Characterization of cultural beneficial bacterial diversity for plant growth promoting attributes associated with rice rhizosphere

Aim: The study was undertaken to isolate, characterize and molecularly identify plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with rice rhizosphere occurring in Gangetic plains of the country. Methodology: One hundred forty three plant growth promoting rhizobacteria were isolated on various culture media and characterized culturally and morphologically through Scanning Electron Microscope. These rhizobacterial isolates were further screened for plant growth promoting activities like HCN production, siderophore production and phosphate solubilisation. The 16S rDNA sequencing was done to decipher phylogenetic relationship among 19 selected PGPRs. Besides, these were also tested for anti-oxidative enzyme production to mitigate deleterious effects of various stresses on plant growth and metabolism. Results: Nineteen potential plant growth promoting rhizobacteria were characterized for plant growth promoting attributes and were indentified at molecular level. Rice is well colonized by bacteria mainly Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Burkholderia sp., and Acinetobactor spp., Rice seeds treated with microbial consortium of MAU 143 + MRT 84 recorded in increased antioxidant production–SOD activity (0.02 U mg−1 f.w.t.), POX activity (0.16 U mg−1 f.w.t.), POP activity (0.06 U mg−1 f.w.t.) and TPC assay (1.17 µg gallic acid mg-1 extract) which might have stimulated the growth of radical (2.2 cm) and plumule (1.6 cm) over control. These three PGPRs viz., MAU 143, MRT 84 and MRT 92 strain showed great potential to improve antioxidant and total polyphenol production and seed vigour of rice seedlings. The identified rhizobacterial strains may be used for plant growth promotion and improvement in nutrients mobilization and oxidative stresses in rice production. Interpretation: The study suggested that plant growth promoting rhizobacteria isolated from rice rhizosphere have greater potential to improve soil nutrients status while provide resistance against infection of pathogenic microbes due to production of anti-oxidative enzymes and phenolic compounds in rice seedlings.

Efficacy Of Virechana Karma In The Management Of Acne Vulgaris

A healthy and clear facial impression plays the important part for the development of the personality. Since ages, Acne vulgaris has always been one of the most burning problem of the adolescents. It affects the most prominent part of our body, the face. Among the multifactorial etiology of acne hormonal imbalance and infections are most important. Acne is a cutaneous pleomorphic disorder of the pilosebaceous unit involving abnormalities in sebum production and is characterized by both inflammatory (papules, pustules and nodules) and non-inflammatory (comedones, open and closed) lesions. Propionibacterium acnes is responsible for the development of acne vulgaris. Acne Vulgaris can be correlated with Mukhadushika or Yuvanpidika on the basis of similarity in the etiopathogenesis, symptoms, treatment and complication. In Ayurveda it is the Shalmali thorn like eruptions on the face of adolescent due to vitiation of Kapha, Vata and Shonita. Allopathic treatment includes treatment for all forms of acne as topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, oral antibiotics, steroids etc. But these causes serious adverse effects. So it is necessary to find out effective and safe treatment for Acne Vulgaris. Ayurveda is for it which plays important role through its principles i.e. Shodhana, Shamana and Nidanparivarjana. As described by various Acharya the Shodhanachikitsa includes Vamana, Virechana and Shiravedha. Among Shodhana, Virechana process is the safe and effective treatment, providing long lasting result for better life of patient.

