Transcriptome analysis of stem wood of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Graham) Mabb. identifies genes associated with biosynthesis of camptothecin, an anti-carcinogenic molecule.

Camptothecin (CPT), a monoterpene indole alkaloid, is a potent inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I and has applications in treating ovarian, small lung and refractory ovarian cancers. Stem wood tissue of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Graham) Mabb. (family Icacinaceae) is one of the richest sources of CPT. Since there is no genomic or transcriptome data available for the species, the present work sequenced and analysed transcriptome of stem wood tissue on an Illumina platform. From a total of 77,55,978 reads, 9,187 transcripts were assembled with an average length of 255 bp. Functional annotation and categorization of these assembled transcripts unraveled the transcriptome architecture and also a total of 13 genes associated with CPT biosynthetic pathway were identified in the stem wood tissue. Four genes of the pathway were cloned to full length by RACE to validate the transcriptome data. Expression analysis of 13 genes associated with CPT biosynthetic pathway in 11 different tissues vis-a-vis CPT content analysis suggested an important role of NnPG10H, NnPSLS and NnPSTR genes in the biosynthesis of CPT. These results indicated that CPT might be synthesized in the leaves and then perhaps exported to stem wood tissue for storage.

Primary hip spica with crossed retrograde intramedullary rush pins for the management of diaphyseal femur fractures in children: A prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Femoral fractures are common in children aged between 2 and 12 yearsand 75% of the lesions affect the femoral shaft. Traction followed by a plaster cast is universally accepted as a conservative treatment. We compared primary hip spica or traction followed by hip spica with closed reduction and fixation with retrogradely passed crossed Rush pins for diaphyseal femur fracture in 25 children of the age group 3-12 years, randomly distributed in each group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FIFTY CHILDREN (AGE: 3-13 years, mean; 9 years) with femoral fractures were evaluated; 25 of them underwent the conservative treatment using immediate hip spica (group A) and 25 underwent treatment with crossed retrograde Rush pins (group B). RESULTS: Mean duration of fracture union was within 15 weeks in group A and 12 weeks in group B. Mean duration of weight bearing was 14weeks in group A and 7 weeks in group A. Mean hospital stay were 4 days in group A and 8days in group B. The man follow-up period was 16 months in group A and 17 months in group B. Complications like angulation, shortening and infection were compared. Bursitis and penetration of pins at the site of Rush pin insertion is a complication associated with this method of treatment. CONCLUSION: Closed reduction and internal fixation with crossed Rush pins was a superior treatment method in terms of early weight bearing and restoration of normal anatomy.

Antitubercular drug-induced violent suicide of a hospitalised patient.

We present a case where a young adult male, on treatment for multidrug-resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB), developed drug-induced psychosis. The psychiatric symptoms were ascribed to the anti-TB drug and were duly withdrawn by the treating doctors and supplemented with other drugs. However, the victim continued to have psychiatric symptoms and committed suicide in the hospital. He ended his life in a violent manner by stabbing and cutting himself with a kitchen knife. The case is briefly reported in this paper with a discussion on anti-TB drug-induced psychiatric effects leading to suicide.

The morphology and genetic characterization of Iheringascaris goai n. sp. (Nematoda: Raphidascarididae) from the intestine of the silver whiting and spotted catfish off the central west coast of India.

In this study a new species of nematode, Iheringascaris goai n. sp., is reported from two fish hosts, including silver whiting, Sillago sihama, and spotted catfish, Arius maculatus, caught off the Central West Coast of India at Goa. The new species can be differentiated morphologically from I. inquies, the most closely related species collected from cohabiting marine fish. The distinguishing characteristics are distinct cuticular striations, a unilateral excretory system, the presence of dentigerous ridges on the inner margin of the lips and the ratio of oesophagus to body length. In males, the ratio of spicules to body length is higher and the number of pre-anal papillae is less in comparison to those in I. inquies. In addition, the tail curves ventrad in males, while in females, the vulva is post-equatorial. The sequence alignment of 18S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I with sequences of known species selected from the same superfamily shows a significant difference. The morphological and molecular differences reported here can, therefore, be used to assign the specimen to a new species.

Taxometric analysis of helminthes of marine fishes. 1. Pedunculacetabulum spinatum n.sp., from Chorinemus mandetta and Wenyonia rhincodonti n.sp., from Rhincodon typus.

The investigations include report of two new worms from marine fishes of Central West Coast of Goa in Arabian Sea. A trematode, Pedunculacetabulum spinatum n.sp. from Chorinemusmandetta and Wenyonia rhincodoni n.sp. from sharks, Rhincodon typus have been described and compared with closer species. The systematics of genus Pedunculacetabulum Yamaguti (Japan J Zool 6:1-112, 1934) has been discussed with detailed evidence of taxometric significance to reinstate this genus.

