Seroprevalence of dengue infection in pregnant women and placental antibody transfer.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women and infants are vulnerable for developing severe dengue. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of dengue infections among pregnant women, their offsprings and its association with outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women, admitted for delivery in a tertiary mother and child hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Blood specimens (2 ml) were collected from the women during hospitalization in the first stage along with blood samples being drawn for other investigations. Umbilical cord blood was collected from the neonates. The samples were tested using IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Quantitative titres were also obtained, and index ratios were calculated using optical density values. RESULTS: Seroprevalence of dengue in antenatal women was 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.4-12.48). Among cord blood samples, the seropositivity was 10.8% (95% CI: 6.3-16.6). A significant correlation (Spearman rho: 0.653 and p value <0.001) was obtained between maternal and cord sample IgG index ratios. Agreement between maternal and cord blood IgG values was obtained using kappa as 0.742. The mean weight of newborns born to IgG-positive mothers was significantly lower than babies of IgG-negative mothers (2.3 vs 2.8; t = 2.64; p = 0.01). The mean gestational age at delivery was also significantly lower in IgG-positive mothers (36.29 vs 38.04 weeks; t = 2.48; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Seroprevalence of dengue in antenatal women and in their offsprings is lower than other areas endemic for dengue. Dengue infection (any time before pregnancy) may result in preterm delivery and low birth weights.

Enhanced tumor retention of a radiohalogen label for site-specific modification of antibodies.

A known limitation of iodine radionuclides for labeling and biological tracking of receptor targeted proteins is the tendency of iodotyrosine to rapidly diffuse from cells following endocytosis and lysosomal degradation. In contrast, radiometal-chelate complexes such as indium-111-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (In-111-DOTA) accumulate within target cells due to the residualizing properties of the polar, charged metal-chelate-amino acid adduct. Iodine radionuclides boast a diversity of nuclear properties and chemical means for incorporation, prompting efforts to covalently link radioiodine with residualizing molecules. Herein, we describe the Ugi-assisted synthesis of [I-125]HIP-DOTA, a 4-hydroxy-3-iodophenyl (HIP) derivative of DOTA, and demonstration of its residualizing properties in a murine xenograft model. Overall, this study displays the power of multicomponent synthesis to yield a versatile radioactive probe for antibodies across multiple therapeutic areas with potential applications in both preclinical biodistribution studies and clinical radioimmunotherapies.

Bacterial vaginosis with special reference to anaerobes.

AIMS: This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and to estimate the prevalence of anaerobic organisms in vaginal discharge of women suffering from bacterial vaginosis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Patients attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a Medical College Hospital. A one year cross-sectional study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: High vaginal swabs taken from 174 female patients complaining of abnormal vaginal discharge. BV was diagnosed by clinical composite criteria and by gram stain. Anaerobes were isolated and identified from the discharge. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi square test, with level of significance set at a value of P< 0.05. RESULTS: BV was diagnosed in 68.39% of the cases by using clinical composite criteria and in 58.4% of the cases by gram stain. Anaerobic culture isolation of vaginal swabs revealed that out of 174 cases 143 (82.65%) were culture positive for anaerobes. Bacteroides were significantly raised in BV as compared with non bacterial vaginosis (NBV; < 0.05%). CONCLUSIONS: Anaerobic bacteria are important pathogens in the causation of bacterial vaginosis along with other aerobic organisms. Bacteroides and peptostreptococci are significantly raised in BV.