Isolation and identification of acrylamide degrading bacteria from soil.

Acrylamide is an aliphatic amide, which is produced by industrial processes and during heating of food. It is neurotoxic and a suspected carcinogen. In the present study an attempt was made to isolate acrylamide degrading bacteria from soil. The optimum growth conditions and physiological characteristics for the isolated acrylamide degrading bacteria were investigated. The isolated bacterium was identified as Bacillus clausii strain 1779 based on full 16S rRNA molecular phylogeny. The bacteria can degrade 800 mg l-1 acrylamide after eight days of incubation with concomitant cell growth. In addition to above, it also grows optimally at a concentration of acrylamide between 500-2000 mg l-1 between pH 8-10 and temperature and 25 – 45 0C. Thus the isolate would be useful in the bioremediation of environment from acrylamide in alkali conditions.

Evaluation of organochlorine insecticide residue levels in locally marketed vegetables of Jaipur City, Rajasthan, India.

Considerable quantities of organochlorine insecticides are still used worldwide and their persistent residues are widely distributed throughout the environment. Various researchers from different parts of India and abroad have highlighted the extent of pollution caused by these insecticides. In view of the above facts the present study was conducted during 1993-1996 to investigate the magnitude of contamination of organochlorine insecticides in vegetables which were brought for sale to the consumers in the local markets of Jaipur city, Rajasthan, India. Samples of vegetables (potato, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and okra) were collected at beginning, middle and end of the seasons with respect to different vegetables and organochlorine levels were assessed using Gas Liquid Chromatograph (GLC) equipped with Electron Capture Detector (ECD). Most of the collected samples were found to be contaminated with residues of DDT and its metabolites (DDD, DDE) isomers of HCH (alpha,beta and gamma-HCH), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and aldrin. Some of the detected insecticides exceeded the limit of tolerance prescribed by WHO/FAO.

Anti-inflammatory action of steroid inhalers.

With mucosal inflammation contributing to the pathogenesis of asthma, it is increasingly accepted that long term steroid inhalers may induce remission in chronic long standing asthmatics. The present study involved 44 stable asthmatics who were randomly given either beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler (50 ug) 2 puffs qds or salbutamol inhaler (100 mcg) 2 puffs tds in addition to their oral bronchodilators. Pulmonary function testing, bronchoalveolar lavage and complete blood count were done at basal and weekly intervals and at the end of the study. The absolute eosinophil count showed a significant drop in the beclomethasone group as compared to the salbutamol group. Serial lung functions showed a significant improvement in the pre-bronchodilator PEFR and the pre-bronchodilator FVC in the beclomethasone group as compared to the salbutamol group. There was no significant change in the lavage eosinophil count pre and post-bronchodilator in both groups. Steroid inhalers are thus useful in long term management of bronchial asthma especially with respect to reducing bronchodilator requirement.

Assessment of exercise tolerance in chronic bronchitis and interstitial lung disease.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing has a definitive place in objective evaluation of the subjective sensation of breathlessness. In the present study 21 patients with COPD, 10 with ILD and 17 normals were subjected to stage 1 exercise testing and correlations were sought between Vo2 and work, FVC, FeV1, Ve, respiratory rate and tidal volume and between VCO2 and work. In COPD and ILD the Vo2 correlated with work, Fev1, Fvc and Ve whereas in normals it correlated with the VE but not with the FeV1 and FVC. In COPD VO2 correlated with TV though this was not the case in ILD. Thus stage 1 exercise testing can be a useful additional method to assess the disability in COPD and ILD although differentiation between these two respiratory diseases on basis of exercise testing alone may not be possible.