Anti-microbial susceptibility pattern of spores used in Bacillus clausii suspension: an in vitro study

Background: Bacillus species have been used as probiotics as they have high stability to gastrointestinal conditions and impart health benefit on the host. Primarily used in their spore form the diversity of Bacillus species being used and their applications are remarkable. Here, we present the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the B. clausii spore suspension (Benegut').Methods: Bacillus clausii spore suspension (Benegut'), used in oral bacteriotherapy was tested for the susceptibility to therapeutically useful antibiotics. Twelve commercially prepared, paper antibiotic discs of different drugs having fixed concentrations were used.' The antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by the disc diffusion technique, using soybean casein digestive agar (SCDA) as media and the results were categorized as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant; using the criteria published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.Results: B. clausii was found to be resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotic chloramphenicol, antimycobacterial rifampicin, beta-lactamase inhibitor amoxiclav, first-generation antibiotic cefaloridine, penicillin ampicillin, and tetracycline. B. clausii was resistant to both the aminoglycoside antibiotics (streptomycin and kanamycin) studied. Off first-generation fluoroquinolones studied, B. clausii was resistant to ciprofloxacin but partially sensitive to norfloxacin, ofloxacin and to macrolide azithromycin.' 'Conclusions: Antimicrobial resistance is an important feature of probiotics. The results of our study indicate that the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity B. clausii spore suspension (Benegut') can profess beneficial effects and can be a useful source of improving the intestinal imbalance of microbial flora and is safe for human consumption.

Predictive factors for intraoperative excessive bleeding in Grave’s disease

Background: Grave’s disease frequently results in and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It also often results in an enlarged thyroid. It also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. This study evaluates all the factors that cause intra-operative blood loss and how it affects the grave’s disease.Methods: This study was conducted on 100 patients with Grave’s disease, who underwent thyroidectomy during the period from May 2010 to April 2016.Results: The majority of patients were females which constitute about 76.3% with a median age of 33 years. The median period between the onset of the disease and operation was 15 months. Weight of thyroid in grams was 40. Post-operative hospital stay was 3 days. Univariate analysis revealed that the strongest correlation of amount of intraoperative blood loss (AIOBL) was noted with the weight of thyroid (p<0.001). Additionally, AIOBL was correlated positively with the period be- tween disease onset and surgery (p<0.001) and negatively with preoperative free T4 (p<0.01). Occurrences of postoperative complications, such as recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or hypoparathyroidism, and postoperative hospital stay were not correlated with AIOBL.Conclusions: For Grave’s disease, for excessive bleeding during surgery, a large goiter presented as a predictive factor, and transfusion of blood should be considered in cases in which goiter weighs more than 200 g.

EFFECT OF NICORANDIL ON PENTYLENETETRAZOLE (PTZ) INDUCED CONVULSIONS IN MICE

Aims & Objectives: To evaluate or screen the anticonvulsant effect of Nicorandil a potassium channel opener in Pentylenetetrazole(PTZ) induced convusions in albino mice. Materials & Methods: Mice of either sex weighing 20-25gms were selected for the present study. The animals were divided into 6 groups with each group consisting of 6 albino mice. Group 1 mice received placebo (0.2ml of distilled water) intraperitoneally (i.p), group 2 received sodium valproate 200 mg/kg/i.p. as positive control, while groups 3,4, 5 and 6 were administered Nicorandil 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg i.p respectively. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) was administered in the dose of 100mg/kg i.p, 30mins after Nicorandil/ control drug pre-treatment. Onset and duration of clonic convulsion were recorded. Results: Nicorandil pretreatment in the dose of 5mg/kg increased onset time and significantly decreased the duration of convulsions,while the doses of 10, 20, 40mg/kg prevented the convulsions. Conclusion: Nicorandil possesses significant anticonvulsant activity comparable to sodium valproate on PTZ induced seizure in albino mice.

Relative water content as influenced by varied plant densities and irrigation levels in pigeonpea.

