Multiple intracerebral lesions in a young male

Background: As the incidence of HIV infection has increased its neurological complications are being encountered in our clinical practice. Toxoplasmosis is a common cerebral opportunistic infection seen in HIV-infected patients, even though the incidence has declined with the use of antiretroviral therapy. Establishing a definitive diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis is difficult in resource limited settings.Clinical case: A 20 year old gentleman was referred to our institute as a case of stroke. Magnetic  resonance imaging (MRI) of his brain showed multiple ill-defined and nodular enhancing lesions in bilateral supratentorial and infratentorial neuroparenchyma. Test for HIV-1 was reactive. Toxoplasma serology revealed raised IgG antibody levels. Based on the MRI features and positive toxoplasma serology a diagnosis of cerebral  toxoplasmosis was made. He was treated with trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole and pyrimethamine/ Sulfadoxine for 3 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, repeat MRI of brain was done which showed significant resolution of the lesions.Conclusion: We are presenting this case to highlight the fact that cerebral toxoplasmosis should be  considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple neuroparenchymal lesions in young individuals who present with neurological deficits.Keywords: Cerebral toxoplasmosis; HIV/AIDS; Tuberculoma; Neurocysticercosi

A simple and greener approach for the synthesis of PVC supported Pd (0): Application to Heck and Sonogashira reactions in water

Preparation of PVC-supported Pd nanoparticles through the reduction of PdCl2 by a non-toxic and eco-friendly route, employing sodium formate and NaOH in ethanol-water system has been described. The prepared PVC supported Pd nanoparticles were employed as catalyst in the cross coupling reactions, that is, Heck and Sonogashira reactions in water medium to afford the respective products in good to excellent yields. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A facile route for the synthesis of novel S-linked 1,3,5-triazine tethered peptidomimetics

An efficient one-pot synthesis of Nα-protected S-linked 1,3,5-triazine tethered peptidomimetics is described. The protocol involves a three-component condensation reaction employing Nα-protected amino alkyl isothiouronium salt, formaldehyde and amino acid ester or aryl amine as reactants. Various aryl amines with substitutions and amino acids with simple as well as bifunctional side chains were employed to obtain triazine tethered peptidomimetics in good yield. © 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd

“ Thioureidopeptide”: Novel Synthon for the Synthesis of N, N′, N″-Trisubstituted Guanidinopeptide Mimics

The synthesis of N α-protected N,N′,N″-trisubstituted guanidinopeptide mimic molecules suitably decorated in peptide backbone has been delineated in one pot employing HgCl2 as a desulphurizing agent. Chiral N α -protected thioureidopeptide esters were employed as synthons for the synthesis of title molecules. The protocol is simple and the reaction conditions employed were mild, amenable to the amino acid chemistry

Comparison of phenotypes produced in response to transient expression of genes encoded by four distinct begomoviruses in Nicotiana benthamiana and their correlation with the levels of developmental miRNAs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses (begomoviruses) are a major limiting factor for the production of numerous dicotyledonous crops throughout the world. Begomoviruses differ in the number of components that make up their genomes and association with satellites, and yet they cause strikingly similar phenotypes, such as leaf curling, chlorosis and stunted plant growth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate plant growth and development. The study described here was aimed at investigating the effects of each virus encoded gene on the levels of developmental miRNAs to identify common trends between distinct begomoviruses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All genes encoded by four distinct begomoviruses (<it>African cassava mosaic virus </it>[ACMV], <it>Cabbage leaf curl virus </it>[CbLCuV], <it>Tomato yellow leaf curl virus </it>[TYLCV] and <it>Cotton leaf curl virus</it>/Cotton leaf curl betasatellite [CLCuV/CLCuMB]) were expressed from a <it>Potato virus X </it>(PVX) vector in <it>Nicotiana benthamiana</it>. Changes in the levels of ten miRNAs in response to the virus genes were determined by northern blotting using specific miRNA probes. For the monopartite begomoviruses (TYLCV and CLCuMV) the V2 gene product was identified as the major symptom determinant while for bipartite begomoviruses (ACMV and CbLCuV) more than one gene appears to contribute to symptoms and this is reflected in changes in miRNA levels. The phenotype induced by expression of the βC1 gene of the betasatellite CLCuMB was the most distinct and consisted of leaf curling, vein swelling, thick green veins and enations and the pattern of changes in miRNA levels was the most distinct.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results have identified symptom determinants encoded by begomoviruses and show that developmental abnormalities caused by transient expression of begomovirus genes correlates with altered levels of developmental miRNAs. Additionally, all begomovirus genes were shown to modulate miRNA levels, the first time this has been shown to be the case.</p

Distinct evolutionary histories of the DNA-A and DNA-B components of bipartite begomoviruses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Viruses of the genus <it>Begomovirus </it>(family <it>Geminiviridae</it>) have genomes consisting of either one or two genomic components. The component of bipartite begomoviruses known as DNA-A is homologous to the genomes of all geminiviruses and encodes proteins required for replication, control of gene expression, overcoming host defenses, encapsidation and insect transmission. The second component, referred to as DNA-B, encodes two proteins with functions in intra- and intercellular movement in host plants. The origin of the DNA-B component remains unclear. The study described here was initiated to investigate the relationship between the DNA-A and DNA-B components of bipartite begomoviruses with a view to unraveling their evolutionary histories and providing information on the possible origin of the DNA-B component.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparative phylogenetic and exhaustive pairwise sequence comparison of all DNA-A and DNA-B components of begomoviruses demonstrates that the two molecules have very distinct molecular evolutionary histories and likely are under very different evolutionary pressures. The analysis highlights that component exchange has played a far greater role in diversification of begomoviruses than previously suspected, although there are distinct differences in the apparent ability of different groups of viruses to utilize this "sexual" mechanism of genetic exchange. Additionally we explore the hypothesis that DNA-B originated as a satellite that was captured by the monopartite progenitor of all extant bipartite begomoviruses and subsequently evolved to become the integral (essential) genome component that we recognize today. The situation with present-day satellites associated with begomoviruses provides some clues to the processes and selection pressures that may have led to the "domestication" of a wild progenitor of the DNA-B component.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The analysis has highlighted the greater genetic variation of DNA-B components, in comparison to the DNA-A components, and that component exchange is more widespread than previously demonstrated and confined to viruses from the Old World. Although the vast majority of New World and some Old World begomoviruses show near perfect co-evolution of the DNA-A and DNA-B components, this is not the case for the majority of Old World viruses. Genetic differences between Old and New World begomoviruses and the cultivation of exotic crops in the Old World are likely factors that have led to this dichotomy.</p

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019:a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings There were 1.19 million (95% UI 1.11-1.28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59.6 [54.5-65.7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53.2 [48.8-57.9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14.2 [12.9-15.6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13.6 [12.6-14.8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23.5 million (21.9-25.2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2.7% (1.9-3.6) came from YLDs and 97.3% (96.4-98.1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd