A five year follow-up study of children treated for tuberculous meningitis with short course chemotherapy

A total of 215 patients with tuberculous meningitis were treated for a period of 9 months. Of these, 30 patients were excluded from analysis for various reasons. Of the remaining 185, 57 died during treatment leaving 128 patients (5 with severe sequelae, 43 with moderate, 18 with mild and 62 with complete recovery) for long term follow-up. The noteworthy features of the study are 100% coverage, low relapse rate and development of late sequelae in 10 patients during follow-up period

Primary empty sella and associated pituitary hormonal abnormalities in children: An observational study

Objective: To find out the spectrum of pituitary hormonal abnormalities in children with primary empty sella syndrome. Materials andMethods: This retrospective observational hospital-based study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Children referred tothe pediatric endocrinology clinic with clinical features of pituitary hormonal abnormalities were evaluated. Children who were found tohave empty sella were included in the study and hormonal profile of these children were studied. Results: There were 14 patients in thestudy group. Isolated growth hormone deficiency was the most common associated abnormality (64%) followed by multiple pituitaryhormone deficiencies in 5 (35%) children. Hypothyroidism was observed in 4 patients (28%) and hypocortisolism in 2 cases (14%).Hypogonadism was observed in one girl on follow-up (7.1%). Conclusions: Significant numbers of children with pituitary hormoneabnormalities have primary empty sella as a cause. Therefore, these children need to be evaluated for all pituitary hormones and shouldbe regularly followed up for evolving hormonal deficiencies

Bioadsorption of chromium resistant enterococcus casseliflavus isolated from tannery effluents.

Bioadsorption, bioaccumulation and enzymatic reduction are the processes by which the microorganisms interact with the toxic metals, enabling their removal or recovery. In the present study, a bacterial strain was isolated from tannery effluent and identified as Enterococcus casseliflavus. It showed a high level resistance of 800 µg/ml chromium. The minimal inhibitory concentration of chromium was found to be 512 µg/ml of potassium dichromate in Nutrient broth medium. The chromium adsorption was more significant by the live cells than killed cells at different time intervals. It was observed that, the inoculation of Enterococcus casseliflavus reduced the BOD and COD values of tannery effluent. The maximum adsorption of chromium was at a temperature of 35ºC to 45ºC and at a pH of 7.0 to 7.

Decolourization of Textile Azo Dyes by using Bacteria Isolated from Textile Dye Effluent

The present study was carried out to isolate dye decolourizing bacteria and to study the dye decolourizing ability.  Different bacterial isolate such as, Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens were isolated from textile dye effluent sample and used for the decolourization study. It was noticed that there was a decrease in the OD in all the three species of all the five dyes as the incubation period increased. Pseudomonas fluorescens was more effective followed by Bacillus, and Escherichia coli. It was found that all the isolated bacteria were efficient decolourizers of Orange 3R.  The decolourization of dye amounted to 59, 77, 79 respectively within 16 days.  Yellow GR was recalcitrant to decolourization, the O.D. value from an initial value of 0.6912 was reduced only to 0.303 and from 0.746 to 0.218, 1.236, to 1.33 by Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus sp. and Escherichia coli respectively. Percentage decolourization was 43%, 15%, 90% respectively. The percentage of decolourization of Orange GR is slightly higher than Blue 3R and the percentage decolourization of Black RL is similar to T Blue

715. Chandra G, et al. BamH1 polymorphism of Human Cytochrome P450 gene, CYP2D6, in quiescent and relpse patients of pulmonary tuberculosis

BamH l polymorphism of the human cytochrome P450 gene, CYP2D6, which encodes drug metabolizing enzyme, was studied to find out whether variant genotypes of this gene are associated with the susceptibility or resistance to bacteriological relapse of pulmonary tuberculosis after stopping treatment with short-course chemotherapy of 6-8 months duration. The study was carried out in control subjects (n=158), patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (n=154), patients with bacteriological relapse (n=50) and quiescent patients (n=50). No difference in the frequency of variant genotypes of BarnH l polymorphism of CYP2D6 gene was observed between pulmonary TB patients and control subjects. A trend towards an increased frequency of 22 genotype (homozygous for infrequent allele 2) was observed in bacteriological relapse patients than quiescent patients (odds ratio, OR: 2). Similar increase was observed in male relapse patients than male quiescent patients (OR: 2.2). The present study suggests that 22 genotype of BamH l polymorphism of CYP2D6 of human cytochrome P450 gene either alone or in combination with closely linked genes may be associated with bacteriological relapse especially in male patients of pulmonary tuberculosis

Bioadsorption of Chromium Resistant Enterococcus casseliflavus Isolated from Tannery Effluents

AbstractBioadsorption, bioaccumulation and enzymatic reduction are the processes by which the microorganisms interact with the toxic metals, enabling their removal or recovery. In the present study, a bacterial strain was isolated from tannery effluent and identified as Enterococcus casseliflavus. It showed a high level resistance of 800 µg/ml chromium. The minimal inhibitory concentration of chromium was found to be 512 µg/ml of potassium dichromate in Nutrient broth medium. The chromium adsorption was more significant by the live cells than killed cells at different time intervals. It was observed that, the inoculation of Enterococcus casseliflavus reduced the BOD and COD values of tannery effluent. The maximum adsorption of chromium was at a temperature of 35ºC to 45ºC and at a pH of 7.0 to 7.5

