Anti-Jo-1 Syndrome Often Misdiagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis (for Many Years): A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Antisynthetase syndrome is characterized by a triad of myositis, arthritis, and interstitial lung disease. Anti-Jo-1 is the most common associated autoantibody. This study planned to look at the presentation of anti-Jo-1 antisynthetase syndrome in a single Indian center. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a medical records review single-center study that included patients with anti-Jo-1 antisynthetase syndrome over 10 years. RESULTS: This study included 27 patients with anti-Jo-1 antisynthetase syndrome, with mean age of 40 ± 9.2 years and female preponderance (female-to-male ratio, 4:1). At presentation, the characteristic triad was present in only 4 patients. A majority presented with the incomplete form, with 2 clinical features (of triad) in 11 and single feature (of triad) being present in 12 patients at initial presentation. Seven presented only with polyarthritis, out of which 6 had been earlier diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. Time gap from diagnosis of "rheumatoid arthritis" to antisynthetase syndrome ranged from 3 to 20 years. In patients who had only arthritis in the beginning, there was a significantly longer delay to diagnosis of antisynthetase syndrome, higher frequency of rheumatoid factor, and lower frequency of anti-Ro-52. Overall, outcome was good, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group class 1 or 2 in most except 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-Jo-1 antisynthetase syndrome commonly presented as incomplete (not a triad) and often only with arthritis. These patients are diagnosed and treated as rheumatoid arthritis for many years, before a diagnosis of antisynthetase syndrome is made. Being aware of this presentation may help in earlier diagnosis by actively searching for subtle clues.

On point identification of species origin of food animals by recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow (RPA-LF) assay targeting mitochondrial gene sequences.

The present study was aimed to develop and standardize Recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow (RPA-LF) assays for on point identification of species origin of food animals viz: cattle, buffalo and pig. Species specific RPA primers sets for cattle, buffalo and pig were designed by homology comparisons of the sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and d-loop region from common food species viz: cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and chicken. The RPA assays for designed primers sets were optimized using the reaction components from Twist Amp basic kit and instructions in its manual. Endpoint detection of species specific amplified RPA products were made by gel electrophoresis and designed species specific RPA-LFA strips. The developed assays were evaluated for their specificity, diagnostic sensitivity, and validated on coded samples and binary meat admixtures with relative percentage of 20, 10, 5 & 1% target species. The developed RPA assays resulted in amplification of DNA template exclusively of cattle, buffalo and pig origin to product sizes of 294, 405 and 283 bp respectively. The diagnostic sensitivities of developed assays were up to 10 pg of genomic DNA and highly correlated with species specific PCR assays taken as gold standard. Developed species specific RPA assays also identified the target species in coded samples and binary meat admixture up to 1%.

Determination of sex origin of meat and meat products on the DNA basis: a review.

Sex determination of domestic animal's meat is of potential value in meat authentication and quality control studies. Methods aiming at determining the sex origin of meat may be based either on the analysis of hormone or on the analysis of nucleic acids. At the present time, sex determination of meat and meat products based on hormone analysis employ gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Most of the hormone-based methods proved to be highly specific and sensitive but were not performed on a regular basis for meat sexing due to the technical limitations or the expensive equipments required. On the other hand, the most common methodology to determine the sex of meat is unquestionably traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that involves gel electrophoresis of DNA amplicons. This review is intended to provide an overview of the DNA-based methods for sex determination of meat and meat products.

Identification of species origin of meat and meat products on the DNA basis: a review.

The adulteration/substitution of meat has always been a concern for various reasons such as public health, religious factors, wholesomeness, and unhealthy competition in meat market. Consumer should be protected from these malicious practices of meat adulterations by quick, precise, and specific identification of meat animal species. Several analytical methodologies have been employed for meat speciation based on anatomical, histological, microscopic, organoleptic, chemical, electrophoretic, chromatographic, or immunological principles. However, by virtue of their inherent limitations, most of these techniques have been replaced by the recent DNA-based molecular techniques. In the last decades, several methods based on polymerase chain reaction have been proposed as useful means for identifying the species origin in meat and meat products, due to their high specificity and sensitivity, as well as rapid processing time and low cost. This review intends to provide an updated and extensive overview on the DNA-based methods for species identification in meat and meat products.

Tuberous Sclerosis and Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Rare Association.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are two different genetic diseases. Although these two diseases are associated very rarely, the association is well recognized. This occurs due to a large deletion involving both PKD-1 and TSC-2 genes on chromosome 16. This is also known as TSC-2/PKD-1 contiguous gene syndrome. We report a 26-year-old female patient with TSC who presented with severe metabolic acidosis due to renal failure. She had palpable enlarged kidneys bilaterally. CT scan of abdomen revealed bilateral enlarged lobulated kidneys studded with multiple cysts which was consistent with the diagnosis of ADPKD.

In-vitro functional efficacy of extracts from Phyllanthus emblica, Eucalyptus globulus, Tinospora cordifolia as pancreatic lipase inhibitor and source of anti-oxidant in goat meat nuggets.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the functional efficacy of plant extracts as a source of pancreatic lipase inhibitor and antioxidant in goat meat nuggets to address the fat paradox issue of red meat. The PPLIA, antioxidant potential, and resistance against fat digestion were in the order ofPhyllanthus emblica > Eucalyptus globulus > Tinospora cordifolia.PPL inhibition activities of water and ethanolic extracts fromPhyllanthus emblicausing DNPB and Triolein as substrate were 63.76, 67.94 and 56.17 and 64.36 percent respectively whereas, TPC, DPPH RSA, FRPA were 40.82 and 59.52 (mgGAE/g), 54.89 and 59.84 (percent), 1.26 and 1.61 (OD) respectively. The average diameter of fat globules in digest was maximum (8.91 µm) withPhyllanthus emblicafruits extracts whereas; TBARs (0.347 mg MDA/Kg) and FFA (4.47 µg/g) values were lowest. This study showed that extracts from plants can act as a promising natural alternative in the development of healthy meat products.

Paper-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification and lateral flow (LAMP-LF) assay for identification of tissues of cattle origin.

The present study was made with the objectives of development and standardization of cattle specific paper-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification cum lateral flow assay (LAMP-LFA), as a Point-of-care test (POCT) for identification of tissue of cattle origin. The components of standardized LAMP reaction utilizing cattle specific primer sets were lyophilized over paper buttons, identified best as the carrier of LAMP reagents. Based on probable LAMP amplicon, a pair of probes was designed, tagged and its hybridization with the amplified product of paper LAMP reaction was optimized. The components of lateral flow assay for detection of probe hybridized LAMP products were standardized. Analysis of successful amplification was made by using HNB dye, LAMP-LFA strip, and also by the typical ladder-like pattern on gel electrophoresis. The assay was found highly specific for cattle with an analytical sensitivity of 0.1 pg of absolute DNA. Laboratory validation carried out on samples from different individuals of cattle, coded samples, binary meat admixture, and heat-processed cattle tissues substantiated the accuracy of the assay. Comparison with pre-standardized species-specific PCR assay taken as gold standards revealed 100% conformity. The field utility of the developed assay was further established by its compatibility with the commercial kit eliminating the lengthy DNA extraction step and storage stability of LAMP reagent carrier buttons for 4 months under refrigeration. Thus, the developed assay capable of the result within 3 h in resource-limited settings can be used as POCT for identification of tissue of cattle origin.