Quantitative and qualitative assessment of DNA extracted from saliva for its use in forensic identification.

Unlabelled: Saliva has long been known for its diagnostic value in several diseases. It also has a potential to be used in forensic science.

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the quantity and quality of DNA samples extracted from saliva with those extracted from blood in order to assess the feasibility of extracting sufficient DNA from saliva for its possible use in forensic identification.

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in northern Indian women with recurrent miscarriages.

Objective: To determine association of cytokine gene polymorphism with risk for recurrent miscarriages (RM).

Design: Retrospective case-control study on northern Indian RM cases versus control subjects.

Setting: Medical facility.

MTHFR gene polymorphism and its relationship with plasma homocysteine and folate in a North Indian population.

There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of elevated homocysteine and its relation with plasma folate and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in the population of North India. This study evaluates MTHFR gene polymorphism and its relationship with plasma homocysteine and folate levels in a healthy North Indian population. The age of the 200 subjects included in this study was in the range 18-73 (mean 39.

Use of Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) in screening of subtelomeric regions in children with idiopathic mental retardation.

Objective: To detect subtelomeric copy number variations (deletions and duplications) using Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) technique in children with idiopathic mental retardation.

Methods: All children presenting to the genetics out-patient department for evaluation of mental retardation or developmental delay over a period of two years, for whom no identifiable cause could be found by clinical evaluation, karyotyping, neuroimaging and other relevant investigations.

Results: In the present study, two cases deletions and one case of duplication were detected amongst 65 cases with idiopathic mental retardation/ global developmental delay.

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and its association with p53 protein expression in the progression of gall bladder cancer.

Objective: Present study deals with LOH and MSI in FHIT gene and p53 expression in GBC, CC, XGC, and normal GB to elucidate the role of FHIT gene in gall bladder cancer.

Methods: Five microsatellite markers D3S1217, D3S1300, D3S1313, D3S1600, and D3S2757, were selected.

Results: Among GBC cases the frequency of MSI-H and LOH was 17.

Is typing for HLA class II alleles beneficial in Indian children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome?

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that analysis of HLA class II type alleles will give important information on the prognosis of NS in children. We prospectively studied 100 consecutive children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and 202 controls belonging to the same geoethnic background. Typing for HLA Class II alleles at DR and DQ locus was carried out by using SSP (sequence specific oligonucleotides based method).

Association of human leucocyte DR and DQ antigens in Crohn's disease in Asian Indians: a family study.

The pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) involves an abnormal immune response to enteric bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals. There are no family studies regarding the association of CD with human leucocyte antigens (HLA) class II. In the present study, we have studied the association of HLA class II antigens in patients with CD and their first-degree relatives.