Other articles by Praveen Kumar Balne on PubMed

• Development and Evaluation of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid and Inexpensive Detection of Cytomegalovirus DNA in Vitreous Specimens from Suspected Cases of Viral Retinitis Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Jun, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20351207 A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was developed and evaluated. The LAMP assay specifically amplified only CMV DNA, and no cross-reactivity with the DNA of herpes simplex virus type 1, varicella-zoster virus, adenovirus, Aspergillus flavus, or Staphylococcus aureus was observed. The sequences of the LAMP assay-positive CMV products were perfectly (100%) matched with the CMV sequence deposited in the GenBank database. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was found to be 10 copies/microl of CMV DNA. Vitreous samples from 40 patients with suspected retinitis were subjected to LAMP and real-time PCR for the detection of CMV. Of 40 patients with suspected viral retinitis, 10 tested positive for CMV by the real-time PCR and LAMP assays. A 100% concordance was observed between the results of the two methods. The LAMP assay is a rapid, highly specific, and sensitive method for the diagnosis of retinitis caused by CMV.
• Dictyostelium Polycephalum Infection of Human Cornea Emerging Infectious Diseases. Oct, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20875305
• Endogenous Endophthalmitis Caused by Enterococcus Casseliflavus Journal of Medical Microbiology. May, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21212141 Herein, we report a case of endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Enterococcus casseliflavus. The organism was sensitive to gentamicin, vancomycin and chloramphenicol and resistant to cefazolin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The patient was successfully treated with vitrectomy and sensitivity-based intravitreal vancomycin.
• Investigating a Viral Aetiology for Keratoconjunctivitis Among Patients with Corneal Scrapings Positive for Microsporidia The British Journal of Ophthalmology. Nov, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21764824
• Evaluation of Three PCR Assays for the Detection of Fungi in Patients with Mycotic Keratitis The British Journal of Ophthalmology. Jun, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 22362914
• Disseminated Tuberculosis Presenting As Irido-ciliary Granuloma in an Immunocompetent Patient Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection. Mar, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 22454250
• Intraretinal Tuberculosis Ophthalmology. Oct, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 23034294
• Development of a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay Targeting the Mpb64 Gene for Diagnosis of Intraocular Tuberculosis Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Nov, 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23966513 A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the mpb64 gene for the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis was highly specific (100%), sensitive (85.7%), rapid, and easy to perform. The LAMP assay can be an alternative to conventional PCR for the diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis in resource-limited settings.
• Degree, Duration, and Causes of Visual Impairment in Eyes Affected with Ocular Tuberculosis Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection. Feb, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 24485195 Ocular tuberculosis (TB) can affect nearly every ocular tissue, leading to a variety of vision-threatening clinical manifestations. The goal of this study is to estimate the degree, duration, and causes of visual impairment in eyes affected by ocular TB.
• Factors Influencing Polymerase Chain Reaction Outcomes in Patients with Clinically Suspected Ocular Tuberculosis Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection. Mar, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 24661354 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay can be a useful method for definitive diagnosis in paucibacillary infections such as ocular tuberculosis (TB). In this study, we have evaluated factors affecting PCR outcomes in patients with clinically suspected ocular TB. Patients with clinically suspected ocular TB were investigated by PCR of aqueous or vitreous samples. Three control groups were also tested: group 1 included culture-proven non-tuberculous endophthalmitis, group 2 culture-negative non-tuberculous endophthalmitis, and group 3 patients undergoing surgery for uncomplicated cataract. PCR targeted one or more of following targets: IS6110, MPB64, and protein b genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Multiple regression analysis (5% level of significance) was done to evaluate the associations between positive PCR outcome and laterality of disease, tuberculin skin test (TST)/interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), chest radiography, and type of sample (aqueous or vitreous). The main outcome measures were positive PCR by one or more gene targets, and factors influencing positive PCR outcomes.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction Evaluation of Infectious Multifocal Serpiginoid Choroiditis Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. Oct, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 24766623 To study infectious agents associated with multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (MSC) based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluation and specific anti-microbial therapy.
• Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification for Rapid Diagnosis of Tubercular Uveitis JAMA Ophthalmology. Feb, 2015  |   Pubmed ID: 25357004
• Aqueous Humor Immune Factors and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Levels in CMV Retinitis Through Treatment - The CRIGSS Study Cytokine. Aug, 2016  |   Pubmed ID: 27239802 This study aims to perform comprehensive longitudinal immune factor analysis of aqueous humor in relation to the aqueous CMV viral load and systemic CD4 counts during treatment of patients with co-infection of HIV and CMVR.
