Genetic diversity and gene structure of mitochondrial region of Anopheles minimus(Diptcra:Culicidae)-major malaria vector of North east India

Objective:To depict mitochondrial genetic variation for the first time among Anopheles minimus(An.minimus)(Diptera:Culicidae) species from two malaria endemic states of NE India.Methods:Phylogeographic analysis was carried at 9 out of 12 sites oi An.minimus confirmed malaria endemic places.Results:All sequences were Adenine-Thymine rich regions.Transitions were observed in 6 sequences where 5 mutations were synonymous substitutions and in 1 ease non synonymous mutation was observed.Three distinct clusters of haplolypes were generated.Haplotvpe diversity and low nucleotide diversity were studied.Overall negative values obtained from Tajima's D test and Fu'sF_S test indicate a recent genetic population expansion.Network analysis has explained sequence diversity that was also shown by mutations in 6 sequences.Conclusions:High genetic diversity observed within the populations of An.minimus species has several possible implications for vector control in the region.     

Role of fine‐needle aspiration cytology and fluid cytology in extra‐pulmonary tuberculosis

Extra‐pulmonary tuberculosis is the presence of disease in an organ without obvious involvement of the lungs (World Health Organization, Tuberculosis Fact sheet, 2006). The present article focuses on the incidence of extra‐pulmonary tuberculosis as an emerging and clinically significant disease to be reckoned with in the present era. It also highlights fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as an inexpensive, less invasive procedure for early diagnosis of such tuberculosis and timely initiation of specific therapy. All cases of proved tuberculosis presenting to the M.V.J. Medical College and Research Hospital were recorded over a period of two years (2008–2010); and categorized as pulmonary and extra‐pulmonary cases. A total of 96 cases of tuberculosis were observed; extra‐pulmonary tuberculosis was seen in 64 cases. Of these 56 cases were from lymphnodes and 8 from extra‐nodal sites which included tuberculous dactylitis (two cases), tuberculous mastitis (two cases), tuberculous synovial effusion (one case), pericardial effusion (one case), epididymo‐orchitis (one case), and cold abscess (one case). The cytology patterns observed included granulomatous inflammation and necrosis with or without acid fast bacilli. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Factors associated with HIV among female sex workers in a high HIV prevalent state of India

The study was carried out to assess the factors associated with HIV seropositivity among female sex workers (FSWs) in Dimapur, Nagaland, a high HIV prevalence state of India. A total of 426 FSWs were recruited into the study using respondent driven sampling (RDS). Data on demographic characteristics, sexual and injecting risk behaviours were collected from them and were tested for HIV, Syphilis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. RDS-weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors associated with HIV seropositivity. Consistent condom use with regular and occasional sexual clients was 9% and 16.4%, respectively. About 25% of the participants ever used and 5.7% ever injected illicit drugs. RDS adjusted HIV prevalence was 11.6%. In the univariate analysis, factors associated with HIV were initiating sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years, ≥2 years duration of sex work, serving clients at lodge/hotel, positive test result for one or more sexually transmitted infections (STIs), lifetime history of injecting drug use, lifetime history of consuming illicit drugs, ever having exchanged sex for drugs, having sexual partners who engaged in risky injecting practices and having been widowed or divorced. In multivariate analysis, factors found to be independently associated with HIV included lifetime injecting drug use, initiating sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years, positive test result for one or more STIs and having been widowed. Injecting drug use was found to be most potent independent risk factor for HIV (OR: 3.17, CI: 1.02-9.89). Because of lower consistent condom use among them, FSWs may act as bridge for HIV transmission to general population from injecting drug users (IDU) through their sexual clients. The informations from this study may be useful for enriching the HIV preventions effort for FSWs in this region.     

Utilization of hepatitis B core antibody-positive donor liver grafts

Background

The inclusion of hepatitis B core antibody-positive (HBcAb+) liver donors is a strategy utilized to increase organ availability. This study examined HBcAb+ transplantation practices to identify specific factors influencing outcomes.

Methods

Twenty-five HBcAb+ liver transplants were identified retrospectively among 868 adult transplants performed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2009. Twelve (48%) recipients had hepatitis C and five (20%) had hepatitis B. Patient and donor demographics, preoperative morbidity, transplant data and outcomes were examined. Statistical analysis was completed using Student''s t-test or the Kaplan–Meier method. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

There was no difference in age, body mass index or comorbidities between HBcAb+ liver recipients and control subjects. Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores of >30 were significantly more frequent in HBcAb+ liver recipients (32% vs. 15%; P = 0.04). All patients received immunoglobulin and longterm antiviral therapy as prophylaxis against graft hepatitis B resurgence. No patients who received HBcAb+ livers developed hepatitis B infection on follow-up. Overall survival at 30 days, 1 year and 5 years in HBcAb+ liver recipients was 92%, 74% and 74%, respectively, compared with 96%, 89% and 76%, respectively, in the control group (P = not significant, log-rank test). All except one of the deaths in the HBcAb+ liver recipient group occurred within 90 days postoperatively and in patients with MELD scores >30.

Conclusions

The practice of transplanting HBcAb+ grafts incurs low risk for infection using current methods of prophylaxis. The highest mortality risk was in the early postoperative period, specifically in patients with very high MELD scores. This probably reflects the practice of using positive serology grafts in emergent situations.     

Informatics resources for tuberculosis--towards drug discovery

Integration of biological data on gene sequence, genome annotation, gene expression, metabolic pathways, protein structure, drug target prioritization and selection, has resulted in several online bioinformatics databases and tools for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Alongside there has been a growth in the list of cheminformatics databases for small molecules and tools to facilitate drug discovery. In spite of these efforts there is a noticeable lag in the drug discovery process which is an urgent need in the case of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. For example, more than 25 online databases are available freely for tuberculosis and yet these resources have not been exploited optimally. Informatics-centered drug discovery based on the integration and analysis of both bioinformatics and cheminformatics data could fill in the gap and help to accelerate the process of drug discovery. This article aims to review the current standing of developments in tuberculosis-bioinformatics and highlight areas where integration of existing resources could lead to acceleration of drug discovery against tuberculosis. Such an approach could be adapted for other diseases as well.