Role Of Pathya-apathya And Yogic Procedures In The Management Of Copd

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that is often preventable and treatable. In Ayurvedic texts Shwasa Roga has been described having symptomatology close to COPD. COPD damages the airways in lungs and leads to shortness of breath, impacting patient`s work, exercise, sleep and other everyday activities. More than 11 million people in the U. S. suffer from COPD and its prevalence has been increasing steadily over the past 20 years. It causes serious long-term disability and early death. COPD includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Risk factor includes exposure to air pollution, second-hand smoke and occupational dusts and chemicals, smoking, cold weather etc. which are also mentioned in Ayurvedic classics. Identification, reduction and control of risk factors to prevent the onset of COPD are important steps towards developing strategies for prevention of COPD. The aims and objectives of Ayurveda are to maintain the health of a healthy person and to cure the diseases of the patients. It is signifies that “prevention is better than cure.” To maintain the health, Ayurveda laid many basic principles like Ritucharya (seasonal regime), Dincharya (diumal regime) etc. The Yogic procedures and the concept of Pathya (wholesome) and Apathya (unwholesome) is the peculiarity of Ayurveda for the management of COPD and the treatment module includes- Panchakarma (Vamana, Virechana, Dhumapana and Nasya), external therapies (Lepas, Dhara, Sthanika Abhayanga and Swedana) and internal medications are very effective in COPD.

Assessment of pulmonary function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case-control study.

Background: As other microvascular complications, respiratory involvement is far less studied among patients with type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Objective: to study the extent of pulmonary function limitation among patients with type-2 DM. Methods: Hospital based matched case-control study. Results: Total of 90 cases and 90 controls matched for age, sex, height and weight were recruited. Patients with DM had neuropathy [63.3% (57; male=27: Female: 30)], retinopathy [44.4% (40; male=22: Female: 18)], nephropathy [41.1% (37; male=17: Female: 20)] and microalbuminuria [14.4% (13; male=5: Female: 8)]. All cases and 88 controls observed with FEV1:FVC ratio of >70.0%, further assessment for delineation of normal and restrictive pattern patients with high level of predicted values of FEV1 as compare to FVC showed that significantly (P = 0.00) more (Cases: 76.6%; Controls: 42.2%) cases had FEV1 >FVC predicted levels as compare to controls, means among diabetics odds of restrictive pattern of lung abnormality is four times (OR: 4.4; CI: 2.3-8.5) more as compare to non-diabetics. In addition a long duration of DM was significantly (r: 0.39; P = 0.00) positively correlated with lung dysfunction. Conclusion: Patients with type 2 DM patients as compare to its controls observed with restrictive pattern of lung dysfunction.

Oral salbutamol for symptomatic relief in mild bronchiolitis a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of oral salbutamol for providing symptomatic relief in mild bronchiolitis. DESIGN: Randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Pediatric Outpatient Department of a tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS: 140 infants (of 310 approached) with a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis with respiratory rate <or= 70 breath/min, heart rate <or= 200 beats/min, hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) >or= 95% in room air, no or mild accessory muscle use, and respiratory distress assessment instrument (RDAI) score <or=10. Children were followed up for 14 days. INTERVENTION: Oral salbutamol (0.1 mg/kg/dose) (n=70) or placebo (n=70) three times a day for 7 days or till complete resolution of symptoms,whichever was earlier. OUTCOME VARIABLES: Time for resolution of illness (ROI), duration of fever, cough,coryza, noisy breathing, time to achieve normal feeding and normal sleep, and frequency of hospitalization and adverse effects. RESULTS: Median (SE, 95% CI) duration of resolution of overall illness was similar in the two groups [6 (0, 5 to 7) d in the salbutamol group vs. 5 (1, 4 to 6) days in placebo group; P=0.21]. There was no significant difference in mean duration of fever, cough, coryza, noisy breathing, time to achieve normal feeding and normal sleep; and frequency of hospitalization or adverse effects, between the two groups.However, tremors were observed in 5 infants in the salbutamol group. CONCLUSION: Oral salbutamol is not superior to placebo in reducing the duration of symptoms in mild cases of acute bronchiolitis in children.

