Isoniazid-resistant mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 RV: uptake of isoniazid and the properties of NADase inhibitor

Six independent isoniazid-resistant mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were isolated under conditions which largely ensured the selection of one-step mutants. The properties of these mutants with respect to the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide nucleosidase (NADase) inhibitor, isoniazid uptake and peroxidase activity were studied. The uptake of isoniazid by the mutants and their sensitivity to isoniazid were increased by ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and sodium dodecylsulphate. It is suggested that EDTA and sodium dodecylsulphate bring about these effects by altering the cell permeability

Endophthalmitis due to Brevibacterium Casei

Endophthalmitis is a serious post-traumatic ocular complication that can lead to loss of vision. We report a case of acute post-traumatic endophthalmitis following a penetrating injury caused by an unusual organism, Brevibacterium casei. The patient was successfully treated with intravitreal antibiotics like ceftazidime and vancomycin, along with topical cefazolin and tobramycin. Brevibacterium casei can be added to the list of rare bacteria causing endophthalmitis and should be kept in mind by clinicians as a potential source of pathology

Molecular markers for discriminating Streptococcus pyogenes and S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis

Given the increasing aetiological importance of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis in diseases which are primarily attributed to S. pyogenes, molecular markers are essential to distinguish these species and delineate their epidemiology more precisely. Many clinical microbiology laboratories rely on agglutination reactivity and biochemical tests to distinguish them. These methods have limitations which are particularly exacerbated when isolates with mixed properties are encountered. In order to provide additional distinguishing parameters that could be used to unequivocally discriminate these two common pathogens, we assess here three molecular targets: the speB gene, intergenic region upstream of the scpG gene (IRSG) and virPCR. Of these, the former two respectively gave positive and negative results for S. pyogenes, and negative and positive results for S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis. Thus, a concerted use of these nucleic acid-based methods is particularly helpful in epidemiological surveillance to accurately assess the relative contribution of these species to streptococcal infections and diseases

Detection and discrimination of herpes simplex viruses, haemophilus ducreyi, treponema pallidum, and calymmatobacterium (klebsiella) granulomatis from genital ulcers

Background. Genital ulcer disease (GUD) is commonly caused by pathogens for which suitable therapies exist, but clinical and laboratory diagnoses may be problematic. This collaborative project was undertaken to address the need for a rapid, economical, and sensitive approach to the detection and diagnosis of GUD using noninvasive techniques to sample genital ulcers. Methods. The genital ulcer disease multiplex polymerase chain reaction (GUMP) was developed as an inhouse nucleic acid amplification technique targeting serious causes of GUD, namely, herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, and Klebsiella species. In addition, the GUMP assay included an endogenous internal control. Amplification products from GUMP were detected by enzyme linked amplicon hybridization assay (ELAHA). Results. GUMP-ELAHA was sensitive and specific in detecting a target microbe in 34.3% of specimens, including 1 detection of HSV-1, three detections of HSV-2, and 18 detections of T. pallidum. No H. ducreyi has been detected in Australia since 1998, and none was detected here. No Calymmatobacterium (Klebsiella) granulomatis was detected in the study, but there were 3 detections during ongoing diagnostic use of GUMP-ELAHA in 2004 and 2005. The presence of C. granulomatis was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis. Conclusions. GUMP-ELAHA permitted comprehensive detection of common and rare causes of GUD and incorporated noninvasive sampling techniques. Data obtained by using GUMP-ELAHA will aid specific treatment of GUD and better define the prevalence of each microbe among at-risk populations with a view to the eradication of chancroid and donovanosis in Australia.Ian M. Mackay, Gerry Harnett, Neisha Jeoffreys, Ivan Bastian, Kadaba S Sriprakash, David Siebert, and Theo P. Sloot

Keeping doors open: transnational families and curricular nationalism

This paper reviews sociological literature to explore the challenge transnational populations pose for nation-based curriculum, and vice versa. With increasing access to dual citizenship and temporary migration, more people are living transnational lifestyles. This poses new challenges in raising the transnational child. Transnationalism has emerged ‘bottom-up’ from individualised choices and circumstances rather than ‘top-down’ through institutional strategy. As a result, education sectors are yet to respond with a reoriented curriculum that can accommodate polycentric lives. This paper adapts Beck’s critique of methodological nationalism and proposes a parallel concept in the curricular nationalism underpinning much official curriculum. It then reviews literature reporting on three curricular experiments that seek to cultivate citizenships above and beyond the nation. While such transcendent designs on citizenship unsettle curricular nationalism, they fail to address the specificities of transnational child’s memberships both here and there. The pedagogic principle of ‘connectedness’ is retooled as a pragmatic way forward

Dexmedetomidine in pregnancy: Review of literature and possible use

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective α-2 agonist, which when used in recommended dose in the form of an infusion, has several desirable properties like sedation, anxiolysis, sympatholysis, analgesia, decreased anesthetic requirements, maintains cardiovascular stability and provides a smooth recovery. Anesthesiologists have used this drug with great reluctance in parturients due to possible uteroplacental transfer, thereby, causing undesirable effects in the baby. However, literature shows that as dexmedetomidine has a high placental extraction, it doesn′t ge transferred to the baby. We tried to review the available literature so as to find in what circumstances it has been used in parturients and in future what are the possible indications of its use in labor analgesia, cesarean section, and non-obstetric surgeries