Linear Relations Among Poincare Series via Harmonic Weak Maass Forms

We discuss the problem of the vanishing of Poincar\'e series. This problem is known to be related to the existence of weakly holomorphic forms with prescribed principal part. The obstruction to the existence is related to the pseudomodularity of Ramanujan's mock theta functions. We embed the space of weakly holomorphic modular forms into the larger space of harmonic weak Maass forms. From this perspective we discuss the linear relations between Poincar\'e series and the connection to Ramanujan's mock theta functions

COAGULATION PROFILE IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ACUTE BRUCELLOSIS

Objective: Although brucellosis has almost been eradicated from most of the developed countries, it still continues to be a major but somehow neglected disease in the developing and underdeveloped countries. In the past, hematological abnormalities like anemia, thrombocytopenia have been reported to be seen in brucellosis patients. The objective of the present study is to observe and study the coagulation profile of patients suffering from acute brucellosis.Methods: Blood samples were collected from brucellosis patients and healthy volunteers and were analyzed in automated blood coagulation analyzer and automated hematology analyzer to find out the values of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and platelet count.Results: Statistical analysis revealed that there was marginal increase in the aPTT level and platelet count in brucellosis patients than that of the control patients.Conclusion: The study revealed that there might be a tendency of prolonged aPTT and increase in platelet levels in brucellosis patients.Keywords: Brucellosis, coagulation profile, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelet count

CO-INFECTION OF BRUCELLA AND DENGUE VIRUS

Objective: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic infection having a worldwide distribution. In South East Asian developing countries like India, brucellosis is yet well-known but often neglected disease. Although dengue fever has a global distribution, South East Asian region together with the Western Pacific region represents 75% of the current global disease burden. Frequent dengue fever outbreaks have been encountered in different parts of India. Both brucellosis and dengue fever may present with many nonspecific symptoms. This study was designed to identify the trend of their co-infection.Methods: The study was carried out from February 2015 to July 2016 in Eastern India. Blood samples collected from clinically suspected dengue fever cases were confirmed serologically by dengue specific NS1, IgM, and IgG capture ELISA methods. The confirmed dengue samples were further subjected to Brucella specific serological and molecular investigations.Results: Out of 37 serologically confirmed dengue cases, 8 (21.6%) showed co-infection of brucellosis and dengue fever. Female predominance was observed among the co-infection cases. Most of these cases belonged to the age group 21-40 years and resided in and around Kolkata.Conclusion: This study portrays the simultaneous acquisition of these two pathogens in a few patients. Co-infection of these two pathogens, while feasible, has not been accounted previously in this part of India. Thus, this report highlights the significance of studying the possibility of occurrence of dual infection of these two diseases and its outcome in patients with febrile illness thereby providing future scope of preventing case fatalitiesKeywords: Brucellosis, Dengue, Co-infection, ELISA, Polymerase chain reaction

IN VITRO MEROPENEM SUSCEPTIBILITY INDUCED BY PH ALTERATION IN METALLO-BETA-LACTAMASE POSITIVE PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

ABSTRACTObjective: The increasing emergence of metallo-beta-lactamase (MβL) producing Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa posea serious public health concern including in the treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI). This study was aimed to explore the combined effect ofin vitro pH alteration and antibiotic on the bacterial growth as a potential therapeutic approach against the drug resistant P. aeruginosa.Methods: Ten MβL producing P. aeruginosa isolates from the patients suffering from UTI were included. Bacteria were inoculated with or withoutmeropenem in media with varied pH range from 5 to 10. The variation of bacterial growth was determined by measuring the changes of opticaldensity at 620 nm and colony forming unit counts/ml.Result: The growth of bacteria was reduced both at very high and lower pH ranges. However, the growth was further reduced significantly with theaddition of meropenem at these extreme pH conditions.Conclusion: Alteration of pH especially at lower range of the medium might has changed the efficacy of MβL and thus helped the antibiotic meropenemto act on the bacteria, which was resistant toward the same at neutral pH. Combined effect of antibiotic and pH modulation of biological fluid like urineshould be explored for an effective alternative therapeutic approach against the drug-resistant bacteria.Keywords: Metallo-beta-lactamase, urinary tract infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pH

