Survival of patients with multiple primary malignancies: a study of 783 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Background: We sought to investigate the characteristics and survival rate of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) associated with other primary malignancies.

Patients And Methods: A total of 783 patients with GIST were identified from 1995 to 2007. Additional primaries included tumors not considered metastasis, invasion, or recurrence of GIST, nor non-melanoma skin cancer.

Evaluation of IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for detection of IgM against Japanese encephalitis virus in cerebrospinal fluid samples.

Infection with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a major public health problem in Asia. Detection of JEV-specific IgM in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by the IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) is currently the most widely used diagnostic method to detect JEV infection. Because of the possible presence of IgM cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses in serum and the high ratio of inapparent-to-apparent JEV infections, a positive result in serum only suggests a recent infection and not necessarily an encephalitic illness caused by JEV.

Identification and comparative analysis of the protocadherin cluster in a reptile, the green anole lizard.

Background: The vertebrate protocadherins are a subfamily of cell adhesion molecules that are predominantly expressed in the nervous system and are believed to play an important role in establishing the complex neural network during animal development. Genes encoding these molecules are organized into a cluster in the genome. Comparative analysis of the protocadherin subcluster organization and gene arrangements in different vertebrates has provided interesting insights into the history of vertebrate genome evolution.

Elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii) provides insights into the evolution of Hox gene clusters in gnathostomes.

We have sequenced and analyzed Hox gene clusters from elephant shark, a holocephalian cartilaginous fish. Elephant shark possesses 4 Hox clusters with 45 Hox genes that include orthologs for a higher number of ancient gnathostome Hox genes than the 4 clusters in tetrapods and the supernumerary clusters in teleost fishes. Phylogenetic analysis of elephant shark Hox genes from 7 paralogous groups that contain all of the 4 members indicated an ((AB)(CD)) topology for the order of Hox cluster duplication, providing support for the 2R hypothesis (i.

Molecular characterization of a full-length genome of a HIV-2 isolate from India.

Background: India accounts for 95% of HIV-2 infections in Asia. Molecular epidemiological studies have been performed on HIV-2 partial envelope gene and LTR sequences from isolates in India. Although, a single full-length sequence of an isolate from India is available in the GenBank, a comprehensive molecular analysis of a large number of HIV-2 isolates would be essential for understanding the genomic heterogeneity of HIV-2 isolates prevalent in the country.

HIV-1 clade C infection and progressive disruption in the relationship between cortisol, DHEAS and CD4 cell numbers: a two-year follow-up study.

Background: It is well established that there is mutual interaction between the neuroendocrines and immune systems and that the disturbance in any one system could affect the function of the other. While there is a large body of evidence suggesting negative impact of human immunodeficiency virus type 1B (HIV-1B) infection on both immune and neuroendocrine systems, the consequence of HIV-1 clade C infection (with structural differences from HIV-1B virus) on these systems is not clearly understood.

Methods: We carried out a 2-year longitudinal study on plasma profile of adrenocorticosteroids, including cortisol and DHEAS and their relationship with declining CD4+ cell counts in neurologically asymptomatic HIV-C infected individuals (N=84) in order to understand the impact of HIV-1 clade C infection on adrenocortical dysfunction and its relationship with the progressive decline in the cell mediated immunity.

Outcome of locally recurrent and metastatic angiosarcoma.

Background: Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma with an enhanced propensity for local and systemic failure. The outcome of locally recurrent and metastatic AS treated at a single institution was evaluated.

Methods: Medical records of AS patients treated for local recurrence and distant metastasis (1993-2008) were retrospectively reviewed.

Suppression of lysozyme aggregation at alkaline pH by tri-N-acetylchitotriose.

Inhibiting protein misfolding and aggregation is imperative for treatment of amyloid diseases. In this regard small molecules which bind to and stabilize the monomeric protein have invited attention owing to their ability to significantly slow down or inhibit aggregation and amyloid formation. We have earlier shown that hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) spontaneously forms soluble oligomers at pH 12.

Molecular epidemiology of HIV type 2 infections in South India.

A small but significant number of HIV-2 cases have been reported from India. Although all HIV-2 viruses identified belong to subtype A, there are no studies on the diversity of the HIV-2 envelope and other genomic regions from India. Furthermore, HIV-2 envelope quasispecies in infected individuals has not been studied in detail.

Preparation, evaluation and bioavailability studies of indomethacin-bees wax microspheres.

The present study envisages the preparation of microspheres containing indomethacin (IM) as model drug and bees wax as carrier, and to compare the in vitro release and pharmacokinetics of prepared IM formulation with commercially available oral formulation MicrocidSR. The microsphere formulations were prepared by meltable emulsified dispersion and cooling induced solidification. Surface morphology of microspheres has been evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Colon cancer prediction with genetic profiles using intelligent techniques.

Micro array data provides information of expression levels of thousands of genes in a cell in a single experiment. Numerous efforts have been made to use gene expression profiles to improve precision of tumor classification. In our present study we have used the benchmark colon cancer data set for analysis.

