A prospective, randomized controlled study to compare the intubating conditions achieved with suxamethonium and rocuronium bromide.

Endotracheal intubation is required for giving general anaesthesia for which adequate muscle relaxation is necessary. Suxamethonium is still used as a relaxant for endotracheal intubation . Rocuronium ,a non depolarising muscle relaxant was compared here for tracheal intubating conditions. METHODS: 100 patients of ASA I and II were divided randomly into 2 groups undergoing elective surgeries: Group I - Suxamethonium Group II - Rocuronium. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATIONS: The intubating conditions were excellent in group I Suxamethonium as against Group II Rocuronium in 60 secs. CONCLUSION: Rocuronium can be used as alternative when suxamethonium is contraindicated for rapid intubation but not if anticipated difficult airway is present

PREVALENCE OF CEPHALOSPORIN-RESISTANT GRAM-NEGATIVE BACILLI FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES

ABSTRACTObjective: Beta-lactams are the group of antibiotics that contain a ring called as beta-lactam ring,†which is responsible for the antibacterial activity.The presence of resistance among Gram-negative organisms is due to the production of beta-lactamases enzymes that hydrolysis the beta-lactam ringthereby conferring resistance to the organism. This study is undertaken to determine the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)producing Gram-negative organism from clinical samples.Methods: A total of 112 clinical samples were taken for this study. The combined disc synergistic test (CDST) was used for the phenotypic detectionof ESBL producers from the clinical samples. The genotypic identification of ESBL producers was carried out by alkaline lysis method by isolation ofplasmid DNA.Result: A total of 87 bacterial isolates were isolated and identified. Among them, Klebsiella (41%) was the predominant organism followed byEscherichia coli (33%), Proteus (10%), Pseudomonas (10%), and Serratia (6%). Among the various bacterial isolates, Klebsiella showed a higherpercentage of resistance. The CDST showed that 8 isolates of Klebsiella, 3 isolates of E. coli, and 1 isolate of Pseudomonas were found to be ESBLproducers. The genotypic confirmation showed that the two bacterial isolates, namely, Klebsiella and E. coli were found to possess temoniera (TEM)gene which was the 400-500 bp conferring resistance to the antibiotics.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that early detection of ESBL producing Gram-negative organism is a very important step in planning thetherapy of patient in Hospitals. CDST continues to be a good indicator in the detection of ESBL producers.Keywords: Beta-lactamases, Gram-negative bacilli, Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, Resistance, Combined disc synergistic test.Â

BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS (SS03) AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES

Objective: This study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi isolated from the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera Lam. collected from the Omalur region, Salem district.Methods: The endophytic fungi were isolated from stem, leaves, flowers and calyx of Moringa oleifera by surface sterilization method. The samples were surface sterilized by immersing it in 70% ethanol for 5 seconds followed by 4% sodium hypochlorite for 90 seconds and then a final rinsing in sterile distilled water. Then fungal biomass was extracted for intracellular metabolites by using ethyl acetate as solvent. The crude extract was filtered, and the filtrate was dried under vacuum at 40 °C. The filtrate was analyzed for antimicrobial activity. The fungi which showed the maximum activity was identified and the metabolite present in the ethyl acetate extract was characterized and identified by GC-MS and NMR analysis.Results: The predominant endophytic fungi isolated belongs to the genera of Aspergillus spp, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus and dematiaceous fungi namely Bipolaris spp. From this Aspergillus flavus showed the highest zone of inhibition was observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus 22 mm and strain of Candida tropicalis 19 mm. The efficiency of the bioactive compound was identified by GC-MS and NMR analysis and found to be Fenaclon, (R)(-) 14 methyl-8-hexadecyn-1-ol, Trans-β-farnesene (E)-β-farnesene, 9-Octcadecene,1,1, DimethoxyConclusion: This study results indicate that the bioactive metabolites produce the endophytic fungi Aspergillus flavus could be promising source as antimicrobial agents

A Novel Prototype Biosensor Array Electrode System for Detecting the Bacterial Pathogen Salmonella typhimurium.

Publication history: Accepted - 2 June 2022: Published online - 4 June 2022Salmonellosis caused by Salmonella sp. has long been reported all over the world. Despite the availability of various diagnostic methods, easy and effective detection systems are still required. This report describes a dialysis membrane electrode interface disc with immobilized specific antibodies to capture antigenic Salmonella cells. The interaction of a specific Salmonella antigen with a mouse anti-Salmonella monoclonal antibody complexed to rabbit anti-mouse secondary antibody conjugated with HRP and the substrate o-aminophenol resulted in a response signal output current measured using two electrode systems (cadmium reference electrode and glassy carbon working electrode) and an agilent HP34401A 6.5 digital multimeter without a potentiostat or applied potential input. A maximum response signal output current was recorded for various concentrations of Salmonella viz., 3, 30, 300, 3000, 30,000 and 300,000 cells. The biosensor has a detection limit of three cells, which is very sensitive when compared with other detection sensors. Little non-specific response was observed using Streptococcus, Vibrio, and Pseudomonas sp. The maximum response signal output current for a dialysis membrane electrode interface disc was greater than that for gelatin, collagen, and agarose. The device and technique have a range of biological applications. This novel detection system has great potential for future development and application in surveillance for microbial pathogens.This research work was financially supported by DRDE (DRDE-P1-2003/Task-11)

Protein-Localized Bright-Red Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters as Cyanide-Selective Colorimetric and Fluorometric Nanoprobes

