Analysis of n-alkanes in the cuticular wax of leaves of Ficus glomerata Roxb.

Leaf cuticle was covered by epicuticular wax consisting mainly of straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbons with a variety of substituted groups. The studies of cuticular characters of leaves had played an important role in chemotaxonomy. An n-hexane extract of fresh and mature leaves of Ficus glomerata, containing a thin layer of epicuticular waxes was analyzed for the first time by Thin Layer Chromatography, Infrared Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography and Scanning Electron Microscopy using standard hydrocarbons. The leaves contained 18 identified long chain (C15–C33) n-alkanes except C23 accounting for 68.82% of the hydrocarbons, and an unknown number of unidentified branched chain alkanes. The predominant n-alkanes were C16 (5.92%), C17 (6.18%), C27 (5.11%), C29 (5.29%), C31 (5.47%), whilst C15 (4.21%), C18 (4.57%), C26 (3.88%), C28 (3.53%), C30 (3.43%) n-alkanes were moderately abundant. The C19 (2.53%), C20 (2.52%) and C22 (2.16%) homologues were present only in minor amounts. SEM views were also taken for epicuticular layers and hydrocarbons of the leaves. Qualitative and Quantitative characterization of n-alkanes present in the epicuticular wax can be used as an effective tool in chemotaxonomical work

Age associated oxidative damage in lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are an important immunological cell and have been played a significant role in acquired immune system; hence, may play in pivotal role in immunosenescence. Oxidative stress has been reported to increase in elderly subjects, possibly arising from an uncontrolled production of free radicals with aging and decreased antioxidant defenses. This study was aimed to evaluate the level of lipid-protein damage and antioxidant status in lymphocytes of healthy individuals to correlate between oxidative damage with the aging process. Twenty healthy individuals of each age group (11–20; 21–30; 31–40; 41–50; and 51–60 years) were selected randomly. Blood samples were drawn by medical practitioner and lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples. Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PC) level were evaluated to determine the lipid and protein damage in lymphocytes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione and glutathione dependent enzymes were estimated to evaluate the antioxidant status in the lymphocytes. Increased MDA and PC levels strongly support the increased oxidative damage in elderly subject than young subjects. The results indicated that, balance of oxidant and antioxidant systems in lymphocytes shifts in favor of accelerated oxidative damage during aging. Thus oxidative stress in lymphocytes may particular interest in aging and may play important role in immunosenescence

Asthma, tuberculosis or eosinophilic pneumonia?

A 45 year-old male presented with cough and expectoration for 8 months, short-ness of breath and wheeze for 3 months, and fever for 1 month. He remained symptomatic despite repeated courses of antibiotics with partial relief on oral and inhaled bronchodilators. Despite several sputum examinations being negative for acid fast bacilli (AFB), he was put on anti-tubercular drugs (ATD) because of bi-lateral infiltrates on his chest radiographs. A mildly raised blood eosinophil count, eosinophilia in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and eosinophilic infiltration on CT guided FNAC from his lung lesion raised the suspicion and the dramatic clinico-radiological improvement with oral corticosteroids clinched the diagnosis of CEP

Clinical Profile of Tubercular Empyema with Special Reference to Diagnostic Role of Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification test (CBNAAT)

Introduction: Tuberculosis is continuing to be a significant burden in the developing world and tubercular empyema thoracis still remains a common entity with significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical course of tubercular empyema is often accompanied by bronchopleural fistula, concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis and unfavourable outcome. Aim: A prospective study was conducted to assess the clinical presentation of tubercular empyema with special emphasis on evaluating diagnostic role of Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) and outcome issues. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out consisting of adult cases of tubercular empyema admitted in the department of Respiratory Medicine in a teaching hospital in eastern India over a period of 18 months. Tubercular empyema cases were analysed on the basis of clinicoradiological features, diagnostic challenges with special interest on role of newer molecular diagnostic test like CBNAAT, management and outcome issues. Results: A total of 40 cases of tubercular empyema were encountered during the study period. Tubercular empyema frequently affected young population (mean age 31.5 years) with a male preponderance (72.5%). Thirty five (87.5%) patients had a duration of illness of more than one month on presentation. There was frequent accompaniment of concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis (60%) and bronchopleural fistula (42.5%). Sputum smear for acid fast bacilli (55%) and CBNAAT (57.5%) were positive in good number of cases. Pleural fluid smear for acid fast bacilli and CBNAAT yield were also very high (72.5% and 92.5% respectively). Pleural fluid CBNAAT had a sensitivity of 92.5% (95% CI: 79.61-98.43) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 93.51-100) in diagnosis of tubercular empyema. Mean duration of Intercostal tube drainage was 45.6 days and eighteen patients needed decortication. Conclusion: Tubercular empyema is a disease affecting the young population most commonly, has a chronicity in clinical course and is commonly complicated by presence of associated pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchopleural fistula and unfavourable outcome. Pleural fluid and sputum CBNAAT have good yield in diagnosis

