Comparison of polyhedrin partial sequence of NPV variants pathogenic to tea pests (Geometridae) in India and their phylogeny

Aim: The present study was undertaken to understand the phylogenetic relationships of NPVs (Nucleopolyhedroviruses) isolated from two pest species, Hyposidra talaca and Biston (=Buzura) suppressaria. The phylogenetic analyses based on the polyhedrin gene were assessed. Methodology: Occlusion bodies (OBs) were isolated separately from NPV infected dead Hyposidra talaca and Buzura suppressaria larvae, and DNA was isolated from OBs. The polyhedrin gene was amplified and sequenced followed by sequence divergence and phylogenetic analyses using MEGA5. Results: The phylogenetic analyses based on the polyhedrin gene revealed that the NPV isolated from Hyposidra talaca (HytaNPV-ITK1) formed a single cluster with the isolates of NPVs infecting Hyposidra specimens in India sharing 99% nucleotide identity, whereas the NPV isolated from Buzura suppressaria (BusuNPV-ITK1) showing 99% nucleotide homology with the NPV isolate of B. suppressaria reported from China formed a different cluster. A nucleotide identity of 85% was found between HytaNPV-ITK1 and BusuNPV-ITK1. Interpretation: Phylogenetic analyses, based on the polyhedrin sequence of 47 baculoviruses, revealed that these two variants of NPVs (HytaNPV-ITK1 and BusuNPV-ITK1) infecting Hyposidra talaca and Buzura suppressaria were comparatively closer to each other than those infecting specimens of other lepidopteran genera.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography evaluation of macular changes in Eales disease

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe macular changes in treatment-naïve eyes with Eales disease using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 79 eyes of 66 patients with Eales disease. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy (SLB), indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and quantitative (central macular thickness [CMT]) and qualitative analysis on SD-OCT were performed. Results: Forty-six (58.2%) eyes had macular involvement as assessed with SD-OCT, while in 33 (41.8%) eyes, macula was not affected. Macular edema was the most common feature when macula was affected followed by epiretinal membrane. Mean CMT was higher (315.3 ± 102.3 ?m) in eyes with macular involvement than those without it (243.8 ± 19.3 ?m). Eyes with active vasculitis involving larger vessels and neovascularization had greater chance of macular involvement. SLB and FFA alone missed 28.3% and 50% eyes with macular abnormalities on SD-OCT, respectively. Conclusion: While the clinical description of Eales disease points mainly to a peripheral location, macular involvement can be commonly picked up when SD-OCT is used. Macular involvement when present is associated with a poorer BCVA.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

This study attempts to determine the clinical manifestations, severity and immunological features of JIA and its influence on growth and associated cardiac involvement in children below 16 years of age. This is a cross sectional study in a tertiary referral center on 50 consecutive children below the age of 16 years. Each patient was thoroughly examined and scored on Juvenile Arthritis Functional Assessment Scale. Relevant blood tests, cardiac and ophthalmic evaluation was done. Growth patterns were noted. There was an overall equal sex ratio, though there was a male preponderance in the systemic and oligoarthritis groups. Disturbance of growth frequently occurred in children suffering from JIA. Cardiac involvement should be looked for in cases of JIA. Significant number of cases of PSRA is diagnosed in children presenting with chronic arthritis.

Aicardi syndrome: a report of five Indian cases.

Five Indian cases of Aicardi syndrome, aged 1-13 years and all with the classic triad of infantile spasm, corpus callosal agenesis and chorioretinal lacunae, were presented. The purpose of this report was to demonstrate the clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG) and radiological spectrum and the treatment outcome of this disorder among the Indians. None of the patient had any family history of similar illness. All had profound psychomotor impairment with no meaningful speech development. There were microphthalmia in 2, optic disc coloboma in 1, interhemispheric cyst in 1, periventricular heterotopia in 2 and thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis in 2 cases. They all had early onset epilepsy and there were multiple types of seizures. Two cases (40%) had the characteristic dissociated burst-suppression pattern in EEG. Two cases whose antiepileptic medications included vigabatrin had complete control of seizure.

