Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from patients of respiratory tract infection in a tertiary care hospital of Eastern India

Background: Respiratory tract infections have been one of the commonest types of infections affecting the Indian population. With antibiotic resistance being a global threat and challenge to healthcare, concerns over skilful and judicious use of existing antibiotics have been on rise. Update on region specific bacterial susceptibility pattern is thus a need. The present study was planned to identify the common pathogens responsible for the respiratory tract infection and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns.Methods: A prospective study was carried out, where subjects with lower respiratory tract (LRT) infection admitted in the Intensive Care Unit in the tertiary care centre in Eastern India during the one-year period were enrolled in the study. Samples such as sputum, suction tip, endotracheal aspirate, bronchial aspirate and pleural fluid were obtained under aseptic precautions and were processed. The bacterial isolates were subjected to susceptibility testing by standard Kirby Bauer disc diffusion methods. The susceptibility patterns of the bacterial pathogens were determined.Results: Out of 234 processed samples, klebsiella (33.44%) was found to be commonest pathogen isolated from all the sites followed by Pseudomonas, staphylococcus and others. Amongst the penicillin group of antibiotics, ampicillin showed highest activity against pseudomonas and E. coli respectively. Antibiotics like penicillin G, ampicillin/sulbactam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combination showed lower susceptibility towards most pathogens. Amongst broad spectrum antibiotics, amikacin showed high susceptibility towards pseudomonas species followed by chloramphenicol and tetracycline.Conclusions: With changing trends in microbiological patterns of responsible organisms, knowledge regarding antibiotic susceptibility pattern needs to be regularly revised, thus ensuring prompt initiation of adequate and appropriate antibiotic treatment with better patient outcomes

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Genomics of Soil- and Plant-Associated Fungi

XII, 388 p. 42 illus., 25 illus. in color.online

Evaluating the role of imprint cytology compared to histopathology in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors

Background: Imprint cytology is one of the techniques to evaluate intraoperative pathological diagnosis. It gives quick results and is very cost effective. The morphology is well preserved, and it is very useful for differentiating between benign and malignant lesions intraoperatively. Objective: To evaluate the diagnosis of ovarian tumors in imprint cytology and to correlate it with histopathology and assess its diagnostic accuracy for its future potential application. Materials and Methods: Imprint smears for cytology were made immediately after the gross specimen was received in the department in normal saline.Then the specimen was fixed in 10% buffered formalin and grossed for histopathological examination following standard protocols. After histopathology diagnosis, its correlation was done with the diagnosis of imprint cytology. Results: A total of 50 cases of ovarian lesions were studied.Out of these 50 cases the accuracy for benign lesionswas found to be 88.6%, 25% for borderline cases and 100% for malignant ones. Conclusion: Imprint cytology gives a rapid diagnosis and the high accuracyfor benign and malignant lesions. Considering the findings of the index study, it can be concluded that imprint cytology may be used intraoperatively in doubtful cases for a better surgical outcome in patients

Near 5% DMSO is the best: a structural investigation of PEDOT: PSS thin films with strong emphasis on surface and interface for hybrid solar cell

© 2019 Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) doping on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films have been optimized for obtaining better hole transport layer in hybrid solar cell. The correlation between morphology and conductivity is established through atomic force microscopy and transmission length method measurements. On the other hand, change in the shape of the building blocks (from spheroidal-like to ellipsoidal-like) in the PEDOT:PSS films with DMSO concentration is apparent from their electron density profiles and topographies, suggesting possible conformational change (from coil-like to rod-like) in film by X-ray reflectivity. Such change is further evident from their compositional profiles, work functions and electronic band structures estimated from X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies. In fact, complementary information suggest that near 5% DMSO doped PEDOT:PSS film is governed through maximum in-plane extended ellipsoidal-like blocks as well as well-organized in out-of-plane ordering which is likely to be the optimum structure for increased the highest electrical conductivity up to 1230¿S/cm. Finally, maximum power conversion efficiency of 11% with open-circuit voltages around 600¿mV, a short-circuit current density higher than 30¿mA/cm2 and a fill factor of 59.4% is achieved for the 5% DMSO doped PEDOT:PSS/n-Si hybrid solar cell, which is perfectly correlated with their structure.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Near 5% DMSO is the best: a structural investigation of PEDOT: PSS thin films with strong emphasis on surface and interface for hybrid solar cell