An improved method of measurement of ECG parameters for online medical diagnosis.

The accuracy in the online measurement of ECG parameters has a decisive role in the better diagnosis and effective treatment of the diseases. The present paper describes a Lab-VIEW based programming using Pan Tompkins method to extract out QRS complex whereas QT interval measurements were carried out using Mat-lab based math-script module. Hilbert transform has been applied on the ECG signal to convert it into an analytical signal for better peak detection. Peak detection and other parameters like RR interval, HR and several time domain measures of heart rate variability such as RR mean and standard deviations, HR mean and standard deviations, RMSSSD, NN50 count, pNN50 etc were calculated for several other clinical applications apart from online disease diagnosis.

Design and development of a knowledge driven web based ECG data monitoring and diagnostic tool in lab-view.

Knowledge driven technological developments, the growth and speed of application oriented products in the field of web based services, medical technology and information science, the use of sensor networks for remote patient monitoring is currently playing a major role in quality healthcare delivery to the masses. However, further research need to be done for more effective diagnosis and treatment of diseases remotely. An improved web based, knowledge driven, patient data monitoring and diagnosis system remotely, is developed to acquire, store and process the data using specially developed GUI (Graphical User Interface) on lab-view platform. The GUI displays, communicates and processes vital biomedical parameters such as Heart rate (HR), beat to beat ratio (R-R), QRS and QT intervals etc after acquiring ECG, pulse rate, body temperature etc. from the patient's body sensors. The system detects any emergency condition automatically, if the patient develops any abnormality in his heart rate or irregularity in rhythm heart line and establishes direct connectivity between specialists and patient. The provision to store the online data on remote PC in auto mode is given. The storage of data files on demand on local and remote PC and online data communication between the two is done through shared variables. A case study to evaluate the performance and to verify the experimental implementation is conducted on two patients with varying heart rate (HR) and varying rhythm and the results were found exactly to be in accordance with the expected outcome.

Advantage technology, equitable usage of available resources and infrastructure and effective practice management--key to quality healthcare delivery in India.

The impact of technological advancement and the widespread availability of resources and their utilization, to meet the health care requirements of the community, an important fundamental need of the human being. After food and shelter is discussed. Some of the most sought criteria relating to the technology selection and the practice management are devised and proposed for their implementation to achieve quality health, particularly in the rural areas. An insight into the government policies, programs and as a result, the impact on the ultimate goal of achieving the desired health care, mainly during the last two decades is covered here. A model of health care for remote areas is proposed here to assist in the improvement of the conditions of better health care and better quality of life of the human being.

Estimation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in Manipur.

PURPOSE: To estimate and stratify CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected (asymptomatic) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (symptomatic) and correlate the clinical features of the patients with CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte level. METHODS: Between April 2002 and September 2003, a total of 415 HIV seropositive adult patients (297 males and 118 females) attending Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hospitals were tested for CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) counter (Becton Dickinson). Symptomatic patients were diagnosed as per NACO clinical case definition. RESULTS: Ranges of 0-50, 51-100, 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, 401-500 and above 500 CD4+ T-lymphocyte per microlitre were seen in 68, 52, 101, 73, 47, 31 and 43 patients respectively whereas CD8+ T-lymphocyte ranges of 0-300, 301-600, 601-900, 901-1500, 1501-2000, 2001-3500 per microlitre were seen in 29, 84, 92, 145, 40 and 25 patients respectively. One hundred and fifty patients were asymptomatic and 265 were symptomatic. CD4/CD8 ratio in asymptomatics and symptomatics were 0.13-1.69 and 0.01-0.93 respectively. Tuberculosis and candidiasis occurred in CD4+ T-lymphocyte categories between 0-400 cells per mL in symptomatics. However, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, herpes zoster, cryptococcal meningitis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, penicilliosis and cytomegalovirus retinitis were seen in patients having CD4+ T-lymphocyte less than 200 per mL. CONCLUSIONS: CD4+ T-lymphocyte was decreased in both asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV patients, The decrease was greater in symptomatics while CD8+ T-lymphocyte was increased in both except advanced stage symptomatics. CD4:CD8 ratio was reversed in both groups. Opportunistic infections correlated with different CD4+ T-lymphocyte categories.

Myofibroblastoma of the male breast: imaging appearance and ultrasound-guided core biopsy diagnosis.

We present the case of a 78-year-old man with the history of a 14-mm, well-circumscribed mass in the retroareolar region of the right breast. An ultrasound-guided core biopsy showed myofibroblastoma. The mammagraphic and sonographic characteristics of this lesion are described.

Effects of estrogen and estrogen-progestin on mammographic parenchymal density. Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Investigators.

