Nature of crop contents of an amblyceran pigeon louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum (Phthiraptera: Insecta)

Selected haemetophagous phthirapterans have been convicted to act as reservoir and transmitter of pathogens among their hosts. Amblyceran Phthiraptera are generally believed to exhibit varying degree of haemetophagy. The microscopic examination of 100 adults (both sexes) and 47 nymphal instars of an amblyceran louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum revealed their non haemetophagous nature as any red content compatible with host blood was not detected in their crops. The crops of the lice were found packed with only feather barbules. On seven instances the pieces of egg chorion and in 20 cases the presence of epidermal tissue were also detected in crop contents. However, the presence of any triturating agent (any structure which can help in grinding the feather contents) was not noticed. SEM studies on the ventral side of the head of the louse do not indicate the presence of any pointed gear which can be used to pierce the skin blood vessels of host. Present study suggests that few amblyceran species of Phthiraptera are not in haemetophagous in nature

Comparison of thoracic segmental spinal anaesthesia and lumbar spinal anaesthesia for percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Background: Randomised controlled study aimed to compare low thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia (TSSA) and conventional lumbar spinal anesthesia (LSA) in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Methods: Sixty adult patients undergoing elective PCNL were randomly assigned to two groups: T (TSSA) and L (LSA). Group T received TSSA (isobaric ropivacaine 0.75% 2.5 ml with dexmedetomidine 6mcg) at T10-T12, while Group L received LSA (hyperbaric ropivacaine 0.75% 4 ml with dexmedetomidine 6mcg) at L2-L4. Primary objectives of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of TSSA for PCNL and to compare hemodynamic changes, block onset, and duration, and adverse effects. Secondary objectives were time to rescue analgesia, patient, and surgeon satisfaction. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: All patients underwent surgery successfully under neuraxial anesthesia. Group T exhibited more stable hemodynamics with a significantly lower hypotension incidence compared to Group L (3.33% vs. 26.66%, p=0.03). Onset of sensory and motor block was quicker in the TSSA group (p<0.001) upper. Sensory block levels were T6 for both groups, but lower level in TSSA was levels L2 and L3, while LSA impacted all segments below T6. No neurological complications occurred, particularly in Group T, which had higher satisfaction scores from surgeons and patients. Conclusions: TSSA is a safe and effective option for PCNL, providing better hemodynamic stability with lesser incidence of and reducing intra-operative hypotension compared to conventional LSA

In vitro biology of pigeon louse Colpocephalum turbinatum (Amblycera: Phthiraptera)

In vitro rearing of amblyceran Phthiraptera is a challenging task. A look on the literature reveals that negligible information exists on the in vitro bionomics of avian Amblycera. Present report furnishes information on the in vitro biology of an amblyceran louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum, reared at 35 ± 1?C, 75-82% Relative Humidity, at feather diet. The incubation period of the eggs of louse was determined as 5.37±0.67 days. The duration of first, second and third nymphal instars remained 5.04±0.65, 5.12±0.89 and 5.0±0.57 days, respectively. The longevity of adult female (13.04 ± 3.67 days) was comparatively longer than that of males (9.6±2.87 days). An adult female laid an average of 0.63 egg/day in vitro condition (35±1oC and 75-82% RH, at feather diet)

Lipase production from a wild (LPF-5) and a mutant (HN1) strain of Aspergillus niger

In this study, a wild (LPF-5) and a mutant (HN1) strain of A. niger were compared for lipase production. Several physical parameters (carbon source, nitrogen source, pH, temperature and incubation period) were optimized for maximization of lipase production. Lipase activity between wild type and mutant strain were compared. Among all carbon sources, mixture of glucose (1%, w/v) and olive oil (1%, v/v) exhibited maximum increase in the production of lipases by both the wild (94.91 ± 0.60 U mL-1 min-1) and mutant (118.23 ± 0.73 U mL-1 min-1) strain. Addition of glucose into the production medium (containing olive oil) increased the production of lipase up to 20% in case of both the strains. The production of lipase by both the strains was higher in the medium of pH 7.0 containing peptone (1%, w/v) as nitrogen source after 3 days of incubation at 28°C. The activity of lipase from HN1 strain in optimized medium was 40% higher (147.65 ± 1.14 U mL-1 min-1) than in un-optimized medium (105.19 ± 0.91 U mL-1 min-1), while it was 38% higher for LPF-5 strain in optimized medium. Therefore the mutant strain (A. niger HN1) is prospective for the development of industrial biotechnology for production of extracellular lipase. Lipase enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and 70% precipitate showed highest specific activity of 66.12 U mg-1 for mutant strain as compared to specific activity of 29.88 U mg-1 in crude lysate.Keywords: Wild strain, mutant strain, Aspergillus niger, lipase activity, specific activity, ammonium sulfat

