<i>Achyranthes coynei</i> Santapau, 1949 (Amaranthaceae) - an addition to the flora of Karnataka, India

Achyranthes coynei Santapau (Amaranthaceae) is a rare species from India and was identified endemic to Maharashtra state. It was first reported by Santapau in 1949 from Khandala, Maharashtra. Profusely branched shrubby habit (3.0-3.5 m tall), first erect, later patent, finally deflexed nature of flowers on the inflorescence, opened flowers spreading up to 2.0cm in diameter and its rosy-purplish colour are the key feature which differentiate this from other species of Achyranthes. The taxon has been reported from 3 new localities from Belgaum district. The present investigation reports the extended distribution of A. coynei to Karnataka Stat

Localization of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the endometrium of common marmosets <i>Callithrix jacchus</i>

425-431In the present study, changes in the immunohistochemical localization of endometrial estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) during various stages of the ovarian cyclicity in common marmoset, have been reported. Ovarian cyclicity was monitored by estimating plasma estradiol and progesterone. During the early follicular phase, weak ER immunolocalization was observed in the endometrial stroma. During the late follicular phase under the influence of rising estradiol levels, stromal ER localization was intense. During the luteal phase, ER localization was absent in the stroma indicating that high concentrations of progesterone suppressed ER. PR localization was not observed in the stroma during the early follicular phase, while weak staining was seen in the stroma during the late follicular phase. PR localization was maximum during the mid luteal phase. However in marmoset, endometrial ER and PR localization was restricted only to the stroma. This unique feature may be due to the characteristic reproductive profile of this nonmenstruating species and needs to be studied further. Thus it can be hypothesized that in the marmoset endometrium, steroid hormone mediated effects possibly occur directly in the stroma and are then transmi tted to the epithelium by autocrine/paracrine action of growth factors and cytokines

<i>Burmannia champion</i> Thwaites (Dioscoreales: Burmanniaceae), a new addition to the flora of Karnataka

Burmannia championii Thwaites, is a small saphrophytic herb of family Burmanniaceae. This has been discovered from two locations in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka in southern India. Present report of Burmannia championii Thwaites forms a new addition to the flora of Karnataka

<i>Cassipourea ceylanica</i> (Gardn.) Alston (1925) (Rhizophoraceae) in Karnataka

Cassipourea ceylanica (Gardn.) Alston (1925) belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae has been collected from Uttara Kannada (North Kanara) District in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka. Report of this plant is after a gap of 130 years from Karnataka. Its rarity in the Western Ghats, Orissa and in Sri Lanka indicates threatened status and draws attention for conservation

Isolation of NDM-1-producing multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas putida from a paediatric case of acute gastroenteritis, India

Pseudomonas putida is an uncommon opportunistic pathogen, usually susceptible to antimicrobial agents. Data concerning resistance to antimicrobial agents in clinical P. putida isolates are limited. To the best of our knowledge we report for the first time the isolation of NDM-1-producing multidrug-resistant P. putida from a case of acute gastroenteritis. The isolate showed resistance to a wide range of antimicrobials, including fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. The isolate also exhibited multiple mutations in the quinolone resistance determining region and showed the presence of qepA, blaTEM, blaOXA1 and blaOXA7 genes. The present study highlights the importance of looking for the relatively rare aetiological agents in clinical samples that do not yield common pathogens