Second-harmonic generation imaging of collagen in ancient bone

Second-harmonic generation imaging (SHG) captures triple helical collagen molecules near tissue surfaces. Biomedical research routinely utilizes various imaging software packages to quantify SHG signals for collagen content and distribution estimates in modern tissue samples including bone. For the first time using SHG, samples of modern, medieval, and ice age bones were imaged to test the applicability of SHG to ancient bone from a variety of ages, settings, and taxa. Four independent techniques including Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, radiocarbon dating protocols, and mass spectrometry-based protein sequencing, confirm the presence of protein, consistent with the hypothesis that SHG imaging detects ancient bone collagen. These results suggest that future studies have the potential to use SHG imaging to provide new insights into the composition of ancient bone, to characterize ancient bone disorders, to investigate collagen preservation within and between various taxa, and to monitor collagen decay regimes in different depositional environments.

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Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG) confocal laser scanning microscopy is used to investigate collagen remnants in ancient bone.

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Four independent techniques confirm the presence of collagen remnants in ancient bone samples with SHG-detected collagen.

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SHG imaging can visualise collagen remnants in ancient bone of various taxa, ages, and settings.

Missed opportunities for earlier HIV-testing in patients with HIV infection referred to a tertiary hospital, a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

In Malaysia, the prevalence of missed opportunities for HIV-testing is unknown. Missed opportunities have been linked to late diagnosis of HIV and poorer outcome for patients. We describe missed opportunities for earlier HIV-testing in newly-HIV-diagnosed patients.

METHODS

Cross sectional study. Adult patients diagnosed with HIV infection and had at least one medical encounter in a primary healthcare setting during three years prior to diagnosis were included. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, patient characteristics at diagnosis, HIV-related conditions and whether they were subjected to risk assessment and offered HIV testing during the three years prior to HIV diagnosis.

RESULTS

65 newly HIV-diagnosed patients (male: 92.3%; Malays: 52.4%; single: 66.7%; heterosexual: 41%; homosexual 24.6%; CD4 <350 at diagnosis: 63%). 93.8% were unaware of their HIV status at diagnosis. Up to 56.9% had presented with HIV-related conditions at a primary healthcare facility during the three years prior to diagnosis. Slightly more than half were had risk assessment done and only 33.8% were offered HIV-testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Missed opportunities for HIV-testing was unacceptably high with insufficient risk assessment and offering of HIV-testing. Risk assessment must be promoted and primary care physicians must be trained to recognize HIV-related conditions that will prompt them to offer HIVtesting.

Clear cell changes in salivary gland neoplasms: A 20-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Clear cells are observed histopathologically in both benign and malignant neoplasms but their presence in salivary gland tumors has not been extensively documented.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

With IRB approval, the archive of the University of Florida College of Dentistry oral pathology biopsy service was retrospectively searched from 1994-2014 for all benign and malignant salivary tumors. Epidemiological data, tumor location and duration, and type of tumor were recorded. A four reviewer panel examined the original slides. Reviewers scaled each case as 0 (no clear cells present), 1 (few to focal clear cells), 2 (less than 50% clear cells), and 3 (greater than 50% clear cells).

RESULTS

A total of 535 cases were included of which 48% of tumors displayed 0 clear cells (257/535), 31.4% (168/535) scored 1, 13.6% (73/535) scored 2, and 7% (37/535) scored 3. Of the 251 (47%) malignant neoplasms, 64% (160/251) demonstrated 0-1 clear cell change, while 36% (91/251) showed a score of 2-3. For the total 284 (53%) benign tumors, 93% (265/535) scored 0-1 and 7% (19/535) scored a 2-3 range. No statistical difference was noted for gender, age, or duration of time present in regards to presence or absence of clear cells. Statistically significant differences in clear cell presence were found between location groups, between benign and malignant diagnosis, and between specific diagnostic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the frequent presence of increased numbers of clear cells in oral salivary malignancies and highlights salivary gland differential diagnoses when presented with clear cell changes.

