The 10K virion phosphoprotein encoded by gene US9 from herpes simplex virus type 1

Gene US9 of herpes simplex virus type 1 has been predicted, from DNA sequence analysis, to encode a protein of mol wt 10,026, designated 10K (D.J. McGeoch, A. Dolan, S. Donald, and F.J. Rixon (1985). J. Mol. Biol. 181, 1-13). We have investigated this protein by using a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 11 amino acids adjacent to the amino-terminal methionine and rasing antisera in rabbits. One antiserum was able to precipitate at least 12 electrophoretically distinct polypeptide species from extracts of BHK cells infected with HSV-1. The estimated molecular weights of these polypeptides ranged from 12K to 20K and immunoblotting showed them to be related proteins. The primary translation product has an apparent mol wt of 13K. The various forms of 10K differ in their relative abundance in the infected cell and also in their degree of phosphorylation. Lower molecular weight forms of the 10K protein can be precipitated from NP-40 extracts of HSV-1 virions, suggesting that these forms of 10K are contained in the virion tegument or envelope. An association between this protein and nucleocapsids has also been observed in the nuclei of infected cells by immunoelectron microscopy. These observations imply that the product of US9 is a tegument protein which becomes associated with nucleocapsids at, or soon after, their formation in the nuclei of infected cells.     

Use of Portfolio-based Learning and Assessment in Community-based Field Curriculum

Portfolio-based learning is recognized in medical education. It helps students to assess themselves as per the key learning objectives and outcomes expected out of them. The faculty could also get feedback regarding individual student''s progress toward learning outcomes and facilitate the students achieve the same. This article addresses the process of portfolio development and assesses from students feedbacks, if portfolio-based learning is an improvement over record-based study in community-based field studies. The results of this study shows that involving students in framing objectives, developing a mechanism for self-introspection and self-assessment by the students and a mechanism by which faculty can monitor each student''s progress toward the defined objectives can significantly enhance the learnability of the students.     

Treatment of lipomas assisted with tumescent liposuction

BACKGROUND: Lipoma is a common soft-tissue tumour of mature fat cells. Although surgical excision is effective, treatments that are less invasive and not associated with disfigurement of scar would be ideal for the treatment of lipomas. Recently, tumescent liposuction has been used for the treatment of lipomas. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of tumescent liposuction in lipoma treatment, we reviewed our experience of lipoma treatment by tumescent liposuction. METHODS: A total of 21 patients presenting with 31 lipomas were treated with tumescent liposuction. After liposuction, remaining stromas were removed by a haemostat through the small incision. Tumour size and post-operative complications were recorded before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 31 lipomas of 21 patients were treated by tumescent liposuction. The size of lipomas ranged between 1.2 and 11 cm (mean size, 4.1 cm). In 23 cases, there were no complications. However, remnant lipomas, bruise, haematoma and immediate dimpling were found as complications. CONCLUSION: Tumescent liposuctions with extracting remnant fat tissue and fibrous tissue through the opening for liposuction can be an effective treatment technique in lipoma treatment in the efficacy and cosmetic outcomes and this method can be a substitute for excision in treating large lipomas.     

Regional Anaesthesia Techniques for Orthopaedic Surgery

Background

In recent years, there has been a significant resurgence of interest in regional anaesthesia techniques. Despite various advantages, regional anaesthesia is not used to its full potential in orthopaedic surgeries.

Methods

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of regional anaesthesia techniques in 400 consecutive patients, posted for orthopaedic surgeries in a tertiary care centre. Data was analysed for patient profile, type of surgery, nature of anaesthetic technique used, success rate, complications and satisfaction level of patients.

Result

Age of patients ranged from three months to 92 years with male preponderance (84.5 %). Regional anaesthesia was used in 85% cases. Most frequently used technique for upper limbs was supraclavicular brachial plexus block (12.05 %) followed by interscalene block (5.58 %) and intravenous regional anaesthesia or Bier''s block (2.64 %). For lower limbs, subarachnoid block was used in 50 % cases followed by combined spinal-epidural technique (21.47 %) and paravertebral block (4.70 %). Less commonly used techniques like lumbar plexus block, popliteal fossa block, sciatic + femoral nerve blocks were found to be useful but incidence of partial blocks was high. Overall success rate was 96.17 %. In 22.05 % cases supplementation with analgesic / sedative was needed, whereas in 3.82 % cases, technique was converted into general anaesthesia. There was no major complication. Six patients had reversible sensory neuropathy. In 91.64 % cases, satisfaction level was good to excellent.

Conclusion

Skilfully performed techniques in regional anaesthesia can facilitate excellent surgical anaesthesia and postoperative pain management.Key Words: Regional anaesthesia, Orthopaedic surgery, Central neuraxial block, Peripheral nerve block     

In vivo and in vitro MR imaging of renal tumors: histopathologic correlation and pulse sequence optimization

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has given mixed results in the detection of renal masses. To identify the reasons for this and to determine the optimal pulse sequences for evaluating renal tumors, the authors imaged 12 primary renal tumors in vivo and 17 in vitro at 0.35 T. Histopathologic findings for each specimen were closely correlated with the MR images. Four of seven solid tumors imaged in vivo were isointense with surrounding normal renal parenchyma at all pulse sequences. The other three tumors were hyperintense in vivo at T2-weighted sequences. At heavily T2-weighted sequences eight solid tumors were hyperintense in vitro and four were hypointense. There was no correlation between signal intensity and specific tissue type or histologic pattern for solid tumors. The five cystic tumors were well seen both in vivo and in vitro on T2-weighted images. However, the signal intensity of the cyst fluid was an unreliable indicator of benignancy. SE MR imaging at 0.35 T has significant limitations in the detection of solid renal masses.     

Novel targets for sensitizing breast cancer cells to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis with siRNA delivery

Tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in variety of cancer cells without affecting most normal cells, which makes it a promising agent for cancer therapy. However, TRAIL therapy is clinically not effective due to resistance induction. To identify novel regulators of TRAIL that can aid in therapy, protein targets whose silencing sensitized breast cancer cells against TRAIL were screened with an siRNA library against 446 human apoptosis‐related proteins in MDA‐231 cells. Using a cationic lipopolymer (PEI‐αLA) for delivery of library members, 16 siRNAs were identified that sensitized the TRAIL‐induced death in MDA‐231 cells. The siRNAs targeting BCL2L12 and SOD1 were further evaluated based on the novelty and their ability to sensitize TRAIL induced cell death. Silencing both targets sensitized TRAIL‐mediated cell death in MDA‐231 cells as well as TRAIL resistant breast cancer cells, MCF‐7. Combination of TRAIL and siRNA silencing BCL2L12 had no effect in normal human umbilical vein cells and human bone marrow stromal cell. The silencing of BCL2L12 and SOD1 enhanced TRAIL‐mediated apoptosis in MDA‐231 cells via synergistically activating capsase‐3 activity. Hence, here we report siRNAs targeting BCL2L12 and SOD1 as a novel regulator of TRAIL‐induced cell death in breast cancer cells, providing a new approach for enhancing TRAIL therapy for breast cancer. The combination of siRNA targeting BCL2L12 and TRAIL can be a highly effective synergistic pair in breast cancer cells with minimal effect on the non‐transformed cells.     

Plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA as a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is common in southern China and Southeast Asia. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is an important etiology for NPC, and EBV genome can be detected in almost all tumor ti...