Effects of tegaserod and erythromycin in upper gut dysmotility: a comparative study.

Objectives Tegaserod may enhance upper gut transit, but, its prokinetic effects on antral/small bowel motility and how this compares with erythromycin is unknown. We prospectively assessed and compared the effects of tegaserod and erythromycin on upper gut motility. Methods In an open label, non-crossover study, 22 patients (M/F=4/18; mean age=37 years) with symptoms of upper gut dysmotility underwent 24-hour ambulatory antroduodenojejunal manometry with a six-sensor solid state probe. The effects of 12 mg oral tegaserod were compared with 125 mg intravenous erythromycin by quantifying pressure wave activity and assessing motor patterns. Results Motor activity increased (p<0.05) in antrum, duodenum and jejunum with both drugs when compared to baseline period. The motor response with tegaserod was higher (p<0.05) in jejunum and occurred during the second or third hours, whereas with erythromycin, it was higher (p<0.05) in antrum and occurred within 30 minutes. After tegaserod, a ‘fed-response’ like pattern was seen whereas after erythromycin, large amplitude (>100 mmHg) antral contractions at 3 cycles per minute were seen. Following tegaserod and erythromycin, phase III MMCs occurred in 12 (55%) and 8 (36%) patients respectively (p>0.05). Conclusions Both drugs increase upper gut motility and induce MMC’s, but exert a differential response. Tegaserod produces a more sustained prokinetic effect in the duodenum/ jejunum, whereas erythromycin predominantly increases antral motor activity.

Characterization of a diesel-degrading strain isolated from a hydrocarbon-contaminated site.

A diesel-degrading bacterium has been isolated from a diesel-polluted site. The isolate was tentatively identified as Staphylococcus aureus strain DRY11 based on partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny and Biolog® GP microplate panels and Microlog® database. Isolate 11 showed an almost linear increase in cellular growth with respect to diesel concentrations with optimum growth occurring at 4% (v/v) diesel concentration. Optimization studies using different nitrogen sources showed that the best nitrogen source was potassium nitrite. Sodium nitrite was optimum at 1.2 g l-1 and higher concentrations were strongly inhibitory to cellular growth. The optimal pH that supported growth of the bacterium was between 7.5 to 8.0 and the isolate exhibited optimal broad temperature supporting growth on diesel from 27 to 37 oC. An almost complete removal of diesel components was seen from the reduction in hydrocarbon peaks observed using Solid Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography analysis after 5 days of incubation. The characteristics of this bacterium suggest that it is suitable for bioremediation of diesel spills and pollutions in the tropics.

Assessment of Clarias batrachus as a source of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) for the detection of insecticides.

An inhibitive assay of insecticides using Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from the local fish Clarias batrachus is reported. AChE was assayed according to the modified method of Ellman. Screening of insecticide and heavy metals showed that carbofuran and carbaryl strongly inhibited C. batrachus AChE. The inhibition concentration (IC) IC50 values (and the 95% confidence interval) for both carbofuran and carbaryl inhibition on C. batrachus AChE at 6.66 (5.97-7.52) and 130.00 (119.3-142.5) μg l-1, respectively, was within the IC50 range of Electrophorus electricus at 6.20 (6.03-6.39) and 133.01 (122.40-145.50) μg l-1, respectively, and were much lower than bovine AChE at 20.94 (19.53-22.58) and 418.80 (390.60-451.60) μg l-1, respectively. The results showed that C. batrachus have the potential to be used as a cheaper and more readily available source of AChE than other more commercially available sources.

Isolation and characterization of an SDS-degrading Klebsiella oxytoca.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is one of the main components in the detergent and cosmetic industries. Its bioremediation by suitable microorganism has begun to receive greater attention as the amount of SDS usage increases to a point where treatment plants would not be able to cope with the increasing amount of SDS in wastewater. The purpose of this work was to isolate local SDS-degrading bacteria. Screening was carried out by the conventional enrichment-culture technique. Six SDS-degrading bacteria were isolated. Of these isolates, isolate S14 showed the highest degradation of SDS with 90% degradation after three days of incubation. Isolate S14 was tentatively identified as Klebsiella oxytoca strain DRY14 based on carbon utilization profiles using Biolog GN plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. SDS degradation by the bacterium was optimum at 37oC. Ammonium sulphate; at 2.0 g l-1, was found to be the best nitrogen source for the growth of strain DRY14. Maximum growth on SDS was observed at pH 7.25. The strain exhibited optimum growth at SDS concentration of 2.0 g l-1 and was completely inhibited at 10 g l-1 SDS. At the tolerable initial concentration of 2.0 g l-1, almost 80% of 2.0 g l-1 SDS was degraded after 4 days of incubation concomitant with increase in cellular growth. The Km (app) and Vmax (app) values calculated for the alkylsulfatase from this bacterium were 0.1 mM SDS and 1.07 >mol min-1 mg-1 protein, respectively.

