New approaches for post-vaccination surveillance of foot-and-mouth disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious and important transboundary disease of cloven-hoofed animals and ruminants. In ruminants, an animal is considered as a foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) carrier if a live FMDV/FMDV RNA is obtained from the oro-pharyngeal fluid (OPF) beyond 28 days after infection. These carrier animals may pose a risk for causing outbreaks in healthy animals. Moreover, it is important to conduct serosurveillance to know the virus circulation. In the present study, an ELISA was developed using field samples to detect FMDV specific secretory IgA antibodies. These samples were also tested for the presence of FMDV RNA using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). It was found that more carrier animals were detected by IgA ELISA in comparison to qRT-PCR. Thus, IgA ELISA is an important tool to detect FMD carriers. An ELISA based on detection of antibodies against FMDV 2B non-structural protein (NSP) was also used to confirm the results obtained from screening of 3AB3 NSP ELISA. These two new approaches (IgA ELISA and 2B ELISA) form important tools for detection of carriers and virus circulation, respectively, during FMD eradication program. Keywords: foot-and-mouth disease virus; carriers; IgA; 2B non-structural protein; 3AB3 non-structural protein.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is increasingly important as new therapies can halt the disease in its early stages. Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) are widely used for RA diagnosis, but are not in the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Criteria for RA Classification. We developed and tested the performance characteristics of new criteria for RA classification, incorporating anti-CCP. METHODS: We identified all subjects seen in our arthritis centre with rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP tested simultaneously between 1 January and 30 June 2004 and reviewed their medical records for the ACR criteria, rheumatologists' diagnoses, RF and anti-CCP. We revised the ACR criteria in two ways: (a) adding anti-CCP, and (b) replacing rheumatoid nodules and erosions with anti-CCP (CCP 6 criteria). We compared sensitivity and specificity of all criteria, in all subjects and in subjects with arthritis symptoms

Concurrent infection of Bluetongue and Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus in small ruminants in Haryana State of India.

Bluetongue (BT) and peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) are major transboundary diseases of small ruminant, which are endemic in India. Testing of bluetongue virus (BTV) and peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) from recent outbreaks (2015-2016) in different regions of Haryana State of India revealed that 27.5% of the samples showed the presence of dual infection of BTV and PPRV. Analysis of Seg-2 of BTV (the serotype-determining protein) showed the presence of BTV-12w in several isolates. However, analysis of N gene fragment amplicons showed that viruses belong to lineage IV were most closely related to a pathogenic strain of PPRV from Delhi. This is the first report of co-circulation of PPRV lineage IV and bluetongue virus serotype 12 in the state.

Nutrigenomic evaluation of garlic (Allium sativum) and holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on growth performance and immune characteristics in broilers.

AIM: In this study, a planned research work was conducted to investigate the nutrigenomic aspects of supplementation of Allium sativum (garlic) and Ocimum sanctum (holy basil) leaf powder on the growth performance and immune characteristics of broilers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 6 weeks feeding trial was conducted with 280-day-old Ven Cobb broilers, distributed randomly into seven experimental groups. Each treatment had 4 replicates with 10 birds each. The birds of the control group (T1) were fed a basal diet formulated as per BIS standards. The broilers of treatment groups T2 and T3 were fed basal diet supplemented with the commercially available garlic powder (GP) at levels of 0.5% and 1.0% of the feed, respectively, while broilers in T4 and T5 were fed basal diet supplemented with commercial grade holy basil leaf powder (HBLP) at levels 0.5% and 1.0% of the feed, respectively. Birds in the T6 were fed with 0.5% GP and 0.5% HBLP, whereas T7 was fed with 1.0% GP and 1.0% HBLP. At the end of the feeding trial (6th week), blood samples were collected and analyzed for relative mRNA expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The mean body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were improved (p<0.05) in broilers fed the GP and HBLP incorporated diets compared with the control group. The relative mRNA expression levels of TLR 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 in the peripheral blood of the broilers were found to be increased (p<0.05) in the birds supplemented with graded levels of the GP and HBLP as compared to the untreated group. CONCLUSION: The present work concludes that the inclusion of GP and HBLP could enhance the production performance and immune status of birds by augmenting the T-cell mediated immune response and thereby protects them from disease without decreasing growth traits as a possible substitution to conventional antimicrobials.

Dual Infection with Bluetongue Virus Serotypes and First-Time Isolation of Serotype 5 in India.

