Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis in an elderly - A case report

Community-acquired meningitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is rare and has a very high mortality rate. We describe the case of a 74-year-old well-controlled diabetic female who spontaneously developed Pseudomonas meningitis causing altered sensorium, confusion, and irritability. Cerebrospinal fluid grew P. aeruginosa sensitive only to meropenem. Blood cultures were sterile. Noncontrast computed tomography of the brain showed age-related cortical atrophy. The patient responded well to 15 days of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy with intravenous meropenem and levofloxacin. This is the first reported case of spontaneous community-acquired P. aeruginosa meningitis in a patient with no history of head trauma, neurosurgery, or lumbar spinal puncture

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) mediated suppression of IL-12 production in RAW 264.7 cells also involves c-rel transcription factor

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is known to inhibit IL-12 production in macrophages primarily at the transcriptional level with the involvement of p50 and p65 nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB). We demonstrate that the c-rel transcription factor also plays a major role in IL-10-mediated IL-12 suppression. Treatment of macrophages with recombinant IL-10 inhibited nuclear c-rel levels, whereas addition of neutralizing anti-IL-10 antibody up-regulated both nuclear c-rel levels and IL-12 production by macrophages. Decreased nuclear c-rel was associated with a reduction in phosphorylation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IkBα ) in the cytoplasm, indicating that IL-10 prevents degradation of IkBα and the subsequent translocation of c-rel into the nucleus. Treatment with leptomycin B, a known inhibitor of c-rel at a concentration of 10 nm, when used with anti-IL-10 antibody, resulted in reduced expression of IL-12. In a complementary experiment, in vitro transient expression of p65 NF-kB could not rescue the inhibitory effect of IL-10 on IL-12 production, suggesting that NF-kB alone was not sufficient to restore IL-12 production during IL-10 treatment. However, over-expression of c-rel resulted in IL-12 restoration upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-γ - during IL-10 treatment. Our studies highlight the involvement of c-rel in IL-10-mediated IL-12 regulation

PE11, a PE/PPE family protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is involved in cell wall remodeling and virulence

The role of the unique proline-glutamic acid (PE)/proline-proline-glutamic acid (PPE) family of proteins in the pathophysiology and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not clearly understood. One of the PE family proteins, PE11 (LipX or Rv1169c), specific to pathogenic mycobacteria is found to be over-expressed during infection of macrophages and in active TB patients. In this study, we report that M. smegmatis expressing PE11 (Msmeg-PE11) exhibited altered colony morphology and cell wall lipid composition leading to a marked increase in resistance against various environmental stressors and antibiotics. The cell envelope of Msmeg-PE11 also had greater amount of glycolipids and polar lipids. Msmeg-PE11 was found to have better survival rate in infected macrophages. Mice infected with Msmeg-PE11 had higher bacterial load, showed exacerbated organ pathology and mortality. The liver and lung of Msmeg-PE11-infected mice also had higher levels of IL-10, IL-4 and TNF-α cytokines, indicating a potential role of this protein in mycobacterial virulence

Ergonomic Issues in Academic Libraries in Kolkata, West Bengal: A Pilot Study

This study assessed ergonomic issues including shelving, storage capacity, environmental conditions (illumination level, sound level, temperature, relative humidity), and fire safety. The study was conducted on nine departmental libraries of a prominent academic institution in Calcutta. Results indicate that current shelving uses nearly all available space. The illumination levels of different sections of all the libraries were much lower than that of the recommended standard illumination level. Noise level, temperature, and humidity of all the libraries were more or less on par with the recommended values. The fire safety assessment showed insufficient fire protection in all libraries

Neuropharmacological properties of Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae)

Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae), known as climbing hemp weed in English, is a herbaceous climbing vine grown as a weed throughout the plains of the Indian subcontinent. The present study evaluated some neuropharmacological properties of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts from M. scandens (HAMS) in experimental animal models. HAMS (at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) was evaluated for central antinociceptive activity by tail flick method. Locomotor depressant activity was measured by means of an actophotometer. Skeletal muscle relaxant effect was evaluated by using rotarod apparatus and sedative potentiating property by phenobarbitone-induced sleep potentiation study. The results of the present study revealed significant (P<0.001) and dose-dependent central antinociceptive, locomotor depressant, muscle relaxant, and sedative potentiating effects of HAMS, demonstrating its depressant action on the central nervous system (CNS). From the present study, it can be concluded that the aerial parts of M. scandens possessed prominent depressant action on the CNS, as manifested by the important neuropharmacological properties in mice

Use of waste plastics and copper slag for low cost bituminous roads

938-944Study presents use of waste plastics and copper slag (CS) in hot bituminous mixes to enhance pavement performance, protect environment and provide low cost roads. Waste plastic modified bitumen (WPMB) has been prepared by adding mixed plastic waste (5%) in shredded form with suitable cross-linking agent in 80/100 bitumen and blended for 1 h at 160°C. Physical properties of WPMB are found within specified limits (IS: 15462-2004). Delhi quartzite aggregate (size, 20 mm, 10 mm), stone dust and lime along with varying concentrations of CS as aggregate filler is taken for preparation of Marshall specimens (60/70 paving bitumen, 80/100 paving bitumen and WPMB). Optimum binder content is achieved at 5.2% (by wt of mix). Marshall specimens are also prepared with composition of CS (10, 15 and 20%) replacing stone dust; CS (15%) has been found best

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects of green tea and black tea: A comparative in vitro study

The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous extracts of green tea and black tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) against the denaturation of protein in vitro. The test extracts at different concentrations were incubated with egg albumin under controlled experimental conditions and subjected to determination of absorbance to assess the anti-inflammatory property. Diclofenac sodium was used as the reference drug. The present results exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of protein (albumin) denaturation by both the tea extracts. From the present findings it can be concluded that both green and black tea leaves possessed a marked anti-inflammatory effect against the denaturation of protein, in vitro. Green tea was found to be more active than black tea, plausibly due to the higher flavonoid contents of green tea