MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of 60 thyroidectomy specimens (10 hyperplastic nodules, 14 follicular adenomas and 36 malignant thyroid neoplasms) was carried out. The extent and intensity of HBME-1, CK19, and S100 immunoreactivity was assessed in each case.
RESULTS: HBME-1 positivity was noted in 86.1% of malignant cases while the majority of the benign lesions were negative. Diffuse strong CK19 positivity was documented in 27/31 papillary carcinoma whereas all cases of follicular carcinoma and medullary carcinoma were negative. Most of the hyperplastic nodules and follicular adenomas were also CK19 negative, although focal weak staining was noted in a few cases. S100 was positive only in medullary carcinoma. HBME-1 was most sensitive (86.1%) and specific (87.5%) in distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid lesions. The diagnostic accuracy was further increased when HBME-1 was used simultaneously with CK19/S100/CK19+S100. The sequential use of HBME-1 and CK19 also proved beneficial in discriminating between the various follicular-patterned thyroid lesions.
CONCLUSION: HBME-1 immunolabeling suggests malignancy, whereas strong diffuse CK19 positivity substantiates papillary differentiation. The utilization of these markers (alone or in combination) along with histomorphological evaluation is helpful in the differential diagnosis. S100 has minimal utility in this regard.
METHODS: We conducted a two year study in a high human density dengue-endemic urban area in Selangor, where Gravid Ovipositing Sticky (GOS) traps were set up to capture adult Aedes spp. mosquitoes. All Aedes mosquitoes were tested using the NS1 dengue antigen test kit. All dengue cases from the study site notified to the State Health Department were recorded. Weekly microclimatic temperature, relative humidity (RH) and rainfall were monitored.
RESULTS: Aedes aegypti was the predominant mosquito (95.6%) caught in GOS traps and 23% (43/187 pools of 5 mosquitoes each) were found to be positive for dengue using the NS1 antigen kit. Confirmed cases of dengue were observed with a lag of one week after positive Ae. aegypti were detected. Aedes aegypti density as analysed by distributed lag non-linear models, will increase lag of 2-3 weeks for temperature increase from 28 to 30 °C; and lag of three weeks for increased rainfall.
CONCLUSION: Proactive strategy is needed for dengue vector surveillance programme. One method would be to use the GOS trap which is simple to setup, cost effective (below USD 1 per trap) and environmental friendly (i.e. use recyclable plastic materials) to capture Ae. aegypti followed by a rapid method of detecting of dengue virus using the NS1 dengue antigen kit. Control measures should be initiated when positive mosquitoes are detected.
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, proteomic analysis was used to identify abundant proteins from total protein extracts. PEG fractionation was used to reveal lower abundant proteins from both high and low proliferation embryogenic lines of oil palm samples in tissue culture. A total of 40 protein spots were found to be significant in abundance and the mRNA levels of 12 of these were assessed using real time PCR. Three proteins namely, triosephosphate isomerase, l-ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were found to be concordant in their mRNA expression and protein abundance. Triosephosphate isomerase is a key enzyme in glycolysis. Both l-ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase play a role in anti-oxidative scavenging defense systems. These proteins have potential for use as biomarkers to screen for high and low embryogenic oil palm samples.