GREEN TECHNOLOGY MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES FROM MOMORDICA CHARANTIA FRUIT EXTRACT AND ITS BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY

ABSTRACTObjective: The synthesis of nanoparticles from biological processes is evolving a new era of research interests in nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticlesare usually synthesized by chemicals and physical method, which are quite toxic and flammable in nature. This study deals with an environmentfriendly biosynthesis process of antibacterial silver nanoparticles using Momordica charantia fruit.Methods: AgNO3 (5 mM) was allowed to react with fruit extract of M. charantia. Biosynthesis of AgNPs was optimized by changing temperature,pH, and solvent. The silver nanoparticles so formed were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infraredspectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscope (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Results: UV-VIS spectra show absorption peak between 420 and 430 nm. The FTIR analysis showed the alcoholic, lactam, and nitro group presentin the plant extract, which were responsible for the reduction in AgNPs. The SEM images showed the size distribution of the nanoparticles and theaverage size was found to be 50-100 nm. By DLS analysis and AFM analysis, average sizes of the silver nanoparticles were of 150 nm. The results ofthese analyses confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles were tested against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidisstrains using disc diffusion method and were found to be effective.Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles so synthesized in this study using fruit extract of M. charantia are simple, easy, and effective technique of nanoparticlesproduction.Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, Momordica charantia, Optimization, Antibacterial, Atomic force microscope, Scanning electron microscopy

Characterization of stem rust resistance gene Sr2 in Indian wheat varieties using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based molecular markers

Stem rust or black rust is one of the most important diseases of wheat worldwide. In India, central, peninsular and southern hill zones are particularly prone to stem rust where favourable environmental conditions exist. The recent emergence of wheat stem rust race Ug99 (TTKSK) and related strains threatens global wheat production as Ug99 overcome resistance gene Sr31 effective for many years. Resistance gene Sr2, derived from cultivar ‘Hope’ is responsible for slow rusting and providing partial but durable resistance against stem rust of wheat. In addition to other unknown minor genes (Sr2 complex), this gene tends to be non-specific and is currently effective against all isolates of Puccinia graminis tritici throughout wheat-growing regions of the world. A set of 135 bread wheat varieties developed in the last forty years for prominent northern, central, peninsular and southern hill regions of India was screened with molecular markers, CsSr2 and GWM533, developed and identified for Sr2 gene. Out of 135 varieties screened, 92 confirmed the presence of Sr2 gene at molecular level. The molecular information of Sr2 gene was corroborated with the available morphological marker data for selected varieties to evaluate the efficacy of these molecular markers in Indian wheat germplasm. It was observed that these two molecular markers in combination provide accuracy in 92% lines for this gene at molecular level with presumed Sr2 status in Indian wheat varieties. It is proposed that the use of CsSr2 and GWM533 will help in gene pyramiding of Sr2 along with other stem rust resistance genes in future wheat varieties to accelerate Indian breeding program for rust resistance.Keywords: Wheat, stem rust, Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici (Pgt), Sr2 gene, molecular markerAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(18), pp. 2353-235

A prospective observational study of outcomes from rehabilitation of elderly patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate rehabilitation outcomes in patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Rehabilitation unit for older people. SUBJECTS: A total of 116 patients (70F) mean age (SD) 86.3 (6.4). Group 1: 89 patients with moderate cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination 11-20); and Group 2: 27 patients with severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination 0-10). INTERVENTION: A personalised rehabilitation plan. MAIN MEASURES: Barthel Activity of Daily Living score on admission and discharge, length of stay and discharge destination. RESULTS: Of 116 patients, 64 (55.2%) showed an improvement in Barthel score. Mini-Mental State Examination was significantly higher in those who improved, 15.4 (SD 3.7) vs.13.2 (SD 5.1): p = 0.01. The mean Barthel score improved in both groups; Group 1 - 14.7 (SD 19.1) vs. Group 2 - 9.3 (SD 16.3): p = 0.17. Of 84 home admissions in Group 1, more patients returning home showed improvements of at least 5 points in the Barthel score compared with nursing/residential home discharges (32/37 - 86.5% vs. 10/28 - 35.7%: p = 0.0001). In Group 2 of 17 home admissions, 6/6 (100%) home discharges showed improvement compared with 3/7 (42.8%) discharges to nursing/residential home (p = 0.07). In Group 1, a discharge home was associated with significantly greater improvement in number of Barthel items than a nursing/residential home discharge (3.27 (SD 2.07) vs. 1.86 (SD 2.32): p = 0.007). A similar non-significant pattern was noted for severe cognitive impairment patients (3.5 (3.06) vs. 1.14 (1.06); p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment demonstrated significant improvements in Barthel score and Barthel items showing that such patients can and do improve with rehabilitation.published_or_final_versio

