Hunchback with “S” Shape Spine: Cadaveric Case series

Introduction: Kyphosis is a sharp posterior angulation due to localized collapse or wedging of one or more vertebrae and scoliosis is the lateral curvature of the spine. These may occur due to a congenital defect, fracture, and sometimes pathological or spinal tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: During routine cadaver dissection, four cases of kyphoscoliosis were identified. In the first case, a protrusion on the posterior surface of the trunk of the cadaver at L1 level was observed in a 60- year-old male. The lungs were collapsed and adherent with the pleura and thoracic wall. The posterior wall of the stomach was adherent to the pancreas and a depression was noted on the anterior surface of abdominal aorta. The T12 and L1 vertebrae were fused, and the spine was deviated to the left side. The anterior aspect of the body of L1 vertebrae was marginally eroded. The second case of kyphoscoliosis was from 80-year-old female cadaver. The descending and abdominal aorta had an abnormal course along the vertebral column, third and fourth cases were observed with slight protrusion and scoliosis but not much changes in the vertebral column. Results: The cause of the deformity was confirmed by pathological examination of the tissues showed inter vertebral disc degeneration with calcification and ossification and osteopenia. The underlying etiology can be tuberculosis, injuries, or infections. Conclusion: Severe kyphoscoliosis can affect wide range of systems in the body. It will affect not only the respiratory system also pressure on great vessels as a consequence of bony deformity.

Population structure and diversity assessment of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) introduction from ICARDA

This study was undertaken to measure the genetic diversity and population structure of 48 barley accessions introduced from ICARDA using 51 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to select unique parents for breeding. The mean polymorphic information content was 0.491, suggesting high polymorphism for the selected SSR markers among the barley accessions. The population structure indicated a fine genetic base only with two major clusters. All accessions had 100% membership probability in their respective clusters. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that most (78%) of the variation was attributed between populations, while 22% was due to variation among individuals within populations. Neighbour-joining (NJ) tree was constructed using this distance matrix and two major clusters were observed in it. Cluster 1 had all hulled barley accessions and cluster 2 had all hulless barley accessions. Cluster 2 could be further divided into three subclusters. Principal coordinates analysis results were similar to the NJ tree, where the hulled and hulless barley accessions were grouped into separate clusters. This study established the existence of considerable genetic diversity among the 48 tested accessions. The selected genetic resources will be useful for barley breeding in India and other countries.

Development of OMP based indirect ELISA to gauge the antibody titers in bovines against Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida [P. multocida] is an important pathogen of various domestic animals. The outer membrane proteins [OMPs] play a major role in pathogenesis and immunogenicity of P. multocida. The aim of the study was to develop indirect enzyme linked immuno sorbant assay [ELISA] based on OMPs to ascertain the antibody titers in animals post-infection or to gauge the potency of vaccine. The OMPs were extracted and purified from P. multocida P: 52 [vaccine strain] and P. multocida B: 2 isolated from natural outbreak of Haemorrhagic septicaemia [HS] and analyzed on SDS PAGE and through western blot. The OMPs profile of the vaccine strain and the isolate from the natural outbreak of HS were found to be similar. Optimization of various components viz. coating antigens, anti-species conjugate, etc. were carried out against both anti-P. multocida hyper immune and pre immune serum. Validation of OMP based indirect ELISA assay to measure immune response against P. multocida in bovine revealed 91% diagnostic sensitivity [DSN] and about 100% diagnostic specificity [DSP] at 25% cut off. OMP based indirect ELISA was found to be more specific, but less sensitive as compared to WCL based assay

Aero-bacteriological study of vegetables market at Jabalpur

Urban and rural vegetable markets of India characterized by mass activity with a little sanitary measure are responsible for generation of higher quantity of aerosols containing biotic and abiotic components. The aerosols generated in due course of mechanical disturbance, contain many organic compounds enable to sensitize vital respiratory organs of local inhabitants. Inhalation of airborne microorganisms can expose workers to risks from infection, toxicosis and allergy. The presence of non-spore forming gram-negative bacteria in air due to the mechanical areosolization indicates higher rate of dissemination of pollutants in these occupation associated areas. The present aero-bacteriological investigation included enumeration, identification and numerical analysis of different types of culturable airborne bacteria with inhalable fraction of gram-negative bacteria in the vegetable market of the city of Jabalpur, in order to measure the degree of aerobiopollution for this environment. The aero-bacteriological sampling has been done fortnightly for a period of one year. Samples were cultured based on standard methods. The survey revealed that in this type of atmosphere, environmental factors were responsible for the persistence of airborne bacteria with variable effects. The major contributors for aerosol generation were other mechanical activities, since this site is classified under human activity-enriched and highly trafficked site. The bioload of this atmosphere was recorded as high as 2.9 x 10[3] bacterial carrying particles per cubic meter during winter, dominated by both inhalable and non inhalable fractions of gram-negative bacteria. In summer, soil-borne bacteria were reported dominant in the air. High humidity and low temperature were the major factors for dissemination and distribution of gram-negative bacilli. A regression model with up to 43% variance was prepared in order to predict the bioload for this atmosphere in relation to meteorological parameters

Spectral and Polarographic studies of ternary complexes of copper [II] with amino acids

Ternary complexes [Cu[thr] [hist] [H2O]], [Cu [thr] [val]], [Cu [thr] [alan]], [Cu [thr] [ser]] and [Cu [thr] [gly]] [where thr, hist, val, alan, ser, gly stand for threonine, histidine, valine, alanine, serine, glycine residues respectively] have been isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, infra-red and electronic spectral studies. These studies show the complexes to be of tetragonally distorted octahedral structure. On the basis of the ligand field strength values, v max, the strength of these ligands is in the decreasing order as shown below: hist > val > alan > ser > gly In 0. 1 M aqueous sodium perchlorate medium all of the complexes undergo single step two electron irreversible reduction at the dropping mercury electrode [dme]. From the characteristics of the irreversible waves, the rate constant, Kr, at a certain reference potential, -0.30V vs. SCE, have been calculated. The mechanism of the electro-reduction of these complexes does not change with temperature except that of [Cu [thr] [hist] [H2O]. The values of E1/2 of these complexes shift toward more positive values and Kr values increase with the rise of temperature, showing facile electro-reduction at higher temperatures. A correlation has been made between spectral and polarographic behaviour by comparing the polarographic characteristics [E1/2, Kr etc] with spectral parameters, v max. All of the complexes except [Cu [thr] [gly]] follow the trend that the higher the value of v max, the more negative will be the values of E1/2 and lower the value of Kr. On the basis of micro symmetry D2h and orientation of the depolarizer at the electrode surface, and attempt has also been made to rationalize the data by proposing a mechanism for the electro-reduction of the depolarizer at the electrode surface

Stability constants of the Pb [II] - ethylenediamine-malonic acid system

Overall stability constants of mixed ligand completes formed by Pb [II] with ethylenediamine and malonic acid have been studied polarographically using the method of Schaap and McMastors. Formation of three complex species, [Pb [en] male]], [Pb [en] [malO2][2]- and [Pb [en]2[malo]] arc observed. The free ligand concentration is calculated from the pH and the total amount present, using the dissociation constants of the ligands. The overall formation constants have been evaluated at 25 degree and an ionic strength of 1.5 [KNO[3]]. The equilibrium constants, computed from the effect of the ligand concentrations en half wave potential are correlated and discussed in term of charge neutralization, statistical consideration etc