Molecular analysis of Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (pvl) gene among MRSA and MSSA isolates

The present study was conducted in order to determine the frequency of pvl gene among the pathogenic and healthy population isolates of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). For this purpose, nasal swab samples were collected from the healthy individuals (to be used as controls, all the samples were collected irrespective of the sex and age factors), the pathogenic samples were collected from different patients suffering from skin &soft tissue infections caused by S. aureus (to be used as test samples).Both of these population samples were analyzed for the presence of pvl gene. S.aureus were identified through conventional microbiological identification procedures. In the case of normal samples, 70 nasal swabs were collected and only 33 (47%) proved to be S. aureus while 20 pathogenic samples were collected and all (100%) were cleared as S. aureus. For further distribution of samples into MRSA and MSSA, antibiotic susceptibility pattern was checked by using the standard protocols of Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Two antibiotic discs Oxacillin (OX: 1ug) and cefoxitin (FOX: 30ug) were used. Among healthy population, MRSA was found to be 79% (n=26) and MSSA were present as 21% (n= 7). Among pathogenic strains 100% MRSA was detected where n= 20. Detection of pvl gene among the MRSA and MSSA isolates was done by using the uniplex PCR followed by gel electrophoresis. MRSA and MSSA of normal healthy population carried 49% and 7% pvl gene respectively. While, pathogenic MRSA samples carried 46% pvl gene among them. Potentially alarming percentage of pvl gene is present among the normal healthy individuals which indicates a future threat and a major health concern.

Protective and Curative Effects of Ethanol extract of Tinospora Cordifolia on Gentamicin-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Gentamicin induced acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in intrinsic variety of acute renal failure (ARF) results from oxidative stress leading to cellular lipid peroxidation. Tinospora cordifolia (Tc), locally named as 'Guluncha' is an herbal plant with medicinal value possess antioxidant property as well as significant scavenging activity in different extracts and easily available in Bangladesh. This prospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess the effect of ethanol extract of Tc on gentamicin induced renal damage in rats in the department of Pharmacology, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2014 to June 2014. For this purpose, sixty rats were divided into six equal groups. Gentamicin (80mg/kg/day, 7 days) was administered and nephrotoxicity was evaluated biochemically by estimating elevated levels of serum creatinine and serum urea. Extant of lipid peroxidation was assessed by estimating renal cortical malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The ethanol extract of Tc (200mg/kg/day) was administered with gentamicin concurrently and also consecutively to detect preventive and curative effects respectively. Statistically significant amelioration in the biochemical parameters both in serum and renal tissue suggested that active compound or compounds extracted from Tinospora cordifolia have both protective and curative effects against nephrotoxicity, though responsible active ingredient, accurate mechanism or safety profile was not confirmed by this study.

Applications of metallic nanomaterials for the treatment of water

Water scarcity is not a novel issue. It has already affected almost every continent in this blue planet. It is driven by two primary sources: increasing demand for fresh water due to the increase in population and overexhaustion of the available freshwater resources. During the past decade, stress has been given to extract fresh, clean and safe potable elixir of life from the bountiful stores of sea water by exploiting various technologies. As nanomaterials are providing promising solutions to almost all our problems, they are again being accessed in order to combat the problem of global freshwater scarcity. Desalination methods have marvellously improved under the impact of nanomaterials. Different metallic nanomaterials are being used to serve this purpose; for example, silver, iron, zinc, titanium dioxide in addition to natural and synthetically derived polymeric bionanomaterials. In the present paper, a brief account of all the metallic nanomaterials which are being used for treatment of water has been provided by thorough investigation on the research done till now. It strives to throw light on various materials and methods which are based on the exploitation of nanotechnology for the treatment of water.

