Prevalence and first-line drug sensitivity trends of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a tertiary center in North-East India

Setting Tuberculosis (TB) still remains one of the major health problems facing humans. India accounts for almost a quarter of TB cases worldwide. The scenario is worsening owing to multidrug resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Assessment of local prevalence rates and detection of MDR-TB are important to rationalize therapy and prevent spread of resistant strains in community. Objective The study was undertaken to understand drug sensitivity patterns of tubercle bacillus and assess resistance trends in Meghalaya. Designs Specimens were screened for acid-fast bacilli, decontaminated by N-acetyl cysteine–sodium hydroxide method, and subsequently inoculated onto Lowenstein–Jensen media. Characteristic growth was biochemically identified as TB bacillus. Drug sensitivity assessment to first-line anti-TB drugs was performed by proportion method and sensitivity patterns noted. Results Among 103 specimens received, 23 showed acid-fast bacilli. Male to female ratio was 3 : 2. Fourteen (13.6%) pure isolates of Mycobacterium spp. were obtained. Biochemically 10 isolates were confirmed as M. tuberculosis. Drug sensitivity profile revealed highest mono resistance to isoniazid and streptomycin. Two (20%) isolates were MDR. Conclusion The study gives a brief overview of the menace of TB in Meghalaya. The study results provide valuable information about presence of primary MDR-TB and provide basis for future larger field surveys

<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">Common bean (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Phaseolus vulgaris </i>L<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">., </i>Fabaceae), landraces of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Lushai</i> hills in India: Nutrients and antioxidants source for the farmers</span>

313-320<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN">Incredible diversity is found in the pod and seed morphology of the climbing type common bean landraces of Lushai hills of Mizoram, India. Twenty three such pole-type common bean landraces, consumed locally for seeds and pods, were collected from different districts of Lushai hills during 2008-13. Seeds were multiplied and evaluated for nutrients and antioxidant diversity. A significant diversity was found for seed N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, ash content, total phenol, <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN">diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and azinobisethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN">Correlation analysis indicated numerous significant positive and negative correlations among nutrients. Principle component analysis (PCA) assessed the patterns of variation by taking all the nutrients variables together. The first four PCs accounted for 74% of the total variation. PC1 (26%) and PC2 (21%) showed the highest variability among all the PCs. Landraces MZFB-47, MZFB-41, MZFB-83, MZFB-116, MZFB-52, MZFB-28, MZFB-116 and MZFB-85 were found to be the most promising ones with highest N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and ash content while, total phenol, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were found maximum in MZFB-97. The study generated information about the nutritional importance of this precious, yet unstudied diversity of landraces which can be conserved, promoted and utilized for selecting and improving superior nutritious common bean lines. </span