Mycobacterium tuberculosis polyclonal infections through treatment and recurrence.

Background: Mixed/polyclonal infections due to different genotypes are reported in Tuberculosis. The current study was designed to understand the fate of mixed infections during the course of treatment and follow-up and its role in disease pathogenesis.

Methods: Sputum samples were collected on 0,1,2,3,6,12 and 24 months from 157 treatment-naïve patients, cultures subjected to Drug-Susceptibility-testing (MGIT 960), spoligotyping, MIRU-VNTR and SNP genotyping.

Genome-Wide Association Study in Craniosynostosis Condition Using Innovative Systematic Bioinformatic Analysis Tools and Techniques: Future Prospective and Clinical Practice.

Background: Craniosynostosis (CS) conditions are included with the premature fusion of one or more multiple cranial sutures. As the second leading and most common craniofacial anomaly and orofacial clefts globally. Syndromic and nonsyndromic CS (NSCS) occur as a part of a genetic syndrome unlike Apert, Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Muenke, and Saethre-Chotzen syndromes.

Hemozoin Pigment: An Important Tool for Low Parasitemic Malarial Diagnosis.

Low parasitemic condition in malaria remains a diagnostic challenge; as the available diagnostic methods failed to detect. Currently, hemozoin (Hz) pigment is gaining attention in the diagnosis of malaria. The major drawback is ease of detection of Hz in routine practice.

A Comparative Study of Serum, Urine and Saliva Using rk39 Strip for the Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Background: Immunochromatographic based rk39 antibody detection test became popular for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaiasis (VL) because of high sensitivity, rapidity, easy to interpret, and cost effectiveness. However, false positive result after complete cure of the patients is the major limitation with this test. The aim of the study to access the usefulness of non-invasive samples i.

Genotypic, Phenotypic and Clinical Validation of GeneXpert in Extra-Pulmonary and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in India.

Background: Newer molecular diagnostics have brought paradigm shift in early diagnosis of tuberculosis [TB]. WHO recommended use of GeneXpert MTB/RIF [Xpert] for Extra-pulmonary [EP] TB; critics have since questioned its efficiency.

Methods: The present study was designed to assess the performance of GeneXpert in 761 extra-pulmonary and 384 pulmonary specimens from patients clinically suspected of TB and compare with Phenotypic, Genotypic and Composite reference standards [CRS].

Novel mutation detection of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene, FGFR2IIIa, FGFR2IIIb, FGFR2IIIc, FGFR3, FGFR4 gene for craniosynostosis: A prospective study in Asian Indian patient.

Background: Craniosynostosis (CS) syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition classically combining craniosynostosis and non-syndromic craniosynostosis with digital anomalies of the hands and feet. The majority of cases are caused by heterozygous mutations in the third immunoglobulin-like domain (IgIII) of FGFR2, whilst a larger number of cases can be attributed to mutations outside this region of the protein.

Aims: To find out the FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 and FGFR4 gene in craniosynostosis syndrome.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry proteomic based identification of clinical bacterial isolates.

Background & Objectives: Pathogenic bacteria often cause life threatening infections especially in immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, rapid and reliable species identification is essential for a successful treatment and disease management. We evaluated a rapid, proteomic based technique for identification of clinical bacterial isolates by protein profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time - of - flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for rapid identification of clinical fungal isolates based on ribosomal protein biomarkers.

This study aimed to evaluate the identification of clinical fungal isolates (yeast and molds) by protein profiling using Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS). A total of 125 clinical fungal culture isolates (yeast and filamentous fungi) were collected. The test set included 88 yeast isolates (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida rugosa, Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans) and 37 isolates of molds (Alternaria spp.

Strengthening molecular genetics and training in craniosynostosis: The need of the hour.

Craniosynostosis (CS) is premature fusion of skull. It is divided into two groups: Syndromic craniosynostosis (SCS) and non-syndromic craniosynostosis (NSC). Its incidence in Indian population is 1:1000 live births where as in the USA it is 1:2500 live births.

Quantitative buffy coat analysis-an effective tool for diagnosing blood parasites.

Quantitative buffy coat (QBC) analysis, which is based on principle of centrifugal stratification of blood components, is a well-known and a very sensitive technique which can be used for the detection of malarial parasites in peripheral blood. In our experience, this technique is also highly specific for doing speciation of malarial parasite in Indian set up. In addition, this technique was also found to be a sensitive and specific tool for diagnosing filariasis.

Coupling electrochemical response of a DNA biosensor with PCR for Neisseria gonorrhoeae detection.

Early diagnosis of gonococcal infections is important with regard to a patient's health and stage of infection. In this context, we report the development of an opa-gene-based electrochemical DNA biosensor for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by monitoring redox peak of methylene blue indicator. The fabricated biosensor has been shown to be highly sensitive and specific when evaluated with complementary, non-complementary, and 1-base mismatch DNA sequences and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified products (amplicons) of standard strain of N.

Nevirapine versus efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy regimens in antiretroviral-naive patients with HIV and tuberculosis infections in India: a pilot study.

Background: Administration of rifampicin along with nevirapine reduces the plasma concentration of nevirapine in human immunodeficiency virus positive individuals with concomitant tuberculosis (HIV-TB patients). Nevirapine is a much cheaper drug than its alternative efavirenz, and might be beneficial in resource constrained settings.

Methods: A randomised open label trial was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation following malaria due to Plasmodium vivax: a thromboelastography-based study.

Background: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to Plasmodium vivax is scarcely reported in comparison to Plasmodium falciparum. In complicated malaria, thrombocytopaenia and haemostatic alterations lead to increased activation of coagulation cascade and fibrinolytic system. Thromboelastography (TEG) is a haemostasis system which measures the viscoelastic strength of blood clot in the coagulation pathway.

Bilateral intraocular dirofilariasis.

Ocular dirofilariasis mostly presents as a subconjunctival or eyelid lesion. Intraocular dirofilarial infestation is rare. We report a case of a young woman who was accidentally detected to have a live motile worm in the anterior segment in one eye and a cystic lesion on the optic disc in the other eye.

A pilot study for diagnosis of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections by polymerase chain reaction among symptomatic Indian women.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial etiology of sexually transmitted infection.

Aim: A pilot study was designed using PCR for amplification and detection of a specific 517 bp sequence of the common endogenous plasmid of C. trachomatis from clinical swab specimens obtained from symptomatic female patients attending STD clinics of AIIMS and Regional STD Teaching, Training & Research Center, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi.

Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) analysis of sera from visceral leishmaniasis patients.

Introduction: Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection caused by Lesihmania donovani complex and transmitted by the bite of the phlebotomine sand fly. It is an endemic disease in many developing countries with more than 90% of the cases occurring in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sudan, Ethiopia and Brazil. The disease is fatal if untreated.

Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutation study in HIV-Infected Indian patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.

Introduction: Pneumocystis jirovecii dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutations' (55th and 57th codon) association with prior sulfa prophylaxis failure has been reported from both developed and developing countries. We conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence of P. jirovecii DHPS mutations from 2006 to 2009 on P.

Automated detection of malaria with haematology analyzer Sysmex XE-2100.

Background: Diagnosis of malaria is usually made by microscopy [Giemsa, Acridine Orange (AO), and Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) assay], which requires expertise. Currently, automated haematology analyzers are being used for complete blood count (CBC), in all acute febrile and non-febrile illnesses which simultaneously detects malaria. The normal scattergram by the analyzer (Sysmex 2100) comprises of five parameters i.