Colorectal cancer in pregnancy mimicking tuberculosis

Colorectal cancer in pregnancy is extremely rare and presentation may mimic symptoms of pregnancy or abdominal tuberculosis delaying diagnosis. We hereby report a case presenting to us in late pregnancy misdiagnosed as a case of abdominal tuberculosis

Antioxidant and spermatozoa: a complex story- A review

The artificial insemination is a common practice in domestic animals, but the use of frozen semen compromises the fertility of goat spermatozoa based on pregnancy rates from AI. This could be due to a poor resistance of goat spermatozoa to cryopreservation stresses compared to sperm from other domesticated mammals. Lipid peroxidation caused by reactive oxygen species limits the success in this species. Reports revealed that inclusion of antioxidants in cryopreservation media improved quality of semen against LPO. Moreover, inclusion of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants (vitamin C, glutathione reduced etc) in diluents at appropriate concentration can help in holding the semen at refrigeration temperature for many days

Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI): Proposed Terminology and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Idiopathic Male Infertility

Despite advances in the field of male reproductive health, idiopathic male infertility, in which a man has altered semen characteristics without an identifiable cause and there is no female factor infertility, remains a challenging condition to diagnose and manage. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) plays an independent role in the etiology of male infertility, with 30% to 80% of infertile men having elevated seminal reactive oxygen species levels. OS can negatively affect fertility via a number of pathways, including interference with capacitation and possible damage to sperm membrane and DNA, which may impair the sperm’s potential to fertilize an egg and develop into a healthy embryo. Adequate evaluation of male reproductive potential should therefore include an assessment of sperm OS. We propose the term Male Oxidative Stress Infertility, or MOSI, as a novel descriptor for infertile men with abnormal semen characteristics and OS, including many patients who were previously classified as having idiopathic male infertility. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) can be a useful clinical biomarker for the classification of MOSI, as it takes into account the levels of both oxidants and reductants (antioxidants). Current treatment protocols for OS, including the use of antioxidants, are not evidence-based and have the potential for complications and increased healthcare-related expenditures. Utilizing an easy, reproducible, and cost-effective test to measure ORP may provide a more targeted, reliable approach for administering antioxidant therapy while minimizing the risk of antioxidant overdose. With the increasing awareness and understanding of MOSI as a distinct male infertility diagnosis, future research endeavors can facilitate the development of evidence-based treatments that target its underlying cause

Shifting the limits in wheat research and breeding using a fully annotated reference genome

Introduction: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely cultivated crop on Earth, contributing about a fifth of the total calories consumed by humans. Consequently, wheat yields and production affect the global economy, and failed harvests can lead to social unrest. Breeders continuously strive to develop improved varieties by fine-tuning genetically complex yield and end-use quality parameters while maintaining stable yields and adapting the crop to regionally specific biotic and abiotic stresses. Rationale: Breeding efforts are limited by insufficient knowledge and understanding of wheat biology and the molecular basis of central agronomic traits. To meet the demands of human population growth, there is an urgent need for wheat research and breeding to accelerate genetic gain as well as to increase and protect wheat yield and quality traits. In other plant and animal species, access to a fully annotated and ordered genome sequence, including regulatory sequences and genome-diversity information, has promoted the development of systematic and more time-efficient approaches for the selection and understanding of important traits. Wheat has lagged behind, primarily owing to the challenges of assembling a genome that is more than five times as large as the human genome, polyploid, and complex, containing more than 85% repetitive DNA. To provide a foundation for improvement through molecular breeding, in 2005, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium set out to deliver a high-quality annotated reference genome sequence of bread wheat. Results: An annotated reference sequence representing the hexaploid bread wheat genome in the form of 21 chromosome-like sequence assemblies has now been delivered, giving access to 107,891 high-confidence genes, including their genomic context of regulatory sequences. This assembly enabled the discovery of tissue- and developmental stage–related gene coexpression networks using a transcriptome atlas representing all stages of wheat development. The dynamics of change in complex gene families involved in environmental adaptation and end-use quality were revealed at subgenome resolution and contextualized to known agronomic single-gene or quantitative trait loci. Aspects of the future value of the annotated assembly for molecular breeding and research were exemplarily illustrated by resolving the genetic basis of a quantitative trait locus conferring resistance to abiotic stress and insect damage as well as by serving as the basis for genome editing of the flowering-time trait. Conclusion: This annotated reference sequence of wheat is a resource that can now drive disruptive innovation in wheat improvement, as this community resource establishes the foundation for accelerating wheat research and application through improved understanding of wheat biology and genomics-assisted breeding. Importantly, the bioinformatics capacity developed for model-organism genomes will facilitate a better understanding of the wheat genome as a result of the high-quality chromosome-based genome assembly. By necessity, breeders work with the genome at the whole chromosome level, as each new cross involves the modification of genome-wide gene networks that control the expression of complex traits such as yield. With the annotated and ordered reference genome sequence in place, researchers and breeders can now easily access sequence-level information to precisely define the necessary changes in the genomes for breeding programs. This will be realized through the implementation of new DNA marker platforms and targeted breeding technologies, including genome editing