HLA-DR2 subtypes & immune responses in pulmonary tuberculosis

Background & objectives: HLA-DR2 has been shown to be associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis and altered antibody and lymphocyte response in pulmonary tuberculosis. In the present study, the influence of DR2 subtypes on antibody titre and lymphocyte response ,to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens (10 μg/ml) was studied in 22 patients with active pulmonary TB (ATB), 50 inactive (cured) TB (ITB) patients and 36 healthy control subjects. Methods. HLA-DR2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dot-blotted. Genotyping of DRBl*1501, *1502, *1503, *1601 and *1602 was carried out using sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOPs) and detected by chemiluminescence method. Antibody titre as well as lymphocyte response to M.tuberculosis antigens were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) respectively. Results: The allele frequency of DRB1*15Ol was significantly increased in pulmonary tuberculosis patients as compared to controls (P<0.05). No marked difference in the antibody titre and lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens was observed between the DRBl *1501, *1502 and *1503 positive or negative controls, ATB and ITB patients. DRBl *1501 and *1502 positive as well as negative ATB patients showed a higher antibody titre as compared to controls and ITB patients. ITB patients with *1502 showed a higher lymphocyte response as compared to *1502 positive controls (P<0.001) and ATB patients (P<0.05). Similarly, an increased lymphocyte response was observed in *1501, and *I503 negative ITB patients compared to *1501 and *1503 negative controls and ATB patients. Interpretation & conclusion: The present study revealed that DRBl *1501 may be associated either alone or with other DR2 alleles, with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis. None of the DR2 alleles influenced the antibody and lymphocyte response to M tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens. This suggested that HLA-DR2 gene/gene products as a whole may influence the immune response in pulmonary tuberculosis

Fungal Decolourization of Direct Azo Dyes and Biodegradation of Textile Dye Effluent

AbstractDecolourization of Direct azo dyes by fungi isolated from textile dye effluent was investigated. Seven different fungal species were isolated and identified. The fungal isolates were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor sp. and Trichoderma viride. The fungal inoculums were inoculated into flasks containing Direct azo dyes (500 mg/l) with trace amounts of yeast extract, glucose and sucrose and then sterilized and incubated for 12 days. Aspergillus niger completely decolourized the Congo Red within 6 days. The best decolourizer of Viscose Orange-A was Aspergillus fumigatus (88.70%). Mucor sp. (69.73%) was identified as the best decolourizer of Direct Green – PLS. The dye Direct Violet-BL was completely decolourized by Aspergillus niger within 9 days and Trichoderma viride within 12 days. The dye Direct Sky Blue-FF was completely decolourized by Aspergillus flavus within 9 days and Mucor sp. within 12 days. Penicillium chrysogenum have the capacity to completely decolourized the dye Direct Black-E within 12 days. Fungal biodegradation was assessed by physicochemical analysis

HLA-DR phenotypes and lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens and in cured spinal tuberculosis patients and their contacts

Background: Our earlier studies on Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA) in pulmonary tuberculosis patients revealed the association of HLA-DR2 antigen with susceptibility to pulmonary TB and DR2 antigen has been shown to influence the immunity to tuberculosis. Objectives: The present study was carried out to find out whether HLA-DR antigens are associated with susceptibility to spinal tuberculosis. Moreover, the role of HLA-DR antigens on lymphoproliferative response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens was studied using Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT). Material and Methods: HLA-DR genotyping and lymphoproliferative response was carried out in 63 cured spinal TB patients and 63 control subjects (spouses of pulmonary and spinal TB patients). Results: A trend towards an increased frequency of HLA-DR9 antigen was observed in spinal TB patients compared to controls. A significantly decreased lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens was observed in HLA-DR9 antigen positive control subjects compared to HLA- DR9 antigen negative subjects (P=0.0009) whereas increased response was observed with DR9 positive cured spinal TB patients compared to HLA-DR9 antigen negative patients. Further, HLADR3 antigen positive patients showed a decreased lymphocyte response compared to HLA-DR3 antigen negative patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: The study suggests that HLA-DR9 antigen either alone or in combination with other HLA antigen as lhplotype and non-HLA genes may be associated with susceptibility to spinal TB and play a regulatory role on the immune response to M. tuberculosis in spinal tuberculosis patients

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies & immunity in pulmonary tuberculosis

To understand whether the presence of cold reactive lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LCA) (reactive at 15°C) in the system has any effect on immunity to tuberculosis lymphocytotoxic antibodies to adherent cells (enriched-B ceils) and non-adherent cells were studied in active-TB (n=42) and inactive-TB (cured) patients (n=49) and healthy controls (n=32). The plasma samples of inactive-TB patients showed higher percentage of positivity for lymphocytotoxic antibodies (36.7%) than the active-TB patients (21.4%) and control subjects (18.8%). No significant difference on antibody and lymphocyte response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens was observed between LCA positive and LCA negative active-TB patients and normal healthy controls. Further, determinationof HLA-DR phenotype of the patients and control subjects showed that individuals positive for lymphocytotoxic antibodies were more among HLA-DR2 positive and DR7 positive active-TB patients and control subjects than non-DR2 and non-DR7 subjects. The present study suggests that the cold reactive lymphocytotoxic antibodies may be against B-lymphocytes and persistent for a longer time. HLA-DR2 and -DR7 may be associated with the occurrence of LCA activity. Further, the presence of LCA has no immunoregulatory role on immunity to tuberculosis