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Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST) level in Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and elderly controls by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Materials and Methods?In this case–control study of 133 subjects, 49 patients with AD, 49 patients with MCI, and 35 elderly controls were recruited. The REST protein concentrations were evaluated by SPR. The resonance unit for each sample was recorded and the concentration of serum REST of study group was derived from the standard curve. All the experiments were done in triplicates. Statistical analysis was done and p-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results?A significant difference was observed in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, Hindi Mental State Examination scale (HMSE) score education, disease duration, and gender among the groups. A significant (p>0.0001) difference in the duration of disease between AD and MCI was observed. It was observed that the mean concentration of serum REST was not significantly (p?=?0.266) different among the groups. Conclusion?This study first time evaluated the serum levels of REST in AD, MCI and age-matched elderly controls. The rest levels were similar in all groups; however, it can provide a new direction to future blood-based biomarker studies of REST.
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Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease in India mostly reported from South-western coastal Karnataka and North-eastern Tamil Nadu. We speculate the existence of another major hidden focus in Odisha, one of the eastern coastal states. The clinico-epidemiological features of 47 culture-confirmed melioidosis at a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 2 years are reported. Septicaemia was the most common clinical presentation. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 72.3% of our cases. The geo-climatic conditions of Odisha and other coastal states of India and the rise in the incidence of DM demand a nationwide surveillance of melioidosis and creation of melioidosis registry.
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Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) constitutes the predominant cause of healthcare seeking in Odisha. This prospective study was conducted to analyse the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory profile of scrub typhus patients presenting with AUFI from January to December 2017. Four hundred and thirty-two samples were tested for dengue, malaria, scrub typhus and enteric fever. Scrub typhus was overall the most common cause of AUFI (26.3%, 114/432) followed by dengue (19.2%, 83/432). Eschar was seen in 6.1% of cases. Aetiologies of 38.6% of AUFI remained unidentified. In the present study, there was no mortality attributed to scrub typhus.
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Context: Cryptosporidiosis is intestinal opportunistic infection commonly occurring in immunocompromised patients including renal transplant (RT) recipients receiving continuous immunosuppressive therapy. Knowledge about species of Cryptosporidium-infecting RT recipients is necessary to know about mode of its transmission (anthroponotic or zoonotic). Various genes such as small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) and Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) genes may help in species identification though their sensitivity and specificity are highly variable. Subjects and Methods: A total of 993 and 575 stool samples were examined for Cryptosporidium by microscopy from 358 RT recipients and 200 healthy controls, respectively. Stool samples of RT recipients and healthy controls were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for species identification. Results: Cryptosporidium was more commonly detected amongst RT recipients than healthy controls (30/358, 8.4% vs. 0/200, respectively; P < 0.001). The infection was more common amongst patients with diarrhoea than those without (26/162, 16.1% vs. 4/145, 2.8%; P < 0.001). Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in 10/30 (33.3%) and Cryptosporidium hominis in 20/30 (66.7%) samples. SSU gene PCR-RFLP proved to be more sensitive (100%) than COWP (90%); however, specificity of both was same (100%). Conclusions: Cryptosporidiosis is common amongst RT recipients, particularly those with diarrhoea. C. hominis is the most common species in the studied population. SSU rRNA PCR was more sensitive molecular method for the differentiation of Cryptosporidium species.
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El priapismo es una emergencia urológica que debe ser diagnosticada y tratada apropiadamente. Específicamente en casos conocidos de leucemia el pene turgente doloroso debe hacer surgir la sospecha de priapismo de primera movida y el Doppler peneano debe ser la mera línea de modalidad de imágenes. Esta información debe ser transmitida al paciente y al departamento clínico emergentológico
Priapism is an urological emergency and must be diagnosed and treated appropriately. Specifically in known cases of leukemia painful turgid penis should raise suspicion of priapism in first hand and penile Doppler should be the first line of imaging modality. This information should be forwarded to patient and emergency department clinician
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Penis/pathology , Priapism/diagnosis , Priapism/therapy , Blood Gas Analysis , Leukemia, Myeloid/complications , Leukapheresis/methods , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex , Drug TherapyABSTRACT
Legionella pneumophila is one of the important pathogen responsible for community –acquired pneumonia attributing for 1-5% of cases. Since early and accurate therapy reduces mortality, rapid and reliable diagnostic methods are needed. A total of 134 samples of blood, urine and respiratory tract fluids were collected. Blood was tested for IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies using commercially available kits. A total of 8 (6%) samples were found to be positive for L. pneumophila by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‑PCR), compared to conventional PCR where 6 (4.4%) samples were positive. Serology was positive in a total of 32 (23%) cases though only 3 (2.2%) of the PCR‑positive cases were positive by serology as well. These results suggest that real‑time PCR can detect Legionella infection early in the course of the disease before serological response develops.