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIBIOGRAM PROFILES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM APPARENTLY HEALTHY AND DIARRHEIC GOATS

The present study was designed for the cultural, biochemical characterization and molecular detection of E. coli from apparently healthy and diarrheic goats in and around BAU campus including their antibiogram study. A total of 50 fecal samples were collected among which 13 originated from diarrheic goat and 37 from apparently healthy goats. Out of 50 samples, 35 were found positive for E. coli i.e., overall 70% occurrence. Occurrences of E. coli from diarrheic and apparently healthy goats were 92% and 62% respectively. Occurrences were 60%, 80% and 70% in case of BAU Goat Farm, Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Boyra respectively. On age basis 93%, 54%, 66% and 54% samples originated from 6 months, 7-12 months, 13-18 months and 19 months aged goats were found positive respectively. Occurrences of E. coli on the basis of sex were 78% for male and 62% for female. In case of breed, the occurrences were 69% in Black Bengal and 100% in for Jamunapari. Molecular detection was done by PCR and 13 out of 20 isolates tested gave the bands at the 585 bp specific for E. coli 16S rRNA gene. All the isolates (100%) were found sensitive to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin; 100% and 35% were intermediately resistant to tetracycline and gentamicin respectively and 25% isolates were resistant to streptomycin. Ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were found to be the best choice of antibiotics for the treatment of colibacillosis in goats in the study area.

Comparison of biopsy-based methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection

Various biopsy-based methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori are evaluated to determine their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of H. pylori (16S PCR) to confirm the results. Seventyfive patients (65% [49] males, age range: 17-77 years, mean 42+/-14.6 years) with dyspeptic symptoms are included in the study. Gastric antrum biopsy specimens collected during endoscopy are tested using a urea agar base enriched with 40% urea solution (eUAB, Oxoid)), a commercial rapid urease test (Pronto Dry, Medical Instrument Corp, Switzerland), histopathology and 16S PCR. The eUAB test showed 97% sensitivity, 86% specificity, 84% PPV, 97% NPV and 91% accuracy when the diagnosis of H. pylori infection was made with positive Pronto Dry and histopathology. Pronto Dry showed 100% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 80% PPV, 100% NPV and 89% accuracy when the diagnosis of H. pylori infection was made on positive histopathology and eUAB. Thus, the eUAB can be used as a rapid urease test. It is economical and has a sensitivity and specificity comparable to a commercially available rapid urease test to detect urease activity of H. pylori in gastric biopsy.

Estimation of Thyroid Hormone in Early Pregnancy and it's Clinical Correlation

This descriptive cross sectional study was done for the estimation of thyroid hormone in early pregnancy and it's clinical correlation. It was conducted at the Antenatal Clinic of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh from December 2010 to November 2011. Total 185 cases in early pregnancy were taken purposively and randomly. Among the pregnant women, age ranged from 18-42 years with the Mean±SD age 25.77±4.96 years, the gestational weeks ranged 6±1 to 13±1weeks having Mean±SD 9.06± 2.49 weeks. The gravida ranged from primi to 8th gravida Mean±SD 1.89±1.10. Haemoglobin level ranged from 9.0 to 13.2gm/dl; Mean±SD 10.90±0.99gm/dl. Mean±SD of serum FT4 was 17.77±7.25 and Mean±SD of TSH was 3.95±2.94mIU/L. In present study, 5.40% (n=10) of the respondents had hypothyroidism and 0.54% (n=1) showed hyperthyroidism. The present study showed that, the incidence of hypothyroidism had relatively increased then the reference ranges but not statistically significant. But hyperthyroidism was within the reference range. This study showed slightly higher percentage of hypothyroidism in both ≤30 (4.52%) and ≥30 (10%) years of age groups especially a bit higher percentage in the elderly group. In present study, hypothyroidism was common among women of lower income group. Present study showed a higher percentage of stillbirth &miscarriage among study population. This study showed a relatively higher prevalence of abnormal thyroid function (especially hypothyroidism) in the study population and suggests the routine screening of thyroid hormone in early pregnancy in addition to routine antenatal care.