Assessment of DNA aptamers targeting GlcB and HspX antigens for application in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.

The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (aTB) is challenging and there is an urgent need for an accurate diagnostic test. We have developed a high affinity DNA aptamer against GlcB antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). We further compared the diagnostic utility of in-house-generated high affinity DNA aptamers and polyclonal antibodies against two Mtb antigens, namely GlcB and HspX, in ascitic fluid samples.

Utility of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA for the improved diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.

Abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) continues to pose a major diagnostic challenge for clinicians due to its nonspecific clinical presentation, variable anatomical location and lack of sensitive diagnostic tools. In spite of the development of several assays till date; no single test has proved to be adequate for ATB diagnosis. In this study, we for the first time report the detection of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.

A novel aptamer-based test for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis.

Pleural tuberculosis (pTB) is diagnosed by using a composite reference standard (CRS) since microbiological methods are grossly inadequate and an accurate diagnostic test remains an unmet need. The present study aimed to evaluate the utility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen and DNA-based tests for pTB diagnosis. Patients were classified as 'Definite TB', 'Probable TB' and 'Non-TB' disease according to the CRS.

Leprosy mimicking common rheumatologic entities: a trial for the clinician in the era of biologics.

Rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative spondyloarthritis, which make up the lion's share of cases attending a rheumatology clinic, are relatively easy to diagnose. However, when an entity of infective aetiology like leprosy known to be a great mimic of different autoimmune conditions presents with features similar to these, the possibility of it being diagnosed at the outset is very slim indeed. The ease with which the diagnosis of leprosy can be missed assumes sinister proportions as the use of disease modifying agents can have deleterious effects in these patients.

Arthritis Robustus: review of a case of an "abnormal" rheumatoid.

Introduction: Incidental discovery or diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis where the patient remains blissfully unaware of his affection is a rare occurrence.

Case Description: We present the case of a telephone wireman in whom Rheumatoid Arthritis neither affected his activities of daily living nor caused any deformity to develop. It remained asymptomatic till its incidental discovery during his admission for treatment of myocardial infarction.

Multidrug resistant citrobacter: an unusual cause of liver abscess.

Liver abscesses are infectious, space occupying lesions in the liver, the two most common abscesses being pyogenic and amoebic. A pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a rare condition with a reported incidence of 20 per 100 000 hospital admissions in the western population. The right lobe of the liver is the most common site in both types of liver abscess.

Pituitary macroadenoma: a rare cause of thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.

Thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic palsy (THPP) is a well-recognised but under-diagnosed complication of hyperthyroidism and is commonly seen in Asian males. Patients usually present fully conscious with acute onset of severe motor weakness. Baseline investigation reveals severe hypokalaemia due to Na(+)/K(+) ATPase overactivity causing a massive influx of intracellular potassium ions.