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Scrub typhus is emerging as an important cause of acute febrile illness in Northern India. This is a report of two sisters presenting concurrently with acute respiratory distress syndrome. A diagnosis of scrub typhus was made in both the patients, and they were successfully treated with doxycycline.
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Purpose: Enteric parasitic infestation is a major public health problem in developing countries. Parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora spp., Cystoisospora spp. and Microsporidia may cause severe diarrhoea among immunocompromised patients. There is scanty data on their frequency among immunocompetent patients. Accordingly, we studied the frequency of enteric opportunistic parasites among immunocompetent patients with diarrhoea from northern India; we also performed genetic characterisation of Cryptosporidia and Microsporidia among them. Patients and Methods: Stool samples from 80 immunocompetent patients with diarrhoea, and 110 healthy controls were examined. Parasites were detected by direct microscopy, modified acid-fast (Kinyoun’s) and modified trichrome stain. Polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for genetic characterisation of selected species such as Cryptosporidia and Microsporidia. Results: Enteric parasites were detected in 16/80 (20%) patients (mean age 28.8 ± 20 years, 45, 56% males) and in 2/110 (1.8%) healthy controls (P = 0.00007). Parasites detected were Cryptosporidium spp. (8/16, 50.0%), Cystoisospora spp. (4/16, 25%), Microsporidia (1/16, 6.25%), Cyclospora spp. (1/16, 6.25%) and Giardia spp. (1/16, 6.25%). One patient had mixed infection with Cystoisospora spp. and Giardia spp. The species of Cryptosporidia and Microsporidia detected were Cryptosporidium hominis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, respectively. Parasites were more often detected in younger patients (≤20 years of age) than in older. Most of the parasite infected patients presented with chronic diarrhoea. Conclusion: Opportunistic enteric parasitic infestation was more common among immunocompetent patients with diarrhoea than healthy subjects. Special staining as well as molecular methods are essential for appropriate diagnosis of these parasites.
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Legionella pneumophila infection may become fatal in immunocompromised state. We report here the first known fatal case from India due to Legionella pneumophila infection complicated by renal failure in a patient undergoing treatment for Sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic systemic inflammatory disease involving multiple organs. Urine antigen detection and polymerase chain reaction targeting 16S rRNA gene could help in rapid diagnosis of the infection and thereby start specific therapy. Clinical awareness along with availability of rapid diagnostic tests and institution of specific therapy may reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this infection especially in immunocompromised state.
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Background & objectives: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most important and common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The conventional detection methods (culture and serology) lack sensitivity. PCR offers a better approach for rapid detection but is prone to carry over contamination during manipulation of amplification products. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method offers an attractive alternative detection method. In the present study, qRT-PCR, PCR and serology methods were used to detect M. pneumoniae infection in cases of pneumonias and findings compared. Methods: A total of 134 samples consisting of blood (for serology) and respiratory secretions (for PCR and qRT-PCR) from 134 patients were collected. The blood samples were tested for IgG, IgM and IgA using commercially available kits. For standardization of PCR of M. pneumoniae P1 gene was cloned in pGEMTEasy vector. Specific primers and reporter sequence were designed and procured for this fragment. The qRT-PCR assay was performed to prepare the standard curve for M. pneumoniae positive control DNA template and detection in patient samples. Results: Of the 134 patients, 26 (19%) were positive for antibodies against M. pneumoniae. IgG was positive in 14.92 per cent (20) cases, IgM in 4.47 per cent (6) and IgA was positive in 5.22 per cent (7) cases. In the qRT-PCR assay 19 per cent (26) samples were positive. Of the 26 qRT-PCR positive samples, nine could be detected by serology. PCR was positive for 25 samples. An extra sample negative by PCR was detected by qRT-PCR. Thus, real-time PCR assay, PCR and serology in combination could detect M. pneumoniae infection in 43 patients. Interpretation & conclusions: The study shows that 17 patients were detected by serology alone, 17 were detected by qRT-PCR only and nine patients were positive by both serology and real-time PCR. Of the 134 samples tested, 25 were positive by conventional PCR, but qRT-PCR could detect one more sample that was negative by PCR and serology. These results suggest that a combination of two or three methods may be required for reliable identification of CAP due to M. pneumoniae.
