Antifungal activity of essential oils and their volatile constituents against respiratory tract pathogens causing Aspergilloma and Aspergillosis by gaseous contact

Aspergillosis is an acute chronic and rapidly fatal disease which is not contagious. Invasive Aspergillosis is often found in severely immuno-suppressed patients, and is characterized by invasion of blood vessels which can result into dissemination to other organs. Aspergilloma is a fungal ball that develops in previous cavitary lung lesions. Essential oils and their volatile constituents have been used as antifungal, anti-infectious and antimicrobial agents. Inhalation of vapours of the essential oils kill invaders attached to the inner respiratory lining and worksynergistically with the body defences. In this study, 16 essential oils were used against Aspergillus niger and A. fumigatus of which about 14 oils proved to be effective. Results showed that the most effective oils against both Aspergillus species were found to be of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon), Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), Carum carvi (Caraway), Cymbopogon citrates (Lemongrass), Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) and Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg). Moderately effective oils were of Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen), Pinus palustris (Turpentine), Sesamum indicum (Sesame), Trachyspermum ammi (Ajowain) and Origanum vulgare (Oregano). The oils of Lavandula augustifolia (Lavender), Elletaria cardamomum (Cardamon) and Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella) showed minimum activity. Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Linum usitatissimum (Linseed) showed no activity giving no inhibition zones

Effects on pregnancy in mice of passive immunization against ovine LH and human chorionic gonadotrophin

Mice given daily i.p. injections of immunoglobulins against ovine LH on Days 3-7 of pregnancy were devoid of implantation sites on Day 8 whereas mice treated with antibodies to hCG had embryos of normal number and appearance on Day 8. These antibody treatments reduced the mean ± s.d. serum progesterone concentrations from 65.4 ± 15.3 ng/ml (control globulins) to 8.6 ± 4.9 ng/ml (anti-LH) and 9.2 ± 3.1 ng/ml (anti-hCG) on Day 8 and had no differential effect on serum oestrogen levels on Day 4. However, the mice treated with anti-hCG did not litter; resorption of the embryos took place between Days 10 and 14 of pregnancy. Indirect immunofluorescence and quantitative immunoenzymic assays showed the presence of anti-ovine LH and anti-hCG reacting antigens in the mouse feto-placental unit. On Day 6, the values of reacting antigens (mean ± s.d. absorbance units/10 µm section of embryo) were 0.050 ± 0.002 with control globulins, 0.059 ± 0.002 with anti-hCG-Ig and 0.196 ± 0.018 with anti-LH-Ig; the corresponding values on Day 12 were 0.075 ± 0.009, 0.402 ± 0.02 and 0.416 ± 0.015. The quantitative disposition of the reacting antigens to the two types of anti-gonadotrophins seems to bear a temporal relationship to their respective antifertility action. The pregnancy terminating action of immunoglobulins to ovine LH (Days 6, 7 & 8) and hCG (Days 8, 9 & 10) was counteracted by administration of 2 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate on Days 6, 9 and 12, indicating the importance of progesterone in the maintenance of pregnancy in the mouse

Left pulmonary artery reconstruction using cryopreserved pulmonary homograft

In patients with univentricular heart, the Fontan procedure is the final palliation. This is usually staged. A systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt is performed in the presence of episodes of cyanotic spells in the neonatal period or in some patients in infancy; a bidirectional superior cardiopulmonary anastomosis is preferred early in life. This is followed by the final Fontan palliation on an elective basis later. For an effective bidirectional superior cavopulmonary anastomosis and Fontan palliation, good-sized confluent pulmonary arteries (PAs) are mandatory in addition to favorable hemodynamic data. Patients with discontinuous PAs that are small in size present a surgical challenge at initial palliation as the one described in this report

Real Time PCR Usage in the Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA-Clinical Applications in Disease Management

ABSTRACT Simultaneous quantification and detection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA plays significant role in diagnosing and monitoring infection related to HBV as well as assessing therapeutic response. Variability among HBV genotypes and the huge range of clinical HBV DNA levels presents challenges for PCR-based amplification techniques. High sensitivity, wide linear range, good reproducibility, and genotype inclusivity, combined with a small sample volume requirement and low cost, make this novel quantitative HBV Real-Time PCR assay particularly well suited for application to large clinical and epidemiological studies. Serum DNA levels are a prognostic factor, and contribute to define the phase of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, the treatment indication, and allow an assessment of the efficacy of antiviral therapy. High levels of HBV DNA are an independent risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma HCC in Asia. Recent advances in antiviral therapy, based on the development of new and more powerful nucleotide analogues, have dramatically improved chronic hepatitis B management, including the prevention of allograft reinfection in those patients undergoing liver transplantation for HBV related disease. Advances in the molecular diagnosis of drug resistance using highly sensitive methodologies such as DNA Amplification by PCR can further detect upcoming viral resistance at an early stage when the variant represents only a minor fraction of the total viral population. Such new tools are especially relevant for patients at high risk for disease progression or acute exacerbation