Identification of a novel cluster of PCV2 isolates from Meghalaya, India indicates possible recombination along with changes in capsid protein.

Documentation of the emergence of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) infection and economic losses incurred due to high mortality has been reported worldwide. The prevalence and genetic diversity of the virus has been reported in Northeast India including the possible chances of Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) vaccine failure in pig population in this region resulting in major disease outbreak. Irrespective of the genetic variability, the emergence of a novel cluster (based on the ORF2 phylogeny) was reported last year. The present study describes a state-wide (Meghalaya, India) molecular epidemiological investigation of PCV2 strains in pig population by amplification, sequencing and undertaking phylogenetic analyses. The results indicate the identification of a novel cluster of PCV2 originating from the inter-genotypic recombination between PCV2c and PCV2d. Multiple sequence alignment of amino acids indicates possible substitution in the A, B and C domains of the capsid protein. Molecular structural modelling of the capsid protein of PCV2 indicated possible motif variations in the secondary structure including presence of a tunnel, encountered at the interface region on each chain facilitating in transportation of molecules and acting as an active site for attachment and penetration. The baseline data strengthens the existing control programme of PCV2 and is possibly helpful in the planning of active surveillance strategy in this region.

Seasonal prevalence of Aedes aegypti in urban and industrial areas of Dibrugarh district, Assam.

In Dibrugarh district, one of the most populous districts of Assam, there is a potential risk of dengue virus transmission by the mosquito Aedes aegypti during the autumn, in the urban and industrial areas of the district. The seasonal patterns of oviposition activity and abundance of breeding sites of this vector were studied in two areas of the district. From January 2010 to December 2010, we examined a total of 767 ovitraps and 6562 water filled containers. Both study areas showed high percentages of positive ovitraps (urban: 18.2% and industrial: 45.08%) and positive breeding sites (urban: 22.8% and industrial: 53.5%) for Aedes aegypti with higher abundance in the post monsoon season. In industrial areas, percentages of breeding sites and positive ovitraps were high as compared to the percentages in the urban areas. The percentages of breeding sites and the positive ovitraps are high in autumn when compared to the percentages of the other seasons. In both the areas and with both the methodologies the highest infestation levels were registered in October (ovitraps: 29.3% and 65.1%, breeding sites: 27.5% and 65.2%). This highest abundance took place after heavy rainfall. A sharp decline in oviposition activity was observed when monthly room temperature decreased to16ºC with low rainfall (38 mm).

Role of primary chemotherapy in management of large tumors of undescended testis: Our experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to share our experience with tumors of undescended testis (UDT) and to assess the impact of primary cisplatin-based chemotherapy on such tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included the cases of tumor in UDT from February 2005 to December 2011. Evaluation of the cases was done with proper clinical examination and laboratory investigations along with tumor markers (alfa-feto protein, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, lactate dehydrogenase) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography abdomen. Fine needle aspiration cytologywas done in all cases. Primary chemotherapy with three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin regimen at three weekly intervals started in all cases. Response to treatment was seen after four weeks of the third cycle. RESULTS: Fourteen cases (12.5%) of germ cell tumor in UDT out of 112 cases of germ cell tumor of the testis were included. The age ranged from 16-60 years. Histological diagnosis was pure seminoma in all cases. After three cycles of BEP regime, complete response was seen in 11 cases and partial response in three cases where the residual tumor was excised along with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection RPLND. Of the 14 cases, 13 were in regular follow-up and one was lost to follow-up. All on follow-up were doing well without recurrence till now. CONCLUSION: Surgical removal of the primary tumor in UDT with or without bulky metastasis is complicated. Primary chemotherapy with cisplatin-based regimen is a good option in such cases.

KIR diversity in three ethnic populations of Assam state, Northeast India.

