Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women attending the tertiary care center

The aim of our study is to find out prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women. This study also helps to find out the most common organism involved, the antibiotic susceptibility, and risk factors associated with asyptomatic bacteriuria. METHOD: Over an year, urine samples were collected from 121 pregnant women with varying gestational periods attending the antenatal clinic first visit. A clean catch mid stream urine specimens were collected in a sterile container and processed within one hour. In case of delay, the samples were refrigerated at 4°C.Screening tests such as wet mount, gram staining, hanging drop test were done. Culture of urine samples were done by a semiquantitative method, Nutrient agar, Blood agar, MacConkey agar and cystine lactose electrolyte deficient medium (CLED) agar plates and incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. Significant bacteriuria with >105CFU/ml of urine was confirmed by colony count. Organisms were identified and antibiotic sensitivity test of the isolates were performed. RESULTS: Out of the total number of 121 pregnant women included in our study, 22(18.18%) patients were identified by culture to have significant bacteriuria. Maximum numbers of patients belong to the age group (20-30 years) and highest percentage of significant bacteriuria (50%) was identified in the same age group. This study shows high percentage of asymptomatic bacteriuria in 2nd (45.45%) trimester and in primigravidas (63.64%). The percentages of positives with significant bacteriuria were high among the upper lower socioeconomic group (36.36%). E. coli (50%) was the most common organism followed by K. pneumonia and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (13.64%). Prevalence of Gram-negative organism was 72.73%. The drug sensitivity revealed that 81.81% of isolates were sensitive to Amikacin followed by Cephalexin (68.18%). 77.27% of patient had previous history of UIT before one yr and was treated. Past history of catheterizaion and anemia was present in 68.18% of patient. Highest number of positive culture in patient with BMI >30 kg/m2 (40.91%). CONCLUSION: Prompt treatment of ASB early in pregnancy significantly reduces the chances of adverse pregnancy outcome. Thus, screening for ASB should ideally be done in all pregnant in the 1st trimester, and should be treated aggressively with suitable antibiotics and promptly followed up

DECOLOURIZATION OF TRIPHENYLMETHANE DYES AND DYE INDUSTRY EFFLUENT BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM DYE CONTAMINATED SITE

Objective: The objectives of the present study were a) to isolate and screen bacteria for dye removal from synthetic solution b) to optimize various variables such as pH, static/shaking and initial dye concentration on degradation of triphenyl methane dyes namely basic violet 3 and basic green 4 by isolated Staphylococcus aureus c) to analyse enzymes involved in the biodegradation of triphenylmethane dyes d) to treat real leather dyeing wastewater with newly isolated strain of Staphylococcus aureus e) to characterize untreated and treated leather dyeing wastewater f) to study the effects of real and treated effluent on plants and Rhizobium.Methods: Isolation of bacteria from sludge was carried out by spread plate method and the bacteria was identified by morphological and biochemical characterization. The isolated bacterium was screened for dye decolorization potential of triphenylmethane dyes basic violet 3 and basic green 4 The effects of parameters were studied by varying pH (from 3 to 9), temperature (from 15-45 °C), and initial dye concentration (from 10-500 mg/l). The enzyme involved in biodegradation was studied in intracellular extract. Real leather dyeing wastewater was treated with the bacteria and characterized. The treated wastewater was tested on plants and Rhizobium for toxicity. Results: Dye decolorization potential of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus isolated from wastewater for leather dyes basic violet 3 and basic green 4 were evaluated. Dye decolorization using bacteria was found to be dependent on physicochemical parameters (shaking, pH and initial dye concentration). Enzymes NADH-DCIP reductase and MG reductase were found to play dominant role during biodegradation of synthetic dyes. Application oriented studies using growing bacteria in pure cultures were carried out with leather dyeing wastewater collected from DKS prime tanners. Analysis of raw leather dyeing wastewater showed high pollution load in terms of color, Total solids, Total suspended solids, Total dissolved solids and Biological oxygen demand whereas the leather dyeing wastewater treated with pure culture of Staphylococcus aureus showed considerable decrease in Total solids, Total suspended solids, Total dissolved solids and Biological oxygen demand values which were within the permissible limits. Phytotoxicity and microbial toxicity studies confirmed the non-toxic nature of treated leather dyeing wastewater. Conclusion: Our study proved that Staphylococcus aureus can serve as a potential remediation agent for the treatment of leather dyeing wastewater

Frequency of polymorphic variants in corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1, glucocorticoid induced 1 and Fc fragment of IgE receptor II genes in healthy and asthmatic Tamilian population

