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We present the case of a 50 year old male patient being treated for chronic myeloid leukemia by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Ponatinib. After 3 months of treatment, he developed a sight-threatening granulomatous panuveitis in both eyes, with choroidal effusions and neurosensory retinal detachments. Except for a positive interferon-gamma release assay suggesting previous Tuberculosis exposure, all uveitis investigations were normal. Discontinuation of the suspected causative drug led to resolution of signs and a consequent improvement in visual acuity.Ponatinib use may be associated with with a uveitic phenotype that is reminiscent of Harada's disease. We compare and contrast this rare ocular phenomenon with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome and discuss a possible immunological basis.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α secreted by macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) plays a predominant role in arthritis. Our previous studies suggest that a small peptide, RVG-9R (29-aa peptide derived from the rabies virus glycoprotein, fused to 9R residues), can deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) to macrophages and DCs. We therefore tested whether knockdown of TNF-α expression in macrophages and DCs by RVG-9R/bound siRNA targeting TNF-α reduces the severity of collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) in mice.Arthritis was induced in mice by injecting a combination of antibodies to collagen followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Mice were also injected with TNF-α siRNA complexed with RVG-9R peptide or an irrelevant peptide RVMAT-9R on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. As a positive control, dexamethasone was injected intravenously. Paw thickness was measured every 2 days and the mice were killed on day 10 for testing synovial TNF-α levels and histological analysis of joints.In control mice, arthritis developed on day 4 and reached its peak between day 7 and day 9. Treatment with siTNF-α bound to RVG-9R, but not to RVMAT-9R, resulted in reducing paw thickness scores to the same level as dexamethasone treatment, associated with reduced TNF-α level in synovial fluid. Histological analysis of joints in the control RVMAT-9R/TNF-α siRNA-treated mice showed marked pannus formation and destruction of cartilage and subchondrial bone, as well as severe infiltration of inflammatory cells into the synovium. By contrast, the joint pathology was markedly reduced in RVG-9R/TNF-α siRNA-treated mice resembling the dexamethasone-treated mice.Suppression of TNF-α expression in macrophages and DCs by RVG-9R-mediated siRNA delivery could potentially be a clinically viable strategy for treatment of arthritis.

Lid surgery under local anaesthetic is commonplace in ophthalmic practise. The most distressing part of the surgery for the patient is often the injection of local anaesthetic into the sensitive lid skin. Various methods like pre-injection warming of the anaesthetic agent, buffering pH levels, varying agents used, and using thinner gauge needles have been tried to reduce pain levels. Cooling of tissue is known to have anaesthetic properties and has been proposed as a substitute to injection of local anaesthetic in certain surgical procedures. In this study we use the anaesthetic property of cooling, as a pre local anaesthetic injection procedure ("Cryo-preparation"). The anaesthetic injection induced discomfort with and without "cryo-preparation" was then assessed.Thirty-nine patients aged 13-85 years (mean = 50, s.d. = 19) were randomly allocated and assessed. Twenty-two patients underwent local lid anaesthetic infiltration with "cryo-preparation," and 17 without. Pain monitoring was performed subjectively and objectively by scoring systems. Results were analysed using unpaired two tailed t-test on Microsoft Excel.Significant reduction in injection pain with cryo-preparation (24.6% reduction in score) was achieved (statistically significant p = 0.039). Surgical anaesthesia was complete in all cases.The study shows that "cryopreparation" by local ice application immediately prior to local anaesthetic injection reduces the sensitivity to the injection by a significant 24.6%. Thus while all the advantages of good analgesia are obtained from the injection, the distressing discomfort is reduced. This study serves as a pilot, in demonstrating a novel method of pain control for lid surgery.

Six varieties/strains belonging to three species of Cymbopogon, viz., C. flexuosus, C. khasianus and C. pendulus, or their hybrids, were evaluated for oil yield across four years (1997-98-2000-01) as very limited information is available on variety-by-environment interaction from multi-environment trials. The main effects, varieties and years, were significant, but variety-by-year interaction was not significant. Log-transformation of data reduced coefficients of variation from 45.52% to 16.7% and increased R-square for the linear model from 70.8% to 81.9%. A traditional analysis of variance indicated that CKP25 and F2-38 were not different in oil yield and were superior to other varieties. Principal component analysis of GGE biplot methodology also revealed CKP25 to be the highest yielding genotype in all four years, followed by F2-38. Variety CKP25 could be used in a breeding program to develop new high yielding, consistent-performing varieties. Both untransformed and log-transformed data analy...

The effect of seasonal changes on oil content of a new clone of Jamrosa ‘RL‐931’ (Cymbopogon nardus var. confertiflorus × C. jwarancusa) was investigated during 1998–99. The pre‐monsoon and onset of the monsoon period (May‐July) was characterised by a higher oil content, whereas the post‐monsoon and winter period (August‐December) showed a comparatively lower oil content. The quality of the oil is best in May‐July. High temperature and low humidity favours the accumulation of geraniol, geranyl acetate, and a low citral content in the oil. Maximum oil content was recorded when both maximum and minimum temperatures were high.

