Comparative Study of AFB Detection in Concentrated and Unconcentrated Sputum Sample by Ziehl-Neelsen Staining and Auramine-O Staining of Patients Attending the Microscopic Centre of RNTCP at Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai

Ziehl-Neelsen is a common bacteriological staining method used from a long time to stain acid-fast bacilli, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis which causes mainly pulmonary tuberculosis. In recent technologies, fluorescent-staining is considered to be a more reliable method due to more intensive binding of mycolic acids of the bacilli to phenol auramine-O, so the tubercle bacilli is seen more clearly against black background.Objective: This study was done to compare the efficacy of conventional Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and Auramine-O (AO) fluorescent microscopy in detecting acid-fast bacilli in direct and concentrated sputum samples of patients attending the microscopic centre of RNTCP at Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai.Method: One thousand and fifty patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis referred to the RNTCP centre of Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital was included in this study. Spot sputum sample was collected as the clinical sample. Direct smears were prepared from the mucopurulent part of the sputum with a sterile loop. Samples were then concentrated using modified Petroff’s method and smear prepared from the concentrated sediment. Both smears were then stained by ZN and AO staining method respectively.Result: Out of 1050 samples, 165 samples were positive by AO method in direct method and 166 samples were positive by AO method in concentrated method, 147 were positive by ZN staining in direct method and 156 samples were positive by ZN in concentrated method.Conclusion: FM definitely improves the diagnostic value of the sputum smear especially in patients with low density of bacilli that are likely to be missed on ZN-stained smears, concentrated method on both AO and ZN stain were more sensitive than direct method

Current Pharmaceutical Situation (Services) in Yemen and Future Challenges

This article deals with Yemen’s current pharmaceutical scenario and possible future challenges that it may face. The manuscript provides an overview of health services particularly pharmaceutical services and the critical health challenges facing the people of the country. Details included are statistical data with regard to the health of the Yemeni population and their demographic backgrounds following administrative issues, policy for the medicinal trade and production, the regulation and financing. The manuscript also deals with the government’s action about medicines, their procurement, and distribution in the public sector, and the public perception of medicines. Rational use of medicines is determined by the knowledge and attitude of the consumers. Future challenges are also anticipated. World health systems have been facing an incredible transformation to address new challenges with regard to the demographics, disease trends, the emergence and the re-emergence of diseases along with higher costs of health care delivery. This has led to a comprehensive review of health systems and how they function to serve the masses. Some health systems do not seem to adequately provide services that really matter to the people and some deteriorate, following governments’ lack of efficiency in supporting and extending the services. Other issues can also affect the ability of the health systems to deliver including health administration, healthcare financing, the lack of balance of the human resources, inaccessible and poor quality services and the impact of modifications and reform prevalent in other economic areas

α2-adrenoceptor blockade accelerates the neurogenic, neurotrophic, and behavioral effects of chronic antidepressant treatment

Slow-onset adaptive changes that arise from sustained antidepressant treatment, such as enhanced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and increased trophic factor expression, play a key role in the behavioral effects of antidepressants. alpha(2)-Adrenoceptors contribute to the modulation of mood and are potential targets for the development of faster acting antidepressants. We investigated the influence of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Our results indicate that alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine and guanabenz, decrease adult hippocampal neurogenesis through a selective effect on the proliferation, but not the survival or differentiation, of progenitors. These effects persist in dopamine beta-hydroxylase knock-out (Dbh(-/-)) mice lacking norepinephrine, supporting a role for alpha(2)-heteroceptors on progenitor cells, rather than alpha(2)-autoreceptors on noradrenergic neurons that inhibit norepinephrine release. Adult hippocampal progenitors in vitro express all the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes, and decreased neurosphere frequency and BrdU incorporation indicate direct effects of alpha(2)-adrenoceptor stimulation on progenitors. Furthermore, coadministration of the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine with the antidepressant imipramine significantly accelerates effects on hippocampal progenitor proliferation, the morphological maturation of newborn neurons, and the increase in expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor implicated in the neurogenic and behavioral effects of antidepressants. Finally, short-duration (7 d) yohimbine and imipramine treatment results in robust behavioral responses in the novelty suppressed feeding test, which normally requires 3 weeks of treatment with classical antidepressants. Our results demonstrate that alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, expressed by progenitor cells, decrease adult hippocampal neurogenesis, while their blockade speeds up antidepressant action, highlighting their importance as targets for faster acting antidepressants