Rapidly evolving fish genomes and teleost diversity.

Teleost fishes are the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates. The diversity of teleosts has been attributed to a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event in the ray-finned fish lineage. Recent comparative genomic studies have revealed that teleost genomes have experienced frequent gene-linkage disruptions compared to other vertebrates, and that protein-coding sequences in teleosts are evolving faster than in mammals, irrespective of their duplication status.

Heat shock protein 70 on Neuro2a cells is a putative receptor for Japanese encephalitis virus.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope (E) protein has been shown to play a critical role in attachment to cells. However, the receptor interacting with envelope protein has not been conclusively identified. Using mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro2a) cells and purified JEV-E protein in 'Virus Overlay Protein Binding Assay' followed by MALDI-TOF analysis, we identified 'heat shock protein 70' (Hsp70) as a possible receptor for JEV.

Estimation of virological and immunological parameters in subjects from South India infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clade C and correlation of findings with occurrence of neurological disease.

Several studies carried out in Western countries have demonstrated that a number of virological and immunological markers such as viral loads, cytokines, beta(2)-microglobulin, neopterin, etc., are elevated in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals with neurological disease. The neurological manifestations of HIV infection noted in Indian patients is different from those reported in Western countries.

Cognitive changes in asymptomatic drug-naïve human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clade C infection.

Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with impaired cognitive functioning in both clade B and C infections. The nature of cognitive change longitudinally has not been studied in asymptomatic clade C infection. The present study evaluated changes in neuropsychological functioning over a 2(1/2)-year period in a cohort of HIV-1 clade C-infected asymptomatic individuals from South India.

Pentoxifylline inhibits replication of Japanese encephalitis virus: a comparative study with ribavirin.

Several investigations have shown that pentoxifylline possesses broad-spectrum antiviral activity against a range of RNA and DNA viruses. However, its ability to inhibit Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) replication has not yet been studied. The present study was designed to investigate the antiviral activity of pentoxifylline against JEV in vitro and in vivo.

How do surfactants and DTT affect the size, dynamics, activity and growth of soluble lysozyme aggregates?

The early intermediates in the protein aggregation pathway, the elusive soluble aggregates, play a pivotal role in growth and maturation of ordered aggregates such as amyloid fibrils. Blocking the growth of soluble oligomers is an effective strategy to inhibit aggregation. To decipher the molecular mechanisms and develop better strategies to arrest aggregation, it is imperative to understand how the size, molecular dynamics, activity and growth kinetics of soluble aggregates are affected when aggregation is inhibited.

Case of fulminant-SSPE associated with measles genotype D7 from India: an autopsy study.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a post-measles progressive neurological disorder is still common in India because of indifferent vaccination compliance. However, the acute fulminant form of SSPE is extremely rare. An unusual case of fulminant SSPE in an 18-year-old man from south India with an ultra-short course of 19 days presenting with hemiparesis in absence of myoclonus and progressive cognitive decline, is reported.

Novel colon targeted drug delivery system using natural polymers.

A novel colon targeted tablet formulation was developed using pectin as carrier and diltiazem HCl and indomethacin as model drugs. The tablets were coated with inulin followed by shellac and were evaluated for average weight, hardness and coat thickness. In vitro release studies for prepared tablets were carried out for 2 h in pH 1.

Influence of natural polymer coating on novel colon targeting drug delivery system.

A novel colon targeted tablet formulation was developed using natural polysaccharides such as chitosan and guar gum as carriers and diltiazem hydrochloride as model drug. The prepared blend of polymer-drug tablets were coated with two layers, inulin as an inner coat followed by shellac as outer coat and were evaluated for properties such as average weight, hardness and coat thickness. In vitro release studies of prepared tablets were carried out for 2 h in pH 1.

Gene expression analysis from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C promoter and construction of bicistronic reporter vectors.

We report the cloning and sequence analysis of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of several primary HIV-1 subtype C strains of India. Phylogenetically, all the LTRs and the paired env sequences clustered with subtype C reference strains. The LTRs demonstrated extensive polymorphism in the transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) within the enhancer and the modulator regions.

Effect of isopod parasite, Cymothoa indica on gobiid fish, Oxyurichthys microlepis from Parangipettai coastal waters (South-east coast of India).

The present study reported for the first time on the effect of isopod parasite, Cymothoa indica infestation on Oxyurichthys microlepis an ecologically important gobiid fish from Parangipettai coastal environment (South-east coast of India). The loss of weight in host fishes (male 20.47 and female 32.

Comparative evaluation of BACTEC 460TB system and Lowenstein-Jensen medium for the isolation of M. tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid samples of tuberculous meningitis patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of the radiometric BACTEC 460TB system and the conventional Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium for isolation of M. tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) patients.

Methods: CSF specimens (n=2325) from suspected TBM patients were processed for isolation of mycobacteria by inoculating BACTEC 12B medium and the LJ medium.