Mice with targeted disruption of the T cell receptor alpha gene (TCR alpha-/-) spontaneously develop chronic colitis. Colonic inflammation begins at 6-8 weeks of age and chronic colitis is established in about 60% of mice by 16-20 weeks of age. The disease is also associated with autoantibodies (anti-tropomyosin antibodies, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) and an oligoclonal immune response to luminal bacterial antigens. Although T cells, but not B cells or autoantibodies, are essential for the development of colitis, B cells and/or autoantibodies may have a regulatory role in the pathogenesis of this colitis because the colitis is more severe in B cell deficient TCR alpha-/- mice. Cytokines, specifically IL-4 and IL-1, also play an important role in the development of colitis in TCR alpha-/- mice. Enteric bacteria located in the large intestine are an important factor in the pathogenesis of this colitis because germ-free TCR alpha-/- mice do not develop colitis and appendectomy at an early age delays the onset of this colitis. The colitis in TCR alpha-/- mice resembles human ulcerative colitis and provides a useful model to study the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel disease.

Gamma irradiation treatment (30 Gy) of stem cuttings with single leaf and an axillary bud of sexually sterile patchouli [Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.] has resulted in isolation of an erect plant mutant ‘PM-12’ with thick, dark green, illuminated and shiny leaves. This single plant with distinctly different morphology on vegetative propagation produced all erect plants with dark green shiny leaves. The radio mutant phenotype persisted over generations by stem cutting propagation. The essential oil quality profile of radio mutant revealed a significant higher percentage of patchouli alcohol, the main component of patchouli oil compared to its parental clone (60.3% against 47.8% in control). Creation of variability in patchouli alcohol content of the oil has more commercial viability because it imparts the patchouli oil a characteristic earthy piquant tenacious aroma.

The histogenesis of sarcomatoid carcinoma has been an intriguing topic for pathologists for many years, and considerable evidence has accumulated in the fields of tissue culture, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry to support the concept that the sarcomatous cells derive by way of "divergent differentiation" (metaplasia) from the carcinomatous elements. We have studied a group of 10 cases of these tumors from various organs, using detailed ultrastructural analysis as well as light microscopic and immunohistochemical correlation. We found that there is an ultrastructural spectrum of differentiation from epithelial to mesenchymal type features and that the malignant spindle cells may be purely epithelial (3 cases), purely mesenchymal (3 cases), or a mixture of both (4 cases). Furthermore, individual cells may show biphasia, having desmosomes and tonofibrils as well as well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and filaments with dense bodies. Electron microscopic and immunohistochemical results do not always correlate, illustrating the prudence of using several keratin antibodies, including wide-spectrum ones, and of performing electron microscopic examination on these tumors.

Presentation des principales caracteristiques culturelles d'environ 80 sites localises lors d'une campagne de prospection des sites prehistoriques du nord du Gujarat, dont la periodisation, largement fondee sur les traditions ceramiques, est la suivante : 1) Habitats microlithiques ; 2) Habitats preharappeens et harappeens anciens (Loteshwar) ; 3) Habitats harappeens matures (Nagwada) ; 4) Habitats harappeens Sorath (Rangpur II B-C) ; 5) Habitats harappeens recents (Ratanpura/Rangpur III)

In view of the enormous amount of backwater stretches which in principle could be potential aquaculture grounds in tropical coastal India, there has been a growing interest to map suitable locations for brackish-water fish culture. The interest has also grown stronger in the recent days with the launch of India's own remote sensing satellite which has capabilities on par with Landsat. This attempt envisages to explain remote sensing methods of mapping coastal aquaculture areas using the inexpensive data of Indian Remote Sensing satellite—IRS-1 A.

The role of Hep-2 cell adherent Escherichia coli (EAEC) of localized (EAEC-L), diffuse (EAEC-D) and aggregative (EAggEC) phenotype, was investigated in 254 children agedor = 48 months seeking treatment for non-bloody diarrhea at an outpatient clinic, and in 107 age-matched controls. The stool excretion rates of single isolates from patients/controls for the different phenotypes of Hep-2 cell adherent E. coli were: EAEC-L, 5.9/2.8%, p = 0.33; EAEC-D, 7.5/12.1%, p = 0.22; and EAggEC, 11.8/3.7%, p = 0.03. When patients were categorized by pre-admission diarrheal durationor = 14/14 days, the excretion rates were EAEC-L, 0/7.1%; EAEC-D, 9.5/7.1%, and EAggEC, 21.4/9.9%, the difference approaching significance only for EAggEC (p = 0.06). These findings suggest that EAggEC may be an important cause of diarrhea in children, with a predilection to cause prolonged disease.

