Bacteriological study of aerobic isolates from plantar ulcers of paucibacillary leprosy patients

Background:

Plantar ulcers commonly occur in leprosy patients, which usually recur and cause morbidity in such cases.

Aims:

The aim of the study is to find out the bacteriological profile of these ulcers and to find out the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates so that appropriate drugs may be chosen for treatment and for prevention of recurrence.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty-six samples from recurrent plantar ulcers of paucibacillary leprosy patients (attending the outpatient department of Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine) were studied for the purpose. Proper sample collection, gram staining, inoculation on culture media, and final identification by biochemical methods were undertaken. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done for appropriate choice of drugs.

Results:

Mixed growth of bacteria was seen in 20 (36%) cases while single organism was isolated from the rest. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant single isolate followed by E. coil, Proteus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Chloramphenicol and gentamycin are the two drugs that have shown efficacy to the extent of 75 to 100% and 25 to 100% respectively in vitro studies.

Conclusion:

Bacteriological study of plantar ulcers of leprosy patients has revealed Staphylococcus aureus as the main pathogen. Treatment with chloramphenicol and gentamycin holds good prospect as per our study.

A pilot study on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among clients of brothel-based female sex workers in Jessore, Bangladesh

The prevalence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections among clients of female sex workers (FSWs) was studied. A total of 156 condoms were collected from clients of 13 sex workers during three consecutive days. Condoms used by clients of FSWs were collected and DNA was extracted from the seminal fluid and used for the diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis by polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis and T. vaginalis among clients of FSWs was 4.5% (7/156), 2.5% (4/156) and 7% (11/156), respectively.

Diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis in the rice field soils of different ecologies in India

Diversity of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the rice field soils of different ecologies viz. the island (Port Blair), the Himalayan (Srinagar), brackish water (Mahe) and coastal mesophilic (Mangalore) habitats was analyzed by phenotypic characterization of 5, 66, 14 and 54 Bt isolates, respectively. The Bt isolates produced either monotypic (bipyramidal or spherical) or heterotypic (polymorphic-bipyramidal or bipyramidal-rhomboidal) crystals. The organisms were generally resistant to the penicillin group of antibiotics, tolerated 5-12% NaCl and 0.5M Na-acetate. The Bt isolates contained 1-5 plasmids of 0.89-58.61 kbp sizes. The plasmid profiles had no correlation with crystal morphology or salt tolerance of different bacteria. Each soil was inhabited by different types of Bt. Two Bt strains of Mangalore and one strain each of the other places were phenotypically similar. One Bt strain each of Port Blair and Srinagar was different from all other strains.

Calcined Mg-Fe-CO(3) LDH as an adsorbent for the removal of selenite

Mg-Fe-CO(3) layered double hydroxide (LDH) with a Mg/Fe molar ratio of 2.0 was synthesized by co-precipitation method and its calcined product (CLDH) was obtained by heating Mg/Fe-LDH at 500 degrees C. Sorption of SeO(2-)(3) on CLDHs was studied and the results indicate that the sorption capacity of CLDHs was higher than that of uncalcined LDHs. Isotherms for SeO(2-)(3) sorption by CLDHs were well described using the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The thermodynamic parameters, viz. DeltaG*, DeltaH*, DeltaS* were calculated to predict the nature of adsorption. The negative and positive values of DeltaG* and DeltaH* indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature, respectively. The adsorption process followed first-order kinetics.

Preparation and characterization of Mg–Al hydrotalcite-like compounds containing cerium

Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) containing Mg(2+), Al(3+), and Ce(3+) in the hydroxide layer and with carbonate as charge-balancing anion have been prepared by a co-precipitation (at constant pH) method. The Al/Ce ratio in the final product depends on the concentration in the initial solution. The crystallinity of the layered materials decreases with the increase in cerium content, probably, due to the distortions introduced by the large difference in the ionic radii of the cations. All the synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and TG/DTA. The textural properties were determined from low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel oxazolidinones bearing N-hydroxyacetamidine substituent

Novel oxazolidinone antibacterials containing N-hydroxyacetamidine moiety are synthesized with the diversity at C-5 terminus. These compounds have been evaluated against a panel of clinically relevant gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. Most of the analogs in this series displayed activity superior to Linezolid and in vivo efficacies of selected oxazolidinones are also disclosed herein.