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) exhibit extensive diversity and it has been observed that populations with different ethno-history, linguistic, geographic and genetic backgrounds can differ in KIR profile. In this context, we have investigated the KIR complex in three ethnic populations-Kachari (n = 108), Ahom (n = 104) and Adivasi (n = 101) of Assam, Northeast India. The three populations had 145 distinct KIR genotypes in 313 individuals typed. The two Mongoloid populations--Kachari and Ahom had close genetic affinities with their parental East Asian groups where the Kachari clustered with Chinese populations and the Ahom in another clade clustered with Thailand Bangkok and Polynesian populations. The Adivasi differed markedly from these Mongoloid populations in having higher KIR 2DL2, 2DS2, 2DS3 and 2DS5, but lower 2DL3 (P value <0.0001). Like the other native Indian populations, the Adivasi had higher share of Bx-haplogroup and C4Tx genotype (37/101). However, unlike other Indian populations, KIR 3DS1 gene frequency was lower in Adivasi (21%) and was comparable to the African populations. The neighbor-joining dendogram generated on the basis of KIR gene frequencies of our study populations with 43 world populations also placed the Adivasi with African populations. Interestingly, the three populations in the dendogram are consistent with their migration histories. In summary, our data suggest that KIR profile of the three ethnic populations displayed ethnic diversity and was consistent with their migration history thereby supporting the concept that KIR diversity may be used to understand genetic affinity and migration history of populations.

Contribution of medical colleges to tuberculosis control in India under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP): lessons learnt & challenges ahead.

Medical college faculty, who are academicians are seldom directly involved in the implementation of national public health programmes. More than a decade ago for the first time in the global history of tuberculosis (TB) control, medical colleges of India were involved in the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) of Government of India (GOI). This report documents the unique and extraordinary course of events that led to the involvement of medical colleges in the RNTCP of GOI. It also reports the contributions made by the medical colleges to TB control in India. For more than a decade, medical colleges have been providing diagnostic services (Designated Microscopy Centres), treatment [Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) Centres] referral for treatment, recording and reporting data, carrying out advocacy for RNTCP and conducting operational research relevant to RNTCP. Medical colleges are contributing to diagnosis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-TB co-infection and development of laboratory infrastructure for early diagnosis of multidrug-resistant and/or extensively drug-resistant TB (M/XDR-TB) and DOTS-Plus sites for treatment of MDR-TB cases. Overall, at a national level, medical colleges have contributed to 25 per cent of TB suspects referred for diagnosis; 23 per cent of 'new smear-positives' diagnosed; 7 per cent of DOT provision within medical college; and 86 per cent treatment success rate among new smear-positive patients. As the Programme widens its scope, future challenges include sustenance of this contribution and facilitating universal access to quality TB care; greater involvement in operational research relevant to the Programme needs; and better co-ordination mechanisms between district, state, zonal and national level to encourage their involvement.

An innovative surgical technique for treating penile incarceration injury caused by heavy metallic ring.

Penile incarceration injury by heavy metallic ring is a rare genital injury. A man may place metal object for erotic or autoerotic purposes, for masturbation or increasing erection, and due to psychiatric disturbances are some of the reasons for a penile incarceration injury. The incarcerating injury results in reduced blood flow distal to the injury, leading to edema, ischemia, and sometimes gangrene. These injuries are divided into five grades and their treatment options are divided into four groups. Surgical techniques are reserved for the advanced grades (Grades IV and V). We describe an innovative surgical technique, which can be adopted in Grades II and III injuries.

Mass measurements beyond the major r-process waiting point 80Zn.

High-precision mass measurements on neutron-rich zinc isotopes (71m,72-81)Zn have been performed with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. For the first time, the mass of 81Zn has been experimentally determined. This makes 80Zn the first of the few major waiting points along the path of the astrophysical rapid neutron-capture process where neutron-separation energy and neutron-capture Q-value are determined experimentally. The astrophysical conditions required for this waiting point and its associated abundance signatures to occur in r-process models can now be mapped precisely. The measurements also confirm the robustness of the N=50 shell closure for Z=30.

Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields for high-precision penning trap mass spectrometry.

