FPM: Fine Pose Parts-Based Model with 3D CAD Models

We introduce a novel approach to the problem of localizing objects in an image and estimating their fine-pose. Given exact CAD models, and a few real training images with aligned models, we propose to leverage the geometric information from CAD models and appearance information from real images to learn a model that can accurately estimate fine pose in real images. Specifically, we propose FPM, a fine pose parts-based model, that combines geometric information in the form of shared 3D parts in deformable part based models, and appearance information in the form of objectness to achieve both fast and accurate fine pose estimation. Our method significantly outperforms current state-of-the-art algorithms in both accuracy and speed

Cancer of the uterine cervix and human papillomavirus infection

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have emerged as the principal sexually transmitted causal agents in the development of cancer of the uterine cervix in women. They also cause a variety of benign lesions, warts, intraepithelial neoplasia and anogenital, oral and pharyngeal papillomas. Presently, more than 100 HPV genotypes have been identified in humans, and about one-third of them have been sequenced. Of these, while HPV types 16 and 18 are considered to be the high-risk types, HPV 6 and 11 are the low-risk types in the development of cervical cancer. Evidence for causal role of HPV in the development of cervical neoplasia comes from the etiological and epidemiological observations together with the experimental findings of the molecular pathways elicited by HPV-transforming genes. Further evidence in favour of papillomavirus as the carcinoma virus comes from the findings of presence of HPV infections in cancers of oral, esophageal, larynx and nonmelanoma skin cancers. The oncogenic potentials of the virus have been attributed to its E6 and E7 genes. The products of these two genes stimulate cell proliferation by activating the cell-cycle-specific proteins and interfere with the functions of cellular growth-regulatory proteins, p53 and Rb. Identification and characterization of several human pathogenic HPV types warrant prevention of viral infection through vaccination or therapeutic intervention which could eventually control infection and expression of human pathogenic papillomaviruses

A simple 'paper smear' method for dry collection, transport and storage of cervical cytological specimens for rapid screening of HPV infection by PCR

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are major pathogens associated with the development of cancer of the uterine cervix, the most common malignant tumour of women world-wide. Reliable diagnosis of HPV infection, particularly the 'high-risk' types (16/18), may facilitate early identification of 'high-risk' populations for developing cervical cancer and may augment the sensitivity and specificity of primary cervical cancer screening programmes by complementing the conventional Pap test. A simple paper smear method has been developed for dry collection, transport and storage of cervical smears/scrapes at room temperature for subsequent detection of HPV DNA by PCR assay. Imprint biopsies, blood and fine-needle aspirates were also collected by this method. The cervical scrapes or other body fluids were smeared (within 0.5-1 cm diameter) and dried on to sterile small slides made of Whatman 3MM filter paper, and stored individually at room temperature or at 4°C. A small piece (2-3 mm) of the paper smear was punched or cut out with a sterile surgical blade, boiled in an eppendorf tube containing 50 µl of distilled water for 5 min and used directly for PCR amplification. The quality and quantity of DNA derived from paper smears and the results of PCR amplifications for HPV type 16, BRCA1 and p53 genes were identical to those obtained from the same samples following collection in PBS, storage (-70°C) and phenol-chloroform-based DNA extraction. DNA was stable in the paper smears for up to a year, whether stored at room temperature or at 4°C. This method is simple, rapid and cost-effective, and can be effectively employed for large-scale population screening, especially for regions where the specimens are to be transported from distant places to the laboratory

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA sequences in cancer of the urinary bladder by in situ hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of "high risk" human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Materials and Methods: The study included 10 biopsy specimens from male patients of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder for the detection of HPV DNA sequences. Specimens were collected from the Urology Clinic of the K.G. Medical College Hospital, Lucknow, India. Detection of HPV DNA was carried out by tissue in situ hybridisation (a single copy gene localisation method) using 3H-labelled HPV DNA probe and also by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques using primers to HPV 16 upstream regulatory region (URR). RESULTS--Out of 10 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, "high risk" HPV 16 DNA was detected only in one (10%) by using in situ hybridisation whereas two cases (20%) were found to be positive by polymerase chain reaction. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the rare occurrence of HPV in bladder carcinoma may not have a causal relation with the viral infection

Ublažavajući učinak biljke Andrographis paniculata na promjene u brojlera uzrokovane bakterijom E. coli

