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Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the primary aetiological agent of contagious porcine pleuropneumonia associated with serious economic impact on pig husbandry worldwide. Diagnosis of the disease by existing techniques including isolation and identification of bacteria followed by serotyping, serological techniques, conventional PCR, real-time PCR and LAMP assays are cumbersome, time-consuming, costly and not suitable for rapid field application. A novel isothermal polymerase chain reaction (PSR) technique is standardized for all the reagents, incubation time and incubation temperature against A. pleuropneumoniae. The sensitivity of the assay was determined against various dilutions of purified DNA and total bacterial count. The specificity of the assay was determined against 11 closely related bacterial isolates. The relative sensitivity and specificity were compared with bacterial isolation, conventional PCR and real-time PCR assays. The PSR assay for specific detection was standardized at 64°C for 30 min of incubation in a water bath. The result was visible by the naked eye after centrifugation of the reaction mixture or after incorporation of SYBR Green dye as yellowish-green fluorescence. The technique was found to be 100% specific and equally sensitive with real-time PCR and 10 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. The PSR assay could be applicable in the detection of the organisms in porcine nasal swabs spiked with A. pleuropneumoniae. This is the first-ever report on the development of PSR for specific detection of A. pleuropneumoniae and can be applied for early diagnosis at the field level.
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Infecciones por Actinobacillus , Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae , Mycoplasma , Pleuroneumonía , Enfermedades de los Porcinos , Infecciones por Actinobacillus/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Actinobacillus/microbiología , Infecciones por Actinobacillus/veterinaria , Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae/genética , Animales , Mycoplasma/genética , Pleuroneumonía/diagnóstico , Pleuroneumonía/microbiología , Pleuroneumonía/veterinaria , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Porcinos , Enfermedades de los Porcinos/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de los Porcinos/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Ceres is a partially differentiated dwarf planet, as confirmed by NASA's Dawn mission. The Urvara basin (diameter ~170 km) is its third-largest impact feature, enabling insights into the cerean crust. Urvara's geology and mineralogy suggest a potential brine layer at the crust-mantle transition. Here we report new findings that help in understanding the structure and composition of the cerean crust. These results were derived by using the highest-resolution Framing Camera images acquired by Dawn at Ceres. Unexpectedly, we found meter-scale concentrated exposures of bright material (salts) along the crater's upper central ridge, which originate from an enormous depth, possibly from a deep-seated brine or salt reservoir. An extended resurfacing modified the southern floor ~100 Myr after crater formation (~250 Myr), long after the dissipation of the impact-generated heat. In this resurfaced area, one floor scarp shows a granular flow pattern of bright material, showing spectra consistent with the presence of organic material, the first such finding on Ceres beyond the vast Ernutet area. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that Ceres is and has been a geologically active world even in recent epochs, with salts and organic-rich material playing a major role in its evolution.
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Evolución Planetaria , Sales (Química) , Planeta Tierra , GeologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is one of the systemic therapeutic options for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, based on its efficacy and rapidity of action. The current study investigated the response to CsA in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TRANSITION was an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study which evaluated the proportion of partial- and suboptimal-responders among patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with continuous CsA for ≥12 weeks. Patients demonstrating a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) response of ≥90, ≥75 and <90, ≥50 and <75 and <50 were defined as responders, suboptimal-responders, partial-responders, and non-responders, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients (mean age, 46.6 years; 62.8% males) from 14 sites in Italy were evaluated. At the study visit, the mean (SD) PASI score was 4.2(5.5) compared with 15.3(7.1) prior to the last CsA cycle. For response categories, 39.8%, 22.4%, 16.8%, and 20.9% of patients were responders, suboptimal-responders, partial-responders, and non-responders to CsA treatment. Overall, 28.6% of patients permanently discontinued treatment with CsA (lack of efficacy [10.2%], poor tolerability and voluntary discontinuation [3.6% each], and other [11.7%]). CONCLUSION: Patients were only partially satisfied with CsA treatment, reporting measurable impact on quality of life. Only 40% patients showed a satisfactory response to CsA.
