Influence of a fish bacterium Lactobacillus sp. on the production of swordtail xiphophorus helleri (Heckel 1848)

The influence of a fish gut bacterium Lactobacillus sp on the production of swordtail Xiphophorus helleri was studied for a period of one year. The Lactobacillus sp P21 produced bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance and exhibited wide spectrum of action against Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas spp and Citrobacter freundi in vitro. The growth performance of X. helleri reared in the presence of Lactobacillus P21 at 106/ml rearing water was better than the control. The total plate counts, total MRS agar counts and the counts of motile aeromonads, presumptive pseudomonads, lactose fermenters and lactose non-fermenters in the gut of probiotic group were comparatively low than the control. On day 60 the count of Lactobacillus sp P21 was observed to be log 5.28/g in the gut of X. helleri indicating colonization of this bacterium in the gastrointestinal tract. The fecundity of X. helleri was in the range of 9-134. On average, it produced from 39.42±18.72 fry/female in control group to 53.00±23.57 fry/female in probiotic group. The increase in average fecundity in probiotic group over the control group was about 25%. There existed significant difference between probiotic group and control in respect of average fecundity/female (p<0.02), average number of fry survived /female (p<0.006) and average number of fry dead/female (p<0.029). The results of the present study demonstrated that the rearing of X. helleri in probiotic-enriched water have growth inducing ability and favourably influenced the reproductive performance in terms of high fecundity, high fry survival, reduced fry mortality and reduced fry deformity

Causality between foreign direct investments and exports in India

This paper attempts to examine the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and Exports from India during the period from 1990-1991 to 2014-2015. The data has been collected from the various issues of Handbook of Statistics on Indian economy, Reserve Bank of India. It was found that there was no long run co-integrating relationship between FDI inflows and exports from India. Granger causality test was used to find the causal relationship between these variables. The results revealed that there was bi-directional causality between Foreign Direct Investment and exports. This indicates that Foreign Direct Investment might be causing imports which in turn cause exports from India in the post reform period

Effects of dietary supplementation of commercial human probiotic and antibiotic on the growth rate and content of intestinal microflora in ornamental fishes

The effects of dietary supplementation of commercial human probiotic, Lactobacil and antibiotic, oxytetracycline on the growth, survival, disease resistance and content of intestinal microflora in two ornamental fishes, viz., goldfish, Carassius auratus and swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri were studied. The total wet weight gain, food conversion ratio and specific growth rate of C. auratus did not vary significantly (p>0.05) among treatments. While in X. helleri, significant differences existed in the total wet weight gain, survival, food conversion ratio and specific growth rate among treatment groups (p<0.05). The counts of antibiotic resistant bacteria in fish gut increased with days of culture in all the treatments and the increase was more in antibiotic fed fishes. A reduction in the development of antibiotic resistance among the bacterial flora of fish gut was noticed in probiotic fed groups of C auratus and X. helleri. The results of the present study revealed that the effects of human probiotic on the growth, survival and disease resistance of ornamental fishes are variable and difficult to reproduce the similar effect on different species

Studies on the effect of Zinc levels , and methods of boron application on growth, yield and protein content of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

ABSTRACT A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of zinc levels and methods of application of boron on the growth, yield and protein content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during the winter (Rabi) season in two consecutiv

Prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects people of all ages worldwide and has significant socio-economic impact. Data on chronic rhinosinusitis are scarce.Objective: To determine the prevalence of CRS among patients attending the Otorhinolaryngology Department at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).Method: This was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study where 56 patients with CRS were recruited from July to December 2015 after meeting the criteria set by American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS). Data were analysed using SPSS program version 21.Results: The prevalence of CRS among 5321 patients was 1.07%; 51.8% were female and the highest proportion was aged 11-20 years. Bilaterality of disease was found in 62%. The maxillary sinus (83.9%) was the most affected sinus whilst the sphenoid sinus was least affected. There was good correlation between computerized tomography (CT) and intraoperative findings, anatomical variations and pathological features.Conclusion: CRS appears to be less prevalent at MNH than elsewhere with a tendency to bilaterality and maxillary sinus predominance similar to other studies.Keywords: Prevalence, chronic rhinosinusitis, Muhimbili Hospital, TanzaniaSouth Sudan Medical Journal Vol 12 No 3 August 201

