lungs

INTRODUCTION

Coinfection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the leading cause of death in HIV positive patients. In 2017, about 0.3 million HIV positive people died of tuberculosis. There is high load of mycobacteria and HIV in the lungs and eradication of the same is vital for patient survival.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on the pathogenesis of HIV-TB coinfection and the current management approaches of this coinfection. It presents a detailed discussion of current investigations in novel drug delivery systems for effective targeting of HIV-TB lung reservoirs, especially via pulmonary drug delivery. Additionally, emphasis is given to the need of HIV-TB cotargeting, an unmet need in management of HIV-TB coinfection.

EXPERT OPINION

To achieve the goal of complete eradication of HIV-TB reservoirs in lungs requires focused research strategies to be undertaken in the area of pulmonary delivery systems. These endeavors could eventually lead to better patient compliance and improved treatment outcomes. The treatment regimen of HIV-TB coinfection is associated with a major drawback of low therapeutic concentration of drugs in lungs. Nanotechnology provides an excellent platform for delivery of anti-TB and anti-HIV drugs via the pulmonary route thereby serving as a viable and effective means of managing the mycobacterial and HIV reservoirs in the lungs.

Selective drug deposition in lungs through pulmonary drug delivery system for effective management of drug-resistant TB

INTRODUCTION

The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a major health issue and continues to be a global health concern. Despite significant advancements in treatment modalities, ~1.6 million deaths worldwide occur due to TB infection. This is because of tuberculosis reservoirs in the alveoli making it a challenge for the formulation scientist to target this.

AREAS COVERED

This review recent investigations on the forefront of pulmonary drug delivery for managing MDR-TB and XDR-TB. Novel delivery systems like liposomes, niosomes, employing carbohydrate, and -coated molecules via conjugation to selectively deliver the drugs to the lung TB reservoir via pulmonary administration are discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Poor patient adherence to treatment due to side effects and extended therapeutic regimen leads to drug-resistant TB. Thus, it is essential to design novel strategies this issue by developing new chemical entities and/or new delivery systems for delivery to the lungs, consequently reducing the side effects, the frequency and the duration of treatment. Delivery of drugs to enhance the efficacy of new/existing anti-TB drugs to overcome the resistance and enhance patient compliance is underway.

Polymeric Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles: Properties and Therapeutic Applications

Some of the criteria for selection of a viable nanocarrier formulation currently being explored are the development of a site-specific and bioavailable formulation. Although the literature reports a variety of techniques for fabrication of nanocarrier systems, their stability and scale-up issues are a concern for their prominence in the pharmaceutical industry. The other widely recognized drawbacks of nanoparticulates, i.e., polymeric nanoparticles and lipid vesicular nanoparticles (liposomes), are low circulatory half-lives due to reticuloendothelial system (RES) uptake and leaky architecture leading to burst kinetics. Polymeric lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLHNs) or lipomers are the recent advancement in nanodrug delivery systems composed of a polymeric core and lipid shell which imparts physicochemical stability and biocompatibility to the nanoparticles. The lipomers are a blend of positive attributes of both liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles wherein their individual innate flaws are negated. An extensive study of PLHN was engineered using single/two or multiple methods carried out for encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical properties, and stability. The influence of shape and composition of PLHN has also shown promising results in terms of reticuloendothelial uptake. These PLHNs have shown to hold a promising place in designing drug delivery systems for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases as well as for theranostic purposes. The present review article encompasses various types of PLHNs, their physicochemical characteristics, and their applications as future perspectives in strategizing drug delivery to their desired sites of action.

Targeting tumor microenvironment to curb chemoresistance via novel drug delivery strategies

INTRODUCTION

Tumor is a heterogeneous mass of malignant cells co-existing with non-malignant cells. This co-existence evolves from the initial developmental stages of the tumor and is one of the hallmarks of cancer providing a protumorigenic niche known as tumor microenvironment (TME). Proliferation, invasiveness, metastatic potential and maintenance of stemness through cross-talk between tumors and its stroma forms the basis of TME.

AREAS COVERED

The article highlights the developmental phases of a tumor from dysplasia to the formation of clinically detectable tumors. The authors discuss the mechanistic stages involved in the formation of TME and its contribution in tumor outgrowth and chemoresistance. The authors have reviewed various approaches for targeting TME and its hallmarks along with their advantages and pitfalls. The authors also highlight cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are resistant to chemotherapeutics and thus a primary reason for tumor recurrence thereby, posing a challenge for the oncologists.

EXPERT OPINION

Recent understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in acquired chemoresistance has enabled scientists to target the tumor niche and TME and modulate and/or disrupt this communication leading to the transformation from a tumor-supportive niche environment to a tumor-non-supporting environment and give synergistic results towards an effective management of cancer.

Toxic Brain Injury with Nitrobenzene Poisoning

Acute methemoglobinemia secondary to nitrobenzene ingestion is a rare but well-known clinical entity. It is extremely important to identify such patients as rapid and effective management with methylene blue and other supportive measures will often save these lives. We present a rare and unfortunate case of a girl who developed acute toxic brain injury following nitrobenzene ingestion and succumbed.