Isolation and characterization of an acrylamide-degrading Antarctic bacterium.

The presence of acrylamide in the environment poses a threat due to its well known neurotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic properties. Human activities in various geographical areas are the main anthropogenic source of acrylamide pollution. In this work, an acrylamide-degrading bacterium was isolated from Antarctic soil. The physiological characteristics and optimum growth conditions of the acrylamide-degrading bacteria were investigated. The isolate was tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp. strain DRYJ7 based on carbon utilization profiles using Biolog GN plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. The results showed that the best carbon sources for growth was glucose and sucrose with no significant difference in terms of cellular growth between the two carbon sources (p>0.05). This was followed by fructose and maltose with fructose giving significantly higher cellular growth compared to maltose (p<0.05). Lactose and citric acid did not support growth. The optimum acrylamide concentration as a nitrogen source for cellular growth was at 500 mgl-1. At this concentration, bacterial growth showed a 2-day lag phase before degradation took place concomitant with an increase in cellular growth. The isolate exhibited optimum growth in between pH 7.5 and 8.5. The effect of incubation temperature on the growth of this isolate showed an optimum growth at 15°C. The characteristics of this isolate suggest that it would be useful in the bioremediation of acrylamide.

A simple method to screen for azo-dye-degrading bacteria.

A stab-culture method was adapted to screen for azo dyes-decolorizing bacteria from soil and water samples. Decolorized azo dye in the lower portion of the solid media indicates the presence of anaerobic azo dyes-decolorizing bacteria, while aerobic decolorizing bacteria decolorizes the surface portion of the solid media. Of twenty soil samples tested, one soil sample shows positive results for the decolourisation of two azo dyes; Biebrich scarlet (BS) and Direct blue 71 (DB) under anaerobic conditions. A gram negative and oxidase negative bacterial isolate was found to be the principal azo dyes degrader. The isolate was identified by using the BiologTM identification system as Serratia marcescens.

Reduction of Mo(VI) by the bacterium Serratia sp. strain DRY5.

The need to isolate efficient heavy metal reducers for cost effective bioremediation strategy have resulted in the isolation of a potent molybdenum-reducing bacterium. The isolate was tentatively identified as Serratia sp. strain DRY5 based on the Biolog GN carbon utilization profiles and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. Strain DRY5 produced 2.3 times the amount of Mo-blue than S. marcescens strain Dr.Y6, 23 times more than E. coli K12 and 7 times more than E. cloacae strain 48. Strain DRY5 required 37 oC and pH 7.0 for optimum molybdenum reduction. Carbon sources such as sucrose, maltose, glucose and glycerol, supported cellular growth and molybdate reduction after 24 hr of static incubation. The most optimum carbon source that supported reduction was sucrose at 1.0% (w/v). Ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, glutamic acid, cysteine, and valine supported growth and molybdate reduction with ammonium sulphate as the optimum nitrogen source at 0.2% (w/v). Molybdate reduction was optimally supported by 30 mM molybdate. The optimum concentration of phosphate for molybdate reduction was 5 mM when molybdate concentration was fixed at 30 mM and molybdate reduction was totally inhibited at 100 mM phosphate. Mo-blue produced by this strain shows a unique characteristic absorption profile with a maximum peak at 865 nm and a shoulder at 700 nm. Dialysis tubing experiment showed that 95.42% of Mo-blue was found in the dialysis tubing suggesting that the molybdate reduction seen in this bacterium was catalyzed by enzyme(s). The characteristics of isolate DRY5 suggest that it would be useful in the bioremediation of molybdenum-containing waste.

Isolation and characterization of an acrylamide-degrading Bacillus cereus.