Effect of hydrogen bonding and complexation with metal ions on the fluorescence of luotonin A

Fluorescence characteristics of a biologically active natural alkaloid, luotonin A (LuA), were studied by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic methods. The rate constant of the radiationless deactivation from the singlet-excited state diminished by more than one order of magnitude when the solvent polarity was changed from toluene to water. Dual emission was found in polyfluorinated alcohols of large hydrogen bond donating ability due to photoinitiated proton displacement along the hydrogen bond. In CH 2Cl2, LuA produced both 1:1 and 1:2 hydrogen-bonded complexes with hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) in the ground state. Photoexcitation of the 1:2 complex led to protonated LuA, whose fluorescence appeared at a long wavelength. LuA served as a bidentate ligand forming 1:1 complexes with metal ions in acetonitrile. The stability of the complexes diminished in the series of Cd2+ > Zn2+ > Ag+, and upon competitive binding of water to the metal cations. The effect of chelate formation on the fluorescent properties was revealed. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry and Owner Societies

Pattern and causes of tympanic membrane perforation at a private hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Introduction: There is variation in the size, shape and position of tympanic membrane perforations; the degree of conductive hearing loss depends on the sizeand position of perforation.Objective: To determine the pattern and causes of tympanic membrane perforation at a private health facility in TanzaniaMethod: A hospital-based cross-sectional study in the ENT clinic at Ekenywa Specialised Hospital was conducted from January to May 2019. Ears were examined thoroughly by an Otorhinolaryngologist. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 21Results: Two hundred and fifty patients were examined and 50 (20%) were foundto have tympanic membrane perforations. Thirty (60%) were new patients while twenty (40%) were under review. Most 35(70%) were males. Central perforation predominated in 30 (60%), followed by subtotal in 10 (20%), total in 8 (16%) andmarginal perforations in 2 (4%). The left ear was more affected in (60%) than theright ear. Bilateral perforations accounted for 5 (10%) of cases. Chronic suppurative otitis media was found in 35 (70%); other causes were acute suppurative otitis media in 13 (26%) and trauma in 2 (4%) patientsConclusions: The clinical picture depicted in this study is similar to that found elsewhere. There is a need for prompt diagnosis of tympanic membrane perforation. Proper education on ear care in patients with perforated tympanic membrane is of paramount importance.Keywords: Pattern, Causes, tympanic membrane, perforation, Tanzani

Clinicopathological Profile of Pure Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Esophagus: A South Indian Center Experience

Purpose. Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the esophagus are very uncommon with only a few studies published worldwide. Studies on clinical profile, management, and outcomes are very uncommon. Methods. We report the largest single institution retrospective review of 43 patients of pure esophageal NENs out of our registry of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors treated between 2005 and 2014. Data on the incidence, tumor location, clinical symptoms, stage at presentation, grading, treatment protocol, and treatment outcomes was collected and analyzed. Results. Among 1293 cases of esophageal cancers, pure esophageal NENs were diagnosed in 43 cases. The mean patient age was 55.8 years. The male : female ratio was 1.5 : 1. 81.4% of the tumors were located in the lower third of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC; G3) accounted for the vast majority of NENs (83.7%). 53.5% patients were Stage IV and 32.5% were Stage III at presentation. The combined median survival of stages II and III patients was 18.25 months, with treatment. The median survival of treated patients with metastatic disease was 6.5 months. Conclusion. Esophageal NENs most commonly were neuroendocrine carcinomas, presented in metastatic stage and were associated with poor prognosis. Grade 2 (G2) tumors had better outcomes than NEC (G3). In nonmetastatic disease, presence of lymph node metastasis and unresectable disease had poorer outcomes