The utility of patient specific induced pluripotent stem cells for the modelling of Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Until now, models of psychiatric diseases have typically been animal models. Whether they were to be used to further understand the pathophysiology of the disorder, or as drug discovery tools, animal models have been the choice of preference in mimicking psychiatric disorders in an experimental setting. While there have been cellular models, they have generally been lacking in validity. This situation is changing with the advent of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In this article, we give a methodological evaluation of the current state of the iPS technology with reference to our own work in generating patient-specific iPSCs for the study of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition, we will give a broader perspective on the validity of this technology and to what extent it can be expected to complement animal models of ASD in the coming years.     

Feasibility,benefits and challenges of using telemonitoring for the aging with Developmental Disabilities (DD): An exploratory study

Telemonitoring is being increasingly used to provide services to patients with developmental disabilities in residential community settings. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility, benefits and challenges of using telemonitoring for aging patients with developmental disabilities. We also assess the benefits and challenges of telemonitoring for the caregivers of these patients. Focus groups and questionnaire-based surveys were used to collect data from patients and caregivers. The study found that telemonitoring was feasible and beneficial for the aging with developmental disabilities, albeit for those who are moderate to high functioning. It was not beneficial or feasible for those with very low functional capabilities. The study found that telemonitoring was beneficial towards providing more independence, more self-confidence in carrying out daily activities, and more knowledge regarding their disease. The study also found that telemonitoring was useful for caregivers to better understand their patients and their needs, better coordinate the services delivered, and to enhance the satisfaction of caregiving. The discussions include limitations of using quantitative methods in this type of setting.     

Clinicopathological correlation of radiologic measurement of post-therapy tumor size and tumor volume for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

ObjectivesTumor size measurement is critical for accurate tumor staging in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, accurate tumor size measurement is challenging in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy before resection, due to treatment-induced fibrosis and tumor invasion beyond the grossly identified tumor area. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between the tumor size and tumor volume measured on post-therapy computed tomography (CT) scans and the pathological measurement. Also, we investigated the correlation between these measurements and clinicopathological parameters and survival.Materials and methodsRetrospectively, we evaluated 343 patients with PDAC who received neoadjuvant therapy, followed by pancreaticoduodenectomy and had pre-operative pancreatic protocol CT imaging. We measured the longest tumor diameter (RadL) and the radiological tumor volume (RadV) on the post-therapy CT scan, then we categorized RadL into four radiologic tumor stages (RTS) based on the current AJCC staging (8th edition) protocol and RadV based on the median. Pearson correlation or Spearman’s coefficient (δ), T-test and ANOVA was used to test the correlation between the radiological and pathological measurement. Chi-square analysis was used to test the correlation with the tumor pathological response, lymph-node metastasis and margin status and Kaplan-Meier and Cox-proportional hazard for survival analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsAs a continuous variable, RadL showed a positive linear correlation with the post-therapy pathologic tumor size in the overall patient population (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.72, P < 0.001) and RadV (δ: 0.63, p < 0.0001). However, there was no correlation between RadL and pathologic tumor size in patients with ypT0 and those with pathologic tumor size of ≤1.0 cm. Post-therapy RTS and RadV group correlated with ypT stage, tumor response grades using either CAP or MDA grading system, distance of superior mesenteric artery margin and tumor recurrence/metastasis.ConclusionAlthough RadL tends to understage ypT in PDAC patients who had no radiologically detectable tumor or small tumors (RTS0 or RTS1), radiologic measurement of post-therapy tumor size may be used as a marker for the pathologic tumor staging and tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy.     

Assessment of PI-RADS v2 categories ≥ 3 for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer

Abdominal Radiology - To assess the diagnostic accuracy of PI-RADS v2 categories ≥ 3 to detect clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) against histopathology of...     

Prevalence of drug resistance under the DOTS strategy in Hyderabad, South India, 2001-2003.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as resistance to at least isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP), is considered a threat to TB control. Implementation of DOTS ensures high cure rates and prevents MDR. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of MDR-TB from a retrospective analysis of the data in a tuberculosis unit where DOTS was implemented over a period of 6 years through public private mix (PPM). METHODS: Drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis samples isolated from the cultures of newly registered and retreatment sputum smear-positive cases during 2001-2003. RESULTS: During the study, 909 sputum-positive cases were registered and analysed. Of these, 714 were new and 195 were retreatment sputum-positive cases. INH resistance was found in 3.2% (23) of new and 9.2% (18) of retreatment cases. RMP resistance was present in 1.5% (11) of new and 7.2% (14) of retreatment cases. MDR was present only in 0.14% (1) of new and 2% (4) of retreatment cases. New cases had cure rates of 96% compared to 85% in retreatment cases. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MDR-TB is low where success rates are high.     

A sporadic case of colorectal carcinoma with multiple polyps in a 16-year-old boy: An unusual presentation

Aim and Background

Colorectal carcinoma associated with multiple colonic polyps is rare in children and adolescents without any previous family history of colorectal cancer/hereditary polyposis syndrome.

Case Report

We present the case of adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum detected by biopsy in a 16-year-old boy with multiple polyps treated at our institution.

Conclusion

Though uncommon, sporadic cases of multiple polyps associated with colorectal carcinoma without any positive family history must always be considered in children with history of a colorectal polyp associated with bleeding. A high degree of suspicion is necessary to detect and treat such cases, thus preventing morbidity and mortality.     

Serum HBsAg quantification in treatment-naïve Indian patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background and Aims

There is paucity of Indian data regarding serum HBsAg levels (qHBsAg) in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study was done to determine correlation of qHBsAg with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and its ability to independently categorize subgroups of CHB.

Methods

We studied 131 treatment-naive CHB patients and initially classified them based on HBeAg status. The HBeAg-positive group was further classified into immune tolerance (IT) and immune clearance (IC) phases based on serum alanine aminotransferase. HBeAg-negative patients were classified into low replicators (LR) and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis (ENH) based on DNA levels. HBsAg quantification was performed using the Architect chemiluminescence system.

Results

HBeAg-positive patients had higher DNA (7.89 vs. 2.69 log₁₀?IU/mL) and higher qHBsAg (4.60 vs. 3.85 log₁₀?IU/mL) compared to the HBeAg-negative group. Good correlation between qHBsAg and DNA was seen in HBeAg-positive (ρ?=?0.6, p?<?0.001) but not in HBeAg-negative CHB (ρ?=?0.2). A qHBsAg level greater than 4.39 log₁₀?IU/mL predicted HBeAg-positive state with 81 % sensitivity and 85 % specificity. However, among HBeAg-negative CHB, qHBsAg failed to discriminate between LR and ENH.

Conclusions

A single point estimation of qHBsAg in treatment-naïve patients could predict replicative HBeAg-positive CHB, but was not helpful in defining replicative status in the HBeAg-negative CHB.