Anti-idiotype-mediated epitope spreading and diminished phagocytosis by a human monoclonal antibody recognizing late-stage apoptotic cells

Apoptotic cells are considered an important auto-antigenic source in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A human monoclonal antibody demonstrating exquisite specificity towards late-stage apoptotic cells was generated from an SLE patient. Polyreactive recognition of ribonucleoproteins Ro52 and Ro60 was observed. The antibody significantly diminished the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and a concomitant decrease in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) secretion was observed. Light and heavy chain sequencing revealed the antibody to be in essentially germline configuration. Elicited anti-idiotypic antibodies bound distinct self-antigens and showed augmented reactivity towards apoptotic cells as well. Thus, near-germline encoded antibodies recognizing antigens externalized during the process of apoptosis can mediate a variety of potentially pathogenic effects; decreases in the phagocytic uptake of dying cells would constitute a disease-perpetuating event and stimulation of the idiotypic network could lead to intermolecular epitope spreading, increasing the range of molecular targets..

No association between seropositivity forHepatitis C virusand lichen planus: A case control study

BACKGROUND

The epidemiological association of lichen planus (LP) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recorded from some countries and HCV RNA3 has been isolated from lesional skin in patients with LP and chronic HCV infection. The observed geographical differences regarding HCV infection and LP could be immuno-genetically related.

AIM

To determine whether HCV has a causal relationship with LP.

METHODS

Histopathologically proved cases of LP were subjected to antibody to HCV test by the Third Generation Enzyme Immunoassay Kit for the detection of antibody to HCV (Anti-HCV) in human serum or plasma. They were routinely screened in the virology department by the reagent kit, HIVASE 1 + 2, adopting the "direct sandwich principle" for the assay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. There were 150 age and sex matched controls (not suffering from LP) and HIV-I and II negative, and negative for HCV.

RESULTS

Of the 104 patients studied only 2 patients (1.92%) of generalized LP with disease duration of more than 3 months were found to be positive for antibodies to HCV. This was not a significant finding and no statistical methods, e.g. Chi square test etc. could be applied.

CONCLUSION

Hepatitis C virus is not significant to the causation of LP in India.

Effect of heat treatment on the physico-chemical properties and catalytic activity of manganese nodules leached residue towards decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The effect of calcination temperature on the physico-chemical characterization of manganese nodule leached residue (MNLR) and water-washed manganese nodule leached residue (WMNLR) has been investigated on the basis of chemical analysis, XRD, TG-DTA, FTIR, surface hydroxyl groups, surface oxygen, reducing and oxidizing sites, surface area. XRD and IR confirm the presence of amorphous iron oxyhydroxides, delta-MnO2, which are converted to alpha-Fe2O3 and gamma-Mn2O3 phases above 400 degrees C of calcination, respectively. A solid solution of Fe2O3 and Mn2O3 is formed above 700 degrees C. The surface area, surface hydroxyl group, surface oxygen, reducing and oxidizing sites increase with the increase in calcination temperature up to 400 degrees C and then decrease with further rise in calcination temperature up to 700 degrees C. The catalytic activity of the sample towards H2O2 decomposition shows the similar trend as surface properties. A suitable Mn(3+)Mn4+ couple favours H2O2 decomposition reaction. The activity has been correlated with various physico-chemical properties.

Treatment of primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis with cyclophosphamide

The study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of cyclophosphamide in primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis. Thirty-six patients of primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis were treated with cyclophosphamide 50 mg. tablets orally daily for a period of six months. Most of the patients following the therapy showed marked improvement in respect of itching, pigmentation and sizes of the popular lesions. Side effects of cyclophosphamide were very low.

