Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the causative agent of Johne’s disease is a degenerative chronic granulomatous disease of bovines. In the present study, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using TaqMan chemistry targeting the IS900 sequence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) was employed for the molecular diagnosis of the disease in bovine faecal samples. Out of 200 bovine faecal samples processed, 7 samples were tested as positive by IS900 qRT-PCR. The sensitivity limit of detection of MAP DNA in faecal samples by qRT-PCR TaqMan assay was found to be 0.05pg. No amplification was observed in other Mycobacterial spp. viz. M. phlei, M. smegmatis, M. intracellulare and M. kansasii.

Background/Aims: Gastric varices (GV) are present in 25% of cirrhotic patients with high rates of rebleeding and mortality. Data on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided treatment in severe liver disease (model for end stage liver disease sodium [MELD-Na] >18 and Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] C with GV) are scarce. Thus, we performed a retrospective comparison of endoscopic glue injection with EUS-guided therapy in cirrhotic patients with large GV. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in the tertiary hospitals of India. A total of 80 patients were recruited. The inclusion criteria were gastroesophageal varices type 2, isolated gastric varices type 1, bleeding within 6 weeks, size of GV >10 mm, and a MELD-Na >18. Treatment outcomes and complications of endoscopic glue injection and EUS-guided GV therapy were compared. Results: In this study, the patients’ age, sex, liver disease severity (CTP, MELD-Na) and clinical parameters were comparable. The median number of procedures, injected glue volume, complications, and GV obturation were better in the EUS group, respectively. On subgroup analysis of the EUS method (e.g., direct gastric fundus vs. paragastric collateral [PGC] coil placement), PGC coil placement showed decreased coil requirement, less injected glue volume, decreased luminal coil extrusion, and increased successful GV obturation. Conclusions EUS-guided treatment is more efficient and safer, and requires a smaller number of treatment sessions, as compared to endoscopic treatment in severe liver disease patients with large GV. Furthermore, PGC coil placement increases the complete obliteration of GV.

A simple, rapid and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass cilostazol and its pharmacologically active metabolite 3,4-dehydro cilostazol in human plasma using deuterated analogs as internal standards (ISs). Plasma samples were prepared using solid phase extraction 18 (50 mm ? 2.1 mm, 1.7 mm) column. The method was established over a concentration range of 0.5–1000 ng/mL for cilostazol and 0.5–mL for 3,4-dehydro cilostazol. Intra-and inter-batch precision (%CV) and accuracy for the analytes were found within 0.93–1.88 and 98.8–101.7% for cilostazol and 0.91–2.79 and 98.0–102.7% for the metabolite respectively. The assay recovery was within 95–97% for both the analytes and internal standards. The method was successfully applied to support a bioequivalence study of 100 mg cilostazol in 30 healthy subjects.

COVID-19, a highly contagious and deadly virus rapidly swept across the world from the year 2019 to 2020 killing more than two million people. Due to the magnitude of affect the virus was having, governments were forced into taking measures that required isolation of the infected from the unaffected, as mitigation to halt the spread. This brought about the “COVID-19 Lockdown”. Though the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) were with one of the least numbers of COVID-19 cases, similar measures were implemented as measure to prevent the virus from entering the countries. Like other countries, PICs like Fiji had a lockdown and this affected the lifestyles of the people. Amidst the lockdown, there was a rise in domestic violence cases. The literature review was done using databases; Medline, ProQuest, Embase, and Scopus. The research was done by using the relevant keywords in the field of COVID-19 which was aimed specifically on domestic violence during the pandemic. Moreover, local, and international publications, like media reports and published reports were also used. Upon carrying out this research it could be stated that there was a rise in the number of domestic violence cases in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The literature review was aimed at identifying the consequences of COVID-19 and why it triggered a spike in domestic violence cases. The study concluded that the psychological impacts, and socio-economic state created as the result of the lockdown was the main contributing factor which gives rise to substance abuse, depression, which collectively lead to violence

Freeze-thaw cycles impact the amount of aggregation observed in antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins. Various formulation strategies are used to mitigate the amount of aggregation that occurs upon putting a protein solution through a freeze-thaw cycle. Additionally, low pH solutions cause native antibodies to unfold, which are prone to aggregate upon pH neutralization. There is great interest in the mechanism that causes therapeutic proteins to aggregate since aggregate species can cause unwanted im-munogenicity in patients. Herein, an increase in aggregation is reported when the pH is adjusted from pH 3 up to a pH ranging from pH 4 to pH 7 during the thaw process of a frozen antibody solution. Raising the pH during the thaw process caused a significant increase in the percent aggregation observed. Two antibodies and one Fc-fusion protein were evaluated during the pH jump thaw process and similar ef-fects were observed. The results provide a new tool to study the kinetics of therapeutic protein ag-gregation upon pH increase.