Occurrence of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis in patients with asthma: An Eastern India experience

<b>Background:</b> Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is a clinical syndrome associated with immune sensitivity to various fungi notably Aspergillus spp. that colonize the airways of asthmatics. Early diagnosis and treatment with systemic corticosteroids is the key in preventing the progression of the disease to irreversible lung fibrosis. <b>Aims:</b> To study the occurrence of ABPM among asthma patients with fungal sensitization attending a chest clinic of a tertiary hospital of eastern India. The clinico-radiological and aetiological profiles are also described. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> All consecutive patients with asthma presenting to the chest clinic over a period of one year were screened for cutaneous hypersensitivity to 12 common fungal antigens. The skin test positive cases were further evaluated for ABPM using standard criteria. <b>Results:</b> One hundred and twenty-six asthma patients were screened using twelve common fungal antigens; forty patients (31.74&#x0025;) were found to be skin test positive, and ABPM was diagnosed in ten patients (7.93&#x0025;). Of the 10 cases of ABPM, nine cases were those of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and one case was identified as caused by sensitization to Penicillium spp. A majority of the cases of ABPM had advanced disease and had significantly lower FEV1 compared to non-ABPM skin test positive asthmatics. Central bronchiectasis on high resolution CT scan was the most sensitive and specific among the diagnostic parameters. <b>Conclusion:</b> There is a significant prevalence of ABPM in asthma patients attending our hospital and this reinforces the need to screen asthma patients for fungal sensitisation. This will help in early diagnosis and prevention of irreversible lung damage

Spectrum of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases with special reference to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and connective tissue disease: An eastern India experience

Objective: To evaluate the clinical spectrum of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) encountered in the Indian setting and to compare idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and connective tissue disease associated DPLD (CTD-DPLD), the two commonest aetiologies. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of clinical, imaging and laboratory parameters of patients diagnosed as DPLD and followed up in the Pulmonary Medicine Department of a tertiary-care teaching institution in eastern India was conducted over a period of one year. Results: 92 patients of DPLD were diagnosed in the study period with IPF (n = 35, 38.04%), CTD-DPLD (n = 29, 31.5%), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n = 10, 10.9%), sarcoidosis (n = 5, 5.4%) and silicosis (n = 5, 5.4%) being the common causes. The CTD-DPLD group had a lower mean age (39.5 ± 1.86 vs 56.9 ± 1.12 years), a longer duration of symptoms (3.5 ± 0.27 vs 2.5 ± 0.26 years), more extra pulmonary manifestations, significantly more base line FVC and 6-minute-walk-distance than the IPF patients. 19 patients of IPF (54%) opted for treatment. All the IPF patients had a significant fall in FVC after six months (mean change -0.203 ± 0.01 litres) compared to the CTD-DPLD group (mean change - 0.05 ± 0.04 litres.) Conclusion: CTD-DPLD patients belong to a younger age group, with longer duration of symptoms, more extrapulmonary features, better physiological parameters and better response to therapy than IPF patients. Larger prospective epidemiological studies and enrolment in clinical trials are necessary for better understanding of the spectrum of diffuse parenchymal lung disorders and their therapeutic options

Molecular-Level Insights into the Microstructure of a Hydrated and Nanoconfined Deep Eutectic Solvent

Despite the recent advancements in the field of deep eutectic solvents (DESs), their high viscosity often prevents practical applications. A versatile strategy to overcome this problem is either to add a co-solvent or to confine the DES inside a nanoscaled self-organized system. This work assesses the microstructures of a hydrated and nanoconfined DES comprising benzyltripropylammonium chloride BTPA]CI and ethylene glycol (EG). They act as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and a donor, respectively. The hydrogen bonding between BTPA]CI and EG in the DES (i.e., BTEG) and the molecular states of water in the hydrated BTEG were studied by Raman spectroscopy. The results show different hydrogen-bonding associations between water- water and water -BTEG or EG molecules. In addition, we investigated the confinement effects of BTEG in a Polysorbate 80 (Tween-80)/cyclohexane reverse micellar (RM) system. The results are compared with those of an ionic liquid-encapsulated RM system. The formation, bonding characteristics, and thermal stability of the RM droplets were studied by solubilization, dynamic light scattering, rheology, and Raman spectroscopy experiments. Furthermore, it is shown that hydrogen bonding between the DES and the surfactant leads to a stable RM system. Interestingly, the viscosity of the RM system is significantly lower than that of the neat DES suggesting that DESs have a much wider practical applicability in the form of RMs