Indian J Med Res
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Elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R) is a diagnostic criterion for haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). International guidelines propose a 2400 U/ml cut-off or individual laboratory-defined cut-off. However, sIL2R normal values are so far not known in Indians. So, this study was undertaken to measure sIL2R in healthy children and adults to establish age-related reference values. ⋯ Paediatric controls in India showed higher sIL2R levels than most studies conducted in other countries, except for some reports in Chinese and Russian populations. Age-appropriate reference values of sIL2R in a specific population may be considered to determine elevated sIL2R as a marker of HLH.
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Despite advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, tuberculosis (TB) is widely prevalent and contributes to a significant burden of illness in both developing and developed nations. The present study was aimed to assess the role of coronin in TB patients and healthy controls. Coronin is a leucocyte-specific protein that is actively recruited in mycobacterial phagolysosomes, where it inhibits lysosomal delivery of Mycobacterium by activating a calcium-dependent phosphatase-calcineurin. ⋯ Coronin 1a appears to play an important role in the TB disease pathophysiology and agents developed against coronin may have a role in the treatment of TB. Further studies are required to assess if coronin-1a levels are elevated in non-tubercular infective a etiologies and whether these can be a potential drug target in patients with TB.
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Observational Study
Quality of life assessment & out-of-pocket expenditure in multiple myeloma: An observational study.
Prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has improved significantly in the past two decades. However, the symptoms burden is high at onset and treatment is generally prolonged with significant financial burden. This study was undertaken to assess the quality of life (QoL) and to analyse out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) incurred on MM patients being treated at a tertiary care cancer centre in north India. ⋯ Regular assessment of QoL in the clinical management of multiple myeloma patients has the potential of improving treatment outcomes. Measures to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure may improve treatment compliance.
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Tear proteomic changes can be a candidate etiopathogenesis of lacrimal duct obstruction diseases (LDODs). Studies on proteomics have focused primarily on nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and some specific inflammatory cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-α2a, interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10, have not been investigated. In addition, differences in inflammatory cytokines in tears according to the LDOD subtype have not been reported. This study aimed to quantitatively compare inflammatory cytokines in tears from patients with LDOD and investigate tear-cytokine differences among different LDOD subtypes. ⋯ Specific pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased in tears of patients with LDOD compared with those in the controls. The specific cytokine profiles observed in the tears of individuals with different LDOD subtypes may be associated with the unique aetiopathogenesis of these conditions.
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β-catenin signalling plays a key role in maintaining normal cellular physiology, and therefore, its deregulation can lead to many human diseases including cancers. Previously, we have shown that the activation of Gq signalling positively regulates β-catenin by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta and increasing the stability of β-catenin protein, however, these results were mainly based on overexpression experiments in either Xenopus oocytes or HEK293T cells. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the modulation of Gq signalling in human colon cancer cells. ⋯ The results of this study further support the positive role of Gq signalling in regulating β-catenin expression and function and may provide a new means of preventing β-catenin-mediated carcinogenesis by blocking heterotrimeric G proteins.