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Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)], a toxic inorganic pollutant of agriculture soil derived from variousanthropogenic industrial sources, disturbs vegetation and contaminates the food chain. Chromate microbialtoxicity was studied using plant growth-promoting chromate reducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCCP15442 (P15). With a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1,250 µg/ml Cr(VI), the isolate is capable of 98%bioreduction of 100 µg/ml Cr(VI) in 24 hours and 83% of 500 µg/ml Cr(VI) in 72 hours. Additionally, P15shows tolerance to cross heavy metal pollutants (Cd, Pb, and Zn), halotolerance, and the production of plantgrowth-promoting substance, such as indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, and phosphate solubilization in thepresence and absence of Cr(VI). This study also reports that 100 and 250 µg/ml Cr(VI) decreases the productionof IAA, siderophore, and phosphate solubilization without affecting the growth or Cr(VI) bioreduction ability.In Vigna mungo seed bacterization assay, P15 is capable of enhancing root and shoot length in absence ofCr(VI) and reversing toxic effects of 100 µg/ml Cr(VI). No enhancement of plant parameters was observed athigher Cr(VI) concentrations, except reversal of Cr toxicity. These data are indication of the detrimental effectof Cr(VI) pollution on rhizospheric microbial flora associated with plant growth-promoting activities.
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Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a complex procedure which is commonly performed at various centres. It causes considerable amount of pain and discomfort to patients, and various centres have their own protocols regarding its management. Authors aim to study the efficacy of intravenous diclofenac as a premedication to reduce the pain and discomfort during and after ERCP.Methods: This was a randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating 40 patients. The pain and degree of discomfort was investigated using a 4- point ordinal scale questionnaire.Results: The use of intravenous diclofenac as premedication for ERCP significantly reduces pain and discomfort during and after the procedure.Conclusions: Intravenous diclofenac should be used as a premedication for ERCP procedure as it significantly reduces the pain and discomfort during and after the procedure.
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Lipoxygenase (LOX) isozymes free soybean is critical for soy products with reduced off-flavour. In order to develope Lox3 free soybean, routine visual/spectrophotometric methods are performed on half seed for identification and egregation of null Lox3 plants from the population. They are cumbersome in distinguishing heterozygotes from homozygotes, involve the risk of damaging the embryo and delay the development of finished products by one generation. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and sequence tagged sites (STS) markers designed previously from the mutation in Lx3 gene of a triple-null Canadian soybean genotype OX948 could identify seedlings carrying null allele of Lx3 in a population derived from OX948. In the present investigation, the utility of these molecular markers in F2 population derived from a cross between Lox3-null donor genotype PI205085 and Indian soybean cultivar JS335 (Lox3+ve) has been validated. STS marker distinguished the homozygous dominant (Lx3Lx3), homozygous recessive (lx3lx3) and heterozygous (Lx3lx3) plants by generating PCR fragments of 476 bp, 396 bp and both the amplicons, respectively. SNP marker generated amplicon (296 bp) only in null allele carrying plants (Lx3lx3/lx3lx3) plants, and did not amplify homozygous dominant (Lx3Lx3). Using SNP marker, the target plants carrying null allele of Lx3 in F2 population were advanced to F6 generation. Finally, STS marker was employed to identify only homozygous recessive plants (lx3lx3). This resulted in the development of Lox3 free soybean genotypes, which can be used for development of double null (lx1lx1lx3lx3/lx2lx2lx3lx3) or triple null lipoxygenase (lx1lx1lx2lx2lx3lx3) soybean.
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Background: Bio-ethics i.e. health care ethics is a set of moral principles, beliefs and values that guide us in making choices about medical care. This novel study was carried out with an objective of assessment of knowledge regarding the medical ethics among the resident doctors of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla Himachal Pradesh.Methods: This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh among the resident doctors using predesigned, structured, self-administered anonymous close-ended questionnaire. We analyzed the data using Stata software version 12.Results: There were a total of 61 study participants, who consented to participate, of which more than half were females (52.5%). The mean age of the study participants was 28.6±0.63 years. Regarding the source of knowledge about medical ethics most of the study participants had acquired the information during their experience at their workplace (42.6%). A majority of the male participants disagreed that confidentiality while providing the health care services should be abandoned (54.3%). More than 90% of the study participants agreed that incorporation of medical ethics is necessary in undergraduate curriculum.Conclusions: Incorporation of a formal structured teaching on medical ethics in the undergraduate curriculum is the need of the hour. Besides research work, the medical ethics committee in the institution should also act as the guiding hands to address the grievances faced by the doctors during medical practice.
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Background: Suicide is the result of an act deliberately initiated and performed by a person in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome. Suicide attempts are a significant public health problem. The present study aimed to explore the variousclinical characteristics of suicideattempters in a tertiary care hospital of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, a northern state of India.Methods: We conducted a descriptive study among patients with attempted suicide to the department of Psychiatry, Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla. A structured, self-designed interview schedule and short-form revised Eyseneck personality questionnaire-Hindi (EPQRS-H) was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using Epi info software v 7.2.0.Results: There were total 77 participants in the study out of which 44 (57.1%) were females. Mean age (Standard deviation) of participants was 30.8 years (9.9 years). Relationship problems were the most common (48.1%) recent life event followed by health events (28.6%). Depression was found to be the most common diagnosis (62.3%). Pesticide consumption was the method of attempting suicide in 72.7% of females compared to 66.7% of males.Conclusions: Recent major life events especially relationship problems may lead to majority of suicide attempts. There is urgent need to focus on patients suffering from depression by health personnel as well as family members. The sale of the pesticides should be regulated to keep in check the misuse of the same.
