Screening and Isolation of Associated Bioactive Microorganisms from Fasciospongia cavernosa

Nature, especially the marine environment, provides the most effective drugs used in human therapy. Among the metazoans, the marine sponges produce the most potent and highly selective bioactive secondary metabolites. These animals (or their associated symbiotic microorganisms) synthesize secondary metabolites whose activity and selectivity has developed during their long evolutionary history. During the course of exploitation of these resources two marine sponges, Fasciospongia cavernosa doc var.brown (dark brown) Fasciospongia cavernosa doc var.yellow (yellow) collected from the visakhapatnam coast of Bay of Bengal were investigated in order to assess the potential of these microorganisms for the production of antimicrobial compounds. The aqueous and organic extracts of both the sponges showed broad spectrum antibiotic activity. In this study a total of 178 microorganisms were isolated from different parts of two sponges and most of them from middle part of the sponge. The isolates were investigated in order to assess the potential of these microorganisms for the production of antimicrobial compounds. Testing for antimicrobial activities were performed against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus) Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris), fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger) and 10 pathogenic organisms. Resulting mean diameter of inhibition zones revealed isolates B4 & B6 were the most potent of all the isolates. The present study has revealed the presence of high numbers of diverse culturable microorganisms associated with the marine sponges from Visakhapatnam Coast of Bay of Bengal as well as their potential to produce bioactive metabolites

Renal function markers and thyroid hormone status in undialyzed chronic kidney disease

Objective: The study was undertaken to quantify thyroid hormones in undialyzed chronic kidney disease patients’ verses controls and to study the correlation between renal function markers and thyroid hormones. Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a higher prevalence of primary hypothyroidism (HT), but at the same studies on thyroid hormone status in uremic patients has reported conflicting results. Methods: Thyroid hormones and renal function parameters like serum urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, total protein and albumin were estimated and correlations between thyroid hormones and renal function parameters were studied in 60 undialyzed chronic kidney disease patients’ verses 100 healthy controls. Results: We found both T3 and T4 were significantly reduced (p<0.0001 for T3 and 0.007 for T4) whereas TSH remains to be unchanged in patient group compared to controls. We also observed that urea and creatinine were negatively correlated whereas creatinine clearance was positively correlated with both T3 and T4 that has high statistical (two-tailed) significance at 0.01 level. But urea alone is negatively correlated with TSH that has statistical (two-tailed) significance at 0.05 level. Conclusion: From our data, we speculate that renal insufficiency may lead to thyroid hormone disturbances

Temporomandibular disorders and functional somatic syndromes: Deliberations for the dentist

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term for a collection of disorders affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated tissues. TMD is not a rare pathology for the dentist. The most common presenting symptom is pain, which causes the patient seek immediate treatment. Management is dictated by the cause. The most ′famed′ causes include trauma, inflammation, aging, parafunctional habits, infections, neoplasms, and stress; and these are always considered in the differential diagnosis of TMJ pain. There are some less ′famed′ causes of TMD, which are characterized by increased pain sensitivity due to psychosocial factors; these include myofascial pain syndrome and functional somatic syndromes (FSS) such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. They present with chronic pain, fatigue, disability, and impairment in ability to perform daily activities. A non-systematic search in the English literature revealed numerous studies describing the occurrence of TMD in these conditions, along with few other oral manifestations. TMD has been even considered to be a part of the FSS by some. In these patients, TMD remains a recurring problem, and adequate management cannot be achieved by traditional treatment protocols. Awareness of these conditions, with correct diagnosis and modification of management protocols accordingly, may resolve this problem

Not Available

Not AvailablePhysico-chemical parameters and bacterial abundance of Visakhapatnam coastal water were analysed for the period July 2011 to July 2013 in four selected stations. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in four stations ranged between 4.9-9.8 mg/l with mean DO maximum in station Y (8.33±0.674 mg/l) and minimum at station F (6.27±0.425 mg/l). pH values ranged between 6.9 and 9.8. pH was maximum at station Y (8.068+0.451) and minimum at station B (7.95±0.439). Salinity was recorded between 21-39 ppt in four stations with highest mean at station Y (32.9±2.7) and lowest at station F (31.2±3.3). Temperature in four stations ranged between 25 to 33oC, with a mean higher temperature at station F (30.52±1.25oC) and lower at Y (28.28±1.25oC). Total bacterial counts ranged between 0.51x102 and 9x103 CFU/ml with a maximum in station F (4.66x103±1.5x103 CFU/ml) and minimum in R (4.07x102±0.2x102 CFU/ml). Pseudomonas counts ranged between 0.2x102 and 4.8x102 CFU/ml with maximum at station F (2.27x102±1.11x102 CFU/ml). Total Vibrio counts (TVC) ranged between 0.01x102 and 3.12x102 CFU/ml with maximum TVC (1.06x102±0.63x102 CFU/ml) at Station F. Significant differences were found between various stations with reference to various water quality parameters. Correlation found between salinity with DO and temperature, as well as pH with DO.Not Availabl

Physico-chemical parameters and bacterial abundance in coastal water of Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal India, with special reference to Pseudomonas sp. and Vibrio sp.