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Andrographis paniculata during E. coli-induced pathology in broilers. Day-old broiler chicks (n = 100) were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group I served as a negative control and was fed with a commercial diet. On day 8, the birds from groups II and IV were challenged with a single oral dose of E. coli broth culture 0.2 mL (1×109 cfu/mL). Groups III and IV were fed with Andrographis paniculata 5 g/kg of feed from day old to the end of the experiment. The total duration of the experiment was 35 days. On the 7th, 21st and 28th day post infection (DPI) with E. coli, six birds from each group were randomly sacrificed and observed for gross and histopathogical observations. Group II birds showed ascites and thickened intestinal mucosa with cheesy material on the 28th and 35th DPI. Pathomorphological alterations, viz. congestion, hemorrhages, degenerations, necrosis, fibrinous exudates, edema, mononuclear cell and heterophil infiltration in the lung, liver, heart, kidneys and duodenum were observed in group II birds, along with depletion of the lymphoid cell population in the spleen. Pretreatment of Andrographis paniculata in the E. coli challenged group led to mild degenerative changes in all organs, indicating the putative protective effect of the plant during E. coli induced pathology in broilers. However, further, more elaborated study is required to calculate the dosage of Andrographis paniculata for use as an antibacterial agent in broiler feed.Istraživanje je provedeno kako bi se procijenio ublažavajući učinak biljke Kineski andrografis (Andrographis paniculata) na patološke procese u brojlera uzrokovane bakterijom E. coli. Jednodnevni pilići (n = 100) slučajnim su odabirom podijeljeni u četiri jednake skupine. Prva je skupina poslužila kao negativna kontrola i hranjena je komercijalnom hranom. Osmi dan pilićima iz druge i četvrte skupine peroralno je dana jednokratna doza E. coli bujona u količini od 0,2 mL (1×109 cfu/mL). Treća i četvrta skupina hranjene su biljkom Andrographis paniculata u količini od 5 g/kg hrane od početka do kraja pokusa. Istraživanje je trajalo 35 dana. Sedmi, 21. i 28. dan nakon zaražavanja bakterijom E. coli po šest pilića iz svake skupine nasumce je usmrćeno te su promatrane makroskopske i patohistološke promjene. U drugoj je skupini uočen ascites i zadebljanje crijevne sluznice sa sirastim naslagama 28. i 35. dan poslije zaražavanja. U toj su skupini promatrane patomorfološke promjene poput kongestije, krvarenja, degeneracije, nekroze, fibrinskog eksudata, edema, infiltracije pluća, jetre, srca, bubrega i dvanaesnika mononuklearnim i heterofilnim stanicama, uz depleciju limfoidnih stanica u slezeni. Dodavanje biljke Andrographis paniculata skupini zaraženoj bakterijom E. coli utjecalo je na pojavu blažih degenerativnih promjena u svim organima, što upućuje na zaštitni učinak biljke tijekom izlaganja brojlera bakteriji E. coli. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja kako bi se izračunala doza biljke Andrographis paniculata kao antibakterijskog dodatka/lijeka u prehrani brojlera

Ultrafiltration by peritoneal route in refractory chronic congestive cardiac failure

Diuretics are the mainstay of treatment of refractory heart failure. There is a high incidence of dyselectrolytemia and suboptimal response due to diuretic resistance. Ultrafiltration by peritoneal route can be a safe and effective alternative. This study aims to study the ultrafiltration by peritoneal route in refractory heart failure patients with respect to change in functional status, renal parameters, left ventricular ejection fraction, number of days of hospitalization, and level of myocardial depressant factors. This was a prospective observational study conducted in Nephrology Department of tertiary care hospital. We studied patients with refractory heart failure who had persistent symptoms requiring frequent admissions despite optimal medical decongestion or had dyselectrolytemia with worsening renal parameters. The data were collected at baseline and then after 6 months of starting ultrafiltration. A total of 30 participants were studied. All the patients were in NYHA functional status Class IV before peritoneal ultrafiltration. There was a significant improvement in functional status and only 14 patients (46%) had Class III to Class IV status after application of ultrafiltration. (P 0.001), serum creatinine (3.18 ± 0.98 to 2.16 ± 0.79 mg/dl, P < 0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction [29.3 ± 7.4 (%) to 48.5 ± 11.8 (%), P < 0.0001] post ultrafiltration. There was also significant improvement in level of myocardial depressant factors (IL-1, IL-6, TNF alpha). Ultrafiltration by peritoneal route seems to be an effective alternative and should be offered to patients with chronic heart failure who are symptomatic despite maximal medical treatment

Edema: A Physiological Disorder of Plant Grown Under Protected Conditions

Not Available“Edema/Oedema” is not a pest/pathogen but a physiological disorder that develops when vegetable crops (viz., bell pepper, hot pepper, tomato, eggplant, etc.) or other plants are grown under protected structures or potted indoor. Being a physiological disorder it is a non-infectious problem but ‘edema’ due to the symptoms it develops; possibly be mistaken as a pest/pathogen. The bewilderment in ‘edema’ identification thereby creates ambiguity for its management. Under such circumstances, ‘edema’ gets the time-opportunity to cause its characteristic cosmetic damage on the plant leaves and also proliferate further to make a yield penalty to the affected plants. Understanding ‘edema’ and its causes are therefore crucial for its timely-management.Not Availabl

Strongyloid hyperinfection in a patient with immunocompromised chronic kidney disease

Strongyloid hyperinfection is seen in immunocompromised individuals with underlying lung disease. The use of immunosuppressive drugs is an important risk factor. We report a case of IgA nephropathy with crescent, started on glucocorticoid and mycophenolate mofetil. He presented with bilateral lung opacities with breathlessness. As the breathlessness was not improving, despite adequate ultrafiltration, bronchoscopy was done. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid examination showed the presence of strongyloid larvae, which was later demonstrated in stool also. He responded to antihelminthic treatment with disappearance of larvae from stool but later developed secondary bacterial infections