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ackground: We compared high doses of sevoflurane with incremental doses of sevoflurane during induction in paediatric patients. Methods: The present prospective, randomized single blind study conducted in the Dept. of Anaesthesiology PGIMS, Rohtak. . A total of 80 patients of either sex and age ( 1-6 yrs) years presenting for elective surgery under general anesthesia were included in the study.Ethical clearance and written informed consent taken for study. . Patients were randomly divided in 2 groups (I and II) of 40 each.Group I patients ) were induced with high dose (8%) sevoflurane whereas group II patients were induced with incremental dose of sevoflurane (1% to 8%). Study parameters (HR, BP, SpO2) were recorded just before starting induction (T0) and at 30 seconds (T1), 60 seconds (T2), loss of eyelash reflex (T3) and after insertion of PLMA (T4). Results: Our primary outcome, time required for induction of anaesthesia in Group I was found to be 60.225 ±4.932 secs and for the Group II it was found to be 84.9± 6.953secs.The difference was highly significant between the two groups (p value = 0.0001). Conclusion: This randomised,blind controlled study suggests that the time for induction of anesthesia could be significantly shortened using sevoflurane with a high concentration primed circuit as compared with incremental induction technique. The effect of both these techniques on haemodynamic parameters was statistically insignificant. Also both the techniques were safe and well tolerated in paediatric patients.
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Perthes is a self-limiting disorder of paediatric hip. The outcome of this disorder is variable. Every aspect of it including, etiology, pathogenesis, pathology, classification, natural course, management and outcome is controversial. There is still no clear guideline for the management of Perthes disease. The aim of treatment is to prevent the head deformity and subsequent secondary osteoarthritis of hip. To maximize the results of containment procedures, measures to unstiffen the hip should be taken. Evidences are there that only a section of involved hips need intervention. Most untreated hips do not require intervention until the age of forty.
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Background & objectives: Injecting drug use is a major route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in India, but there may be other risk factors also. this study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibody in injecting drug users (IDUs) vs. non-IDUs (NIDUs), and to study the risk estimates for HCV seropositivity in the total sample of substance users with regard to various demographic, clinical, behavioural and personality factors. Methods: the IDUs (n = 201) and NIDUs (n = 219) were assessed for demographic, clinical and behavioural information, and were rated on instruments for severity of dependence, risk behaviour and personality profiles. Anti-HCV antibody was tested by ELISA and confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) test. Results: Almost one-third of the IDUs (64 of 201; 31.8%) were positive for anti-HCV antibody, as opposed to only seven (3.2%) of the NIDUs. The four risk factors strongly associated with HCV positivity in multivariate analysis were sharing syringe [Exp(B) 75.04; 95%CI 18.28-307.96; P<0.001], reuse of injection accessories (16.39; 3.51-76.92; P<0.001), blood transfusion (5.88; 1.63-21.23; P=0.007) and IDU status (3.60; 1.26-10.31; P=0.017). Other variables less strongly but significantly associated with HCV positivity were multiple sex partners, opioid dependence, risk behaviour scores, impulsivity, and lower age of onset of drug use. Interpretation & conclusions: Our study showed a high seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibody in IDUs. In the substance users, HCV positivity was significantly and independently associated with several clinical, behavioural, and personality risk factors.
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A new impurity was detected during high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of eslicarbazepine acetate active pharmaceutical ingredient. The structure of unknown impurity was postulated based on liquid chromatography mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization and ion trap analyzer (LC/ESI-IT/MS) analysis. Proposed structure of impurity was unambiguously confirmed by synthesis followed by characterization using 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR), 1H-1H correlation spectro-scopy (COSY) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Based on the spectroscopic and spectrometric data, unknown impurity was characterized as 5-carbamoyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepin-10-yl propionate.
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Genetic elimination of kunitz trypsin inhibitor in soybean seed would obviate the need for boiling required to inactivate the antinutritional factor and therefore economize the soy processing. PI542044, the source of null variant of kunitz trypsin inhibitor gene is being used in the development of kunitz trypsin inhibitor free soybean genotypes in India. Gene specific marker can expedite the genetic elimination of this undesirable trait from popular soybean genotypes. In the present study, we tested the DNA amplification of soybean genotype PI542044 and kunitz trypsin inhibitor null lines derived from this genotype with a gene specific primer developed from the null variant of PI157740. The amplicons so obtained corresponded to the absence of kunitz trypsin inhibitor protein band on 10% polyacrylamide gel. The gene specific marker also amplified the null allele of template DNA of F1, BC1F1 and BC2F1 plants developed during marker assisted introgression of null allele of kunitz trypsin inhibitor into elite soybean cultivar JS97-52. The results presented show the utility of this gene specific marker developed from null allele of kunitz trypsin inhibitor for identification of kunitz trypsin inhibitor free genotypes developed from PI542044, the only source of null variant available in India.
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The use of zolpidem by general practitioners and specialists alike has increased. Earlier, it was considered safe by physicians, i.e. devoid of dependence potential and the risk of serious adverse events. We report 5 patients seen over a 36-month period at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, which highlight the need for caution in the use of this drug.