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Ciclosporina , Psoriasis , Estudios Transversales , Ciclosporina/uso terapéutico , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Psoriasis/tratamiento farmacológico , Calidad de Vida , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Piglet mortality is a real concern to the pig farmers. The major cause is due to the late maturation of the immune system and dietary changes in postweaned piglets. The potential role of probiotic and zinc in the stimulation of the immune system is well established. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate alterations of T and B cells in the small intestine after dietary inclusion of probiotic and zinc in pre and post-weaned piglets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 18 healthy Large White Yorkshire (LWY) piglets, irrespective of sex obtained from 3 litters at the age-group of 20, 30 and 60 days. They were divided into a control group fed with basal diet and a treatment group fed with probiotic and zinc supplement along with the basal diet, consisting of three animals in each group. The piglets were weaned at 28 days of age. After sacrificing the animals at day 20, 30 and 60 from both the groups, the abdominal cavity was opened and small intestinal tissue samples were collected, processed and stained by indirect immunofluorescence technique. The slides were evaluated under the fluorescent light microscope. The data were statistically analysed. RESULTS: The different T and B cell subsets were recorded in the lining epithelium, core of villus, crypt area of lamina propria and Peyer's patch area. The number of CD4+, CD8+, IgA+ and IgM+ cells was higher in the treated piglets than the control group of animals, irrespective of segments of intestine and age-group. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the dietary supplementation of probiotic and zinc was found to be good additives as they can stimulate the immune response in piglets, especially during the critical early post-weaning period.
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Probióticos , Zinc , Animales , Suplementos Dietéticos , Intestino Delgado , Subgrupos Linfocitarios , PorcinosRESUMEN
AIM: Chronic radiation proctitis (CRP) develops in 5-15% of patients after pelvic radiation therapy, with rectal bleeding being the main symptom. Reports suggest that argon plasma coagulation (APC) can be an effective therapy for CRP following radiotherapy for prostate cancer, but there is less information about how useful it is after radiotherapy for gynaecological malignancy. The aim of this work therefore was to study the efficacy of APC for CRP after radiotherapy for gynaecological malignancy. METHOD: This was a prospective study of consecutive patients with CRP following radiotherapy for gynaecological malignancy at IPGME&R, SDLD, Kolkata, India; symptoms included rectal bleeding grade (RBG) ≥ 2. APC was performed at monthly intervals to a maximum of four treatment sessions. Severity of disease at baseline was graded (endoscopically) by the total colonoscopic severity score (TCSS) and treatment response was assessed by reduction in RBG from ≥ 2 to ≤ 1 measured at > 6 months after cessation of APC. RESULTS: Seventy patients [90% with cervical cancer, 10% with endometrial cancer; mean age 51.93 ± 9.15 years; median RBG 3 (range 2-4)] received APC. Seven patients died due to underlying malignancy and seven patients were lost to follow-up. Fifty-six (85.7%) patients responded to therapy after a median of 2 (range 1-4) treatment sessions. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a lower haemoglobin at the start of treatment predicted failure of therapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: APC is an effective management option for CRP in female patients with gynaecological malignancy. However, the more anaemic the patient the less likely it is to be successful.
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Coagulación con Plasma de Argón/métodos , Hemorragia Gastrointestinal/terapia , Neoplasias de los Genitales Femeninos/radioterapia , Proctitis/terapia , Traumatismos por Radiación/terapia , Enfermedad Crónica , Femenino , Hemorragia Gastrointestinal/etiología , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proctitis/etiología , Estudios Prospectivos , Traumatismos por Radiación/etiología , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Pediatric myocardium is unique from mature myocardium; thus, the use of adult cardioplegia for pediatric cardiac operations may provide suboptimal myocardial protection. It is found that children undergoing heart surgery show evidence of less myocardial damage when del Nido cardioplegia is used instead of a standard cardioplegic solution. Del Nido cardioplegia solution provides a depolarized hyperkalaemic arrest lasting up to 60 minutes, reduces spontaneous and inducible activity during arrest, and prevents hyper contraction during early reperfusion. In this single blind randomized trial, a total of 60 patients underwent intra cardiac repair for TOF in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2014 to January 2016 fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly assigned in two groups- 30 patients in Del Nido group (Group A) and 30 patients in standard group (Group B). Comparison between groups was done by Chi square test and Student's test. All data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 for windows. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. There was statistically significant difference among the patients in terms of mean total initial cardioplegia volume, mean number of additional dose, mean additional dose amount, mean cross clamp time, mean CPB time (331.67±188.07 vs. 458.67±226.62, p=0.022; 0.13±0.35 vs. 1.27±0.89, p=0.000; 23.33±60.76 vs. 336.83±259.6, p=0.000; 45.10±10.35 vs. 59.23±23.21, p=0.003; 89.30±15.73 vs. 111.10±29.23, p=0.001 respectively). Mean post operative serum troponin I level at arrival in ICU and after 24 hours between two groups were statistically significantly different (55.60±32.91 vs. 83.5±58.99; p=0.024 and 13.01±5.84 vs. 18.16±9.51; p=0.014 respectively). The mean ventilation duration, mean ICU stay were also statistically significant. This study showed that cardiac arrest with Del Nido cardioplegia during intra cardiac repair for TOF was associated with improved myocardial protection over standard cardioplegia in terms of reduced CPB and cross clamp times, lower total volume of cardioplegia.
