Isolation of Cellulose-Degrading Bacteria and Determination of Their Cellulolytic Potential

Eight isolates of cellulose-degrading bacteria (CDB) were isolated from four different invertebrates (termite, snail, caterpillar, and bookworm) by enriching the basal culture medium with filter paper as substrate for cellulose degradation. To indicate the cellulase activity of the organisms, diameter of clear zone around the colony and hydrolytic value on cellulose Congo Red agar media were measured. CDB 8 and CDB 10 exhibited the maximum zone of clearance around the colony with diameter of 45 and 50 mm and with the hydrolytic value of 9 and 9.8, respectively. The enzyme assays for two enzymes, filter paper cellulase (FPC), and cellulase (endoglucanase), were examined by methods recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The extracellular cellulase activities ranged from 0.012 to 0.196 IU/mL for FPC and 0.162 to 0.400 IU/mL for endoglucanase assay. All the cultures were also further tested for their capacity to degrade filter paper by gravimetric method. The maximum filter paper degradation percentage was estimated to be 65.7 for CDB 8. Selected bacterial isolates CDB 2, 7, 8, and 10 were co-cultured with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. Ethanol production was positively tested after five days of incubation with acidified potassium dichromate

Target Network Selection Algorithm based on Required Dwell Time Estimation

In wireless communication of fourth generation the expectation to integrate a diverse heterogeneous wireless network leads to a worldwide seamless mobility. For seamless mobility in heterogenous wireless networks, selection of best target network from available network is primary goal for handovers. To achieve this goal, we devise a target network selection algorithm to enhance the user satisfaction level.The method relies on a dwell time and prediction of received signal strength. By observing the Predicted received signal strength for a specified dwell time duration, a mobile node is able to decide whether to tigger the handoff process or not. Once the handoff process is triggered. Target network is selected depending upon a cost function. The Simulated results shows that, the proposed algorithm improves the handover performance by measuring the received signal strength accurately. It also selects the optimum target network quantitatively. Therefore, results obtained through our proposed algorithm are more accurate as compared to existing handover algorithms

Diagnostic usefulness of transtracheal aspiration in lower respiratory tract infections

Background: The incidence of pulmonary infections is on a constant rise. The present study was undertaken in order to identify those patients in whom transtracheal aspiration is most likely to provide information not obtainable from evaluation of expectorated sputum and delineates the clinical conditions under which transtracheal aspiration is indicated.Methods: A total of 50 patients of lower respiratory tract infections were studied. Both sputum and trans-tracheal aspirate samples were compared by Gram’s stain and culture methods.Results: Gram’s staining of the sputum was non-helpful in most cases as it showed mixed organisms while trans-tracheal aspiration showed only single type of colony. Culture showed less growth in sputum samples as compared to trans-tracheal aspirates.Conclusions: Trans-tracheal aspirate appears to be a very good method for isolating infective agents in lower respiratory tract infections. Besides by passing the contaminants of the oropharynx, it pinpoints the organism in most cases

A case of albendazole and niclosamide resistant Taenia saginata infection

Taenia saginata infection is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis which is endemic in countries where majority of people eat raw or inadequately cooked beef. The infection is rare in India except in Jammu Kashmir and Northeast states, India. Majority of taeniasis patients are asymptomatic, few may present with a variety of abdominal symptoms and rarely hepatobiliary complications. Diagnosis is made commonly by finding proglottids and or eggs in the faeces.  Here we report a chronic and uncomplicated case of saginata taeniasis resistant to niclosamide and albendazole but responded to a single dosage of praziquantel 15 mg per Kg body weight

BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY PATTERN OF HOSPITALACQUIRED SEPTICEMIA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH EAST INDIA

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the bacterial agents responsible for hospital acquired septicaemia and to determine the antibiotic sensitivity profile of the bacterial isolates.Methods:  Three hundred fifty hospitalized clinically suspect septicaemia cases were included in this cross sectional observational study during a period of one year. Blood samples were collected with aseptic precautions for culture following universal precautions. Anti-microbial susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, USA) guidelines.    Results: Over two-thirds of cultures showed gram positive organism. The most frequently identified Gram positive bacteria were coagulase negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus. Among gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp and Salmonella typhi were isolated. In our study, coagulase negative staphylococci showed maximum resistance to penicillin and erythromycin. Enterobactereciae had maximum sensitivity to carbapenems, tigecycline and aminoglycosides.Conclusion: Gram positive pathogens predominated in the blood stream infections. Résistance to fluoroquinolones, especially in Gram negative bacteria was significantly high. Therefore, rapid microbiological diagnosis and the determinants of antimicrobial susceptibility become relevant for early initiation of antimicrobial therapy.    Â

Cell Surface and Cytosolic Proteins of Group B Streptococcus Adding New Dimensions in Its Colonization and Pathogenesis

Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic human pathogen known for their invasive diseases caused in newborns, pregnant women, and nonpregnant adults. This pathogen even being an asymptomatic colonizer of adult humans, still they result in a broad range of disease manifestations starting from mild skin diseases to pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia. Of the 10 GBS capsular types, the majority of invasive neonatal diseases are associated with the serotype III. GBS is a pathogen that has developed some strategies to resist host immune defenses. The formidable array of GBS virulence factors makes this bacterium at the forefront of neonatal pathogens. The involvement of bacterial components in the host-pathogen interaction of GBS pathogenesis and its related diseases is thought to be due to a variety of virulence factors expressed by Streptococcus agalactiae. Pathogenic factors of streptococcus promote infections by their coordinated activity. These factors/determinants initially get a stimulus by the communication between specific ligands and their respective receptors in a host-pathogen interaction. These in turn activate adhesion and invasion mechanisms by mediating the attachment of pathogen via cell wall associated/secretory proteins, e.g., adhesins followed by their entry into the host cell eventually deciding their fate to live by activation of mechanisms like phagocytosis. These mediators/determinants also modulate the immune responses by the host toward the pathogen. A number of new GBS surface-exposed or secreted proteins have been identified (GBS immunogenic bacterial adhesion protein, leucine-rich repeat of GBS, serine-rich repeat proteins), the three-dimensional structures of known streptococcal proteins (αC protein, C5a peptidase) have been solved, and an understanding of the pathogenetic role of “old” and new determinants has been better defined in recent years. Recently, a 39kDa Invasion Inhibitory Factor (IIF) was isolated from GBS playing an important role in its invasion. A homogeneous non-toxic 39 kDa factor from the cytosol of GBS showing a homology with xenobiotic response element type transcriptional regulator protein adds another quill to the GBS protein panama, thus indicating that such protein molecules can be efficiently explored as suitable vaccine candidates. These observations add a novel aspect to bacterial pathogenesis where bacteria’s own intracellular protein component can act as a potential therapeutic candidate by decreasing the severity of disease thus promoting its invasion inhibition

A hospital based retrospective study on hepatotropic viruses as a cause of acute viral hepatitis in children in Uttarakhand, India

Introduction: Acute viral hepatitis in children is a serious health problem throughout the world. Aims and Objective: To determine the profile of Hepatitis A, B, C and E as a cause of acute viral hepatitis in children in a tertiary care hospital of Uttarakhand, India. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, data was collected from the records of paediatric patients who underwent testing for one or more of the hepatitis viruses. Serum samples were tested for Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HEV IgM by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Hepatitis B surface antigen and Anti HCV antibodies by enhanced chemiluminiscence.  Results: Among total of 252 patients suffering from Acute Viral Hepatitis (AVH), males predominated over females with 72.2 % vs. 27.8 %. Hepatitis A virus (72.6 %) was found to be the leading cause of AVH in our hospital followed by HBV (16.7 %), HEV (9.5 %) and the least common was HCV (1.1 %). Co-infection was seen in only 2 cases i.e one as HAV-HEV (0.4%) and other as HAV- HBV (0.4%). Out of all the cases of AVH, 9.5 % were suffering from Acute Hepatic Failure. Hepatitis A virus was found to be the most common cause of acute hepatic failure (50 %), followed by Hepatitis B (37.5 %) and Hepatitis E (12.5 %).  Conclusions: Hepatotropic viruses are quite prevalent in children in our country. Thus to control faeco-orally transmitted viruses i.e Hepatitis A and hepatitis E, awareness about healthy hygienic practices should be emphasized upon. Also hepatitis A vaccination can be recommended to be included in national immunization schedule. To prevent parenterally transmitted viruses like Hepatitis B and hepatitis C, use of sterile needles and syringes while tattooing, ear piercing and avoiding injections through unregistered medical practitioners should be done. Vaccination for hepatitis B should be routinely done

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of pancreas: a rare presentation

Pancreatic neoplasms are rare in children and have a different histo-logic spectrum and prognosis than those in adults. Pancreatoblastoma is the most common pancreatic neoplasm in young children. Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm occurs in adolescent girls. It is heterogeneous in internal architecture, with a mixture of solid and cystic hemorrhagic and necrotic elements. All pancreatic neoplasms in children are capable of producing metastases, usually to the liver and lymph nodes; however, on the whole, these tumors have a better clinical outcome than most pancreatic tumors in adults. We present a case of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm with a liver metastasis in a 13 year old male patient

The MILLET MISSION: The potential to combat non-communicable diseases and future research opportunities in India

NCD Burden and the role of nutritionChronic diseases, often known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), pose a significant threat to worldwide public health. As per World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs account for 74% of all fatalities worldwide, with cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes being the leading causes.[1] Inadequate nutrition, including diets heavy in sugar, salt, saturated and trans fats, and deficient in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources, is a significant risk factor for NCDs. The World Health Organization suggests a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds and low in processed foods, sugar, saturated and trans fats.[2

Role of levonorgestrel releasing intra-uterine system in the treatment of menorrhagia due to dysfunctional uterine bleeding and fibroid uterus

Background: This study was carried out to assess the clinical effectiveness of levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUS) in the treatment of menorrhagia due to either Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) or fibroid in Indian patients, and to assess patient satisfaction with this treatment modality.  Methods: Sixty women with menorrhagia, 30 due to fibroid and 30 due to DUB, meeting inclusion criteria, received LNG-IUS and were prospectively followed up for 9 months with periodic clinical assessments and transvaginal ultrasounds. Patient satisfaction was assessed on a five-point scale.Results: One patient in DUB group was lost to follow-up. In DUB patients, the treatment failure rate was only 3.4% (1 out of 29 patients). The median PBAC score reduced by 95% at 9 months. Fibroid patients also had an equally impressive 97.7% reduction of PBAC score at 9 months, although the failure rate was higher (23.3%; 7 out of 30). Majority of patients were either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the treatment, although this percentage was more in DUB (82.8%) than in the fibroid group (66.7%). Haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels significantly increased in both groups. No major side effect was noted.Conclusions: LNG-IUS is an excellent treatment modality for patients of DUB, with good patient satisfaction. It is also a useful treatment option in non-submucosal small fibroids for the symptoms of menorrhagia, can reduce uterine volume and can help avoid hysterectomy, but there is no effect on fibroid volume. Majority of patients are satisfied, although satisfaction rates are less than in DUB patients