Ramsey's method of separated oscillatory fields is applied to the excitation of the cyclotron motion of short-lived ions in a Penning trap to improve the precision of their measured mass values. The theoretical description of the extracted ion-cyclotron-resonance line shape is derived and its correctness demonstrated experimentally by measuring the mass of the short-lived 38Ca nuclide with an uncertainty of 1.1 x 10(-8) using the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at CERN. The mass of the superallowed beta emitter 38Ca contributes for testing the theoretical corrections of the conserved-vector-current hypothesis of the electroweak interaction. It is shown that the Ramsey method applied to Penning trap mass measurements yields a statistical uncertainty similar to that obtained by the conventional technique but 10 times faster. Thus the technique is a new powerful tool for high-precision mass measurements.

A randomized trial comparing the efficacy of four treatment regimens for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Assam state, India.

A four-arm drug sensitivity study compared chloroquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), mefloquine and mefloquine-artesunate in Sonitpur and Karbi Anglong districts in Assam state, India. Two criteria were used to ascertain outcome: success of clinical treatment and parasitologic cure. In Sonitpur, at 14 days, there were 36/56 early and late treatment failures plus late parasitologic failures to chloroquine and 16/56 for SP. In Karbi Anglong, combined treatment failure at 14 days was 16/56 to chloroquine and 8/60 to SP. Mefloquine and mefloquine-artesunate demonstrated 93.9% and 93.6% sustained responses respectively at 42 days. High failure rates to both chloroquine and SP preclude the use of these drugs as first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in this region. A mefloquine-artesunate combination presents an effective alternative utilizing the currently recommended higher dose of mefloquine.

Vitreous and retinal amino acid concentrations in experimental central retinal artery occlusion in the primate.

PURPOSE: Vitreous and retinal amino-acid concentrations were evaluated in a primate model of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) to study the role of glutamate excitotoxicity in acute retinal ischaemia. METHODS: Unilateral, acute CRAO was produced by temporary clamping of the central retinal artery for 190 min in four elderly rhesus monkeys. Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and electroretinogram were performed before and during CRAO, and after unclamping the artery. Vitreous samples were obtained before and after CRAO in both eyes, and analysed for 13 amino-acid concentrations using high-pressure liquid chromatography. The animals were killed 350 min after retinal reperfusion, and the retinal tissue was submitted for amino-acid analysis. RESULTS: In all four eyes, the macula showed the 'cherry red spot'. The CRAO was confirmed by fluorescein angiography and decreased b-wave on electroretinogram. Retinal histology confirmed ischaemic changes in the inner retina. Changes in all 13 vitreous amino-acid concentrations after CRAO (including glutamate) were not significantly different between study and control eyes (P = 0.09 to 0.82). All retinal amino-acid concentrations (including glutamate) were not significantly different between two eyes (P = 0.07-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: In the primate model of acute inner retinal ischaemia induced by transient CRAO, we were unable to detect significantly elevated concentrations of vitreous and retinal glutamate. Our primate model has the advantage of closely modelling the CRAO in humans. Further basic and clinical studies are needed to elucidate the role of glutamate excitotoxicity in retinal ischaemia.

Growth-associated production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate by Bacillus mycoides.

Bacillus mycoides strain RIJ B-017, a growth-associated poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) producer was grown on sucrose-containing media. PHB accumulated in cells up to 72% of dry cell mass. The overall maximum value of PHB yield (Yp/s) and productivities (Qp and qp) 250 mgp/gs, 120 mgp L-1 h-1 and 30 mgp gx-1 h-1, respectively, were obtained at 15 g/L sucrose. Differential scanning calorimeter heating curve showed two peaks, one at 95.9 degrees C and another at 165.4 degrees C with a shoulder around 154.6 degrees C. The viscosity-average molar mass in chloroform at 27 degrees C was 505 kDa. The carbon content of PHB was 55.4% of the mass.

Gender difference in resolution of mania.

Gender differences are being increasingly reported across psychiatric disorders. Females are known to be more at risk for developing unipolar depressive disorders. In bipolar disorder there is more dysphoria, rapid cycling and more number of depressive episodes in females. However studies on gender difference in resolution are scarce. This study was conducted in Central Institute of Psychiatry to assess the gender difference in resolution of mania. 24 males and 16 females were rated at day 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 & 28 on scale for Manic States, ft was found that males settled faster than females, which was evident at day 14. The rate of resolution was more in males in the first week. Remission was also reached earlier by males.