Prevalence of beta thalassemia mutations in population of Gujarat using amplification-refractory mutation system–polymerase chain reaction

Background: Beta thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder in India. Its trait, coinheritance and mutations vary from mild to severe condition, resulting in thalassemia minor (heterozygous), intermediate and major depending upon many factors. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence rate and the carrier of beta thalassemia in population of Gujarat using molecular genetic analysis of beta thalassemia patients by targeted mutation assay (ARMS-PCR).Methods: A total 105 samples for beta thalassemia were analysed for IVS 1-5 (G→C) and CD 15 (G→A) mutations. These two common mutations of thalassemia in Gujarat were carried out using amplification refractory mutation system–polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) and gel electrophoresis method.Results: A total 105 samples referred to us for molecular genetic analysis. The occurrence of positive mutations of IVS 1-5 (G→C) and CD 15 (G→A) were found in 48 and 15 samples respectively. The rest were negatives.Conclusions: Present study concludes that the prevalence rate of Beta thalassemia was widespread among the Gujarat population. The identification of IVS 1-5 (G→C) and CD 15 (G→A) mutations was carried out. The analysis revealed that, mutational patterns of IVS 1-5 (G→C) was the most frequent among other mutations in Gujarat region.

Clinicopathological profile of lung cancer at a tertiary care center

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for majority of cases. AIMS: This study aims to study the clinical and pathological features of lung cancer patients treated at our institute between January 2011 and December 2016. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective study. 446 patients of lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed for demographic data, history of smoking, histological type, and presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutations. RESULTS: Of the 446 patients analyzed, 304 (68%) were males and 142 (32%) were females, with the ratio being 2:1. Most of our patients had a lesion localizing to the right side (45.7%) than left (37.8%). NSCLC was reported in 81.1% of our patients. EGFR mutation was found in 60 (24%) patients, the most common mutation being the deletion of exon 19 (73%) followed by L858R mutation (21.6%). CONCLUSIONS: EGFR and ALK mutation testing of all the lung cancer patients is to be encouraged as these mutations form druggable targets.

A robust HIV-1 viral load detection assay optimized for Indian sub type C specific strains and resource limiting setting

BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) viral load testing at regular intervals is an integral component of disease management in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients. The need in countries like India is therefore an assay that is not only economical but efficient and highly specific for HIV-1 sub type C virus. This study reports a SYBR Green-based HIV-1 real time PCR assay for viral load testing and is designed for enhanced specificity towards HIV-1 sub type C viruses prevalent in India. RESULTS: Linear regression of the observed and reference concentration of standards used in this study generated a correlation coefficient of 0.998 (p<0.001). Lower limit of detection of the test protocol was 50 copies/ml of plasma. The assay demonstrated 100% specificity when tested with negative control sera. The Spearman coefficient of the reported assay with an US-FDA approved, Taqman probe-based commercial kit was found to be 0.997. No significant difference in viral load was detected when the SYBR Green based assay was used to test infected plasma stored at -20°C and room temperature for 7 days respectively (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p=0.105). In a comparative study on 90 pretested HIV-1 positive samples with viral loads ranging from 5,000 - 25,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml and between two commercial assays it was found that the later failed to amplify in 13.33% and 10% samples respectively while in 7.77% and 4.44% samples the copy number values were reduced by >0.5 log value, a figure that is considered clinically significant by physicians. CONCLUSION: The HIV-1 viral load assay reported in this study was found to be robust, reliable, economical and effective in resource limited settings such as those existing in India. PCR probes specially designed from HIV-1 Subtype C-specific nucleotide sequences originating from India imparted specificity towards such isolates and demonstrated superior results when compared to two similar commercial assays widely used in India.