Molecular diversity of HLA-Cw alleles in the Maratha community of Mumbai, Maharashtra, western India

Recent advances suggest a significant role for the HLA-C locus as a target of alloreactions after bone marrow transplantation. The biological importance of products of the HLA-C locus, both as transplant antigens and as ligands for natural killer (NK) cells, is well established. A total of 10 different serologically defined HLA-Cw antigen specificities (Cw1-Cw10) are encoded by the C locus; however, there are now 151 different alleles that can be identified by molecular methods. Serological definition of Cw alleles therefore includes 20-50% blanks, which cannot be detected by the available antisera. We used the molecular method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sequence-specific amplification and probe hybridization to define Cw alleles in 91 individuals from the Maratha community, and compared the data with data for 92 serologically typed Maratha individuals from India. We identified Cw*12, Cw*14, Cw*15, Cw*16 and Cw*18, along with the serologically identified Cw*01, Cw*02, Cw*03, Cw*04, Cw*06 and Cw*07 alleles. The HLA-Cw blank allele frequency in the Maratha was reduced from 0.5706 to 0.00. Furthermore, by using a molecular technique, it was possible to identify novel allele subtypes, such as Cw*0104, Cw*0203 and Cw*0707, and a high frequency of Cw* 1801 in the Maratha community compared with other Indian and world populations. Our results will have clinical implications in related and unrelated HLA-matched bone marrow transplantation in India.     

HLA and sporadic tuberculoid leprosy: a population study in Maharashtra, India

A population study to test whether associations between HLA and sporadic - i.e. non-familial - tuberculoid leprosy exist was undertaken in a hyperendemic area in India. Since previous family-studies in the same area had shown both non-random haplotype segregation in the family members affected with tuberculoid leprosy and the preferential segregation of HLA-DR2 into tuberculoid leprosy patients, an increased frequency of DR2 among the "sporadic" patients was expected. However, no heterogeneity for HLA was detected between patients and controls. These findings could indicate that tuberculoid leprosy is a heterogeneous disease with regard to genetic background.     

精子特异性乳酸脱氢酶研究进展

 精子特异性乳酸脱氢酶（sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase,LDH-C4）特异地存在于鸟类和哺乳类动物的睾丸和精子中,与体细胞乳酸脱氢酶 A4（LDH-A4）和 B4（LDH-B4）同属于乳酸脱氢酶家族,它们都以烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸（NAD）为辅酶催化丙酮酸和乳酸的转化,在能量代谢中发挥重要作用,但 LDH-C4 与体细胞 LDH 相比又具有一些独特性质。近来,在研制新型避孕药的过程中,免疫避孕疫苗逐渐引起人们的重视^[1],免疫法控制生育具有无药物的毒副作用、管理使用方便、低价、作用相对持久且可逆等优势,但找到理想的精子特异性抗原是制备免疫避孕疫苗的关键^[2]。用不育患者血清中提取的抗精子抗体（AsAb）来寻找睾丸 cDNA 文库表达的抗原候选对象,结 果发现特征性强且免疫效果可靠的免疫原为 LDH-C4[3]。本文主要针对近年来 LDH-C4 的研究进展及其应用做一综述。 ......     

Plasma lactate dehydrogenase in megaloblastic anaemia

Raised plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values were found in 26 patients with marked megaloblastic anaemia due either to vitamin B₁₂ or folic-acid deficiency or a combination of these factors.     

Measurement of total lactate dehydrogenase activity

Lactate dehydrogenase (LD: EC 1.1.1.27) is the most important clinically of several dehydrogenases occurring in human serum. Lactate dehydrogenase is cytoplasmic in its cellular location and in any one tissue is composed of one or two of five possible isoenzymes. While many of its clinical applications involve quantification of one or more specific serum isoenzymes, an estimate of total LD is required usually. Lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible reaction: L-lactate + NAD+ in equilibrium pyruvate + NADH. The bidirectional reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring either the increase in NADH at 340 nm produced in the lactate-to-pyruvate reaction (L----P) or by the decrease in NADH at 340 nm produced in the pyruvate-to-lactate (P----L) reaction. Kinetic assay systems for the measurement of the reaction system in both directions are comprehensively reviewed as well as the standardization efforts proposed to date.     

