Imunosno posredovana genska ekspresija IL-6 i TGF-β1 za vrijeme progresije i regresije zaraznog veneričnog tumora u pasa

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a unique, naturally and experimentally transmitted contagious venereal tumor of dogs which is commonly present in stray dogs exhibiting unrestrained sexual activity. The mutated and contagious tumor cell is the causative agent. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic expression of TGF-β1 and IL-6 cytokines, T-cell response towards Concanavalin A and hematological and biochemical changes during the progression and regression of the CTVT. The signalment and clinical history of 12 client-owned TVT affected dogs were recorded. Tissue samples were obtained through biopsy, and blood samples were collected for diagnostic confirmation using reverse transcriptase PCR. The RT-PCR products from CTVT samples were further purified and sequenced. Regression of the tumor was performed using intravenous injections of vincristine sulphate at weekly intervals. Significant genetic expression of TGF-β1 was observed in the progressive phase of CTVT, whereas genetic expression of IL-6 was significant in the regressive phase of CTVT after chemotherapy. Cell- mediated immunity also plays an important role in the regression of canine transmissible venereal tumors. Notably, a significant (P0.05) changes in the number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils, and slight hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia were observed after chemotherapy with vincristine sulphate in CTVT affected animals. Overall, our results delineate the critical roles of T cells, TGF-β1 and IL-6 in triggering the progression and regression of CTVT, which can be promising in developing potential immunotherapy against CTVT.Zarazni venerični tumor u pasa (CTVT) jedinstven je, prirodno i eksperimentalno prenosiv kontagiozni venerični tumor, koji se obično nalazi u pasa lutalica s nekontroliranom seksualnom aktivnošću. Uzrokuje ga mutirana i kontagiozna tumorska stanica. Ovo je istraživanje provedeno kako bi se procijenila genska ekspresija citokina TGF-β1 i IL-6, odgovor T-stanica na konkanavalin A te hematološke i biokemijske promjene za vrijeme progresije i regresije CTVT-a. Zabilježeni su klinički znakovi i povijest bolesti 12 pasa sa zaraznim veneričnim tumorom. Uzorci tkiva dobiveni su biopsijom i krvnim uzorcima prikupljenima za dijagnostičku potvrdu upotrebom PCR reverzne transkriptaze. RT-PCR produkti CTVT uzoraka zatim su pročišćeni i sekvencirani. Tumorska je regresija postignuta tjednim intravenskim injekcijama vinkristin-sulfata. Znakovita genska ekspresija TGF-β1 uočena je u fazi progresije CTVT-a, dok je genska ekspresija IL-6 bila znakovita u fazi regresije CTVT-a nakon kemoterapije. Stanično posredovana imunost također je važna u regresiji zaraznog veneričnog tumora. Opažen je znakovit porast (P 0,05) broja neutrofila, limfocita, monocita i eozinofila te blaga hipoproteinemija i hipoalbuminemija poslije kemoterapije vinkristin-sulfatom u životinja s CTVT-om. Sveukupno rezultati naznačuju ključnu ulogu T-stanica, TGF-β1 i IL-6 u poticanju regresije i progresije CTVT-a, što može biti obećavajuće u razvoju potencijalne imunoterapije za CTVT

Estimation of leakage power and delay in CMOS circuits using parametric variation

SummaryWith the advent of deep-submicron technologies, leakage power dissipation is a major concern for scaling down portable devices that have burst-mode type integrated circuits. In this paper leakage reduction technique HTLCT (High Threshold Leakage Control Transistor) is discussed. Using high threshold transistors at the place of low threshold leakage control transistors, result in more leakage power reduction as compared to LCT (leakage control transistor) technique but at the scarifies of area and delay. Further, analysis of effect of parametric variation on leakage current and propagation delay in CMOS circuits is performed. It is found that the leakage power dissipation increases with increasing temperature, supply voltage and aspect ratio. However, opposite pattern is noticed for the propagation delay. Leakage power dissipation for LCT NAND gate increases up to 14.32%, 6.43% and 36.21% and delay decreases by 22.5%, 42% and 9% for variation of temperature, supply voltage and aspect ratio. Maximum peak of equivalent output noise is obtained as 127.531nV/Sqrt(Hz) at 400mHz

