Modes of Parasitism between the Necrotrophic Fungus Botrytis cinerea and Trichoderma spp

This study aims to understand the differential antagonistic activity of the Trichoderma spp. against Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) on tomato plants. The antagonistic efficiency between Botrytis cinerea and Trichoderma spp. viz., Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma hamatum, Trichoderma longibractum were studied in vitro using dual plate technique. The results revealed that all of the Trichoderma isolates had the ability to inhibit the mycelial growth of grey mould. The percentage reduction in the growth of B. cinerea after seven days of incubation at 23 ± 2ºC varied between 35-84%. The Trichoderma spp. such as T. reesei (A1) and T.harzianum (E1) showed the highest antagonistic activity (T. reesei (A1) – 84%; T. harzianum (E1) – 72.8%). SEM studies at cellular level have shown the collapse of hyphal wall of B. cinerea at an early stage. Clear evidence on direct parasitism was recorded on most of the Trichoderma spp. tested in this experiment. In bioassay experiments, B. cinerea applied alone was found throughout the leaf tissues in high densities after an incubation period of five days at 18°C in a moist chamber rather than when pathogen and antagonists were applied together. Based on previous records of Trichoderma spp., biocontrol potential and observations of its colonizing properties, it appears that          T. reesei can compete and reduce the growth of B. cinerea in tomato plants at an early stage and enhance the growth of the plants. Keywords: Biological control, antagonistic potential, cell damage, grey mould, Trichoderma spp

An Efficient Block-based Image Compression And Quality-Wise Decompression Algorithm

In this paper, we propose a block-based lossy image compression algorithm that makes use of spatial redundancies of neighboring pixels in image data. Compression is achieved by replacing a block of pixels with their statistical mean. The algorithm helps in decompressing the image at different quality levels. Quality matrices constructed from the quantization table of the JPEG baseline algorithm are used to achieve different qualities of the reconstructed data. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms existing polynomial-based algorithms both in computation time and complexity

Density of Urban Malaria Vector An. stephansi in Parbhani, (M. S.) India

In arthropods mosquito play a vital role as vector of many deadly diseases and Anopheles stephansi is main urban malaria vector parasite in India except North-East region. This paper deals with the density and distribution of An. Stephansi in Parbhani urban. The result shows that the An. Stephansi abundantly found in Sinchan Nagar i. e. 46.28 % and few percent in Pardeshwar Colony (Mandir) locality i. e. 09.25%. Average of An. Stephansi density in Parbhani urban is 27.91% of total anopheline population. Study area also shows very poor awareness about mosquito and mosquito born diseases. These results necessitate further epidemiological surveillance and implicate regular strict monitoring of An. Stephansi in Parbhani to overrule the possibility of An. Stephansi establishment in study area

An image compression method based on Ramanujan Sums and measures of central dispersion

This paper introduces a simple lossy image compression method based on Ramanujan Sums cq(n) and the statistical measures of numerical data such as mean and standard deviation. The Ramanujan Sum cq(n) has been used in digital signal processing for a variety of applications nowadays. Some of them include the recently developed image kernels for edge detection, extraction of periodicity from signals, etc. The presented compression algorithm is an extension of the edge detection algorithm using an integer image kernel based on Ramanujan Sums. We propose a block-based compression algorithm that detects edges in the images using this image kernel and then compresses the image by storing kernel operation values, the mean and standard deviation for each block instead of pixel values. The proposed method has the advantage of low computational complexity and shows its ability in fast reconstruction and high compression that can be achieved for different block sizes

Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Reproductive Age Group Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

