Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in association with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis: Views over hidden possibilities

Background  

CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) cell count testing is the standard method for determining eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART), but is not widely available in sub-Saharan Africa. Total lymphocyte counts (TLCs) have not proven sufficiently accurate in identifying subjects with low CD4 counts. We developed clinical algorithms using TLCs, hemoglobin (Hb), and body mass index (BMI) to identify patients who require ART.     

Electrically and Thermally Conducting Nanocomposites for Electronic Applications

Nanocomposites made up of polymer matrices and carbon nanotubes are a class of advanced materials with great application potential in electronics packaging. Nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes as fillers have been designed with the aim of exploiting the high thermal, electrical and mechanical properties characteristic of carbon nanotubes. Heat dissipation in electronic devices requires interface materials with high thermal conductivity. Here, current developments and challenges in the application of nanotubes as fillers in polymer matrices are explored. The blending together of nanotubes and polymers result in what are known as nanocomposites. Among the most pressing current issues related to nanocomposite fabrication are (i) dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the polymer host, (ii) carbon nanotube-polymer interaction and the nature of the interface, and (iii) alignment of carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix. These issues are believed to be directly related to the electrical and thermal performance of nanocomposites. The recent progress in the fabrication of nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes as fillers and their potential application in electronics packaging as thermal interface materials is also reported.     

Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a rural health centre in South India

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - There is a huge burden of diabetes-related complications, both microvascular and macrovascular, in India. With the rising prevalence of...     

Regulatory Actions of Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 in Leishmania donovani Infection in the Liver

In livers of susceptible but self-curing C57BL/6 mice, intracellular Leishmania donovani infection enhanced Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR2 gene expression. In the liver, infected TLR4^−/− mice showed reduced gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression, higher-level and slowly resolving infection, delayed granuloma formation, and little response to low-dose chemotherapy; in serum, the ratio of IFN-γ to interleukin 10 (IL-10) activity was decreased by 50%. In contrast, in TLR2^−/− mice, control of liver infection, parasite killing, and granuloma assembly were accelerated and chemotherapy''s efficacy enhanced. In livers of infected TLR2^−/− mice, mRNA expression was not increased for inflammatory cytokines or iNOS or decreased for IL-10; however, the serum IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio was increased 6.5-fold and minimal responses to IL-10 receptor blockade suggested downregulated IL-10. In established infection in wild-type mice, blockading TLR2 induced parasite killing and triggering TLR4 strengthened resistance and promoted chemotherapy''s effect. Thus, in experimental L. donovani infection in the liver, TLR4 signaling upregulates and TLR2 signaling downregulates macrophage antileishmanial activity, making both receptors potential therapeutic targets in visceral leishmaniasis for engagement (TLR4) or blockade (TLR2).     

The rapid response and high sensitivity of a ruthenium-doped copper ferrite thin film (Ru–CuFe2O4) sensor

A sensor displaying a rapid response and high sensitivity was developed by following a simple route. Ionic defects in this sensor were explored using X-ray diffraction analysis. In general, such defects arise from a mismatch of ionic radii, which actually improves the sensing performance. SEM and TEM images of the currently produced particles demonstrated negligible agglomeration, which greatly enhanced the flow of water molecules through the particles. The current sensor showed a rapid response to changes in humidity. Its sensing performance was classified into three different ranges of humidity. Of these humidity ranges, the sensor showed the highest sensitivity (8.84 MΩ per %RH) at low relative humidity (10–20% RH). Furthermore, the sensitivity fall off as the RH was increased from 20 to 99%. The sensor showed a rapid response time of 20 s. Also, the sensor showed 92.98% reproducibility and few effects of aging.

A sensor displaying a rapid response and high sensitivity was developed by following a simple route.     

Evidence That Alpha-9 Human Papillomavirus Infections are a Major Etiologic Factor for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma in Black South Africans

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, most commonly genotype 16 of the alpha-9 family, is implicated in the etiology of a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSC) worldwide. Data are scarce regarding OPSC in South Africans, and three prior studies suggest no significant etiologic role for HPV. We aimed to investigate for evidence of HPV etiology in OPSCs from black South Africans by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies with determination of HPV subtype by sequencing, in situ hybridization (ISH), and p16^INK4a immunohistochemistry (IHC), as a surrogate marker for an HPV-driven tumor. It was hypothesized that HPV-driven tumors would be positive by PCR plus IHC and/or ISH whereas OPSCs with HPV background infections (HPV-passenger) would be positive by PCR alone. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 51 OPSCs collected between 2005 and 2010 from 41 patients were analyzed for HPV by GP5+6+ PCR (targeting the HPV L1 region), pU-1M/pU-2R PCR (targeting the HPV E6/E7 region) and HPV-31 specific PCR (targeting the E5 region), chromogenic ISH, and p16^INK4a IHC. All cases positive by PCR were subject to sequencing to determine HPV genotype. The patient mean age was 58.0 years and 88 % were male. Of the 51 evaluable tumors, 48 (94.1 %) were positive for HPV DNA by PCR: 25 (49.1 %) met criteria for an HPV-driven tumor, 23 (45.1 %) for HPV-passenger, and 3 (5.9 %) were HPV-unrelated. Sequencing of the PCR-positive cases revealed the following genotypes: combined HPV-16 and 31 (41.7 %), HPV-31 (25.0 %), HPV-16 (22.9 %), combined HPV-16 and 18 (6.3 %), and a single case each of HPV 18 and HPV 33. Studies via ISH were negative in all cases. In accordance with worldwide trends but contrary to prior South African data, HPV likely plays an etiologic role in a significant subset (at least 49.1 %) of OPSC in black South Africans. We found that the alpha-9 HPV family, particularly HPV-16 and 31 either in combination or separately, to predominate in our sample tumors. The use of multiple PCR primers increased sensitivity of viral detection, and a HPV-31 specific primer confirmed the presence of this genotype in many samples. Further studies including HPV E6/E7 mRNA assays are needed to better elucidate the pathogenic role of HPV in black South African OPSCs.     

MYD88 L265P mutation in intraocular lymphoma: A potential diagnostic marker

Purpose:Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is the most common intraocular lymphoma (IOL). This can be either primary or secondary to the central nervous system lymphoma. The diagnosis of primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) currently relies on clinical diagnosis and cytological analysis of the vitreous or subretinal biopsy. Although most cases are diagnosed without much issue, the limited amount of vitreous fluid, subjectivity in cytological reporting, and special expertise in ocular pathology make the diagnosis challenging. MYD88 L265P mutation has been implicated to have diagnostic utility in PIOL. In this study, we screened consecutive vitreous biopsies for the presence of MYD88 L265P mutation to understand its diagnostic utility compared to conventional cytological analysis.Methods:Cytological analysis and MYD88 L265P mutation by PCR-based sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were carried out on consecutive vitreous and subretinal biopsies collected from 21 patients. The diagnostic utility of the cytology and MYD88 L265P mutation analysis were compared.Results:Out of the 21 patients, 15 had clinical suspicion of having PIOL. Out of these suspected cases of PIOL, nine were confirmed on follow-up, while six were diagnosed as other intraocular pathologies. Diagnostic utility of MYD88 L265P mutation analysis revealed a sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity of 91.6%, positive and negative predictive value of 88.9% and 91.7%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of 90.5% was achieved with the mutation analysis that shows the superiority of MYD88 in both ruling in and ruling out PIOL. The diagnostic utility of MYD88 L265P mutation was superior to conventional cytological analysis.Conclusion:The analysis of MYD88 L265P mutation is reliable and efficient in the diagnosis of PIOL.