Serologic prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in chickens in Madras, India

Serum samples from 185 chickens (Gallus gallus) collected from the various slaughter markets in and around Madras City, India were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using the modified agglutination test incorporating mercaptoethanol. Antibodies (> or = 1:25) to T. gondii were found in 39.5% of sera. Antibody titers of individual sera (% in parentheses) were 1:25 (8.1%), 1:50 (10.8%), 1:100 (6.5%), 1:200(2.7%), 1:400 (4.3%), 1:800 (5.9%) 1:1,600 (0.5%), and 1:3,200 (0.5%).     

A longitudinal study of biological changes with age among the Brahmins of Calcutta

Peptides deduced from the central hydrophobic region (residues 158-189) of the G protein of bovine and ovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and of human RSV subtypes A and B were synthesized. These peptides were used to develop ELISAs to measure specifically antibodies against these types and subtypes of RSV. We have evaluated the bovine RSV-G peptide in both an indirect ELISA and in a blocking ELISA. Specificity and sensitivity, relative to a routine diagnostic ELISA that detects antibodies against the RSV F-protein in bovine sera, were 98% and 92% respectively for the indirect peptide-based ELISA, and 98% and 98% for the blocking peptide-based ELISA. In paired serum samples, rises in antibody titer were detected more frequently with the indirect peptide-based ELISA than with the routine F-ELISA. Furthermore, the peptide-based G-ELISAs were able to differentiate between antibodies against BRSV and HRSV, and between those against BRSV and ORSV. In addition, the indirect peptide-based ELISA was selective for HRSV subtype A and B antibodies. This study shows that peptides, corresponding to the central hydrophobic region of the attachment protein G of several RSVs, can be used successfully as antigens in highly specific and sensitive immunoassays.     

Unique organization of the CTX genetic element in Vibrio cholerae O139 strains which reemerged in Calcutta, India, in September 1996

We studied the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the rRNA gene and CTX genetic element in Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal, which resurged in Calcutta in September 1996 after a gap of 32 months. While the strains from this resurgence were indistinguishable from the earlier strains by ribotyping, the structure of the CTX genetic element present in the current O139 strains was found to be unconventional.     

Encephalitis in mice inoculated intranasally with an influenza virus strain originated from a water bird

A retrospective chart review of 43 patients who underwent technetium 99m (Tc-99m) sestamibi scans from June 1995 to January 1997 was performed. Only those who underwent subsequent parathyroid exploration with excision were included in the study. Twenty subjects (13 women and seven men) were included in the study. Ages ranged from 21 to 84 years (mean, 58 years). All patients had laboratory values and clinical findings consistent with primary hyperparathyroidism. Two patients had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (one patient with recurrent disease), and one had a preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan. The remaining patients had the sestamibi scan as the only preoperative localization study. There were 18 pathologic diagnoses of parathyroid adenoma and two of parathyroid hyperplasia. Sestamibi failed to correctly identify the location of the parathyroid lesion in two cases. In 18 cases the preoperative sestamibi scan correctly localized the lesion, a predictive value of 90%. We conclude that the Tc-99m sestamibi scan is an accurate preoperative tool that can be used as a single modality to localize parathyroid adenomas.     

The prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis A virus in Owambo children

The prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection, in a population as well as the age at which it is usually acquired reflect the prevailing socio-economic conditions and standards of public hygiene. Infection occurs equally in both the sexes. Black Africans are known to have a high prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection and do acquire the infection early in life. This study documents the age-specific prevalence in Owambo children and confirms an equal sex distribution.     

A study of menarcheal age in India

A study of menarcheal age was carried out in southern India. A logit method of analysis was applied to status quo data on 1267 Tamil and Telugu speaking girls aged 9 to 18 years in 3 schools catering for different socio-economic groups. There appears to be no relationship of menarcheal age with dietary pattern classified simply as vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Differences in median age at menarche between schools correspond well with the socio-economic differences between them. The median age in the most advantaged school (12-86 years) is comparable with that in recent studies in southern and eastern Europe, and may perhaps be in advance of some recent north-west European samples.     

A novel RNA-binding motif in influenza A virus non-structural protein 1

The solution NMR structure of the RNA-binding domain from influenza virus non-structural protein 1 exhibits a novel dimeric six-helical protein fold. Distributions of basic residues and conserved salt bridges of dimeric NS1(1-73) suggest that the face containing antiparallel helices 2 and 2' forms a novel arginine-rich nucleic acid binding motif.     

