Thoracic Spine Stenosis: Does Ultrasonic Osteotome Improve Outcome in Comparison to Conventional Technique?

@#Introduction: To investigate the efficacy of Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel (UBS) in thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS) in comparison to traditional technique. Materials and methods: A total of 55 patients who had undergone conventional surgery (Group A) are compared with 45 patients of UBS (Group B) in TSS. The primary outcome measure of Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (m JOA) with neurological complications and dural injury were assessed. Secondary outcome measures of total blood loss (TBL), time duration of surgery (ORT) and length of hospital stay (LHS) were analysed. Results: The pre-operative mJOA score 5.00(4.00-6.00) in the group A and 5.00(4.00-6.00) in the group B improved to 7.00(7.00-8.00) in the group A and 9.00(9.00-10.00) in the group B, respectively (P<0.001) at final average follow-up of 117.55 months for group A and 75.69 months in group B. More significant grade of myelopathy improvement and mJOA recovery rate (RR) were noted in group B. The TBL, ORT and LHS were more favourable in group B as compared to group A (p<0.0001). The group A had 9 (16.36%) neurological deficits compared to 2 (4.44%) in group B (p<0.001). Dural tears occurred in both groups (A=11, B=9). It was more frequent and not repairable in group A but without significant statistical difference. Conclusions: UBS can reduce neurological deficits and improve outcomes in TSS. Secondarily, reduced blood loss, lesser surgical time and reduced LHS are significant added advantages of this new technology.

Disseminated staphylococcal infection in an immunocompetent adult: A case report

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Septic pulmonary embolism is an uncommon disorder in which septic thrombi are mobilized from an infectious nidus and transported in the vascular system of the lungs. We report a case of a 52-year-old immunocompetent female who suffered from septic pulmonary embolism associated with polymyositis, deep venous thrombosis and pericardial effusion. Oxacillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was isolated from her sputum. Clinical presentation improved after incision of the muscle abscess and vancomycin treatment.</p>

The Surgical Management of Dermato Fibro Sarcoma Protuberance.

Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance is relatively uncommon low to intermediate grade malignant neoplasm with characteristic cytogenetic features. It constitutes less than 0.1% of all malignant neoplasms. Although metastasized rarely, it is locally aggressive tumour with high recurrence rate. It is a one of the rare type of law grade sarcomas that occur s anywhere in the body, usually arise from trunks and extremities. It rarely arises from abdominal wall. Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to study the outcome of surgical treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance. Methods: This study included 4 patients all retrospective and prospective from September 2008 to December 2013. They were subjected to detailed history taking and examination with relevant investigations and were subjected to surgery. They were followed up for at least 36-month period to assess for any recurrence. Results and Interpretation: Out of 4 patients, all were males. Mean age of presentation was 32 years. Site distribution was 25% trunk, 50% extremities and 25% neck. All patients underwent wide local excision. At the end of follow-up period of up to 3 years after surgery Overall recurrence rate was nil. Because of the potential of local recurrence, therapy for DFSP should be directed toward adequate local excision of the primary lesion. Minimal resection should include a surrounding margin, comprising 3-cm margin of normal skin and removal of underlying deep fascia. Compromising on margins invites higher chances of local recurrence. Conclusion: DFSP behaves like a locally infiltrating neoplasm. Despite their locally aggressive behaviour, distant metastasis occurs with extreme rarity. Because of this, it is reasonable that therapy should be directed towards adequate local excision of the primary lesion. Compromising on margins always invites higher chances of local recurrence.

Siderophores of halophilic archaea and their chemical characterization.

Nine halophilic archaea viz., Halobacterium salinarum, Halobacterium sp.1, Halobacterium sp.2, Halobaculum sp., Halococcus saccharolyticus, Halorubrum saccharovorum, Haloterrigena turkmenica, Halogeometricum sp. and Natrialba sp. isolated from marine salterns around Bhavnagar coast were screened for siderophore production. Five isolates viz., Halococcus saccharolyticus, Halorubrum saccharovorum, Haloterrigena turkmenica, Halogeometricum sp. and Natrialba sp. produced siderophores as evidenced by positive reaction in FeCl3 test, CAS assay and CAS agar plate test. Determination of chemical nature of siderophores by chemical assays and bioassays identified them as carboxylates. Quantification of siderophores indicated Halorubrum saccharovorum to be the maximum siderophore producer (2.62 RE mg/ml) and Halococcus saccharolyticus to be the least (1.33 RE mg/ml). The present study is the first report on siderophore production in Indian haloarchaeal strains. Mechanism of iron assimilation in four non-siderophore isolates still needs to be investigated further.

