Isolation, Characterization and Screening of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Non-dairy Foods: An Attempt to Unveil their Probiotic Potential

The growing need for probiotics has emerged due to the imbalances in the gut microbiota. Changes in the microflora of the gut lead to various disorders. Hence, the consumption of probiotics is imperative and rewarding. They provide various benefits when consumed, including antagonistic activities against pathogens by lowering pH to inhibit the growth of other microorganisms, disease treatment, and prevention, as well as health restoration and maintenance. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize various Lactic acid bacteria from non-dairy items to determine their probiotic potential. Five isolates were chosen and identified further using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The chosen isolates were then tested in vitro for probiotic properties by employing various tests including tolerance to Bile salt, Sodium Chloride, Phenol, and pH. The culture’s supernatant of these isolates were also tested for their antibacterial efficacy against various pathogens. Five LAB isolates showed resistance to varying concentrations of Bile acid, NaCl, Phenol, and simulated gastric juice. Gelatinase and Hemolytic activities were absent in the isolates. They were resistant to several of the antibiotics examined. They also showed effective antibacterial activity against test pathogens. The isolated strains meet the criteria for being probiotic and safe for human consumption thus conferring various health benefits.

Assessment of oxidative stress in breast cancer patients: a hospital based study

Background: Oxidative stress occurs as a result of the disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and antioxidant defenses. This is regarded as a possible etilogical factor in production of breast carcinoma, which is the most cmmon cancer among the females both globally as well as in India. Oxidative stress also plays an important role in progression of cancer breast. This study was conducted to compare the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in breast cancer patients and normal age matched female participants.Methods: This study was conducted in AVBR Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe) among 30 female breast cancer patients admitted in the surgery ward for treatment after being diagnosed with the disease, who attended the hospital from July 2016 to June 2017. Breast cancer patients of stage I and II were included in the study. Patients suffering from any other diseases apart from breast cancer like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid illnesses and other sort of cancers are excluded from the study. For each of the study participant, age and sex matched controls were selected who were mostly the relatives of patients attending the hospital and were devoid of any illnesses. Venous blood sample was collected from all the patients as well as the controls that were used for determination of the levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and MDA (malondialdehyde). Written informed consent was taken from all the study participants before drawing the blood samples.Results: Authors have measured the markers of oxidative stress in breast cancer patients after diagnosis of breast cancer and compared theses blood levels with those of the controls. The mean MDA (nmol/ml) levels for the breast cancer patients and the controls were 26.14 and 15.83 respectively, while the SOD (U/gm Hb) levels were 0.12 and 0.16 respectively and the difference of the mean were statistically significant (p value <0.01).Conclusions: There is presence of increased oxidative stress in breast cancer patients as compared to the healthy controls.

Onychoprotothecosis: An uncommon presentation of protothecosis.

Onychomycosis is a fairly common condition seen in a dermatology clinic. Dermatophytes Trichophyton and Epidermophyton are the known filamentous fungi implicated. The yeast‑like fungi such as Candida less commonly cause Onychomycosis. The genus Prototheca may on preliminary observation resemble yeast‑like fungi but a detailed microscopy will reveal the absence of budding and presence of endospores. Onychoprotothecosis is an uncommon presentation of human protothecosis. Of the two Prototheca species (Prototheca zopfii and Prototheca wickerhamii) known to cause the disease, P. wickerhamii has been reported more commonly. We report a culture proven case of this condition caused by P. zopfii. The patient, a 55‑year‑old housewife presented with discolouration and breaking off of the right thumb and forefinger nails since a period of six months. Samples of nail scrapping sent to the Microbiology Laboratory were culture‑positive for Prototheca. Speciation by the automated Vitek‑2 system (bioMerieux) identified the isolate as P. zopfii, which was further confirmed at PGI, Chandigarh.

A cross sectional study to assess prescribing pattern of AYUSH practitioners with respect to allopathic drugs and rationality.

