This paper reports the development of a one-step SYBR-Green I-based realtime RT-PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in human, monkey and mosquito samples by targeting the E1 structural gene. A preliminary evaluation of this assay has been successfully completed using 71 samples, consisting of a panel of negative control sera, sera from healthy individuals, sera from patients with acute disease from which CHIKV had been isolated, as well as monkey sera and adult mosquito samples obtained during the chikungunya fever outbreak in Malaysia in 2008. The assay was found to be 100-fold more sensitive than the conventional RT-PCR with a detection limit of 4.12x10(0) RNA copies/μl. The specificity of the assay was tested against other related viruses such as Dengue (serotypes 1-4), Japanese encephalitis, Herpes Simplex, Parainfluenza, Sindbis, Ross River, Yellow fever and West Nile viruses. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of this assay were 100%, 100% and 96.8% respectively. This study on early diagnostics is of importance to all endemic countries, especially Malaysia, which has been facing increasingly frequent and bigger outbreaks due to this virus since 1999.

Objectives To determine the socio-demographic profile, clinical characteristics and quality of life of adult psoriasis patients as well as the association between the first two variables with the latter. Methods A cross-sectional study of 30 adult psoriasis patients was conducted in the Dermatology Clinic, Serdang Hospital from 9th to 23rd May 2011. A questionnaire regarding clinical data containing multilingual Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used in a face-to-face interview. Results Male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5. Psoriasis was more common in Malays (76.7%) compared to Chinese (10%) and Indians (10%), however this ethnic distribution was proportionate to that of the clinic attendance. The onset of psoriasis was during the second to third decade of life in most patients (53.3%) with a mean of 31 years (range 7 - 62). Nine (30%) patients had positive family history of psoriasis. The main aggravating factors were stress and sunlight. Hyperlipidemia was the commonest associated co-morbidity. Plaque psoriasis was the commonest clinical type (66.7%) and majority (66.7%) had <10% body surface area affected. Nail changes were present in 15 (50%) patients and psoriatic arthropathy occurred in 11 (36.7%), with mono/oligoarticular type being as common as symmetrical polyarthropathy. All patients were treated with topical therapy, six were on systemic medication and only one underwent phototherapy. The mean DLQI score was 10.77 ± 6.22. The duration of disease and the age group were negatively correlated with the DLQI scores (r= -0.45 and -0.42 respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusion The clinical findings are similar to previous local studies and are valuable to improve patient care.

Additional heads of the biceps brachii muscle of arm have the clinical importance, because they mislead the surgeon in arm surgical procedures. Existence of such variation is one of the reasons for neurovascular compression in the arm region. The present study was conducted to find out the incidence of third head of biceps brachii among 80 samples in South Indian population. The third head of biceps brachii was found in right side in one case which was 13.7 cm in length and arising from antero medial wall of lower part of shaft of humerus. Incidence of the study is 1.25% in South Indians. Occurrence of supernumerary third head of biceps is rare in Indian population.

The aim of the present investigation was to study the major chromosomal aberrations (CA) like deletion, translocation,inversion and mosaic in prostate cancer patients of Tamilnadu, Southern India. Totally 45 blood samples were collected from various hospitals in Tamilnadu, Southern India. Equal numbers of normal healthy subjects were chosen after signing a consent form. Volunteers provided blood samples (5 ml) to establish leukocyte cultures. Cytogenetic studies were performed by using Giemsa-banding technique and finally the results were ensured by spectral karyotyping (SKY) technique. In the present investigation, major CA like deletion, translocation, inversion and mosaic were identified in experimental subjects. Results showed frequent CA in chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 16, 18 and X. In comparison with experimental subjects, the control subjects exhibited very low levels of major CA (P＜0.05). In the present study, the high frequency of centromeric rearrangements indicates a potential role for mitotic irregularities associated with the centromere in prostate cancer tumorigenesis. Identification of chromosome alterations may be helpful in understanding the molecular basis of the disease in better manner.