© 2019 Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) doping on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films have been optimized for obtaining better hole transport layer in hybrid solar cell. The correlation between morphology and conductivity is established through atomic force microscopy and transmission length method measurements. On the other hand, change in the shape of the building blocks (from spheroidal-like to ellipsoidal-like) in the PEDOT:PSS films with DMSO concentration is apparent from their electron density profiles and topographies, suggesting possible conformational change (from coil-like to rod-like) in film by X-ray reflectivity. Such change is further evident from their compositional profiles, work functions and electronic band structures estimated from X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies. In fact, complementary information suggest that near 5% DMSO doped PEDOT:PSS film is governed through maximum in-plane extended ellipsoidal-like blocks as well as well-organized in out-of-plane ordering which is likely to be the optimum structure for increased the highest electrical conductivity up to 1230¿S/cm. Finally, maximum power conversion efficiency of 11% with open-circuit voltages around 600¿mV, a short-circuit current density higher than 30¿mA/cm2 and a fill factor of 59.4% is achieved for the 5% DMSO doped PEDOT:PSS/n-Si hybrid solar cell, which is perfectly correlated with their structure.Peer Reviewe

Variation of γ-Ray and Particle Fluxes At the Sea Level During the Total Solar Eclipse of 24 October, 1995

A Total Solar Eclipse (TSE) was observed from Diamond Harbour (lat. 22.2°N, long 88.2°E) on 24 October 1995. The variation of γ-ray intensity was measured in the energy range of 0.3–3.0 MeV for different time spans throughout the period of the eclipse. A CR-39 detector was used to look at the change in the fluxes of neutral and charged particles. The maximum drop (∼ 25%) in the intensity of γ-ray was observed in the range 2.5–3 MeV during TSE. The CR-39 results showed the appearance of a good number of tracks and a small variation of proton and neutron flux of ≤ 10% which was not significant statistically. Low energy γ-ray fluxes at sea level originate from the secondary electron-photon components of cosmic rays in the atmosphere; its modulation by TSE is interpreted as follows. The cooling of the atmosphere in the path of the umbra induces a reduction of the height of the main production layer of the nuclear component, as a result of which, fewer µ± mesons (from the decay of theπ± mesons) decay to e±. This leads to a small reduction in the flux of electron-photon component at sea level which originates from this branch; the main branch of e - γ component from π0 decay remains nearly unaffected. As the total mass of air remains the same, little or no change in the slow proton or the neutron flux at sea level is expected. These are consistent with the present observations. For a better understanding, further studies of this new phenomenon during future TSE are suggested

Intersectional insights into racism and health: not just a question of identity

Intersectionality is a useful tool to address health inequalities, by helping us understand and respond to the individual and group effects of converging systems of power. Intersectionality rejects the notion of inequalities being the result of single, distinct factors, and instead focuses on the relationships between overlapping processes that create inequities. In this Series paper, we use an intersectional approach to highlight the intersections of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination with other systems of oppression, how this affects health, and what can be done about it. We present five case studies from different global locations that outline different dimensions of discrimination based on caste, ethnicity and migration status, Indigeneity, religion, and skin colour. Although experiences are diverse, the case studies show commonalities in how discrimination operates to affect health and wellbeing: how historical factors and coloniality shape contemporary experiences of race and racism; how racism leads to separation and hierarchies across shifting lines of identity and privilege; how racism and discrimination are institutionalised at a systems level and are embedded in laws, regulations, practices, and health systems; how discrimination, minoritisation, and exclusion are racialised processes, influenced by visible factors and tacit knowledge; and how racism is a form of structural violence. These insights allow us to begin to articulate starting points for justice-based action that addresses root causes, engages beyond the health sector, and encourages transnational solidarity.</p