A comparison of toxicity profile of gemcitabine monotherapy versus etoposide/cisplatin in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally in which about 40% patients reporting in advanced stage disease. Both platinum and non platinumcombinations have been shown to be equally efficacious as initial first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however because of the toxicity of cisplatin, combination treatment can only be administered to a minority of patients in good general health. Gemcitabine could be combined with one of the other new agents to create novel non-platinum-doublet combinations with efficacy and/or toxicity profile superior to that of standard platinum based combinations. Hence, this study was conducted to compare the toxicity profiles of gemcitabine monotherapy and the cisplatin/etoposide combination therapy.Methods: This was a randomized prospective study, which included 96 patients selected on the basis of histologically or cytologically confirmed Stage III B or IV of NSCLC. Study was divided into two arms-Arm A received gemcitabine monotherapy in a dose of 1000 mg/m2 on day 1 and 5 of the cycle andrepeated after every 3 weeks while Arm B received cisplatin (25 mg/m2 on day 1, 2 and 3) + etoposide (100 mg/m2). Patient were evaluated for adverse events by following World Health Organization grading of toxicity.Results: Out of the 96 patients enrolled in the study, 74 (77.0%) patients were eligible and were analyzed. Of these, 36 (37.5%) patients belonged to Arm A and 38 (39.5%) to Arm B. Transient vomiting (45.8% vs. 37.5%), leukopenia (33.3% vs. 8.3%) were seen more in Arm A, while thrombocytopenia (33.3% vs. 12.5%), patchy hair loss (68.4% vs. 16.6%) was seen more in Arm B. Nephrotoxicity was seen almost similarly in both the groups.Conclusions: Single-agent gemcitabine appears to have a safer toxicity profile than the combination cisplatin-etoposide in the first-line chemotherapy of advanced NSCLC. With less toxic anticancer drugs like gemcitabine, the physician now has greater choice in choosing treatment, which can have better effect on the patients concerned

Evaluating substance use in an urbanizing town of mid hills of Northern India

Background: Substance use is emerging as a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. Solan, a fast urbanizing town of India has witnessed mushrooming of industries and educational institutes. A surge in the persons booked under the Narcotic Drug and Psychoactive Substance Act 1985 led us to look into the determinants of the substance use in this region.Methods: We undertook a cross sectional study of one year secondary data analysis of 750 substance users screened at the de-addiction centre of Solan Hospital. The data mining was done by the cluster analysis technique. SPSS 16 and STATA 13 software were employed.Results: Mean age of users was 31 years with dominance of males (89.20 %), two third of total users were married, 75% were unemployed, 42% had upper school level education. About 60 and 38% were using cannabis and chitta (a synthetic opioid) respectively. Only 2% were consuming tobacco and alcohol. 62% of substance users had the fear of legal action and 44% had no family history of substance use. 39% had only single parent, 54% had started substance use under peer pressure and duration of use varied between 6 to 24 months.  Alcohol and cannabis were used more in urban and rural areas respectively. 63 and 70% had family history and experience of peer pressure respectively.Conclusions: Cluster analysis has generated substance specific socio-demographic determinants of substance use which would help in planning appropriate substance use alleviation strategies.

Study of prescribing pattern of drugs used in the treatment of bronchial asthma at tertiary care hospital of northern India

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease requiring long term treatment. For an effective control of asthma symptoms background knowledge of the prescribing pattern of anti-asthmatic drugs is a must.Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine OPD, King George's Medical University, Lucknow. 114 patients of asthma were recruited for the study. A case report form was filled from patient’s prescription containing the demographic details of the patients, presenting complaints, investigations and drugs prescribed along with their dose, duration, frequency, route of administration.Results: 114 patients’ prescriptions were assessed which showed average number of drugs per prescription - 3.22. 42.8% and 50% of the drugs were prescribed in accordance with World Health Organization model list of essential medicines and National list of essential medicines. Short acting β2 agonist (salbutamol), 61.4% was the most commonly and frequently prescribed single anti asthmatic drug. Combination of inhaled corticosteroid and long acting β2 agonist, 86.8% was the most commonly prescribed fixed dose combination anti asthmatic drug. Inhalational route (75%) was the most preferred one over oral route (25%).Conclusions: Asthma being a chronic disease requires prolonged treatment which imposes economic burden on the patients. Judicious prescription of drugs not only improves the patient clinically but also removes the unnecessary burden. Data obtained from these studies can be used as a guide to make future decisions regarding standard prescription

Non-linear Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Interaction in Response to Lower-Body Negative Pressure

Early detection of hemorrhage remains an open problem. In this regard, blood pressure has been an ineffective measure of blood loss due to numerous compensatory mechanisms sustaining arterial blood pressure homeostasis. Here, we investigate the feasibility of causality detection in the heart rate and blood pressure interaction, a closed-loop control system, for early detection of hemorrhage. The hemorrhage was simulated via graded lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) from 0 to -40 mmHg. The research hypothesis was that a significant elevation of causal control in the direction of blood pressure to heart rate (i.e., baroreflex response) is an early indicator of central hypovolemia. Five minutes of continuous blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were acquired simultaneously from young, healthy participants (27 ± 1 years, N = 27) during each LBNP stage, from which heart rate (represented by RR interval), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were derived. The heart rate and blood pressure causal interaction (RR SBP and RR MAP) was studied during the last 3 min of each LBNP stage. At supine rest, the non-baroreflex arm (RR SBP and RR MAP) showed a significantly (p \u3c 0.001) higher causal drive toward blood pressure regulation compared to the baroreflex arm (SBP RR and MAP RR). In response to moderate category hemorrhage (-30 mmHg LBNP), no change was observed in the traditional marker of blood loss i.e., pulse pressure (p = 0.10) along with the RR SBP (p = 0.76), RR MAP (p = 0.60), and SBP RR (p = 0.07) causality compared to the resting stage. Contrarily, a significant elevation in the MAP RR (p = 0.004) causality was observed. In accordance with our hypothesis, the outcomes of the research underscored the potential of compensatory baroreflex arm (MAP RR) of the heart rate and blood pressure interaction toward differentiating a simulated moderate category hemorrhage from the resting stage. Therefore, monitoring baroreflex causality can have a clinical utility in making triage decisions to impede hemorrhage progression