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Soluciones Cardiopléjicas , Tetralogía de Fallot , Bangladesh , Soluciones Cardiopléjicas/uso terapéutico , Niño , Paro Cardíaco Inducido , Humanos , Método Simple Ciego , Tetralogía de Fallot/cirugíaRESUMEN
Topological materials ranging from topological insulators to Weyl and Dirac semimetals form one of the most exciting current fields in condensed-matter research. Many half-Heusler compounds, RPtBi (R = rare earth), have been theoretically predicted to be topological semimetals. Among various topological attributes envisaged in RPtBi, topological surface states, chiral anomaly, and planar Hall effect have been observed experimentally. Here, we report an unusual intrinsic anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in the antiferromagnetic Heusler Weyl semimetal compounds GdPtBi and NdPtBi that is observed over a wide temperature range. In particular, GdPtBi exhibits an anomalous Hall conductivity of up to 60 Ω-1â cm-1 and an anomalous Hall angle as large as 23%. Muon spin-resonance (µSR) studies of GdPtBi indicate a sharp antiferromagnetic transition (TN) at 9 K without any noticeable magnetic correlations above TN Our studies indicate that Weyl points in these half-Heuslers are induced by a magnetic field via exchange splitting of the electronic bands at or near the Fermi energy, which is the source of the chiral anomaly and the AHE.
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The emerging resistance of tuberculosis (TB) to current first line drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) warrants alternative treatment approaches with broad-spectrum efficacy. Previously, we have shown that sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has synergestic activity with rifampicin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The primary target of SMX is folP1 in mycobacteria; however, SMX may affect other secondary targets in M. tuberculosis. This study investigated the potential additional targets of SMX in a clinical isolate of M. tuberculosis using Orbitrap mass spectrometry to identify differentially expressed proteins following treatment with a sub-lethal concentration of SMX. Raw data have been deposited as ProteomeXchange accession PXD009315. Our proteomic analysis identified approximately 1500 proteins in total of which 45 proteins were differentially regulated as a result of SMX treatment. These included 25 upregulated and 20 downregulated proteins. The oxidative stress proteins (Rv2428, AhpC and Rv2394, GgtB) and an enzyme from the electron transport chain (Ndh-II, Rv1854c) were found to be upregulated. Gene expression analysis correlated with the observed proteomic changes. In conclusion our results show that SMX treatment of a drug sensitive M. tuberculosis clinical isolate resulted in the regulation of proteins involved in the oxidative stress response, indicating the induction of oxidative stress by SMX in mycobacteria.
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Antituberculosos/farmacología , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Proteómica/métodos , Sulfametoxazol/farmacología , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Cromatografía de Fase Inversa , Regulación Bacteriana de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genética , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/metabolismo , Espectrometría de Masas en TándemRESUMEN
The iron-based high temperature superconductors exhibit a rich phase diagram reflecting a complex interplay between spin, lattice, and orbital degrees of freedom. The nematic state observed in these compounds epitomizes this complexity, by entangling a real-space anisotropy in the spin fluctuation spectrum with ferro-orbital order and an orthorhombic lattice distortion. A subtle and less-explored facet of the interplay between these degrees of freedom arises from the sizable spin-orbit coupling present in these systems, which translates anisotropies in real space into anisotropies in spin space. We present nuclear magnetic resonance studies, which reveal that the magnetic fluctuation spectrum in the paramagnetic phase of BaFe2As2 acquires an anisotropic response in spin-space upon application of a tetragonal symmetry-breaking strain field. Our results unveil an internal spin structure of the nematic order parameter, indicating that electronic nematic materials may offer a route to magneto-mechanical control.