Background and Objectives: Majority of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Yoga (AYUSH) practitioners use allopathic drugs. This study was conducted to assess frequency of use of AYUSH and Allopathic drugs, and rationality of allopathic drugs in prescriptions of AYUSH practitioners. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted after collecting prescriptions from patients attending clinics of AYUSH practitioners over a period of 5 weeks. Total 401 prescriptions were collected from patients after written informed consent. National list of Essential Medicines 2003, India and other parameters like drug dose, route of administration, indication were used to assess rationality of Allopathic drugs. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis. Results: Total 1037 drugs were studied from 401 prescriptions of AYUSH medicine practitioners. Total 999 (97.65%) Allopathy drugs were prescribed which contained 620 (62.06%) single drugs and 379 (37.93%) fixed drug combinations(FDCs) . 91.52% of total prescriptions contained only allopathic drugs. 19 (4.73%) prescriptions had combination of Ayurveda and Allopathic drugs while one(0.25%) prescription had combination of Homeopathy and Allopathic drugs. Out of 14 AYUSH presriptions containing only AYUSH drugs,13 (3.24%) prescriptions belonged to homoeopathy and one to Ayurveda.Proper diagnosis was written only in 29 (7.23%) prescriptions . 64% of total prescriptions reflected irrational use of Allopathic drugs.Irrational prescribing practices were found high in FDCs (37.13%) as compared with single drugs (26.92%) Conclusion: Allopathic drugs are highly and irrationally prescribed by AYUSH practitioners. Maximum irrational prescribing practice was seen in FDCs as compared to single drugs.

A fatal case of empyema thoracis by Nocardia farcinica in an immunocompromised patient.

Empyema thoracis by Nocardia farcinica infection is uncommon. Here we report a rare and fatal infection in a 27-year-old HIV- seropositive male who presented with cough, expectoration, and breathlessness. Nocardia farcinica was isolated from sputum and pus from the pleural cavity. Confirmation of the isolate and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for various antibiotics was done at the Aerobic Actinomycetes Reference Laboratory, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta. Patient was treated with suitable antibiotics and antiretroviral drugs in spite of which he eventually succumbed to the disease.

Meningitis due to Rhodotorula glutinis in an HIV infected patient.

Rhodotorula spp, though considered a common saprophyte, recently has been reported as causative agent of opportunistic mycoses. We present a case of meningitis in an immunocompromised human immunodeficiency virus infected patient who presented with longstanding fever. He was diagnosed as a case of chronic meningitis. Diagnosis was confirmed by cell cytology, India ink preparation, Gram staining and culture of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample. CSF culture grew Rhodotorula glutinis. Therapy with amphotericin B was successful in eliminating the yeast from CSF and the patient was discharged after recovery.

Review of clinical and laboratory features of human brucellosis.

Infection with Brucella spp. continues to pose a human health risk globally despite strides in eradicating the disease from domestic animals. Brucellosis has been an emerging disease since the discovery of Brucella melitensis by Sir David Bruce in 1887. Although many countries have eradicated B. abortus from cattle, in some areas B. melitensis and B. suis have emerged as causes of this infection in cattle, leading to human infections. Currently B. melitensis remains the principal cause of human brucellosis worldwide including India. The recent isolation of distinct strains of Brucella from marine mammals as well as humans is an indicator of an emerging zoonotic disease. Brucellosis in endemic and non-endemic regions remains a diagnostic puzzle due to misleading non-specific manifestations and increasing unusual presentations. Fewer than 10% of human cases of brucellosis may be clinically recognized and treated or reported. Routine serological surveillance is not practiced even in Brucella - endemic countries and we suggest that this should be a part of laboratory testing coupled with a high index of clinical suspicion to improve the level of case detection. The screening of family members of index cases of acute brucellosis in an endemic area should be undertaken to pick up additional unrecognised cases. Rapid and reliable, sensitive and specific, easy to perform and automated detection systems for Brucella spp. are urgently needed to allow early diagnosis and adequate antibiotic therapy in time to decrease morbidity / mortality. The history of travel to endemic countries along with exposure to animals and exotic foods are usually critical to making the clinical diagnosis. Laboratory testing is indispensable for diagnosis. Therefore alertness of clinician and close collaboration with microbiologist are essential even in endemic areas to correctly diagnose and treat this protean human infection. Existing treatment options, largely based on experience gained > 30 years ago, are adequate but not optimal. In our experience, an initial combination therapy with a three drug-regimen followed by a two-drug regimen for at least six weeks and a combination of two drugs with a minimum of six weeks seems warranted to improve outcome in children and adult patients respectively with laboratory monitoring. A safe and effective vaccine in humans is not yet available. Prevention is dependent upon the control of the disease in animal hosts, effective heat treatment of dairy produce and hygienic precautions to prevent occupational exposure. This review compiles the experiences and diagnostic and treatment paradigms currently employed in fighting this disease.