To study the association of Doppler derived indices of uterine artery resistance with composite of PIH/PET

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are among the main public health issues worldwide. They account for an estimated 10-15% of maternal deaths globally. Among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia is most dangerous, occurring in 10% of first pregnancies, and in 20-25% of women with past history of hypertension. The objective of present study is to investigate the association of Doppler derived Indices of uterine artery resistance with composite of PIH/PET.Methods: A prospective follow up observational study, including pregnant women at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation in whom Uterine Artery Resistance measured using Doppler ultrasound.Results: A total of 100 subjects were enrolled, out of which 11 developed pre-eclampsia/ gestational hypertension. All Doppler indices (Resistance Index, Pulsatility Index and Systolic/Diastolic Index) had high specificities and negative predictive values.Conclusions: The potential advantages of early screening of hypertensive disorders and their associated complications may allow investigations or prophylactic interventions before 20 weeks of gestation

FMDV replicons encoding green fluorescent protein are replication competent

The study of replication of viruses that require high bio-secure facilities can be accomplished with less stringent containment using non-infectious 'replicon' systems. The FMDV replicon system (pT7rep) reported by Mclnerney et al. (2000) was modified by the replacement of sequences encoding chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) with those encoding a functional L proteinase (Lpro) linked to a bi-functional fluorescent/antibiotic resistance fusion protein (green fluorescent protein/puromycin resistance, [GFP-PAC]). Cells were transfected with replicon-derived transcript RNA and GFP fluorescence quantified. Replication of transcript RNAs was readily detected by fluorescence, whilst the signal from replication-incompetent forms of the genome was >2-fold lower. Surprisingly, a form of the replicon lacking the Lpro showed a significantly stronger fluorescence signal, but appeared with slightly delayed kinetics. Replication can, therefore, be quantified simply by live-cell imaging and image analyses, providing a rapid and facile alternative to RT-qPCR or CAT assays

Codon pair bias and viral vaccine design

The authors acknowledge the long term support of the Wellcome Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) have prevented morbidity and mortality against a number of important viral diseases (such as smallpox and polio) via long-lived humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Unlike inactivated, subunit or recombinant protein vaccines which require multiple inoculations this cost-effective approach requires only one or two doses to generate a robust immune response. Furthermore, live vaccines are able to elicit both mucosal and systemic protective responses. Unfortunately, conventional LAVs have two major drawbacks. Firstly, attenuation of the pathogenic phenotype by either random gene mutation or by passage in unnatural conditions depends on chance and cannot be universally applied to a variety of virus types. Secondly, since viruses are generally attenuated on the basis of only a few mutations the risk of reversion to virulence remains a key aspect of developing attenuated virus vaccines.PostprintPeer reviewe

Study of effects of mifepristone on full-term pregnancies

The induction of labour is required for various indications in obstetrics. Various regimens and drugs are advocated for use in labour induction. Mifepristone is one such drug which has a definite role in first and second-trimester pregnancy terminations. However, its role in the third-trimester is still being reviewed. In the present study, the effect of mifepristone on cervical ripening was assessed and results interpreted.Impact statement What is already known on the subject? The role of mifepristone in termination of pregnancies at term is controversial. Some studies report onset of labour after giving mifepristone whereas others do not report any significant role. What do the results of the study add? Mifepristone has a role in improving Bishop score and can be used as a pre-induction cervical ripening agent before using other methods for labour induction. It does not report any adverse effects on the mother or foetus. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Mifepristone needs to be studied more in term pregnancies as induction of labour is increasingly required in today’s scenario for various reasons. However, its role in improving the Bishop score as found in this study helps in decreasing dose of other labour inducing agents

Codon pair bias and viral vaccine design

Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) have prevented morbidity and mortality against a number of important viral diseases (such as smallpox and polio) via long-lived humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Unlike inactivated, subunit or recombinant protein vaccines which require multiple inoculations this cost-effective approach requires only one or two doses to generate a robust immune response. Furthermore, live vaccines are able to elicit both mucosal and systemic protective responses. Unfortunately, conventional LAVs have two major drawbacks. Firstly, attenuation of the pathogenic phenotype by either random gene mutation or by passage in unnatural conditions depends on chance and cannot be universally applied to a variety of virus types. Secondly, since viruses are generally attenuated on the basis of only a few mutations the risk of reversion to virulence remains a key aspect of developing attenuated virus vaccines

Codon pair bias and viral vaccine design

Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) have prevented morbidity and mortality against a number of important viral diseases (such as smallpox and polio) via long-lived humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Unlike inactivated, subunit or recombinant protein vaccines which require multiple inoculations this cost-effective approach requires only one or two doses to generate a robust immune response. Furthermore, live vaccines are able to elicit both mucosal and systemic protective responses. Unfortunately, conventional LAVs have two major drawbacks. Firstly, attenuation of the pathogenic phenotype by either random gene mutation or by passage in unnatural conditions depends on chance and cannot be universally applied to a variety of virus types. Secondly, since viruses are generally attenuated on the basis of only a few mutations the risk of reversion to virulence remains a key aspect of developing attenuated virus vaccines