Study of bacteria and yeast pathogens causing sore throat in a tertiary care centre in Patna

Introduction- Sore throat is a common diagnosis in clinical practice and is mostly caused by viruses followed by bacteria and fungi. Proper management of sore throat depends on identification of the causative organism and judicious use of correct antimicrobials which is often ignored in daily clinical practice and is resulting in treatment failure and antimicrobial resistance. Healthy population carrying pathogenic organisms can be a significant source of sore throat, especially in the hospital environment. Aim- The objective of this study was to determine the profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacteria and yeast pathogens causing sore throat and to evaluate the colonization of such pathogens in an apparently healthy population. Materials and Methods- This prospective study was conducted for 2 years among 2 groups: cases (103 clinically diagnosed patients) and controls (42 individuals with no clinical diagnosis of sore throat). 145 pairs of throat swab samples were collected and processed for staining, culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. An MS Excel spreadsheet (V. 2007) was used to perform the statistical calculations. Results- The majority of the cases include adolescents and young adults aged 11-40 years, i.e. 55.3% with an overall male predominance with a male:female ratio of 2.1:1. The causative organisms vary in different age groups with gram-positive organisms being the most prevalent among children and young adults. Most of the cases (53.4%) have seen in months between November to April, indicating a seasonal variation in the incidence of sore throat. Clinically significant isolates from cases like Staphylococcus aureus showed 100% sensitivity against vancomycin and linezolid. Group A Streptococci showed good sensitivity (>80%) against penicillin and ampicillin. Gram-negative isolates showed good sensitivity (>50%) against amikacin, piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem. Neisseria gonorrhoeae showed good sensitivity against ceftriaxone (100%). Conclusion- Sore throat must be treated by identifying the causative pathogen based on the clinical and epidemiological profile of the patient. Surveillance of apparently healthy patient’s throat flora in the hospital environment may reduce the spread of such organisms among the susceptible population and contribute to hospital infection control practices

Epidemiological Study of Hepatitis B Virus from 2009 to 2019 in Koya City

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious and common infectious disease of the liver, affecting millions of people worldwide. Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The present study aims to assess the incidence rate of hepatitis B infection in Koya city between 2009 and 2019, among individuals undergoing surgery, marriage, blood transfusion, employed in hospitals or other health care centers, and foreigners. This descriptive-analytical study has been conducted on the individuals with hepatitis B virus visiting health centers in Koya city, demographic characteristics (age, gender and ethnicity) and epidemiologic information of the patients recorded at Koya health centers were analyzed. The total incidence rate reported was 230 cases between 2009 and 2019, in which 160 (69.6%) were males, and 70 (30.4%) were females. The highest number of cases recorded in 2014 in which the incidence rate has increased due to Syrian refugee settlements in Koya city. Surprisingly, the incidence rate show decline from 2014 to 2018. As the study results revealed, the disease incidence rate has shown a decline from 2014. This shows the improvement of education, health and hygiene as well as a good vaccination program. In our region, males are more at risk than females for getting the hepatitis B virus due to males' activity and daily jobs compared with females, which remain mostly at home

Determination of Cadmium in Roadside Soil and Plants in Erbil, Iraq

In recent years the number of cars has been growing rapidly due to which the pollution load in soil is increasing gradually. Generally, heavy metal contamination of the soil has raised concerns in recent years due to its potential effects not only on human health but also on the plant system. To knowledge the consequences of Cadmium (Cd) on plant systems, in the current study we collected the soil samples and Hordeum, Triticum and Vicia faba plants from two different highway sides (Erbil-Altun Kupri and Erbil-Koya). The results of statistical analysis of variance show that there were no significant differences between distances (P < 0.003) as well as between plant samples (P < 0.000), while the interaction between plant samples, distance and locations is opposite (P  > 0.33). Vehicle emission could cause mitotic irregularities consisting of anaphase bridges, chromosome breaks, stickiness, and micronuclei. The intensity of Cd effects is basically relying on the Cd concentration and plant type

Food, Fish and Diseases Transmitted to the Consumer

Foodborne Diseases (FD) are currently considered a clear challenge for public health, mainly in developing countries, due to its incidence, mortality, sequelae, as well as for the detriment in the economic, productive and health sectors. Fish is considered one of the most widely produced, marketed and consumed foods around the world, and it is also a highly nutritious food, being a main source of protein, lipids, vitamins and minerals. However, it is also a food highly susceptible to deterioration and contamination by various agents of chemical or biological origin throughout the food chain (from the farm to the consumer's table), putting health at risk. The objective of this review document is to give the reader an overview of foodborne diseases, causative agents, control and prevention measures, including different regulations around the world focused on production, processing, consumption of fish and protection of public health

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): A Review on its Prevalence and Infection in different areas of Iraq

Hepatitis B is a severe infection of liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) lead to progressive liver diseases, such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It can cause acute and chronic infections. HBV infection is one of the serious concerns and a constant threat to public health. WHO ranks HBV among the top ten killers. It is estimated that more than 350 million hepatitis B carriers are present worldwide. This disease is generally transmitted through exposure to infected body fluids. Perinatal or vertical transmission is the major route of transmission in endemic areas. The incubation period of HBV varies from 1 to 6 months. Serological tests are conducted to detect antigens and antibodies in the serum of patients. ELISA is used to detect HBV antigen and antibody and PCR is used to detect HBV-DNA. There is no treatment available for acute infection. Chronic cases can be treated with medications. HBV infection is easily preventable with a vaccine. The present study focused on the compilation and review of (30) papers on the prevalence of HBV infection by Iraqi researchers in different areas of Iraq

Fire Impacts on Forest Ecosystem: With a Focus on the Resilience of Tree Species and Dramatic Change in Insect Populations

The research data was collected from forests located at Haibat Sultan Mountain in Koya district for three years from 2014 to 2017. At the sampling location, fire outbreaks occur many times a year. This study aims to determine the environmental impacts of forest fire on vegetation and insects. This results in the identification of the most fire-resistant trees and the impact of burning on the environment. In the Haibat Sultan Mountain forest, four types of tree species are distinguished which are Pine, Cupressus, Pistachio and Oak, their contribution to cover the area is 63%, 19%, 15% and 3% respectively. Oak is the only native tree of the forest and one of the most resistant species, 93 percent of which can survive, but the other species Cupressus, Pine and Pistachio are introduced with different level of vulnerabilities, with 75%, 60% and 41% of combustion rates, respectively. Forest fire has a significant negative impact on the population of Thaumetopoea solitaria Freyer and Schistocerca gregaria, both of which are the main insects of the forest. The average of the number of egg masses of Thaumetopoea solitaria and nymph and adult of Schistocerca gregaria before the fire is (18.8 masses and 4.1 nymphs and adults), but the average declined dramatically to (3.3 masses and 0.9 nymphs and adults) during the fire season. In the post-fire season, the average is increased significantly (6.3 masses and 1.9 nymphs and adults)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Review

Nowadays irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) with global prevalence. It’s described by a change in the habit of the bowel system. Pathophysiology of IBS is unclear, therefore; IBS becomes a specific subject for many researchers to investigate and discover some biomarkers associated with IBS. Symptoms are a confusion of abdominal pain and bloating which is demonstrated according to Rome criteria. In this mini-review, we conclude that IBS makes additional complications in patients such as reflux gastro esophagus, dysphagia, and factors related to IBS are varied including gender, food, family, and environment. Furthermore, food and lifestyle have a direct role in the pathophysiology of IBS patients. Finding additional signs and symptoms of IBS is essential for diagnosis because IBS is dependent on symptoms. IBS has a significant association with genetic variants. SLC6A4 (solute carrier family 6, member 4) is a serotonin transporter gene that gained the most attention from various researchers, therefore IBS require further investigation and discussion to demonstrate some biomarkers and factors associated with them

Electric Bacteria: A Review

Electromicrobiology is the field of prokaryotes that can interact with charged electrodes, and use them as electron donors/acceptors. This is done via a method known as extracellular electron transport. EET-capable bacterium can be used for different purposes, water reclamation, small power sources, electrosynthesis and pollution remedy. Research on EET-capable bacterium is in its early stages and most of the applications are in the developmental phase, but the scope for significant contributions is high and moving forward

Impact of different concentrations of Sodium chloride on the Root growth, Cell division and Chromosomal abnormalities in the root tips of Allium cepa

The experiment was conducted to study the inhibition of the root growth, cell division and cytotoxic effects of NaCl on onion bulbs (Allium cepa). The onion bulbs were treated with different concentrations of NaCl (0.06, 0.12, 0.24 and 0.48 molarity) for 72 hours in a glass beaker. The results, based on the different concentrations and exposure time showed that the mitotic index and the average onion root growth rate decreased significantly compared with the control. Treatment with 0.48 molarity NaCl concentrations has a less percentage of root growth (12.9%) whereas treatment with distilled water (control) has maximum root growth (40.63%). The mitotic index of control was (12%) while onion treated with NaCl was decreased to (9.11%) in 0.48 molarity. It was found that the chromosomal aberrations increased as the concentration of the NaCl increased when compared to control. The recorded chromosomal abnormalities were micronuclei, budding nuclei, unequal-sized nuclei, c-mitosis, anaphase bridge, and chromosome stickiness. The results showed that the higher concentrations of NaCl have more impact on the root growth, cell division and chromosomal abnormalities in the root tips of Allium cepa

Seasonal Study of some Chemical Parameters in Daryabganj Lake, District Etah

In India, great regional differences are found in the topography, geology, climate etc. As a result of these differences, the limnological resources (lake, pond & reservoirs) are very unevenly distributed. The inland fisheries include, besides capture fishes of the lake, rivers and large bodies of waters, the culture fishery whose contribution to the dietary of man is of the highest importance. From the catch statistics of these waters, it becomes quite clear that fish production is low in comparison to those of other countries like China, Japan, Indonesia etc. The efforts for increasing fish production in inland waters are underway; however, any effort towards developing the fish resources requires intimate knowledge