Development and ELISA-based detection of anti-M2e IgY antibodies using an encoding plasmid for M2e-Hsp70 c-terminal gene

The use of IgYs in a variety of methods in different areas of research, diagnostics, medical application and biotechnology should be considered widely. Development of antibodies against extra cellular domain of influenza M2 [M2e] protein in egg yolk of laying hens. A Fusion construct harboring C-terminal of bovine heat shock protein 70 [Hsp70] and influenza M2e coding genes was injected to laying hens. Serum and egg yolk antibodies were screened for the presence of anti-M2e antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Anti-M2e antibodies were detected in egg yolks and sera of injected hens from 13 and 7 days post injection [PI], with the peak titer detected on 41 and 35 days PI, respectively. Anti-M2e IgY titers could be an index for expression potential of pcDNA3.1-M2e-HspCterminal construct in laying hens. This construct could be considered as a promising tool in production of anti-M2e polyclonal, monospecific IgY antibodies. Such anti-M2e antibodies could be exploited for influenza diagnostic and therapeutic measures

[Validity and reliability of a nutrition screening tool in patients admitted to hospital]

Malnutrition is an important health problem in hospitals and its association with increased morbidity and mortality has been well-documented. Since the condition can be readily treated, often at low cost, it is logical that efforts should be made to identify malnutrition for timely nutritional interventions. A nutrition screening tool [a questionnaire] was designed on the basis of recommendations of the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and used to identify individuals who are malnourished, at-risk of malnutrition, or may need nutritional support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this tool in a hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 446 patients, aged over 18 years, admitted consecutively to different wards of Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, Iran during six months were studied in the first 24 hours of admission. For testing validity of the questionnaire used, first a nutritionist made a full nutritional assessment of all the patients. The assessment included the following items: a. measurements of weight, height, body mass index [BMI], triceps skinfold [TSF], and mid-arm circumference [MAC]; b. weight history and percentage of involuntary weight loss over the previous 3-6 months; a 24-hour dietary recall; c. gastro-intestinal symptoms. The results of the assessment were, then, compared with the results obtained from the screening questionnaire. The inter-rater reliability of the screening tool was assessed by two nurses who completed the screening questionnaire separately during 72 hours following admission of the patients. The agreement between results was calculated. There was 66% agreement between the nutritionist's assessment results and the nurses's assessment results using the nutritional screening tool. The sensitivity and specificity of the screeing tool were 83.7% [95%CI: 80.0-87.4%] and 84.7% [95%CI: 81.1-88.1%], respectively. Further analysis of the data showed the positive predictive value to be 92.3% [95%CI: 89.6-95./0%] and the negative predictive value to be 70.2% [95%CI: 65.8-74.8%]. The mean inter-rater reliability [K=0.51] was moderate. The screening tool, completed separately for each patient by the two nurses, is reliable and, in comparison with the more objective nutritional assessment, has an acceptable validity. The questionnaire is useful for identifying malnourished patients in a hospital setting

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of poultry carcasses contaminated with salmonella in Tehran industrial slaughter houses

Broiler carcasses are considered to be the major source of salmonella detection and enumeration of salmonella in this product are two criteria for evaluation of hygienic quality of the slaughterhouses and the product itself. In this study, contamination of broiler carcasses produced in poultry Industrial slaughterhouses in Tehran province was assessed using three tube MPN methods. According to our results 69 percent of the samples were salmonella positive while not detected the salmonella in the rest of samples. Enumeration of salmonella per carcass indicated that the average number of salmonella in 62/72 of salmonella positive carcasses was 49/5 and in 7/6 percent 2605 and in 16/48 percent 279/5 and in 2/3 percent upper 3300. Our results also showed that number of salmonella per per gram and 2 cm2 of positive carcasses in 93/42 percent were 0/054 MPN /gr and 0/047 MPN/cm and in 4/38 2 2 percent 1/695 MPN/gr and 1/4 MPN/cm and in 1/5 percent upper 1/7 MPN/gr and 1/5 MPN /cm. The statistical analysis in this study results and calculates the ratio and average indicates that the mean contamination of carcasses exanimate was low although frequency contamination was high