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Background & objectives: Leptospirosis, a spirochetal zoonosis, is underreported from the northern States of India. This study reports results of a 10-year retrospective sero-epidemiological survey of leptospirosis conducted in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. Method: A total of 1453 patients clinically suspected for leptospirosis were included and investigated initially by IgM ELISA. A proportion of these were subjected to culture, microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Of the 1453 patients, 391 (26.90%) were positive serologically by IgM ELISA. Seropositive and seronegative patients revealed no significant difference in clinical features and laboratory parameters. Amongst the IgM seropositive cases, culture for leptospires was positive in 5 of 192 (2.6%), MAT in 50 of 138 (36.23%), PCR from blood and urine in 10 of 115 (8.7%) and 10 of 38 (26.31%) cases, respectively. In Leptospira spp. positive patients co-infections with viral hepatitis E, malaria and dengue fever were diagnosed in 27 cases. Interpretation & conclusions: The overall seropositivity for leptospirosis was 26.9 per cent in our study. A decreasing trend in seropositivity was observed in recent years. Co-infections with malaria, dengue, hepatitis A and E were also seen. Since leptospirosis is a treatable disease, correct and rapid diagnosis may help in effective management of patients.
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Context: According to the first population-based cancer registry from eastern part of India, Kolkata and its surrounding areas have the highest prevalence of lung cancer in India. However, there is very limited data from this part of the country. Aims: The aim of this study is to find out the demographic and clinicoradiological profile of primary bronchogenic carcinoma. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective review of lung cancer cases diagnosed in two tertiary institutes of Kolkata over a period of 4 years. Materials and Methods: We have reviewed the cases with proven histological or cytological diagnosis of primary bronchogenic carcinoma and chi-square test is done to calculate statistical significance. Results: Out of 607 patients, male 489 and female 118, 67.7% are from rural area, 67.2% are smoker and only 9.4% are ≤40 years of age. Smoking is the major risk factor for primary lung cancer (P = 0.000) but no significance could be established with the different histological subtypes (P = 0.207). Though squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most predominant variety (35.1%), adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated type are overrepresented in ≤40 years. SCC occurs at a significantly higher age group (60.84 ± 12.16 years) than other subtypes (P = 0.000). At least 55.2% cases of nonsmall cell lung cancer and 54% of small cell lung cancer presented in very advanced stage. Conclusions: SCC is the most common histological subtype of primary bronchogenic carcinoma. The relatively increased frequency of adenocarcinoma in our study as compared to other studies from India is probably due to higher proportion of nonsmokers.
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Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is now an emerging epidemic in developing countries including Bangladesh. Younger people are being affected here more and more. Young individuals with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may have unique presentation, risk factor, angiographic profile and outcome which may have an influence on the preventive strategies. This study is an attempt to investigate the same. Methods: Young patients (aged d” 40 yrs) with AMI admitted to the coronary care unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital over a period of one year were included in the study. Assessments of the patients were done with clinical history, physical examination and systemic evaluation. Location and types (STEMI, NSTEMI) of myocardial infarction were determined by ECG and serum troponin- 1 assay. Blood for glucose and lipid profile was drawn within 24 hours of admission. High sensitivity testing for C-reactive protein (hs CRP) was done in all patients. Coronary angiography was done within 6 weeks of hospital discharge. Results: A total of 83 Patients with age d” 40 years were included .Age range were 21-40 years (34.21 ± 5.07 yrs). There were 71 male (85.5%). Male: female ratio was 5.9:1. Most of the young AMI patients presented lately to the hospital. Majority of these patients were thinly built, came from urban or semiurban areas, engaged in heavy physical activities and belonged to lower socioeconomic group. A positive family history of CAD was present in 18 patients (28.68 %). Smoking was the most prevalent risk factor followed by a raised serum triglyceride or low high density lipoprotein (HDL). A raised hs CRP was present in 47 patients (49.39%). The overall in hospital mortality was only 3.61 %. Coronary angiography done in 38 patients revealed single vessel disease in the majority. Conclusion: The study focuses our attention to the rising incidence of AMI in young individuals who are less prone to CAD. Early detection of AMI and timely intervention needs high index of suspicion in this age group. These young patients have got low BMI High TG, Low HDG High hs CRP & habit of smoking. Avoidance of smoking, controlling high TG and/or low HDL may reduce incidence of AMI among young patients. Use of high dose of statin at an early age in young persons with raised CRP may be considered.
