Analysis of the lambdoid prophage element e14 in the E. coli K-12 genome

BACKGROUND: Many sequenced bacterial genomes harbor phage-like elements or cryptic prophages. These elements have been implicated in pathogenesis, serotype conversion and phage immunity. The e14 element is a defective lambdoid prophage element present at 25 min in the E. coli K-12 genome. This prophage encodes important functional genes such as lit (T4 exclusion), mcrA (modified cytosine restriction activity) and pin (recombinase). RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis of the e14 prophage sequence shows the modular nature of the e14 element which shares a large part of its sequence with the Shigella flexneri phage SfV. Based on this similarity, the regulatory region including the repressor and Cro proteins and their binding sites were identified. The protein product of b1149 was found to be a fusion of a replication protein and a terminase. The genes b1143, b1151 and b1152 were identified as putative pseudogenes. A number of duplications of the stfE tail fibre gene of the e14 are seen in plasmid p15B. A protein based comparative approach using the COG database as a starting point helped detect lambdoid prophage like elements in a representative set of completely sequenced genomes. CONCLUSIONS: The e14 element was characterized for the function of its encoded genes, the regulatory regions, replication origin and homology with other phage and bacterial sequences. Comparative analysis at nucleotide and protein levels suggest that a number of important phage related functions are missing in the e14 genome including parts of the early left operon, early right operon and late operon. The loss of these genes is the result of at least three major deletions that have occurred on e14 since its integration. A comparative protein level approach using the COG database can be effectively used to detect defective lambdoid prophage like elements in bacterial genomes

TITRIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF IBUPROFEN BULK DRUG SAMPLE BY USING UREA AS A HYDROTROPIC SOLUBILIZING AGENT

Objective: The objective of this study was to employ hydrotropic solublization technique to facilitate the tirimetric analysis of poorly water soluble drug, ibuprofen precluding the use organic solvent. Methods: In the present investigation, poorly water-soluble anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen has been solubilized using 8M of urea as hydrotropic agent for its titrimetric analysis instead of using organic solvent. Results: There was an enhancement in solubility of ibuprofen in 8M urea solution as compared to solubility in distilled water. The mean percent estimation of ibuprofen estimated in bulk sample by Indian Pharmacopoeial Method is 98.56% while by the proposed method (using 8M urea) is 98.67%. The results of analysis by the proposed method are very close to the results of the standard method. Conclusion: Proposed method is simple, economic, accurate, eco-friendly and can be successfully employed in the routine quantitative analysis of drug in bulk drug and dosage form in industries

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SALICYLIC ACID BULK SAMPLE USING HYDROTROPIC SOLUBILIZING AGENTS

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of this study was to facilitate titrimetric analysis of poorly water-soluble drug, salicylic acid, using hydrotropic solubilizationtechnique, precluding the use organic solvent.Methods: In the present investigation, poorly water-soluble keratolytic drug, salicylic acid, has been solubilized using nicotinamide (2 M) and sodiumbenzoate (2 M) as hydrotropic agents for its titrimetric analysis instead of using an organic solvent.Results: There was an enhancement in solubility of salicylic acid in 2 M nicotinamide and sodium benzoate solutions as compared to solubility in distilledwater. The mean percent estimation in the bulk drug sample of salicylic acid by Indian Pharmacopeial method is 98.89% while by use of proposed method,i.e., using 2 M nicotinamide and 2 M sodium benzoate solutions were 98.90% and 98.97%, respectively. Compared to sodium benzoate, salicylic acid wasfound to be more soluble in nicotinamide solution. The results of analysis by proposed method are very close to the results of the standard method.Conclusion: Proposed method is simple, economic, accurate, and reproducible and can be successfully employed in the routine quantitative analysisof drug in bulk drug and dosage form in industries.Keywords: Salicylic acid, Hydrotropy, Sodium benzoate, Nicotinamide, Titrimetry

Box-Girder Bridges - Modelling and Analysis

The box-girder bridge has become very popular lately due to its serviceability, stability, and structural efficiency. The study of such a bridge requires analytical, experimental, or numerical methods. The structural behavior of the box-girder bridge is very complex and is quite cumbersome to be investigated by conventional methods. This paper presents a modelling process for the analysis of simply supported reinforced concrete (RC) box-girder bridges (straight, skew, curve, and skew-curved) using the finite element method under Indian loading conditions. This modelling process is developed on the basis of the Codal provisions of Indian Road Congress (IRC) 6:2017 and IRC 21:2000, and its implementation is quite simple as it avoids the cumbersome calculations and requires less time. Different values of the span, span-depth ratio, and the number of cells are considered to suit the requirements, and limiting criteria for stresses and deflection are checked. The static and free vibration analyses are carried out, and the results are compared to control the applicability of the proposed modelling process. The present modelling process is applied to analyse the RC box-girder bridges up to 50 m spans, and no erection procedure is included. However, one may follow the proposed modelling procedure for any box-girder bridge for its analysis

An analytical survey of promotional drug literatures at C. U. Shah Medical College and Hospital, Surendranagar

