ABSTRACT
Background & objective: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease associated with potentially fatal consequences and a grossly underreported disease in Uttar Pradesh. However, only a few studies are available which report the prevalence of leptospirosis in this State. Hence, this study was undertaken to know the status of the disease in central and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Methods: A total of 143 serum and urine samples were collected from patients with acute febrile illness from July 2017 to March 2019. All the serum samples were tested for Leptospira by rapid IgM antibody card and IgM ELISA and urine samples were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect Leptospira DNA. All positive and 10 per cent negative sera from ELISA and RT-PCR (all rapid test positive were also ELISA positive) were sent to the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair for microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Results: Thirty eight (26.6%) out of 143 samples were positive for leptospirosis either by ELISA or RT-PCR. Positive results were eight (6%) by Rapid card, 32 (22%) by IgM ELISA, 10 (7%) by MAT, 10 (7%) by RT-PCR. In MAT, the most common serovar was Lai followed by Hebdomadis, Bangkinang and Pomona. Interpretation & conclusions: Leptospirosis was found to be one of the important causes for acute febrile illness in the central and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. The results of the present study suggest that it is necessary to increase diagnostic facility and awareness in clinicians for the screening of leptospirosis in acutely febrile patients to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of various lifestyle-related diseases, including malignancies. The body naturally produces antioxidants as a means of defending itself against these free radicals which neutralize them, thereby rendering them harmless to other cells. There is a close relation between oxidative stress and all aspects of cancer, from carcinogenesis to the tumor-bearing state, from treatment to its prevention. Aim: The present study was aimed to estimate the plasma levels of antioxidant enzymes and molecules in cases of oral lesion patients. Study Design and Methodology: A case control study was designed in Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow campus. A total of fifty histopathologically proven oral lesion cases (leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus and oral submucous fibrosis patients) were taken for the study. Their blood samples were collected and plasma was subjected to evaluation of oxidative stress markers. Control group consisted of equal number of healthy subjects. The data is expressed as mean±SD. Student -t test was applied for significance of the biochemical parameters. Results: The results have demonstrated that levels of catalase, myeloperoxidase, reduced glutathione glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase are decreased whereas those of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide have increased in the oral lesions patient group as compared to controls. Conclusion: Oxidative stress has been shown to be an important indicator in case of oral cancer. Similar findings in pre-malignant oral lesions can be correlated in establishing the role of oxidative stress in initiation and conversion of premalignant lesions into malignant ones.
ABSTRACT
Background: Lipase enzyme has wide application in industries, particularly food and detergent, but high production cost has always limited its use. Extensive studies are underway on production of high quality and low cost lipase enzyme in large amounts, for which microbial sources have been found to be the best. Aim: To estimate the potential of oil cakes for bacterial lipase production. Methodology: By-products of different oil seeds viz. neem, sesame, flax, mustard, coconut, castor, and groundnut were used for the preparation of fermentation media to culture lipolytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Optimization of growth condition was done with respect to different parameters such as fermentation time, nitrogen supplements, carbon additives, and lipid sources. Results: A good lipolytic P. aeruginosa JCM5962 (T) strain was isolated from soil of sugarcane field. Results of the study showed that coconut, sesame, neem, flax and mustard oilcakes induced good lipolytic activity from bacteria. Negligible lipase activity was obtained when organism was cultured in castor and groundnut oilcake medium. 1% ammonium nitrate as an additional nitrogen supplement was found to be ideal parameter for improved production. Conclusion: According to present work, lipases could be economically produced by P. aeruginosa using low cost oil cakes as potent substrate for fermentation medium.