Incidence and clinical implication of TT virus in patients with hepatitis and its frequency in blood donors in India.

Background: Transfusion Transmitted Virus (TTV), also known as Torque Teno Virus is a new novel viral agent which appears to correlate with some acute and chronic hepatitis cases and may produce liver damage under specific circumstances. Aim of this study was to detect TT virus by real-time PCR, study its clinical implications and effects of its co-infection in HBV and HCV chronic liver diseases.

Methods: The study population comprised 50 acute hepatitis, 50 chronic hepatitis patients and 100 voluntary blood donors.

Transport and infrared photoresponse properties of InN nanorods/Si heterojunction.

The present work explores the electrical transport and infrared (IR) photoresponse properties of InN nanorods (NRs)/n-Si heterojunction grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Single-crystalline wurtzite structure of InN NRs is verified by the X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Raman measurements show that these wurtzite InN NRs have sharp peaks E2(high) at 490.

Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Cerebrospinal Fluid using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism.

Background: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is useful for rapid microbial detection in body fluids with low microbial load. It is easier to use universal or broad range primers for the amplification of conserved stretches of DNA common to all bacteria like 16S rRNA gene, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products.

Methods: Forty samples of cerebrospinal fluid were collected.

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in North Eastern India.

Background: There is paucity of data on Lyme disease in India. A seroprevalence study of B burgdorferi infection was carried out in North-Eastern states of India to assess the same.

Methods: Sera from 500 individuals of North-Eastern states of India were tested for IgG antibody by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using commercial kits containing recombinant antigen.

Epidemiological Investigation of an Outbreak of Enteric Fever.

Background: Ninety five cases of enteric fever among military recruits from a regimental training centre at Maharastra were admitted to the local military hospital in a few weeks time.

Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study and detailed site survey was undertaken. Blood culture, antibiotic sensitivity test (ABST) with serotyping and phage typing of the isolates were done.