Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in retroviral positive chest symptomatics in a tertiary care hospital, South India

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health challenge. As this co-infection results in high mortality among retroviral positive patients, we undertook this study to find its prevalence in our region.Methods: Sputum smears from all retroviral positive patients who attended the ART clinic from April 2015 to February 2016 were examined for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli by fluorescent staining technique. CD4 lymphocyte counting was also done by using BD FACS count instrument.Results: 65 patients were retroviral positive among the 180 patients who came to ART clinic. Of them 43 (66%) were males and 22 (34%) were females. 30 (46%) of retroviral positive patients were sputum positive indicating HIV-TB co-infection. 60% of co-infected patients belong to productive age group of 16-45 years. 93.4% of the co-infected patients had CD4 counts below 350 cells/µl. sputum negative retroviral positive patients had more than 250 CD4 cells/ µl.Conclusions: Our study highlights the fact that HIV-TB co-infection is more prevalent in productive age group and has a positive correlation with lower CD4 counts

Doppler study (cerebroplacental ratio) as a predictor of adverse perinatal outcome

Background: Objective of the current study was to determine the importance of Doppler screening (cerebroplacental ratio i.e. CPR) in antenatal mothers and its effect on perinatal outcome of the baby so that appropriate management can be planned effectively for a better reduction in perinatal mortality and morbidity.Methods: A prospective study conducted on hundred antenatal women in GMKMCH, Salem with gestational age >32 weeks, with singleton pregnancies. Doppler ultrasonogram of fetal middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery and thus CPR obtained.Results: 25 out of the 100 patients in the study had CPR1 helps to rule out adverse perinatal outcomes. When CPR<1, it acts as an effective tool in helping the obstetrician to decide on the mode of delivery to ensure that the baby is delivered within 12 hours of diagnosis, to improve the perinatal outcome of the baby

Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) polymorphism in Finnsheep

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Sulphur fertilization on biochemical constituents of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata. L) in non-calcareous soil of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu

Sulphur is the fourth most important plant nutrient after nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and it is becoming increasingly crucial in high-quality crop production (Bhoyar., 2019). Since limited work has been carried out regarding different sulphur sources on cabbage production in the Coimbatore district, the present study was undertaken to investigate the sulphur sources and levels on various biochemical constituents of cabbage. Hence a  field experiment was conducted in the farmer’s field at Viraliyur village, Thondamuthur block of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu to assess the effect of sulphur fertilization on improving the biochemical constituents of cabbage hybrid Saint. There were four different S sources (Elemental sulphur, Potassium sulphate, Gypsum, Single super phosphate) applied at five levels (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha-1) and replicated thrice in a factorial randomized block design. The crop was fertilized with a  Soil Test Crop Response-prescribed dose of NPK (200:125:25 kg ha-1). The crop was harvested on 90th day and cabbage heads were analysed for various biochemical constituents like ascorbic acid, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), chlorophyll content, glucosinolates (GLs), total phenol content (TPC), sulphur containing amino acid (methionine) and antioxidant enzyme activity (peroxidase). The influence of S fertilizers on biochemical constituents increased significantly with increasing levels of sulphur fertilization up to 80 kg S ha-1 excluding ascorbic acid content. The pooled data showed that gypsum applied at 80 kg ha-1 registered the maximum GLs (69.0 µmol g-1), TPC (31.9 mM 100g-1), methionine (32.3%), peroxidase activity (0.70 units min-1mg-1), TSS (7.64 0Brix), TA (0.64%), ascorbic acid (61.4 mg 100g-1) and total chlorophyll (1.21 mg g-1) in cabbage head. The lowest content of biochemical constituents viz., GLs (34.1 µmol g-1), TPC (8.10 mM 100g-1), methionine (17.6%) and peroxidase (0.31 units min-1mg-1) were observed in control applied NPK alone. There were positive and significant changes in the biochemical constituents of cabbage due to S application which confirms the improvement in the quality of cabbage head. The study concluded that gypsum was  the better sulphur source for improving the quality of cabbage

5-(2-Nitro-1-phenyl­but­yl)-4-phenyl-1,2,3-selenadiazole

In the title compound, C18H17N3O2Se, the selenadiazole ring is planar [maximum deviation = 0.012 (2) Å for the ring C atom bearing the phenyl substituent]. The dihedral angle between the selenadiazole ring and the attached benzene ring is 46.5 (1)°. There is one short intra­molecular C—H⋯Se contact

5-[1-(4-Meth­oxy­phen­yl)-2-nitro­but­yl]-4-phenyl-1,2,3-selenadiazole

In the title compound, C19H19N3O3Se, the selenadiazole ring is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.001 Å). The heterocyclic ring makes dihedral angles of 50.2 (2) and 76.3 (9)°, respectively, with the meth­oxy­phenyl and phenyl rings

