Performance of an in-house real-time PCR assay for detecting Cytomegalovirus infection among transplant patients from a tertiary care centre

Background: Quantitative Cytomegalovirus (CMV) polymerase chain reactions are increasingly being used for monitoring CMV DNAemia in haematopoietic stem cell transplants and solid organ transplants. Objective: In this study, a commercial CMV viral load assay was compared with an in-house viral load assay. Materials and Methods: A total of 176 whole-blood samples were tested for CMV DNAemia using both assays. Results: Our evaluation showed a difference of 1 log10copies/ml between the two assay systems in determining CMV viral loads in the clinical samples. Conclusion: The in-house viral load assay had a better correlation with clinical findings compared to the commercial assay. Quality assessment of these assays was done by the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme (UKNEQAS), an external proficiency testing programme, and by the National Institute for Biological Standard and Control (NIBSC) standard. For UKNEQAS and NIBSC standards, the bias between the assays was 0.73 log10and 0.85 log10, respectively. This difference is well within the acceptable range already reported in the literature.

Domestic violence as a risk factor for infant and child mortality: A community-based case–control study from southern India.

Background. Violence against women may have an impact on infant and child mortality. We aimed to determine whether domestic violence is a risk factor for infant and child death. Methods. Eighty infant and child deaths (under 5 years of age) were identified from a central register of a comprehensive community health programme in rural southern India; controls were matched for age, gender and street of residence. Results. Domestic violence during the lifetime (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.39–4.99), which was severe (OR 4.00, 95% CI 2.02–7.94) and during pregnancy (OR 5.69, 95% CI 2.03–15. 93) and father’s smoking status (OR 3.81, 95% CI 1.92–7.55) were significantly related to infant and child death while immunization being completed for age (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.01–0.19) and having at least one boy child in the family (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.14–0.59) were protective. These variables remained statistically significantly associated with outcome after adjusting for other determinants using conditional logistic regression. Conclusion. There is evidence for an association between domestic violence in mothers, and infant and child death.

Bleeding gums: duloxetine may be the cause.

Duloxetine is a newly introduced drug. It is being prescribed for the management of diabetic neuropathic pain and major depressive disorder. The most frequently observed adverse events with duloxetine are nausea, dry mouth and somnolence, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, weight loss, feeling of fatigue, dizziness, somnolence, hypohidrosis, decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. One of the patients being prescribed the drug developed bleeding gums on being started with the drug which resolved on stopping it. We hereby report this case.

Hepatitis C virus-related fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis in a renal transplant recipient.

Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH) is a severe and progressive form of liver dysfunction seen in organ transplant recipients and immunosuppressed patients; it is usually associated with hepatitis B virus infection. We report 36-year-old man, a renal transplant recipient, also developed FCH with hepatitis C virus infection and succumbed to it.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) regulate neurotransmitter contents in rat brain.

The effects of feeding of 6-propylthiouracil (6-PTU) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) independently and in combination and administration (ip) of a single dose of triiodothyronine (T3) (2.5 microg/100 g body wt) along with feeding of 6-PTU and PUFA were studied in rat brain. Dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) contents were assayed in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex regions. It was found that 6-PTU feeding resulted in decrease in dopamine, 5-HT, 5-HTP and 5-HIAA in both regions. In animals fed with PUFA followed by administration of T3, the DA level was found normal.

Short-term effects of thyroid hormones on lipogenic enzymes and 14C-acetate incorporation into various lipid classes: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Short-term effect of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,5-diiodothyronine (T2) on lipid metabolism in the liver of Anabas testudineus was examined. In vivo injections of both T3 and T2 at a concentration of 10 ng/g body weight increased malic enzyme (ME), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activity compared to 6-propylthiouracil (6-PTU) treated group. Treatment of 6-PTU results in the accumulation 14C-acetate into fat and thyroid hormones' treatment reduce it. In vitro experiments show that malic enzyme activity is augmented only by high concentration of T3 (10(-7) M) where as all concentrations of T2 increase its activity. In vitro studies with T3 showed a biphasic effect on cholesterol content. Conversely T2 in vitro, reduced cholesterol content with all concentrations. From these results it can be concluded that both T3 and T2 have short-term effect on lipid metabolism in Anabas.