Biomarker System for Genetic Analysis of Stored Grain Pests Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) analysis was used in combination with morphological...     

A comparative evaluation of dermatoglyphics in different classes of malocclusion

Aim

To study associations of dermatoglyphic features with malocclusion in Indian children.

Materials and methods

A total of 237 children aged 12–16 years, who attended our outpatient clinic in a government medical college, were selected. Finger and palm prints were collected, and fingertip pattern frequencies, total ridge counts (TRCs), and atd angles (formed by the triradii below the first and last digits and that in the hypothenar region of the palm) were calculated. These parameters were analyzed with their Angle’s class of malocclusion using appropriate statistical tests. Dermatoglyphic parameters were examined and asymmetry analysis was conducted in subjects with different occlusion patterns.

Results

Although no fingerprint pattern was found to be specific for a particular class of occlusion, increased tendencies toward high frequencies of whorls in subjects with class II malocclusion and plain arches in those with class III malocclusion were observed. Significant differences in atd angle and TRC were observed among malocclusion types (p = 0.0001). Asymmetry scores did not differ significantly.

Conclusion

Dermatoglyphic analysis can be used as an indicator of malocclusion at an early age, thereby aiding the development of treatments aiming to establish favorable occlusion. Inheritance and twin studies, as well as those conducted in different ethnic groups, are required to examine these relationships further.     

Prostate cancer detection upon transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy in relation to digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen level: what to expect in the Chinese population?

We investigated the prostate cancer detection rates upon transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy in relation to digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and risk factors of prostate cancer detection in the Chinese population. Data from all consecutive Chinese men who underwent first TRUS-guided prostate biopsy from year 2000 to 2013 was retrieved from our database. The prostate cancer detection rates with reference to DRE finding and PSA level of < 4, 4–10, 10.1–20, 20.1–50 and > 50 ng ml⁻¹ were investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate for potential risk factors of prostate cancer detection. A total of 2606 Chinese men were included. In patients with normal DRE, the cancer detection rates were 8.6%, 13.4%, 21.8%, 41.7% and 85.2% in patients with PSA < 4, 4–10, 10.1–20, 20.1–50 and > 50 ng ml⁻¹ respectively. In patients with abnormal DRE, the cancer detection rates were 12.4%, 30.2%, 52.7%, 80.6% and 96.4% in patients with PSA < 4, 4–10, 10.1–20, 20.1–50 and > 50 ng ml⁻¹ respectively. Older age, smaller prostate volume, larger number of biopsy cores, presence of abnormal DRE finding and higher PSA level were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer detection upon multivariate logistic regression analyses (P < 0.001). Chinese men appeared to have lower prostate cancer detection rates when compared to the Western population. Taking the different risk factors into account, an individualized approach to the decision of TRUS-guided biopsy can be adopted.     

Renal transplantation in HLA sensitized patients: Traversing the immunological barrier

Successful renal transplantation across HLA barrier in sensitized individuals has been on the rise during the past decade, primarily due to improved desensitization regimes. The aim of this study was to share outcome of desensitization in renal transplant recipients with donor‐specific anti‐HLA antibodies (DSA). This was a retrospective analysis of all HLA immunized individuals who were prospective renal transplant recipients. All such patients underwent preconditioning as per the institutional desensitization protocol. Complement‐dependent cytoxicity‐based crossmatch (CDC‐XM), luminex‐based crossmatch (LM‐XM) and flowcytometry‐based crossmatch (FC‐XM) were done in all cases. If any of these tests turned out positive, single antigen bead assay (SAB) was performed. Desensitization for DSA was performed in 55 patients and all patients were followed‐up for 1 year to assess graft function and patient outcome. CDC‐XM being a less sensitive assay, could not detect incompatibility in 29 (52.73%) cases. After desensitization, even though SAB and LM‐XM results revealed an MFI within acceptable range, FC‐XM being an extremely sensitive assay, continued to give a positive result in eight (14.55%) cases. The mean ± SD number of pretransplant TPE were 3.44 ± 0.98 (2‐11). Out of 55, there were 10 patients who were lost to follow up. Patient and graft survival of 45 patients at 1 year was found to be 100%. Preconditioning for renal transplants in the form of immunosuppression with TPE is an extremely useful auxiliary for transplantation in HLA sensitized renal transplant recipients.     

Molecular characterization of Indian sheeppox and goatpox viruses based on RPO30 and GPCR genes

Sheeppox and goatpox are economically important diseases of small ruminants caused by sheeppox virus (SPPV) and goatpox virus (GTPV), respectively. Although SPPV and GTPV have host preference, some strains may infect both sheep and goats. As capripox viruses (SPPV, GTPV and LSDV) are antigenically related but genetically distinct, their differentiation requires analysis at molecular level. In the present study, RPO30 and GPCR genes of eight Indian SPPV and GTPV isolates were PCR amplified, cloned and sequences are genetically and phylogenetically analyzed. The RPO30 gene of SPPV and GTPV had lineage-specific signatures, and deletion of 21-nucleotide exclusively present in SPPV. Similarly, GPCR gene also had lineage-specific signatures for SPPV and GTPV. Phylogenetic analysis of capripox viruses based on RPO30 and GPCR genes revealed three distinct lineage-specific clusters as per their host origin. Our study supports that both RPO30 and GPCR genes could be used for differentiation of SPPV and GTPV as well as for molecular epidemiological studies. The study also highlights the distinct lineage specificities of the Indian SPPV and GTPV isolates including vaccine strains.     

