DNA damage in spleen as a indicator of genotoxicity in Channa punctatus exposed to 4-nonylphenol

Aim: The present study was performed to evaluate the genotoxic effect of 4-nonylphenol after acute and subchronic exposure in spleen tissue of Channa punctatus, recovery in DNA damage was also ascertained after 30 days of cessation of exposure.Methodology: Tail length (TL), tail intensity (TI), tail moment (TM), Olive tail moment (OTM) was used as biological indicators of DNA damage. The fish were exposed to different sublethal concentrations of 4-NP for 96 hrs (acute exposure) and for 90 days (sub chronic exposure). Results: Exposed groups showed significantly higher DNA damage in both acute and sub chronic exposure as compared to control groups. In the case of acute exposure, the highest damage was observed at 24 hr of exposure followed by a decline in the value of all the parameters, while in the later hours of exposure these value further increased. On the other hand, in the case of sub-chronic exposure, the highest damage was observed after treatment with 0.10 mg l-1 concentration of 4-NP at 90 days of exposure. Recovery experiment showed a decrease in the values of all the parameter’s studied, however, a significant decrease was observed only at the highest concentration. Interpretation: The results conclude the DNA damaging potential of 4-nonylphenol and highlighted the usage of spleen tissue for genotoxicity testing

Diagnostic ability of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction versus immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 assessment in breast cancer: An Indian perspective

Background & objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cancer of women. Inferior prognosis in some patients has been attributed to the higher proliferative capability of the tumour. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Ki-67, despite being a simple and cost-effective method, has not become a valid tool to evaluate this biomarker. This is ascribed to variation in pre-analytical and analytical techniques, variable expression, hotspot distribution and inter-and intra-observer inconsistency. This study was aimed at defining the analytical and clinical validity of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as an alternative to IHC evaluation. Methods: This study included a total of 109 patients with invasive breast cancers. Ki-67 IHC visual assessment was compared with the mRNA value determined by RT-qPCR. Concordance between both the methods was assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and Cohen's kappa value with intraclass correlation were performed. Results: The threshold value for Ki-67 by RT-qPCR obtained by ROC curve was 22.23 per cent, which was used to divide breast cancer cases into high proliferative and low proliferative groups. A significant correlation was observed between both the breast cancer groups formed using RT-qPCR threshold as well as median laboratory value of Ki-67 labelling index by IHC. Interpretation & conclusions: The study results showed a significant correlation between the two methods. While IHC is subject to technical and interpretative variability, RT-qPCR may offer a more objective alternative.

A comparative evaluation of clinical examination, pelvic ultrasound and laparoscopy in the diagnosis of pelvic masses.

This is a prospective study conducted on one hundred female patients with pelvic masses. The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination alone and in conjunction with ultrasonic examination was comparable (p > 0.05). However diagnostic accuracy of 92% with laparoscopy was statistically significant as compared to 68% of clinical examination (p < 0.001) and 76% of ultrasonic examination (p < 0.05).

Microbiological study of vaginal discharge associated with the use of CuT 200.

A microbiological study of the vaginal discharge was conducted on 75 women attending family planning outdoors. In 24 out of 25 symptomatic CuT 200 users suffering from non-specific vaginitis, Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from 19 cases (79%). The difference in the recovery rate of Gardnerella vaginalis was highly significant between symptomatic CuT 200 users and non-users (p less than 0.001) and that between symptomatic and asymptomatic CuT 200 users (p less than 0.05). But the difference between asymptomatic CuT 200 users and non-users was not statistically significant. The presence of clue cells on direct Gram's staining of vaginal discharge is significantly (p less than 0.05) related to the recovery of Gardnerella vaginalis on culture.

Gardnerella vaginalis vaginitis in Cu T 200 users.

Vaginal samples obtained from intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) users with and without vaginitis and from healthy non-users were studied for presence of G. vaginalis and cytological changes. Vaginitis was present in 29.5 per cent IUD users and most of them (76%) yielded G. vaginalis. G. vaginalis was also recovered from asymptomatic IUD users and from non-users, but heavy colonisation was infrequent. The presence of clue cells and many small Gram negative bacilli and scanty lactobacilli were associated with G. vaginalis recovery. Inflammation was more frequent in IUD users than in non-users (P less than 0.001). A significant correlation was also found between inflammatory changes and G. vaginalis colonisation among all groups of patients.