Stance of MRD in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and its upsurge in the novel era of cell-free DNA.

Cancer genomics has evolved over the years from understanding the pathogenesis of cancer to screening the future possibilities of cancer occurrence. Understanding the genetic profile of tumors holds a prognostic as well as a predictive value in this era of therapeutic surveillance, molecular remission, and precision medicine. Identifying molecular markers in tumors is the current standard of approach, and requires an efficient combination of an accessible sample type and a profoundly sensitive technique. Liquid biopsy or cell-free DNA has evolved as a novel sample type with promising results in recent years. Although cell-free DNA has significant role in various cancer types, this review focuses on its application in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Beginning with the current concept and clinical relevance of minimal residual disease in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, we discuss the literature on circulating DNA and its evolving application in the realm of cutting-edge technology.

Correlation of Radiographic Mental Foramen Position and Occulusion in Three Different Indian Populations.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the position of the mental foramen (MF) is important for administering local anaesthesia for diagnostic, surgical or operative procedures. AIMS: To determine the shape, position, symmetry of MF and its continuity with the inferior dental canal (IDC) on a digital panoramic view and to find its correlation with Angle's molar relations in three Indian subpopulations. The study also determines the correlation of inter-foramen distance in both genders of three Indian subpopulations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty digital panoramic radiographs were evaluated from three Indian subpopulations (Punjab, Rajasthan and Northeast [NE]). The assessment of occlusion was based on Angle's molar relationships. The data obtained were statistically analysed. RESULTS: The commonest position of the MF in the Rajasthan and NE populations was position 4 bilaterally, while in the Punjab population, it was position 3 on the right and position 4 on the left side. The majority of the MF was round in shape followed by oval. The mean distance between two MF was highest among the Punjab male population and least among the NE female population. The most frequent pattern of MF continuity with IDC was diffuse in Rajasthan population, separated in NE and continuous in Punjab. Correlation between Angle's molar relation with MF position was significant for Classes I and II but not for Class III. Correlation of inter-foramen distance between genders was highly significant in the NE and Punjab populations. CONCLUSION: The commonest MF position was aligned with the 1st premolar and between the 1st and 2nd premolar.

Study of the vaginal tolerance to Acidform, an acid-buffering, bioadhesive gel.

Vaginal tolerance tests were performed with a new potential microbicidal and spermicidal product, an acid-buffering vaginal gel (Acidform) without or with nonoxynol-9 (N-9). The potential advantages over other vaginal products include keeping a low pH, decrease of the irritating effect of N-9 on the cervix or vaginal mucosa associated with greater retention of the product after application, and decreasing "messiness" as compared to other vaginal products. Three groups of six women were admitted and randomly assigned to use Acidform with 0%, 2.5%, and 5% N-9. Colposcopic evaluation for vulvar, vaginal, and cervical signs of irritation was performed and photographs were taken, following a specific World Health Organization protocol, at time 0, and after 24 h and 6 days of application of the gel. No irritation or symptom was reported by users of Acidform without N-9. A generalized and intense erythema in cervix was observed in 10 of 12 Acidform/N-9 users and abrasion occurred in nine of them. Vulvar irritation was seen in seven of these 10 volunteers. N-9 concentration in the gel (2.5% or 5.0%) was not related to the findings. No ulcer, exulceration, or de-epithelialization was observed. Acidform without N-9 was well tolerated by volunteers, but it was unable to protect the cervix, vagina, and vulva from the N-9 effects.

Development and testing of monoclonal antibody-based rapid immunodiagnostic test kits for direct detection of Vibrio cholerae O139 synonym Bengal.

We report on the development and testing of two monoclonal antibody-based rapid immunodiagnostic test kits, BengalScreen, a coagglutination test, and Bengal DFA, a direct fluorescent-antibody test, for direct detection of Vibrio cholerae O139 synonym Bengal in clinical and environmental specimens. The BengalScreen test requires less than 5 min to complete and can be used in the field. Bengal DFA, being more sensitive than BengalScreen, requires only one reagent and less than 20 min for detection and enumeration of V. cholerae O139 synonym Bengal. In tests for specificity, all 40 strains of V. cholerae O139 reacted with both test kits, whereas 157 strains of heterologous species examined did not, yielding 100% specificity in this study. A field trial was conducted in with both BengalScreen and Bengal DFA, and the results were compared with those obtained by conventional culture methods. BengalScreen demonstrated a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 94%. Results obtained by Bengal DFA, on the other hand, were 100% sensitive and 100% specific and yielded 100% positive and negative predictive values compared with culture methods. In a second evaluation, 93 stool specimens from Mexico that were negative for V. cholerae O139 by culture were also tested with both the BengalScreen and Bengal DFA kits. None of the 93 specimens were positive for V. cholerae O139 by both tests. A concentration method was optimized for screening of environmental water samples for V. cholerae O139 synonym Bengal with rapid test kits. BengalScreen results were unequivocally positive when water samples contained at least 2.0 x 10(3) CFU/ml, whereas Bengal DFA demonstrated an unequivocally positive reaction when the water sample contained at least 1.5 x 10(2) CFU/ml. When Bengal DFA was compared with conventional culture methods for enumeration of V. cholerae O139 synonym Bengal organisms, no difference was observed.

Prediction of the course of pre-type I diabetes.

To increase knowledge on the predictability of the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM; type I), we followed 38 subjects less than 18 years of age who had positive results on two or more islet-cell antibody tests and one identical twin who had positive results on one islet-cell antibody test. All 39 patients had longitudinal intravenous glucose tolerance tests to determine the first-phase insulin response (FPIR). Insulin dependence has developed in 10 untreated subjects less than 18 years of age. Of the 10 subjects, insulin dependence developed in eight a mean of 4.6 months after their FPIR fell to less than 30 microU/ml and a mean of 14 months after it fell to less than 46 microU/ml. Nine of the untreated subjects had an FPIR less than 67 microU/ml on at least two occasions and became insulin dependent a mean of 19 months after the value first fell below this level (95% confidence limit = 66.4% to 100%). All but one of the 10 subjects in whom IDDM developed initially had islet-cell antibody levels of greater than 80 JDF units. Insulin autoantibody values at onset were available for 9 of the 10 subjects and were positive (greater than 39 nU/ml) in six. We conclude that the combination of positive results on two islet-cell antibody tests and two diminished FPIRs (less than 67 microU/ml) in subjects less than 18 years of age reliably predicts the onset of IDDM. These data should permit intervention studies to be planned.