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Telephonic Barthel Index (BI) assessment is less time-consuming and more feasible than a face-to-face interview. The aim of this study was to test the validity as well as reliability of the BI administered by telephone in comparison with face-to-face assessment in a multi-centric study. The study was conducted during the course of a randomized controlled trial in which 120 patients with subacute strokes from five teaching hospitals from different parts of India were recruited. Central telephonic follow-up and face-to-face assessment of BI and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 and 6 months were done by trained and certified blinded researchers. Kappa or weighted kappa (wK) was estimated. Sensitivity and specificity at various cutoff levels of telephonic BI were calculated. Concurrent validity of the telephonic BI was assessed by correlating it with the mRS and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scales (NIHSS) at 3 and 6 months. We observed high sensitivity and specificity at various cutoff levels of BI. Moderate to substantial agreement was observed between the two methods at 6 months wK 0.72 (95% CI 0.70-0.77). Item-wise and center-wise kappa also reflected substantial agreement. The study shows that telephonic assessment of activities of daily living with the BI in moderate to severely disabled stroke patients is valid and reliable compared to face-to-face assessment. Our study shows that telephonic assessment requires smaller sample size compared to face-to-face assessment of BI.
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Actividades Cotidianas , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Accidente Cerebrovascular , Teléfono , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , India , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
The compound Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2 belongs to the intensively studied family of layered BiS2 superconductors. It attracts special attention because superconductivity at T sc = 2.8 K was found to coexist with local-moment ferromagnetic order with a Curie temperature T C = 7.5 K. Recently it was reported that upon replacing S by Se T C drops and ferromagnetism becomes of an itinerant nature. At the same time T sc increases and it was argued superconductivity coexists with itinerant ferromagnetism. Here we report a muon spin rotation and relaxation study (µSR) conducted to investigate the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetic order in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2-x Se x with x = 0.5 and 1.0. By inspecting the muon asymmetry function we find that both phases do not coexist on the microscopic scale, but occupy different sample volumes. For x = 0.5 and x = 1.0 we find a ferromagnetic volume fraction of ~8 % and ~30 % at T = 0.25 K, well below T C = 3.4 K and T C = 3.3 K, respectively. For x = 1.0 (T sc = 2.9 K) the superconducting phase occupies most (~64 %) of the remaining sample volume, as shown by transverse field experiments that probe the Gaussian damping due to the vortex lattice. We conclude ferromagnetism and superconductivity are macroscopically phase separated.
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We present the design and construction of an NMR probe to investigate single crystals under strain at cryogenic temperatures. The probe head incorporates a piezoelectric-based apparatus from Razorbill Instruments that enables both compressive and tensile strain tuning up to strain values on the order of 0.3% with a precision of 0.001%. 75As NMR in BaFe2As2 reveals large changes to the electric field gradient and indicates that the strain is homogeneous to within 16% over the volume of the NMR coil.
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ZIKV causes microcephaly by crossing the placental barrier, however, the mechanism of trans-placental dissemination of ZIKV remains unknown. Here, we sought to determine whether monocytes, which can cross tissue barriers, assist ZIKV dissemination to the fetus. We determined this by infecting monocytes with two strains of ZIKV: South American (PRVABC59) and Nigerian (IBH30656) and analyzing viral replication. We found that ZIKV infects and replicates in monocytes and macrophages, which results in the modulation of a large number of cellular genes. Analysis of these genes identified multiple pathways including inflammasome to be targeted by ZIKV, which was confirmed by analyzing the transcript levels of the proteins of inflammasome pathways, NLRP3, ASC, caspase 1, IL-1 and IL-18. Interestingly, IFNα and the IFN inducible gene, MxA were not enhanced, suggesting prevention of innate antiviral defense by ZIKV. Also, inhibition of inflammasome led to an increased transcriptional activity of IFNα, MxA and CXCL10. Based on these results we suggest that ZIKV transcription is regulated by inflammasomes.
