Ocular dirofilariasis

Dirofilaria is a parasite of domestic and wild animals that can infect humans accidentally. It is being reported in increasing numbers from Mediterranean countries like Italy. In India this infection is occasionally being reported. We report three cases of ocular dirofilariasis from the state of Assam presenting as periorbital and subconjunctival cysts. The parasites were identified as Dirofilaria repens. The purpose of this article is to take note of this emerging zoonosis in Assam; also to review literature in the cases reported

Comparative Analysis of Performance and Combustion of Koroch Seed Oil and Jatropha Methyl Ester blends in a Diesel Engine

Abstract: The present study analyzes the performance and combustion characteristics of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% blending of Koroch Seed Oil Methyl Ester (KSOME) and Jatropha Methyl Ester (JME) with diesel as fuels in a d iesel engine. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was more for the methyl ester blends and particularly for the JME blends. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was slightly lower for the biodiesel blends and for the JME blends it was less compared to that of the KSOME blends. The indicated power was more in case of the blends; however it reduced significantly for the 40% blend of KSOME. Both the KSOME and JME blends exhibited similar combustion trend with that of diesel, however, the blends showed an earlier start of combustion with shorter ignition delay. The ignition delay was less and the combustion duration was more for the JME blends as compared to t he KSOME blends. The overall observation was that the KSOME blending up to 30% showed an acceptable performance and combustion trend whereas the JME blends showed favorable combustion trend but due its comparatively higher fuel consumption characteristics, finally the engine BTE was less with the JME fuel blends

Developing novel bacterial based bioformulation having PGPR properties for enhanced production of agricultural crops

56-60Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial rhizobacteria which enhance plant growth as well as the productivity by a variety of mechanisms. PGPR were isolated from the rhizosphere region of som plants (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Machilus bombycina King) maintained at the Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute, Lahdoigarh, Jorhat. A bacterial based bioformulation was prepared and sprayed over the experimental crops including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis), chili (Capsicum annuum) and brinjal (Solanum <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">melongena). Biochemical analysis was done on these PGPR treated crops as well as the untreated crops. The bioformulations prepared from Bacillus cereus (MTCC 8297), Pseudomonas rhodesiae (MTCC 8299) and Pseudomonas rhodesiae (MTCC 8300) was found to be the most effective in increasing the shoot height, number of leaves, early fruiting and total biomass content of the plants after treatment

Role of glutathione S transferase polymorphism in COPD with special reference to peoples living in the vicinity of the open cast coal mine of Assam.

BACKGROUND: COPD may develop due to variation in the functioning of antioxidants along with smoking and environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Since there are different views about the antioxidants responsible for detoxifying xenobiotic compound in the human body whose functional variation may lead to obstructive disease, this associative study has been taken up between GST gene polymorphism and COPD in populations exposed to coal dusts. METHODS: Genotypes of the 70 COPD patients and 85 non COPD patients were determined by PCR based methods followed by multiplex PCR of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes taking albumin gene as a control. Suspended particulate analyses were determined through the Respirable Dust sampler along with the FTIR analysis of the dust samples from the glass microfiber filters. RESULTS: Dust sampling analysis reveals higher level of respirable suspended particulate matter, non respirable particulate matter, SO2 and NO2 present in air of the study site. FTIR analysis also suggests a higher concentration of organic silicone and aliphatic C-F compounds present in air of the study site and when spirometry was done, low lung function was observed among most of the subjects. GSTM1 null type was significantly associated with low lung function in smoker groups and the presence of at least one active allele (either GSTM1/GSTT1) seemed to have a protective role in the development of COPD. CONCLUSIONS: GSTM1 (null genotype) appeared to be a risk factor for lower lung function in smokers living in the vicinity of coal mines. Apart from polluted environment and genetic susceptibility, mixed coal dust exposure rich in organic silicone and aliphatic C-F compounds also appears to be a factor for the low lung function

Role of environmental pollutants in liver physiology: special references to peoples living in the oil drilling sites of Assam.

The populations residing near polluted sites are more prone to various types of diseases. The important causes of air pollution are the suspended particulate matter, respirable suspended particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. As limited information is available enumerating the effect of these pollutants on liver physiology of the population living near the polluted sites; in the present study, we tried to investigate their effect on liver of the population residing near the oil drilling sites since birth. In this study, a randomly selected 105 subjects (46 subjects from oil drilling site and 61 subjects from control site) aged above 30 years were taken under consideration. The particulate matter as well as the gaseous pollutants, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, were analyzed through a respirable dust sampler. The level of alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase enzymes in serum were measured by spectrophotometer. The generalized regression model studies suggests a higher concentration of respirable suspended particulate matter, suspended particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide lowers the alkaline phosphatase level (p<0.0001) by 3.5 times (95% CI 3.1-3.9), 1.5 times (95% CI 1.4-1.6) and 12 times (95% CI 10.74-13.804), respectively in the exposed group. The higher concentration of respirable suspended particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide in air was associated with increase in alanine transaminase level (p<0.0001) by 0.8 times (95% CI 0.589-1.049) and by 2.8 times (95% CI 2.067-3.681) respectively in the exposed group. The increase in nitrogen dioxide level was also associated with increase in aspartate transaminase level (p<0.0001) by 2.5 times (95% CI 1.862-3.313) in the exposed group as compared to control group. Thus, the study reveals that long-term exposure to the environmental pollutants may lead to liver abnormality or injury of populations living in polluted sites

Comparison of air components concentration present in polluted area (oil drilling sites) and control site.

<p>All values are expressed as Mean ± SEM (Standard Error of Mean),</p><p>** = Statistically significant with P <0.0001) (Values were expressed up to two decimal point).</p><p>Comparison of air components concentration present in polluted area (oil drilling sites) and control site.</p

Comparison of biochemical tests of the entire seven variables among exposed and unexposed group by Student’s t-test

<p>All values are expressed as Mean ± SEM (Standard Error of Mean),</p><p>** = Highly significant with P <0.0001,</p><p>^NS = Not Significant (Values were expressed up to two decimal point).</p><p>Comparison of biochemical tests of the entire seven variables among exposed and unexposed group by Student’s t-test</p

(A, B, C) Box and Whisker plot of different liver enzymes level in unexposed and exposed population.

<p>(A, B, C) Box and Whisker plot of different liver enzymes level in unexposed and exposed population.</p