ImmPort: disseminating data to the public for the future of immunology

The immunology database and analysis portal (ImmPort) system is the archival repository and dissemination vehicle for clinical and molecular datasets created by research consortia funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation. With nearly 100 datasets now publicly available and hundreds of downloads per month, ImmPort is an important source for raw data and protocols from clinical trials, mechanistic studies, and novel methods for cellular and molecular measurements. To facilitate data transfer, templates for data representation and standard operating procedures have also been created and are also publicly available. ImmPort facilitates transparency and reproducibility in immunology research, serves as an important resource for education, and enables newly generated hypotheses and data-driven science.     

Pharmacological Studies on the Effect of the Treatment of Swiss A Mice with Diospyrin,a Tumour-inhibitory Plant Product,and its Synthetic Derivatives

Diospyrin, a bisnaphthoquinonoid plant product and its derivatives have shown significant inhibitory activities against murine tumours in vivo . Studies on the haematological status, serum protein and creatinine levels, activities of several serum glycolytic enzymes, and histopathology of the mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma were carried out after treatment with diospyrin and four synthetic derivatives. The prognostic significance of the pharmacological parameters acting as markers of the diseased state was evident from these findings. Normal mice were also studied before and after treatment with these compounds which did not cause noticeable adverse effects on the vital parameters, thereby indicating the possibility of the utilization of diospyrin and derivatives as appropriate therapeutic agents.     

Shilajit attenuates streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus and decrease in pancreatic islet superoxide dismutase activity in rats

Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Wistar rats by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/kg, s.c. on 2 consecutive days). Hyperglycaemia and superoxide dismutase activity of pancreatic islet cells was assessed on days 7, 14, 21 and 28, following STZ administration. In two other groups, shilajit (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered concurrently for 28 days. STZ induced significant hyperglycaemia by day 14, which increased progressively on days 21 and 28. STZ also induced a decrease in pancreatic islet cell superoxide dismutase, which was apparent by day 7 and increased progressively, thereafter on days 14, 21 and 28. Shilajit (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) had no discernible per se effect on blood glucose levels in normal rats but attenuated the hyperglycaemic response of STZ from day 14 onwards, though only the effect of the higher dose was statistically significant. Similarly, both the doses of shilajit reduced the STZ-induced decrease in superoxide dismutase activity from day 14 onwards, the effect of the lower dose being statistically insignificant. The findings confirm earlier observations that STZ-induced hyperglycaemia may be the consequence of a decrease in pancreatic islet superoxide dismutase activity, leading to accumulation of free radicals and damage of the β-cells. Shilajit attenuates both these effects of STZ possibly by its action as a free radical scavenger. The findings support the postulate that shilajit can prevent maturity onset diabetes mellitus.     

Cross-sectional echocardiographic recognition of submitral left ventricular aneurysm

Three cases of annular submitral left ventricular aneurysm precisely diagnosed by cross-sectional echocardiography are reported from the Indian subcontinent. The cineangiographic findings are available in all and morphologic findings in two cases. The apical four-chamber view demonstrated a characteristically large aneurysm arising below the mural leaflet of the mitral valve extending anterolaterally and posteriorly and communicating with the left ventricular cavity in all the cases. Contrast echocardiography performed during cardiac catheterisation promises to be a good technique for the qualitative assessment of the associated mitral regurgitation. Cross-sectional echocardiography is invaluable in diagnosis and assessment of results of surgery in this entity.     

Isolation and study of insulin activated nitric oxide synthase inhibitory protein in acute myocardial infarction subjects

Insulin inhibits platelet aggregation through nitric oxide synthesis by stimulating platelet insulin activated nitric oxide synthase. Impaired platelet insulin activated nitric oxide synthase in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients had been reported and thus our aim was to identify and isolate the factors impairing insulin activated nitric oxide in acute myocardial infarction patients’ plasma and study its effect on platelets aggregation in vitro. The insulin activated nitric oxide synthase inhibitor was identified as a protein and was purified from the plasma of AMI subjects using DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-50 column, molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE, nitric oxide quantified by methaemoglobin method, inhibitor protein quantified in plasma by immunoblot and ELISA, platelet aggregation studies done using an aggregometer, thromboxane-A2 in the platelets determined by radioimmunoassay, ¹²⁵I-insulin radioligand binding studies done using normal subject platelets. The purified nitric oxide synthase inhibitor protein was ~66 kDa, concentration in AMI subjects’ plasma varied from 114 to 9,090 μM and was undetected in normal subjects’ plasma. The inhibitor protein competes with insulin for insulin receptor binding sites. The Incubation of the normal subject PRP with 5.0 μM inhibitor for 30 min followed by 0.4 μM ADP addition caused platelet aggregation in vitro, 130 μM aspirin or 400 μU insulin/ml addition was able to abrogate 0.4 μM ADP induced platelet aggregation even in the presence of 5.0 μM inhibitor. A potent inhibitory protein against insulin activated nitric oxide synthase in platelets appears in circulation of AMI subjects impairing nitric oxide production, potentiating ADP induced platelet aggregation and increasing the thromboxane-A2 level in platelets.     

Ventricular tachycardia induced by Valsalva's manoeuvre in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

We describe a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who developed reproducible ventricular tachycardia during Valsalva's manoeuvre. This phenomenon has not previously been described.     

Minimally invasive approaches to the management of pancreatic pseudocysts: review of the literature

Although one third or more of pancreatic pseudocysts might resolve spontaneously, interventional therapy is required for most. Several minimally invasive management approaches are now available, including percutaneous drainage under radiologic control, endoscopic transpapillary or transmural drainage, and laparoscopic internal drainage. This paper reviews the methodology, applications, advantages, shortcomings, and results of these management approaches. A computerized search was made of the MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE, and EMBASE databases using the search words pancreatic and pseudocysts and all relevant articles in English Language or with English abstracts were retrieved. In addition, cross-references from the identified articles were reviewed. Percutaneous drainage is best applied to pseudocysts complicated with secondary infection and in critically ill patients or those unfit for surgery. Radiologic drainage, however, risks the introduction of secondary infection and the formation of an external pancreatic fistula, and is associated with high recurrence rates. Endoscopic transpapillary drainage is beneficial for pseudocysts that communicate with the pancreatic duct and when a dependent drainage could be established. Endoscopic transmural (transgastric or transduodenal) drainage offers good results in the management of suitably located pseudocysts that complicate chronic pancreatitis, but is associated with high rates of failure to drain, secondary infection, and recurrence when pseudocysts that complicate acute necrotizing pancreatitis are approached. Laparoscopic pseudocyst gastrostomy or pseudocyst jejunostomy achieves adequate internal drainage, facilitates concomitant debridement of necrotic tissue within acute pseudocysts, and achieves good results with minimal morbidity. A randomized controlled trial that compares laparoscopic and endoscopic drainage techniques of retrogastric pseudocysts of chronic pancreatitis is required.     

DNA methylation is a reversible biological signal

The pattern of DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating different genome functions. To test the hypothesis that DNA methylation is a reversible biochemical process, we purified a DNA demethylase from human cells that catalyzes the cleavage of a methyl residue from 5-methyl cytosine and its release as methanol. We show that similar to DNA methyltransferase, DNA demethylase shows CpG dinucleotide specificity, can demethylate mdCpdG sites in different sequence contexts, and demethylates both fully methylated and hemimethylated DNA. Thus, contrary to the commonly accepted model, DNA methylation is a reversible signal, similar to other physiological biochemical modifications.