In vitro evaluation of probiotic and bacteriocinogenic potentiality of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii isolated from vegetables in Chittagong region, Bangladesh

Aims@#Reducing indiscriminate and over use of antibiotics and chemical preservatives, finding better probiotics and new bacteriocins should get paramount importance which will eventually contribute to save lives of newborn to elderly. Some probiotic Lactobacillus produces bacteriocins or bacteriocin-like-substances (BLS) which may be considered as candidates for biopreservatives. The aims of this study was to find probiotic Lactobacillus and assessing their bacteriocinogenic activity. @*Methodology and results@#Five vegetables were processed and isolated 38 Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by using De Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) medium. Among 38 LAB, only 8 (21%) showed potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhii in agar well diffusion method. Finally, we selected two Lactobacillus species such as Lactobacillus plantarum MG1 and L. delbrueckii MT4 for further in vitro testing. Both isolates showed growth capability at wide range of temperatures (27-45 °C), pH (2-9), NaCl (1-7%), bile salt (0.5-2%) and could produce bacteriocin or BLS; which indicated they have potentiality to be probiotic. Bacteriocin or BLS produced by L. plantarum inhibited E. coli and S. Typhii whereas bacteriocin or BLS of L. delbrueckii inhibited S. aureus, E. coli and S. Typhi. These crude bacteriocin or BLS reduced initial bacterial load of vegetables up to 79% after 48 h while 5% of its mixed with vegetables in room temperature. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#The study showed that our isolated L. plantarum and L. delbrueckii could be used as probiotic to improve public health and their bacteriocin or BLS could be used as biopreservatives.

Cloning, expression and functional characterization of in-house prepared human basic fibroblast growth factor

Human basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] plays an important role in cellular proliferation, embryonic development, and angiogenesis as well as in several signaling pathways of various cell types. bFGF is an essential growth factor for the maintenance of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells [hESCs] and human induced pluripotent stem cells [hiPSCs]. In this experimental study, we present a straightforward method to produce biologically active recombinant human bFGF protein in E. coli that has long-term storage ability. This procedure provides a rapid, cost effective purification of a soluble human bFGF protein that is biologically active and functional as measured in hESCs and hiPSCs in vitro and in vivo. The results show no significant difference in function between our in-house produced and commercialized bFGF

Developmental severe macroglossia. management and surgical treatment of a difficult case

Presented an extremely rare case of developmental Macroglassia in a female child with significant functional and cosmetic symptoms. The condition was worsening progressively despite persistent conservative treatment necessitating surgical management. Severe macroglassia is a rare condition, usually presents as an enlarged tongue causing not only the functional symptoms like airway, speech or dietary difficulties but also presents cosmetic and social issues. Such lesions are rare but well documented in the medical literature. Our case is a female patient who was asymptomatic by birth and thereafter, but started to have progressive increase in her tongue size at the age of two, with obstructive symptoms. The patient was initially treated by conservative therapy and other alternative minimally invasive modalities of treatment. After no significant improvement over a period of almost two years, the size kept on increasing and ultimately the massive size, the cosmetic and social stress necessitates the surgical option. The macroglossia was treated successfully by surgical excision relieving all the symptoms. Different aetiologies of the condition have been mentioned in the medical literature. The treatment depends on the diagnosis, the size, the location of the tongue involved and the symptoms caused by them. If the tongue is massively enlarged and the conservative treatment fails, the surgical excision is one of the best recommended treatment options

experience of day care surgery in general surgical unit at people's medical college hospital, Nawabshah

To determine the feasibility of surgical procedures performed as 'day care cases' and their complications. An observational prospective study was conducted in the Department of surgery unit-Il, People' Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah from January 2002 to December 2007. A total of 1440 patients had undergone day care surgery During a period of 05 years. Surgery was carried out under local anaesthesia, local anaesthesia and sedation, regional Anaesthesia and general anaesthesia in children. Excision of skin and subcutaneous lesions were the commonest procedures performed [40%]. Complications Were observed of less significant. The hospitalization rate was [4%], which was unplanned. Significant number of elective procedures, minor and medium, can be performed as 'day care cases'. This does reduce the hospital admission burden

Variability in lipid profile before and after coronary artery bypass grafting [CCABG]

To investigate changes in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, high density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and triglycerides in serum of Pakistani patients before, immediately after and 5 days post CABG. Serum samples from 31 consecutive Pakistani angina patients undergoing CABG at the Aga Khan University Hospital were analyzed for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides using kit methods. Immediately after CABG, there is a significant decline in the mean levels of serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. However, 5 days post CABG, there is a significant increase in the concentrations of total cholesterol [P=0.01] and LDL cholesterol [P=0.001] in nondiabetic angina patients [n=13]. Among the diabetic group of patients [n=18], the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides went back to the pre-operative levels within 5 days post CABG. Compared to European patients, Pakistani patients tend to have very low levels of HDL cholesterol [24.9 +/- 7.1mg/dl] and high levels of triglycerides [185 +/- 50 mg/dl] on day 5 post CABG. Since risk of mortality following CABG increases with low level of HDL cholesterol and high level of triglycerides, close monitoring and treatment of high lipid levels of Pakistani patients following CABG is necessary to prevent further coronary events

Diathermy tonsillectomy vs conventional dissection tonsillectomy

To compare the conventional method of tonsillectomy, the dissection snare method with that of the newer procedure, bipolar electrodissection method. We studied 200 cases in two groups, hundred in each. In the first group the patients underwent tonsillectomy by dissection-snare method and in the second by electrodissection method. The results of the two groups were studied regarding the time taken in the procedure, blood loss during the procedure, postoperative analgesia required, reactionary hemorrhage, postoperative diet toleration and secondary hemorrhage. The average operation time was 14.2 minutes for diathermy group and 35 minutes for the dissection-snare group. Regarding the postoperative diet taken and reactionary heamorrhage the bipolar diathermy method is better, but there is no significant difference regarding the postoperative analgesia, postoperative pain and secondary hemorrhage. We concluded that bipolar electrodissection [diathermy] method is the superior method regarding the time taken during the procedure, the intra operative blood loss was lower and there was no need of ties [ligating the bleeding vessels] in the diathermy method