Role of paracetamol in treatment of childhood Fever: a double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether paracetamol administration (i) increases the overall duration of fever; and (ii) is effective and safe, in symptomatic treatment of febrile children. DESIGN: Randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. METHODS: The trial was conducted at a tertiary care setting. 210 febrile children (6 months - 6 years) with uncomplicated respiratory tract infection received oral paracetamol (15 mg/kg) or placebo, if axillary temperature was 37.6C. Outcome measures included fever clearance time, rate of fall of temperature, percent reduction of temperature, proportion of afebrile children, symptomatic improvement (based on categorical improvement in activity, alertness mood, comfort, appetite and fluid intake) and clinical and biochemical adverse effects. RESULTS: Fever clearance time [median (SE, 95% CI)] was comparable between the two groups [paracetamol: 32 (2, 22-37) h; placebo: 36 (1, 33-39) h; P = 0.23]. Paracetamol resulted in significantly higher rate of fall of temperature (paracetamol: 0.33 +/-; 0.16 degrees C/h; placebo 0.07 +/- 0.13 degrees C/h: P <0.001), and percentage reduction of temperature (paracetamol: 85.4 +/- 22.4; placebo 45.5 +/- 34.1; mean difference 39.9; 95% CI 31.9-47.9; P<0.001) during first four hours after drug administration. Proportion of afebrile children after 4 hours (paracetamol: 46.6%; placebo: 12.1%; P <0.001) and symptomatic improvement at 6 hours were significantly higher (P<0.001) after administration of paracetamol as compared to placebo. No serious clinical or biochemical adverse drug effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol achieves effective antipyresis and provides early symptomatic improvement in children with febrile illness without prolongation of fever duration or excessive adverse effects.

Antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolaemic and antioxidant effect of Ocimum sanctum (Linn) seed oil.

Antihyperlipidaemic and antioxidant effect of Ocimum sanctum Linn. seed oil (OSSO) was investigated in rabbits. Administration of OSSO (0.8 g/kg body weight/day) for four weeks, in cholesterol (100 mg/kg body weight/day) fed rabbits significantly decreased serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-+VLDL-cholesterol as compared to untreated cholesterol fed group. There was significant fall in atherogenic index in OSSO treated group. In addition, treatment with OSSO decreased lipid peroxidation and increased reduced glutathione content in blood. Antidiabetic effect of O. sanctum seed oil was evaluated in alloxan diabetic rabbits. Two weeks treatment of diabetic rabbits with OSSO (0.8 gm/kg/day) showed no significant hypoglycaemic effect. Results of the present study show that OSSO has hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects but it does not have antidiabetic effect.

Port-access approach for cardiac surgical procedures: our experience in 776 patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in minimally invasive technology has expanded the application of the right thoracotomy approach for mitral valve surgery and atrial septal defect closure. The present study examines the feasibility, safety and efficacy of this technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between September 1997 and December 2004, 430 patients underwent mitral valve surgery through right anterolateral thoracotomy. The mitral valve was repaired in 62 patients, and 368 patients underwent mitral valve replacement. During same period, 336 patients underwent surgical closure of atrial septal defect. In all cases femoral artery and femoral venous cannulation was used for cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no approach-related limitation to surgical exposure, nor complication in cannulation of femoral vessels through the groin. Mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp time was 90 +/- 48 min and 51 +/- 29 min, respectively. Mean intubation time was 14.8 hours (range: 8-28 hours). Mean duration of intensive care andhospital stay was 26 hours (range: 18-38 hours) and 7 days (range: 5-17 days), respectively. In the atrial septal defect group, the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time was 29 +/- 14 min and 19 +/- 8 min, respectively. Mean intensive care unit stay and mean hospital stay was 9.8 +/- 2.6 hours and 4.0 +/- 1.9 days, respectively. Hospital mortality was 0.46% (2/430) in the mitral valve group while there was no hospital mortality in atrial septal defect group. At a mean follow-up of 38.0 +/- 6.2 months there was one late death and two re-operations in the patients who underwent mitral valve surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Port-access approach is safe, offers faster recovery, cosmetic advantage, more patient satisfaction: it obviates the complications due to re-entry in redo cases and offers same efficacy as conventional operation. Furthermore, it is an excellent approach for mitral valve surgery in patients who had previous cardiac procedures. It has become our standard approach for repair of atrial septal defect and isolated mitral valve procedures.