Evaluation of the nutrient profile of Trachyspermum ammi L. seed under the influence of nanoparticles during germination

Trachyspermum ammi L. commonly known as Ajwain is an annual herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. It is enormously grown in Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India as well as European region. Seeds of Ajwain were highly administered by traditional healers and usually employed for different ailments. Nanomaterials are known to have plant growth promoting effects, which could find applications in agriculture. In this study, the nanoparticles (NPs) showed the potential to enhance the primary metabolites when administered during germination. Therefore, nanoparticles elicitation can be used to increase the productivity, nutritional values and metabolite contents in Trachyspermum ammi L. This study aimed to provide new insight of the potential growth promoting effects of the nanoparticles () on plant system. Different concentrations of two nanoparticles, that is, iron pyrite (FeS2) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) at three different concentrations of 25ug/ml, 50ug/ml and 75ug/ml were tested on the seeds of Trachyspermum ammi L. The data indicated that nanoparticles enhanced the seedling growth as greener leafs and increased lengths of epicotyl and hypocotyls were seen. These nanoparticles also showed the potential to increase the contents of primary metabolites during germination and the total soluble protein content in seed was increased in nanoparticles-treated seeds as compared to control. The total protein profiling by SDS-PAGE indicated significant differences in number and molecular weights of protein bands upon exposure to nanoparticles.

Protective effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on ferric nitrilotriacetate induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible ameliorating effect of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), associated with ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in mice. The treatment of mice with Fe-NTA alone enhances ornithine decarboxylase activity to 4.6 folds, protein carbonyl formation increased up to 2.9 folds and DNA synthesis expressed in terms of [3H] thymidine incorporation increased to 3.2 folds, and antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes decreased to 1.8–2.5 folds, compared with the corresponding saline-treated controls. These changes were reversed significantly ( p < 0.001) in animals receiving a pretreatment of BHT. Our data show that BHT can reciprocate the toxic effects of Fe-NTA and can serve as a potent chemopreventive agent.

Deltamethrin Increases Candida albicans infection susceptibility in mice

Deltamethrin, an alpha-cyano type II synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, is used to control a wide range of insects on a variety of crops and vectors of diseases. Deltamethrin has been previously reported for its immunotoxic effects and therefore its exposure may affect the host resistance to infection and tumour challenge. Effect of exposure of deltamethrin on host resistance to Candida albicans infection was examined in Swiss albino mice. The objective of this study was to investigate the modulatory action of deltamethrin in C. albicans infected mice. The dose of deltamethrin was initially tested and selected from our previous study (18 mg/kg). Percentage of infection in deltamethrin treated animals increased faster when compared to that of the controls. Deltamethrin exposure along with C. albicans infection caused alteration of humoral immune response. The number of colony forming unit in liver and spleen were also found to be significantly increased in the treated group. The results from our present study suggest that deltamethrin exhibits an immunosuppressive effect and has a negative impact on host resistance to C. albicans infection.

Electrical and pharmacological manipulations of the nucleus accumbens core impair synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus of the rat

The interest on the physiology of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) has grown in recent years given its relationship to addictive behaviours, and the possibility to treat them by interacting with NAcc function. We have shown that the prior stimulation of the core region blocks induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) at the dentate gyrus in anaesthetized rats, while the shell facilitated it. In the present study we have confirmed and expanded those results testing the effects of core and shell stimulation in freely moving rats, as well as the effect of blocking D1 receptors in the NAcc. Our results show that shell stimulation had no effect on baseline recordings of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) or the population spike amplitude (PSA) for 24 h. Core stimulation did not modify baseline-fEPSP, but significantly depressed PSA up to 8 h. LTP maintenance was not modified; neither by core nor shell stimulation after its induction, but LTP induction was impaired (both in the fEPSP and PSA) by core stimulation 15 min before induction. Shell stimulation showed a slight facilitating effect. Previous, topical application of a dopaminergic-receptor antagonist (SCH23390) into the NAcc produced a significantly depressed baseline fEPSP and PSA, as well as LTP measured in both components of the evoked potentials. Our results confirm a dual role of stimulation of NAcc sub-regions on hippocampal baseline synaptic transmission, and LTP induction when activated before induction. In contrast, stimulation of the NAcc had no influence on an already ongoing dentate gyrus LTP. A role for dopaminergic innervation to the NAcc, modifying susceptibility for synaptic plasticity outside the NAcc is also suggested by our results.