Genetic polymorphism and association of kappa-casein gene with milk production traits among Frieswal [HF x Sahiwal] cross breed of Indian origin

The aim of the present study was to screen the genotype profile of bovine kappa-casein gene among Frieswal [HF x Sahiwal] crossbred cattle developed in India. A total number of two hundred Frieswal cows were evaluated for Hinfl RFLP based genotyping of kappa-casein gene. We observed that only two genotypes [AA and AB] exist among the studied population with the genotype frequency of 0.58 [n=117] and 0.42 [n=83], respectively. The calculated allele frequency for A and B was 0.79 and 0.21, respectively. Association of genotypes with certain milk production traits revealed that AB had significant [P<0.05] effect on total milk yield, peak yield, yield at 300 days and SNF% as compared to AA

Disease profile and treatment results of anal canal SCC: experience from AIIMS, New Delhi

Anal Canal squamous cell carcinoma [SSC] accounts for nearly 2% of all cancers of the alimentary tract. Over the past few years, the management of anal canal cancer has changed from primary surgery to primary chemoradiotherapy [CRT]. A total of 83 patients' [pts] records [62 males, 21 females] were retrospectively reviewed. Length of disease was <5 cm in 44 pts and confined to primary in 46 pts. Ten pts have anti-cancer therapy outside. We delivered radiotherapy [RT] alone to 16 pts, chemotherapy [CT] alone to 4 pts, CRT in 51 pts and pre-operative [pre-op] RT in 2 pts. RT dose was up to 30 Gray [Gy] =16; 30-50 Gy=12 and >50 Gy=41 pts. RT compliance was optimal in 64/69, grade [Gr] /= 2 in 13/69 pts. Thirteen pts [18.84%] were hospitalized during RT. No response [NR] was found in 4/83, <50% in 18/83, >50-<`00% in 39.83 and complete response [CR] in 22/83 pts. Recurrence at primary site was seen in 7 and loco-regional in 2 pts. Salvage therapy was done in all 9 pts [surgery =8 and CT=1]. Status at last follow up, alive without disease = 22/83 and with disease = 61/83. This retrospective analysis revealed that the advanced disease was in 47%, the optimal anti-cancer therapy could be delivered to 63.9%. Despite heterogeneity of patient population and management, the overall disease-free survival [DFS] with sphincter-preservation was achieved in 26.5% pts

Early infections in the stem cell transplant recipients at AIMS, New Delhi: a prospective study

The pattern of infections in neutropenic patients including those undergoing stem cell transplant in the west has changed but the same may not be the case in the developing countries as brought out through some earlier observations in some transplant centers in India. The department of medical oncology IRCH, AIIMS has been providing bone marrow transplant facility for over a decade now. It is one of the few bone marrow transplant units in northern India. A prospective study conducted on 70 consecutive bone marrow transplant subjects at this center was carried out with this perspective in view. To determine the frequency and pattern of infections in haemopioetic stem cell transplant [HSCT] recipients at this center in India