YnfA , a SMR family efflux pump is abundant in Escherichia coli isolates from urinary infection.

A quantitative study was undertaken to determine the expression level of different effl ux pumps in multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolates from urinary infection. We have determined the presence of different effl ux pumps and measured the expression level of tolC, mdfA, norE and ynfA genes among 48 isolates by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression level of tolC and ynfA was constantly high and observed among 75-80% of isolates, whereas mdfA and norE were expressed occasionally. Our fi ndings suggest that ynfA, a new SMR effl ux pump gene family member increases the antibiotics’ resistance in E. coli.

Pattern Of Different Eczema Among Outdoor Patients Attended Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Faridpur, Bangladesh.

Eczematous dermatitis is very common in our country and all over the world. The aim of current study was to assess the burden, frequency and pattern of different eczema at outpatient department of Faridpur Medical College Hospital in the year 2009. Retrospective data were collected from medical records of patient. Patients of all ages & both sexes attending at the dermatology outpatient department of Faridpur Medical College Hospital in the year 2009 suffering from different eczema were included in this study. The frequency of eczema among patients attending at outpatient department of Faridpur Medical College Hospital was 12.8%, and the male to female ratio was almost 1:1. The most affected age group among patients was 0-5 years. Of all cases of eczema, 77.05% were endogenous and 22.52% were exogenous. The most common type of eczema was seborrhoeic dermatitis (27.17% of all cases), followed by contact dermatitis (20.00%) and Hand eczema (14.18%). Seborrhoeic dermatitis is commonest in young adult (21- 45 yrs), whereas atopic dermatitis is common in infant and children (0-10 yrs). Eczema is a public health problem in Faridpur, Bangladesh, and this necessitates prospective studies to determine its incidence and prevalence.

Pattern Of Skin Diseases In Patients Attending OPD Of Dermatology Department At Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh.

It is generally agreed that the pattern of skin diseases differs in different countries, and within various regions of a country depending on social, economic, racial and environmental factors. Many workers have reported various patterns of skin diseases in different countries. So far, no such report is available in our country for Faridpur region. To fill the lacunae we decided to undertake a retrospective study of the skin disease pattern in this tertiary hospital of Faridpur, Bangladesh. All the newly diagnosed cases attending the OPD of Dermatology and Venereology, Faridpur Medical College Hospital, during the period of one year starting from 1st July 2007 to 30th June, 2008 were included in the study. Diagnosi s was done on clinical grounds and laboratory investigations were done whenever required. Eczema (19.2%), fungal infections (17.26%), scabies (15.16%) and pyodermas (7.59%) were the major skin diseases. STD's accounted for (0.73%) of the cases. Genodermatoses (0.01%) formed the minimal number of cases. Eczema was the commonest group of disorders. Out of the infective skin disorders fungal infections were the commonest group. Genodermatoses formed the least number of cases.

Intrathecal midazolam for postoperative pain relief in caesarean section delivery.

Postoperative pain relief is a growing concern to an anaesthesiologist since no single analgesic is free from side-effects. Moreover, it becomes a challenge after caesarean section delivery to provide postoperative pain relief without much sedation, respiratory depression or problems like nausea, vomiting, so that early baby acceptance and care by mother is promoted. Antinociceptive effect of midazolam is well established by now and its safety is documented. This observation was made in a blind randomised study of 40 women of ASA I/II to evaluate postoperative pain relief using intrathecal midazolam in caesarean section delivery. Group A patients (n=20) received 1.5 ml of 5% lignocaine only and group B patients (n=20) received mixture of 1.5 ml 5% lignocaine with 2 mg midazolam (preservative free) through intrathecal route at L3.4 interspace; vital parameters were monitored intra-operatively and postoperatively and Apgar score of baby in 1st and 5th minute of deliverywas assessed. It was observed intrathecal midazolam produced highly significant (p<0.001) postoperative pain relief together with anti-emetic effect and tranquillity of patients of caesarean section delivery.

Effect of sewage water on the growth and yield parameters of wheat and blackgram with different fertilizer levels.