BACKGROUND: In longitudinal studies, greater mammographic density is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: To assess differences between placebo, estrogen, and three estrogen-progestin regimens on change in mammographic density. DESIGN: Subset analysis of a 3-year, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Seven ambulatory study centers. PARTICIPANTS: 307 of the 875 women in the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions Trial. Participants had a baseline mammogram and at least one follow-up mammogram available, adhered to treatment, had not taken estrogen for at least 5 years before baseline, and did not have breast implants. INTERVENTION: Treatments were placebo, conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), CEE plus cyclic medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), CEE plus daily MPA, and CEE plus cyclic micronized progesterone (MP). MEASUREMENTS: Change in radiographic density (according to American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System grades) on mammography. RESULTS: Almost all increases in mammographic density occurred within the first year. At 12 months, the percentage of women with density grade increases was 0% (95% CI, 0.0% to 4.6%) in the placebo group, 3.5% (CI, 1.0% to 12.0%) in the CEE group, 23.5% (CI, 11.9% to 35.1%) in the CEE plus cyclic MPA group, 19.4% (CI, 9.9% to 28.9%) in the CEE plus daily MPA group, and 16.4% (CI, 6.6% to 26.2%) in the CEE plus cyclic MP group. At 12 months, the odds of an increase in mammographic density were 13.1 (95% CI, 2.4 to 73.3) with CEE plus cyclic MPA, 9.0 (CI, 1.6 to 50.1) with CEE plus daily MPA, and 7.2 (CI, 1.3 to 40.0) with CEE plus cyclic micronized progesterone compared with CEE alone. CONCLUSIONS: Further study of the magnitude and meaning of increased mammographic density due to use of estrogen and estrogen-progestins is warranted because mammographic density may be a marker for risk for breast cancer.

Lessons from mammographic-histopathologic correlation of large-core needle breast biopsy.

A thorough understanding of the limitations of sampling and histopathologic issues affecting lesion management is critical to successful large-core (14-gauge) needle breast biopsy. The most common problems are differentiating usual hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, and carcinoma in situ; satisfactory sampling of microcalcifications, often present in adjacent benign and malignant processes; differentiating phyllodes tumor from cellular fibroadenoma; and assessing the extent of an in situ component in mixed invasive and in situ carcinoma. Equally important is understanding what constitutes an acceptable histopathologic result given the mammographic appearance of the lesion. Mammographers and pathologists need experience in identifying benign processes that can manifest as discrete masses at mammography and core biopsy: focal fibrosis, apocrine metaplasia, sclerosing adenosis, and fat necrosis. When present as discrete histopathologic processes at core biopsy, such diagnoses should be accepted. Nonspecific diagnoses such as "benign breast tissue" should be avoided by pathologists when a discrete process is evident; absence of a discrete finding to explain the mammographic appearance should prompt repeat core or excisional biopsy.

Histoenzymological demonstration of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in the telencephalic nuclei and fibre tracts of hillstream cyprinoid, Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton).

The authors studied the regional localization of two dehydrogenases--glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase--in the telencephalic nuclei and fibre tracts of Barilius bendelisis by histoenzymological methods. The activity of these dehydrogenases varied from moderately positive to strongly positive in the nuclear areas and from intensely to strongly positive in the fibre tracts, except those related to the olfactory tubercle. G3PD appears to play an important role in the biosyntheses of phospholipids and to form a link between glycolysis and the pathway of the hexose-monophosphate shunt, in addition to its usual role in the degradation of glucose, along with other dehydrogenases, including succinate dehydrogenase.

Studies of the histoenzymological mapping of acid and alkaline phosphatases in the hindbrain of Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton).

The regional localization of acid and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2. and 3.1.3.1. respectively), determined histoenzymologically, is described in the cerebellum and medulla oblongata of Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton). Acid phosphatase activity in nuclear areas was observed to be moderately positive, whereas alkaline phosphatase activity varied from weak to strongly positive. The localization pattern of these enzymes in the fibre tracts differed. One interesting finding in this study was that the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and the Mauthner cells in the medulla oblongata contained these enzymes in a high concentration. The contrasting cytological distribution patterns of the two enzymes indicate that their roles in the neurons and fibre tracts are probably different.

Gross morphology of the alimentary canal and seasonal variation in feeding of Noemacheilus montanus (McClelland).

Noemacheilus montanus (McClelland) is a bottom feeder Omnivorous fish of Garhwal hillstreams. The alimentary canal is short and the stomach consists of a corpus and a pylorus portion. As it consumes more animal food than the vegetable food, it may be better called Carni-omnivore. The study of GSI for different months revealed that the feeding intensity attains 2 peaks during a year, first in December and second in June. The change in feeding intensity may be correlated with the availability of food items in nature.