43 research outputs found
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Status of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Evaluation of PVL Producing Strains in Belgaum, South India
Background: Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) toxin, responsible for increased virulence and more severe infections can be found in both Methicillin-sensitive and Methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA). Aims & Objectives: To generate baseline data on the extent of MRSA infections and to estimate the frequency of PVL-positive S.aureus in Belgaum, South India. Material & Methods: 70 clinical isolates of S.aureus were obtained from various laboratories in Belgaum city. Theseisolates were identified, phenotypically characterized as MRSA/MSSA by disc diffusion method using oxacillin discs (1 ”g) and genetically by multiplex PCR for mecA and fem B genes. PCR was subsequently carried out on all isolates to detect LukS-PV and LukF-PV genes, the markers for potential producers of PVL toxin. Results: 27 out of 70 isolates (38.6%) were confirmed as MRSA by PCR formecA. The prevalence of PVL gene was 85.1% and 48.8% in MRSA and MSSA respectively. The overall prevalence of PVL positive S.aureuswas 62.85%. Conclusion: Our study showed high percentage of PVL positive MRSA and MSSA, higher than the most reports worldwide. In the backdrop of bacterial strains gaining multiple drug resistance, our study warrants further epidemiological studies in hospitals and community levels in the region
Characterization and social correlates of fecal testosterone and cortisol excretion in wild male Saguinus mystax
Reproductive success in male primates can be influenced by testosterone (T) and cortisol (C). We examined them in wild Saguinus mystax via fecal hormone analysis. Firstly, we wanted to characterize male hormonal status over the course of the year. Further we tested the influence of the reproductive status of the breeding female, social instability, and intergroup encounter rates on T levels, comparing the results with predictions of the challenge hypothesis (Wingfield et al., 1990). We also tested for interindividual differences in hormonal levels, possibly related to social or breeding status. We collected data during a 12-mo study on 2 groups of moustached tamarins at the EstaciĂłn BiolĂłgica Quebrada Blanco in northeastern Peru. We found fairly similar T and C levels over the course of the year for all males. Yet an elevation of T shortly after the birth of infants, during the phase of ovarian inactivity of the groupâs breeding female, was evident. Hormonal levels were not significantly elevated during a phase of social instability, did not correlate with intergroup encounter rates, and did not differ between breeding and nonbreeding males. Our results confirm the challenge hypothesis (Wingfield et al., 1990). The data suggest that reproductive competition inmoustached tamarins is not based on endocrinological, but instead on behavioral mechanisms, possibly combined with sperm competition.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (HE 1870/10-1,2
The evolution of pair-living, sexual monogamy, and cooperative infant care: Insights from research on wild owl monkeys, titis, sakis, and tamarins
âMonogamyâ and pair bonding have long been of interest to anthropologists and primatologists. Their study contributes to our knowledge of human evolutionary biology and social evolution without the cultural trappings associated with studying human societies directly. Here, we first provide an overview of theoretical considerations, followed by an evaluation of recent comparative studies of the evolution of âsocial monogamyâ; we are left with serious doubts about the conclusions of these studies that stem from the often poor quality of the data used and an overreliance on secondary sources without vetting the data therein. We then describe our field research program on four âmonogamousâ platyrrhines (owl monkeys, titis, sakis, and tamarins), evaluate how well our data support various hypotheses proposed to explain âmonogamy,â and compare our data to those reported on the same genera in comparative studies. Overall, we found a distressing lack of agreement between the data used in comparative studies and data from the literature for the taxa that we work with. In the final section, we propose areas of research that deserve more attention. We stress the need for more highâquality natural history data, and we urge researchers to be cautious about the uncritical use of variables of uncertain internal validity. Overall, it is imperative that biological anthropologists establish and follow clear criteria for comparing and combining results from published studies and that researchers, reviewers, and editors alike comply with these standards to improve the transparency, reproducibility, and interpretability of causal inferences made in comparative studies.Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; National Institutes of Agin
Apoptosis in endometrium of mouse during estrous cycle
218-222The present
study was carried out to evaluate apoptosis in endometrium and to correlate
these changes with the circulating levels of estradiol and progesterone in the
mouse. Apoptosis was observed in various compartments of mouse
uterus i.e.
stroma, glandular epithelium and luminal epithelium depending on the stage of
cycle. Stromal cell apoptosis was observed during various stages of cyclicity
except on estrus day. Luminal epithelial cells showed apoptotic changes during all
stages of cyclicity except on diestrus day. During metestrus, apoptosis was
observed in glandular and luminal epithelia as well as stromal cells. Steroid
antagonists such as tamoxifen and onapristone altered the apoptotic changes in
the uterus. The results suggest that epithelial cell apoptosis is regulated by
estrogen while stromal cell apoptosis is under the control of
progesterone<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Fd1018158-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:
Fd1018158-Identity-H;color:black" lang="EN-IN">.
</span
Effects of Duration of Diabetes on Behavioural and Cognitive Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Juvenile Diabetic Rats
Background: Diabetic encephalopathy is a recently recognised
complication of early-onset type 1 diabetes in children. The
abnormalities underlying diabetic encephalopathy are complex and poorly
understood, and the impact of disease duration on behavioural and
cognitive parameters also remains unclear. Hence, the present study was
conducted to determine the effects of different durations of
hyperglycaemia on behavioural and cognitive parameters in young
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in
young, weaned, age-matched rat pups by streptozotocin injection (50
mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally). Diabetic status was confirmed on
post-natal day 30. The rats were tested in the elevated plus maze 10
and 2o days after diabetes induction. Results: Diabetic rats had
significantly impaired behavioural and cognitive functions compared
with age-matched controls. Increased anxiety levels and cognitive
deficits were observed in rats that had been diabetic for 20 days
compared with their 10-day counterparts. Conclusion: It is essential to
diagnose and treat early-onset type 1 diabetes in young children to
prevent irreversible cognitive dysfunction