Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human pathogen capable of forming biofilm and contaminating medical settings, is responsible for 65% mortality in the hospitals all over the world. This study was undertaken to isolate lytic phages against biofilm forming Ps. aeruginosa hospital isolates and to use them for in vitro management of biofilms in the microtiter plate. Multidrug resistant strains of Ps. aeruginosa were isolated from the hospital environment in and around Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra by standard microbiological methods. Lytic phages against these strains were isolated from the Pavana river water by double agar layer plaque assay method. A wide host range phage bacterial virus Ps. aeruginosa phage (BVPaP-3) was selected. Electron microscopy revealed that BVPaP-3 phage is a T7-like phage and is a relative of phage species gh-1. A phage at MOI-0.001 could prevent biofilm formation by Ps. aeruginosa hospital strain-6(HS6) on the pegs within 24 h. It could also disperse pre-formed biofilms of all hospital isolates (HS1-HS6) on the pegs within 24 h. Dispersion of biofilm was studied by monitoring log percent reduction in cfu and log percent increase in pfu of respective bacterium and phage on the peg as well as in the well. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that phage BVPaP-3 indeed causes biofilm reduction and bacterial cell killing. Laboratory studies prove that BVPaP-3 is a highly efficient phage in preventing and dispersing biofilms of Ps. aeruginosa. Phage BVPaP-3 can be used as biological disinfectant to control biofilm problem in medical devices.

Context.—Chordoma is a rare, notochordal tumor with a characteristic histomorphology and immunohistochemical profile. At times, it presents a diagnostic challenge, especially in small biopsies. Brachyury, a nuclear transcription factor, is a recently described immunohistochemical marker for diagnosing chordomas. Objective.—To study the sensitivity and specificity of brachyury in diagnosing chordomas by comparing its expression in axial chordomas with nonchordomatous tumors. Design.—Fifty-one axial chordomas, accessioned during a 10-year period, and 58 nonchordomatous tumors were subjected to brachyury staining by immunohistochemistry. Results.—The 51 chordomas occurred in 36 men and 15 women. Sitewise, 34 cases (66.7%) occurred in the sacrococcyx, 9 (17.6%) in the spine, and 8 (15.7%) in the skull base. Histologically, 34 cases (66.7%) were classical chordomas, 13 cases (25.5%) had a dominant chondroid component, and 2 cases each (3.9%) were chondroid chordomas and dedifferentiated chordomas, respectively. Brachyury staining was positive in 46 of the 51 chordomas (90.2%) and negative in all 58 nonchordomatous tumors. The dedifferentiated area in 2 chordomas was negative for brachyury staining. Fourteen of 15 chordomas with chondroid component showed positive brachyury staining. Immunohistochemical expression of other markers, included cytokeratin (positive in 23 of 23 cases; 100%), epithelial membrane antigen (positive in 22 of 22 cases; 100%) and S100 protein (positive in 18 of 21 cases; 85.7%). Conclusion.—Exclusive brachyury expression in more than 90% of chordomas indicates its value as a unique, specific marker with other sensitive markers like cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and/or S100 protein in substantiating a diagnosis of chordoma, including on small biopsies.

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A 24-year-old male, presented to the oncology outpatient department of Saifee hospital with the complaints of abdominal distention, pain and significant weight loss since 2 months. Clinical examination revealed a mass in the left inferior quadrant of abdomen and lumbar region.Multiple Detector Computed Tomography (MD-CT) of abdomen [Table/ Fig-1] revealed a large heterogeneously enhancing mass in the left half of abdomen measuring 16 x 12 x 18.8 cm in dimensions, and extending from left hypochondrium to the lower lumbar region displacing the kidney. A 99mTc-HYNIC TOC scan [Table/ Fig-2] revealed a heterogeneous mass with diffusely increased tracer uptake along with a small focus of increased uptake in the left supraclavicular region suggestive of solitary metastatic disease.

Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has gained increasing interest as a target molecule in imaging of prostate cancer because of its selective overexpression in local prostate cancer lesions and metastasis. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with raised serum prostate-specific antigen levels who presented for Ga-PSMA HBED-CC simultaneous PET/MRI for prostate cancer evaluation. A PSMA-nonavid PI-RADS 5 (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System) lesion was confirmed as adenocarcinoma on histopathology. The PSMA-avid lesions were noted in the calvarium and lung, with the calvarial lesion confirmed to be of tubercular etiology on biopsy, and both lesions subsequently responded to antitubercular treatment.