Background: The research and marketing of a new drug requires a lot of money by the pharmaceutical companies. Promotion through advertising brochures and leaflets is widely used to influence the physicians. Most of the times, this information is the only source of new drug information for the physicians. Hence, this study to analyze the appropriateness, accuracy, and validity of promotional drug literatures was undertaken.Methods: Promotional materials were collected from outpatient departments of C. U. Shah Medical College and Hospital, Surendranagr. They were evaluated according to the “WHO criteria, 1988,” and the references cited to support the claims were checked for their validity and authenticity. The images and the pictorial content were evaluated to find out any biased nature of gender representation.Results: Evaluation of the total 486 brochures showed that none of them fulfilled all the nine criteria. Of the 308 claims, only 208 (42.79%) gave references to support the claims. Only 27 (39.13%) of the research articles among the 125 journal article cited were of high methodological quality. Among the 218 human figures, 144 were patients, and 103 were doctors. Female patients (62.5%) were depicted more than male patients (37.5%).Conclusion: The present study showed that pharmaceutical companies do not strictly follow the WHO guidelines and majority of the research were sponsored by companies. Hence, more stringent regulations need to be implemented for the proper promotion and dissemination of information about the new drugs

A comparative study of efficacy and safety of pitavastatin versus atorvastatin in the patients of dyslipidemia in medicine department of a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major cause of death globally. Dyslipidemia is one of the most significant risk factors for CVD. 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), which are used for the treatment of dyslipidemia, has a beneficial effect in both primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Hence, this study was done to compare the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin versus pitavastatin in patients of dyslipidemias.Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance from institution and written informed consent from patients, 100 patients included in the study were randomly allocated to any of the following two groups. (1) Group A: Tablet atorvastatin 10 mg given orally once a day for 12 weeks. (2) Group B: Tablet pitavastatin 2 mg given orally once a day for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was a comparative assessment of change in lipid profile (triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein [LDL], high-density lipoprotein [HDL]) from baseline and after 12 weeks. The secondary endpoint involved recording all the adverse effects during the study.Results: Analysis of the baseline and post 12 weeks lipid levels by non-parametric unpaired t-test showed a statistically significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in Group B as compared to Group A (p=0.028 i.e. p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between two groups in decreasing LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) (p=0.615).Conclusions: In this study, pitavastatin is found to be more efficacious than atorvastatin in increasing HDL-C levels, while as efficacious as atorvastatin in decreasing LDL-C in dyslipidemic patients. Atorvastatin is better tolerated than pitavastatin

Correlation of sociodemographic factors and intestinal parasites in pregnant women

Background: Pregnant women often experience more severe intestinal parasitic infections than their non-pregnant counterparts. Intestinal parasitic infections also disturb pregnancy at the maternal and fetal level. Objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of intestinal parasites in pregnant women and its relationship with various socio-demographic factors.Methods: A single stool specimen was collected. A saline and iodine mount was examined microscopically to demonstrate the intestinal parasites. Formol ether Concentration technique was performed to increase the yield of the eggs and larvae. Modified acid-fast staining was done for opportunistic parasitic infections.Results: In this study 300 pregnant women were screened for presence of intestinal parasites. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 42.67%. Women who practiced hand washing regularly and had knowledge about parasites had lesser infection. The dietary practice of taking green leafy vegetables had protective effect during pregnancy. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was almost same in both rural and urban women. Higher prevalence of intestinal parasites was found in lower socioeconomic class. Women who used river as source of water supply had slightly more prevalence than those who used municipal water. The prevalence of hookworm infection was more in women who never wore sandals.Conclusions: The high prevalence of intestinal parasites in the pregnant women indicates faecal pollution of soil and domestic water supply.  Education and awareness regarding intestinal parasites need to be done during their routine antenatal visits. Emphasis should be made on consistent hand washing, consumption of washed leafy vegetables and use of footwear. Deworming of pregnant women should be considered in the national guidelines

Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus and lower respiratory tract infection

Background: Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) still remains a global public health problem. Diabetes Mellitus (DM), is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia. Diabetes along with poor glycaemic control leads to an immune compromised state. As prevalence of both TB and DM is increasing in India, this association of PTB and DM may prove a threat to TB control program. Aims and objectives of the study was to detect prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with DM and Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI).Methods: Sputum specimen from consecutive 250 known diabetic adult patients with type 2 diabetes and clinical evidence of LRTI were processed for microscopy, solid culture and Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Clinical findings, duration of DM, regularity of treatment and recent fasting blood glucose level were noted.Results: TB was detected in 31(12.8%) patients. Microscopy, culture and Xpert assay were positive in 14(5.6%), 29(11.6%) and 24(9.5%) cases respectively. Culture detected seven cases more than Xpert assay. Two additional cases were detected by Xpert assay than culture. Rifampicin resistance was detected in seven (29.17%) cases by Xpert assay. TB detection rate was higher in patients with more than two weeks of cough (14.38%), history of tuberculosis (15.9%), hyperglycemia (13.9%) and significantly higher in those with irregular anti-diabetic treatment (35.7%).Conclusions: Irregular anti-diabetic treatment, hyperglycaemia and history of tuberculosis were strongly associated with pulmonary TB. Xpert assay should be used as the initial diagnostic test for detection of tuberculosis as well as rifampicin resistance in diabetic patients by TB control programme