Clinicopathological profile and utility of prognostic tools in peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Introduction: With the availability of three prognostic scores in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL)-International Prognostic Index (IPI), International Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Project (IPTCLP), and Prognostic Index for PTCL-Unspecified (PIT), we intended to find out usefulness of each of them in prognostication of patients. Objectives were to know the clinicopathological profile and to analyze the effectiveness of these prognostic scores and their individual parameters in predicting Complete Remission (CR) rates, Progression Free Survival (PFS), and Overall Survival (OS) in PTCL. Materials and Methods: All 55 patients were treated as per institute chemotherapeutic protocols. Response assessment was done by Cheson’s criteria. At baseline, patients were risk stratified with the three scores into low, low- and high-intermediate, and high-risk groups. Outcomes − CR and survival − PFS and OS were analyzed and compared in the risk groups as stratified by the three prognostic scores. Clinical and pathological details were also analyzed. Results: For PFS estimation, IPI and IPTCLP scores proved be the best prognostic tools. For OS, IPTCLP score emerged to be the single best prognostic tool. CR correlated with Ann Arbor stage of disease and IPI score. Conclusion: PTCL NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) was the most common histological subtype. IPI score correlated the best with CR reflecting as PFS, but was not related statistically with OS in the local population. IPTCLP score has consistent correlation with prognosis more so with OS than PFS, but no relationship with CR rate

Solubilisation of inorganic phosphates by inoculant strains from tropical legumes

Microbial solubilisation of low soluble inorganic phosphates is an important process contributing for the phosphorus available to plants in tropical soils. This study evaluates the ability of inoculant strains for tropical legumes to solubilise inorganic phosphates of low solubility that are found in tropical soils. Seven strains of Leguminosae nodulating bacteria (LNB) were compared with one another and with a non-nodulating positive control, Burkholderia cepacia (LMG 1222T). Four of the strains are used as inoculants for cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) (Bradyrhizobium sp. UFLA 03-84; Bradyrhizobium elkani INPA 03-11B and Bradyrhizobium japonicum BR3267) or for common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) (Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899T). Rhizobium etli UFLA 02-100 and Rhizobium leguminosarum 316C10a are also efficient nodulators of beans and Cupriavidus taiwanensis LMG 19424T nodulates on Mimosa pudica. Two experiments, with solid and liquid media, were performed to determine whether the strains were able to solubilise CaHPO4, Al(H2PO4)3 or FePO4.2H2O. On solid GELP medium none of the strains dissolved FePO4.2H2O, but LMG 1222, UFLA 03-84 and CIAT 899 solubilised CaHPO4 particularly well. These strains, along with LMG 19424 and BR 3267, were also able to increase the solubility of Al(H2PO4)3. In liquid GELP medium, LMG 1222 solubilised all phosphate sources, but no legume nodulating strain could increase the solubility of Al(H2PO4)3. The strains CIAT 899 and UFLA 02-100 were the only legume nodulating bacteria able to solubilise the other phosphate sources in liquid media, dissolving both CaHPO4 and FePO4.2H2O. There was a negative correlation between the pH of the culture medium and the concentration of soluble phosphate when the phosphorus source was CaHPO4 or FePO4.2H2O. The contribution of these strains to increasing the phosphorus nutrition of legumes and non-legume plant species should be investigated further by in vivo experiments