Primary neurological manifestations of lung cancer--a retrospective analysis of 8 patients.

Neurological manifestations are reported in 5 to 10% of cases of lung cancer. We present a series of 216 consecutive patients of lung cancer of which 8 patients presented first with neurological manifestations without overt respiratory symptoms. The present study aimed to identify the number of patients of lung cancer presenting with primary neurological symptoms, the nature of the presentations, and the outcome of these patients among 216 patients who presented over a 2 year period in the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata. Out of 8 patients, 3 patients presented with seizures, 3 patients with hemiparesis and 2 patients with paraparesis. Thus, 3.7% (8/216) of patients in our series presented with a neurological manifestation. We concluded that primary neurological manifestations are rare in lung cancer. The lungs should be the first site of evaluation in a case of a cerebral metastasis with an unknown primary.

Maternal thyroid hormonal status in preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: The physiological changes in the thyroid gland during pregnancy are well understood but only a few reports provide information about thyroid function in complicated pregnancies. AIMS: The present study evaluates thyroid hormonal levels in cases of preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy. SETTINGS & DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted in the antenatal clinic of a public hospital of Delhi. METHOD & MATERIALS: Thyroid hormones, namely triiodothyronine (Free T3), thyroxine (Free T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated at the time of diagnosis of preeclampsia in 82 pregnant women and equal number of matched controls. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The demographic data and hormone levels were analyzed using students' t test, Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test. Pearson two-tailed analysis was used for correlation. RESULTS: Mean TSH levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic group as compared to controls (p< 0.001). However, mean values of thyroid hormones were in the normal range. Approximately 40% preeclamptic women had TSH titres > 5 mIU/ml in the study group as compared to 12.2% in the controls. Approximately 76.7% of 43 pregnant women with abnormal TSH titres and 40% of 121 pregnant women with normal TSH titres belonged to the study group (p< 0.001). The odd ratio corresponding to TSH titres > 5 mIU/ml in preeclamptic women was 4.85 (95% CI 2.19-10.74). CONCLUSIONS: Mean serum TSH levels were significantly increased without concomitant changes in free T3 and T4, in preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. Abnormal TSH titres might be associated with a risk for occurrence of preeclampsia.

Diffuse interstitial skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in type 2 diabetes.

A 58 years type 2 diabetic woman, school teacher by profession, presented with backache, neck pain and generalised weakness since last few months. Pain was mild with stiffness and neck pain was particularly associated with extension of the neck towards back. There was no focal neurological deficit on central nervous system examination. X-ray of lumbo- sacral spine showed prolific osteophytes and new bone formation in the body of lumbar vertebrae. Cervical X-ray showed 'Melting candle-wax' appearance at the anterior to the cervical vertebrae. In view of clinical and radiological association the case was diagnosed as DISH syndrome. It is being presented for its rarity.

X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with myokymia: report of a family.

The clinical and electrophysiologic profiles of two brothers suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are presented. Both had widespread muscle twitching in the legs which showed electrophysiologic features of myokymia. Pedigree analysis suggested an x-linked recessive form of inheritance. This appears to be the first report of an Indian family with x-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Effect of physicochemical parameters on skin permeability of antihypertensive.

Studies were carried out to establish a correlation of skin permeability with physicochemical parameters using five antihypertensive drugs. In vitro skin permeation was carried out in vertical type diffusion cells. When steady-state fluxes of the drugs were correlated with physicochemical properties, good correlation was obtained with the reciprocal of melting point. Weak correlation was obtained with partition coefficient, molecular weight and solubility. However skin permeability versus solubility profiles revealed an interesting trend. The initial permeation rates of the poorly water soluble drugs, prazosin hydrochloride and reserpine were higher than their steady-state fluxes and moderately water soluble drug atenolol showed more or less similar permeation throughout the entire span of the study. This trend changed gradually and reversed completely in the highly water soluble drug diltiazem hydrochloride. The study suggests that drug derivatives of low melting point and good aqueous solubility could be favorable candidates for transdermal delivery.

Spinocerebellar ataxia--type 6.