Bluetongue is endemic in India and has been reported from most Indian states. Of late, the clinical disease is most frequently seen in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana (erstwhile Andhra Pradesh state), Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Our analysis of diagnostic samples from bluetongue outbreaks during 2010-2011 from the state of Karnataka identified bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 5 (BTV-5) for the first time in India. One of the diagnostic samples (CH1) and subsequent virus isolate (IND2010/02) contained both BTV-2 and BTV-5. Segment 2 (seg-2) sequence data (400 bp: nucleotides 2538-2921) for IND2010/02-BTV5, showed 94.3% nucleotide identity to BTV-5 from South Africa (Accession no. AJ585126), confirming the virus serotype and also indicating that Seg-2 was derived from a Western topotype, which is in contrast to serotype 2, that belongs to an Eastern topotype. BTV-5 has been recently reported from Africa, China, French islands and the Americas. Although the exact source of the Indian BTV-5 isolate is still to be confirmed, recent identification of additional exotic serotypes in India is of real concern and might add to the severity of the disease seen in these outbreaks.

Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays for rapid identification of eastern and western strains of bluetongue virus in India.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) infects all ruminants, including cattle, goats and camelids, causing bluetongue disease (BT) that is often severe in naïve deer and sheep. Reverse-transcription-loop-mediated-isothermal-amplification (RT-LAMP) assays were developed to detect eastern or western topotype of BTV strains circulating in India. Each assay uses four primers recognizing six distinct sequences of BTV genome-segment 1 (Seg-1). The eastern (e)RT-LAMP and western (w)RT-LAMP assay detected BTV RNA in all positive isolates that were tested (n=52, including Indian BTV-1, -2, -3, -5, -9, -10, -16, -21 -23, and -24 strains) with high specificity and efficiency. The analytical sensitivity of the RT-LAMP assays is comparable to real-time RT-PCR, but higher than conventional RT-PCR. The accelerated eRT-LAMP and wRT-LAMP assays generated detectable levels of amplified DNA, down to 0.216 fg of BTV RNA template or 108 fg of BTV RNA template within 60-90min respectively. The assays gave negative results with RNA from foot-and-mouth-disease virus (FMDV), peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), or DNA from Capripox viruses and Orf virus (n=10), all of which can cause clinical signs similar to BT. Both RT-LAMP assays did not show any cross-reaction among themselves. The assays are rapid, easy to perform, could be adapted as a 'penside' test making them suitable for 'front-line' diagnosis, helping to identify and contain field outbreaks of BTV.

Topical lidocaine in the treatment of partial-thickness burns.

The analgesic properties and systemic absorption of topical lidocaine in the treatment of partial-thickness burns were evaluated by applying a 5% lidocaine cream to the burn wound at a concentration of 1 mg/cm2. The plasma lidocaine level was measured in 24 patients 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after application. Systemic analgesics were given 30 minutes before application of the lidocaine cream. The Visual Analog Scale was used to record pain intensity in 30 patients just before and 30 minutes after application of the lidocaine cream. The maximal area treated was 28% total body surface area partial-thickness burn with application of 4.5 gm of lidocaine, resulting in a plasma level of 5.8 micrograms/ml. The plasma lidocaine level was constant during the 4-hour experiment and was associated with a significant decrease in pain. No infectious, allergic, or cardiovascular complications were observed. Our results indicate that topical lidocaine cream offers significant pain relief of long duration without associated systemic side effects.

Isolated tubercular splenic abscess.

Splenic abscess due to tuberculosis is extremely rare in immunocompetent individuals. We report a case of tubercular splenic abscess (TSA) in an immunocompetent individual for its rarity.

An epidemic of encephalitis in Haryana: serological evidence of Japanese encephalitis in a few patients.

An epidemic of encephalitis occurred in the eastern, paddy growing districts of Haryana state between July and November 1990. One hundred and eighty-two patients with encephalitis were admitted to different hospitals in Haryana and 118 of them expired (mortality rate 64.8%); 88% of the patients were children. The male to female ratio was 2. 3. 1. IgM class of antibodies to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Virus could be demonstrated in the CSF and/or sera of 3 surviving and 2 fatal patients of the 19 patients studied. This is the first detailed report on an epidemic of encephalitis in North-Western part of India. Serologically proven cases of JE are being reported, for the first time, from this region.

Excess folate during adolescence suppresses thyroid function with permanent deficits in motivation and spatial memory.

