Ecological implications of trace metals in seaweeds: Bio-indication potential for metal contamination in Wandoor, South Andaman Island

AbstractConcentration levels of Mn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu and Cr in six seaweed samples (Acetabularia calyculus, Corallina sp., Galaxura marginata, Sargassum duplicatum, Sargassum swartzi and Dictyota bartayresiana) were determined from Wandoor, south Andaman Island. Metals were extracted from sample homogenates and quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. In the present investigation, heavy metal concentration levels in the following order: Mn>Pb>Cd. It is observed that Zn was only present in free floating brown seaweed S. swartzi. Cu and Cr did not show its presence in any of the seaweeds that was sampled. Metal pollution index (MPI) of six seaweed species were observed in the following decending order: A. calyculus>Corallina sp.>D. bartayresiana>G. marginata>S. duplicatum>S. swartzi. Results showed that chlorophyta, A. calyculus contained the highest concentration of heavy metals as compared to other algal species. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the concentration of metals was significantly different (p<0.05) with respect to different species around the study area

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Screening of potential human pathogens from the ghost crab, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ocypode platytarsis</i> (<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">H. Milne Edwards, 1852) and evaluation of antibiotic resistance</span></span>

244-248<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt" lang="EN-GB">Bacteria associated with hemolymph, gut and muscle of Ocypode platytarsis were investigated using three different agar media such as seawater yeast extract peptone agar, zobell marine agar and nutrient agar. Among them, sea water yeast extract peptone agar provided an excellent growth opportunity to the bacteria and showed higher counts. A total 117 bacterial<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt" lang="EN-GB"> isolates were obtained from 40 ghost crabs representing totally 9 bacterial species, comprising of the Gram-positive coccus, Gram-negative bacilli, Gram-positive rod and Gram-negative rod. Micrococcus was the dominant genus found in all parts of ghost crab, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">O. platytarsis. Further, the antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and gentamycin showed excellent susceptibility against all the bacterial species, whereas the bacterial strain isolated from the crab are resistant to amoxicillin, nalidixic acid and oxacillin. Results indicate that the bacteria associated with O.<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt" lang="EN-GB"> platytarsis<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt" lang="EN-GB"> are considered as potential human pathogens and some of the isolates were resistant to antibiotics. </span

Pityrosporum Infection In HIV Infected Patients

An increased colonization of Malassezia furfur organism has been reported in patients with HIV infection. Pityriasis versicolour and pityrosporum folliculitis arise from overgrowth of M. furfur. It is also thought to have a significant role in the pathogenesis of seborrhoeic dermatitis and is one of the earliest clinical markers of HIV infection. The present study was to note the occurrence and significance of these infections in HIV infected patients. The present study was to note the occurrence and significance of these infections in HIV infected patients. The occurrence of pityrosporum infection was 13.5&#x0025; (25 cases amongst 185 HIV serpositive patients) in HIV infected cases in our study. Mean age of the affected patients was 31.7 years and male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The main mode of acquisition of HIV infection was heterosexual (19 cases). Tinea versicolour was seen in 10 (40&#x0025;) cases, seborrhoeic was found to be more explosive in onset and involving extensive areas with severe inflammation. Extensive tinea versicolour and seborrhoeic dermatitis were seen in three cases with pityrosporum infections. Nine of the pityrosporum infections were observed in HIV group IV, which is equivalent of AIDS. To conclude, seborrhoeic dermatitis in patients with HIV/AIDS may have some unique features and may be used as a clinical marker of AIDS

Global perspectives for the management of onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection caused by dermatophytes, nondermatophyte molds, and yeasts. This difficult‐to‐treat chronic infection has a tendency to relapse despite treatment. This paper aims to offer a global perspective on onychomycosis management from expert physicians from around the world. Overall, the majority of experts surveyed used systemic, topical, and combination treatments approved in their countries and monitored patients based on the product insert or government recommendations. Although the basics of treating onychomycosis were similar between countries, slight differences in onychomycosis management between countries were found. These differences were mainly due to different approaches to adjunctive therapy, rating the severity of disease and use of prophylaxis treatment. A global perspective on the treatment of onychomycosis provides a framework of success for the committed clinician with appreciation of how onychomycosis is managed worldwide