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Background & objectives: Legionella pneumophila has been increasingly recognized as an emerging pathogen responsible for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) worldwide. In India, the actual burden is not known. The present study was thus undertaken to see the presence of Legionella infection in patients with community acquired pneumonia admitted in a tertiary care centre in north India. Methods: Both children and adults (n=113) with symptoms of pneumonia were included in the study. Clinical samples (blood, urine, nasopharyngeal aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum, etc.) were collected and subjected to culture and other tests. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was done by commercial kits for all the three classes of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM & IgA). Urinary antigen was also detected using commercial kits. Culture was performed on 51 respiratory tract fluid samples. Serum samples of 44 healthy controls were also screened for the presence of anti-legionella antibodies (IgG, IgM & IgA). Results: Thirty one of the 113 cases (27.43%) were serologically positive. Anti-legionella IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies were positive in 7.96, 15.92 and 11.50 per cent patients respectively. In controls, seropositivity was 9.09 (4/44). IgA was positive in 3 and IgM, IgG combined in one. Antigenuria detection by Microwell ELISA kit showed 17.69 per cent positivity. Four antigenuria positive patients were also serologically positive; of these two patients were positive for IgM, hence considered as confirmed cases of Legionella infection. None of the sample was culture positive. Interpretation & conclusions: Combination of serology and antigenuria detection may be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of Legionella infection in absence of culture positivity. In order to evaluate the actual burden of Legionella in community acquired pneumonia, further studies with larger samples need to be done.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Community-Acquired Infections/blood , Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Infant , Legionella pneumophila/immunology , Legionnaires' Disease/blood , Legionnaires' Disease/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Bacterial/blood , Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Serologic Tests , Young AdultABSTRACT
Background: Carotid angioplasty & stenting is becoming an emerging therapeutic option for carotid revascularization. The use of cerebral protection system has expanded the area of application of the procedure worldwide. Purpose: To assess the feasibility, success rate, safety as well as in-hospital & early 30 days outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous carotid intervention. Methods: A retrospective, observational study where a total of 18 (Eighteen) consecutive patients who presented with symptomatic and > 70 % carotid artery stenosis & asymptomatic but > 90% stenosis underwent percutaneous carotid intervention. All of them had coronary artery disease; CABG was done in 3 patients & PCI in 9 patients. Three of them had previous stroke (Ischemic) & 7 had TIA. Results: Technical and angiographic success was achieved in all patients. Carotid artery obstruction diminishes from 85 + 14 % to 10 + 5 % (p< .001). Mean lesion length was 12 + 3 mm and mean time of carotid occlusion during balloon inflation was 10 + 2.5 sec. distal protection devices used in all patents. No major stroke or death occurred during procedure. One patient developed No-flow because of obstruction of distal protection device which was managed by thrombosuction. One patient developed TIA. All patients were discharged from hospital after an average of 3 days & all of them were prescribed dual antiplatalet therapy for 6 months. During follow-up one patient died secondary to acute myocardial infarction and one patient developed major stroke. Conclusion: Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting associated with distal protective devices appear feasible, effective and almost safe endovascular treatment modality for carotid artery stenosis.
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Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is an inborn error of organic acid metabolism, where the brain is the principal organ affected with exposure to toxic metabolic product, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid (3-OHGA). A 2-year-old boy with GA1 and delayed developmental milestones had an acute neurological crisis leading to massive brain abscess with Citrobacter freundi infection, a rare cause of neonatal meningitis and often associated with brain abscess. Both 3-OHGA and C. freundii can damage the blood-brain barrier and can cause significant trauma which demands immediate and appropriate management. Encephalopathic manifestations of GA1 may consequently increase the risk of meningeal infection and it has not been previously documented.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Brain Abscess/drug therapy , Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn/diagnosis , Child, Preschool , Citrobacter freundii/isolation & purification , Diagnosis, Differential , Enterobacteriaceae Infections/complications , Glutarates/metabolism , Humans , Male , Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency/geneticsABSTRACT
The methanol extract of Cleome chelidonii whole plant was investigated for its anti-inflammatory; antinociceptive and antipyretic activities at the doses of 50; 100 and 200 mg/kg of body weight. The experimental paradigms used were carrageenan-induced pedal edema for anti-inflammatory activity; acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate methods to assess antinociceptive activity and yeast-induced hyperpyrexia to evaluate the antipyretic activity. In acute phase inflammation; at dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight after 3 hours treatment with methanol extract of C. chelidonii in carrageenan showed a maximum inhibition of 54.6(P 0.05) when compared with standard drug aspirin (10 mg/kg); which showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue by 60.6(P 0.01). The methanol extract possesses significant (P 0.05) antinociceptive activity in both paradigms. In rats a significant (P 0.01) reduction in hyperpyrexia was also produced by the extract. This study exhibits that the methanol extract of entire plant of C. chelidonii possesses anti-inflammatory; antinociceptive and antipyretic activities