Internal dosimetry and biodistribution of indigenously prepared 177Lu-DOTA-rituximab in lymphoma and other hematological malignancies treated with rituximab.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biodistribution and dosimetry of lutetium-177-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (177Lu-DOTA)-rituximab in CD20+ non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other hematological malignancies treated with rituximab.

Methods: The standard dosimetry protocol was used, with cold rituximab infusion, then a diagnostic activity of 177Lu-DOTA-rituximab. Planar images were acquired at multiple time points.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism in healthy volunteers and its correlation with homocysteine levels in patients with thrombosis.

Objective: To determine prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutations in apparently healthy individuals residing in Mumbai and patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) and to correlate these polymorphisms with homocysteine (Hcy) levels.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study was initiated after receiving ethical approval and following the participant's written consent. One hundred and twenty unmatched healthy volunteers and 240 patients with arterial and venous thrombosis were enrolled.

An uncommon manifestation of a common disease.

Neurocysticercosis is the common parasitic disease of the central nervous system. One of the uncommon manifestations and a rare complication is its disseminated form. Human cysticercosis is caused by the spreading of the embryo of Taenia solium in the intestine via the hepatoportal system to different tissues and internal organs of the body.

Warfarin therapy--why one dose does not fit all!

We report an Indian adult female patient with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), in whom it was difficult to achieve and maintain target INR on warfarin (oral anticoagulant) by conventional doses. Pharmacogenomics study for warfarin revealed that she had Homozygous mutant for CYP2C9 *3(CYP2C9 *3/*3) and Heterozygous mutant for VKORC 1(1639G >A) {genetic polymorphism double defect}. This conferred a greater sensitivity to her warfarin therapy in an otherwise conventional dose regime used in most patients, making her management challenging.

Refractory anaemia in an immunocompromised patient--what is it?

Anaemia is common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. It may be directly attributable to the virus or may be caused by opportunistic infections, neoplasms or drugs that cause either bone marrow suppression or haemolysis. Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is an uncommon haematological disorder that causes severe transfusion dependant anaemia.

Influence of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene polymorphisms on warfarin dosage, over anticoagulation and other adverse outcomes in Indian population.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of SNPs in the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) and cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genes and their effect on warfarin dose requirement, over anticoagulation and other adverse outcomes in Indian population. A total of 145 warfarin treated patients for various clinical conditions were screened for VKORC1 and CYP2C9 gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. We found that homozygous VKORC1-1639 AA and CYP2C9 (*)3/(*)3 polymorphisms showed 100% association with risk of over anticoagulation and other adverse events.

Separation of young and mature thrombocytes by a novel immuno-selection method.

Our earlier studies on the structural and functional properties of zebrafish thrombocytes have shown that they have many similarities to mammalian platelets. We have also shown that zebrafish have both young and mature thrombocytes as do mammalian platelets. In addition, we have distinguished young thrombocytes from mature thrombocytes microscopically using lipophilic DiI-C18, and have shown that young thrombocytes have higher GPIIb receptor levels.

Pheochromocytoma presenting as hypertension in pregnancy.

Pheochromocytoma is a curable, rare cause of hypertension, characterized by symptoms and signs related to increased catecholamine secretion. Pregnancy and labour increase the risk of hypertensive crisis. However, antepartum diagnosis reduces both maternal and foetal mortality, allowing for safe cesarean section and resection of tumor.

Zebrafish von Willebrand factor.

von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a large protein involved in primary hemostasis. A dysfunction in this protein or an insufficient production of the protein leads to improper platelet adhesion/aggregation, resulting in a bleeding phenotype known as von Willebrand disease (vWD). To gain a better understanding of vWF interactions in vivo, the use of zebrafish as a model is ideal because of the transparency of the embryos and larvae.

Vivo-Morpholino knockdown of alphaIIb: A novel approach to inhibit thrombocyte function in adult zebrafish.

Knockdown of protein function by antisense oligonucleotides has been used to understand the protein function not only in development but also in human diseases. Recently, Vivo-Morpholinos, chemically modified morpholinos which penetrate the cells, have been used in adult experimental animal models to alter the splicing and thereby change the protein expression. Until now, there have been no such studies using Vivo-Morpholinos to evaluate hemostatic function in adult animals.

Evolution of primary hemostasis in early vertebrates.

Hemostasis is a defense mechanism which protects the organism in the event of injury to stop bleeding. Recently, we established that all the known major mammalian hemostatic factors are conserved in early vertebrates. However, since their highly vascularized gills experience high blood pressure and are exposed to the environment, even very small injuries could be fatal to fish.