HIV with Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis with HIV infection has been very rarely reported. The authors report an 8-y-old boy who presented with skin rashes and edema, muscle weakness and polymicrobial infection along with mild immunosupression. Diagnosis of dermatomyositis was established by raised enzymes, suggestive MRI and muscle biopsy findings. Child responded to systemic steroids and low dose weekly methotrexate.     

Recent progress in development of 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) based chemosensors for sensing of ionic and reactive oxygen species

2,3-Diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) has proved to be a valuable organic π-conjugated molecule having many applications in the area of chemosensors for sensing of ionic and neutral species because of its ability to act as a building block for well-defined molecular architectures and scaffolds for preorganised arrays of functionality. In this article, we discussed the utilization of 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) for the design and development of chemosensor molecules and their application in the area of metal ion, anion and reactive oxygen species sensing. Along with these, we present different examples of DAMN based chemosensors for multiple ion sensing. We also discuss the ion sensing mechanism and potential uses in other related areas of research.

2,3-Diamniomaleonitrile (DAMN) is valuable π-conjugated organic scaffold molecule for designing of efficient chemosensors for sensing of ionic and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).     

Health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy and their families

Objective

To determine the health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy and their families.

Methods

One hundred children (3–10 years of age) receiving regular rehabilitation therapy for cerebral palsy for last 1 year at a Child Development Centrer were enrolled and the Lifestyle assessment questionnaire — cerebral palsy was administered to the parents.

Results

9% had good, 24% had mildly-affected, 37% had moderately-affected and 30% had severely-affected healthrelated quality of life. The physical independence, mobility and social integration dimensions were much more severely affected than the clinical burden, economic burden and schooling dimensions.

Conclusion

Health-related quality of child is affected in most children with cerebral palsy.     

Upregulation of the ATR‐CHEK1 pathway in oral squamous cell carcinomas

The ATR‐CHEK1 pathway is upregulated and overactivated in Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) cells, which lack functional ATM protein. Loss of ATM in AT confers radiosensitivity, although ATR‐CHEK1 pathway overactivation compensates, leads to prolonged G₂ arrest after treatment with ionizing radiation (IR), and partially reverses the radiosensitivity. We observed similar upregulation of the ATR–CHEK1 pathway in a subset of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines with ATM loss. In the present study, we report copy number gain, amplification, or translocation of the ATR gene in 8 of 20 OSCC cell lines by FISH; whereas the CHEK1 gene showed copy number loss in 12 of 20 cell lines by FISH. Quantitative PCR showed overexpression of both ATR and CHEK1 in 7 of 11 representative OSCC cell lines. Inhibition of ATR or CHEK1 with their respective siRNAs resulted in increased sensitivity of OSCC cell lines to IR by the colony survival assay. siRNA‐mediated ATR or CHEK1 knockdown led to loss of G₂ cell cycle accumulation and an increased sub‐G₀ apoptotic cell population by flow cytometric analysis. In conclusion, the ATR‐CHEK1 pathway is upregulated in a subset of OSCC with distal 11q loss and loss of the G₁ phase cell cycle checkpoint. The upregulated ATR‐CHEK1 pathway appears to protect OSCC cells from mitotic catastrophe by enhancing the G₂ checkpoint. Knockdown of ATR and/or CHEK1 increases the sensitivity of OSCC cells to IR. These findings suggest that inhibition of the upregulated ATR–CHEK1 pathway may enhance the efficacy of ionizing radiation treatment of OSCC. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Worksite Health and Wellness Programs in India

Worksite health and wellness (WH&W) are gaining popularity in targeting cardiovascular (CV) risk factors among various industries. India is a large country with a larger workforce in the unorganized sector than the organized sector. This imbalance creates numerous challenges and barriers to implementation of WH&W programs in India. Large scale surveys have identified various CV risk factors across various industries. However, there is scarcity of published studies focusing on the effects of WH&W programs in India. This paper will highlight: 1) the current trend of CV risk factors across the industrial community, 2) the existing models of delivery for WH&W in India and their barriers, and 3) a concise evidence based review of various WH&W interventions in India.     

Tolerance to apoptotic cells is regulated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Tolerance to self-antigens present in apoptotic cells is critical to maintain immune-homeostasis and prevent systemic autoimmunity. However, mechanisms that sustain self-tolerance are poorly understood. Here we show that systemic administration of apoptotic cells to mice induced splenic expression of the tryptophan catabolizing enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). IDO expression was confined to the splenic marginal zone and was abrogated by depletion of CD169(+) cells. Pharmacologic inhibition of IDO skewed the immune response to apoptotic cells, resulting in increased proinflammatory cytokine production and increased effector T-cell responses toward apoptotic cell-associated antigens. Presymptomatic lupus-prone MRL(lpr/lpr) mice exhibited abnormal elevated IDO expression in the marginal zone and red pulp and inhibition of IDO markedly accelerated disease progression. Moreover, chronic exposure of IDO-deficient mice to apoptotic cells induced a lupus-like disease with serum autoreactivity to double-stranded DNA associated with renal pathology and increased mortality. Thus, IDO limits innate and adaptive immunity to apoptotic self-antigens and IDO-mediated regulation inhibits inflammatory pathology caused by systemic autoimmune disease.