Oxidative activation of acylguanidine prodrugs: intestinal presystemic activation in rats limits absorption and can be inhibited by co-administration of ketoconazole

1. The disposition of acyl prodrugs was studied to improve the delivery of a guanidine-containing parent compound with poor membrane permeability and poor absorption. 2. The prodrugs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo for conversion to drug. Prodrugs were evaluated for hydrolytic or oxidative bioactivation in intestinal homogenate and rat liver S9 or microsomes. The disposition of the prodrugs in vivo was monitored in bile duct-cannulated rats. 3. Compounds with n-alkylacyl groups were efficiently bioactivated, but were hydrolysed before absorption. 4. Hydrolytic bioactivation could be blocked in vitro by branching in the alkyl chain. These compounds showed modest improvements in absorption, despite favourable permeability. Experiments with liver microsomes demonstrated efficient NADPH-dependent oxidative bioactivation, which was proposed to occur through a CYP-mediated side chain oxidation followed by cyclization and release of parent compound. Ketoconazole co-administration yielded approximately a twofold increase in absorption. 5. The hydrolytically stable prodrugs were successful in increasing absorption of parent drug and were efficiently bioactivated, but they did not yield increased systemic levels of drug.

Studies on Mg/Fe Hydrotalcite-Like-Compound (HTlc)

A Mg/Fe hydrotalcite-like-compound (HTlc) was prepared and its affinity toward the removal of SeO(3)(2-) from an aqueous medium was studied as a function of pH, time, temperature, particle dose, and SeO(3)(2-) concentration. The fraction of SeO(3)(2-) removal increases with decrease in both pH and temperature. The adsorption data are fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm in the temperature range 303-333 K, and the thermodynamic parameters viz. standard Gibbs' free energy change (DeltaG degrees ), enthalpy change (DeltaH degrees ), and entropy change (DeltaS degrees ) are calculated. The negative value of DeltaH degrees indicates that the adsorption process is exothermic. The apparent equilibrium constants (K(a)) are also calculated and found to decrease with increase in temperature.

A visual pigment expressed in both rod and cone photoreceptors

Rods and cones contain closely related but distinct G protein-coupled receptors, opsins, which have diverged to meet the differing requirements of night and day vision. Here, we provide evidence for an exception to that rule. Results from immunohistochemistry, spectrophotometry, and single-cell RT-PCR demonstrate that, in the tiger salamander, the green rods and blue-sensitive cones contain the same opsin. In contrast, the two cells express distinct G protein transducin alpha subunits: rod alpha transducin in green rods and cone alpha transducin in blue-sensitive cones. The different transducins do not appear to markedly affect photon sensitivity or response kinetics in the green rod and blue-sensitive cone. This suggests that neither the cell topology or the transducin is sufficient to differentiate the rod and the cone response.

A study of drug eruptions by provocative tests

Sixty cases of drug eruptions were observed during the period of one year. The incidence of drug eruption was 0.47% amongst all Dermatology O.P.D. attendances. Male to female ratio was 7:3. The highest number of cases were seen in the age group of 21-30 years. Fixed drug eruptions were the most frequent (58.3%), followed by urticaria and angioedema (20%). The drug sulphonamides (including co-trimoxazole) accounted for the highest number of eruptions (35%). The other drugs which were responsible for the eruptions, in order of frequency, were oxyphenbutazone, ampicillin, analgin, penicillin, tetracycline, ibuprofen, paracetamol, phenylbutazone, acetaminophen and phenobarbitone. The causative drug (s) were confirmed by provocation tests in 42 (70%) cases.

Status and distribution of golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) in Assam, India

The distribution of golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) is limited to a small area of western Assam in northeast India and Bhutan between the rivers Manas in the east, Sankosh in the west, and Brahmaputra in the south. It is one of the most seriously endangered primate species of India. A comparative analysis based on satellite images taken in 1988 and 1998 showed a 50% loss of original golden langur habitat. Data on population dynamics collected using line transect and total count methods are presented here. An average group size of 8.2 (range 4.0-22.0) individuals was recorded. A total of 1,064 individuals were counted living in 130 groups. The sex ratio was 1.9-2.5 adult females for each adult male. A low percentage of juveniles and infants suggests that the population is unstable. Most of the groups had only one adult male. Small group sizes, isolated distribution, proportionately few infants and juveniles, and degrading habitat are all causes of concern. Demographic trends indicate a decline in the golden langur population.