A chronic case of Madurella mycetoma involving left foot

Mycetoma is a localized chronic, suppurative, and deforming granulomatous disorder of subcutaneous tissue, skin and bones. Mycetoma is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas, where it is a real public health issue. It is a rare and neglected disease in our country. Etiological classification divides it into eumycetoma caused by fungus, and actinomycetoma caused by bacteria. Since the treatment of these two etiologies is completely different, a definite diagnosis after microbiological and histopathological examination, though difficult, is important. The disease is notoriously difficult to treat. Eumycetoma may be unresponsive to standard antifungal therapy. Authors report a case of eumycetoma in a 38 year-old male from Bihar, with history of thorn prick 30 yrs back. Madurella mycetomatis was isolated from the granular discharge from sinuses and itraconazole was given followed by surgical debridement of the lesion. The patient recovered well and is still on follow up

Evaluation of boric acid as a mounting agent in a microbiology laboratory

Introduction: Boric acid is a low-toxicity, non-volatile mineral with is antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It is used as a wettable powder, liquid (applied as a spray or aerosol), emulsifiable concentrate, granules, powders, dusts, pellets, tablets, paste, bait or crystalline rods, depending upon the circumstances and target. In light of this information, the present study is aimed to compare bacterial and fungal mounts with both lactophenol cotton blue (LCB) and Boric acid-methylene blue-glycerol (BMG) i.e., effectivity of boric acid as mounting agent since it is a disinfectant, antiseptic, preservative and suppresses conidiogenesis in fungi. Material and methods:This mounting agent of boric acid was compared with lactophenol cotton blue commercial solution. Results: BMG was found to be equally effective in comparison with LCB. Discussion: BMG can be a cheaper alternative to LCB for observing colonies from Saboraud’s dextrose agar

Incorporation of garlic extract as antifungal agent in psyllium based edible coating for mandarin

oai:ojs.ijfaas.com:article/2In present Research work, the mathanolic extract of garlic was incorporated in locally developed Psyllium based edible coating for its application on mandarin. Different concentrations of the extract were used in the coating and quality of the fruit was monitored during storage at room temperature. The results indicated that there was least change (increase) in brix, weight loss, brix/acid ratio, pH and acidity of the fruit during storage studies.  The fungal contamination was effectively controlled due to incorporation of garlic extracts at a rate of 6-8%. On the basis of these results it was concluded that the garlic extracts can be used in psyllium based edible coating and it has antifungal significant antifungal potential but at relatively higher concentrations (>6%)

Effects of water extracts of apple and pomegranate peel on the quality of orange squash

<p><em>Punica granatum</em> (pomegranate) and Malus domestica (apple) are rich source of bioactive compounds i.e. phenolics components, anthocyanins and tannins that can be potential preservative agents. The aim of the present research plan was to evaluate the quality characteristics of orange squash after addition of aqueous extracts of apple and pomegranate peels. For this purpose aqueous extracts of pomegranate and apple peels were added in orange squash and then the final product was examined for physiochemical and sensory attributes during storage. Results of current study demonstrated that physico-chemical parameters of orange squash significantly changed with the storage period in all the treatments in such a way that total soluble solids (°Brix) were gradually decreased but the acidity increased. Sensory examination result of orange squash revealed that color, flavor and taste were decreased with the passage of time in all the treatments but preservative and 100% apple peel extract were upto acceptable level. Whereas 50% preservative and 50% pomegranate extract and 100% pomegranate extract were highly rejected.</p

Use of pea agar with Tween 80 for Dalmau technique for identification of Candida albicans

Introduction: Candida albicans produces devastating infections with considerable attributable mortality. Identification rests ofDalmau technique using rice extract agar, which is very prone to aerial contamination and drying and breakage. Materials andMethods: We here evaluated pea agar, with and without Tween 80, as medium for Dalmau technique for identifying C. albicansand compared it with rice extract agar. Results: Pea agar with Tween 80 was a very useful medium for identifying C. albicans.Conclusion: Pea agar with Tween 80 can be used for Dalmau technique for C. albicans identification

Whether CEO Succession Via Hierarchical Jumps is Detrimental or Blessing in Disguise? Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms

This study investigates the impact of hierarchical jumps in the CEO’s succession on firms’ financial performance. To contemplate deeply, hierarchical jumps have been categorized into high and low level evaluating the positive impact of high-level hierarchical jump on firms’ performance. Moreover, this study has also formulated hierarchical intensity signifying the idea that despite neglecting senior board members during hierarchical jumps, still marginal increment in the firms’ growth has been observed. Using panel regression technique along with 2sls instrumental regression, this research reveals that hierarchical jumps in CEOs successions are more conducive only if the incumbent CEOs are selected irrespective of age, degree or high hierarchical position within the hierarchical ladder. Lastly, this study enunciates that firms having high total assets boost their performance via hierarchical jumps emphatically

Impediments of reporting dengue cases in India

Dengue has emerged as one of the most important mosquito-borne, fatal flaviviral disease, apparently expanding as a global health problem. An estimated 3.6 billion people are at risk for dengue, with 50 million infections per year occurring across 100 countries globally. The annual number of dengue fever cases in India is many times higher than it is officially reported. This under reporting would play a major role in the government’s decision-making. Underestimating of the disease in India encumbers its people from taking preventive measures, discourages efforts to ensnare the sources of the disease and deliberates efforts for vaccine research. In this article, we highlight the probable impediments of under reporting leading to its impact on national and global public health and also offer key remedies to effectively address the issues across the clinics to the community level. Keywords: Dengue, Under-reporting, Surveillance, Vaccin

The Evaluation of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Predicting Progression of Acute Pancreatitis to Pancreatic Necrosis: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Review

Acute pancreatitis is the acute inflammation of the pancreas; 30% of cases may progress to pancreatic necrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) in detecting pancreatic necrosis in adults with confirmed acute pancreatitis within 14 days of symptom onset and without organ failure. A systematic search was conducted across the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science until May 30, 2022, with the following keywords: acute disease, biomarkers, C-reactive protein, calcitonin, differential, diagnosis, lactate dehydrogenase, pancreatitis, acute necrotizing, necrosis, sensitivity, specificity. Statistical analysis was conducted in RevMan 5.4.1 (Cochrane). Five studies pooling 645 participants were included of which 59.8% were males, with a mean age of 49 years. CRP was the best cutoff at 279 mg/L (χ2 = 47.43, p p p < 0.001), whereas PCT did not display the most reliable results at 0.05 ng/mL. Inflammatory biomarkers are scalable diagnostic tools that may confer clinical value by decreasing the mortality of acute pancreatitis sequelae

Study of fault configuration related mysteries through multi seismic attribute analysis technique in Zamzama gas field area, southern Indus Basin, Pakistan

Seismic attribute analysis approach has been applied for the interpretation and identification of fault geometry of Zamzama Gas Field. Zamzama gas field area, which lies in the vicinity of Kirthar fold and thrust belt, Southern Indus Basin of Pakistan. The Zamzama fault and its related structure have been predicted by applying the Average Energy Attribute, Instantaneous Frequency Attribute, relative Acoustic Impedance Attribute and Chaotic Reflection Attribute on the seismic line GHPK98A.34. The results have been confirmed by applying the spectral decomposition attribute on the same seismic line that reveal the geometric configuration of Zamzama structure. The fault is reverse and started from 0 s and ended at the depth of 2.5 s on the vertical seismic section. Hanging wall moves up along the fault plane under the action of eastward oriented stress, which formed a large north–south oriented and eastward verging thrusted anticline