Several local acrylamide-degrading bacteria have been isolated. One of the isolate that exhibited the highest growth on acrylamide as a nitrogen source was then further characterized. The isolate was tentatively identified as Bacillus cereus strain DRY135 based on carbon utilization profiles using Biolog GP plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. The isolate grew optimally in between the temperatures of 25 and 30oC and within the pH range of 6.8 to 7.0. Glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, mannitol, citric acid and sucrose supported growth with glucose being the best carbon source. Different concentrations of acrylamide ranging from 100 to 4000 mg l-1 incorporated into the growth media shows that the highest growth was obtained at acrylamide concentrations of between 500 to 1500 mg l-1. At 1000 mg l-1 of acrylamide, degradation was 90% completed after ten days of incubation with concomitant cell growth. The metabolite acrylic acid was detected in the media during degradation. Other amides such as methacrylamide, nicotinamide, acetamide, propionamide and urea supported growth with the highest growth supported by acetamide, propionamide and urea. Strain DRY135, however, was not able to assimilate 2-chloroacetamide. The characteristics of this isolate suggest that it would be useful in the bioremediation of acrylamide.

Development of an inhibitive enzyme assay for copper.

In this work the development of an inhibitive assay for copper using the molybdenum-reducing enzyme assay is presented. The enzyme is assayed using 12-molybdophosphoric acid at pH 5.0 as an electron acceptor substrate and NADH as the electron donor substrate. The enzyme converts the yellowish solution into a deep blue solution. The assay is based on the ability of copper to inhibit the molybdenum-reducing enzyme from the molybdate-reducing Serratia sp. Strain DRY5. Other heavy metals tested did not inhibit the enzyme at 10 mg l-1. The best model with high regression coefficient to measure copper inhibition is one-phase binding. The calculated IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) is 0.099 mg l-1 and the regression coefficient is 0.98. The comparative LC50, EC50 and IC50 data for copper in different toxicity tests show that the IC50 value for copper in this study is lower than those for immobilized urease, bromelain, Rainbow trout, R. meliloti, Baker’s Yeast dehydrogenase activity, Spirillum volutans, P. fluorescens, Aeromonas hydrophilia and synthetic activated sludge assays. However, the IC50 value is higher than those for Ulva pertusa and papain assays, but within the reported range for Daphnia magna and Microtox™ assays.

The development of an inhibitive determination method for zinc using a serine protease.

A new inhibitive heavy metals determination method using trypsin has been developed. The enzyme was assayed using the casein- Coomassie-dye-binding method. In the absence of inhibitors, casein was hydrolysed to completion and the Coomassie-dye was unable to stain the protein and the solution became brown. In the presence of metals, the hydrolysis of casein was inhibited and the solution remained blue. The bioassay was able to detect zinc and mercury with IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) values of 5.78 and 16.38 mg l-1 respectively. The limits of detection (LOD), for zinc and mercury were 0.06 mg l-1 (0.05-0.07, 95% confidence interval) and 1.06 mg l-1 (1.017-1.102, 95% confidence interval), respectively. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for zinc and mercury were 0.61 mgl-1 (0.51-0.74 at a 95% confidence interval) and 1.35 mg l-1 (1.29-1.40 at a 95% confidence interval), respectively. The IC50 value for zinc was much higher than the IC50 values for papain and Rainbow trout, but was within the range of Daphnia magna and MicrotoxTM. The IC50 value for zinc was only lower than those for immobilized urease. Other toxic heavy metals, such as lead, silver, arsenic, copper and cadmium, did not inhibit the enzyme at 20 mg l-1. Using this assay, we managed to detect elevated zinc concentrations in several environmental samples. Pesticides, such as carbaryl, flucythrinate, metolachlor, glyphosate, diuron, diazinon, endosulfan sulphate, atrazine, coumaphos, imidacloprid, dicamba and paraquat, showed no effect on the activity of trypsin relative to control (One-way ANOVA, F12, 26 = 0.3527, p> 0.05). Of the 17 xenobiotics tested, only (sodium dodecyl sulphate) SDS gave positive interference with 150 % activity higher than that of the control at 0.25% (v/v).

Isolation and characterization of a Pseudomonas diesel-degrading strain from Antarctica.

A diesel-degrading bacterium from Antarctica has been isolated. The isolate was tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp. strain DRYJ3 based on partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny and Biolog® GN microplate panels and Microlog® database. Growth on diesel was supported optimally by ammonium sulphate, nitrate and nitrite. The bacterium grew optimally in between 10 and 15 oC, pH 7.0 and 3.5% (v/v) diesel. The biodegradation of diesel oil by the strain increased in efficiency from the second to the sixth day of incubation from 1.4 to 18.8% before levelling off on the eighth day. n-alkane oxidizing and aldehyde reductase activities were detected in the crude enzyme preparation suggesting the existence of terminal n-alkane oxidizing activity in this bacterium.

