21 research outputs found
Clinical and microbiological characteristics of bloodstream infections due to AmpC β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae: an active surveillance cohort in a large centralized Canadian region
Background: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to AmpC producing Enterobacteriaceae (AE) in a large centralized Canadian region over a 9-year period. Methods: An active surveillance cohort design in Calgary, Canada. Results: A cohort of 458 episodes of BSIs caused by AE was assembled for analysis. The majority of infections were of nosocomial origin with unknown sources. Enterobacter spp. was the most common species while BSIs due to Serratia spp. had a significant higher mortality when compared to other AE. Delays in empiric or definitive antibiotic therapy were not associated with a difference in outcome. However, patients that did not receive any empiric antimicrobial therapy had increased mortality (3/5; 60% vs. 57/453; 13%; p = 0.018) as did those that did not receive definitive therapy (6/17; 35% vs. 54/441; 12%; p = 0.015). Conclusions: Delays in therapy were not associated with adverse outcomes although lack of active therapy was associated with increased mortality. A strategy for BSIs due to AE where β-lactam antibiotics (including oxyiminocephalosporins) are used initially followed by a switch to non-β-lactam antibiotics once susceptibility results are available is effective.</p
Structural phase transition and ferromagnetism in monodisperse 3 nm FePt particles
FePt nanoparticles with a size of 3 nm and thermally stable room-temperature ferromagnetism are investigated. The monodisperse nanoparticles were prepared by chemical synthesis and a salt-matrix annealing technique. Structural and magnetic characterizations confirmed the phase transition from the disordered face-centered cubic structure to the L10 structure with the chemical ordering parameter of 0.62±0.05. Analysis in blocking temperature and fitting of temperature dependence of switching field reveals that the transformed 3 nm nanoparticles have a magnetic anisotropy constant of (2.8±0.2) x 106 J/m3, smaller than those for the bigger particles and the fully ordered L10 bulk phase
Isolation and Identification of L-asparaginase Producing Bacteria from Soils of Different Agroclimatic Zones of Jammu (J&K), India
A milestone was set in the field of medicine with the discovery of L-asparaginase present in the serum of guinea pig responsible for action against the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since then, the use of L-asparaginase as a potential anti-cancer drug has been a great success in the field of modern oncology. Despite its varied sources, new sources are continuously being explored to obtain a high therapeutic index drug. The study aims to isolate potential L-asparaginase producing microorganisms from environmental niches of Northwestern Himalayas. The climatic conditions of the region and ancient agricultural practices which are still being followed in these areas, add up to the diverse microbial repository and a potential habitat which can be explored to obtain a potent asparaginase producing microbial source. In the study, soil samples from different regions of Jammu were collected aseptically. From the isolation studies, a total of 44 bacterial isolates were obtained. Pure cultures were then screened for asparaginase activity both qualitatively as well as quantitatively using agar plate and nesselerization method. Screening studies resulted in the isolation of a potent L-asparaginase producer isolated from black gram soil sample of Rajouri, Jammu showing an enzyme activity of 9.14 U/ml. Based on biochemical and molecular approaches, the isolate was identified as Enterobacter aesburiae strain R16C1 / No. MT93543. The study resulted in the isolation of a pure bacterial culture from the soils of Northwestern Himalayas possessing anti-cancer asparaginase activity. Further, optimization studies can help in considerably increasing the enzyme activity which can be tested against different human cancer lines for its anti-cancer efficacy
Clinical efficacy of subgingivally delivered simvastatin gel in chronic periodontitis patients
Background: Simvastatin (SMV), a new locally delivered drug of class statins, is a specific competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase. Statins, besides having lipid-lowering abilities, also have pleiotropic effects like host modulation and bone regeneration. The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of SMV, 1.2 mg, in an indigenously prepared biodegradable controlled-release gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP). Materials and Methods: A total of 60 sites, with pocket depth ≥5 mm, two from each of 30 patients after SRP, were categorized into two treatment groups, for subgingival placement of placebo (Gp 1) or SMV (Gp 2). Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months comprising plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The osseous changes were evaluated radiographically by measuring vertical gain, INFRA 1 and angle of the defect, INFRA 2 from baseline to 6 months. Results: All subjects tolerated the drug, without any post-application complication. The treatment improved the periodontal condition in both the groups but significant reductions in PPD (p= 0.04), and INFRA 1 (p= 0.000), along with gain in CAL (p= 0.02) and INFRA 2 (p= 0.000) were observed in Gp 2. In one site, an unexpected 5 mm decrease in INFRA 1 was found. Conclusion: Local drug delivery of SMV enhanced the beneficial effect of SRP, in pocket reduction, gain in CAL and bone fill
