Bacterial decolourization of azo dyes

Release of textile effluent into the environment is a matter of health concern. Dyes and pigments that are part of textile effluent generate hazardous wastes which are generally inorganic or organic contaminants. Among the present pollution control strategies, biodegradation of synthetic dyes by microbes is evolving as a promising approach, even more than physico-chemical methods. While both mixed cultures and pure cultures have been used to achieve efficient biodegradation, no conclusive result has been determined. This paper aims at checking the efficiency of mixed culture of sewage and pure isolates in degradation of azo dyes, both simple dyes like methyl red and methyl orange and a more complex dye like Janus green

Delayed diagnosis of plasma cell disorder-related Fanconi syndrome in young adults presenting as osteomalacia: report of two cases with normokalemia and normal haematological parameters at the time of presentation

Adult-onset hypophosphatemic osteomalacia is rare and diagnosis is frequently delayed. Fanconi syndrome (FS) due to monoclonal gammopathy is a well-recognized, but rare cause of hypophosphatemia. The relatively young age of patients and normal routine hematological parameters often results in late recognition of this treatable disease entity. Low phosphorus, elevated alkaline phosphatase, mildly impaired renal function and hypokalemia are often the only abnormalities on routine evaluation. We summarize the clinico-pathological features of two cases who initially presented with fractures and proximal myopathy and were subsequently found to have FS secondary to light chain proximal tubulopathy. Atypical features like absence of hypokalemia at presentation  and elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor 23(FGF 23), a marker of oncogenic osteomalacia were noted. Marked clinical improvement and recovery of renal parameters were evident with phosphate supplements and  chemotherapy for the plasma cell disorder. FS due to monoclonal gammopathy  may present with atypical features  and diagnosis may be  challengin

Research priorities in Maternal, Newborn, & Child Health & Nutrition for India:An Indian Council of Medical Research-INCLEN Initiative

In India, research prioritization in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) themes has traditionally involved only a handful of experts mostly from major cities. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-INCLEN collaboration undertook a nationwide exercise engaging faculty from 256 institutions to identify top research priorities in the MNCHN themes for 2016-2025. The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method of priority setting was adapted. The context of the exercise was defined by a National Steering Group (NSG) and guided by four Thematic Research Subcommittees. Research ideas were pooled from 498 experts located in different parts of India, iteratively consolidated into research options, scored by 893 experts against five pre-defined criteria (answerability, relevance, equity, investment and innovation) and weighed by a larger reference group. Ranked lists of priorities were generated for each of the four themes at national and three subnational (regional) levels [Empowered Action Group & North-Eastern States, Southern and Western States, & Northern States (including West Bengal)]. Research priorities differed between regions and from overall national priorities. Delivery domain of research which included implementation research constituted about 70 per cent of the top ten research options under all four themes. The results were endorsed in the NSG meeting. There was unanimity that the research priorities should be considered by different governmental and non-governmental agencies for investment with prioritization on implementation research and issues cutting across themes

Current and Emerging Therapies in the Management of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in Neonates

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) presents a significant clinical burden with its high mortality and morbidity rates globally. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is now standard of care for infants with moderate to severe HIE, but has not definitively changed outcomes in severe HIE. In this review, we discuss newer promising markers that may help the clinician identify severity of HIE. Therapies that are beneficial and agents that hold promise for neuroprotection are described, both for use either alone or as adjuncts to TH. These include endogenous pathway modifiers such as erythropoietin and analogues, melatonin, and remote ischemic post conditioning. Stem cells have therapeutic potential in this condition, as in many other neonatal conditions. Of the agents listed, only erythropoietin and analogues are currently being evaluated in large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Exogenous therapies such as argon and xenon, allopurinol, monosialogangliosides, and magnesium sulfate continue to be investigated. The recognition of tertiary mechanisms of brain damage has opened up new research into therapies not only to attenuate brain damage but also to promote cell repair and regeneration in a developmentally disorganized brain long after the perinatal insult. These alternative modalities may be especially important in mild HIE and in areas of the world where there is limited access to expensive hypothermia equipment and services

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile and Treatment Outcome of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions in the Paediatric Age Group of 0 to 18 Years: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Southern India

