Production of antiviral "OP7 chimera" defective interfering particles free of infectious virus.

Defective interfering particles (DIPs) of influenza A virus (IAV) are suggested for use as broad-spectrum antivirals. We discovered a new type of IAV DIP named "OP7" that carries point mutations in its genome segment (Seg) 7 instead of a deletion as in conventional DIPs (cDIPs). Recently, using genetic engineering tools, we generated "OP7 chimera DIPs" that carry point mutations in Seg 7 plus a deletion in Seg 1.

Generation of "OP7 chimera" defective interfering influenza A particle preparations free of infectious virus that show antiviral efficacy in mice.

Influenza A virus (IAV) defective interfering particles (DIPs) are considered as new promising antiviral agents. Conventional DIPs (cDIPs) contain a deletion in the genome and can only replicate upon co-infection with infectious standard virus (STV), during which they suppress STV replication. We previously discovered a new type of IAV DIP "OP7" that entails genomic point mutations and displays higher antiviral efficacy than cDIPs.

Development and content validation of yoga module for the mental health of NICU mothers.

Background: Postnatal yoga has been found to be effective for maternal mental health management. But a validated yoga module for the mental health of early postpartum mothers with infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is lacking.

Aim: To design and validate a yoga module for the mental health of early postpartum mothers having infants admitted to the NICU.

A Cross-sectional Survey to Assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Yoga among Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly growing worldwide. Cancer affects the overall quality of life of cancer patients. Yoga has its origin in the ancient times.

Production of retroviral vectors in continuous high cell density culture.

Retroviral vectors derived from murine leukemia virus (MLV) are used in somatic gene therapy applications e.g. for genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells.

Novel suspension retroviral packaging cells generated by transposition using transposase encoding mRNA advance vector yields and enable production in bioreactors.

To date, the establishment of high-titer stable viral packaging cells (VPCs) at large scale for gene therapeutic applications is very time- and cost-intensive. Here we report the establishment of three human suspension 293-F-derived ecotropic MLV-based VPCs. The classic stable transfection of an EGFP-expressing transfer vector resulted in a polyclonal VPC pool that facilitated cultivation in shake flasks of 100 mL volumes and yielded high functional titers of more than 1 × 10 transducing units/mL (TU/mL).

Semi-continuous Propagation of Influenza A Virus and Its Defective Interfering Particles: Analyzing the Dynamic Competition To Select Candidates for Antiviral Therapy.

Defective interfering particles (DIPs) of influenza A virus (IAV) are naturally occurring mutants that have an internal deletion in one of their eight viral RNA (vRNA) segments, rendering them propagation-incompetent. Upon coinfection with infectious standard virus (STV), DIPs interfere with STV replication through competitive inhibition. Thus, DIPs are proposed as potent antivirals for treatment of the influenza disease.

Homicide concealed strangulation after bobbing reins in sexually sadistic homicide.

This case of sexually motivated homicide combined the perpetrator's obliteration of his victim's identity along with his attempt at concealment of the corpse and sexual gratification following ligature strangulation of a young unidentified female from a minority Indian state. Sexual bondage was evident with characteristic body tying in a typical posture to fuel the killer's sexual arousal and gratification before, during and then after strangling his victim with a scarf. The victim's body was left in a sack packed with vegetables and transported from the crime site and found abandoned in a park.

Cost analysis of open radical cystectomy versus robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

Objectives: To perform a cost analysis comparing the cost of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with open RC (ORC) in a UK tertiary referral centre and to identify the key cost drivers.

Patients And Methods: Data on hospital length of stay (LOS), operative time (OT), transfusion rate, and volume and complication rate were obtained from a prospectively updated institutional database for patients undergoing RARC or ORC. A cost decision tree model was created.

Evaluation of blood, buccal swabs, and hair follicles for DNA profiling technique using STR markers.

Aim: To study the short tandem repeat (STR) pattern of DNA from the blood, buccal swabs, and hair follicles of the recipients of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to examine whether these tissues contain donor derived cells.

Methods: The study enrolled 25 patients who sustained engraftment. Peripheral blood, buccal swabs, and hair follicles were collected on days 21-30, 90, and 180 after transplantation and the chimeric status of the recipients was evaluated.

Development and validation of an ESI-LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous identification and quantification of 24 analytes of forensic relevance in vitreous humour, whole blood and plasma.

Detection and quantification of drugs from various biological matrices are of immense importance in forensic toxicological analysis. Despite the various reported methods, development of a new method for the detection and quantification of drugs is still an active area of research. However, every method and biological matrix has its own limitation, which further encourage forensic toxicologists to develop new methods and to explore new matrices for the analysis of drugs.

Benefit of STR-based chimerism analysis to identify TA-GVHD as a cause of death: Utility of various biological specimens.

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare condition. It can occur after blood transfusion in immune-compromised and occasionally even in immune-competent patients, and is associated with a mortality rate of >90%. The diagnosis of TA-GVHD is often delayed because of its non-specific clinical features.

Effect of acute exposure of triazophos on oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in liver, kidney and brain of Wistar rats.