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease characterized by increased hyper-responsiveness and recurrent episodes of reversible obstructions. Asthma pharmacogenomic studies report significant association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), Fc fragment of IgE receptor II (FCER2) and glucocorticoid induced 1 (GLCCI1) with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) response. The present study was aimed to establish the allelic and genotypic frequencies of polymorphisms rs242941, rs28364072 & rs37972 in CRHR1, FCER2 and GLCCI1 genes, respectively in Tamilian healthy population and asthma patients and to compare with established frequencies of global populations.Methods: The study groups consisted of healthy volunteers and persistent asthma patients who were drug naïve or without ICS treatment in the last ≥2 months, attending JIPMER hospital (n=111 and 78, respectively). SNP genotyping was done using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) and real time-PCR methods.Results: Allelic and genotypic frequencies for all the studied variants found to be in hardy-weinberg equilibrium with minor allele frequencies (MAF) of rs 242941, rs 28364072 and rs 37972 at 0.51, 0.33 and 0.38, respectively, in healthy population. No significant difference in gene frequencies was obtained between healthy control and asthma patient groups. Significant difference in allele frequencies was observed between Tamilian healthy and specific global populations. West African frequency was found to be significantly different for all 3 SNPs (p<0.0001).Conclusions: MAF of rs 242941, rs 28364072 and rs 37972 were 0.51, 0.33 and 0.38, respectively in Tamilian population which were significantly different from various global populations. The frequency distribution found helps to further with ICS response association studies in larger cohorts of asthma patients

Oxy-functionalization of olefins with neat and heterogenized binuclear V(IV)O and Fe(II) complexes: effect of steric hindrance on product selectivity and output in homogeneous and heterogeneous phase

Neat {[VO(sal2bz)]2; [Fe(sal2bz)(H2O)2]2·2H2O} and zeolite-Y immobilized {[VO(sal2bz)]2-Y; [Fe(sal2bz)(H2O)2]2-Y} binuclear complexes have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV–vis), elemental analyses (CHN, ICP-OES), thermal study (TGA), scanning electron micrograph (SEM), adsorption study (BET) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Neat (homogeneous) and immobilized (heterogeneous) complexes were employed as catalysts in the oxidation of olefins, namely, cyclohexene, limonene and α-pinene in the presence of 30% hydrogen peroxide. 100% conversion of cyclohexene and α-pinene was obtained while limonene was oxidized up to 90%. Homogeneous catalysts showed highly selective result as neat [VO(sal2bz)]2 complex has provided 87% cyclohexane-1,2-diol and neat [Fe(sal2bz)(H2O)2]2·2H2O complex has provided 79% verbenone in oxidation of cyclohexene and α-pinene, respectively. We have observed that due to steric hindrance, formation of olefinic oxidation products increases on moving from α-pinene to limonene and limonene to cyclohexene. Additionally. recovered heterogeneous catalysts showed intact results up to two consecutive runs. Probable catalytic mechanism has been proposed for oxidation of cyclohexene

Molecular imaging of inflammation and intraplaque vasa vasorum: A step forward to identification of vulnerable plaques?

Current developments in cardiovascular biology and imaging enable the noninvasive molecular evaluation of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Intraplaque neovascularization sprouting from the adventitial vasa vasorum has been identified as an independent predictor of intraplaque hemorrhage and plaque rupture. These intraplaque vasa vasorum result from angiogenesis, most likely under influence of hypoxic and inflammatory stimuli. Several molecular imaging techniques are currently available. Most experience has been obtained with molecular imaging using positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography. Recently, the development of targeted contrast agents has allowed molecular imaging with magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and computed tomography. The present review discusses the use of these molecular imaging techniques to identify inflammation and intraplaque vasa vasorum to identify vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques at risk of rupture and thrombosis. The available literature on molecular imaging techniques and molecular targets associated with inflammation and angiogenesis is discussed, and the clinical applications of molecular cardiovascular imaging and the use of molecular techniques for local drug delivery are addressed

EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF EPIDURAL BUTORPHANOL TARTRATE FOR POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of epidural butophanol tartrate in postoperative analgesia and to monitor its side effects.Methods: 80 patients of ASA 1 and 2 scheduled for elective abdominal and gynaecological procedure were chosen for the study. At the end of surgery, study group received 2mg of butorphanol in 10 ml normal saline through an epidural catheter and the control group received 10 ml of normal saline. Postoperatively vitals, VAPS, sedation score and side effects were pointed. Patients received rescue analgesic when VAPS was greater than 6.Results: Epidural butorphanol produced duration of analgesia of 7.46 ± 1.35 hours. The quality of analgesia was excellent in 75% of patients and good in 25% of patients. The two main adverse effects observed were sedation and vomiting. Sedation may be beneficial to patients in the immediate postoperative period.Conclusion: Epidural butorphanol produces long lasting, good quality analgesia with minimal side effects.Â