Arsenic levels in drinking water and the prevalence of skin lesions in West Bengal, India

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the suitability and efficiency of human follicular fluid (HFF) as a protein supplement in human IVF programs. DESIGN: Comparative study of the effects of HFF and other protein supplements on the in vitro development of mouse oocytes and on the pregnancy rate in human IVF programs. SETTING: In Vitro Fertilization Center, Hanna Women's Clinic, Seoul, Korea. PATIENT(S): Three hundred twenty-seven patients (388 cycles) who were down-regulated with GnRH agonist and stimulated with hMG. INTERVENTION(S): The suitability was evaluated with the results of animal studies and the efficiency of HFF was investigated with the results of human IVF programs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes, development of mouse embryos, morphological grades of human embryos, pregnancy rate in human IVF programs, and electrophoresis. RESULT(S): Human follicular fluid significantly stimulated meiotic resumption in mouse oocytes, even in the presence of meiotic inhibitors, and enhanced the developmental potential of mouse embryos in vitro. Compared with human fetal cord serum, human follicular fluid also improved the morphological grade of human embryos by reducing cytoplasmic fragmentation. In conventional IVF cycles of human IVF programs, use of HFF significantly increased the clinical PR (109/234 cycles, 46.5%; P < .05), compared with use of human fetal cord serum (14/52 cycles, 26.9%). However, in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, there was no difference in PRs between use of HFF (38/85 cycles, 44.7%) and use of human fetal cord serum (7/17 cycles, 41.1%). When the protein compositions of human fetal cord serum and HFF were investigated by electrophoresis, a protein of 21 kD was detected specifically in HFF. CONCLUSION(S): Human follicular fluid is suitable for use as a protein supplement and is effective in increasing the pregnancy rate in human IVF programs.     

The prevalence and associated factors of epilepsy in children in Calicut District, Kerala, India

To determine the prevalence of epilepsy and its association with indices of malnutrition, infection and perinatal complications in children in Calicut District, Kerala, India, a door-to-door two-stage survey was conducted in two local government districts. Among the random sample of 1172 children aged 8-12 y, 26 conformed to the definition of epilepsy giving a 5-y period prevalence of 22.2/1000. A history of perinatal complications, low BMI and recent physical symptoms were independently associated with active epilepsy. The results suggest epilepsy is highly prevalent in this population of children and that further research is needed into its cause.     

Evaluation of live, cold-adapted influenza A and B virus vaccines in elderly and high-risk subjects

We have evaluated the use of live cold-adapted influenza A and B virus vaccines in the elderly. Cold-adapted influenza A and B virus vaccines are safe and modestly immunogenic in individuals over 65 years of age. However, our studies and those of other groups have shown that immune response to cold-adapted vaccines in this age group are modest. Administration of combined cold-adapted influenza A and inactivated influenza vaccine has resulted in slightly higher frequencies of local and systemic humoral immune responses than inactivated vaccine alone in some, but not all, studies. In a double-blind field trial conducted in nursing homes over a 3 year period, combined cold-adapted influenza A (H3N2) and trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine resulted in a 60% decrease (95% CI, 18-82%) in the rate of laboratory documented influenza A compared with inactivated vaccine alone. Further studies of multivalent cold-adapted influenza vaccines used in combination with inactivated vaccine should be performed.     

A high prevalence of p53 mutations in pre-malignant oral erythroplakia

Oral squamous-cell carcinoma is thought to be preceded by a number of precursor stages which induce morphological changes in cells of the oral mucosa resulting in clinically detectable pre-malignant lesions such as erythroplakia or leukoplakia. To better understand the etiology of oral erythroplakia, we have examined the p53 tumor-suppressor gene (exons 5-9) for mutations in 24 oral erythroplakia lesions of varying dysplastic phenotypes by PCR/single-strand conformational polymorphism and direct DNA-sequencing analyses. A total of 12 p53 mutations were detected in 11 of 24 (46%) erythroplakia specimens (one specimen contained two different p53 mutations); 25% were single-base-pair deletions and 33% were either G:C-->T:A transversions or G:C-->A:T transitions. A high prevalence of p53 mutation was observed in all categories of erythroplakia lesions: 33% for mildly dysplastic lesions, 50% for lesions exhibiting moderate to severe dysplasia and 50% for lesions that were carcinoma in situ. Although the combined prevalence of p53 mutations observed in erythroplakia was significantly higher (p = 0.02) than that observed earlier for leukoplakia, the prevalence of p53 mutations was similar in erythroplakia and leukoplakia specimens from smokers. The prevalence and spectrum of p53 mutations observed in this series of erythroplakia lesions are similar to those observed for oral squamous-cell carcinoma. These results indicate that mutations of the p53 gene may be linked to the high malignant potential of erythroplakia and provide further evidence that p53 mutation may be an early event in the genesis of oral squamous-cell carcinoma.     

Mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of influenza A virus neuraminidase affect incorporation into virions

The significance of the conserved cytoplasmic tail sequence of influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) was analyzed by the recently developed reverse genetics technique (W. Luytjes, M. Krystal, M. Enami, J. D. Parvin, and P. Palese, Cell 59:1107-1113, 1989). A chimeric influenza virus A/WSN/33 NA containing the influenza B virus cytoplasmic tail rescued influenza A virus infectivity. The transfectant virus had less NA incorporated into virions than A/WSN/33, indicating that the cytoplasmic tail of influenza virus NA plays a role in incorporation of NA into virions. However, these results also suggest that the influenza A virus and influenza B virus cytoplasmic tail sequences share common features that lead to the production of infectious virus. Transfectant virus was obtained with all cytoplasmic tail mutants generated by site-directed mutagenesis of the influenza A virus tail, except for the mutant resulting from substitution of the conserved proline residue, presumably because of its contribution to the secondary structure of the tail. No virus was rescued when the cytoplasmic tail was deleted, indicating that the cytoplasmic tail is essential for production of the virus. The virulence of the transfectant viruses in mice was directly proportional to the amount of NA incorporated. The importance of the NA cytoplasmic tail in virus assembly and virulence has implications for use in developing antiviral strategies.     

A novel mechanism for the acquisition of virulence by a human influenza A virus

Cleavage of the hemagglutinin (HA) molecule by proteases is a prerequisite for the infectivity of influenza A viruses. Here, we describe a novel mechanism of HA cleavage for a descendant of the 1918 pandemic strain of human influenza virus. We demonstrate that neuraminidase, the second major protein on the virion surface, binds and sequesters plasminogen, leading to higher local concentrations of this ubiquitous protease precursor and thus to increased cleavage of the HA. The structural basis of this unusual function of the neuraminidase molecule appears to be the presence of a carboxyl-terminal lysine and the absence of an oligosaccharide side chain at position 146 (N2 numbering). These findings suggest a means by which influenza A viruses, and perhaps other viruses as well, could become highly pathogenic in humans.     

A photoelastic study of ligament strain

This report examines the linkages between wife-beating and one health-related consequence for women, their experience of fetal and infant mortality. Community-based data are used drawn from women surveyed in two culturally distinct sites of rural India: Uttar Pradesh in the north, in which gender relations are highly stratified, and Tamil Nadu in the south, in which they are more egalitarian. Results suggest that wife-beating is deeply entrenched, that attitudes uniformly justify wife-beating, and that few women can escape an abusive marriage. They also suggest that the health consequences of domestic violence--in terms of pregnancy loss and infant mortality--are considerable and that Indian women's experience of infant and fetal mortality is powerfully conditioned by the strength of the patriarchal social system. Results are tentative because of data limitations, but they are consistent and strong enough to warrant concern. They argue for the integration of services to identify, refer, and prevent domestic violence in the primary or reproductive health programs of the country and for the safe motherhood programs to be particularly vigilant, sensitive, and responsive to the conditions of battered women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.     

Mechanisms of antigenic variation in influenza virus

Human influenza A viruses evolve rapidly by antigenic shift and antigenic drift. Antigenic shift occurs by gentic reassortment between currently circulating human viruses and influenza viruses of other origin and by re-emergence of a previously circulating virus. The segmental structure of the virus genome enables reassortment in multiply infected cells and also promotes multiple infection because it results in yielding noninfectious particles which randomly lack some genome segment and only become infectious by complementation with others. Antigenic drift is due to an accumulation of nonsynonymous substitutions in the genes encoding the HA and NA proteins. The limited nature of infection to the respiratory epithelium which is the border of the immune system capacitates the virus to reinfect and grow under the partial immune pressure which results in selecting and expanding antigenic mutants.