The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentration in assessing vitamin D deficiency in pet rabbits

Background Vitamin D deficiency and related metabolic bone diseases in pet rabbits have been intermittently debated. In human research, the parathyroid hormone concentration in relation to the 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration is used to determine vitamin D deficiency. Thus, this study aimed to identify the breakpoint in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration indicating a significant change in the parathyroid hormone concentration in 139 pet rabbits. An enzyme immunoassay kit was used for 25-hydroxyvitamin D analysis and the intact parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-84) immunoradiometric assay kit for parathyroid hormone analysis. The mid-tibial cortical bone density was measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. A segmented linear regression analysis was performed, with the 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration as the independent variable, and parathyroid hormone, ionised calcium, total calcium, inorganic phosphorus concentrations and the mid-tibial cortical density as the dependent variables. Results The breakpoint for the parathyroid hormone concentration occurred at a 25(OH)D concentration of 17 ng/mL, whereas the cortical bone density breakpoint occurred at a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 19 ng/mL. No breakpoints were found for ionised calcium, total calcium or phosphorus. Conclusions These results suggest that a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 17 ng/mL serves as the threshold for vitamin D deficiency in rabbits. Nearly one-third of the rabbits had a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration below this threshold. Concerns persist regarding the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pet rabbits and the possible health consequences caused by a chronic vitamin D deficiency, including the risk for metabolic bone diseases.Peer reviewe

Dual Effect of Azospirillum Exopolysaccharides (EPS) on the Enhancement of Plant Growth and Biocontrol of Blast (Pyricularia oryzae) Disease in Upland Rice (var. ASD-19)

The dual effect of exopolysaccharides of Azospirillum isolates viz., A-17, A-18, A-26 and A-37 and certain ISR inducing chemicals viz., Salicylic acid, Jasmonic acid and Azibenzolar on the enhancement of plant growth and bio-control against blast disease in upland rice crop was studied under in-vitro condition. It was observed that the application of EPS, collected from Azospirillum isolates, augmented the height of rice plant and reduced the blast disease incidence in upland rice to a higher level when compared to the application of ISR inducing chemicals alone. Eventhough,  the application of ISR inducing chemicals was found to reduce the blast disease incidence, as in the case of purified EPS application of Azospirillum isolates, but did not augment the growth of rice plant and clearly revealed the absence of phytostimulatory activities of ISR inducing chemicals.The study on the optimization of different concentrations of purified EPS viz., 100, 200, 300 ppm on the blast disease incidence of rice revealed that the application of the same at 200 ppm concentration could effectively controlled the disease incidence to a higher level when compared to other concentration.The results of the present study clearly revealed the dual effect of Azospirillum EPS on the enhancement of host plant growth as well as the bio-control against Pyricularia oryzae whereas the application of ISR inducing chemicals confined with reduction in blast disease incidence alone. Moreover, the Azospirillum EPS at a concentration of 200 ppm level could be optimized as effective one for the control of blast disease in upland rice

The effect of catalase on the toxicity of cadmium-sensitive and cadmium-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

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Evaluation on the development of soil fertility gradients with nutrient exhaustive crop (Sorghum bicolor) regard to N, P, and K in Inceptisols in semi-arid regions of Tamil Nadu

Soil test crop response (STCR's) soil fertility gradient approach is based on the idea that  complex treatments are superimposed in a field to obtain crop responses for correlating with soil test values that are artificially created by differential fertiliser treatments prior to conducting the regular experiment, thereby providing a scientific basis for balanced fertilisation between applied and available forms of nutrients. The present study aimed to develop the fertility gradient with sorghum as test crop in the field concerning N, P, and K and also to evaluate its impact on sorghum nutrient uptake, and soil fertility. The experimental field was split into three equal strips. Strips I, II, and III each received three graded levels of fertiliser N (nitrogen), P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide), and K2O (potassium oxide) as urea, single super phosphate, and muriate of potash, respectively. The green fodder yield of sorghum recorded at harvest in strip I, II &amp; III was 16.4, 23.4 and 28.2 t ha-1, respectively. Whereas post-harvest soil available nitrogen in strip I, II &amp; III was 155, 190 &amp; 214 kg ha-1 respectively, for available phosphorus 12.5, 23.2 &amp; 31.8 kg ha-1 respectively and for available potassium it is 332, 370 &amp; 396 kg ha-1 respectively. Wide variations in green fodder yield and soil fertility were observed among the strips, establishing the influence of graded amounts of fertiliser treatment on these parameters and the formation of a soil fertility gradient