Robotically enhanced coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Robotically enhanced telemanipulation surgery is a fast developing technique which allows totally endoscopic cardiac surgery with utmost precision and perfection on both beating heart as well as arrested heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between December 2002 and February 2004, 125 patients underwent robotically enhanced coronary artery bypass surgery using the da Vinci telemanipulation system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., California). Eleven patients underwent totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass surgery. Of them 9 were done on beating heart while 2 were done on arrested heart. One hundred and fourteen patients had endoscopic takedown of internal mammary artery followed by minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass in 63 patients and left anterolateral thoracotomy in 51 patients. The internal mammary artery mobilization time was 42 min (35-74 min) while the left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery anastomosis time ranged from 20 to 36 min for the totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass patients. In 1 patient, the right internal mammary artery was anastomosed to diagonal artery totally endoscopically. The mean internal mammary artery flow by Doppler measurement done in patients undergoing minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass was 64 ml/min. Seven patients required conversion to median sternotomy and coronary bypass surgery on beating heart. The mean intensive care unit stay was 1.2 days and the mean hospital stay 4.5 days. There was 1 in-hospital mortality. All 11 patients who underwent totally endoscopic bypass surgery had coronary angiography done at 3 months interval which showed 100% patency in 10 patients while one patient had 50% anastomotic narrowing for which coronary angioplasty was done in the same sitting. CONCLUSIONS: Using telematic technology, a complete endoscopic anastomosis is possible in both single vessel and suitable double vessel disease patients. The use of robotics is now extended to achieve complete myocardial revascularization by harvesting both the internal mammary arteries and making a small thoracotomy for direct anastomosis as well.

Evaluation of the role of melatonin in formalin-induced pain response in mice.

BACKGROUND: Melatonin, the major secretory product of pineal gland has been suggested to play a regulatory role in the circadian rhythm of body activities including the pain sensitivity. Three subtypes of melatonin receptors, i.e. ML1, ML2 and ML3 have been identified. AIM: To investigate the antinociceptive activity of melatonin and to unravel the underlying receptor mechanisms involved in this action. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Effect of melatonin (25-100 mg/kg, ip) and its interaction with putative melatonin receptor antagonists and opioidergic and serotoninergic agents have been studied in formalin test, a model of tonic continuous pain. Formalin (0.1 ml of 1% solution) was injected under the plantar surface of right hind paw of mice and the time an animal spent in licking the injected paw was measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Injection of formalin produced two phases of intense licking, an early phase (0-5 min) and a late phase (20-25 min). Melatonin dose-dependently decreased the licking response in both the phases, effect being more marked in the late phase. Luzindole, a ML1 receptor antagonist did not block but rather enhanced the antinociceptive activity of melatonin. However, prazosin, a ML2 receptor antagonist in the low dose (0.5 mg/kg) significantly attenuated but in higher dose (1 mg/kg) enhanced the analgesic effect of melatonin. Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist did not reverse but morphine, an opioid agonist enhanced the antinociceptive activity of melatonin. Both mianserin and ondansetron the 5HT2 and 5HT3 receptor antagonists, respectively increased the analgesic effect of melatonin. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest the involvement of ML2 receptors in mediating the antinociceptive activity of melatonin in formalin-induced pain response. Further an interplay between melatonin, alpha-1 adrenergic and 5HT2 and 5HT3 serotoninergic receptors may also be participating in this action.

Attenuation of the effect of progesterone and 4'-chlordiazepam on stress-induced immune responses by bicuculline.

