Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus intracranial abscess: An analytical series and review on molecular, surgical and medical aspects

Purpose: Intracranial abscess caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is rare and unexplored. The aim of the present study is to examine the prevalence, clinical and molecular characteristics, treatment options and outcome of MRSA intracranial abscess over a period of 6 years. Patientsand Methods: A total of 21 patients were included in this retrospective study. The demographic and clinical details of all the patients were collected. Molecular typing including staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, spa typing and polymerase chain reaction of Panton–Valentine leucocidin toxin (PVL) gene for the latter 6 isolates was performed. Results: The paediatric population was the most affected group (33.3%). The primary route of infection was post-operative/trauma in 7 (33.3%) cases. All the patients were treated surgically either by aspiration or excision. Fifteen (71%) patients received anti-MRSA treatment with vancomycin or linezolid, where linezolid-treated patients showed better prognosis. Of the 11 patients who were on follow-up, unfavourable outcome was observed in 3 (27.3%) cases and 8 (72.7%) cases improved. The molecular typing of six isolates revealed four community-associated (CA) MRSA, one each of livestock-associated (LA) and healthcare-associated MRSA with PVL gene noted in all. Conclusion: We propose that timely diagnosis, surgical intervention and appropriate anti-MRSA treatment would contribute to better outcome. The occurrence of CA-MRSA and LA-MRSA infection in the central nervous system signifies the threat from the community and livestock reservoir, thus drawing attention towards surveillance and tracking to understand the epidemiology and implement infection control measures.

Amlodipine Abridged Calcium Associated Complex-I Inhibition in 6-OHDA Lesioned Parkinson’s Rat.

Aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate Amlodipine, a L-type calcium channel blocker for alleviating or reducing the neurodegeneration in 6-OHDA lesioned rat models. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, Rocklands, Ooty, India between October 2011 and may 2012. Methodology: Male adult Wistar rats were given with intra-cerebroventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the median forebrain bundle and treated post 48 hours with Amlodipine (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) per oral for 30 days. Motor coordination, striatal dopamine, mid brain calcium and complex-I activity were estimated. Data were statistically analyzed and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Amlodipine regained motor coordination, mid-brain dopamine content, and prevented calcium overload and complex I activity at both dose levels when compared with 6-OHDA control group. Alleviation of calcium overload and complex I inhibition with subsequent increase in dopamine level in Parkinson’s rats were observed at the end of treatment period. Conclusion: The experimental study gave light to a new therapeutic intervention of Amlodipine in preventing neuronal morbidity in Parkinson’s disease (PD). So, further neuro-molecular study with Amlodipine in experimental PD is warranted in future.

Hepatoprotective properties of Caesalpinia sappan Linn. heartwood on carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity.

Aim of the study was to investigate the methanol and aqueous extracts of heartwood of C. sappan for its hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 induced toxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and animals. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes were exposed to CCl4 (1%) along with/without various concentrations of methanolic and aqueous extract of C. sappan (1000-800 µg/ml) and the levels of selected liver enzymes were estimated. Antihepatotoxic effect of methanolic extract was observed in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes at concentrations 1000-800 µg/ml and was found to be similar to that of standard drug silymarin. Wistar strain albino rat model was used for the investigation of in vivo hepatoprotective properties of aqueous and methanolic extract of C. sappan (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight). Liver damage was induced by ip administration of CCl4 (30%) suspended in olive oil (1 ml/kg body weight). Both the tested extracts showed potent hepatoprotective activity at 200 mg/kg body weight test dose which was comparable with that of the standard silymarin used in similar test dose. The methanolic and aqueous extract was able to restore the biochemical levels to normal which were altered due to CCl4 intoxication in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and also in animals.

An assessment of plankton population of Cauvery river with reference to pollution.

Studies on plankton of river Cauvery water, Mettur, Salem District, Tamil Nadu was made to assess the pollution of water from January 2003 to December 2003. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the variation in river water showed high quantity of phytoplankton and zooplankton population throughout the study period and rotifers formed dominated group over other groups of organisms. The present study revealed that the water of river Cauvery is highly polluted by direct contamination of sewage and other industrial effluents.

Antiviral activity of medicinal plants of Nilgiris.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Medicinal plants have been traditionally used for different kinds of ailments including infectious diseases. There is an increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections with the available antiviral drugs often leads to the problem of viral resistance. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes a variety of life threatening diseases. Since the chemotherapeutic agents available for HSV infections are either low in quality or limited in efficiency, there is a need to search for new and more effective antiviral agents for HSV infections. Therefore in the present study 18 plants with ethnomedical background from different families were screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1. METHODS: Different parts of the plants collected from in and around Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu were extracted with different solvents to obtain crude extracts. These extracts were screened for their cytotoxicity against Vero cell line by assay microculture tetrazolium (MTT) trypan blue dye exclusion, proteins estimation and 3H labeling. Antiviral properties of the plant extracts were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay and virus yield reduction assay. RESULTS: Three plant extracts Hypericum mysorense, Hypericum hookerianum and Usnea complanta exhibited significant antiviral activity at a concentration non toxic to the cell line used. The extracts of Melia dubia, Cryptostegia grandiflora and essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis showed partial activity at higher concentrations. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Some of the medicinal plants have shown antiviral activity. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of these plants which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents.