LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ISOLATED FROM Bt COTTON RHIZOSPHERE SOIL AGAINST ANOPHELES MOSQUITO LARVAE (CULICIDAE)

Objective: The objective of the study was to isolate and identify Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) from Bt cotton rhizosphere soil and analyze its larvicidal activity against Anopheles mosquito larvae.Methods: Soil samples were collected from Bt cotton field, and B. thuringiensis was isolated and characterized by biochemical and microscopical characterization. Crystal (Cry) proteins were extracted and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and its larvicidal activity was checked by mortality analysis. Effective Bt isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing.Results: A total of 24 isolates were characterized as Bacillus sp. by biochemical characterization. Further, parasporal inclusion and Cry proteins were extracted, and it was quantified by Bradford assay. The precipitated Cry proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and the results have indicates Cry I protein at 100kDa, Cry3 protein at 44kDa, and cytolytic protein (Cyt) at 29kDa in most of the isolates. Larvicidal activity was checked by the 4th instar Anopheles mosquito larvae. Among the tested isolates, RBL10 and RBL20 have shown the highest percentage of larvicidal activity at 96 and 83%, respectively. Further, the two isolates RBL10 and RBL20 were identified as Bt by 16S rRNA sequencing.Conclusion: B. thuringiensis producing Cry and Cyt proteins posses potential larvicidal activity against Anopheles mosquito larvae which has biological and economic importance in mosquito control

Advancing Treatment Frontiers: Radiofrequency Ablation for Small Renal Mass—Intermediate-Term Results

Our study aims to discern the immediate and intermediate-term oncological outcomes of the patients with small renal mass and who were surgically unfit or were having a bilateral tumor and underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the mass. We retrospectively and prospectively analyzed the status of the patients who were diagnosed to have small renal masses and were biopsy-proven renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases, who underwent RFA at our institute from the year 2013 to 2022. Patients were followed-up for 3 years. Data regarding complications were analyzed for all patients who underwent renal RFA along with the 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate. A total of 28 patients were eligible for the study based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their renal function was recorded. They underwent RFA and were followed-up for a period of 3 years for RFS. Four patients out of the total had immediate complications, out of which two developed a hematoma. Three-year-follow-ups showed six recurrences, overall having 78.6% RFS. Post-procedural renal function was stable as documented by estimated glomerular filtration rate. Oncological results of RFA in patients with small renal masses who are surgically unfit are associated with a low risk of immediate and intermediate-term deterioration of renal function

A study of visceral adiposity index as a diagnostic index in gestational diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care centre

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is an emerging problem which affects pregnant women all over the world particularly in India. Early detection reduces adverse maternal and foetal outcome. Elevated central adiposity is a modifiable risk factor for abnormal glucose homeostasis in pregnancy and GDM. The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) is a gender-specific index of fat distribution and assessment.Methods: It is a hospital based, case control study among the subjects who attended a tertiary care centre. cases were 30 pregnant women newly diagnosed with GDM in their 2nd trimester, and Controls were 30 apparently healthy pregnant women in their 2nd trimester without risk factors for GDM such as obesity and family history for diabetes. Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) was calculated using the formula (Waist circumference (WC)/ {36.58 +(1.89xBMI)}) x(TGL/0.81) x (1.52/HDL) where WC is expressed in cm, BMI in Kg/m2, TG in mmol/L, HDL in mmol/L.Results: The mean age of patients with GDM was higher when compared to controls (28.17 ± 3.34vs 24.40±3.07) and this difference was statistically significant (p value < 0.0001). The average weights were significantly different. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) was 23.59 ± 4.19 and 88.46 ± 7.10 respectively among controls and 29.85 ±4.52 and 102.12 ± 6.96 respectively among GDM patients and these differences were highly significant (p value<0.0001). The lipid profile of these patients showed a significantly higher value of Triglycerides among patients.Conclusions: This study correlates GDM with Visceral adiposity index and found that the index to be elevated in the GDM group. The increased VAI in GDM patients shows their elevated adipose tissue distribution.  VAI is less invasive and cost effective, can be used as a diagnostic index in GDM

CYTOTOXICITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MONO-, DI- AND TRINUCLEAR RUTHENIUM(II) POLYPYRIDINE COMPLEXES