QUANTIFICATION OF URAPIDIL IN HUMAN PLASMA USING ULTRA PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY (UPLC-MS/MS) FOR PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY IN HEALTHY INDIAN VOLUNTEERS

Objective: A rapid and selective quantitative method was developed and validated in human plasma for urapidil pharmacokinetic study in healthy Indian volunteers. Methods: The ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method with solid-phase extraction technique utilized Strata X 33µ polymeric reversed phase (30 mg/mL), extraction cartridge. Simple gradient chromatographic conditions and selective reaction monitoring in mass spectrometric detection enabled accurate and precise measurement of urapidil at nanogram levels in 0.1 mL of human plasma. The method used a deuterium labeled internal standard. Results: The method was validated for a linear range of 5–500 ng/mL for urapidil with a correlation coefficient ³ 0.99 The intra-run and inter-run precision and accuracy were within 10%. The overall recoveries for urapidil and urapidil D4 were more than 90%. The urapidil was found to be stable in plasma matrix and aqueous media. Conclusion: The developed and validated method was specific, sensitive and reproducible in the analysis of clinical samples interspersed with quality control samples under freshly prepared calibration standards. The method was applied for the determination of the pharmacokinetic parameters of urapidil following a single oral administration of urapidil 60 mg capsules in nineteen healthy Indian male volunteers for fasting and fed study

Microtopography of the eggshell of Menacanthus eurysternus (Phthiraptera: Amblycera)

The egg laying sites, pattern and the egg morphology (SEM) of an amblyceran louse parasitizing Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) have been recorded. Unlike most of the species of the genus, Menacanthus studied so far, the eggshell of M. eurysternus lacks the apophyses (bristle like outgrowths arising from anterior portion of the eggshell). However, the opercular disc of M. eurysternus bears a polar thread and the micropyles are set along the opercular rim

Optimization of culture conditions for extracellular fungal lipase production by submerged fermentation process

The present study aimed to optimize culture conditions for optimal growth and production of extracellular lipase. Lipolytic fungal strain named as S3St2 previously isolated from a petrol pump soil sample of Newai Town was used for optimization study. Among the tested carbohydrate carbon sources, polysaccharide-starch exhibited maximum lipase production (21.25±0.70 IU/ml/min) with highest specific activity (1.47±0.06 U/mg). Lipase activity and specific activity were higher with mustard oil 1 % (v/v) among all lipidic carbon sources. Among inorganic nitrogen source, potassium nitrate was found best inducer of lipase activity, malt extract supported the fungus growth (dry weight of cell pellets was 0.467 g) and exhibited maximum lipase activity among all organic nitrogen sources. Lipase activity was optimum at pH 8.0, indicates alkalophillic nature of production media supports the growth of fungus. Higher lipase activity (27.92±0.87 IU/ml/min) was detected at 28ºC. The incubation time of 5 days was found optimum for maximum lipase production (31.51±0.21 IU/ml/min)

Experimental investigation of tensile properties and microstructure of TIG welded dissimilar joints of Al6061/Al5083 Aluminium alloy

262-270The welding of aluminium alloys especially in dissimilar combination is challenging owing to numerous problems. The present study focuses to optimize processes parameters for dissimilar welding of 6 mm thick dissimilar Al-6061 and Al-5083, using Tungsten Inert Gas welding as well as to investigate the influence of the process parameters on tensile properties and microstructure of developed welds. A single V-butt joint configuration (bevel angle 60 ̊ and root gap 2 mm) of plates was used for welding. Three levels of input parameters viz. voltage, current and welding speed were selected for performing experiments as per L9 orthogonal array. The hardness and tensile strength were taken as output parameters or performance characteristic in the study. The optimum parameter settings for highest heat affected zone hardness and ultimate tensile strength of dissimilar welds have been suggested by using S/N ratio. The result predicted by optimization has an error of 2-3%. Finally, the effects of voltage, current and welding speed on m icro structure, hardness and tensile strength of welds have been investigated. Welding speed and current were the most influencing process parameter for controlling the hardness of HAZ and tensile strength of the welds