histopathological audit of thyroid surgical specimens

This study was conducted to see the frequency of different morphological lesions encountered in surgically excised thyroid glands. Descriptive cross sectional study. The study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore during a 2-year period commencing from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2006. All thyroid surgical specimens referred from the four major Surgical Units of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, to the Department of Pathology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, during a 2-year period [2005-2006]. Specimens from both sexes and all age groups were included in this study. Results: A total of 662 thyroid specimens were examined histologically. They constituted of 588 specimens [88.82%] from females and 74 specimens [11.17%] from males. The commonest lesion was Colloid Goiter [diffuse and multinodular] constituting 434 cases [65.55%]. Next in frequency were tumours [benign and malignant] constituting 151 cases [22.80%]. Benign tumours comprised of 113 cases [74.83%] and malignant constituted 38 cases [25.16%] out of 151 thyroid tumours. Follicular adenoma was the commonest tumour constituting of 108 cases [71.52%] followed by Papillary carcinoma constituting 27 cases [17.88%]. Other non-neoplastic thyroid lesions included diffuse hyperplasia [3.62%], thyroiditis [2.26%], hyperplastic nodules [1.35%], colloid nodules [1.20%], completion thyroidectomy specimens [1.05%], colloid cysts [0.90%], colloid goiters with associated hyperplastic changes [0.60%], goiters with thyroiditis [0.45%] and a single case of dyshormonogenetic goiter [0.15%]. Colloid goiter is the commonest lesion of the thyroid gland in both sexes and is the commonest cause of an enlarged thyroid gland. This is followed by Follicular adenoma which is the commonest benign tumour of the thyroid. Papillary carcinoma is the commonest malignant tumour seen in all age groups with a predominance in females

Evaluation of primary pulmonary malignancies in central Punjab, Pakistan

To study the clincopathological findings of Primary Pulmonary Malignancy in central Punjab, Pakistan. Three hundred patients of primary malignancies of the lung from Gulab Devi Chest Hospital and other hospital of Lahore were studied. The history of the Patients and their clinical findings were recorded. The sections of all the cases were stained with Haematoxyllin and eosin whereas all large cell carcinomas were stained with Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid- Schiff [AB-PAS] stain. There were 255 males and 45 females with a male to female ratio of 5.7:1. The age ranged from 10-90 years with a mean age of 54.17 +/- 3.46 years. Different tumors were significantly more [p<0.001] in males than in females. The mean age in squamous cell carcinomas cases was significantly high [P<0.001] as compared with adenocarcinoma. Small cell carcinoma cases had significantly low [P<0.02] mean age as compared with squamous cell carcinoma. The difference of mean age in cases of adenocarcinoma approached significant level [0.1>P>0.05] as compared with small cell carcinoma. The primary lung carcinoma is more common in males. Its prevalence is increasing in young ages

Morphological evaluation of non neoplastic lesions of the thyroid gland

This study was conducted to see the frequency of non neoplastic lesions of thyroid glands in patients who underwent thyroid surgery at Mayo hospital, Lahore. It was a descriptive cross sectional study. It was a retrospective and prospective study commencing from Ist July 1999 to 30th June 2002 and was conducted at Pathology Department King Edward Medical University, Lahore. All thyroid samples submitted and reported at the Department of Pathology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore during a three year period commencing from Ist July 1999 to 30th June 2002 were included in this study. Out of the total number of 1136 thyroid surgical specimens, 855 specimens [75.26%] were shown to comprise of non-neoplastic lesions and were more common in females [77.2%] as compared to males [22.8%] giving a male to female ratio of 1:3.4. Regarding non neoplastic lesions maximum comprised of diffuse[74%] and multi nodular goiters [16%]. Others consisted of inflammatory conditions [5%], hyperplastic nodules[4%] and simple colloid filled cysts 1%. Inflammatory conditions included Hashimotos' thyroiditis [67.3%] deQuervain's thyroiditis [granulomatous thyroiditis] [16.3%], Lymphocytic thyroiditis [11.7%], and Riedel's thyroiditis[4.7%]. Non neoplastic thyroid lesions are more common than neoplastic lesions, especially in females. The frequency of diffuse colloid goiter was very high, while among inflammatory lesions Hashimotos' thyroiditis was the commonest lesion. Most of the cases of hypothyroidism were associated with iodine deficiency

effect of Sudan red-III on the biliary excretion of 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene in rats

The effect of Sudan Red-III on the biliary excretion of 7,12-Dimethylbenz [a] Anthracene in three different doses 5 mg, 15 mg and 25 mg/kg in Sprague Dawley rats was observed. Comparisons were made in the total recovery of 7, 12-DMBA for upto 10 hours in bile. In the control groups there was a statistical difference in the recovery of 7, 12-DMBA at all the doses studied. Upon treatment, the total recovery at 15 mg/kg increased significantly to 61%, no such increase was recorded at 25 mg/kg dose but lower recovery was observed at 5 mg/kg dose

simple method for chronic cannulation of jugular vein in rats

An improvement on the available procedures for cannulation of the external jugular vein in rats, by modifying the cannula design was made. The void volume in the device developed here is negligible, therefore the blood can be collected within 10 to 15 seconds