Molecular analysis of Rv0679c and Rv0180c genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical isolates of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Context: Two novel proteins/genes Rv0679c and Rv0180c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv were classified as a hypothetical membrane and transmembrane proteins which might have a role in the invasion. Molecular analysis of these genes in human clinical isolates of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients was not well characterised. Aims: To assess the molecular diversity of Rv0679c and Rv0180c genes of MTB from clinical isolates of PTB patients. Settings and Design: DNA from 97 clinical isolates was extracted and subjected to amplification using selective primers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR product obtained was sequenced commercially. Patients and Methods: Clinical isolates obtained from tuberculosis patients were investigated for polymorphisms in the Rv0679c and Rv0180c genes by PCR and DNA sequencing. Genomic DNA isolated by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method was used for amplification of genes. Results: Rv0679c gene was highly conserved in 61 out of 65 clinical isolates assessed for sequence homology with wild‑type H37Rv gene and was identical using ClustalW. Fifty‑five out of 78 (70.5%) clinical isolates assessed for Rv0180c were positive for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at 258th position where the nucleotide G was replaced with T (G to T). In clinical isolates of untreated cases, the frequency was 54.5% for SNP at 258th position which is low compared to cases undergoing treatment where the frequency was 73.1%. Conclusions: Molecular analysis of Rv0180c in clinical isolates of PTB assessed in this study was the first report, where an SNP at 258th position G to T was identified within the gene. Rv0679c gene was highly conserved (94%), within Indian clinical isolates as compared to reports from other nations.

Direct multiple shoots proliferation of black night shade (Solanum nigrum l.) from shoot tip explants induced by thidiazuron .

The present investigation was undertaken in Black Night Shade (Solanum nigrum L.) which is an important medicinal plant. Direct multiple shoots proliferation was achieved from shoot tip. The shoot tips were cultured on MS medium fortified with Thidiazuron (TDZ) (1.0-7.0 mg/L) for multiple shoot induction. Multiple shoots proliferation was best observed at 3.0 mg/L TDZ from the shoot tip explants within three weeks of culture. Shoot number per explant ranged between 2 and 10. Individual shoots were aseptically excised and sub cultured in the same media for shoot elongation. The elongated shoots were transferred to Indole Acetic Acid/Indole Butyric Acid (IAA/IBA) (0.5mg/L–2.0mg/L) for root induction. Rooting was observed within two weeks of culture. Rooted plantlets were successfully hardened under culture conditions and subsequently established in the field conditions. The recorded survival rate of the plants was 86%. Plants looked healthy with no visually detectable phenotypic variations.

A retrospective clinicopathological study of 131 cases with endometrial cancers - Is it possible to define the role of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in low-resource settings.

AIM: The study objectives were evaluation of clinicopathological characteristics, correlations between the preoperative and postoperative tumor grades, and their implications on lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of 131 cases of endometrial cancer examined and treated at a tertiary regional cancer institute between the years 2003 and 2009. We reviewed the oncology database as well as the clinical records and surgico‑pathological registry of all these patients. STATISTICAL METHODS USED: All the summary measure computation and Chi‑square test for comparing more than one proportion was done in spreadsheet (Excel). RESULTS: The multiparity association with endometrial cancer was commonly seen 113/131 (86.2%). Twelve (9.7%) patients preoperatively diagnosed as Grade 1 tumors upgraded to Grade 3 changes in postoperative specimens and six of these 12 patients (50%) had lymph node metastasis. A total of 14/131 (10.6%) cases had lymph nodes metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a poor correlation between the preoperative and the postoperative tumor grades. Routine pelvic lymphadenectomy may be a valuable method in low‑risk cases and para‑aortic lymphadenectomy may be limited to high‑risk endometrial cancers.

Accuracy rate of frozen section studies in ovarian cancers: A regional cancer institute experience.

Background: Frozen section is a valuable diagnostic procedure in the categorization of ovarian tumors as benign, borderline and malignant. Thus, it guides in tailoring surgical therapy, particularly in young women. Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of frozen section in ovarian neoplasms. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was done of intraoperative frozen sections for suspected ovarian neoplasms. The frozen and permanent section reports were compared and overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined. Results: The study included 135 patients and the overall accuracy of frozen section in determining malignancy was 84.25%. Twenty cases were incorrectly diagnosed, of which 16 cases were under-diagnosed and four were over-diagnosed. With respect to malignant potential, the sensitivity for malignant tumors was highest (91.5%) with specificity of 98.2%. For benign tumors, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.4% and 82.6%, respectively. Borderline tumors had the lowest sensitivity of 31.2% with specificity of 94%. Sensitivity for benign, borderline and malignant tumors in the non-mucinous group was 91.3%, 60% and 95% respectively, whereas the sensitivity was 75%, 18% and 57%, respectively, for mucinous tumors revealing low sensitivity in borderline, mucinous tumors. The low sensitivity rates were due to restriction in the sampling of an adequate number of bits in the large sized tumors. Conclusion: The present study concurs that frozen section is an accurate test for diagnosis of benign and malignant tumors. However, accuracy rates for borderline and mucinous tumors are low.