PHYTOCHEMICAL, GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF ANDROGRAPHIS SERPYLLIFOLIA METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT AND ITS ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES

Objective: The present study is to evaluate the preliminary study of phytochemical screening and biological applications of Andrographis serpyllifolia methanol leaf extracts. Methods: The methanol leaf extracts of A. serpyllifolia was prepared using Soxhlet apparatus and the extract was analyzed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase. Further, the antibacterial activity of methanolic leaf extract of A. serpyllifolia was tested against various human pathogens by using agar disc diffusion method. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening and GC-MS results revealed phenols, aromatic carboxylic acids, and esters in the chloroform extract to be the molecules responsible for the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of A. serpyllifolia methanol extract and fractions showed the presence of various secondary metabolites present. Conclusion: The present study strongly recommended that the methanolic extract of A. serpyllifolia leaves possesses compounds that inhibit the growth of microbes as wells excellent antioxidant activities. The study further suggested the potential therapeutic use of these extract in cancer study

Improved mycobacterial protein production using a Mycobacterium smegmatis groEL1ΔC expression strain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The non-pathogenic bacterium <it>Mycobacterium smegmatis </it>is widely used as a near-native expression host for the purification of <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>proteins. Unfortunately, the Hsp60 chaperone GroEL1, which is relatively highly expressed, is often co-purified with polyhistidine-tagged recombinant proteins as a major contaminant when using this expression system. This is likely due to a histidine-rich C-terminus in GroEL1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In order to improve purification efficiency and yield of polyhistidine-tagged mycobacterial target proteins, we created a mutant version of GroEL1 by removing the coding sequence for the histidine-rich C-terminus, termed GroEL1ΔC. GroEL1ΔC, which is a functional protein, is no longer able to bind nickel affinity beads. Using a selection of challenging test proteins, we show that GroEL1ΔC is no longer present in protein samples purified from the <it>groEL1ΔC </it>expression strain and demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of purifying and characterising proteins produced using this strain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This novel <it>Mycobacterium smegmatis </it>expression strain allows efficient expression and purification of mycobacterial proteins while concomitantly removing the troublesome contaminant GroEL1 and consequently increasing the speed and efficiency of protein purification.</p

Acute otitis externa: Consensus definition, diagnostic criteria and core outcome set development.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence for the management of acute otitis externa (AOE) is limited, with unclear diagnostic criteria and variably reported outcome measures that may not reflect key stakeholder priorities. We aimed to develop 1) a definition, 2) diagnostic criteria and 3) a core outcome set (COS) for AOE. STUDY DESIGN: COS development according to Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) methodology and parallel consensus selection of diagnostic criteria/definition. SETTING: Stakeholders from the United Kingdom. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Comprehensive literature review identified candidate items for the COS, definition and diagnostic criteria. Nine individuals with past AOE generated further patient-centred candidate items. Candidate items were rated for importance by patient and professional (ENT doctors, general practitioners, microbiologists, nurses, audiologists) stakeholders in a three-round online Delphi exercise. Consensus items were grouped to form the COS, diagnostic criteria, and definition. RESULTS: Candidate COS items from patients (n = 28) and literature (n = 25) were deduplicated and amalgamated to a final candidate list (n = 46). Patients emphasised quality-of-life and the impact on daily activities/work. Via the Delphi process, stakeholders agreed on 31 candidate items. The final COS covered six outcomes: pain; disease severity; impact on quality-of-life and daily activities; patient satisfaction; treatment-related outcome; and microbiology. 14 candidate diagnostic criteria were identified, 8 reaching inclusion consensus. The final definition for AOE was 'diffuse inflammation of the ear canal skin of less than 6 weeks duration'. CONCLUSION: The development and adoption of a consensus definition, diagnostic criteria and a COS will help to standardise future research in AOE, facilitating meta-analysis. Consulting former patients throughout development highlighted deficiencies in the outcomes adopted previously, in particular concerning the impact of AOE on daily life

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF UREA-SCR IN C.I. ENGINE FUELLED WITH DIESEL AND JATROPHA BLENDS

Abstract: An Experimental Investigation was conducted to examine the performance and exhaust emission of diesel Engine by using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) concept fuelled with diesel and Biodiesel namely Jatropha ( 25% of Jatropha and 75% Diesel blends). A test was conducted in four cylinder direct injection diesel engine with different loading condition. And the urea with distilled water solution was sprayed at the Exhaust manifold before it enters the SCR setup for different concentrations and the emission parameters were investigated are CO, HC, NO X and Smoke Opacity. Results showed that Biodiesel reduced the NO X and other emission. The result showed that the Biodiesel derived from jatropha oil showed comparable performance in the Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR). Results indicated that a maximum of 73.94% of NO X reduction was achieved with constant flow rate of 0.75 lit/hr with a urea concentration of 32.5% by means of the Titanium dioxide catalyst in Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) System

Laparoscopic redo fundoplication for intrathoracic migration of wrap

Laparoscopic fundoplication is fast emerging as the treatment of choice of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. However, a complication peculiar to laparoscopic surgery for this disease is the intrathoracic migration of the wrap. This article describes a case of a male patient who developed this particular complication after laparoscopic total fundoplication. Following a trauma, wrap migration occurred. The typical history and symptomatology is described. The classical Barium swallow picture is enclosed. Laparoscopic redo fundoplication was carried out. The difficulties encountered are described. Postoperative wrap migration can be suspected clinically by the presence of a precipitating event and typical symptomatology. Confirmation is by a Barium swallow. Treatment is by redo surgery

Molecular basis of the functional divergence of fatty Acyl-AMP ligase biosynthetic Enzymes of mycobacterium tuberculosis

Activation of fatty acids as acyl-adenylates by fatty acyl-AMP ligases (FAALs) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a variant of a classical theme that involves formation of acyl-CoA (coenzyme A) by fatty acyl-CoA ligases (FACLs). Here, we show that FAALs and FACLs possess similar structural fold and substrate specificity determinants, and the key difference is the absence of a unique insertion sequence in FACL13 structure. A systematic analysis shows a conserved hydrophobic anchorage of the insertion motif across several FAALs. Strikingly, mutagenesis of two phenylalanine residues, which are part of the anchorage, to alanine converts FAAL32 to FACL32. This insertion-based in silico analysis suggests the presence of FAAL homologues in several other non-mycobacterial genomes including eukaryotes. The work presented here establishes an elegant mechanism wherein an insertion sequence drives the functional divergence of FAALs from canonical FACLs

Serum Ferritin;

The aim of the study is to investigate the levels of hormone, Lipid, Iron and Vitamins in the serum of the primary infertility women. There are many biological causes of infertility, including some that medical intervention can treat. The blood samples collected were analysed for hormone (LH,FSH,PROLACTIN,ESTRADIOL),LIPIDS (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL VLDL,LDL), Iron, Haemoglobin, Serum, Ferritin and vitamins (D,E,C).The results were analysed with graph pad prism software and are tabulated as follows. The level of LH, FSH, PROLACTIN and ESTRADIOL were found to be increased in the test group on comparison with control. The level of CHOLESTEROL, LDL, VLDL were found to be increased in the test group on comparison with control. The level of TRIGLYCERIDES and HDL were found to be decreased in the test group on comparison with control. The level of IRON and HAEMOGLOBIN and were found to be decreased in the test group on comparison with the control. The level of Serum Ferritin was found to be increased in the test group on comparison with the control. The level of Vitamin D and C were found to be decreased in the test group on comparison with the control. The level of Vitamin E was found to be increased in the test group on comparison with the control