Recombinant glycoprotein based vaccine for Chandipura virus infection

Chandipura virus (CHPV) has emerged as an important pediatric encephalitis-causing pathogen with very high mortality in India. No specific vaccine or treatment is available till date. We attempted to prepare a candidate vaccine employing recombinant CHPV Glycoprotein (rGp). The Glycoprotein gene (G-gene) of CHPV was expressed using Baculovirus expression system. The rGp was purified by HPLC and used for mice immunization, 3 doses, and 4 weeks apart. One microgram rGp was found to be optimum. Sero-conversion was observed as early as 2nd week by detecting anti-CHPV IgG antibodies. Antibody titres were immunogen-concentration dependent. Intracerebral challenge of the immunized mice with 100 LD₅₀ of the homologous strain demonstrated 90% protection. In in vitro neutralization, antibodies from the immunized mice were able to neutralize heterologous viruses. There was 60% T cell proliferation observed against rGp in immunized mice. The study shows that rGp induces both arms of immune response and represents an ideal vaccine candidate for further evaluations.     

Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.     

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and serotypes in western India: lack of clinical significance

To determine hepatitis B virus genotype and subtype distribution among HBV infected individuals with different clinical manifestations in western India, serum samples from 19 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, 30 chronic hepatitis B patients, 8 acute hepatitis B patients, 5 fulminant hepatitis B patients, and with circulating HBV DNA were genotyped and subtyped on the basis of the nucleotide sequence analysis of S region of the HBV genome. Genotype D was the predominant genotype circulating in western India (57/62; 91.93%). All 19 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, 8 acute hepatitis B patients, 5 fulminant hepatic failure patients and 25/30 chronic hepatitis B patients were circulating genotype D and ayw3/ayw2 subtypes. HBV genotype A was prevalent in 8% (5/62) of the total number of patients and all belonged to chronic hepatitis B category. Subtyping analysis showed that all genotype A isolates were of subtype adw2. As most of the patients from different clinical categories were infected with HBV genotype D, it is concluded that this genotype did not influence the outcome of HBV infection.     

Is the outcome of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment improved by spontaneous or surgical drainage of a hydrosalpinx?

A pilot study was designed to examine whether the outcome of embryo transfer in women with a hydrosalpinx might be improved by surgical drainage of the hydrosalpinx at the time of oocyte collection for in- vitro fertilization treatment. A comparative, controlled but retrospective analysis of the results was performed of all women with infective tubal damage aged <40 years old, who had ovulatory cycles, a normal uterus and a partner with normal spermatozoa. A standardized treatment regimen was used. A maximum of three embryos were transferred. Hydrosalpinx was defined by prior hysterosalpingography and/or laparoscopy with transcervical dye injection. A total of 237 embryo transfer cycles in women with hydrosalpinges (tubal distension not visible in 151, visible but not drained in 30 and drained in 56) were compared with 705 embryo transfer cycles in women with tubal disease but no hydrosalpinx. Results were analysed in the first three cycles but also separately in the first cycle to check for bias. Success rates were higher in the first cycle, but did not significantly influence overall differences. Implantation rates were significantly reduced overall in the hydrosalpinx group (8.0 versus 13.2% for controls; P < 0.001), being 8.3% (P < 0.01) in the subgroup without evident tubal distension and 7.5% (not significant) in the drained hydrosalpinx group. This study shows that tubal damage with distal occlusion is associated with a marked reduction in embryo implantation, even in the absence of obvious fluid distension. Surgical drainage of distended hydrosalpinges appears to offer no benefit.      

住院精神分裂症患者十年前后用药情况对比分析

目的对十年前后精神分裂症患者用药情况的变化进行调查分析.方法对十年前后两个五年段的各500份符合精神分裂症诊断标准的病历进行回顾性调查,并对各项指标进行对比分析.结果两组折算用药剂量经t检验差异无显著性(P>0.05);两组合并用药、合并抗胆碱药及疗效经χ2检验差异有显著性(P<0.01);十年后非典型抗精神病药物氯氮平在临床上的应用比例明显增大并上升为首位.结论十年前后两组抗精神病药的应用发生了明显变化,疗效好、副作用轻的非典型抗精神病药的应用比例明显增加.     

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after mitral valve replacement

Development of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of mitral valve surgery and requires urgent surgical intervention. We describe a case of pseudoaneurysm of membranous septum following repeat mitral valve replacement with the use of multimodality imaging.