Herein, we describe a bright-red-emitting ovalbumin-protected gold nanoclusters (OVA–AuNCs) that were prepared and applied as a luminescent probe for a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive determination of cyanide ions (CN– ions) based on an emission quenching and colorimetric method. Initially, an intense red-emissive fluorescence of the OVA–AuNCs successfully disappeared upon the addition of CN– ions. The resultant emission-quenching process involved CN– ions etching the OVA–AuNC surface, which produced AuCN2– complexes in the presence of ambient oxygen. Under optimized experimental conditions, the relative emission intensity is inversely relative to CN– ion concentrations ranging from 5.00 × 10–7 to 75.00 × 10–7 mol/L with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9932. Furthermore, OVA–AuNC-based optical detection systems on both colorimetric and fluorometric assays were tested, which expose highly sensitive and specific determination of CN– ions, and it is easily visualized by the naked eye (day light and UV light). Because of the distinct Elsner reaction between Au atoms of OVA–AuNCs and CN– ions, the recent nanoprobe offered ultrasensitivity and good selectivity with the lowest limit of detection value of 68.00 × 10–9 mol/L. In addition, this fluorescence “turn-off” CN– ion detection method was executed in real water samples. The demonstrated route of OVA–AuNC preparation is extremely easy and quick, making the proposed selective and sensitive CN– ion sensing assay based on the fluorescence response of the OVA–AuNCs for numerous practical applications

Fluorescent carbon dots for highly sensitive bilirubin sensing with excellent selectivity

We reported the fluorescence sensor of carbon dots (CDs) synthesized for the highly sensitive and selective detection of bilirubin in human urine. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed that the CDs have a spherical shape with a mean particle size of 2.6 nm. The CDs showed the fluorescent emission, which peaked at the wavelength of 511 nm under the excitation wavelength of 435 nm. The CDs’ emission intensity reduced with increasing the bilirubin concentration, which was ascribed to the strong inner filter effect (IFE). The excellent spectral match between the bilirubin absorbance and the CDs excitation allowed the fluorescence sensor to be markedly specific only to the presence of bilirubin, permitting the identification of bilirubin even in the presence of other potentially interfering elements. The fluorescence sensor displayed a good linear response to the bilirubin concentration in the wide range of 3.5–45.5 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 34 nM, being the remarkably low level even though CDs were synthesized in a facile way without doping. Moreover, this sensing strategy permitted us to quantify bilirubin in the clinical (real) specimen with a good recovery of 95.3–96.8%, indicating a great potential candidate for a cost-effective bilirubin sensing platform in a biomedical application

Optical Sensing of Toxic Cyanide Anions Using Noble Metal Nanomaterials

Water toxicity, one of the major concerns for ecosystems and the health of humanity, is usually attributed to inorganic anions-induced contamination. Particularly, cyanide ions are considered one of the most harmful elements required to be monitored in water. The need for cyanide sensing and monitoring has tempted the development of sensing technologies without highly sophisticated instruments or highly skilled operations for the objective of in-situ monitoring. Recent decades have witnessed the growth of noble metal nanomaterials-based sensors for detecting cyanide ions quantitatively as nanoscience and nanotechnologies advance to allow nanoscale-inherent physicochemical properties to be exploited for sensing performance. Particularly, noble metal nanostructure e-based optical sensors have permitted cyanide ions of nanomolar levels, or even lower, to be detectable. This capability lends itself to analytical application in the quantitative detection of harmful elements in environmental water samples. This review covers the noble metal nanomaterials-based sensors for cyanide ions detection developed in a variety of approaches, such as those based on colorimetry, fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering (RS), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Additionally, major challenges associated with these nano-platforms are also addressed, while future perspectives are given with directions towards resolving these issues

Investigation of the dielectric properties and mechanical stability of lignocellulosic biomass based electrical insulation material for high voltage applications

The laminated insulation pressboards are used in electrical transformers and they are made from pure wood cellulose fibre. It is used in high-voltage transformers for electrical insulation due to its superior electrical and mechanical properties. Many researchers are searching for alternatives to wood raw materials to reduce deforestation. The banana is one of the lignocellulose-based raw materials; the banana fibre contains 48% cellulose. In this work, different frequencies and temperatures are used to investigate the electrical characteristics of epoxy resin composites reinforced with banana leaf fibres, including their dielectric constant, dissipation factor, and loss factor. At frequencies ranging from 1 to 10 kHz and temperatures ranging from 30 to 150 °C, the dielectric properties of several composites containing banana leaf fibre are studied. The composite’s dielectric properties gradually increased with temperature and decreased with frequency. Correspondingly, the mechanical tests involving a banana leaf fibre epoxy composite are conducted for tensile, bending, impact, and water absorption. The banana leaf fibre has been treated with a 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to increase its dielectric and mechanical strength. According to this study, the mechanical strength of biocomposites containing up to 60% treated banana leaf fibre epoxy (TBLFE) composites is greater than that of pure epoxy. A thermogravimetric investigation of composites reinforced with banana fibres has revealed remarkable thermal stability up to 220 °C. In a composite made from chemically treated banana fibre pressboard, there is a good bond between the fibres and the matrix. The FESEM surface analysis shows that treated banana leaf fibril insulation boards have a better texture than composites that have not been treated. The testing results depict that banana leaf fibre is one of the good alternatives to wood cellulose for electrical insulation on pressboard for high-voltage applications