A study on clinical attachment loss and gingival inflammation as etiologic factors in pathologic tooth migration

Background: Several etiologic factors have been listed for pathologic migration of periodontally involved teeth based mainly on clinical observations with scarce scientific evidence. Present study was carried out to find out relationship of clinical attachment loss and gingival inflammation with pathologic tooth migration.Materials and Methods: A total of 37 patients having 50 pairs of migrated and non-migrated contralateral teeth were taken into consideration.Results: Mean total attachment loss per tooth in migrated and non migrated tooth is 13.32 ± 0.74 S.E. and 8.34 ± 0.58 S.E., respectively (P < 0.001), which reveals a positive correlation. There seems to be an association between frequency of migration and severity of attachment loss since highest percentage of migrations were seen in maximum total attachment loss group. Relationship could not be established between severity of attachment loss and severity of migration for which more data may be required. Also, it was seen that gingival index was significantly higher in migrated group.Conclusion: Findings suggest that there exists a direct relationship between pathologic migration and clinical attachment loss as well as gingival inflammation. Clinical relevance: Results emphasize the importance of early treatment of periodontitis to curb inflammation, which seems to be more important since it is completely reversible, and attachment loss also in order to prevent unaesthetic complications. Moreover bleeding along with recent change in position of teeth should be considered as important sign of active, moderate to severe periodontal disease by general dentists and hygienists so that they can refer for specialist consultation

Variant Surface Glycoprotein gene repertoires in Trypanosoma brucei have diverged to become strain-specific

Background: In a mammalian host, the cell surface of African trypanosomes is protected by a monolayer of a single variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). The VSG is central to antigenic variation; one VSG gene is expressed at any one time and there is a low frequency stochastic switch to expression of a different VSG gene. The genome of Trypanosoma brucei contains a repertoire of > 1000 VSG sequences. The degree of conservation of the genomic VSG repertoire in different strains has not been investigated in detail.|Results: Eighteen expressed VSGs from Ugandan isolates were compared with homologues (> 40 % sequence identity) in the two available T. brucei genome sequences. Fourteen homologues were present in the genome of Trypanosoma brucei brucei TREU927 from Kenya and fourteen in the genome of T. b. gambiense Dal972 from Cote d'Ivoire. The Ugandan VSGs averaged 71% and 73 % identity to homologues in T. b. brucei and T. b. gambiense respectively. The sequence divergence between homologous VSGs from the three different strains was not random but was more prevalent in the parts of the VSG believed to interact with the host immune system on the living trypanosome.|Conclusion: It is probable that the VSG repertoires in the different isolates contain many common VSG genes. The location of divergence between VSGs is consistent with selection for strain-specific VSG repertoires, possibly to allow superinfection of an animal by a second strain. A consequence of strain-specific VSG repertoires is that any vaccine based on large numbers of VSGs from a single strain will only provide partial protection against other strains

Pediatric carcinoma of rectum - Varanasi experience

Background : Primary gastrointestinal system malignancies constitute approximately 2% of pediatric neoplasm and of these; colorectal carcinoma is the second most common malignancy. This is one of the rarer diseases in children. Aim : We reviewed our records to study the clinical features, outcome and the follow-up of this condition with evaluation of the prognostic factors. Settings and Design: Tertiary care Pediatric Surgery centre. Retrospective study. Materials and Methods : The data of all patients with diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma from January 1986 to January 2006 were reviewed. The confirmation of the diagnosis was by biopsy from the lesion. The age, sex, family history, clinical features, response to the treatment and follow-up were studied. Results : There were four male patients. All had bleeding per rectum as the presenting complaint. Three patients had advanced disease at presentation. All the patients had signet cell adenocarcinoma. The two patients expired and one was lost to follow-up. One patient is alive after one year of follow up and is receiving treatment. Conclusion : Colorectal cancer in children though rare can be a reality, hence any children presenting with pain in abdomen along with doubtful history of constipation and rectal bleeding should be examined carefully with special emphasis on digital rectal examination