Soil survey provides information on soils, their spatial distribution and their areal extent for proper land use planning and agro-technology transfer. Remote sensing has emerged as a potential modern tool which can be utilised as a cost eiTective means of small-scale soil mapping. In the present study, different soilscape units (physiography-cum-soil association units) were identified following a supervised classification based on a maximum likelihood classifier using IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite) 1A-LISS-II digital data. Six soilscape units, namely hills, valleys, moderate and severe eroded piedmonts, alluvial plain and river terraces were identified and delineated digitally. The overall classification accuracy of the digital soil map is 92 per cent. Major soils (subgroup levels) encountered in various soilscape units are-Typic/Lithic Ustorthents; Typic/Udic Ustochrepts; Typic Haplustalfs; Typic Ustipsamments and Typic Ustifluvents. The pedogenetic clues for the development of these soi...

Dormant vegetative slips of Jamrosa were subjected to various doses of gamma-rays. Plants raised from them were screened with a view to isolate improved clones of the crop. Five mutant clones isolated, exhibited variation in quality/quantity of essential oil. These changes in oil characters were attributed to microlevel mutations induced by gamma-rays.

The Andaman Nicobar group of islands in the Andaman Sea are blessed with luxuriant tropical vegetation. During recent years, vegetation in these islands has been under tremendous pressure due to increased settlement and commercial extraction, Landsat TM data of the Baratang forest division of the Andaman group of islands has been used to prepare forest type maps using visual and digital methods. Digital enhancement techniques have been evaluated to discriminate forest types in a typical environmental set-up. The mapping techniques have been compared with respect to classification and accuracy levels. Finally, the land transformation in the forest division has been studied using past aerial photographs. The study highlights the appropriate methodology required to map forest types.

Information on the spatial distribution of different wasteland categories forms a basic component in the large-scale reclamation and utilization programmes of these degraded lands. To evaluate the use of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data in wasteland mapping, an attempt was made in this study to delineate and map various kinds of wastelands, in parts of Aligarh District (Uttar Pradesh) by digital analysis of Landsat TM data of 27 January 1986, using the maximum-likelihood classifier method. Map-to-image rectification of the sub-image and a selection of suitable spectral bands based on spectral response and training statistics, were also performed before the final supervised classification. The results indicated that, out of the six TM bands (excluding the thermal band), the spectral separability of all wasteland categories are most possible in bands 3, 4, 5and 7. This study also reveals that wasteland types, namely salt-affected and surface waterlogged/marshy lands could be effectively delineated...

Among 274 neonates born at the maternity services of an urban hospital in India, 36.1% of the infants shed rotavirus in feces (as detected by ELISA) by 72 h of life. The excretion rate increased to 70.3% among the 120 infants who stayed for 5 days or more at the hospital. Diarrhoeal symptoms of mild and self-limited nature were observed only in 19.2% of the rotavirus excretors, the remaining being asymptomatic. Among the 98 infants who received supplement feeds, 49% acquired rotavirus infection as against 24.7% of the 150 exclusively breast fed infants (p less than 0.001). Viral RNA in the feces of all rota positive infants showed the same electropherotype, indicating infection from a common source. The mean percentage rotavirus inhibitory activity of cord sera in the infected and non-infected infants was 50.2 +/- 21.7 and 56.6 +/- 19.2 respectively (p greater than 0.05), suggesting that cord blood antibodies do not offer significant protection against neonatal rotavirus infection.

Several commercial catalysts were tested for their activity for upgrading waste lubricating oils. The feedstock was vacuum distilled to remove the light and the heavy ends. Two trickle-bed reactors placed in series were employed, the top reactor contained a high surface area alumina and the bottom reactor the catalyst. A Ni-Mo-AI2O3 catalyst was selected for further study on the basis of its higner activity and activity maintenance. Several different hydrogen pressures, reactor temperatures, and liquid volume hourly space velocities were employed to arrive at the most optimum process conditions. This paper will discuss the effect of catalyst and process conditions on the product liquid color, viscosity, nitrogen, and sulfur content.

Serum anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) titres were estimated by diffusion in a gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in children with coeliac disease (n = 11), protracted diarrhoea of non-coeliac causes (n = 110), acute gastroenteritis (n = 20), protein energy malnutrition (n = 20), and asymptomatic, well-nourished children (n = 66). The mean IgG and IgA AGA titres were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in children with coeliac disease than in any other groups. There was no significant difference (p greater than 0.01) in AGA titres in relation to age, nutritional status, or severity of villous injury. In patients with coeliac disease AGA titres showed a good correlation with disease activity. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay are discussed.

LANDSAT data comprising eight scenes in the northern and central part of Orissa State, in eastern India were interpreted visually for delineation of target areas for mineral exploration, Even though this area has been mapped and studied in considerable detail LANDSAT data have been found to be very useful in redefining the tectonic structure, correlation of regional features and mapping of hitherto unmapped features. Subsequently one scene (path 152 row 047) was digitally analysed and enhanced for delineation of bauxitic lateritic plateaux and for comparison with visual interpretation.