EXPRESSION OF CD44 AS A CANCER STEM CELL MARKER IN ORAL CANCER: A META-ANALYSIS STUDY

Various researches have shown that Cluster of Differentiation 44 (CD44) is one of the valued markers. As it plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis but studies also suggest it as a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker in oral cancer (OC). Therefore, we aimed to explore association between the expression of CD44 and clinicopathological characteristics along with the OC prognosis.We conducted literature search through PubMed database (till October 22, 2020) to determine and evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of CD44 expression in OC patients. According to the inclusion criteria we finalized 9 studies with 867 OC cases. We found the positive expression of CD44 in advanced stages was prominently associated with reduced survival rate. Our analysis suggest that higher tumor expression of CD44 may predict poor survival in end staged OC patient

DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF MICRORNAs IN LUNG CANCER: A REVIEW ARTICLE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 16-24 nucleotide length. The miRNA biogenesis is a 2 step cleavage process mediated by Dorsha and Dicer. The nuclear cleavage by Dorsha / DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (DGCR8) generates 60-70 nucleotide long precursor microRNA (pre-miRNA). Furthermore, the pre-miRNA is exported to the cytoplasm by exportin 5 to be cleaved by Dicer. This resultant miRNA is further processed to generate a mature miRNA and get assembled into a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Hence leading to transcriptional repression of the target mRNAs. It has been reported that one miRNA may target many genes accounting from a few to as many as thousands. Lung cancer (LC) ranks third worldwide and is marked by poor prognosis. The early staged LC patients usually exhibit no symptoms and the condition worsens till the time of first diagnosis. Therefore, studies are required to outline good early detecting and surveillance biomarkers for LC. Several evidences support the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of LC. They show differential expression pattern i.e. may be either upregulated or downregulated. The oncogenic miRNAs remain upregulated while the tummor suppressive miRNAs remain downregulated. In LC miRNAs are the important factors for tumour initiation, differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation as well as tumor progression. Thus, this review article focuses on the diagnostic significance of miRNAs in LC

Accuracy of noncycloplegic photorefraction using Spot photoscreener in detecting amblyopia risk factors in preschool children in an Indian eye clinic

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of Spot photoscreener (PS) as a noncycloplegic photorefractor in detecting amblyopia risk factors (ARFs) in preschool children in an Indian eye clinic setting. Also, to derive appropriate cutoff values for screening to obtain maximum sensitivity and specificity of the device in detecting ARF. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the outpatient pediatric eye clinic at a tertiary eye care institute. A Spot PS was used to screen all the children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years that presented to the eye clinic from August 2018 to October 2018. This screening was followed by a complete eye examination, including cycloplegic refraction by a masked examiner. The 2013 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) guidelines were considered the standard cutoff values for clinically significant refractive error in children younger than 5 years of age. Results: The study comprised of 219 children. The Spot PS diagnosed 135 (61.64%) children with ARF as compared with 124 (56.62%) children detected by clinic examination. For ARF detection, the Spot photoscreeneer had 85.48% sensitivity, 69.47% specificity, 78.52% positive predictive value and 78.57% negative predictive value. The sensitivity for detection of strabismus and hypermetropia was very low (42% and 36%, respectively). The 95% limits of agreement ranged from ?5.48 to +5.59 diopters (D) with a bias of 0.06 D for spherical equivalent between noncycloplegic photorefraction and cycloplegic refraction. Conclusion: The Spot PS may be used as a screening tool to detect ARF in children younger than 5 years of age keeping its limitations in consideration. However, the performance can be improved by modifying the cutoff values for the referral.

Accuracy of noncycloplegic refraction performed at school screening camps

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare noncycloplegic refraction performed in school camp with that performed in eye clinic in children aged 6� years. Methods: A prospective study of children with unaided vision <0.2 LogMAR who underwent noncycloplegic retinoscopy (NCR) and subjective refraction (SR) in camp and subsequently in eye clinic between February and March 2017 was performed. A masked optometrist performed refractions in both settings. The agreement between refraction values obtained at both settings was compared using the Bland朅ltman analysis. Results: A total of 217 eyes were included in this study. Between the school camp and eye clinic, the mean absolute error � standard deviation in spherical equivalent (SE) of NCR was 0.33 � 0.4D and that of SR was 0.26 � 0.5D. The limits of agreement for NCR were +0.91D to ? 1.09D and for SR was +1.15D to -1.06D. The mean absolute error in SE was ?0.5D in 92.62% eyes (95% confidence interval 88%�%). Conclusion: A certain degree of variability exists between noncycloplegic refraction done in school camps and eye clinic. It was found to be accurate within 0.5D of SE in 92.62% eyes for refractive errors up to 4.5D of myopia, 3D of cylinder, and 1.5D of hyperopia.

Detection of MEF-1 laboratory reference strain of poliovirus type 2 in children with poliomyelitis in India in 2002 & 2003.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Significant progress has been made towards eradication of poliomyelitis in India. Surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) has reached high standards. Among the 3 types of polioviruses, type 2 had been eliminated in India and eradicated globally as of October 1999. However, we isolated wild poliovirus type 2 from a small number of polio cases in northern India in 2000 and again during December 2002 to February 2003. Using molecular tools the origin, of the wild type 2 poliovirus was investigated. METHODS: Polioviruses isolated from stool samples collected from patients with AFP were differentiated as wild virus or Sabin vaccine-like by ELISA and probe hybridization assays. Complete VP1 gene nucleotide sequences of the wild type 2 poliovirus isolates were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by cycle sequencing. VP1 nucleotide sequences were compared with those of wild type 2 polioviruses that were indigenous in India in the past as well as prototype/laboratory strains and the GenBank database. RESULTS: Wild poliovirus type 2 was detected in stool samples from 6 patients with AFP in western Uttar Pradesh and 1 in Gujarat. In addition, the virus was isolated from one healthy contact child and from environmental sewage sample in Moradabad where three of these patients were reported. These isolates were identified as genetically closely related to laboratory reference strain MEF-1. Molecular characterization of the isolates confirmed that there was no evidence of extensive person-to-person transmission of the virus in the community. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Laboratory reference strain (MEF-1) of poliovirus type 2 caused paralytic poliomyelitis in 10 patients in September 2000 and November 2002 to February 2003. The origin of the virus was some laboratory as yet not identified. This episode highlights the urgent need for stringent containment of wild poliovirus containing materials in the laboratories across the country in order to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Penetrating chest trauma: a review of 150 cases.

Penetrating injuries of the chest with emphasis on the policy of selective management in 150 cases, 145 males and 5 females, with age ranging from 5-60 years were reviewed. Chest pain and breathlessness were the commonest presenting features. Haemorrhagic shock and haemoptysis were noted in 30% and 20% cases respectively. Fire arms injury was the leading cause of chest trauma, being present in 80 (53.33%) cases. Except for 6 (3 cases had superficial stab wounds and 3 died on way to operation theatre), all patients (144) needed surgical intervention (tube thoracostomy drainage in 110 and major operation in 34 patients). There were 7 deaths in this study; massive haemorrhage was the cause of death in 4 and septic shock in 3 cases. An overall success rate of 95.34% was observed in this series.