Laboratory-based investigation of fever with rash cases in the Maharashtra State - India, 2014 to 2017

The Maharashtra State (MS), India, launched measles surveillance in the year 2013. From 2014 to 2017, specimens from the patients presenting with fever and skin rashes were received at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. From 36 districts of the MS, 2795 cases (1428 males and 1367 females) were referred for the laboratory diagnosis of measles and rubella using immunoglobulin M enzyme immunoassay and/or RT-PCRs. The majority of the cases (93.3%, n = 2609) were under 15 years of age. About 17.7% (494) cases had a history of measles immunization (one dose) during their childhood. Virus isolation was attempted from 107 throat swabs and 84 urine samples obtained from 191 cases using Vero hSLAM cells. The results confirmed measles in 1756 and rubella in 282 fever with rash cases by serological and molecular tools. Precisely, 170 of 382 and 35 of 149 specimens were positive for measles and rubella RT-PCRs, respectively. Sequencing of the representative PCR products showed the circulation of measles virus genotypes D4 (n = 26) and D8 (n = 107), and rubella virus genotype 2B (n = 1). Twenty-three measles viruses were isolated and genotyped, of which, 6 were D4 and 17 were D8 genotypes. Amongst the measles-immunized individuals, 51.2% (253/494) had laboratory-confirmed measles. Overall, 72.9% fever with skin rash cases (n = 2038) from the MS was laboratory confirmed for either measles or rubella. The contribution of measles was higher than rubella in the fever with rash cases. As expected, more fever with rash cases were documented in children compared with adults and highlighted the need to increase measles-rubella immunization coverage.     

Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in breast tumours

Total serum LDH and its isoenzymes were estimated in 10 female controls and 30 cases of breast lump (22 malignant, 6 benign and 2 breast abscess). In breast malignancy, there was a significant elevation of total LDH and LDH-3, LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzymes with a significant fall in LDH-1 and LDH-2 percentage value. Following therapy, there was a significant elevation in LDH-1 and LDH-2 towards normal with a significant fall in total serum LDH and LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzymes. The estimation was found to be helpful in assessing the response of patient to the therapy given.     

Serum lactate dehydrogenase in diagnosis of megaloblastic anaemia

The present study was carried out in 75 patients of macrocytic anaemia categorised on bone marrow examination (into megaloblastic and non-megaloblastic anaemia) to evaluate the efficacy of total serum LDH levels and LDH isoenzyme pattern in the diagnosis of megaloblastic anaemia. 25 healthy adults were taken as controls. From this study it can be concluded that total serum LDH levels more than 3000 IU/L are diagnostic of megaloblastic anaemia. Reversed LDH isoenzyme pattern (LDH1 > LDH2) by chloroform inhibition test is an adjuvant in the diagnosis where total serum LDH levels are between 451-3000 IU/L and it will also differentiate megaloblastic anaemia from haemolytic anaemia.     

Clinical and sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency among rural pre-school children of Maharashtra,India

Background: Although a national vitamin A prophylaxis programme has been in operation for more than three decades, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) continues to be a major nutritional problem of public health significance in India.

Aim: The present study was carried out with the aim of assessing the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical VAD among rural pre-school children.

Subjects and methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural areas of Maharashtra State during 2002–2003. A total of 8646 pre-school children were examined for the presence of signs and symptoms of VAD. A sub-sample (494) of them was used to estimate blood vitamin A levels.

Results: The prevalence of Bitot's spots (1.3%) and night blindness (1.1%) was higher than the WHO cut-off levels used to define a public health problem, and it increased significantly (p<0.001) with increase in age. The prevalence of Bitot's spots was 13 times higher among children belonging to the Scheduled Caste (OR=12.8), and 20 times higher among the children of labourers (OR=19.8). The prevalence of sub-clinical VAD (55%) was significantly (p<0.001) high among the children with night blindness (100%) and Bitot's spots (89%).

Conclusions: Increased vitamin A supplementation, health and nutrition education and consumption of vitamin A rich foods are essential to prevent VAD.