Ciprofibrate diminishes NON-HDLc and improves HDLc in patients with Frederickson type IV dyslipidemia phenotype

Hypertriacylglyceridemia and low HDLc combination is one of the most common lipidic abnormalities. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of Ciprofibrate on patients with Frederickson's Type IV dyslipidemia phenotype. 75 patients with type IV dyslipidemia were assigned at random to one of two therapeutic options: Group A, AHA diet and physical activity and B, AHA diet, physical activity and Ciprofibrate 100 mg daily for 12 weeks. All patients underwent lipidic profile quantification before and after therapeutic intervention. Ciprofibrate treatment group exhibited significantly reduction in total cholesterol (-14,2 per cent vs. -4,8 per cent; p<0,02), triglycerides (-38 per cent vs. -21,6 per cent; p<0,007), VLDLc (-38 per cent vs. -21,6 per cent; p<0,007) Non-HDLc (-20,5 per cent vs. -7,1 per cent; p<0,007) and total cholesterol to HDLc ratio (-25,6 per cent vs. -9,4 per cent; p<0,01) when comparing with diet/physical activity group. HDLc showed an important increase in Ciprofibrate group when contrast with diet/physical activity group (+25 per cent vs. +9,6 per cent, p<0,02). Ciprofibrate treatment effectively reduced triglycerides rich particles and Non-HDLc and significantly increased HDLc, proving it's usefulness in low HDLc syndrome and type IV Frederickson's hyperlipidemia

An in vitro qualitative assay for the detection of antibodies to HIV type 1/2 contained in human saliva.

There is ample evidence that saliva contains secretory antibody against most infections. Therefore, saliva has been recommended as a non invasive, safe and effective alternative to serum, for HIV antibody testing. The present study attempted comparative evaluation of antibody detection by serum and saliva specimens in laboratory by ELISA and Western Blot for diagnosis of HIV infection in the Indian situation. From a study of 42 test sera it is concluded that test apart from its simplicity and reproducibility, is almost free from any false positive and false negative reactions.

An institutional outbreak of hepatitis E--reported first time from Calcutta city.

A sudden outbreak of hepatitis occurred in a micro-epidemic form, amongst the staff members of the School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta, during May-June, 1995. A total of 21 persons developed jaundice, out of whom 11 members who attended the Virology Department and were tested for detection of different serological markers of hepatitis by ELISA. All the sera (N = 11) showed evidence of non-A, non-B infection by process of exclusion and 9 of the above sera showed evidence of anti-HEV when tested specifically. This is the first documented outbreak of viral hepatitis in respect of Calcutta.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) outbreak in Calcutta--1990.

An outbreak of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) occurred in Calcutta between September and December, 1990. Children and young adults were the major victims. Haemorrhagic manifestations and shocks were the main features in most of the hospitalised cases. Five mouse pathogenic agents were isolated from 105 acute cases and all were identified as DEN-3. HI and CF test with 55 paired sera revealed evidence of dengue infection in 33 (60 per cent) and flavivirus group reaction including dengue in 17 (30.9 per cent). It was for the first time, that DEN-3 was considered to be the etiologic agent for DHF in Calcutta.

Recurrent outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis in Nagaland (1985-1989)--a seroepidemiological study.

Recurrent epidemics of encephalitis in Nagaland, a North-Eastern State of India, following its first appearance in 1985, were investigated both epidemiologically and virologically. Although, no viral agent could be isolated from any of the clinical samples and mosquitoes, detection of JE specific IgM antibodies in many of the CSF and acute blood samples, together with presence of HI and CF antibodies to JE antigen in a number of acute and convalescent sera established the etiologic role of JE virus in this region. A total number of 83 clinically diagnosed cases could only be investigated virologically between 1985-89, where evidence of JE could be established in 34 (40.9 per cent) and flavivirus (including JE in majority) in 17 (21.5 per cent) cases. A limited serological survey among the close contacts of the victims in 1985 revealed JE antibody in 26.6 per cent of them. Analysis of the epidemiological and serological findings of different years revealed that while the outbreaks of 1985, 1987 and 1988 were due to JE infection, the episodes of 1986 and 1989, on the other hand, had chiefly features of high and prolonged fever with limited number of CNS involvement of undetermined origin, where the possibility of malarial infection has been a suspect apart from JE etiology.