Chemical properties and NMR spectroscopic identification of certain fungal siderophores.

Siderophores of six fungi viz. Aspergillus sp. ABp4, Aureobacidium pullulans, Penicillium oxalicum, P. chrysosporium, Mycotypha africana and Syncephalastrum racemosum were examined for their (1) electrophoretic mobilities to determine the acidic, basic or neutral charge; (2) Fe (III) binding nature viz., mono-, di-, or trihydroxamate; (3) amino acid composition; and (4) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy to determine their structure. Electrophoretic mobilities of siderophores of 3 fungi (P. oxalicum, P. chrysosporium, and M, africana) exhibited net basic charge, siderophores of 2 fungi (Aspergillus sp. ABp4 and S. racemosum) were acidic and 1 fungus (A. pullullans) was neutral. Electrophoresis of ferrated siderophore at pH 2 and colour of the spots indicated that siderophores of Aspergillus sp. ABp4 and P. oxalicum and A. pullulans were trihydroxamates, whereas siderophore of P. chrysosporium was dihydroxamate. Amino acid composition of siderophores purified by XAD-2 column chromatography, revealed the presence of asparagine, histidine, and proline in Aspergillus sp. ABp4, serine and alanine in P. chrysosporium, and valine in M. africana. The structure of purified siderophores as revealed by NMR spectroscopy identified siderophore of AB - 2670 (A. pullulans) as asperchrome F1, and AB-513 (M. africana) as rhizoferrin. The peak obtained for siderophore AB-5 (Aspergillus sp. ABp4) did not show resemblance to any known siderophore, therefore may be an exception.

Ferric reductase, superoxide dismutase and alkaline phosphatase activities in siderophore producing fungi.

Enzymes associated with release of iron from internalized ferrated siderophore (ferrisiderophore reductase), with damage to the cell at high iron concentration (superoxide dismutase) and siderophore synthesis (alkaline phosphatase), were examined in 3 test fungi viz., Aspergillus sp. ABp4, Aureobasidium pullulans and Rhizopus sp. Extracellular ferrisiderophore reductase activity was present in all the three fungi, but Aureobasidium pullulans, that showed the highest activity (84.3 microM min(-1)), was the only one to produce intra-cellular ferric reductase (147.9 microM min(-1)). Superoxide dismutase was produced by Aureobasidium pullulans and Rhizopus sp., but not by Aspergillus sp. ABp4, that showed intra-cellular enzyme activity in case of ferric reductase and alkaline phosphatase. Maximum SOD activity was seen in Aureobasidium pullulans both extra-cellularly (93.83 ng ml(-1)) and intra-cellularly (57.14 ng ml(-1)). All the test fungi examined, produced intra-cellular alkaline phosphatase. There was no extracellular alkaline phosphatase. Among the three fungi, Aureobasidium pullulans showed highest alkaline phosphatase activity (129.9 microM min(-1)) and Aspergillus sp. ABp4 the least (76.4 microM min(-1)).

Chemical nature, ligand denticity and quantification of fungal siderophores.

Thirtyfive siderophore producing fungi were categorized for their hydroxamate, catecholate or carboxylate nature by chemical and bioassays. Out of 35 fungi, 30 were hydroxamates and 5 showed carboxylate nature. However, none of the fungi produced catecholate type of siderophores. Eighteen out of 29 fungi were trihydroxamate and the rest 11 fungi were dihydroxamates. Twenty-three fungi were hexadentate and 6 were tetradentate in nature. Quantification of siderophores using standard compounds deferrioxamine mesylate and rhizoferrin revealed that Phanerochaete chrysosporium produced maximum among the hydroxamate producing fungi and Mycotypha africana resulted maximum among the carboxylate producing fungi.

Siderophore production by fluorescent pseudomonads colonizing roots of certain crop plants.

