Sandfly species diversity in association with human activities in the Kani tribe settlements of the Western Ghats, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Sandfly prevalence in the Kani tribe settlements of Western Ghats in India was investigated. A total of 1,279 sandflies comprising 17 species was obtained. Sandfly abundance showed a negative correlation (r = -0.97, p = 0.003) with increase in altitudinal ranges from 0-1,000 m. When sandfly samples were grouped according to landscape characteristics of the location, the estimated Shannon-Weiner index (H) and species richness index (S) were high and species evenness index (J) was low in settlements located at 0-300 m altitudinal range. On the contrary, the values of H and J were high, while S was low at 301-600 m altitudinal range. With further increase in altitude, species diversity, S and J were low. Though the relative abundance of sandflies decreased with increase in altitude, the influence of altitudinal variation could not be attributed to determine sandfly diversity, since the number of sampling units were not uniform at all the altitudinal gradients due to nonavailability of suitable resting shelters. Sandfly species showed great aggregation at 0-300 m altitude interval, where not only the number of settlements were maximum (n = 19), but also the environmental conditions favoured sandfly abundance due to the concentration of tribal settlements, human dwellings and his activities.

Low apoptotic index & bak expression in EBV-associated childhood classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background & objectives: Association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is particularly high in low-income countries, and resistance to apoptosis might play a role in pathogenesis and survival. Data from previous studies are not consistent, and none is available in children. Thus this study was undertaken on Indian children with classical Hodgkin lymphoma to assess the significance of bcl-2, bak and p53 expression, and apoptotic index in relation with EBV status and treatment outcome with chemotherapy alone. Methods: Children (age<15 yr) with classical HL (n=143) were included in the study. Bcl-2, bak, p53, Ki67 and latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1) were detected by immunohistochemistry in pre-treatment lymph node biopsies. Apoptotic index was assessed by TdT-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL). Results: Bcl-2, bak, p53 were expressed above positivity threshold in 83.3, 94.0 and 7.1 per cent of the cases respectively. More than 10 per cent of apoptotic tumour cells were seen in 60.4 per cent of the cases. 131 (91.6%) cases were EBV associated. EBV-positive cases had a significantly lower mean bak expression (p=0.001) and a lower apoptotic index, without higher proliferation index. Advanced stage showed a borderline association with bcl-2 expression in >25 per cent of tumour cells and p53 negative tumours. In univariate analysis, p53 positive cases, which were significantly associated with B symptoms, had a poorer overall survival (P=0.03) while low proliferation index was associated with poorer failurefree survival. Neither EBV status nor any of the apoptotic parameters studied showed independent association with survival. Interpretation & conclusion: EBV detection in children with classical Hodgkin lymphoma was associated with significant lower bak expression and with lower spontaneous apoptosis of H-RS cells suggesting that EBV-LMP1 might downregulate bak pro-apoptotic protein. this needs to be substantiated further.

¿Cuál es su diagnóstico? / What is your diagnosis?

Niño de 8 años de edad que consulta por presenciade nodulaciones en región cervical izquierda de 6meses de evolución, que aumentaron de tamañoprogresivamente y se hicieron bilaterales. Sinantecedentes familiares ni personales de importancia.La ecografía informa nodulaciones en la cadenacervical posterior izquierda...

Expresión de proteínas del choque térmico HSP72 y HSP73 en casos colombianos de Linfoma de Hodgkin positivos y negativos para virus de Epstein Barr / Expression of heat shock proteins HSP72 and HSP73 in Epstein-Barr positive or negative Hodgkin lymphoma

Background: The expression of heat shock proteins (HSP70) in tumor cells or virus infected cells is important for the induction of specific cellular immune response. They are implicated in transport of immunodominants peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum, activation of antigen presenting cells and cross priming of CD8 T cells. Aim: To analyze the expression of HSP70 protein in its constitutive (HSP73) and inducible forms (HSP72) in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), infected or not by Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and to assess its relationship with pathological subtype, clinical stages and treatment response. Material and methods: The analysis of HSP73 and HSP72 was done by immunoperoxidase on routinely processed paraffin sections with prior antigen retrieval. Results: Sixty seven cases were studied. The expression of HSP73 and HSP72 was detected in 19.4 and 17.9% of samples respectively. The infiltrating lymphocytes expressed HSP72 in 58% of cases. The pathological subtypes with the higher expression in lymphocytes were mixed cellularity and nodular sclerosis. No differences in HSP70 expression were observed, according to clinical stage, treatment response or the presence of EBV. Conclusions: The expression of HSP72 on lymphocytes suggests that this protein plays an important role in the induction and amplification of anti-tumor immune response (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1375-81).

Incidência de síndrome de lise tumoral aguda em pacientes portadores de hemopatias malignas / Incidence of acute tumor lysis syndrome in patients with malignant blood diseases

O emprego de quimioterapia em tumores de alta replicaçäo celular é responsável pela liberaçäo de constituintes celulares, que podem levar a sérias alteraçöes metabólicas. Estas alteraçöes compreendem distúrbios no metabolismo do: potássio, cálcio, fosfato, uréia e ácido úrico; que caracterizam a SINDROME de LISE TUMORAL AGUDA (SLTA). No período de 29/03/93 a 23/08/93, foram estudados 20 pacientes com hemopatias malignas, com indicaçäo de tratamento poliquimioterápico. Estes pacientes receberam hiper-hidrataçäo com 2000ml/m2 de soluçäo fisiológico 0,9 por cento e alopurinol 200mg/m2 iniciando-se no dia anterior até o último dia de quimioterapia. O diagnóstico de SLTA foi considerado nos pacientes que nos 4 dias do tratamento, apresentaram duas ou mais das seguintes alteraçöes metabólicas: aumento de 25 por cento nos níveis de potássio, ácido úrico, uréia e fosfato; ou diminuiçäo de 25 por cento no nível de cálcio sérico. A SINDROME DE LISE TUMORAL AGUDA CLINICA (SLTAC), foi definida como SLTAC, associada a condiçöes clínicas que implicassem em risco de vida nenhum dos nossos pacientes apresentou SLTAC e apenas 30 por cento desenvolveram SLTAL, demonstrando que este esquema de tratamento foi efetivo.

Male gonadal function in Hodgkin's disease before and after treatment.

Twenty eight histologically confirmed cases of Hodgkin's disease were evaluates with regard to libido, sperm count, FSH, LH and urinary ketosteroid levels, before and during different stages of chemotherapy along with testicular biopsy on 16 cases. Decrease in libido during therapy improved following treatment, 50% cases who were oligospermic before treatment became azospermic, Serum FSH levels increased significantly (p 0.001) during the course of treatment. There was no significant change in LH and urinary ketosteroid levels (p 0.05). Testicular biopsy, normal initially, showed germ cell aplasia and absence of spermatogenesis after therapy. Drug induced testicular change leads to sterility.