Isolation and molecular identification of Mycoplasma equigenitalium from equine genital tracts in northern India

Although Mycoplasma equigenitalium has been implicated in equine reproductive problems, its prevalence is largely unexplored due to the lack of specific diagnostic tests. To address this limitation, the authors developed and optimized species-specific primer pairs that target M. eguigenitalium rpoB [RNA polymerase B subunit] gene sequences. The specificity of the PCR assay developed in this study was determined using 12 field isolates including the type strain of M. equigenitalium and other Mycoplasma species. In the field study, a total of 122 mare and stallion samples comprising of 50 clinical and 72 random samples were subjected to speciesspecific PCR assay to detect M. equigenitalium in equine genital tracts. Mycoplasma equigenitalium [MEG] species-specific PCR detected 22.13% positive samples; however, only 9.01% of the samples were found to be positive using the conventional culture technique. The PCR established in this study could be used for rapid, specific and accurate diagnosis of M. equigenitalium strains. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report addressing the development and evaluation of species-specific PCR to detect M. equigenitalium

Simulation and comparison of radiology X-ray spectra by MCNP and GEANT4 codes

Monte Carlo method is a very accurate method to optimize medical diagnostic radiology spectra and simulation of radiation transportation. Using MCNP code, radiology and mammography attenuated x-rayspectraweresimulated.The IPEM report number 78 was used as a reference to compare with the GEANT4 and MCNP simulations because of its popularity and wide availability. The results of GEANT4 in 40keV showed a good homogeneity with IPEM report in terms of intensity, whilst the MCNP code in tube voltage 150kVp showed a very good agreement. Whereas theGEANT4outputintensityinallcases was less than the IPEM report, MCNP code showed higher characteristic peak intensity. The MCNP results were obtained with a less error percentage in comparison with IPEM reportexceptatlowenergies. The comparison shows a good agreement between these two codes. MCNP shows a very goodagreement in high tube voltage whereas GEANT4 showsvery goodagreement in low tube voltage

Immediate implants in dentistry: a review

Presently dental implants are one of the most exciting and rapidly developing aspects of dental practice. Implant dentistry has come a long way from skepticism to being accepted as the best modality to treat complete or partial edentulism. In the last two decades a great deal of activity in the field has occurred with the development of better materials and newer techniques that have resulted in improved clinical performance of implants. Placement of dental implants into fresh extraction sites offers a number of significant advantages to both the patients and the clinicians. Although some of the early implant practitioners assume that long term implant survival depended on placement on healed alveolar ridge, the growing body of evidence confirms that immediate implant placement yields excellent and predictable results. Considering the important role of a Periodontist in the insertion and maintenance of implant, the available literature has been reviewed

Antifungal Activity of Nor-securinine Against Some Phytopathogenic Fungi

Crude extracts and active principles from medicinal plants have shown potential role in controlling plant diseases in glasshouses as well as in fields as one of the safest and ecofriendly methods. The effect of nor-securinine (an alkaloid) isolated from Phyllanthus amarus has been seen against spore germination of some fungi (Alternaria brassicae, A. solani, Curvularia pennisetti, Curvularia sp., Erysiphe pisi, Helminthosporium frumentacei) as well as pea powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) under glasshouse conditions. The sensitivity of fungi to nor-securinine varied considerably. Nor-securinine was effective against most of the fungi. H. frumentacei was more sensitive even at the lowest concentration (1,000 microg/ml). Likewise conidia of E. pisi were also inhibited in partially or completely appressorium formation. Pre-inoculation treatment showed greater efficacy than post-inoculation in inhibiting powdery mildew development on pea plants in a glasshouse. Maximum inhibition occurred at 2000 microg/ml

Effect of Ent-norsecurinine, an Alkaloid, on Spore Germination of Some Fungi

The inhibitory activity of ent-norsecurinine alkaloid was evaluated against spore germination of some plant pathogenic fungi (Curvularia maculans, Curvularia species, C. palliscens, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum species, Alternaria solani, A. brassicae, Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium echinoclova and H. penniseti). It inhibited spore germination of all the test fungi. C. maculans, C. species, and C. palliscens were the most sensitive as complete inhibition of spore germination was observed at 1000 ppm. A. solani was not inhibited by this chemical.