The present study investigates the effect of progesterone, a pregnane precursor of neurosteroids, and 4'-chlordiazepam (4'-CD), a specific ligand for mitochondrial diazepam binding inhibitor receptor (MDR) involved in neurosteroidogenesis, on restraint stress (RS)-induced modulation of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. RS produced a significant reduction in anti-sheep red blood cells (SRBC) antibody titre, a measure of humoral immune response, and % leucocyte migration inhibition (LMI) and foot-pad thickness test, measures of cell-mediated immune responses. These effects of RS on immune responses were effectively blocked by pretreating the animals with progesterone (10 mg/kg, sc) or 4'-CD (0.5 mg/kg, sc) administered just before subjecting the animal to RS. The effect of both progesterone and 4'-CD on RS-induced immune modulation was significantly attenuated by bicuculline (2 mg/kg, ip) but not by flumazenil (10 mg/kg, ip). Unlike its effect on RS-induced immune responsiveness, progesterone (5, 10 mg/kg, sc) when administered to non-stressed animals produced a significant suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses which was not reversed by bicuculline. However, 4'-CD failed to modulate immune response in naive non-stressed animals. These results suggest that progesterone and 4'-CD affect stress-induced immune responses by modulating GABA-ergic mechanism. However, GABA-A receptor system does not appear to be involved in progesterone-induced immunosuppression in nonstressed animals.

Orally effective drugs for kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis): focus on miltefosine and sitamaquine.

Currently there are no effective orally administered drugs or visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar, a parasitic disease affecting about 0.5 million people a year, majority of whom are in India and adjacent areas of Nepal. Symptoms of affected patients are fever, cachexia, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. The disease is usually fatal, if left untreated. Traditionally kala-azar is treated with four weeks of injections of sodium stibogluconate, a pentavalent antimonial. However, this treatment has not only shown resistance in 37-64% patients of the current Indian epidemic in Bihar (the epicentrre) but also life-threatening cardiotoxicity in 7-10% and treatment-related deaths in 5-10% cases, besides being unsuccessful at times. Parenteral amphotericin B is used as a secondary agent that shows 95% effectiveness but its toxicity and high cost of even the well tolerated liposomal complex precludes its wide use in the developing countries, where the disease is present in epidemic proportions. Recently, miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine), a compound originally developed as an antitumour agent has been shown to be an orally effective drugs against kala-azar. All clinical trials with this drug are conducted in India in patients of visceral leishmaniasis. A regimen of 100 mg per day or 50 mg twice daily for 3-4 weeks was observed to produce a cure rate of 100%. Gastrointestinal side effects were frequent (62%) but no patient discontinued the therapy. A phase III trial involving 300 HIV-negative adults and adolescents is underway in India and the drug is hoped to be licensed in the next 2-3 years. Few studies of phase II clinical trials mainly conducted in Kenya with another drug, sitamaquine or kalazaquine (WR 6026), an 8-aminoquinoline has also shown promise as an orally effective agent (in a dose of 1 mg/kg/day for two weeks) for visceral leishmaniasis. These Studies with two orally effective compounds, it appears, will open new vistas for orally effective, affordable and acceptable drugs in the armamentarium for the treatment of kala-azar. It is expected that in future we would have effective ways to prevent and treat all forms of leishmaniasis without discomforting the patient.

Effect of minocycline and tetracycline on immunological responses in experimental animals.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of antibiotics, primarily tetracycline anlogues, like minocy cline to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, the mechanism of action of these analogues is not clearly defined. The present study investigates the effects of minocycline and tetracycline on some immunological parameters in Wistar rats and Swiss albino mice. Haemagglutination (HA) titre was employed as parameter of humoral immune response and % leukocyte migration inhibition (% LMI) and footpad thickness tests were used as measures of cell mediated immune response. Both minocycline and tetracycline significantly improved humoral immune response in rats as indicated by an increase in anti-SRBC antibody titre. In the LMI test, depending on the time period of drug administration, there was an increase or a decrease in the % LMI. When drugs were administered on days 1-7 after sensitization, both the compounds caused a significant increase in % LMI. However, the % LMI was significantly decreased when the drugs were administered on days 7-13 of sensitization, indicating variable effects of these agents on the Immune mechanism depending on the time of administration in relation to the development of immune responsiveness. Both minocycline as well as tetracycline produced a significant decrease in the paw volume in the footpad-thickness test which indicates a decrease in lymphokine production/release. The present study thus shows that minocycline and tetracycline exhibit immunomodulatory properties, which may contribute significantly to their beneficial effects in rheumatoid arthritis.