Vancomycin-Induced Changes in Host Immunity and Behavior: Comparative Genomic and Metagenomic Analysis in C57BL/6 and BALB/c Mice

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - The consequence of treatment with antibiotics on the gut microbiota can be destructive. The antibiotics, however, can be utilized to understand the role of gut...     

Phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 is phosphorylated in primary effusion lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma driven by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. It is uniquely sensitive to mTOR, PI3K, and Akt inhibitors; however, the basis of this requirement for the mTOR pathway remains to be elucidated. The phosphatase and tensin homolog gene (PTEN) on chromosome 10 controls the first step in the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and is genetically inactivated in many solid tumors. We find an absence of PTEN deletions, mutations, or protein mislocalization in PEL. However, we find consistent hyperphosphorylation at serine 380 of PTEN, which is an inactivating modification, in PEL cell lines and in tumor xenografts. We also evaluated a large tissue microarray of Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies and observed concordant high levels of phospho-PTEN, phospho-Akt, and phospho-S6 ribosomal protein. Reintroduction of PTEN into PEL inhibited colony formation in soft agar, verifying the functional dependence of PEL on PI3K signaling. This was also true for PEL cell lines that carried mutant p53 and for KS-like cell lines. Activating PTEN in these cancers may yield a new treatment strategy for PEL, KS, and similar PTEN wild-type lymphomas.     

Multidrug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as known from surveillance of nosocomial and community infections in an Indian teaching hospital

Aim

The aim of the present study was to record nosocomial and community-acquired accounts of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from clinical samples of a hospital by surveillance, over a period of 18?months (November 2009–April 2011).

Subject and Methods

Clinical samples from nosocomial sources, i.e. wards and cabins and intensive care unit (ICU) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) sources, and community (outpatient department, OPD) sources of a hospital were used for isolating strains of P. aeruginosa.

Results

Of 368 isolated strains of P. aeruginosa, a total of 201 (54.62%) strains were from nosocomial and 167 (45.38%) strains were from community samples. There were 42 (25.14%) extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESβL) strains among the 167 isolates from the community samples. And from wards and cabins, there were 29 (23%) ESβL strains among the 126 isolates. Of the 75 isolates from ICU and NICU, there were 25 (33.33%) ESβL strains; the total of nosocomial ESβL strains was 54 (26.86%) in this study from the total of 201 P. aeruginosa isolates. In a computation of the χ² test of independence for assessing incidences of ESβL strains among all multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, it was inferred that ESβL strains were equally distributed in wards and cabins, ICU and NICU or community, similar to the rest of the other MDR P. aeruginosa strains. Fifteen antibiotics were used for assessing antibiotic sensitivity of all isolated P. aeruginosa strains and a progressive increase of percent values of drug resistance was recorded.

Conclusion

This study on surveillance of a hospital revealed the daunting state of occurrence of MDR P. aeruginosa. A progressive increase of percent values of drug resistance to 15 antibiotics used for antibiotic sensitivity of P. aeruginosa strains was recorded.     

Childhood Brucellosis in Eastern India

Objective

To investigate the presence of childhood brucellosis presenting as PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin) cases in Eastern zone of India.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from PUO patients aged ≤18 y. The main diagnostic tools were STAT, RBPT, ELISA- IgM, IgG and PCR. Although mainly PUO cases were selected for the study, other associated clinical manifestations were also noted.

Results

The findings revealed significantly higher percentage of infection in female children (14.3%) than in male children (10.9%). The positive results by different diagnostic tools, STAT, RBPT, ELISA- IgM, ELISA-IgG and brucella genus specific PCR were 10.6%, 7.2%, 7.2%, 0.85% and 1.3% respectively. Main associated clinical symptoms were joint pain, low backache, fatigue and night sweat.

Conclusions

This hospital based study reflects a significant number of childhood brucellosis cases in Eastern zone of India, and thus emphasizes the need for further monitoring of such subjects.

     

Tribal Odisha Eye Disease Study # 11 - Particularly vulnerable tribal group eye health program. Program protocol and validation

Purpose:To describe and validate the eye health program protocol of Dongria tribal community, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in Rayagada district, Odisha, India.Methods:The program would consist of three segments. At people’s residences, trained community health workers (CHWs) will measure the vision and collect demographic data. In addition, vision technicians (VTs) will refract using a hand-held device and prescribe spectacles to people who improve to >6/12, N8. Others would be referred to the vision center (VC). At VC, the VT will perform a slit-lamp examination and re-refract. They would refer people with vision ≤6/12 to the secondary center (SC). At SC, referred people will receive a comprehensive eye examination and treatment. The ophthalmologist will assign the cause of blindness and visual impairment for people with visual acuity <6/12. The entire process was rehearsed in a pilot study.Results:The target population is approximately 10,000 people residing in 101 hutments on the hills of Rayagada district. The pilot study included 126 people. The mean age was 44 ± 18 years; 70% of the people were illiterate, and in this cohort, 97.6% (n = 123) had never worn spectacles. In the pilot study, 41% of the people had cataract, and 12% had pterygium. The agreements between optometrist versus VTs and between optometrist versus CHWs were good (k = ~0.8–1.0) in all eye conditions except for strabismus (k = ~0.56–0.65)Conclusion:The pilot study confirms the program modality, and when completed, it would help in the planning and resource allocation of Odisha PVTG eye care.     

Surveillance of ESBL producing multidrug resistant Escherichia coli in a teaching hospital in India

Objective

To record nosocomial and community-acquired accounts of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, isolated from clinical samples of a teaching hospital by surveillance, over a period of 39 months (November 2009-January 2013).

Methods

Clinical samples from nosocomial sources, i.e., wards and cabins, intensive care unit (ICU) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and community (outpatient department, OPD) sources of the hospital, were used for isolating strains of E. coli, which were subjected for testing for production of ‘extended spectrum beta-lactamase’-(ESBL) enzyme as well as determining antibiotic sensitivity pattern with 23 antibiotics.

Results

Of the total 1642 (100%) isolates, 810 (49.33%) strains were from OPD and 832 (50.66%) were from hospital settings. Occurrence of infectious E. coli strains increased in a mathematical progression in community sources, but in nosocomial infections, such values remained almost constant in each quarter. A total of 395 (24.05%) ESBL strains were isolated from the total 810 isolates of community; of the total of 464 (28.25%) isolates of wards and cabins, 199 (12.11%) were ESBL strains; and among the total of 368 (22.41%) isolates of ICU and NICU, ESBLs were 170 (10.35%); the total nosocomial ESBL isolates, 369 (22.47%) were from the nosocomial total of 832 (50.66%) isolates. Statistically, it was confirmed that ESBL strains were equally distributed in community or hospital units. Antibiogram of 23 antibiotics revealed progressive increases of drug-resistance against each antibiotic with the maximum resistance values were recorded against gentamicin: 92% and 79%, oxacillin: 94% and 69%, ceftriaxone: 85% and 58%, and norfloxacin 97% and 69% resistance, in nosocomial and community isolates, respectively.

Conclusions

This study revealed the daunting state of occurrence of multidrug resistant E. coli and its infection dynamics in both community and hospital settings.     

Takayasu arteritis in pregnancy: an analysis from eastern India

Objective  

Takayasu’s Arteritis (TA) is a rare inflammatory disease of medium and large size arteries that affects women of reproductive age. This study aims to highlight the antenatal management and analyze the obstetric outcome in women with TA.