Patterns of migration/mobility and HIV risk among female sex workers: Andhra Pradesh 2007-08

This report presents the findings from the female sex workers study in Andhra Pradesh, India implemented by TNS India Private Limited and the Population Council in New Delhi. Specifically the study was undertaken to assess the volume and patterns of mobility of female sex workers; to describe the characteristics of mobile female sex workers; and too examine the determinants of HIV risk among female sex workers, with particular emphasis on mobility-related characteristics. The report concludes that targeting such highly mobile female sex workers in intervention programs requires a comprehensive understanding of their places of solicitation and sex. Female sex workers who move frequently to different places and who visit other areas for a short time are at greater risk of HIV, and special efforts are needed in HIV-prevention programs to address the needs of such workers

An observational study to analyze predisposing factors, causality, severity and preventability of adverse drug reactions among multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients treated under RNTCP program in Northern India

Background: There were 4.1% of all new cases and 19% of previously treated patients were diagnosed with either multidrug resistant or rifampicin resistant tuberculosis in 2016. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, there were 2.16 new cases and 44,531 previously treated cases. The objectives of the study were to assess the predisposing factors, causality assessment, severity grading and avoidability of the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of the antitubercular drugs in MDR-TB patients in a tertiary care hospital of northern India.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted for 12 months at a tertiary care hospital. The patients with MDR tuberculosis on treatment with DOTS Plus regimen under RNTCP and who met the inclusion exclusion criteria were recruited after informed consent. ADRs were monitored daily till the patients remained admitted and thereafter monthly. Predisposing factors were recorded. Causality assessment was performed by Naranjo scale and WHO UMC scale, severity by Hartwig’s scale and avoidability by Halla’s scale.Results: There were 115 patients were recruited, 70 developed at least one ADR. 98 ADRs were reported. The commonest ADR reported were – gastrointestinal (38.76%), neurological (21.24%) and hepatobiliary (8.16%). Diabetes and HIV predisposed to development of ADRs. 58.18% ADRs were classified as possible and 37.5% as probable by Naranjo’s scale. 51.02% ADRs were classified as probable and 42.83% as possible by WHO-UMC. 56% were classified as mild, 36% moderate, and 6% severe via Hartwig’s scale. 51 ADRs were classified as avoidable and 40 ADRs were possibly avoidable.Conclusions: Monitoring and assessment of ADRs is necessary to promote awareness, curb resistance and maintain adherence

An observational study to find out incidence and pattern of adverse drug reactions among multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients treated under revised national TB control program of India

Background: Between 2006 and 2015, the prevalence of MDR-TB has been found to be as high as 39.9% in some states. Approximately 35.8% of all previously treated patients developed MDR-TB. The objective of the present study was to identify demographic and health characteristics of patients as well as incidence and pattern of the adverse drug reactions caused by antitubercular drugs in MDR-TB patients in a tertiary care hospital of northern India.Methods: This 12 months study of observational study was conducted at a DOTS centre. MDR-TB diagnosed patients treated with DOTS Plus regimen were enrolled after getting informed consent. Patient information was recorded. Patient follow-up was conducted to identify the incidence and pattern of ADRs.Results: A total of 115 patients were enrolled. Maximum number of cases were in the 31-40 age group (25.21%) followed by the 41-50 age group (20.86%). 76 (66.08%) were males and 39 (33.91%) were females. 52 patients (45.21%) had concomitant diseases, out of which 15 (13.04%) were HIV positive and 21 (18.26%) were diabetic. 70 patients (60.86%) developed ADRs. The adverse drug reaction that were seen are -38 (38.76%) cases of gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions, 8 (8.16%) jaundice/hepatitis, 7 (7.14%) impaired hearing/vertigo, 21 (21.24%) central nervous system adverse drug reaction, 6 (6.12%) peripheral neuropathy, 6 (6.12%) rash and itching, 5 (5.10%) arthralgia, 3 (3.06%) renal impairment, 2 (2.04%) hypothyroidism and 2 (2.04%) blurred vision.Conclusions: Determining which population groups are affected most by ADRs can help physicians to better monitor and make an early diagnosis to reduce ADR-related morbidity and mortality