INTRODUCTION: Abnormal uterine bleeding is aberrant menstruation characterised by changes in cycle length or duration of flow or both. AUB accounts for 10% of the gynaecology related complaints. Thyroid dysfunction is marked by large number of menstrual aberrations. Both hypothyroidism as well as hyperthyroidism is associated with a variety of changes in reproductive function including delayed onset of puberty, anovulatory cycles and abnormally high foetal wastage. Clinical experiences show increased menstrual flow to be the most common reproductive system manifestation of hypothyroidism. Although the occurrence of menstrual disturbances in hypothyroid woman has been documented, the number of hypothyroid patients originally requiring treatment for menorrhagia has not been carefully elucidated. Moreover majority of the cases has subclinical hypothyroidism and easily pass unrecognized and is now increasingly recognised as a risk factor for menstrual problems, cardiovascular diseases and abnormal mental development in foetus. Danese MD et al recommend hypothyroidism is frequent enough to warrant consideration in women with menstrual dysfunction 4. Hence this study is to evaluate the thyroid function in patients having abnormal menstrual bleeding in reproductive age groups which will be justifiable and will help in further management of AUB. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at analysing the cross sectional population, 1. To determine the association between menstrual irregularities and hyroid function. 2. To analyse the pattern of menstrual dysfunction among women with thyroid disorder. 3. To estimate the prevalence of subclinical thyroid disease among reproductive age group women with abnormal uterine bleeding. 4. To analyse the possible predictors which in a given patient helps in early testing of thyroid function to diagnose them in the subclinical stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Design: Analytical study. Study Period: August 2008 to September 2009. Sample Population: The study population consisted of 250 women attending the gynaecology outpatient clinic, Institute of social obstetrics & Govt.kasturba Gandhi hospital, with the following complaints in the age group of 18 to45 years, 1. Oligomenorrhea – where the cycle length lasts longer than 35 days 2. Hypomenorrhea – lesser bleeding which lasts for 2 days or less. 3. Menorrhagia- cyclical bleeding at normal intervals which is excessive in amount (>60 ml/ changes 6 pads per day/associated with clots) 4. Polymenorrhea- cyclical bleeding which is normal in amount, but occurs in intervals of <21 days. 5. Amenorrhea – absence of menstruation. The patients were selected on the basis of Inclusion and Exclusion criteria as follows: Inclusion criteria: • age group 18 to 45 years, • with any of menstrual disturbances described above, • no demonstrable pelvic pathology, • not an IUCD user, • not on thyroxine replacement therapy, • with symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism: • Weight loss ( >10 kg in 3 months or subjective weight loss), • Diarrhoea, • Heat intolerance, • Tremors, • Eye changes, • Palpitations. Symptoms of hypothyroidism: • Change of voice, • Weight gain, • Constipation, • Dryness of skin, • Cold intolerance, • Fatigue/lethargy, • Sleep disturbances. Exclusion criteria: • Women not in age group 45. • Presence of palpable pelvic pathology. • With overt hypothyroidism on thyroxine. • known thyroid disorders. • On drugs like aspirin, heparin, antithyroid agents, steroids, amiodarone and lithium. SUMMARY: The study was undertaken in 250 women with abnormal uterine bleeding in reproductive age group presenting to our tertiary referral hospital. It was done to assess the prevalence and the possibility of a correlation between subclinical thyroid disease and AUB. A detailed history elicited as per proforma enclosed and anthropometric measurements were taken and a thorough general and systemic examination done. Thyroid function analysis was done in each of these women and the results interpreted. The mean age of women in the study group was 36 years. There was significant correlation between increasing age and thyroid dysfunction. A significant correlation with reproductive failure and thyroid abnormalities was cited in the study. Nulliparous women presented earlier with infertility as their primary complaint and statistical significance was also detected in women with reproductive dysfunction. Women symptomatic of thyroid abnormalities had more incidence of thyroid dysfunction. The symptoms with which they presented were more predictive of the disease. There was also significance between duration of symptoms and presence of thyroid abnormalities. BMI was significantly abnormal more so in patients with hypothyroidism and menorrhagia. In oligomenorrhic women, thyrotoxicosis was more common with incidence of 94.5% and menorrhagia was observed in 59.2% of hypothyroid women. Women detected to have subclinical hypothyroidism also presented with menorrhagia (70%) and amenorrhea (25%).Frequency of polymenorrhea and Hypomenorrhea in the study group was relatively low due to the increased incidence of pelvic pathology associated with polymenorrhea. Among 4 women in the study group with Hypomenorrhea and with Polymenorrhea, none had thyroid abnormalities. In the study group, the overall prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was 30.8%.Among them 15.6% had hypothyroidism and 7.2% had hyperthyroidism and 8% had subclinical hypothyroidism. Prevalence: Hypothyroidism – 15.6%, Hyperthyroidism –7.2%, Subclinical hypothyroidism –8%. The prevalence of preclinical hypothyroidism was 8%. These women had abnormal bleeding of a lesser duration (4-6months). 13 out of 20 women with subclinical hypothyroidism had symptoms attributable to thyroid dysfunction. Detection of this group of women is considered a major benefit of testing because, supplementation of thyroxine to this group of women will revert back their symptoms and checks progression of their endocrinological disease. All of them had their TSH values between 5 and 8 mIU/L. Women detected to have overt hypo/hyperthyroidism had longer duration of symptoms and they are now actually detected at a farther end in the spectrum of disease after acquiring morbidity in the form of affliction of their quality of life due to the abnormal bleeding and by the onset of anaemia. Hence testing for thyroid function is advocated early in the course of the disease. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the following, • There is significant association between thyroid disorders and abnormal uterine bleeding. • It brings into focus the increased incidence of hypothyroidism among women with menorrhagia and amenorrhea. And increased incidence of hyperthyroidism in women with oligomenorrhea. • The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the study group was 8%. • It is suggested that women with early onset menorrhagia and oligomenorrhea with or without symptoms & signs attributable to thyroid dysfunction should be offered thyroid function testing to detect them in the subclinical stage. • Early detection by selective screening and specific pharmacotherapy for subclinical thyroid disease early in the course of the disease will prove to be a superior alternative to surgical treatments like hysterectomy

