Deciphering the Association of Epstein-Barr Virus and Its Glycoprotein M Peptide with Neuropathologies in Mice.

The reactivation of ubiquitously present Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be involved with numerous diseases, including neurological ailments. A recent in vitro study from our group unveiled the association of EBV and its 12-amino acid peptide glycoprotein M146-157 (gM146-157) with neurodegenerative diseases, viz., Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis. In this study, we have further validated this association at the in vivo level. The exposure of EBV/gM146-157 to mice causes a decline in the cognitive ability with a concomitant increase in anxiety-like symptoms through behavioral assays. Disorganization of hippocampal neurons, cell shrinkage, pyknosis, and apoptotic appendages were observed in the brains of infected mice. Inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were found to be elevated in infected mouse brain tissue samples, whereas TNF-α exhibited a decline in the serum of these mice. Further, the altered levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and neurotensin receptor 2 affirmed neuroinflammation in infected mouse brain samples. Similarly, the risk factor of AD, apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), was also found to be elevated at the protein level in EBV/gM146-157 challenged mice. Furthermore, we also observed an increased level of myelin basic protein in the brain cortex. Altogether, our results suggested an integral connection of EBV and its gM146-157 peptide to the neuropathologies.

Squamous cell carcinoma: morphological & topographical spectrum: a two year analysis.

Squamous cell carcinoma, which is a malignant tumor of the squamous epithelium, has been a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is a major health problem across the world and among the most common cancers seen in both Indian men and women as can be gauged from the records of the National Cancer Registry Programme. This study was undertaken to analyze the spectrum of squamous cell carcinoma cases presenting at M.Y. Hospital, Indore, during 2 years between 2007 and 2008, to understand the morphological patterns of squamous cell carcinoma lesions and classify them into morphological categories given by International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O, third edition), to analyze the anatomical site distribution pattern of squamous cell carcinoma lesions and categorize them in topographical classes given by ICD-O. Over a 2-year period, 959 cases were retrieved from the files of histopathology laboratory, department of pathology, M.G.M. Medical College, Indore. Out of total 959 cases, the maximum cases-290 (30.24 %)-of squamous cell carcinoma were found between the fourth and fifth decades of life. The frequency of squamous cell carcinoma in patients older than 30 years was 96.35 %, while in cases of less than 30 years, it was 03.65 %. Most of the reported cases of squamous cell carcinoma included invasive types (i.e., 94.3 %). Cases with distant metastasis constituted 4.7 %, while only 1 % were noninvasive or in situ. The frequency of squamous cell carcinoma presenting at our institution was highest among those involving the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx (56.50 %), followed by those involving female genital organs (30.24 %). The respective involvement of skin, digestive organs, and respiratory systems was 4.70, 3.86, and 2.40 % in decreasing order of frequency. Frequency was least (1.05 %) among the cases reported to show metastatic deposits of squamous cell carcinoma in lymph nodes. Regarding the topographical spectrum, the maximum number of cases (26.07 %) of squamous cell carcinoma encountered belonged to ICD-O category C-53 (i.e., cervix). Among the morphological categories, the most frequently encountered was that of squamous cell carcinoma, keratinizing (35.2 %).

Acute ischemic infarct in the middle cerebral artery territory following a Russell's viper bite.

Ischemic stroke following snake bite is rare. We report an 18-year male who developed right hemiplegia with expressive aphasia following a Russell's viper bite. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarct in the left middle cerebral artery territory. The possible mechanisms for cerebral infarction in this scenario include disseminated intravascular coagulation, toxin induced vasculitis and endothelial damage.

Study of adenosine deaminase activity in pulmonary tuberculosis and other common respiratory diseases.

Tuberculosis has, in a short span of time, become a major health problem in the third world or developing countries like India. In view of this, a retrospective study was conducted to study Adenosine deaminase activity in serum and pleural fluid in patients affected with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and other common non-tubercular chronic respiratory diseases. The study was carried out on 100 patients suffering from various pulmonary disorders, between January 2002 and August 2002. Thirty-five normal healthy individuals were included as control subjects. ADA estimation was done by sensitive colorimetric method. The study revealed that the serum ADA activity was higher in patients of tuberculous pulmonary and pleural diseases and non-tuberculous pulmonary diseases than in control subjects. The mean serum ADA activity in the patients' group was 35.5±6.93 u/l as compared to 16.20±2.85 u/l in control group, showing a highly significant (P≪0.001) difference. ADA activity was highest in tuberculous pleuropulmonary diseases. The pleural fluid ADA activity was higher in pyogenic pleural effusion than in tuberculous pleural effusion.