Twelve fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates colonizing roots of four crop plants, chilli, cotton, groundnut and soybean, were examined for extracellular siderophore production in different media under iron deficient conditions. While all the organisms produced siderophores, they varied in the quantity of siderophores produced and in their preference to the medium. The siderophores were invariably hydroxamates (pyoverdine) of trihydroxamate type which formed bidentate ligands with Fe III ions.

Regulation of siderophore production by iron Fe(III) in certain fungi and fluorescent pseudomonads.

Regulation of siderophore production in response to iron concentration in the medium was examined. Threshold concentration was recorded for twenty fungi and three rhizobacterial pseudomonads. Organisms showed difference in threshold values at which they stopped siderophore elaboration. In nine fungi (3 aspergilli, 1 penicillium, N. crassa, F. dimerum and 3 mucors) siderophore production was repressed at 3 microM Fe(III). Siderophore production was repressed at 27 microM of Fe (III) in 3 aspergilli, 2 penicillia and 3 pseudomonads. Rest of the fungi had cut off values at 6, 9, 15, 21 microM of Fe(III) concentration.

Chemical characterization of fungal siderophores.

Siderophores of twenty fungi belonging to Zygomycotina (5 Mucorales), Ascomycotina (7 aspergilli, 6 penicillia, Neurospora crassa) and Deuteromycotina (Fusarium dimerum) were examined for their chemical nature. Siderophores produced by fungi other than Mucorales were all hydroxamates. Mucorales produced carboxylate siderophores. Catecholate type of siderophores were not detectable. Hydroxamate siderophores were mostly (9 out of 15) trihydroxamates, while six were dihydroxamates. Monohydroxamate nature was not shown by any of the 15 test fungal siderophores. In ligand properties, 12 out of 15 hydroxamate siderophores formed hexadentate ligands, while two formed tetradentates and one bidentate. There was good correlation between number of hydroxamate groups and ligand property.

Altered kinetic properties of rat heart mitochondrial enzymes following experimental-thyrotoxicosis.

Effects of T3- and T4-induced thyrotoxicosis on temperature-dependent Arrhenius kinetics of succinate oxidase and Mg2+- and Mg2+ + 2,4-dinitrophenoldependent ATPase activities in rat heart mitochondria were examined, For succinate oxidase system, treatment with T3 and T4 caused increase in the energy of activation in high temperature range in a dose-dependent manner. For low temperature range, increase in energy of activation was apparent only with higher doses of the hormones; with low doses a small but reproducible decrease was evinced. The phase transition temperature decreased significantly under these conditions. For the Mg2+- and Mg2++2,4-dintrophenol- dependent-ATPase activities, the activation energy values in high temperature range decreased in general. Activation energy values in low temperature range recorded a generalized increase in the Mg2+-ATPase enzyme system while the value did not change significantly for the Mg2+ + 2,4-dinitrophenol-ATPase; phase transition temperature registered a small but reproducible decrease under these conditions. The results are suggestive of increased membrane fluidization possibly through increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. The differential effects seen for succinate oxidase and ATPase systems are consistent with different lipid protein domains of these enzyme systems.

An in vitro assessment of the genotoxic potential of pan masalas.

An aqueous extract of pan masala was tested for its in vitro effects on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by utilizing parameters like sister chromatid exchange (SCE), cellular kinetics and chromosome aberration (CA) assay. The cytogenetic damage brought about by the extract was dose dependent. The increase in SCE values was highly significant (P less than 0.001) for all the three concentrations tested. The treatment delayed the cell cycle progression. Frequencies of chromosome aberrations were elevated for all the concentrations utilized, however, a significant rise was obtained only at the highest concentration of 50 microliters/ml.

Acute pancreatitis and reduction of H+ ion concentration in gastric secretions in experimental acute myocarditis produced by Indian red scorpion, Buthus tamulus, venom.

Crude venom (4 mg/kg) of scorpion (B. tamulus) was given in saline to anaesthetized dogs and rabbits. It produced a reduction in gastric H+ ion concentration in dogs with acute myocarditis. Simultaneously an increase in circulating amylase and lipase level was also observed. However 60% venom poisoned rabbits showed an elevated lipase level without a parallel increase in amylase. It is suggested that the venom acts directly on exocrine pancreas to cause acute pancreatitis.