Fifty six years lady presented with pure cerebellar ataxia with positive family history from paternal side presented to our clinic. DNA screening found to be SCA6. This is the first case report of SCA6 from India.

Enhancer aided in vitro permeation of atenolol and prazosin hydrochloride through mice skin.

Effect of penetration enhancers were studied on the permeation of antihypertensive drugs prazosin hydrochloride and atenolol through full thickness skin of swiss albino mice. Atenolol was delivered to skin from saturated alcoholic solution containing 5% of 1-decanol and alcohol alone, while prazosin hydrochloride was saturated in dimethyl formamide(DMF, 5% v/v in water) and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO, 5% v/v in water). Atenolol permeation was augmented significantly in decanolic solution and also in pure alcohol. In case of prazosin hydrochloride, significant enhancement of permeation was shown by DMSO but not by DMF.

Polyamines and plant alkaloids.

Naturally occurring alkaloids are nitrogenous compounds that constitute the pharmacogenically active basic principles of flowering plants. Alkaloids are classified into several biogenically related groups. Tobacco alkaloids are metabolised from polyamines and diamines putrescine and cadaverine. N-methyl transferase is the first enzyme in alkaloid biosynthetic pathway which drives the flow of nitrogen away from polyamine biosynthesis to alkaloid biosynthesis. Arginine decarboxylase has been suggested to be primarily responsible for providing putrescine for nicotine synthesis. Tryptophan is the precursor of indole alkaloids. However, the biosynthetic pathway of tropane and isoquinoline alkaloids are not clear. Genes for several key biosynthetic enzymes like arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase, putrescine N-methyl transferase and spermidine synthase, hyoscyamine 6 beta hydroxylase,tryptophan decarboxylase etc have been cloned from different plant species. These genes are regulated by plant hormones, light, different kinds of stress and elicitors like jasmonates and their strong expression is primarily in the cultured roots. In view of this, the axenic hairy root cultures induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes have been utilised to synthesise secondary metabolites. The current development in the knowledge of alkaloid biosynthesis, particularly molecular analysis, has been discussed in this review that may help to open up new avenues of investigation for the researchers.

Comparison of skin permeability of drugs in mice and human cadaver skin.

In vitro percutaneous absorption of four antihypertensive drugs were carried out across the mice and human cavader skin in order to compare their skin permeability. An interesting trend was noticed in these experiments. Poorly water soluble drug prazosin hydrochloride showed 13 times enhanced flux in the mice skin whereas the steady-state flux of the water soluble drug propranolol hydrochloride was almost same in both human cadaver and mice skin. The permeation rate of prazosin hydrochloride and propranolol hydrochloride through the human cadaver skin fluctuated widely over time, but in mice skin, distinct trends were noticed. The study indicates that the overall permeation rate in mice skin is higher than that in the cadaver skin and the meeting of the target-flux in mice skin does not guarantee its good permeability in human skin.

Regulatory role of nucleus accumbens in the ingestion of sucrose and saccharine.

Adult albino rats of Wistar strain of 200 to 250 g body weight were lesioned at nucleus accumbens either in the shell area or in core area. The rats were offered 0.2% saccharine solution or 12% sucrose solution or water for drinking. During the prelesion period, rats consumed more of saccharine followed by sucrose and water. The lesion of core area increased the consumption of both the sweet taste solutions but did not affect the water intake. Lesioning of shell area caused an increase in water and sucrose intake whereas saccharine intake remained unaffected. The results suggest that the core area of nucleus accumbens subserves taste induced ingestion and the shell area mediates the effect of nutritional value of food.

Production of hydroquinol from p-benzoquinone using yeast.

Reduction of p-benzoquinone to hydroquinol has been studied using Saccharomyces cerevisae and S.uvarum. Maximum conversion of p-Benzoquinone (p-BQ) to Hydroquinol (HQ) at a substrate concentration of 6%. S. cerevisae was found to be better than S. uvarum. No further conversion did take place after 60 hr. Optical innoculam density was found to be 5-6% (v/v). The pH optima was observed at pH value 5.50. No significant improvement could be observed by doping acetone, which solubilizes p-BQ, to the medium.