Insular carcinoma of thyroid--a case report

Insular carcinoma of thyroid (ICT) is a rare tumor, which accounts for 4-6% of thyroid malignancies. ICT arising from follicular cells of thyroid shows a characteristic insular growth pattern characterized by solid nests of tumor cells separated by vessels. A 52-year-old female presented with a huge swelling in midline of the neck with retrosternal extension. The patient was euthyroid. Near total thyroidectomy was done. Grossly, the tumour was involving both the lobes and isthmus of thyroid. Microscopic examination revealed features of insular carcinoma. On immunohistochemistry, tumour cells were positive for thyroglobulin and negative for calcitonin.     

A human recessive neurosensory nonsyndromic hearing impairment locus is a potential homologue of the murine deafness (dn) locus

A locus for recessive neurosensory nonsyndromic hearing impairmentmaps to chromosome 9q13–q21 in two regionally separateconsanguineous families from India. Each family demonstratesa LOD score greater than 4.5 to this region. D9S15, tightlylinked to the Friedreich's ataxia locus, a region that has beendefined with over 1 Mb of YAC contig information and severalexpressed sequences, is one of the flanking markers. In mice,the deafness (dn) locus maps to mouse chromosome 19 and flankingloci are syntenic to human chromosome 9q11–q21. The dnmouse is a potential model for the hearing impairment foundin both these families.     

Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the dopamine D4 receptor gene

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition in children and follow up studies have indicated that 22-33% of patients continue to suffer from ADHD during late adolescence and adulthood. Convincing evidence supports the contribution of genetic factors in the etiology of ADHD, and the interaction of the psychostimulants with the dopamine system suggests that dopamine is involved in the pathophysiology. The 7-repeat allele of the 48 base pair repeat of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been reported, with several replications, to be associated with ADHD in children. We tested for the presence of association between the DRD4 48 base repeat and adult ADHD in two independent samples: one comprised of cases and ethnically matched controls, and the second made up of nuclear families. Each case was assessed using a battery of adult ADHD assessment instruments. The analysis of the 66 cases and 66 controls showed a significantly higher presence of the 7-repeat in the adult ADHD patients vs. controls (chi(2) = 5.65; df = 1; P = 0.01). In the analysis of transmission of DRD4 alleles in 44 nuclear families with the transmission disequilibrium test, a trend was observed toward a increased transmission of the 7-repeat from the heterozygous parents to the affected offspring (chi(2) = 2.00; df = 1; P = 0.15). When the two samples were combined, the overall significance was stronger (N = 110; z = 2.68; P = 0.003). The results of our study suggest a role of the 7-repeat allele in adult subjects suffering from ADHD. This finding is an important continuation of the group of studies that together strongly suggest the involvement of DRD4 in ADHD.     

Immunodiagnosis of groundnut and watermelon bud necrosis viruses using polyclonal antiserum to recombinant nucleocapsid protein of Groundnut bud necrosis virus

In vitro gene expression strategy was used for the production of polyclonal antiserum to the nucleocapsid protein (NP) of Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV). The GBNV NP gene from cowpea isolate was cloned into 6x His-tagged UA cloning vector and expressed in Escherichia coli [M15] cells. The fusion protein was detected in insoluble fraction and was purified by using Ni-NTA agarose resin. The purified 6x His-fusion protein (32 kDa) was used for immunisation to produce a high titre polyclonal antiserum. The antiserum to the NP of GBNV at 1:4000 dilution detected successfully natural infection of GBNV and Watermelon bud necrosis virus in a wide range of cucurbitaceous, leguminous and solanaceous hosts from different locations.     

Validity of self-report of recent opiate use in treatment setting

Self-report validity of recent drug use among heroin abusers depends on many factors including the population being studied and the setting in which the study is carried out. This study was conducted by the treating physicians to assess the self-report validity of recent heroin use by heroin dependent patients in the outdoor setting using 'thin layer chromatography' (TLC) and two highly sensitive methods of urinalysis viz. 'gas liquid chromatography' (GLC) and 'high performance liquid chromatography' (HPLC). Out of seventy-six heroin dependent patients who entered the study, 64 provided urine sample on the same day. Patients' self-report about recent opiate use was found to have a moderate agreement with urinalysis report. However, it is important to validate it with urinalysis during the treatment process because a substantial proportion of patients fails to report recent opiate use. It is recommended that all drug dependence treatment centres should be equipped with a sensitive urinalysis facility. Otherwise, the outcome of the treatment process should be considered with caution.     

