Nucleophosmin mutation analysis in acute myeloid leukaemia: Immunohistochemistry as a surrogate for molecular techniques.

Background & objectives: Mutation of nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene in the absence of FLT3-ITD (FMS related tyrosine kinase 3 - internal tandem duplications) mutation carries a good prognosis in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). NPM1, a multifunctional nucleolar phosphoprotein that shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm, gets trapped in the cytoplasm when mutated. Immunohistochemical (IHC) demonstration of its aberrant cytoplasmic location (NPMc+) has been suggested as a simple substitute for the standard screening molecular method. This study was aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of IHC on formalin fixed bone marrow biopsies in comparison with the reference molecular method (allele specific oligonucleotide - polymerase chain reaction; ASO-PCR) to predict NPM1 mutation status in AML patients. Methods: NPM protein IHC was performed using mouse anti-NPM monoclonal antibody on 35 paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies of patients with primary AML of any French-American-British (FAB) subtype. Results of IHC were compared with those of ASO-PCR. Results: Of the 35 AML patients, 21 (60%) were positive for NPM1 exon 12 gene mutation by ASO-PCR, 19 (90.47%) of these 21 were NPMc+. Thirteen of the 35 patients were negative by both the methods. One NPMc+ patient was not detected by ASO-PCR. IHC had a sensitivity and specificity of 90 and 93 per cent, respectively, compared to the molecular screening gold standard. Interpretation & conclusions: Mutation of NPM1 determined by the widely available and inexpensive IHC agrees closely with results of the standard molecular methods. Thus, technically and financially not well endowed laboratories can provide the prognostically and potentially therapeutically important information on NPM1 mutation using IHC.

Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss with Overlay of Middle Ear Pathology-Diagnostic Implications.

This study aimed to demonstrate the diagnosis of profound mixed hearing loss which is inappropriate to be studied vigorously to prove that at the level of profound degree of severity there is a little contribution of conductive pathology. Two groups of 15 subjects each in the age range of 18-25 years with mean age of 21 years were included. Group I consisted of pure sensorineural hearing loss of profound degree and Group II was made up of pure sensorineural hearing loss of profound degree who later reported with middle ear disorder. Pure tone measurements were conducted on all the subjects following standard procedures. Conductive hearing loss was induced with insertion of the insert ear plugs/ear moulds without sound bore for subjects in Group I and pure tone threshold measurements were repeated. Air-conduction and bone-conduction thresholds were compared for subjects in Group II prior and later to check for any middle ear pathology. Results showed that when Group I was induced with conductive hearing loss, the pure tone average did not change and for Group II, there was no change in air-conduction thresholds by later developed outer ear/middle ear pathologies. Diagnosis of profound sensorineural hearing loss with the overlay of middle ear pathology will bring insights into physiology of hearing and highlight the important issues of management of middle ear pathology, not for the purpose of improvement of absolute hearing thresholds but for the case of wearing of amplification device restricting the further growth of pathology, etc.

The Comparison of Oral Health Problems With Other Health Problems In Urban School Children of 10-14 Years.- A Group Screening.

The overall health, well being, education, learning abilities, development of children, families and communities can be affected by oral health .However in the developing nations the importance of oral health in comparison to general health is minimal. Hence the present study was considered to evaluate and compare the oral health problems in relation to general health problems of the same children by a group screening method. A total of 592 children in the age group of 10-14 years were selected from class 6- class 10, the focus initially was on General Health screening, Vision Screening, oral health screening, tonsillar and auditory screening of students. Among these children 296 indiviulas were apparently healthy with no undiagnosed health aliments; the remaining children were having some health problems. In the present study 50% of children were apparently healthy, 19.9% had oral health problems, which was considerably higher than other health problems. In the present study the comparison of oral health problems occurence with general health problems shows statistically insignificance, In the present study the comparison of oral health problems occurrence with tonsillar, auditory and vision problems shows statistically significance. Based on these findings it can be suggested that in urban school children the undiagnosed oral health problems is higher than any other health aliments, which recommends promoting awareness on the oral health and importance of regular dental check up.

Changes in carbohydrates and lipids during embryonic development of Antheraea mylitta (Lepidoptera).

Changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism during embryonic development in Antheraea mylitta were studied. While carbohydrates were metabolized during early embryogenesis, lipids were catabolised at the later stages. A significant increase in both total carbohydrates and glycogen on days 5 and 6 suggested the concurrent occurrence of both gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis. As the development of the embryo proceeds, both lipids and carbohydrates were utilised, resulting in the increase in the concentration of citrate, pyruvate and lactate.