Physico-chemical parameters and bacterial abundance of Visakhapatnam coastal water were analysed for the period July 2011 to July 2013 in four selected stations. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in four stations ranged between 4.9-9.8 mg/l with mean DO maximum in station Y (8.33±0.674 mg/l) and minimum at station F (6.27±0.425 mg/l). pH values ranged between 6.9 and 9.8. pH was maximum at station Y (8.068+0.451) and minimum at station B (7.95±0.439). Salinity was recorded between 21-39 ppt in four stations with highest mean at station Y (32.9±2.7) and lowest at station F (31.2±3.3). Temperature in four stations ranged between 25 to 33oC, with a mean higher temperature at station F (30.52±1.25oC) and lower at Y (28.28±1.25oC). Total bacterial counts ranged between 0.51x102 and 9x103 CFU/ml with a maximum in station F (4.66x103±1.5x103 CFU/ml) and minimum in R (4.07x102±0.2x102 CFU/ml). Pseudomonas counts ranged between 0.2x102 and 4.8x102 CFU/ml with maximum at station F (2.27x102±1.11x102 CFU/ml). Total Vibrio counts (TVC) ranged between 0.01x102 and 3.12x102 CFU/ml with maximum TVC (1.06x102±0.63x102 CFU/ml) at Station F. Significant differences were found between various stations with reference to various water quality parameters. Correlation found between salinity with DO and temperature, as well as pH with DO

Screening and Isolation of Associated Bioactive Microorganisms from Fasciospongia cavernosa from of Visakhapatnam Coast, Bay of Bengal

Nature, especially the marine environment, provides the most effective drugs used in human therapy. Among the metazoans, the marine sponges produce the most potent and highly selective bioactive secondary metabolites. These animals (or their associated symbiotic microorganisms) synthesize secondary metabolites whose activity and selectivity has developed during their long evolutionary history. During the course of exploitation of these resources two marine sponges, Fasciospongia cavernosa doc var.brown (dark brown) Fasciospongia cavernosa doc var.yellow (yellow) collected from the visakhapatnam coast of Bay of Bengal were investigated in order to assess the potential of these microorganisms for the production of antimicrobial compounds. The aqueous and organic extracts of both the sponges showed broad spectrum antibiotic activity. In this study a total of 178 microorganisms were isolated from different parts of two sponges and most of them from middle part of the sponge. The isolates were investigated in order to assess the potential of these microorganisms for the production of antimicrobial compounds. Testing for antimicrobial activities were performed against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus) Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris), fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger) and 10 pathogenic organisms. Resulting mean diameter of inhibition zones revealed isolates B4 & B6 were the most potent of all the isolates. The present study has revealed the presence of high numbers of diverse culturable microorganisms associated with the marine sponges from Visakhapatnam Coast of Bay of Bengal as well as their potential to produce bioactive metabolites

Physico-chemical parameters and bacterial abundance in coastal water of Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal India, with special reference to <i>Pseudomonas</i> sp. and <i>Vibrio </i> sp.

1588-1595Physico-chemical parameters and bacterial abundance of Visakhapatnam coastal water were analysed for the period July 2011 to July 2013 in four selected stations. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in four stations ranged between 4.9-9.8 mg/l with mean DO maximum in station Y (8.33±0.674 mg/l) and minimum at station F (6.27±0.425 mg/l). pH values ranged between 6.9 and 9.8. pH was maximum at station Y (8.068+0.451) and minimum at station B (7.95±0.439). Salinity was recorded between 21-39 ppt in four stations with highest mean at station Y (32.9±2.7) and lowest at station F (31.2±3.3). Temperature in four stations ranged between 25 to 33oC, with a mean higher temperature at station F (30.52±1.25oC) and lower at Y (28.28±1.25oC). Total bacterial counts ranged between 0.51x102 and 9x103 CFU/ml with a maximum in station F (4.66x103±1.5x103 CFU/ml) and minimum in R (4.07x102±0.2x102 CFU/ml). Pseudomonas counts ranged between 0.2x102 and 4.8x102 CFU/ml with maximum at station F (2.27x102±1.11x102 CFU/ml). Total Vibrio counts (TVC) ranged between 0.01x102 and 3.12x102 CFU/ml with maximum TVC (1.06x102±0.63x102 CFU/ml) at Station F. Significant differences were found between various stations with reference to various water quality parameters. Correlation found between salinity with DO and temperature, as well as pH with DO