Comparison of iron stores in healthy individuals and patients with ischemic heart disease

Excess body iron has been linked to atherosclerosis owing to its pro-oxidative properties. However, inconsistent results have emerged from the epidemiological studies linking iron status and the risk of cardiovascular diseases [CVD]. Objective of the present study is to compare iron stores of healthy individuals and patients with ischaemic heart disease [IHD]. A total of 137 subjects were included in the study, 90 patients of IHD and 47 healthy subjects with no history of IHD as controls. We compared body iron stores of patients and controls. Serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptor [sTfR] and sTfR/ferritin ratio were used as measures of body iron stores. Our results revealed that mean serum ferritin concentration of cases was significantly higher than controls. Moreover, mean sTfR and sTfR/ferritin ratio of controls was significantly higher than the patients. We conclude from our results that IHD patients have higher iron stores than healthy subjects suggesting a possible association between high iron stores and the risk of IHD

Lumbar spinal subarachnoid block for caesarean secction-a review of 200 cases

Lumbar spinal subarachnoid block is simple, cheap and effective method of anaesthesia for infra-umblical surgical procedures. In the present atmosphere of cost consciousness, spinal subarachnoid block is cost effective and can be of advantage in the developing countries like ours, where the medical gases and expert anaesthesiologists are the rare commodities and deficiently available in the remote areas. Subarachnoid analgesia is entering into its centennial anniversary this year as the first successful block was performed by August Bier in 1899 in Germany. In the present study the management of 200 cases of lower segment caesarian section under spinal subarachnoid block is presented and the advantages discussed. There was a low incidence of vomiting [9%] and no chances of aspiration even in the emergency nature of caesarian section. Cardiovascular side effects can be avoided by routine preloading with I. V fluids and the incidence of headache and backache can be reduced by using a small gauge L/P needle as is manifest in the present study. Spinal subarachnoid block has the advantage of the prolonged postoperative analgesia which can be prolonged further by adding narcotic analgesic to the local drug. In the present study, authors used hyperbaric local analgesic Cinchocaine [1:200 in 6% glucose] which has a definite spread of analgesia. Spinal analgesia has the additional advantage of very low chances of foetal depression and the 84.4% babies born after caesarian section under spinal block has normal Apgar score. The authors would recommend lumber spinal subarachnoid block with all its advantages both on the maternal side as well as on the foetal side

Incompatible blood transfusion during general anesthesia

About 100 mls of ABO incompatible blood was transfused accidentally to a woman during Cesarean-Section under general anesthesia. She developed cyanosis, irregular pulse and cardiac arrest within few minutes of the beginning of blood transfusion. Immediate Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was performed. The patient recovered within few minutes showing normally reacting pupils. ECG monitor had shown Cardiac arrest in asystole. After about five to ten minutes patient again had irregular pulse and had cardiac arrest. Same resuscitative measures were repeated and patient recovered again. The sequence of cardiac arrest and resuscitation repeated three times. Whole situation was reviewed very carefully. Nothing was new except the blood transfusion which was stopped. The blood and its bag was sent to the blood bank for recheck. The remaining operative period was uneventful. Patient was kept in recovery room till all the parameters like respiration, reflexes, pulse and blood pressure were normal. Blood bank recheck report revealed that the transfused blood was group "B" positive while the blood group of patient was "0" positive. Patient was kept in intensive care unit for three days and was discharged from hospital ten days later in absolutely normal condition

Germination and growth behaviour of trigonella foenum-graecum Linn, under different conditions of soil and light

The aim of the investigation was to study the germination and growth behaviour of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn., under different light and soil conditions. Three different conditions affected the germination and growth of the plant. Large number of seeds were germinated in organic soil in all the three conditions of light. Growth behaviour of species revealed that organic soil in the best for growth under full and partial light, while in shade the plants did not survive and died soon after the germination. The dry and fresh weight of the plants in full light were more than the plants in partial light, while the plants were small and stoutly branched, leaves were dark green, less in length and breadth in full light than the plants growing in partial light conditions. The number of pods and seeds were more in full light than other light conditions