Clinical efficacy of subgingivally delivered simvastatin gel in chronic periodontitis patients
Background: Simvastatin (SMV), a new locally delivered drug of class statins, is a specific competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase. Statins, besides having lipid-lowering abilities, also have pleiotropic effects like host modulation and bone regeneration. The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of SMV, 1.2 mg, in an indigenously prepared biodegradable controlled-release gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP). Materials and Methods: A total of 60 sites, with pocket depth ≥5 mm, two from each of 30 patients after SRP, were categorized into two treatment groups, for subgingival placement of placebo (Gp 1) or SMV (Gp 2). Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months comprising plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The osseous changes were evaluated radiographically by measuring vertical gain, INFRA 1 and angle of the defect, INFRA 2 from baseline to 6 months. Results: All subjects tolerated the drug, without any post-application complication. The treatment improved the periodontal condition in both the groups but significant reductions in PPD (p= 0.04), and INFRA 1 (p= 0.000), along with gain in CAL (p= 0.02) and INFRA 2 (p= 0.000) were observed in Gp 2. In one site, an unexpected 5 mm decrease in INFRA 1 was found. Conclusion: Local drug delivery of SMV enhanced the beneficial effect of SRP, in pocket reduction, gain in CAL and bone fill
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Not AvailableFaulty storage and poor knowledge of seed storage directly affect the crop performance and yield. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi to standardize the storage of vegetable seeds using the zeolite beads. Seeds of pumpkin cv. Kashi Harit, radish cv. Kashi Hans and vegetable cowpea cv. Kashi Nidhi were stored with two desiccants [zeolite beads and silica gel @1:10 (desiccant: seeds)] at two storage conditions [room temperature and cold storage (10°C)] in cloth bag, polythene bag and air tight container with and without the desiccants. Physiological seed quality parameters were observed once in four months (0, 4, 8, 12 month). In all the three crops, reduction in seed quality with increase of storage period was observed. Among the storage conditions, seed stored in cold storage recorded highest seed quality compared to the seeds stored at room temperature. At the same time, seeds stored with zeolite beads in room temperature recorded on par germination and vigour with seeds stored in cold storage. Among the storage containers (seeds with zeolite beads in air tight container, seed without zeolite beads in air tight container, seeds in cloth bag, seeds in polythene bag and seeds with silica gel in airtight container), seed stored with zeolite beads recorded significantly highest seed quality after 12 months of storage period. The performance was on par with the seeds stored in cold storage condition. In conclusion, after one year of storage, seeds stored with zeolite beads at room temperature recorded highest speed of germination in pumpkin, and radish. Issue of secondary dormancy was observed in cowpea. Other parameters such as germination (%) and vigour also recorded highest value when seeds were stored with zeolite beads. Therefore, it is recommended that seed storage with zeolite beads at farmer’s level to maintain the seed quality up to next growing season.Not Availabl
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Not AvailablePalak is a leafy green vegetable and grown almost throughout the year for leafy vegetable purpose. Cutting palak is a common practice to realize the income from the crop by the farmers. So, there is need to standardize seed production method with proper data of sowing along with number of cutting to produce the quality seed with additional income. Considering above points, an experiment was conducted under AICRP (VC) seed production trial during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. Palak cv. All Green seeds were sown with three different dates (1 st week of October, 3rd week of October and 1st week of November) and seed production were carried out with no cutting, one cutting, two cuttings and three cuttings. The results reveal that sowing in 3rd week of October recorded significantly highest green leaf yield (123.1q/ha), seed yield (14.5q/ha), 100 seed weight (1.0g), seed germination per cent (75%) and vigour index I (1143) and II (1.173) and highest BC ratio of 1.72. Among the cutting treatments, one cutting gave on par seed yield with no cutting (15.66 q/ha and 16.17 q/ha respectively). One cutting also recorded significantly highest germination per cent (76%), vigour index I (1186) and vigour index II (1.25) and BC ratio of 1.91. Therefore, sowing in the month of October (3rd week) with one cutting considered as the best treatment and recommended for palak seed production under Varanasi condition.Not Availabl