Introduction: The paediatric population is prone to developing cutaneous adverse drug reactions. However, the incidence of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions (SCAR) is rare in this age group, with few studies describing such reactions in detail. Aim: To describe the clinico-epidemiological factors, drug profile, laboratory parameters, and treatment outcomes of SCAR in children admitted to a tertiary care centre in South India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out over a 10-year period, including paediatric patients (0-18 years) admitted to Dermatology, Medicine, and Paediatric wards in the tertiary care centre. Demographic details, suspected drugs, comorbidities, personal and family history of drug reactions, physical examination, laboratory parameters, treatment received along with its duration, and the state of morbidity and mortality were recorded. SPSS version 18.0 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients. Results: Among all the patients admitted with SCAR, 27 (15%) belonged to the paediatric age group. The median age was 15 years, and the female-to-male ratio was 1.25. Nineteen (70.3%) were diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), and eight (29.6%) were diagnosed with Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptom (DRESS). There were no cases of Acute Generalised Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP). The most common class of drugs implicated was antiepileptics (62.8%). Two patients (7%) had a family history of drug reactions. All patients had mucosal involvement. The majority of the children responded to intravenous steroids, and two required additional intravenous immunoglobulin injections for clinical improvement. All cases were cured with no mortality or long-term sequelae. Conclusion: The incidence of SCAR in the paediatric age group is significant. Anticonvulsants, particularly phenytoin, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine, need to be used with caution in this age group. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with systemic steroids can reduce mortality, morbidity, and long-term sequelae

Fatty acid esters of phloridzin induce apoptosis of human liver cancer cells through altered gene expression.

Phloridzin (phlorizin or phloretin 2'-O-glucoside) is known for blocking intestinal glucose absorption. We have investigated the anticarcinogenic effect of phloridzin and its novel derivatives using human cancer cell lines. We have synthesised novel acylated derivatives of phloridzin with six different long chain fatty acids by regioselective enzymatic acylation using Candida Antarctica lipase B. The antiproliferative effects of the new compounds were investigated in comparison with the parent compounds, phloridzin, aglycone phloretin, the six free fatty acids and chemotherapeutic drugs (sorafenib, doxorubicin and daunorubicin) using human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, human breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells and acute monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells along with normal human and rat hepatocytes. The fatty acid esters of phloridzin inhibited significantly the growth of the two carcinoma and leukemia cells while similar treatment doses were not toxic to normal human or rat hepatocytes. The antiproliferative potency of fatty esters of phloridzin was comparable to the potency of the chemotherapeutic drugs. The fatty acid esters of phloridzin inhibited DNA topoisomerases IIα activity that might induce G0/G1 phase arrest, induced apoptosis via activation of caspase-3, and decreased ATP level and mitochondrial membrane potential in HepG2 cells. Based on the high selectivity on cancer cells, decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ester of phloridzin was selected for gene expression analysis using RT2PCR human cancer drug target array. Antiproliferative effect of DHA ester of phloridzin could be related to the down regulation of anti-apoptotic gene (BCL2), growth factor receptors (EBFR family, IGF1R/IGF2, PDGFR) and its downstream signalling partners (PI3k/AKT/mTOR, Ras/Raf/MAPK), cell cycle machinery (CDKs, TERT, TOP2A, TOP2B) as well as epigenetics regulators (HDACs). These results suggest that fatty esters of phloridzin have potential chemotherapeutic effects mediated through the attenuated expression of several key proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA topoisomerases IIα activity and epigenetic mechanisms followed by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Inverted phase contrast microscopy images of HepG2 cells.

<p>The cells were cultured (2×10⁴ cells/100 µL) in 96 well plate after incubation with 100 µM of fatty acid esters of phloridzin (Pz) in comparison with parent compounds phloridzin, phloretin (aglycone) or liver cancer drug sorafenib for 24 h. Shown are representative images of three independent experiments.</p

Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) of HepG2 cells measured by JC-1 fluorescence.

<p>HepG2 cells were treated with 100 µM of fatty acid esters of phloridzin (Pz) in comparison with parent compounds phloridzin, individual fatty acids, phloretin (aglycone) or liver cancer drug sorafenib for 24 h. The fluorescence of JC-1 monomers was measured at em 535 nm and aggregates at em 590 nm. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 3) are representative of at least three separate independent experiments. Different letters represent significantly different mean values from other treatments (Tukey HSD, P<0.01).</p