The regulatory epicenter of miRNAs

miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with average length of ~21 bp. miRNA formation seems to be dependent upon multiple factors besides Drosha and Dicer, in a tissue/stage-specific manner, with interplay of several specific binding factors. In the present study, we have investigated transcription factor binding sites in and around the genomic sequences of precursor miRNAs and RNA-binding protein (RBP) sites in miRNA precursor sequences, analysed and tested in comprehensive manner. Here, we report that miRNA precursor regions are positionally enriched for binding of transcription factors as well as RBPs around the 3′ end of mature miRNA region in 5′ arm. The pattern and distribution of such regulatory sites appears to be a characteristic of precursor miRNA sequences when compared with non-miRNA sequences as negative dataset and tested statistically.When compared with 1 kb upstreamregions, a sudden sharp peak for binding sites arises in the enriched zone near the mature miRNA region. An expression-data-based correlation analysis was performed between such miRNAs and their corresponding transcription factors and RBPs for this region. Some specific groups of binding factors and associated miRNAs were identified. We also identified some of the overrepresented transcription factors and associated miRNAs with high expression correlation values which could be useful in cancer-related studies. The highly correlated groups were found to host experimentally validated composite regulatory modules, in which Lmo2-GATA1 appeared as the predominant one. For many of RBP–miRNAs associations, coexpression similarity was also evident among the associated miRNA common to given RBPs, supporting the Regulon model, suggesting a common role and common control of these miRNAs by the associated RBPs. Based on our findings, we propose that the observed characteristic distribution of regulatory sites in precursor miRNA sequence regions could be critical inmiRNA transcription, processing, stability and formation and are important for therapeutic studies. Our findings also support the recently proposed theory of self-sufficient mode of transcription by miRNAs, which states that miRNA transcription can be carried out in host-independent mode too

Influence of Interaction between Fertilizer and Micronutrient Spray on Growth, Yield and Quality of Guava under Ultra High Density Orcharding System

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) on a 5-year-old guava orchard of cv. Sardar was planted at a spacing of 1.0 m x 2.0 m in Ranchi. The objective of this investiation was to know the influence of interaction between the basal and foliar application of fertilizers of guava cv. Sardar under ultra-high-density planting system in eastern plateau and hill conditions. The experiments were set up in a split-plot design with four fertilizer doses 100%NPK i.e.580 g N, 270 g P, 400g K/plant; 60%NPK i.e. 348gN, 162gP, 240g K/plant; 40%NPK i.e. 232gN,180gP 160g K/plant; 20%NPK i.e.116gN 54gP 80g K/plant as main plots and four different foliar sprays as boric acid (0.4%), zinc sulphate (0.2%), boric acid (0.4%) + zinc sulphate (0.2%) and water spray as subplots with four replications. The NPK fertilizer dose was applied at an interval of every two months from June 12 to April 14 (A total of twelve times/ two year) in a 1m radius around the tree trunk (drip line of trees). The foliar application of micronutrients was sprayed at the rate of 750 ml/ tree at flowering and fruit set stage during June 12 and August 14 (Total of Four times/ two years). In our two-year study, the experimental results indicated that 60% NPK fertilizer dose resulted in maximum trunk girth (55.33 mm) and girth of primary branches (43.77mm), while, a maximum per cent increase in trunk girth (15.81%) and girth of primary branches (18.62%) were recorded in 100% NPK fertilizer dose. However the maximum number of flowers per plant (18.66), number of fruit per plant (17.10) and fruit weight/ plant (3.65kg/plant) were recorded in 100%NPK fertilizer dose, which was at par with 60% NPK Fertilizer dose. &nbsp

Application of nanoparticles for enhanced UV-B stress tolerance in plants

abstract: Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) received at the Earth's surface has enhanced because of the declining level of ozone in the upper atmosphere. World-wide decline in crop yield is projected because of the harmful effect of UV-B. High UV-B level affects the growth of the plants by enhancing the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), altering antioxidant enzyme activity, reducing photosynhetic rate, damaging DNA and cell membranes, and disrupting microtubule structure. Plants employ different mechanisms to resist UV-B stress, however these mechanisms collapse under high stress levels. Therefore, mitigation strategies are required to reduce the negative impacts of UV-B on plants. Nanotechnology, an emergent field of science, focusing on engineering of nanomaterial with approximately 1–100 nm size has application in different areas including enhancement of plant stress tolerance. Recent research on TiO2, Ag and Si nanoparticles (NPs) revealed that they can reduce UV-B stress in plants. NPs significantly alleviate UV-B stress by boosting photosynthesis, enhancing the accumulation of flavonoid, reducing oxidative stress by mimicking antioxidants or improving antioxidant enzyme activities and preventing the microtubule depolymerisation in plant cells. It was also found that effect of NPs was influenced by their physicochemical characteristics, concentration, exposure method, and level and duration of UV-B exposure. In this review, we present an up-to-date compilation of research on the impact of UV-B stress and its mitigation using NPs in plants. We have also discussed recent developments, existing research gaps and future prospects of NPs utilization for UV-B stress mitigation in plants

A mini-review on the burden of antimicrobial resistance and its regulation across one health sectors in India

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a compelling health problem worldwide in the twenty-first century. The initiation and spread of drug-resistant pathogens pose a substantial threat to human health. Mounting evidence indicates the widespread prevalence of AMR in India. This concerning trend can be primarily attributed to the lack of effective implementation of regulations and oversight measures by regulatory bodies in multiple sectors, including humans, animals, food, and the environment. In addition, inadequate communication and coordination between these sectors further exacerbate the AMR problem. Given the current threat of AMR, it is imperative to develop and implement a robust mechanism that should work in tandem with each other to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance, as it ultimately affects citizens' quality of life and imposes an economic burden on the country. This article aims to highlight the efforts of various organizations in India to mitigate AMR and provide recommendations for tackling emerging AMR