Dietary Immunomodulators - An Organic Boom in the Management of Chronic Diseases

Immunology involves all the defence mechanisms occurring in the body after the invasion of any infectious agent and the ability to resist this infection. The micronutrients like essential proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (A, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid), fatty acids, minerals (iron, selenium, zinc and copper) and certain phytochemicals are of prime importance towards healthy immune system. In addition to these nutritional components, intestinal microflora and certain bacteria (probiotic bacteria) also play an important role in the modulation of healthy immune system. There is an ongoing trend of usage of immunomodulators to combat various chronic diseases like viral diseases, cancers, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This review focuses on various immunomodulators available in daily dietary meals, its positive and negative effects on immune system and its role in management of chronic illness as an adjunct to other modalities to achieve positive health benefits with minimal side effects.

Co-polymeric hydrophilic nanospheres for drug delivery: Release kinetics, and cellular uptake.

Nanobiotechnology focuses on the biological effects and applications of nanoparticles that include nano-safety, drug encapsulation and nanotherapeutics. The present study focuses on hydrophilic nanospheres of copolymers N-isopropylacrylamide [NIPAAM] and vinyl pyrrolidone [VP], encapsulating a bioactive derivative of 5-fluorouracil-hexyl-carbamoyl fluorouracil (HCFU). The size of the nanospheres was ~58 nm and the surface charge measured was -15.4 mV. Under optimal conditions, the yield was >80%, and the drug loading was 2%. The entrapment efficiency was ~75%. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the entrapped HCFU was present in an amorphous state, which has higher water solubility compared with the crystalline state. Slow drug release from nanospheres was observed in PBS and serum, with ~80% released at 37°C after 72 h. The HCFU loaded polymeric nanospheres have been found to be stable in whole blood having negligible RBC toxicity. Cytotoxicity in Mia-Paca 3, pancreatic cancer cell line was done in a 24-72 h assay. Dose dependant cytotoxicity was observed when incubated with various concentrations of HCFU loaded polymeric nanospheres while HCFU per se (<1 mg) showed 90% toxicity within 24 h.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis diagnosis and strain typing--present status and future developments.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of paratuberculosis, a chronic gastroenteritis of ruminants and has zoonotic importance. We present here a review of MAP with respect to--(i) present diagnostic techniques and important developments; and (ii) MAP strain-typing tools. A summary of the findings to date is presented, and advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods are compared and discussed.

Use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in cervical swab samples.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method has been set up for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) infection in single cervical swab samples. A primer pair specific to the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene common to all serotypes of C. trachomatis was used. This method was validated for its sensitivity as well as specificity. A minimum Ing of DNA could be used for detection of the infection. Specificity of the method was confirmed by carrying out a sample dilution curve. The cervical swab samples analysed in the present study were in coded form for validation of the PCR with an established commercial ELISA (Chlamydiazyme). Both the sensitivity and specificity of PCR was 100% when the ELISA results of these samples were decoded. Thus, this PCR technique could be used for better diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection in comparison to the commercially available ELISA technique.

Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and deafness in a rural area and developing an intervention strategy.

Of 613 children evaluated in a village in Haryana 94 (15.3%) were observed to have chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifty eight (61.7%) children had hearing impairment. CSOM contributed to 71.6% of the hearing impaired (58/81). On analysis of association of CSOM with literacy and socio-economic status of mothers, and age, sex, and upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in children positive correlation was observed only with URIs (P < 0.001). Literacy and socio-economic status of the mothers did not correlate significantly with knowledge about treatment seeking, and ear cleaning practices, probably due to the narrow range of incomes and literacy levels. An intervention program consisting of play, demonstrations, health charts and slogans, and aural cleaning and antibiotic drops was introduced.

Activity and stability of Bacillus cereus penicillinase entrapped in aerosol OT reverse micelles.

The kinetics of enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis of penicillin G and stability of the enzyme alpha-penicillinase, entrapped in aerosol OT reverse micellar droplets have been investigated spectrophotometrically. Various physical parameters, such as, water pool size (related to Wo), pH and temperature, were optimized for maximum activity of penicillinase in water/aerosol OT/isooctane reverse micelles. The enzyme showed maximum activity of Wo - 14 and pH, 7.0. At any temperature the enzyme was to be more active in reverse micelles than in aqueous solution. At optimum conditions of Wo, pH and temperature the enzyme was 100% more active in reverse micelles than its maximum activity in aqueous solution. In both the systems, the activity starts falling at and above 25 degrees C. CD Spectral studies showed that the enzyme in reverse micelles possesses more helical structure than it has in aqueous solution and at the optimum conditions in which it showed maximum activity, the alpha-helicity was also maximum. The enzyme was very stable in reverse micelles at and above room temperature compared to the same in aqueous solution.

Effect of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogues on testosterone metabolism in vitro —A study with mature rat ventral prostates.

The effects of two luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogues (a superagonist and an antagonist) on the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in homogenates prepared from adult rat ventral prostates were studied. At higher doses, the superagonist showed a significant dose-dependent inhibition of the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. In comparison, the antagonist showed only a marginally inhibitory trend. The implications of these observed effects vis-a-vis the use of the analogues in the endocrine management of prostatic cancer have been discussed.