• Dataset of Aqueous Humor Cytokine Profile in HIV Patients with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Retinitis Data in Brief. Sep, 2016  |   Pubmed ID: 27547803 The data shows the aqueous humor cytokine profiling results acquired in a small cohort of 17 HIV patients clinically diagnosed with Cytomegalovirus retinitis using the FlexMAP 3D (Luminex®) platform using the Milliplex Human Cytokine® kit. Aqueous humor samples were collected from these patients at different time points (pre-treatment and at 4-weekly intervals through the 12-week course of intravitreal ganciclovir treatment) and 41 cytokine levels were analyzed at each time point. CMV DNA viral load was assessed in 8 patients at different time points throughout the course of ganciclovir treatment. The data described herein is related to the research article entitled "Aqueous humor immune factors and cytomegalovirus (CMV) levels in CMV retinitis through treatment - The CRIGSS study" (Iyer et al., 2016) [1]. Cytokine levels against the different time points which indicate the response to the given treatment and against the CMV viral load were analyzed.
• A Distinct Cytokines Profile in Tear Film of Dry Eye Disease (DED) Patients with HIV Infection Cytokine. Dec, 2016  |   Pubmed ID: 27585367 To investigate the tear cytokine profile in HIV patients with dry eye disease (DED) and study the association between the severity of ocular inflammatory complications and tear cytokines levels. We postulate that HIV-mediated inflammation may be the underlying pathogenic mechanism for HIV-associated DED.
• Re: Raman Et al.: Five-year Incidence and Visual Outcomes in Postintravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis (Ophthalmology 2016;123:1162-4) Ophthalmology. Nov, 2016  |   Pubmed ID: 27772657
• Dataset of Tear Film Cytokine Levels in Dry Eye Disease (DED) Patients with and Without HIV Infection Data in Brief. Feb, 2017  |   Pubmed ID: 27942559 The tear film cytokine profiling data in this article was obtained from a prospective case-control study with a sample size of 34 dry eye disease (DED) patients with HIV infection and 32 DED patients without HIV infection, see "A distinct cytokines profile in tear film of dry eye disease (DED) patients with HIV infection" (R. Agrawal, P.K. Balne, A. Veerappan, V.B. Au, B. Lee, E. Loo, A. Ghosh, L. Tong, S.C. Teoh, J. Connolly, P. Tan, 2016) [1]. Tear samples were collected from all the subjects using Schirmer׳s strips and cytokine profiling was done using the Luminex bead based multiplex assay with a panel of 41 analytes. The cytokine level differences in each group of subjects were analyzed using logistic regression models.
• Dataset of Longitudinal Analysis of Tear Cytokine Levels, CD4, CD8 Counts and HIV Viral Load in Dry Eye Patients with HIV Infection Data in Brief. Apr, 2017  |   Pubmed ID: 28224132 The data presented in this article shows the longitudinal analysis of tear fluid cytokine profiles, blood CD4 and CD8 counts and HIV viral load in 34 dry eye patients with HIV infection during the HAART therapy. Clinical samples were collected from HIV patients with dry eye disease at the time of presentation to the clinic (visit 1), three months (visit 2) and 6 months (visit 3) after the presentation. At each time point tear samples were evaluated for 41 cytokines using Luminex bead based multiplex assay and blood samples were tested for HIV viral load and CD4 and CD8 counts.
• Zika Virus and Eye Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. Mar, 2017  |   Pubmed ID: 28318359 Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is the latest global health concern. Transmission is mainly via Aedes mosquitoes and the infection can be diagnosed on molecular or serologic testings. It typically causes a mild self-remitting illness of low-grade fever, maculopapular rash, and myalgia, but when severe, it is associated with neurological deficits and congenital structural defects. Ocular manifestations are usually mild like nonpurulent conjunctivitis in adults, though it may be linked to uveitis, maculopathy, and hypertensive iridocyclitis. Ocular signs seem to be more significant in congenital ZIKV-macular pigment mottling, neuroretinal atrophy with macular involvement, iris coloboma, and changes in retinal vasculature are noted in infants with infected mothers. Risk factors include ZIKV infection in first trimester and smaller cephalic diameter at birth. Hence, ophthalmic examination in newborns is now recommended. Currently, prevention and active surveillance are integral as there is no known vaccine, and treatment is only symptomatic.
• Author's Reply: Zika Virus Infection and Ophthalmic Examination in Newborn Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. Jun, 2017  |   Pubmed ID: 28622059