Susceptibility pattern and molecular type of species-specific Candida in oropharyngeal lesions of Indian human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients

A study of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in Indian human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS patients was conducted over a period of 15 months. This study revealed that 75% of the HIV/AIDS patients had OPC. MIC testing revealed that 5% of the Candida isolates were fluconazole resistant. A correlation between CD4(+)-T-cell counts and development of OPC in HIV/AIDS patients was also observed. Molecular typing of C. albicans isolates showed that all were genetically unrelated.     

Inhibition of hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein, helicase activity, and viral replication by a recombinant human antibody clone

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3), with its protease, helicase, and NTPase enzymatic activities, plays a crucial role in viral replication, and therefore represents an ideal target for the development of anti-viral agents. We have developed a recombinant human antibody (Fab) that reacts with the helicase domain of HCV NS3. The affinity-purified Fab antibody completely inhibited the helicase activity of HCV NS3 at equimolar concentration. To evaluate the effect of the Fab on HCV replication, the clone encoding the Fab gene was put into an expression vector, which converts Fab into a complete IgG1 antibody. Using a DNA-based transfection model, we demonstrated that intracellular expression of this antibody resulted in significant reduction of HCV-negative strand RNA synthesis. Intracellular expression of this antibody into either a stable cell line replicating subgenomic RNA, or a transient full-length HCV replication model, reduced both HCV RNA and viral protein expression. These results support the use of recombinant antibody fragments to inhibit NS3 enzyme as a novel, feasible, and effective approach for inhibiting HCV replication.     

Diagnostic impact of core-needle biopsy on fine-needle aspiration of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

We retrospectively reviewed 74 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases of presumptive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). All the cases had cytology and core-needle biopsy and 53 cases had concurrent flow cytometric analysis. FNA (cytology and flow cytometry) and core-needle biopsy were evaluated independently. FNA was diagnostic of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) in 25% (13/53) of cases and small B-cell NHL in 15% (8/53) of cases, whereas core-needle biopsy was diagnostic of DLBL in 37% (27/74) of cases and small B-cell NHL in 8% (6/74) of cases. Subclassification of small B-cell NHL was reached in 3/6 cases by core-needle biopsy. Insufficient cases were observed in both FNA (47%; 25/53) and core-needle biopsy (28%; 21/74) groups. With the combination of FNA and core-needle biopsy, diagnostic cases of DLBL increased to 43% (32/74) and insufficient samples were reduced to 16% (12/74). There was no clear advantage in the diagnosis and classification of small B-cell NHL by adding core-needle biopsy to FNA (14%; 10/74). We conclude that core-needle biopsy is a useful adjunct to FNA in the diagnosis of DLBL and shall be encouraged. In small B-cell NHL, core-needle biopsy does not add to the diagnostic ability of FNA. Cases insufficient for diagnosis may be seen in both core-needle biopsy and FNA. A combined approach reduces the number of insufficient cases and is recommended in routine FNA practice.     

Influence of Fluctuating Water Temperature and Dietary Oxytetracycline on the Safety of Monosex Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Fries

The influence of fluctuating water temperature and dietary oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0 (0X), 80 (1X), 240 (3X), 400 (5X) and 800 mg (10X)/kg biomass/day for 30 consecutive days on the safety of monosex (all male) Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fries in terms of feeding, growth, survival and histopathology of vital organs were assessed. A dose-dependent decline in feed intake and biomass was recorded. The OTC-dosed groups recorded higher mortalities than the control. The therapeutic OTC-dosing (1X) in conjunction with low temperature caused 75.56 ± 8.01% mortality and 25.75% reduced feed intake in 30 days. The mortalities increased with increasing OTC-doses from 85.19 ± 3.39% (1X) to 95.56 ± 2.22% (10X) and fluctuating temperature (12.00–21.50°C) even after the withdrawal of OTC. Relatively mild to moderate histopathological lesions were observed in the kidney, liver and intestine of OTC-dosed fries. These results suggested that dietary OTC and low water temperature may cause adverse effects on monosex O. niloticus fries.

     

A systematic review of Demand-based & Supply-based Interventions on continuum of maternal and child healthcare in south Asian countries

Journal of Public Health - In this study, we conduct a systematic review of literature to understand the effectiveness of interventions on continuum of maternal and child healthcare services, the...