Cognitive and memory deficits can be caused or exacerbated by dietary folate deficiency, which has been combatted by the addition of folate to grains and dietary supplements. The recommended dose of the B9 vitamin folate is 400 µg/day for adolescents and non-pregnant adults, and consumption above the recommended daily allowance is not considered to be detrimental. However, the effects of excess folate have not been tested in adolescence when neuro and endocrine development suggest possible vulnerability to long-term cognitive effects. We administered folate-supplemented (8.0 mg folic acid/kg diet) or control lab chow (2.7 mg folic acid/kg diet) to rats ad libitum from 30 to 60 days of age, and subsequently tested their motivation and learning and memory in the Morris water maze. We found that folate-supplemented animals had deficits in motivation and spatial memory, but they showed no changes of the learning- and memory-related molecules growth-associated protein-43 or Gs-α subunit protein in the hippocampus. They had decreased levels of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the periphery and decreased protein levels of thyroid receptor-α1 and -α2 (TRα1 and TRα2) in the hippocampus. The latter may have been due to an observed increase of cytosine-phosphate-guanosine island methylation within the putative thyroid hormone receptor-α promoter, which we have mapped for the first time in the rat. Overall, folate supplementation in adolescence led to motivational and spatial memory deficits that may have been mediated by suppressed thyroid hormone function in the periphery and hippocampus.

Decontamination of Yperite using mesoporous mixed metal oxide nanocrystals.

Mixed metal oxide nanocrystals of AP-Al(2)O(3), AP-Al(2)O(3)-Fe(2)O(3), AP-Al(2)O(3)-V(2)O(5) and AP-Al(2)O(3)-CuO have been prepared by aerogel process. XRD data of prepared materials revealed the formation of nanocrystals with a size range of 3-15 nm diameters. N(2) BET investigations on these materials revealed larger values of surface area ranging from 350 to 540 m(2)/g. Reactivity of these nanocrystalline materials against Yperite was examined by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy techniques. AP-Al(2)O(3)-Fe(2)O(3), AP-Al(2)O(3)-V(2)O(5) and AP-Al(2)O(3)-CuO nanocrystals exhibited superior decontamination properties against Yperite than AP-Al(2)O(3). The reactions exhibited pseudo first order behaviour. 100% of Yperite was found to be decontaminated on Al(2)O(3)-Fe(2)O(3), Al(2)O(3)-V(2)O(5) and Al(2)O(3)-CuO where only 75% of the same was found to be decontaminated on AP-Al(2)O(3) within 40 h.

A rare case of Rosai-Dorfman disease of the paranasal sinuses.

An unusual case of a 6-year-old male child presenting with a history of bilateral nasal obstruction of 3 years duration is reported. Endoscopic surgery was performed and the specimen sent for histopathological examination. The report revealed the surprise diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease. This case of isolated extranodal involvement (paranasal sinuses) by this disease is presented and the literature available reviewed.

Nonparametric approach to population pharmacokinetics in oncology patients receiving aminoglycoside therapy.

A nonparametric expectation maximization approach to the study of population pharmacokinetics is described for an aminoglycoside antibiotic. The method is used to explore population estimates for gentamicin clearance (liters per hour per creatinine clearance) and volume of distribution (liters per kilogram) in tumor patients. Joint and marginal probability distributions are plotted and further characterized by using standard descriptors such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. Results of additional analyses using hematologic or solid tumor subpopulations agree with those of a recent larger study which found no significant pharmacokinetic differences between these groups. Nonparametric maximum-expectation analyses are convenient and allow exploratory analysis of population estimates directly from routine laboratory information.

Determination of linkages in beta-D-Glucans from Phaseolus aureus by exo-beta-(1 to 3)-D-glucanase.

An alkali-insoluble glucan synthesized from UDP-d-glucose by the particulate enzyme system from Phaseolus aureus is hydrolyzed by a highly purified exo-beta-(1 --> 3)-d-glucanase to d-glucose, to the extent of 91% in 24 hr. The alkali-insoluble glucan from GDP-d-glucose formed by the particulate enzyme system from the same plant which is known to be (from chemical data) a beta-(1 --> 4)-d-glucan (cellulose) is not acted upon by this glucanase.

Sore throat - a review of presentation and etiology.

A commonly encountered complaint in clinical practice is that of a sore throat. However, confusion prevails in the minds of the treating specialists as to what treatment protocol should be followed and how to differentiate it from tonsilliti. It was with a view to clarifying this issue that a prospective study was undertaken on 50 patients with the presenting complaint of a sore throat, of which 20 received medical treatment and 30 underwent a tonsillectomy. The preoperative throat swabs versus fine needle aspiration cultures and core cultures were also analyzed us were some predisposing factors. Available literature was reviewed and compared with findings of the current study. On the bash of this, a protocol for treatment was developed including antibiotic preference and best method of microbiological isolation of offending organisms.