A giant ganglion cyst of the semimembranosus tendon: a case report

We report a rare case of a ‘giant ganglion’ with 24 × 10 × 12 cm dimensions originating from the semimembranosus tendon. The patient presented with chronic pain and a palpable mass in his left calf located between the superior aspect of the popliteal fossa and the distal third of the calf. MRI revealed the mass to be a ganglion in close relation to the semimembranosus muscle at its attachment to the tibia. The patient was operated on and had complete resolution of symptoms postoperatively. To the best of our knowledge there are no other case reports in the literature of ganglion cysts of similar size arising from the tendon of semimembranosus. A brief review of the literature is included

Spectrum of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-2 Patients in and around Belgaum, South India

Background: HIV-2 is less common worldwide as compared to HIV-1. We conducted a retrospective study regarding the presentation of HIV-2 in Belgaum area.Material and Methods: We screened suspected HIV patients using rapid and ELISA techniques. All reactive patients were differentiated in to HIV-1 & 2 by Western blot. HIV-2 infected patients were screened for opportunistic infections depending on clinical presentations.Results: Twelve patients found to be infected only with HIV-2 infection. Chronic diarrhoea and weight loss was the commonest symptom. Four patients had Cryptosporidial infection alone (33.33%), three with Isospora belli alone (25%) and one with both infections (8.33%). Three patient’s sputum samples were positive for AFB (25%) and one among them had oral and oesophageal Candidiasis (Candida albicans) (8.33%). One patient CSF sample showed capsulated yeast cells in negative stain and in culture Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated (8.33%).Conclusions: Along with HIV-1, HIV-2 is also sporadically circulating in our area. As compare to HIV-1, HIV-2 also presented with same clinical presentation and same spectrum opportunistic infections

Persistent Humoral Immune Responses in the CNS Limit Recovery of Reactivated Murine Cytomegalovirus

Background: Experimental infection of the mouse brain with murine CMV (MCMV) elicits neuroimmune responses that terminate acute infection while simultaneously preventing extensive bystander damage. Previous studies have determined that CD8 + T lymphocytes are required to restrict acute, productive MCMV infection within the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we investigated the contribution of humoral immune responses in control of MCMV brain infection. Methodology/Principal Findings: Utilizing our MCMV brain infection model, we investigated B-lymphocyte-lineage cells and assessed their role in controlling the recovery of reactivated virus from latently infected brain tissue. Brain infiltrating leukocytes were first phenotyped using markers indicative of B-lymphocytes and plasma cells. Results obtained during these studies showed a steady increase in the recruitment of B-lymphocyte-lineage cells into the brain throughout the timecourse of viral infection. Further, MCMV-specific antibody secreting cells (ASC) were detected within the infiltrating leukocyte population using an ELISPOT assay. Immunohistochemical studies of brain sections revealed co-localization of CD138 + cells with either IgG or IgM. Additional immunohistochemical staining for MCMV early antigen 1 (E1, m112–113), a reported marker of viral latency in neurons, confirmed its expression in the brain during latent infection. Finally, using B-cell deficient (Jh 2/2) mice we demonstrated that B-lymphocytes control recovery of reactivated virus from latently-infected brain tissue. A significantly higher rate of reactivated virus was recovered from the brains of Jh 2/2 mice when compared t

Childhood Brucellosis; Three Cases from North Karnataka

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease and endemic in Belgaum. It is characterized by myriad of nonspecific symptoms like fever, nocturnal sweating, backache, osteoarticular symptoms along with complications. Clinical presentation of this infection is variable as it may manifest a systemic disease. Herewith we present three cases of blood culture positive B. mellitensis in pediatric patients. Routine screening for Brucellosis by slide agglutination test can be more helpful in diagnosing PUO

Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection of Neural Stem Cells Alters Neurogenesis in the Developing Brain

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) brain infection causes serious neuro-developmental sequelae including: mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and sensorineural hearing loss. But, the mechanisms of injury and pathogenesis to the fetal brain are not completely understood. The present study addresses potential pathogenic mechanisms by which this virus injures the CNS using a neonatal mouse model that mirrors congenital brain infection. This investigation focused on, analysis of cell types infected with mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and the pattern of injury to the developing brain.We used our MCMV infection model and a multi-color flow cytometry approach to quantify the effect of viral infection on the developing brain, identifying specific target cells and the consequent effect on neurogenesis. In this study, we show that neural stem cells (NSCs) and neuronal precursor cells are the principal target cells for MCMV in the developing brain. In addition, viral infection was demonstrated to cause a loss of NSCs expressing CD133 and nestin. We also showed that infection of neonates leads to subsequent abnormal brain development as indicated by loss of CD24(hi) cells that incorporated BrdU. This neonatal brain infection was also associated with altered expression of Oct4, a multipotency marker; as well as down regulation of the neurotrophins BDNF and NT3, which are essential to regulate the birth and differentiation of neurons during normal brain development. Finally, we report decreased expression of doublecortin, a marker to identify young neurons, following viral brain infection.MCMV brain infection of newborn mice causes significant loss of NSCs, decreased proliferation of neuronal precursor cells, and marked loss of young neurons

Detection of extra-cellular enzymes of anaerobic gram-negative bacteria from clinically diseased and healthy sites

Anaerobic gram-negative bacteria (AGNB) produce enzymes that play a significant role in the development of disease. We tested 50 AGNB isolates, 25 each from clinically diseased and healthy human sites for in vitro production of caseinase, collagenase, etc. Majority of the isolates were Bacteroides fragilis and Porphyromonas gingivalis , which more commonly produced collagenase and haemolysin. Comparatively larger number of clinical AGNB produced collagenase (P = 0.004). No such difference was observed with other enzymes. Hence, collagenase is probably one of the key virulence markers of pathogenic AGNB, and the inhibitors targeting collagenases might help in the therapy of anaerobic infections

Haemagglutination and siderophore production as the urovirulence markers of uropathogenic Escherichia coli

A total of 160 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from urine of patients with clinically diagnosed urinary tract infection were included in the study and 50 faecal isolates of E. coli were studied. They were studied for virulence factors, namely mannose-resistant and mannose-sensitive haemagglutination (MRHA, MSHA) and siderophore production.Among 160 urinary isolates of E. coli , 40 (25%) showed MRHA, siderophore production was seen in 156 (97.5%). In 50 faecal isolates, two (4%) were MRHA, four (8%) MSHA and siderophore production in two (4%). The results suggest that MRHA and siderophore production positive strains can be considered as UPEC