Submental intubation

MacInnis and Baig modified Altemirs′ original technique for sub-mental intubation. Instead of a lateral entry, they described a central entry just anterior to the sub-mental crease that does not carry the risk of damage to the lingual nerves, submandibular ducts and sublingual glands. We describe here our experience with this modified sub-mental intubation that also allows the operating surgeon to provide for a correct midline and optimal esthetics in case of panfacial trauma

A Lurking Threat of Community-Acquired <i>Acinetobacter</i> Meningitis—A Rare Case Report from Punjab, India

Background: Acinetobacter spp. are a potential life-threatening cause of severe meningitis noted as a nosocomial infection after neurosurgical procedures in patients admitted to neurosurgical ICUs. Community-acquired Acinetobacter meningitis is extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Case presentation: In this study, we report a patient from Punjab, India, who was infected after a roadside accident in which he developed CSF otorrhea and subsequent meningitis with Acinetobacter lwoffii. The patient was managed with the cephalosporin group of antibiotics as per the sensitivity report. For the first time, we report a rare case report of community-acquired Acinetobacter meningitis from Punjab, India. Conclusions: This case report highlights the potential pathogenicity of Acinetobacter lwoffii and increases concerns that this organism might rapidly evolve into a dreadful antibiotic-resistant community pathogen

Therapeutic plasma exchange-A new dawn in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disorder that involves intraepithelial blistering and sores of skin and mucous membrane. It generally correlates with the levels of circulating autoantibodies; their removal seems a reasonable therapeutic approach. Therapeutic plasma exchange is hypothesized to remove pathogenic autoantibodies and has been used in refractory or severe cases. It may be considered for rapid control of severe or recalcitrant pemphigus vulgaris and should be combined with use of concomitant immuno-suppressive

Sero-prevalence and Changing Trends of Transfusion Transmitted Infections among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Safe blood is a critical component in improving health care and in preventing the spread of infectious disease. But the quality and safety of blood transfusion is still a concern for health-care personnel’s. We analyzed the sero-prevalence and changing trends of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) among blood donors in a tertiary care hospital. Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to analyze the percentage of voluntary and replacement blood donors and to know the sero-prevalence and changing trends of TTIs among blood donors in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Blood donations collected over a 6-year period were studied for the type of donation (voluntary or replacement), number of seroreactive cases. Samples were screened for anti HIV 1 & 2, HBsAg, anti HCV, syphilis and malaria. All reactive samples were retested before being labeled as seropositive. Results: Of the 187575 donors, 134391 (71.6%) were replacement and 53184 (28.4%) voluntary donors .Of all the blood donors there were 8577 (4.57%) seroreactive cases which included 492 (0.26%) of anti HIV 1&2 , 1937 (1.03%) of HBsAg, 2867 (1.53%) of anti HCV, 3270 (1.74%) of syphilis and 11 (0.006%) of malaria. The overall seropositivity for various TTIs are more in replacement donor i.e. (3.8%), where as it was only (0.7%) among voluntary blood donors and this was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Voluntary donations are safer as compared with replacement ones and need to be encouraged. The screening of blood donors is the corner stone in assuring the safety of blood transfusion