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Inflamasomas/metabolismo , Monocitos/virología , Replicación Viral/fisiología , Infección por el Virus Zika/patología , Quimiocina CXCL10/metabolismo , Humanos , Interferón-alfa/metabolismo , Macrófagos/patología , Macrófagos/virología , Monocitos/metabolismo , Monocitos/patología , Proteínas de Resistencia a Mixovirus/metabolismo , Proteína con Dominio Pirina 3 de la Familia NLR/genética , Proteína con Dominio Pirina 3 de la Familia NLR/metabolismo , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética , Virus Zika/genéticaAsunto(s)
Educación Médica Continua , Unidades Hospitalarias , Trabajo de Parto , Complicaciones del Trabajo de Parto/terapia , Obstetricia/educación , Manejo de Atención al Paciente , Blogging , Competencia Clínica , Ciencia Cognitiva/métodos , Curriculum , Femenino , Ginecología/educación , Humanos , Irlanda , Complicaciones del Trabajo de Parto/prevención & control , Embarazo , Recursos HumanosRESUMEN
Arsenic is commonly known to be associated with squamous cell carcinoma. Among the lesser known associations is basal cell carcinoma and even rarer is its effect on blood vessels causing peripheral vascular disease. Here we present a case of a 55 yr old man with ulceroproliferative lesions on scalp and forehead along with several hyperpigmented patches on trunk and extremities. He had symptoms suggestive of Raynaud's phenomenon that eventually led to digital gangrene. FNAC was done which was suggestive of basal cell carcinoma. On further enquiry, he was found to reside in an arsenic endemic zone and was investigated for blood arsenic level which was elevated. Punch biopsy from different lesions from body confirmed nodular basal cell carcinoma. Presently the patient has stopped drinking water from the local tubewell. On follow-up he shows improvement of Raynaud's phenomenon and skin lesions.
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Arsénico/toxicidad , Carcinoma Basocelular/inducido químicamente , Enfermedad de Raynaud/inducido químicamente , Neoplasias Cutáneas/inducido químicamente , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/toxicidad , Abastecimiento de Agua , Arsénico/sangre , Biopsia , Carcinoma Basocelular/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Piel/efectos de los fármacos , Piel/patología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patologíaRESUMEN
This study assessed the concentrations of airborne heavy metals (HMs) in particulate matter with a cutoff size of 10 µm (i.e., PM10) in an industrialized urban area (Naraina Industrial Area) of New Delhi, India. The samples were collected from January to December, 2011. The annual mean concentrations of selected HMs were as follows As (0.002 ± 0.002), Cd (0.030 ± 0.020), Co (0.003 ± 0.002), Cr (0.170 ± 0.081), Cu (0.183 ± 0.120), Fe (4.774 ± 1.889), Mn (0.258 ± 0.145), Ni (0.170 ± 0.146), Pb (0.345 ± 0.207) and Zn (1.806 ± 1.042) µg/m3. The seasonal trend for HMs followed the order postmonsoon > winter > premonsoon > monsoon. Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) suggested the three major emission sources: industrial emission (70 %), mobile and stationary combustion sources (16 %), and suspended/re-suspended dust (14 %). Mean seasonal concentrations of PM10 exceeded both the 24-hour and annual Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 60 and 100 µg/m3, respectively, in all four seasons. Mean seasonal Ni concentrations in Delhi ambient air also exceeded the 24-h annual NAAQS of 0.020 µg/m3 during all four seasons. Mean Pb concentrations exceeded the annual NAAQS of 0.50 µg/m3 only during the post monsoon season. The high levels of Ni- and Pb-contaminated PM10 would appear to present the possibility of significant health risks.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Metales Pesados/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Polvo , Monitoreo del Ambiente , India , Industrias , Tamaño de la Partícula , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, severity and etiology of diarrheal disease in infants and young children residing in an urban slum community in Southern India. SETTING: Three contiguous urban slums in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. PARTICIPANTS: 452 children participating in a birth cohort study on diarrheal disease; 373 completed three years of follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES: Diarrheal incidence (obtained by twice-weekly home visits) and severity (assessed by the Vesikari scoring system), and etiological agents associated with diarrhea (through examination of stool specimens by bacteriologic culture, rotavirus enzyme immunoassay, PCR for norovirus and microscopy for parasites). RESULTS: A total of 1856 diarrheal episodes were reported in 373 children. The overall incidence rate of diarrhea was 1.66 episodes per child year for three years, with 2.76 episodes per child year in infancy. The incidence peaked during the months of July and August. Severe diarrhea formed 8% of the total episodes. Rotavirus was the most common pathogen detected, being identified in 18% of episodes. Good hygiene status resulted in 33% protection against moderate-to-severe diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the burden of diarrheal disease and the important etiological agents of childhood diarrhea in Southern India. Promotion of hygienic behavior through health education may help reduce diarrheal incidence in this and similar communities.