Quantification of human polyomavirus JC virus load in urine and blood samples of healthy tribal populations of North‑Eastern part of West Bengal, India.

Background: Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) is a widespread human virus with profound pathogenic potential. A study was undertaken to quantify JCV load in urine and peripheral blood samples of immunocompetent, apparently healthy tribal individuals of North‑Eastern part of West Bengal, India for the first time. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirteen samples of urine or blood were collected from different tribal groups of this region. For the quantitative estimation of the viral load in each sample, real‑time polymerase chain reaction method using the SYBR Green dye was employed. Results: The viral load estimated was found in the range between 3.5 × 102 and 2.12 × 106 copies/ml of samples having a mean and median viral copy numbers of 8.67 × 105 and 9.19 × 105 copies/ml of sample respectively. Conclusion: The mean viral DNA load in urine samples of the studied immunocompetent population was found to be higher than that found in a study conducted in the USA, but lower than similar groups of Italy and healthy adult women in the USA. However when compared with median values of viral DNA loads in urine samples of immunocompetent human subjects of Kuwait, Portugal, and Switzerland the observed viral DNA load was found to be substantially higher.

Analysis of sequences of two different classes of Kinetoplast DNA minicircles of a Leishmania Spp.

We have determined the nucleotide sequences of the minicircles representing a major (pLURkE3) and a minor (pLURkH13) class populations from the kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania strain UR6. These minicircles have sequence organization similar to other kinetoplastid parasites, however, they have some unique structural features. These features include the following: (i) imperfect inverted repeat in the variable regions, similar to the conserved sequence elements of guide RNA genes in African trypanosomes, (ii) tandem and non-tandem direct repeats of 8 bp or longer scattered throughout the minicircles, (iii) non uniform strand distribution of bases throughout the minicircles and (iv) high TG content, more than half of the molecules being extremely (T + G) versus (A + C) strand biased. The heterogeneity of minicircle sequences in the variable regions may be exploited in developing recombinant DNA based diagnostic probes for detection and classification of Leishmania species.

A study on the impact of awareness programme imparted to in-service nursing staff on their knowledge regarding AIDS.

One hundred five In-service nursing personnel of West Bengal Health Service, who completed a two day's orientation training programme on AIDS were subjected to Pre and Post-training assessment of their knowledge relating to AIDS by the same written questionnaire. Significant improvement in percentage of subjects (from 7.6% pre-training to 51.4% post-training) with desirable level of awareness and knowledge could be achieved by the programme. The importance of inclusion of study of AIDS in the pre- qualification curriculum and continuing education for nursing personnel is stressed.

In vitro effect of lorazepam on Mg2+ and (Na+,K+) ATPases of human foetal brain.

Lorazepam (LZ), a benzodiazepine group of drug, inhibits Mg2+ and (Na+,K+) ATPases (EC 3.6.1.3) activity of human foetal and adult brain. The inhibitory effect neither varied with respect to the region (i.e. cerebrum and cerebellum) nor with the age of the foetus. The inhibition of ATPases activity indicates that the neuronal transmission processes, may be affected and raises the possibility of developmental disturbances.