Mupirocin resistance in nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among healthcare workers of a tertiary care rural hospital

Introduction:

Mupirocin (pseudomonic acid A) is a topical antimicrobial agent with excellent antistaphylococcal and antistreptococcal activity. A nasal formulation is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for eradicating nasal carriage in adult patients as well as in health care personnel. Resistance to mupirocin has already been reported worldwide. The increasing prevalence of mupirocin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) species could be an important threat to the future use of mupirocin against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Thus, this study was carried out to find the prevalence of mupirocin resistance in S. aureus and CoNS by disc diffusion and to determine the rates of high-level and low-level mupirocin resistance in S. aureus and CoNS by disc diffusion.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 140 healthcare workers (HCWs) (doctor, nursing staff, housekeeping staff) were randomly selected. S. aureus and CoNS isolates were tested for mupirocin resistance by the disk diffusion method using 5 μg and 200 μg mupirocin discs. MRSA isolates were tested for antibiotics by Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Results:

Out of 140 nasal swabs collected from HCWs, S. aureus was isolated in 38 (27.14%), and CoNS was isolated in 73 (52.14%). MRSA was isolated in 20 (14.28%) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) in 34 (24.29%. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and MSCoNS isolates were 100% sensitive to mupirocin, but two isolates from MRSA (1.43%) and five from MRCoNS (3.57%) were mupirocin resistant.

Conclusion:

The presence of mupirocin resistance in MRSA and MRCoNS is a cause for concern. It could be limited by regular surveillance and effective infection control initiatives so to inform health care facilities to guide therapeutic and prophylactic use of mupirocin.     

Genetic variants of immunoglobulin γ and κ chains influence humoral immunity to the cancer‐testis antigen XAGE‐1b (GAGED2a) in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer

GM (γ marker) allotypes, genetic variants of immunoglobulin γ chains, have been reported to be associated strongly with susceptibility to lung cancer, but the mechanism(s) underlying this association is not known. One mechanism could involve their contribution to humoral immunity to lung tumour‐associated antigens. In this study, we aimed to determine whether particular GM and KM (κ marker) allotypes were associated with antibody responsiveness to XAGE‐1b, a highly immunogenic lung tumour‐associated cancer‐testis antigen. Sera from 89 patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were allotyped for eight GM and two KM determinants and characterized for antibodies to a synthetic XAGE‐1b protein. The distribution of various GM phenotypes was significantly different between XAGE‐1b antibody‐positive and ‐negative patients (P = 0·023), as well as in the subgroup of XAGE‐1b antigen‐positive advanced NSCLC (P = 0·007). None of the patients with the GM 1,17 21 phenotype was positive for the XAGE‐1b antibody. In patients with antigen‐positive advanced disease, the prevalence of GM 1,2,17 21 was significantly higher in the antibody‐positive group than in those who lacked the XAGE‐1b antibody (P = 0·026). This phenotype also interacted with a particular KM phenotype: subjects with GM 1,2,17 21 and KM 3,3 phenotypes were almost four times (odds ratio = 3·8) as likely to be positive for the XAGE‐1b antibody as the subjects who lacked these phenotypes. This is the first report presenting evidence for the involvement of immunoglobulin allotypes in immunity to a cancer‐testis antigen, which has important implications for XAGE‐1b‐based immunotherapeutic interventions in lung adenocarcinoma.     

Toll‐like receptors and CD40 modulate each other's expression affecting Leishmania major infection

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen‐associated molecular patterns and results in innate immune system activation that results in elicitation of the adaptive immune response. One crucial modulator of the adaptive immune response is CD40. However, whether these molecules influence each other's expression and functions is not known. Therefore, we examined the effects of TLRs on CD40 expression on macrophages, the host cell for the protozoan parasite L eishmania major. While polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)], a TLR‐3 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a TLR‐4 ligand, imiquimod, a TLR‐7/8 ligand and cytosine–phosphate–guanosine (CpG), a TLR‐9 ligand, were shown to enhance CD40 expression, CD40 stimulation enhanced only TLR‐9 expression. Therefore, we tested the synergism between CD40 and CpG in anti‐leishmanial immune response. In L eishmania‐infected macrophages, CpG was found to reduce CD40‐induced extracellular stress‐regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation; with the exception of interleukin (IL)‐10, these ligands had differential effects on CD40‐induced IL‐1α, IL‐6 and IL‐12 production. CpG significantly enhanced the anti‐leishmanial function of CD40 with differential effects on IL‐4, IL‐10 and interferon (IFN)‐γ production in susceptible BALB/c mice. Thus, we report the first systematic study on CD40–TLR cross‐talk that regulated the experimental L . major infection.