A study of 113 cases of genital ulcerative disease and urethral discharge syndrome with validation of syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases

AIMS

To validate syndromic management of cases having genital ulcerative disease (GUD) and urethral discharge syndrome (UDS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study of 113 cases of GUD and UDS was carried out in the Department of Skin and VD from March 2011 to August 2012. All cases having history and clinical evidence suggestive of GUD and UDS were included in the study.

RESULTS

According to syndromic diagnosis, GUD herpetic syndrome was the most common 71 (62.27%), followed by GUD non-herpetic syndrome 25 (21.89%) and UDS 17 (14.91%). Out of 71 cases clinically diagnosed as GUD herpetic, 16 (22.53%) were validated by immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV) serology, 14 (19.71%) by Tzanck smear and 3 (4.22%) by both. 24 (33.80%) were Reactive plasma Reagin (RPR)(<1:8) reactive and trepenomma palidum haem-agglutination positive. Out of total 25 clinically diagnosed GUD non herpetic cases, 22 (88%) were validated by laboratory tests Out of 17 cases of UDS, 15 (88%) were validated by smear.

CONCLUSION

Sensitivity and specificity of clinically diagnosed syndrome is not so high particularly for GUD herpetic syndrome Continuous monitoring of diagnostic component of syndromic approach is key to success of STD control program.

Active learning of neuron morphology for accurate automated tracing of neurites

Automating the process of neurite tracing from light microscopy stacks of images is essential for large-scale or high-throughput quantitative studies of neural circuits. While the general layout of labeled neurites can be captured by many automated tracing algorithms, it is often not possible to differentiate reliably between the processes belonging to different cells. The reason is that some neurites in the stack may appear broken due to imperfect labeling, while others may appear fused due to the limited resolution of optical microscopy. Trained neuroanatomists routinely resolve such topological ambiguities during manual tracing tasks by combining information about distances between branches, branch orientations, intensities, calibers, tortuosities, colors, as well as the presence of spines or boutons. Likewise, to evaluate different topological scenarios automatically, we developed a machine learning approach that combines many of the above mentioned features. A specifically designed confidence measure was used to actively train the algorithm during user-assisted tracing procedure. Active learning significantly reduces the training time and makes it possible to obtain less than 1% generalization error rates by providing few training examples. To evaluate the overall performance of the algorithm a number of image stacks were reconstructed automatically, as well as manually by several trained users, making it possible to compare the automated traces to the baseline inter-user variability. Several geometrical and topological features of the traces were selected for the comparisons. These features include the total trace length, the total numbers of branch and terminal points, the affinity of corresponding traces, and the distances between corresponding branch and terminal points. Our results show that when the density of labeled neurites is sufficiently low, automated traces are not significantly different from manual reconstructions obtained by trained users.

A study of 113 cases of genital ulcerative disease and urethral discharge syndrome with validation of syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases

Aims:

To validate syndromic management of cases having genital ulcerative disease (GUD) and urethral discharge syndrome (UDS).

Materials and Methods:

A study of 113 cases of GUD and UDS was carried out in the Department of Skin and VD from March 2011 to August 2012. All cases having history and clinical evidence suggestive of GUD and UDS were included in the study.

Results:

According to syndromic diagnosis, GUD herpetic syndrome was the most common 71 (62.27%), followed by GUD non-herpetic syndrome 25 (21.89%) and UDS 17 (14.91%). Out of 71 cases clinically diagnosed as GUD herpetic, 16 (22.53%) were validated by immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV) serology, 14 (19.71%) by Tzanck smear and 3 (4.22%) by both. 24 (33.80%) were Reactive plasma Reagin (RPR)(<1:8) reactive and trepenomma palidum haem-agglutination positive. Out of total 25 clinically diagnosed GUD non herpetic cases, 22 (88%) were validated by laboratory tests Out of 17 cases of UDS, 15 (88%) were validated by smear.

Conclusion:

Sensitivity and specificity of clinically diagnosed syndrome is not so high particularly for GUD herpetic syndrome Continuous monitoring of diagnostic component of syndromic approach is key to success of STD control program.

Cognitive Informatics and Cognitive Computing in Year 10 and Beyond

Cognitive Informatics (CI) is a transdisciplinary enquiry of computer science, information sciences, cognitive science, and intelligence science that investigates into the internal information processing mechanisms and processes of the brain and natural intelligence, as well as their engineering applications in cognitive computing. The latest advances in CI leads to the establishment of cognitive computing theories and methodologies, as well as the development of Cognitive Computers (CogC) that perceive, infer, and learn. This paper reports a set of nine position statements presented in the plenary panel of IEEE ICCI*CC’11 on Cognitive Informatics in Year 10 and Beyond contributed from invited panelists who are part of the world’s renowned researchers and scholars in the field of cognitive informatics and cognitive computing.