A field experiment was conducted on a sandy clay soil at Agricultural Research Station, Basanthpur, Medak district of Andhra Pradesh during the kharif seasons of 2009-‘10 and 2010-’11 to study the variation in relative water content (RWC) of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Mill Sp.) as influenced by plant densities and supplemental irrigation through drip. Three varied plant densities of pigeonpea (D1–55,555 plants ha- 1, D2–41,666 plants ha-1 and D3–33,333 plants ha-1) were tested as 3 main treatments with 4 irrigation levels as sub treatments involving control (I1 - rainfed), drip irrigation at flowering with 20 mm depth of water (I2), drip irrigation at pod development with 20 mm depth of water (I3) and drip irrigation at flowering and pod development with 20 mm depth of water at each stage, respectively (I4). The RWC was estimated at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165 days after sowing and at harvest. Daily evaporation and rainfall were also recorded at the experimental site. The crop in lower plant density of D3 had higher relative water content in comparison to D2, intermediate and D1, higher plant densities at flowering and pod development stages irrespective of the irrigation treatments imposed. Further, supplemental irrigation at flowering and pod formation stages showed marginal rise in the relative water content irrespective of densities. Lowest relative water content was recorded under nonirrigated rainfed control (I1) at higher plant densities of D1 both at flowering and pod development stages.

Mycobacterial culture of fine needle aspirate - a useful tool in diagnosing tuberculous lymphadenitis.

A prospective study was undertaken on suspected lymph node TB (LNTB) patients, to evaluate the diagnostic utility of mycobacterial culture of fine needle aspirate (FNA), in comparison with the cytological examination and acid fast staining. Eighty percent of 157 aspirates studied were positive by cytological examination; 18% by ZN smear and 45% were positive by culture. Twelve aspirates which were negative by cytological features yielded positive mycobacterial cultures; four out of these were from HIV positive patients. Our observations suggest that supplementing FNA cytology with mycobacterial culture would increase the sensitivity of diagnosing LNTB; in addition to giving a highly specific diagnosis.

Concurrent coronary, bilateral iliac and left renal artery direct stenting.

We describe a patient who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention combined with bilateral iliac and left renal artery angioplasty during the same sitting. Stenting of the coronary and peripheral arteries was performed employing the "direct stenting" technique. No complications occurred. The patient was discharged 2 days after the intervention and remains asymptomatic, leading a fully active life during 1 year of follow-up. To our knowledge, unstaged coronary stenting combined with direct stenting of the renal and both common iliac arteries has not been reported previously in India.

Acute hemodynamic response to vasodilators in primary pulmonary hypertension.

Acute hemodynamic effects of high flow oxygen (O2) inhalation, sublingual isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), intravenous aminophylline (AMN) and sublingual nifedipine (NIF) were studied in 32 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). In 30 out of 32 patients the basal ratio of pulmonary to systemic vascular resistance (Rp/Rs) was > 0.5 (mean = 0.77 +/- 0.20). Oxygen caused significant decrease in the mean resistance ratio to 0.68 +/- 0.20 (p = 0.005). ISDN, AMN and NIF caused increase in the resistance ratio to 0.79 +/- 0.26; 0.78 +/- 0.26; and 0.80 +/- 0.23 respectively. O2, ISDN, AMN and NIF caused a fall of Rp/Rs in 21 (65.6%), 10 (31.2%), 10(31.2%) and 9(28.1%) patients respectively. Thus, of the four drugs tested high flow O2 inhalation resulted in fall of Rp/Rs in two thirds of patients whereas ISDN, AMN and NIF caused a mean rise in Rp/Rs. One third of patients did respond acutely to the latter three drugs. Acute hemodynamic studies are useful before prescribing vasodilators in patients with PPH since more of the commonly used drugs like ISDN, AMN, NIF could have detrimental hemodynamic responses in some patients. However, great caution should be exercised before performing hemodynamic study as the procedure has definite mortality and morbidity.

Spontaneous regression of large gastric carcinoid.

We report a female patient who presented with an epigastric lump proved on open biopsy to be a carcinoid tumor. She had raised serum glucagon level and increased excretion of 5-hydroxy indolacetic acid in the urine. She refused surgery and was followed up at 3 monthly intervals. At 6 months the tumor had decreased considerably in size. At one year it was no longer palpable and ultrasound examination clarified that there was no tumor. This was confirmed by the finding of normal levels of 5-HIAA in the urine.

Unruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva: report of 2 cases.

2 cases of unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva are presented. Both the patients had involvement of the right sinus of Valsalva. One of the patients had associated systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Such an association has not been described in the literature. Clinical, echocardiographic and the angiographic features have been discussed and literature reviewed.