Decolourization and Detoxification of Azo Dye, Malachite Green by Pseudomonas monteilii Strain RZT1, a Bacterium Isolated from Textile Wastewater

Discharge of textile industrial effluent without proper treatment has become a severe hazard for the animal health and environment worldwide. Therefore, this study was designed to isolate azo dye-degrading bacteria from textile wastewater and evaluate their ability to biodegrade reactive dyes into non-toxic products. The potent bacterial strain which was isolated from textile wastewater was identified as Pseudomonas monteilii strain RZT1 on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence. The isolated bacterial strain exhibited good decolorization ability with yeast extract supplementation as cosubstrate in static conditions for Malachite Green dye. The optimal condition for the decolorization of Malachite Green dye by P. monteilii strain RZT1 were at pH 7.0 and 28癈. Decolorization rates of Malachite Green dye by P. monteilii strain RZT1 were varied with initial dye concentration as follow: 84.8%, 75.4%, 63.4% and 45.5% decolorization for 100ppm, 200ppm, 300ppm and 400ppm initial dye concentration respectively. We investigated the effects of dyes used in the textile industry on the seed germination of Five crops - Rice (Oryza sativa), Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Khesari (Lathyrus sativus), Mustard (Brassica nigra) and Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia). It was found that textile dye Malachite Green had negative effect on seed germination and seedling growth in test cultures. The harmful effects of dye on seed germination and early seedling growth parameters were augmented with increase of dye concentration. Interestingly, treatment of the Malachite Green dye with isolated bacteria reduced the adverse effects of that dye on seed germination and seedling growth. Thus, it indicated the potentiality of P. monteilii strain RZT1 for bioremediation of textile effluents into a non-toxic form for plants.

Reduction of Toxic Effects of Textile Dye, Basic Red-18 on Tilapia Fish by Bioremediation with a Novel Bacterium, Mangrovibacter yixingensis Strain AKS2 Isolated from Textile Wastewater

Due to rapid industrialization and market demand of vibrant textile products, the natural textile dyes have been replaced by the synthetic textile dyes. These synthetic dyes are released in environment with textile wastewater resulting in a major environmental pollution, especially in aquatic ecosystem. Hence, aquatic organisms like fish are highly vulnerable to the pollution caused by dyes of textile wastewater. This study was designed to evaluate the deleterious effects of Basic Red-18 (BR-18) dye on behavior, survivability, haematology and histology of Tilapia fish (Tilapia mossambica) and to minimize these deleterious effects of BR-18 dye by bioremediation with the novel bacteria isolated from textile wastewater. The isolated novel bacteria was identified as Mangrovibacter yixingensis strain AKS2 by 16s rRNA sequencing (Accession no. OM189530). The 30% and 70% mortality rates were observed in fish exposed to commercial BR-18 dye at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm respectively. Interestingly, the mortality rate of fish was decreased significantly to 10% and 20% when fish were exposed to 100 and 200 ppm BR-18 dye respectively after bioremediation with M. yixingensis strain AKS2. Fish exposed to tap water and bioremediated BR-18 dye solution exhibited typical behavioral responses, whereas fish exposed to commercial BR-18 dye solution exhibited anomalous behavior. Fish subjected to commercial BR-18 dye solution displayed decreased RBC, Hb, but increased WBC levels, demonstrating the dye's haemotoxicity. Contrary, no remarkable haematological toxic effect was found when fish were exposed to bioremediated BR-18 dye indicating the non-toxic character of the bioremediated dye metabolites. Similarly, extensive histological abnormalities in the gill, liver, intestinal, stomach, and heart tissues were seen when fish was cultured in commercial BR-18 dye, but the abnormalities were less significant when fish were raised in bioremediated BR-18 dye. Altogether, it can be concluded that BR-18 dye are toxic to fish, but this toxicity can be minimized by bioremediation with M. yixingensis strain AKS2.

New Cholesterol Management Guideline 2013: A Review.

Management of high blood cholesterol is the key point for the treatment and prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). Till 2013, Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) report was the guideline for the physician for blood cholesterol management. The main feature of this guideline was to achieve a particular target cholesterol level by lifestyle modification, dietary changes and lipid-lowering drugs. But the recently released American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines shifted attention to Statin use at high-, moderate- or low-intensity instead of chasing a cholesterol goal. This article reviews the main features of this new guideline comparing to the previous one, where appropriate.

A Case of Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation in a 10 Years Old Boy.

Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM) is a relatively rare congenital pulmonary cystic disease. By ultrasonography prenatal diagnosis can be made and most baby born without complication. Some babies need surgery at the first year of life for recurrent respiratory tract infection. Here a case of CCAM in a 10 year old boy is reported who presented with recurrent respiratory tract infection and underwent surgical resection successfully.

Isozymic variations in specific and nonspecific esterase and its thermostability in silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Esterase isozymic variations were documented in the haemolymph of developed multivoltine and bivoltine silkworm breeds during unfavorable seed crop seasons of May – September using α- and β- napthylacetate separately to identify specific and nonspecific esterase having thermotolerant potentiality. Variations existed in the isozyme pattern with three bands (Est-2, 3 and 4) in pure Nistari race and other developed multivoltine and bivoltine breeds. Est-2 and Est-3 were non-specific esterases as they were observed when both α- and β-napthylacetate was used as substrates separately. Est- 4 band was observed only with α-napthylacetate as substrate and was therefore confirmed to be specific α-esterase band in the haemolymph of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Zymograms showed that the non-specific esterase band (Est-3) with Rf of 0.43 and specific α-esterase band (Est-4) with Rf of 0.32 predominately withstood a temperature of 70 ± 2oC for a duration of 10 min and were confirmed as thermostable esterases in haemolymph of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. This also categorized the presence of thermostable esterases in developed multivoltine and bivoltine breeds of silkworm, even though the qualitative activity was more in the former than the latter. The qualitative presence of thermostable esterases and their activity could be adopted as an indicative biochemical marker in relation to thermotolerance in silkworm.