Objectives: To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the synthesized mono-, di- and trinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes.Methods: A series of synthesized ruthenium(II) complexes, R1, R2 and R3, are screened for in vitro antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cancer cell line using 96-well plate method. An assay of antimicrobial activity was performed by disc diffusion method. In addition an assay of an antifungal was performed by broth micro-dilution method.Results: The cytotoxicity of complexes revealed IC50 values of 14.52 (R3), 19.53 (R2) and 22.32 μM (R1) against HepG2 cell line in a dose dependent manner. All the complexes inhibited moderately the growth of Gram positive bacteria (G+) such as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Eubacterium lentum, and Bacillus subtillis, quite meagerly the growth of the Gram negative bacterium (G─), Enterobacter aerogenes, but did not inhibit at all the growth of Erwinia amylovora (MTCC 2760) and showed a slight antifungal activity.Conclusion: From this study, we could suggest that the systematic increase in number of imidazole moiety along with expanding cloud of conjugated Ï€-electron system of ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes is responsible for the antiproliferative activity which increases in the order, R1 &lt; R2 &lt; R3 against HepG2 cancer cells. Consecutively, the complexes show good antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria, but show poor or no effect against Gram negative bacteria and exhibit a little antifungal activity.Â

Vertebral column deformity in six species of wild fish at the Coromandel coast, Bay of Bengal India

This study reports radiological deformities in the vertebral column of six fishes viz, Scomberomorus commerson, Chanos chanos, Sillago sihama, Pampus chinensis, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Netuma thalassina that were collected from the Coromandel coast, Bay of Bengal. Four main different types of vertebral column deformities were found: (i) whole body kypho-lordo-kyphosis (Sillago sihama, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Netuma thalassina); (ii) tail region kypho-lordosis (Scomberomorus commerson); (iii) tail region lordo-kyphosis (Chanos chanos); (iv) platyspondyly (Pampus chinensis). Seven types of vertebra body deformities, describing the pathology of single vertebrae, were present; reduced intervertebral space, compression, fusion, compresion & fusion, fusion center, dorsal wedge-shaped and compressed & dorsal wed-shaped. The present documentation of deformities in six different species that are also very different with regard to habitat, diet and swimming activity may suggest that fish deformities are widespread in the study area.publishedVersio

ADULT ONSET HENOCH: SCHONLEIN PURPURA – AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION

  Henoch–Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a common leukocytoclastic vasculitis seen in children. However, it is uncommon in adults. HSP is characterized by the classic tetrad of non-thrombocytopenic palpable purpura, arthritis or arthralgias, gastrointestinal, and renal involvement. We report a rare case of adult onset HSP with multi-organ involvement. Early recognition of multi-organ involvement is very important, especially in adults

Recent updates on phthalate exposure and human health: a special focus on liver toxicity and stem cell regeneration

Phthalates have been blended in various compositions as plasticizers worldwide for a variety of purposes. Consequently, humans are exposed to a wide spectrum of phthalates that needs to be researched and understood correctly. The goal of this review is to focus on phthalate's internal exposure pathways and possible role of human digestion on liver toxicity. In addition, special focus was made on stem cell therapy in reverting liver toxicity. The known entry of higher molecular weight phthalates is through ingestion while inhalation and dermal pathways are for lower molecular weight phthalates. In human body, certain phthalates are digested through phase 1 (hydrolysis, oxidation) and phase 2 (conjugation) metabolic processes. The phthalates that are made bioavailable through digestion enter the blood stream and reach the liver for further detoxification, and these are excreted via urine and/or feces. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a compound well studied involving human metabolism. Liver plays a pivotal role in humans for detoxification of pollutants. Thus, continuous exposure to phthalates in humans may lead to inhibition of liver detoxifying enzymes and may result in liver dysfunction. The potential of stem cell therapy addressed herewith will revert liver dysfunction and lead to restoration of liver function properly

Minor allele C of rs12807809 polymorphism in NRGN contributes to the severity of psychosis in patients with Schizophrenia in South Indian population

Schizophrenia (SCZ) as a severe and complex neuropsychiatric disorder and is characterized by positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a strong association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12807809 upstream of Neurogranin (NRGN) in a European population. This evidence prompted us to conduct an association study among 1005 schizophrenia cases and 1069 controls in a South Indian Population using TaqMan Allelic discrimination method. We observed an association of rs12807809 with SCZ in this study population. Allele frequencies and genotype frequencies of rs12807809 showed significant differences between cases and control subjects [p = 0.0019; OR = 0.69; 95% CI = (0.55–0.87)] and (p = 0.0062). Further Genotype-Phenotype correlation revealed a moderate association of rs12807809 with flat affect (p = 0.039) and Hallucinations (p = 0.012). The ancestral non-risk C allele contributes to the severity of psychosis (p = 0.039) in this population