Immunophenotyping of HPV types 16 and 18 among Sudanese patients with oral lesions

The aim of this study was to screen patients with oral lesions for the presence of Human Papilloma Virus [HPV] types 16 and 18. Sixty patients aged between 11-80 years with a mean age of 46 years were examined using immunohistological techniques. All samples were retrieved from RICK during the period from August 2009 to August 2010. Out of 60 patients, 50 had Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas [OSCCs] and the remaining ten had benign oral lesions, included as internal control. Of the 50 patients with OSCCs, 10 [20%] showed positive immunohistochemical results for HPV types 16 and 18 of which 50% were detected among males and 50% were demonstrated among females. The ten positive findings were Immunophenotyped as follows: five were positive with HPV type 16, four with type 18 and one was positive for HPV types 16 and18. All patients with benign oral lesions were negative for HPV immunohistochemistry. The study suggests the role of HPV 16 and 18 in the etiology of oral cancers in different parts of Sudan. However, the use of molecular techniques such as PCR are needed to confirm the results of immunohistochemistry in the role of the HPV in developing of OSCC in Sudan

Characterization of two isolates of prunus necrotic ringspot virus [PNRSV] from peach and apricot in Egypt

Two isolates of PNRSV were isolated from peach and apricot trees at the Experimental Station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. The peach isolate of PNRSV [PNRSV-PF] was differentiated from the apricot isolate [PNRSV-AP] by ten differential host species. Both isolates were purified successfully with the electro-elution technique. Both isolates had A[max] and A[min] at 260 and 240 nm respectively. The A260/280 ratios were 1.55 and 1.60 for the AP and the PF isolates, respectively. Electron microscopy examination showed spherical virions with ca 27-29 nm in diameter. Both isolates had molecular weight of coat protein subunits of 29 kDa, determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]. Antisera raised against the two isolates detected their counter antigens in peach and apricot trees. Both antisera cross reacted with their homologous and heterologous antigens in dot blot immunoassay [DBIA] and agar-double diffusion [ADD] tests. The two virus isolates appeared to belong to the same sero-group and represent two different pathotypes. PNRSV-AP varied in sero-grouping of that of beet necrotic ringspot ilarvirus, a tentative isolate of PNRSV, when examined in ADD test. Indirect ELISA showed that 64.2% of 210 tested apricot trees were infected, while 150-inspected peach trees showed 29.5% infection. Four sets of primers were used to amplify both movement protein [MP] and coat protein [CP] genes of the two Egyptian isolates of PNRSV isolated from apricot and peach trees. Amplicons of the correct size [ 894 bp] for the MP gene and [ 704 bp] for the CP gene were obtained from the two examined isolates of PNRSV. Nested PCR using specific primers for both the MP and the CP genes confirmed the authenticity of the PCR amplified products. RT-PCR detected successfully the presence of PNRSV in the pollen grains of infected apricot and peach trees. Nucleotide sequences of the MP genes of the two isolates were revised by the GenBank and given the accession # EU100388 for the peach isolate and EU106649 for apricot isolate. Phylogenetic analysis of RNA 3-MP showed ca 65% similarity between PNRSV-AP and PNRSV-PF; indicating that the two isolates of PNRSV are distantly related. The relatedness between the two isolates and other PNRSV isolates is discussed

Biological, serological and molecular studies on prunus necrotic ring spot virus infecting Rosa hybrida L. in Egypt

Prunus necrotic ring spot virus [PNRSV] was isolated for the first time in Egypt from naturally infected rose plants collected from the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. Observed symptoms circumvented necrotic ring spots on leaves, bud failure, and color breaking of petals. The virus was transmitted mechanically. The purified virus had Amax and A min at 260 and 240 nm respectively. The 260/280 ratio was 1.56. Yield of purified virus from infected Gompherina globosa was 0.182 mg/g tissue. Electron micrograph of the purified virus showed spherical [23-nm] as well as bacilliform virus particles [42x23 nm]. The induced antiserum from the purified virus was successfully used to detect PNRSV in rose plants in several locations in Egypt. The full length of the replicase gene of PNRSV was successfully amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] using different sets of specific primers. A sensitive and specific IC-RT-PCR protocol was used for the detection of PNRSV from rose tissues. Sequence analysis of PNRSV/rep gene of the rose isolate indicated 60% similarity to that of PNRSV-AF278534 and NC-004362

Tuberculosis in patients with malignant disease.

Of 2,143 biopsy proven cancer patients seen at our hospital over a six year period, 4 (0.19%) patients developed active tuberculosis (TB) during anticancer therapy or shortly after its completion. The cancer diagnoses of those patients were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and astrocytoma. Institution of antituberculous therapy was successful in three patients, however, the TB course was rapidly fatal in the fourth patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma despite therapy. The association between TB and neoplasia is emphasized. TB complicating malignant disorders represents complex problem regarding its early recognition and its managements.