HLA-DR phenotypes and IgG, IgA and IgM antibody responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate and 30 kDa antigens in pulmonary tuberculosis

The role of HLA-DR genetic make-up on the IgG, IgA and IgM antibody response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate and 30 kDa antigens was studied in pulmonary tuberculosis. The study was carried out in HLA-DR typed active pulmonary tuberculosis (ATB) patients (n = 37), inactive (cured) pulmonary tuberculosis (ITB) patients (n = 79) and normal healthy subjects (NHS; n = 46). In ATB and ITB (cured) patients, IgG antibody (optical density at 490 nm for 1 : 3200 dilution) as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was the predominant one than IgA and IgM antibodies. Increased IgG antibody titre to culture filtrate (P = 0.03) and decreased titre to 30 kDa antigen were observed with HLA-DR1-positive ATB patients than non-DR1 (ATB) patients. Moreover, HLA-DR4- and HLA-DR6-positive ATB patients showed trends toward an increased IgG antibody response to 30 kDa antigen than HLA-DR4- and HLADR6- negative (ATB) patients respectively. Significantly increased IgA antibody to 30 kDa antigen was observed with HLA-DR1-positive ATB patients than non-DR1 patients (P = 0.03). The study suggests that multiple HLA-DR molecules may regulate the IgG and IgA antibody responses to various proteins of M. tuberculosis. Moreover, HLA-DR phenotypes and increased IgG and IgA antibody titres may be useful to differentiate M. tuberculosis-infected subjects from normal subjects and cured patients with the same HLA-DR phenotypes or genetic make-up

Non-local properties of a symmetric two-qubit system

Non-local properties of symmetric two-qubit states are quantified in terms of a complete set of entanglement invariants. We prove that negative values of some of the invariants are signatures of quantum entanglement. This leads us to identify sufficient conditions for non-separability in terms of entanglement invariants. Non-local properties of two-qubit states extracted from (i) Dicke state (ii) state generated by one-axis twisting Hamiltonian, and (iii) one-dimensional Ising chain with nearest neighbour interaction are analyzed in terms of the invariants characterizing them.Comment: 5 pages, no figure

On hydromagnetic flow due to a rotating disk with radiation effects

The effect of thermal radiation on the steady laminar convective hydromagnetic flow of a viscous and electrically conducting fluid due to a rotating disk of infinite extend is studied. The fluid is subjected to an external uniform magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the disk. The governing Navier–Stokes and Maxwell equations of the hydromagnetic fluid, together with the energy equation, are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using the von Karman similarity transformations. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equations are then solved numerically subject to the transformed boundary conditions by Runge–Kutta based shooting method. Comparisons with previously published works are performed and the results are found to be in excellent agreement. Numerical and graphical results for the velocity and temperature profiles as well as the skin friction and Nusselt number are presented and discussed for various parametric conditions

DETERMINATION OF ESTERASE TYPE OF POLY LACTIDE DEPOLYMERASE FROM A COMPOST THERMOPHILE

Compost samples were screened for isolation of PLA degrading thermophilic bacteria by the standard clear zone method at 50ºC and the degradation was observed on 20th day of incubation. The thermophilic isolate was identified as a Gram positive, rod shaped, non capsulated and spore forming bacterium. Based on biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis the isolate was identified as Bacillus licheniformis. The PLA depolymerase was extracted and characterized as an esterase. The present study among the inducers tributyrin and PLA showed remarkable induction in esterase type of PLA depolymerase in Bacillus licheniformis on comparison with casein and gelati

Antioxidant and Radioprotective Effects of Ocimum Flavonoids Orientin and Vicenin in Escherichia coli

Antioxidant effect of the Ocimum flavonoids, orientin and vicenin (25-500 M), was evaluatedby the kat-sod assay in Escherichia coli mutants (DSH56, superoxide dismutase-deficient andDSH19, catalase-deficient) treated with 50 mM menadione or H2O2 (1mM). Protection by orientin(200 M) and vicenin (200 M) against H2O2-induced DNA damage in DSH19 cells ( -galactosidasetest) and against radiation lethality in wild-type (DSH7) and DSH19 cells exposed to 0-150 Gygamma radiation was also studied. Menadione and H2O2 reduced the surviving fraction to 0.2and 0.4 in DSH56 and DSH19 cells, respectively. Even 25 M of either flavonoid significantlyincreased the surviving fraction, with maximum protection at 200 M. H2O2 increased the -galactosidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, which was significantly(P < 0.050–0.001) reduced by orientin and vicenin (200 M). Radiation produced a dose-dependentdecrease in the surviving fraction of both DSH7 and DSH19 cells. Pretreatment with 200 Morientin or vicenin significantly increased the survival (DRF: DSH7 = 2.2; DSH19 = 1.8). Bothcompounds were equally effective in reducing the cytotoxicity of radiation and the chemicaloxidants. The cytoprotective action of these plant flavonoids could be ascribed to their freeradical scavenging activity

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus scalp: report of a rare case

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus (garment nevus) is a kind of congenital malformation of neural crest cells with size greater than 20 cm. Malignant melanoma may develop in 2-31% of these lesions. The objective of this paper is to present a unique case of giant nevus which is rare

IBRUTINIB IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA: A CASE REPORT

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a diverse group of lymphoid neoplasms, the prevalence of which has increased over the past few decades. NHL is diverse in the manner of presentation, response to various treatment and prognosis. The current case report describes a 40-year-old man who was diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2006. The patient had disease progression during the course of 10 years from the time of diagnosis for which he received multiple lines of chemotherapy (chlorambucil/prednisolone; rituximab/cyclophosphamide/ fludarabine; bendamustine/rituximab; and ofatumumab). However, in 2016, his disease again showed signs of progression, and hence he was started on ibrutinib 140 mg 3 times daily. After treatment with ibrutinib, there were no clinical nodes and hepatosplenomegaly, and all counts also normalized. Since the commencement of this agent, no disease progression was observed for almost 16 months. However, in July 2017, again disease progression occurred, and the patient was started on with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (COP) regimen. He received one cycle of COP regimen and continued on treatment with ibrutinib, and the treatment was well tolerated. In December 2017, he expired due to the progression of the disease. Ibrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, appears to be safe and effective in providing long-term disease control even in refractory cases of NHL

Natural Drugs in DNA Repair

Natural products have been used in medicine right from the ancient civilisation. Natural products are used in many types of diseases, together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Many products are used against cancer. Many diseases are genetically derived. The drugs which have the capacity to act at genome level gains significant importance in any disease scenario. The genetic information essential for the identity and function of eukaryotic cells exist in DNA and during the lifetime of the cell DNA can be repeatedly damaged due to different factors. The stability and the fidelity of the replication process are meant to be the most remarkable features of the genetic material. The stability can be affected at any time. Compound which can enhance the DNA repair are applicable in many disease condition. Our study was focussed on the DNA repair enhancing property of a glucan from the macro fungi Ganoderma lucidum. Comet assay and chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow were used as end points of study. Glucan was found to have DNA repair enhancing property in human lymphocytes

Giant pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland

Salivary gland tumors are rare, comprising less than 3% of all neoplasia of head and neck region. Pleomorphic adenomas are the most common benign neoplasms of the parotid gland. The vast majority are 2-6cms in size, when resected. Untreated pleomorphic adenomas can enlarge in size and weigh several kilograms. There are only few cases of giant pleomorphic adenomas reported in the literature. Here we present one of such case