Utility of pleural fluid-derived extracellular vesicles as a source of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens MPT51 and MPT64 for pleural TB diagnosis: a proof-of-concept study.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as a source of microbe-specific biomarkers for disease diagnosis. In the present study, we evaluated the utility of pleural fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) as a source of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb.

Research Trends of Ocular Tuberculosis: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Purpose: Ocular tuberculosis (OTB), an extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis (TB), significantly impacts vision acuity and presents challenges in diagnosis and treatment. With ongoing research efforts, new insights into its pathogenesis and treatment have emerged. This study employed bibliometric methods to investigate key research areas and emerging trends, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the field.

Retroperitoneal unicentric Castleman disease presenting with paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Castleman disease is a benign lymph node hyperplasia with two histological subtypes. In the case reported here, a young adult male presented with mucocutaneous lesions mimicking common dermatological conditions. Suspicion of an underlying systemic disease arose when the routine clinical care of the skin lesions failed to cure them.

Malignant thyroid neoplasm with ectopic Cushing's syndrome.

An adult man in his 30s with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and hypertension presented with a 33 lb weight gain, generalised swelling and classic Cushingoid features, including proximal muscle weakness, easy bruisability, wide violaceous striae and a painless, progressively enlarging right-sided neck swelling over the past month. Physical examination revealed a 4×4 cm thyroid mass, facial plethora and dorsocervical fat pads. Laboratory investigations confirmed hypercortisolism with elevated cortisol and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone(ACTH), with non-suppression on dexamethasone suppression tests.

Pattern of physical growth and pubertal changes in adolescent girls with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Aims: To study the pattern of physical growth and pubertal changes in adolescent girls with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Methods And Material: Weight, height, BMI, waist and hip circumference among 50 adolescent SLE girls (aged 8-17 years) were cross-sectionally studied using standardized techniques and instruments. Breast development stage, presence or absence of pubic and axillary hair and age of attainment of menarche were also noted.

"Small but mighty" - A radiologists' primer for ultrasound imaging of the smaller peripheral nerves.

Peripheral nerve imaging is a powerful tool in evaluating peripheral neuropathy. This review aims to provide an overview of the anatomy, clinical significance and pathologies of small peripheral nerves, typically less than 2 mm in diameter. High frequency ultrasound probes offer the best assessment of these nerves whilst permitting real-time clinical correlation, while the role of MRI is inherently limited by spatial resolution constraints and the lack of patient contact.

Primary intracranial myoepithelioma in a child.

Myoepitheliomal tumours, associated with the salivary glands and certain soft tissue sites, are unusually encountered in the central nervous system (CNS). In the brain, although the most common location is the Sella, other areas can infrequently be involved. Such intracranial lesions are exceptionally rare in children.

Clinical Significance of Aspergillus Sensitisation in Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Objective: Aspergillus sensitisation (AS) is seen in many patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, the clinical relevance of AS in CPA remains unclear. In this study, we assess the clinical significance of AS in CPA.

Incidence of Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation and Its Risk Factors in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients.

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients can lead to significant complications including post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Despite progress in managing EBV reactivation in allo-HCT recipients, data on clinical characteristics and prognostic implications of EBV viral load remain limited. Here, we aim to evaluate the prevalence, identify risk factors, and assess the clinical implications of EBV-DNA positivity in allo-HCT recipients.

Association of hTERT MNS16A polymorphism with clinical outcomes of North Indian lung cancer patients undergoing platinum-based doublet chemotherapy.

Background: Telomerase has been linked to aging and cancer. The MNS16A polymorphism in the hTERT gene plays a significant role in modulating telomerase activity and highlights the complexity of telomere-related genetics in cancer research.

Experimental Design: We genotyped 401 lung-cancer samples treated with platinum-based chemotherapy to identify the MNS16A polymorphism.

Veronaea botryosa induced cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in a renal transplant recipient- An intriguing report from India.

We describe a rare case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis by Veronaea botryosa in a renal transplant recipient from India. The patient presented with a nodule on the dorsum of right hand which resolved completely after 6 months of voriconazole therapy. The identity of the fungus was confirmed by sequencing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HTAsiaLink network members.

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on HTAsiaLink members at the organizational level and provides recommendations for mitigating similar challenges in the future.

Methods: A survey was disseminated among HTAsiaLink members to assess the COVID-19 impact in three areas: (i) inputs, (ii) process, and (iii) outputs of the Health Technology Assessment organizations' (HTAOs) research operations and HTA process in general.

Results: Survey results showed that most HTAOs hired more staff and secured similar or higher funding levels during COVID-19.

A novel dual-staining method for cost-effective visualization and differentiation of microbial biofilms.

Microbial biofilms are intricate communities that pose significant challenges in clinical and microbiological settings due to their resistance to antibiotics and immune responses. Advanced microscopy techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and fluorescence microscopy, are often employed to visualize and differentiate between these biofilms. However, these methods are not feasible in all laboratories because of their high cost and complexity.