COMPARISON OF SEROLOGICAL TESTS AND PCR FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN BRUCELLOSIS SUFFERING FROM FEVER

Objective: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease throughout the globe and other developing countries. The present study was aimed to compare results of different serological tests and PCR for diagnosis of brucellosis in patients sufferings from fever in Kolkata and in adjoining districts.Methods: A total of 2088 serum samples were collected from the patients suffering from fever from January, 2013 to September, 2015. The samples were tested by serological tests STAT, RBPT, ELISA(IgM,IgG) and Brucella genus specific PCR. Results: The study revealed decreasing positive results by STAT (18.43%, N=385), RBPT (12.59%, N=263), IgM ELISA (7.71%, N=161), PCR (4.21%, N=88) and IgG ELISA (1.43%, N=30). When serological tests were compared with PCR, it was found that both STAT and PCR were positive in 84 samples( 4.02%), both RBPT and PCR were positive in 65 samples(3.11%), both IgM and PCR were positive in 51 samples(2.44%) and both IgG and PCR were positive in 9 samples(0.43%). Conclusion: In this cross sectional study in a zonal population of India it was found that STAT was the most sensitive test for diagnosis of brucellosis followed by RBPT when compared to PCR test results. Four STAT negative samples showed positive results in PCR, which were positive by RBPT test. This indicates that if we combine STAT and RBPT for diagnosis of brucellosis then both sensitivity and specificity of the combined test will increase.Â

BRUCELLAR UVEITIS IN EASTERN INDIA

Objective: Brucellosis- one of the major zoonotic diseases, still remains an uncontrolled problem, in regions of high endemicity. Ophthalmic brucellosis is not studied and overlooked in most developing countries.  Considering the severe outcome of undiagnosed ophthalmic brucellosis, in this paper we made attempts to find out whether this disease still remains a health problem in a South East Asian developing country, where study of this disease is largely neglected.  Methods This study was carried out over a one year period from January 2015 to December 2015. Blood samples were collected from clinically confirmed cases of uveitis and they were subjected to five serological and one genus specific molecular investigations, for the detection of Brucella infection.Results Out of 20 uveitis cases, 4 (20%) cases confirmed as brucellar uveitis, by serological tests followed by PCR confirmation. After treatment of brucellosis all the four patients were recovered uneventfully.Conclusion: Brucella infection involving the eye is still a significant problem in South East Asian countries; hence in all uveitis cases in this reason brucellosis should be excluded by available laboratory tests.Government of India (Dept. of Biotechnology the major zoonotic diseases, still remains an uncontrolled problem, in regions of high endemicity. Ophthalmic brucellosis is not studied and overlooked in most developing countries.  Considering the severe outcome of undiagnosed ophthalmic brucellosis, in this paper we made attempts to find out whether this disease still remains a health problem in a South East Asian developing country, where study of this disease is largely neglected.   Methods This study was carried out over a one year period from January 2015 to December 2015. Blood samples were collected from clinically confirmed cases of uveitis and they were subjected to five serological and one genus specific molecular investigations, for the detection of Brucella infection.Results Out of 20 uveitis cases, 4 (20%) cases confirmed as brucellar uveitis, by serological tests followed by PCR confirmation. After treatment of brucellosis all the four patients were recovered uneventfully.Conclusion: Brucella infection involving the eye is still a significant problem in South East Asian countries; hence in all uveitis cases in this reason brucellosis should be excluded by available laboratory tests

EFFECT OF ULTRA-DILUTED HISTAMINE ON HYPOXIC CHICK LUNG TISSUE INFLAMMATORY CHANGES

Objectives: Since its discovery, the role of histamine in inflammation is controversial; thus, according to some authority, it is mainly pro-inflammatory, and according to others, it is anti-inflammatory in nature. In this scenario, we thought that the contradictory results are dose dependent, thus in this study, our aim was to find the specific role of ultra-diluted histamine in pulmonary inflammation. Materials and Methods: Ultra-diluted histamine ( ~1 pg/ml) was administered in chick lung hypoxic inflammation in an restricted organoid culture along with lysozyme, ovalbumin, and blank controls. Results: The ultra-diluted histamine showed a significant role as an anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator agent and the anti-inflammatory action was found similar to lysozyme. Conclusion: Ultra-diluted histamine may be used as an anti-inflammatory agent