Vibrio fluvialis in Patients with Diarrhea, Kolkata, India

We identified 131 strains of Vibrio fluvialis among 400 nonagglutinating Vibrio spp. isolated from patients with diarrhea in Kolkata, India. For 43 patients, V. fluvialis was the sole pathogen identified. Most strains harbored genes encoding hemolysin and metalloprotease; this finding may contribute to understanding of the pathogenicity of V. fluvialis

Fat emulsion intragastric stability and droplet size modulate gastrointestinal responses and subsequent food intake in young adults

Background: Intragastric creaming and droplet size of fat emulsions may affect intragastric behavior and gastrointestinal and satiety responses.Objectives: We tested the hypotheses that gastrointestinal physiologic responses and satiety will be increased by an increase in intragastric stability and by a decrease in fat droplet size of a fat emulsion.Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized crossover study in 11 healthy persons [8 men and 3 women, aged 24 ± 1 y; body mass index (in kg/m2): 24.4 ± 0.9] who consumed meals containing 300-g 20% oil and water emulsion (2220 kJ) with 1) larger, 6-μm mean droplet size (Coarse treatment) expected to cream in the stomach; 2) larger, 6-μm mean droplet size with 0.5% locust bean gum (LBG; Coarse+LBG treatment) to prevent creaming; or 3) smaller, 0.4-μm mean droplet size with LBG (Fine+LBG treatment). The participants were imaged hourly by using MRI and food intake was assessed by using a meal that participants consumed ad libitum.Results: The Coarse+LBG treatment (preventing creaming in the stomach) slowed gastric emptying, resulting in 12% higher gastric volume over time (P < 0.001), increased small bowel water content (SBWC) by 11% (P < 0.01), slowed appearance of the 13C label in the breath by 17% (P < 0.01), and reduced food intake by 9% (P < 0.05) compared with the Coarse treatment. The Fine+LBG treatment (smaller droplet size) slowed gastric emptying, resulting in 18% higher gastric volume (P < 0.001), increased SBWC content by 15% (P < 0.01), and significantly reduced food intake by 11% (P < 0.05, equivalent to an average of 411 kJ less energy consumed) compared with the Coarse+LBG treatment. These high-fat meals stimulated substantial increases in SBWC, which increased to a peak at 4 h at 568 mL (range: 150–854 mL;P < 0.01) for the Fine+LBG treatment.Conclusion: Manipulating intragastric stability and fat emulsion droplet size can influence human gastrointestinal physiology and food intake

Parametric Study for Wire Cut Electrical Discharge Machining of Sintered Titanium

In 21st century, it has been observed that Wire Cut Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) has evolved as one of the most important non-traditional machining process. The popularity and its success lies because of its uniqueness towards producing different components which are very difficult to machine like titanium, tungsten carbide, Inconel materials etc and provides a platform in producing intricate complex shape which in many cases become impossible to machine by traditional machining methods. Pure sintered titanium bears very high specific strength, abrasion and corrosion resistances and thus machining this type of materials by conventional techniques becomes very difficult though this material finds immense applications in bio-plant and aerospace components. In the present work, WEDM on pure sintered titanium is studied. The different input parameters of WEDM like, pulse on time, pulse off time, wire tension and wire feed have been varied to investigate the output response like MRR, Surface Roughness (Ra), Kerf Width and Over Cut. A response surface methodology (4 factors 3 level) design of experiment (DOE) has been applied in this context to examine the machining ability of pure sintered titanium and results are found to be satisfactory and verified by confirmatory test. The machining parameters like pulse on time, pulse off time, wire tension and wire feed shows immense effect on the output responses and present study provide an optimal conditions of these input parameters to get the best output responses through RS

Efficacy of Virechana Karma along with Shamana Ausadha in Vipadika w.s.r to Palmar Psoriasis

Healthy skin depicts a healthy life. The skin is the largest organ and also a protecive covering for more delicate and funcionally sophisticated internal vicera. The skin was appreciated primarily as a passive barrier to fluid loss and mechanical injury. Many interrelated factors affects both the appearence and health of the skin including nutrition, hygiene, circulation, age, immunity, genetic traits, psychological state and drugs. Skin conditions can affect anyone- young and old, men and women. Acne vulgaries, psoriasis, eczema, urticaria etc are just a few examples of common skin disorders. Treating skin diseases is like, fighting war and if the warriors want to win, it is necessary to accurately access the strength of the adversary. So accurate diagnosis, application of principle, understanding the Avastha, treatment based on Avastha are highly essential. Vipadika is one of the types of the Kshudrakushta in Ayurveda. Here a 57 years old male patient history of repeted exposure to a chemical substance in paddy field with complain of excessive dryness, pain and fissures in palms since 1 year, diagnosed as Vipadika (palmer psoriasis) was treated with Sodhana (Virechana karma with Tivrit Avaleha) as well as Samana ausadhi with Trikatu churna, Mahatikta Ghrita, Khadiraarista, Panchatikta Ghrita guggul and Nimba taila (local application) having marked improvement. The study showed that combination of Ayurvedic modalities gives significant result in Lakshanas (symptoms) like Panisphutana (fissures in palms), Tivravedana (severe local pain), Daha (burning sensation), Kandu (itching) in a span of about 1 month

Deficient Phagocytosis in Circulating Monocytes from Patients with COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis

ABSTRACT Cases of rhino-orbital mucormycosis in patients suffering from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported in different parts of the world, especially in India. However, specific immune mechanisms that are linked to susceptibility to COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) remain largely unexplored. We aimed to explore whether the differential regulation of circulating cytokines in CAM patients had any potential pathogenic links with myeloid phagocyte function and susceptibility to mucormycosis. A small cohort of Indian patients suffering from CAM (N = 9) as well as COVID-19 patients with no evidence of mucormycosis (N = 5) were recruited in the study. Venous blood was collected from the patients as well as from healthy volunteers (N = 8). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma were isolated. Plasma samples were used to measure a panel of 48 cytokines. CD14+ monocytes were isolated and used for a flow cytometric phagocytosis assay as well as a global transcriptome analysis via RNA-sequencing. A multiplex cytokine analysis of the plasma samples revealed reduction in a subset of cytokines in CAM patients, which is known to potentiate the activation, migration, or phagocytic activity of myeloid cells, compared to the COVID-19 patients who did not contract mucormycosis. Compared to monocytes from healthy individuals, peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes from CAM patients were significantly deficient in phagocytic function. The monocyte transcriptome also revealed that pathways related to endocytic pathways, phagosome maturation, and the cytoskeletal regulation of phagocytosis were significantly downregulated in CAM patients. Thus, the study reports a significant deficiency in the phagocytic activity of monocytes, which is a critical effector mechanism for the antifungal host defense, in patients with CAM. This result is in concordance with results regarding the specific cytokine signature and monocyte transcriptome. IMPORTANCE A number of cases of mucormycosis, often fatal, were reported among severe COVID-19 patients from India as well as from some other parts of the world. However, specific immunocellular mechanisms that underlie susceptibility to this fungal infection in COVID-19 remain largely unexplored. Our study reports a deficiency in phagocytosis by monocytes in COVID-19 patients who are concomitantly afflicted with mucormycosis, with this deficiency being linked to a characteristic monocyte transcriptome as well as a circulating cytokine signature. The functional phenotype and cytokine signature of the monocytes may provide useful biomarkers for detecting potential susceptibility to mucormycosis in COVID-19 as well as in other viral infections