Impact of biologically treated domestic sewage water was studied on the growth and yield attributing characters of wheat and blackgram under different fertilizer levels in the field condition. There was no significant difference on the yield and yield attributing characters of wheat. However, yield attributing characters like number of tillers/plant, panicle length (cm), number of grains/panicle and 1,000 grain weight showed increasing trend to the tune of 13.29, 1.59. 5.49 and 3.79 per cent respectively over the tubewell irrigated crop. Yield was also increased to the tune of 3.63 per cent when the crop was irrigated with sewage water. Interactions between irrigation and fertilizer levels were also insignificant. However, sewage water with N60P45K45 responded better on tillering, panicle length, number of grains/panicle and yield of wheat. In case of blackgram, treated sewage water had no significant effect on the grwoth and yield attributing characters, rather sewage water had some negative effect on these parameters. Interactions between irrigation and fertilizer levels were insignificant. But tubewell irrigation with N10P10K10 was more responsive on growth parameters. When the crop was grown with tubewell irrigation and without fertilizer, yield attributing characters were more positively responded.

Effects of chemically-induced stress on blood viscosity of rabbits.

Disease-induced stress in a living system needs its characterization before quantification. We address this problem by studying the flow behaviour of blood of rabbits. The flow behaviour of rabbit blood, both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic was observed by plotting viscosity levels against known shear stress. The curves obtained from normal animals showed a curvilinear relationship between eta and tau, whereas the curves obtained from the blood of the induced diabetic animals showed a 'thixotropic' nature i.e. viscosity varies inversely with shear stress. The results obtained were (a) increased viscosity associated with increasing doses, (b) the lower the shear stress, higher was the viscosity and (c) significant variation of viscosity levels between normal and induced-diabetic rabbits observed by increased stress. The possible interpretation of the results in the light of rheological properties of blood is discussed.

Humoral immunity response in malignancies with special reference to the effect of radiotherapy.

In view of the variability in the findings recorded by different authors in the level of immunoglobulins in patients suffering from malignancies, a study on 34 cases of six types of malignancies treated with radiotherapy (telecobalt and telecesium) was carried out to record the humoral response and also to compare the response during radiotherapy and after radiotherapy in these cases. Serum of 20 age-matched normal volunteers served as normal control. The study recorded that the pretherapy levels of IgA and IgG were raised in most of the cases; but the IgM was decreased than that of the control level. This is probably due to the fact that the selective clones of cells producing different types of immunoglobulins are responding to the malignancies in different ways. The midtherapy level of all immunoglobulins showed the value lower than the pretherapy level, but recovery was observed in the post-therapy period with all immunoglobulins in all the cases irrespective of the histological types of malignancies. It was also apparent from this study that the post-therapy gain in the level of immunoglobulins over midtherapy level was more pronounced in cases having telecobalt therapy. Assessment of humoral response in 25 patients suffering from squamous cell carcinoma of different grades revealed that the midtherapy fall and subsequent post-therapy gain had no definite correlation with grading.

Hepatoprotective activity of Azadirachta indica leaves on paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats.

Effect of A. indica leaf extract on serum enzyme levels (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) elevated by paracetamol in rats was studied with a view to observe any possible hepatoprotective effect of this plant. It was interesting to observe that serum enzyme levels were much elevated in paracetamol induced animals than in those receiving a combination of paracetamol and lead extract. It is stipulated that the extract treated group was protected from hepatic cell damage caused by paracetamol induction. The findings were further confirmed by histopathological study of liver.

Ontogenetic and comparative analysis of LDH isozymes in the three species of Indian major carp.

Expression patterns of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozyme were investigated in embryonic and post embryonic stages of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala and Catla catla using starch gel electrophoresis. Species specific and differential enzyme locus (gene) expression patterns were found in LDH up to 18th hr of study. The isozyme up to 36th hr after fertilization seemed to be completely active and showed electrophoretic patterns very similar to those of the adults. Comparative analysis of the isozyme of the three species permitted species identification even during the embryonic stages when it is impossible to identify on morphological characters only. Also, the genetic studies indicated different taxonomical and evolutionary histories of the species.

Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of leaves of Vinca rosea linn.

Oral administration of water fraction of alcoholic extract of leaves of Vinca rosea (fam. apocynaeceae) led to marked lowering of blood glucose level in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic effect of the fraction was comparable with that of tolbutamide.