Objective To determine the DNA damaging potential and the genotoxicity of individual compounds in pesticide contaminated soil. Methods In the present study, DNA damaging potential of pesticide-contaminated soil and the genotoxicity of individual compounds present in the soil were assessed using fluorimetric analysis of DNA unwinding assay. Results The contaminated soil sample showed 79% (P＜0.001) of DNA strand break, whereas technical grade of major carbaryl and α-naphthol constituents of the contaminated soil showed 64% (P＜0.01) and 60% (P＜0.02) damage respectively. Conclusion Our results indicate that the toxicity caused by contaminated soil is mainly due to carbaryl and α -napthol, which are the major constituents of the soil sample analyzed by GC-MS.

Objective To investigate the impact of various levels of sublethal temperature (26℃, 31℃, 33℃, 36℃, and 39℃) on growth and heat shock protein (hsp) expression in freshwater green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. Methods Impact of selected levels of temperature on growth rate (based on optical density), population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass of the alga was evaluated in artificial growth medium for 19 days. To determine the induction of hsp in the alga, it was exposed to selected temperature levels for 3 h and further kept for 6 h at culturing condition at 26℃. Induction of hsp was confirmed by immuno-detection followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results The selected growth parameters such as growth rate, population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass were reduced significantly (P＜0.001) at 39℃. However, hsp 70expression was observed only at 39℃. Conclusion Temperature up to 36℃ may be considered as the limit of safe exposure for thermal stress for the alga Scenedesmus quadricauda.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar discogenic pain without pain mediated by a disc herniation, facet joints, or the sacroiliac joints, is common and often results in chronic, persistent pain and disability. After conservative treatment failure, injection therapy, such as an epidural injection, is frequently the next step considered in managing discogenic pain. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the efficacy of lumbar epidural injections in managing discogenic pain without radiculopathy, and compare this approach to lumbar fusion or disc arthroplasty surgery. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized trials published from 1966 through October 2014 of all types of epidural injections and lumbar fusion or disc arthroplasty in managing lumbar discogenic pain was performed with methodological quality assessment and grading of evidence. The level of evidence was based on the grading of evidence criteria which, was conducted using 5 levels of evidence ranging from levels I to V. RESULTS: Based on a qualitative assessment of the evidence for both approaches, there is Level II evidence for epidural injections, either caudal or lumbar interlaminar. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence suggests fluoroscopically directed epidural injections provide long-term improvement in back and lower extremity pain for patients with lumbar discogenic pain. There is also limited evidence showing the potential effectiveness of surgical interventions compared to nonsurgical treatments.
Arthroplasty ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural* ; Lower Extremity ; Radiculopathy ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Treatment Failure ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Umbilical cord ulceration is a rare condition presenting with sudden fetal bradycardia due to fetal hemorrhage and in most cases leading to intrauterine death. A strong association with intestinal atresia has been reported. Most cases present after 30 weeks of gestation, with preterm labor or rupture of membranes followed by sudden fetal bradycardia. We report two such cases of umbilical cord ulceration and review the available literature. One of the cases interestingly presented at 26 weeks, much earlier than what is reported in the world literature. In view of high perinatal mortality and morbidity, awareness of this condition is mandatory for timely and appropriate management to improve the fetal outcome.
Bradycardia ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Intestinal Atresia ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Ulcer* ; Umbilical Cord*

Umbilical cord ulceration is a rare condition presenting with sudden fetal bradycardia due to fetal hemorrhage and in most cases leading to intrauterine death. A strong association with intestinal atresia has been reported. Most cases present after 30 weeks of gestation, with preterm labor or rupture of membranes followed by sudden fetal bradycardia. We report two such cases of umbilical cord ulceration and review the available literature. One of the cases interestingly presented at 26 weeks, much earlier than what is reported in the world literature. In view of high perinatal mortality and morbidity, awareness of this condition is mandatory for timely and appropriate management to improve the fetal outcome.
Bradycardia ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Intestinal Atresia ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Ulcer* ; Umbilical Cord*