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Biological Activities of Metal Complexes of 4-((4-Chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-2-(( p-

Azo Schiff base complexes of VO(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) have been synthesized from 4-((4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-2-((p-tolylimino)methyl)phenol (CDTMP). The nature of bonding and the structural features of the complexes have been deduced from elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR, UV-Vis, 1H-NMR, EPR, mass, SEM, and fluorescence spectral studies. Spectroscopic and other analytical studies reveal square-planar geometry for copper, square-pyramidal geometry for oxovanadium, and octahedral geometry for other complexes. The EPR spectra of copper(II) complex in DMSO at 300 K and 77 K were recorded, and its salient features are reported. Antimicrobial studies against several microorganisms indicate that the complexes are more potent bactericides and fungicides than the ligand. The electrochemical behavior of the copper(II) complex was studied by cyclic voltammetry. All the synthesized compounds can serve as potential photoactive materials as indicated from their characteristic fluorescence properties. The second harmonic conversion efficiency of the synthesized azo Schiff base was found to be higher than that of urea and KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate). SEM image of copper(II) complex implies the crystalline state and surface morphology of the complex

Alpha methyldopa induced hepatotoxicity in pregnancy

We report a case of gestational hepatitis due to alpha-methyldopa and briefly review the literature on alpha-methyldopa-induced hepatotoxicity in pregnancy. A 32 year old woman, primigravida with 34 weeks of gestation with pre eclampsia, presented with symptoms of nausea, dark coloured urine and jaundice. She was on alpha methyldopa (Aldomet) 250 mg thrice a day since the last five weeks. Laboratory investigations revealed raised bilirubin, serum aspartate transaminases and serum alanine transaminases. Platelets were normal. Peripheral smear did not show haemolysis. With the exclusion of viral, haemolytic and obstructive causes, drug induced jaundice was considered as a differential diagnosis. Alpha methyldopa was withdrawn and replaced with nifedipine for her pre eclampsia treatment. Her repeat bilirubin level done two weeks later showed a drop. She went into labour at 38 weeks and delivered vaginally. In postpartum follow up her liver tests returned to normal in two weeks, about six weeks after stopping methyldopa. Hepatotoxicity should be considered as one of the adverse drug reaction of alpha methyldopa. It is not possible at present to predict which patients will develop liver disease following the administration of this drug. An awareness of the possibility of methyldopa induced hepatotoxicity should be present in the clinician’s mind and liver function tests should be done at regular intervals. The occasional occurrence of this harmful side effect is not a contraindication to the use of this antihypertensive agent