Sjogren Larsson Syndrome.

Sjogren Larsson Syndrome( SLS) is a rare neuroectodermal disorder characterized by congenital icthyosis, mental retardation and spastic diplegia along with pathognomic opthalmological findings. We report two siblings with Sjogren Larsson Syndrome from an Indian family but, without eye involvement.

Molecular typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from different parts of India based on IS6110 element polymorphism using RFLP analysis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: IS 6110 based typing remains the internationally accepted standard and continues to provide new insights into the epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of the study was to characterize M. tuberculosis isolates obtained from different parts of India based on IS6110 element polymorphism using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. METHODS: RFLP was analyzed among 308 isolates of M. tuberculosis deposited in the Mycobacterial Repository Centre, Agra, from different parts of India. DNAs isolated from these strains were restricted with Pvu II, transferred on to nylon membrane and hybridized with a PCR amplified DIG-labeled 245 bp IS6110 probe. RESULTS: Based on the copy number, M. tuberculosis isolates were classified into four groups, (i) lacking IS6110 element; (ii) low copy number (1-2); (iii) intermediate copy number (3-5); and (iv) high copy number (6-19). Copy number higher than 19 however was not observed in any of the isolates studied. At the national level, 56 per cent of the isolates showed high copy number of IS6110, 13 per cent showed intermediate copy number, 20 per cent showed low copy number, whereas 11 per cent isolates lacked IS6110 element. At the regional level, there was not much difference in the RFLP profiles of isolates (IS6110 copy numbers/patterns) from different parts of the country. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: IS6110 DNA based fingerprinting could be a potentially useful tool for investigating the epidemiology of tuberculosis in India.

Askin tumor: a malignant small cell tumor.

Malignant tumours of the chest wall are rare in the pediatric age group. Askin tumour, a primitive neuroectodermal tumour with aggressive nature, is extremely rare. Clinico-pathological features make it quite distinct from Ewing's sarcoma. Aggressive nature of the tumour results in short clinical presentation of the patient. Diagnosis of Askin tumour is mainly by histo-pathology. Imaging modalities play only a complimentary role. We present a case diagnosed to have this rare malignant tumour in the thoraco-pulmonary area in a child.

Optimum needle length for DPT inoculation of Indian infants.

Correct placement of the injected DPT vaccine into the deep muscular layers decreases the local reactions, including the sterile abscess formation. However, recommendations on size of the needle to be used and the angle of injection are not easily available, are not uniform and are based on case reports. The only study based on scientific data of ultrasonographic measurement of fat layer and muscle layer thickness of thigh of only 24 infants of 4 months age covers only American children. (Hick et al, Pediatrics 1989; 84: 136-37). In the present study, we have produced similar data on 215 Indian children belonging to all those age groups in which DPT vaccinations are given. Mean thickness of skin + fat layer in the middle one-third of the anterolateral aspect of thigh was 1.03 +/- 0.23 cm, 1.04 +/- 0.21 cm, 0.95 +/- 0.19 cm and 1.06 +/- 0.27 cm in the age groups of 6-12 weeks (Groups I), 13-18 weeks (Group II), 19-24 weeks (Groups III) and 18 +/- 1 month (Group IV) respectively. These age groups correspond to the timings of first 3 primary doses and the first booster dose of the DPT vaccine in our immunization clinic. Mean thickness of all the soft tissues together at the same site were 1.87 +/- 0.35, 2.17 +/- 0.38, 2.07 +/- 0.39 and 2.07 +/- 0.26 cm respectively for the groups I to IV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidemiological evaluation of oral polio vaccine efficacy in Delhi.

Forty seven cases of poliomyelitis and 94 controls were studied for immunization status. Unmatched analysis with one control per case and two controls per case was done to find out the ratio of the odds of immunization in diseased individuals as compared with the nondiseased (odds ratio). This ratio (OR) was used further to calculate oral polio vaccine efficacy. OPV efficacy was found to be 93% with 95% confidence limits of 75-98%.