A Case Report on Unilateral Double Testicles.

A unilateral double testicle is a rare anomaly characterized by migration of one testicle towards the opposite inguinal canal. The commonest erratic development is the more or less incomplete descent of the testicle along the normal route of descent, which is known as cryptorchidism. In ectopia of the testicles, as opposed to cryptorchidism, the displaced testicle does not descend along the usual route but as it migrates downwards it moves into an entirely abnormal position. Usually the migrating testicle remains on its own side of the body but may end up in an unusual position e.g. in the superficial tissue of the inguinal region above the external ring, in the area of the base of the penis, in the upper part of the thigh, in the region of perineum or in the pelvic cavity. In this case, the right and left testicles were found to descend together on the right side, whereas the left side of the scrotum was entirely empty. The case was treated with 'Bilateral Transeptal Subdartos Orchidopexy'. The case reported here is evidently one of extreme rarity as there are about 148 reported cases since the first described by Von Lenhossek in1886.

Leptospirosis and Weil's disease in eastern India.

Leptospirosis is characterised by a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations varying from inapparent infection to fulminant fatal disease. Severe leptospirosis characterised by profound jaundice is referred to as Weil's disease. In the present study 20 patients of leptospirosis, of which 7 belonged to Weil's disease, were diagnosed based on the demonstration of IgM antileptospira antibody and supported by clinical correlation and appropriate biochemical markers. Overall, the male and female ratio was 17:3 and the same ratio for the Weil's disease was 6:1. The most common presentation involved fever, malaise and myalgia. Conjunctival congestion was found in 75% of the cases and jaundice was encountered in 90% of the cases. The prognosis of all these patients, including that of Weil's disease was excellent. Early recognition and initiation of antibiotic therapy were found to be important.

A study of relapse after MDT in a district in West Bengal, India.

A study was undertaken to estimate the magnitude of the problem of relapse and to identify factors responsible for relapse in leprosy units that were delivering MDT in Purulia District of West Bengal. From records patients were classified as "Relapse" or "Not relapse". "Not relapse" patients were selected by simple random sampling from the Surveillance Register and were matched according to age, sex, and the leprosy control unit. 128 cases ("Relapse") and 128 controls ("Not relapse") were interviewed in the clinic using a pre-tested questionnaire. Details of methods to identify and confirm relapse were circulated to all reporting units for ensuring uniformity and reliability. NGOs covered 42% of the population, while the State Government covered the remaining. The patients had been followed up after completion of treatment for a period of two years in PB leprosy and for five years in MB leprosy. The study revealed that the relapse rate was 1.71/1000 person-years for original PB cases and 0.76/1000 person-years for original MB cases. The study also showed that history of contact with an active leprosy patient and irregular treatment led more PB cases to relapse than control cases. All patients with an initial BI of 3+ relapsed with a BI of 1+ or 2+.

Impact of modified leprosy elimination campaign in a MDT pilot project district of India.

A study was carried out based upon the data available from National Leprosy Eradication Program of Purulia district in West Bengal. The result showed that the disease was in a declining trend up to the year 1998 and was inclining during the year 1998-1999 due to more case detection through MLEC-I, then followed by declining trend during the year 2000 as it was observed by MLEC-II. Single skin lesion rate was higher, MB rate was same and reduced deformity rate indicates early detection of cases due to better awareness of the community about the disease.

Double pylorus.

We report a 55-year-old man presenting with postprandial epigastric pain and vomiting. Barium meal study suggested two openings from the stomach to the duodenum. Endoscopy revealed double pylorus with chronic duodenal ulcer, suggesting the second opening as an acquired one.

Fibrothorax--problem, profile and prevention.

Fibrothorax is a common clinical condition found in everyday clinical practice. The clinical horizon of fibrothorax can be differentiated into pleural and lung parenchymal fibrosis. The two groups can be differentiated clinically and also by investigations. A thorough understanding of the process gives one better knowledge as to their different aetiologies, presentations and prognoses. The nature of prevention of this meance varies in these types. Patient's drug compliance status is important in preventing primary lung parenchymal fibrosis whereas physician's adequate care for pleural drainage is important in the prevention of pleural fibrosis. In this prospective study, observations were made on (1) the clinical presentation of 100 cases of fibrothorax and its relation to the primary disease, (2) aetiological distribution of the cases of fibrothorax and (3) scope of prevention, if any.

Smoking habits and respiratory symptoms: observations among college students and professionals.

The study comprising smoking habits among educationally and socially forward class, its impact on respiratory system and response of the said class of people to a questionnaire was undertaken among a random sample of 1188 subjects consisting of students and professionals aged between 15 and 65 years. Results showed that smoking habit was alarmingly high (48.8%) among the students and a little higher (53%) among the professionals. The exact nature and extent of the problem of smoking was not very much clear to all the subjects.

Hypertensive primary intraventricular haemorrhage.

A case of hypertensive primary intraventricular haemorrhage is reported. The patient recovered with conservative management. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous report of this rare entity in Indian literature.

Birth weight, length, head and chest circumference and haemoglobin level of new born.

The birth weight, length, head and chest circumference and haemoglobin level of 1002 full term new born babies (506 males and 496 females) were determined. The results were compared with similar data from other countries. The birth weight of the present series of newborns were similar to those of newborns from India, the crown-heel length agreed favourably with the data from India and Indonesia, and the head circumference were almost equal to those of the newborns from Sri Lanka, Jamaica and India.