Dystrophin gene deletions in South Indian Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients

66 unrelated patients from Southern India with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) were studied for intragenic deletion in 18 exons and Pm region of the DMD gene using multiplex PCR. Of these 41 (62.1%) showed intragenic deletions. 78% of the deletions were located at the distal hotspot region (44-55 exons) and 22% of the deletions were located at the proximal region (exon 2-19). Exon 50 is most frequently deleted. Deletions in isolated cases were significantly more compared to familial cases. The lower incidence reported from South India compared to North India, is suggestive of variations in the Southern and Northern population.     

Mortality trends in falciparum malaria--effect of gender difference and pregnancy

Falciparum malaria in pregnancy is a significant health problem in India. Pregnant women constitute an important high risk group for malaria infection which may cause abortions, stillbirths, intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) and premature labour. In this hospital based study on 602 admitted patients of falciparum malaria which included 314 males, 243 non-pregnant females and 45 pregnant females, there was significantly increased mortality rate in females (18.4%) in comparison to males (7.64%, p < 0.001). The mortality rate was highly significant in pregnant females (37.77%) in comparison to non-pregnant females (14.81%) and males (7.64%; p < 0.001). Severe anaemia with Hb < 5 gm% was observed more commonly in pregnant patients (20.0%) in comparison to non-pregnant patients (4.11%). Incidence of malaria infection was more in primi gravida and second gravida. Pregnancy related complications in the form of preterm live births, intra-uterine death (IUD), still births and abortions were more in primi parous than multiparous patients. As the pregnancy is associated with increased incidence and adverse outcome of P.falciparum malaria infection, chemoprophylaxis should be made an integral part of antenatal care along with antianaemia therapy to reduce the risk of serious maternal and fetal complications.     

Detection of cyclin D1 in B cell lymphoproliferative disorders by flow cytometry

AIMS: To describe and revise a flow cytometric assay for evaluating cyclin D1 overexpression in B cell lymphoproliferative disorders (B-LPDs). METHODS: Cyclin D1 expression was evaluated in 11 healthy controls and 51 patients with B-LPD by flow cytometry using the 5D4 monoclonal antibody. In 25 cases, experiments were repeated up to four times with mononuclear cells (MNC) fixed in ethanol for 1-120 days to evaluate the consistency of cyclin D1 expression. Flow cytometry results were compared with fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) for the t(11;14) translocation in 19 patients and with immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the DCS-6 monoclonal antibody in nine patients. RESULTS: A mean fluorescence intensity ratio (MFIR) of 4.8 was defined as the cut off point for positivity based on cyclin D1 expression in healthy controls (mean + 3 SD). Ten patients overexpressed cyclin D1 by flow cytometry. These included five of eight patients with mantle cell lymphoma, four of 19 with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and one with follicular lymphoma. MFIR in the repeat experiments differed less than 25% in 20 of 25 patients and in no cases did it cross the cut off point. There was a good correlation between cyclin D1 expression by flow cytometry and FISH for t(11;14) in 15 of 19 patients and six of nine had concordant results with flow cytometry, FISH, and IHC. CONCLUSION: Cyclin D1 expression remains fairly stable once MNC are fixed in ethanol and the flow cytometric assay can be used for the routine screening of B-LPD. Further comparisons between flow cytometry, IHC, and FISH may be needed to ascertain the diagnostic value of the flow cytometric assay.     

Differential host range of viruses of feline leukemia-sarcoma complex.

Selected strains of feline leukemia and sarcoma viruses of subgroups A, B, and C show a differential pattern in their ability to cross species barrier and productively infect cells of heterologous host species. A virus of subgroup B showed the widest host range; it caused productive infection of cells of diverse host species including cells from cat, human, monkey, dog, bovine, pig, and hamster species. Two virus strains of subgroup A showed the narrowest host range; of the cells of several mammalian species examined, they only caused productive infection of cat and dog cells. Preliminary studies indicated that certain other strains of subgroup A viruses cause productive infection of whole human embryo cells. One strain of subgroup C virus examined showed a host range that was intermediate between that of A and B subgroup viruses. This strain caused productive infection of cat, dog, and certain human cells. In addition, the subgroup C virus caused productive infection of guinea pig cells found to be resistant to subgroup A as well as subgroup B virus strains examined.Preliminary studies suggested that certain, but not all, virus mixtures of A and B viruses can be purified into B type by passage of virus in heterologous human cells.The factor(s) that may govern the differential susceptibilities of heterologous host cells to the described strains of feline viruses are discussed.