Acute dose of organophosphorus pesticide Triazophos (O,O-diethyl O-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl phosphorothioate; Tz) administered orally affects oxidative stress parameters and the histo-architecture of liver, kidney and brain tissues. The results indicate a dose dependent induction of oxidative stress as evident by increased malondialdehyde level and decreased antioxidant defense including glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity in rat liver, kidney and brain. AChE activity was found significantly decreased in the Tz treated groups as compared to the vehicle control (DMSO) group.

Quality and quantity of extracted deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) from preserved soft tissues of putrefied unidentifiable human corpse.

Context: The appropriate collection and preservation of soft tissues from putrefied unidentifiable human corpse for the purpose of identification using DNA profiling technique is critically important especially in developing countries like India having different levels of health-care set ups with largely varying facilities and varying climatic conditions.

Aims: The present study was carried out, mainly focusing on quality and quantity of extracted DNA from the soft tissues of putrefied unidentifiable human corpse stored upto 4 weeks at 4°C and at -80°C for DNA analysis.

Materials And Methods: The present study was conducted on 16 different putrefied unidentifiable human corpses after getting approval from institutional ethical committee.

Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning during yagya for faith healing--a case report.

A 20-year-old female and a 45-year-old male were found lying dead on the floor with frothand vomitus stain present over mouth, nose and face in a closed room. An earthen bowl with incomplete burnt woods, flowers, food materials, agarbati, etc, was also found lying near the body of the two deceased. The cause of death, established by autopsy and toxicological examination was carbon monoxide poisoning in both victims.

Acute oral toxicity and histopathological study of combination of endosulfan and cypermethrin in wistar rats.

Background: Endosulfan, a neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide and cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used to control pests in domestic, industrial, and agricultural situations.

Materials And Methods: The present study was carried out to investigate the acute oral toxicity, behavioral and histopathological changes of combination of endosulfan and cypermethrin in albino rats. According to Miller and Tainter analysis method, at 48 h, LD50 value of combination of endosulfan and cypermethrin (ratio 1:1) in rats was found to be 691.

Determination of median lethal dose of combination of endosulfan and cypermethrin in wistar rat.

The present study was designed to determine the lethal dose 50 (LD50) of combination of cypermethrin, a pyrethroid, and endosulfan, an organochlorine compound in Wistar rats. LD50 is the amount (dose) of a chemical, calculated as per the concentration of chemicals that produces death in 50% of a population of test animals to which it is administered by any of a variety of methods. A single oral dose of combination of cypermethrin and endosulfan were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in a ratio of 1:1 and administered orally at the concentration of 165 mg/kg body weight (b.

A psychological profile of a serial killer: a case report.

Serial killers have always fascinated society. A serial killer is typically defined as a perpetrator who murders three or more people over a period of time. Most reported cases of serial killers come from the United States and Canada.

Identification of tumor specimens by DNA analysis in a case of histocytological paraffin tissue block swapping.

We report on a patient who was diagnosed with high-grade breast carcinoma by all the pre-surgery clinical evidence of malignancy, but histopathological reports did not reveal any such tumor residue in the post-surgical tissue block. This raised a suspicion that either exchange of block, labeling error, or a technical error took place during gross examination of the tissue. The mastectomy residue was unprocurable to sort out the problem.

Identity of victims from fragmented and decomposed remnants by DNA profiling in a case of serial killings.

A 28-year-old man, Surinder Koli, from a Nithari village adjoining Delhi, India committed serial murder. This case was of paramount importance in medico-legal investigations, as it was a landmark case of a serial killer reported from India. The skeletal remains (627 pieces) including skull/skull portions (19) were recovered from the nearby sewer drain, sump and the backyard of the house in which this man was residing.

Haplotype diversity of 17 Y-chromosomal STRs in Saraswat Brahmin Community of North India.

In this study, 17 Y-specific STR loci (DYS19, DYS389I, DS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and Y_GATA_H4) were analyzed in 181 unrelated male individuals from three North Indian states. A total of 157 different 17-loci haplotypes were identified, 145 of which were unique. The most frequent haplotype was detected in nine instances, occurring with a frequency of 4.

Misinterpretation of results in medico-legal cases due to microdeletion in the Y-chromosome.

In an alleged rape case, for one male suspect, XX genotype and deletion at four Y-STR loci was noticed. The expressions of 18 Y-linked genes were studied to measure the extent of deletion. No expressions at two loci were observed that might have caused the misinterpretations in forensic casework.

Genetic polymorphisms for 17 Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in Jammu and Kashmir Saraswat Brahmin population.

In this study 17 Y-chromosomal STRs (including DYS19, DYS389I, DS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and Y GATA H4) were analysed using blood samples of 122 unrelated male individuals belonging to Saraswat Brahmin community from Jammu (ID YP000599) and Kashmir (ID YP000600) region of J&K state of India. The allelic frequency distribution and haplotype diversity of 17 Y-chromosomal STR for both the populations were calculated. In the Kashmiri Saraswat group, a total of 109 haplotypes were identified in 122 individuals, of these haplotypes, 101 were found only once.