Isolation, purification and characterization of the egg-yolk proteins from the oocytes of the Indian freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

In oviparous organisms, yolk accumulation in the oocytes is critical and indispensable for the development of the newly hatched young ones. In fish and many other oviparous vertebrates, the major constituents of the egg-yolk are synthesized as a precursor in the liver. The precursor is transported to the oocyte for uptake and cleaved into major yolk proteins lipovitellin, phosvitin and β’-components. The eggs of Channa punctatus are pelagic, have large oil globule and exceptionally high lipid content. Lipovitellin was isolated by single step gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose 6B. Purified native lipovitellin showed immunological reactivity with vitellogenin antiserum. Phosvitin isolated by phenol extraction method could not be visualized with routine protein staining methods, whereas incorporation of trivalent ions in the coomassie brilliant blue stained phosvitin. It was characterized by in vivo labeling of egg-yolk proteins with 32P. The molecular mass of murrel phosvitin was less than 14,000 kDa.

Diameter of anterior cerebral artery - An anatomical study.

Background & objectives: The anterior cerebral artery is the smaller of the two terminal branches of the internal carotid. The cerebral arteries lie between their origins and their junctions with the corresponding communicating arteries. The haemodynamics of the circle of Willis is influenced by variations in the caliber of the segments of the anterior and posterior cerebral arteries and their communicating arteries. Arteries forming parts of circle of Willis frequently vary in size. Methods: In the present study the diameter of A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery, forming the anterior part of the circle of Willis, is measured in the brains of 50 embalmed cadavers. . The measurements of the diameters of the artery were taken using an electronic digital calliper with 300mm operating instructions (0.001mm accuracy). Results: The anterior cerebral artery at point ‘A ’has a diameter of 2.79mm and 2.39mm on left and right sides respectively and at point ‘B ’ it has a diameter of 2.73mm and 2.38mm on left and right sides respectively. Interpretation & conclusion: The findings suggest that the left anterior cerebral artery has a larger diameter than the right anterior cerebral artery. The information regarding size and co-relation of the considered arteries may be useful for better interpretation of angiographic images and for deeper understanding of cerebral pathology. A knowledge of the normal size of these vessels may also be of use to the surgeon in assessing the feasibility of shunt operations and in the choice of patients.

Tannase production by Penicillium atramentosum KM under SSF and its applications in wine clarification and tea cream solubilization

Tannin acyl hydrolase commonly known as tannase is an industrially important enzyme having a wide range of applications, so there is always a scope for novel tannase with better characteristics. A newly isolated tannase-yielding fungal strain identified as Penicillium atramentosum KM was used for tannase production under solid-state fermentation (SSF) using different agro residues like amla (Phyllanthus emblica), ber (Zyzyphus mauritiana), jamun (Syzygium cumini), Jamoa (Eugenia cuspidate) and keekar (Acacia nilotica) leaves. Among these substrates, maximal extracellular tannase production i.e. 170.75 U/gds and 165.56 U/gds was obtained with jamun and keekar leaves respectively at 28ºC after 96 h. A substrate to distilled water ratio of 1:2 (w/v) was found to be the best for tannase production. Supplementation of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) as nitrogen source had enhanced tannase production both in jamun and keekar leaves. Applications of the enzyme were studied in wine clarification and tea cream solubilization. It resulted in 38.05 percent reduction of tannic acid content in case of jamun wine, 43.59 percent reduction in case of grape wine and 74 percent reduction in the tea extract after 3 h at 35ºC.

Acute myocardial infarction secondary to myocardial bridge treated with drug-eluting stent.

We report a case of myocardial bridge in left anterior descending coronary artery associated with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. The patient had many unusual features like coronary ectasia and atherosclerosis within the myocardial bridge segment. The patient was treated with drug-eluting stent under intravascular ultrasound guidance with good result over 6 months follow-up.

Congenital atresia of left main coronary artery.

We report a rare case of congenital atresia of left main coronary artery in an elderly male presenting with angina and positive stress thallium test. Coronary angiogram showed absence of left main coronary artery in the left aortic sinus. Collaterals from right coronary artery supplied left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery territories. Despite collaterals, the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries were rudimentary. Poor size of left-sided arteries precluded any surgical revascularization which is the treatment of choice in this rare entity.

Hallervorden spatz disease: MR and pathological findings of a rare case.

We describe a child with pathologically proven Hallervorden Spatz disease. He presented with extrapyramidal symptoms and characteristic "eye-of-the-tiger" sign on magnetic resonance imaging. He was given the possible benefit if any of deep brain stimulation with no much improvement. Pathological examination of the brain showed iron deposition in bilateral globus pallidi, spongiform change and neuron axonal degeneration (spheroids).

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in an embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion.

A young lady developed left middle cerebral artery embolism after percutaneous transseptal mitral commissurotomy. She was successfully treated with immediate percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. There was complete recovery of neurological deficit.

Transfer of sick children by air.

The annual growth rate of air traffic is increasing at the rate of about 7% all over the world. Children and adolescents make a significant chunk of travelling population. Some of the neonates too take to civil air and travel under various circumstances. Others travel for the reasons of medical air evacuation and better treatment at some specialized tertiary care centers, within India or abroad or simply as medical emergency. With the increasing availability of air taxis and air ambulances, it has become necessary for the pediatricians to know the consequences and potential hazards of transfer of the sick by air, lest they lose their patients unintentionally despite professional proficiency. Air evacuation of sick child is a highly specialized job, much different from an evacuation by any fast car ambulance. The paper discusses the general impact of aviation stresses in civil aviation with special reference to sick neonates, children and adolescents, and provides general guidelines, which could be applied to any particular clinical condition with knowledge of underlying physiological processes and anticipated alterations in cabin environment. It also brings out the issues of proper pre-flight assessment, fitness to undertake air transfer, general handling of patient under transfer, desirable onboard procedures, do s and don ts during air transfer, limitations of conventional neonatal/child resuscitation kits, available medical support in aircraft cabins, proper use of hardware including physiology monitoring systems, permissible specialized medical aids, and the requirement and use of equipment during air evacuation. The importance of high awareness and preventive measures is reiterated.

Study of head injury victims in fatal road traffic accidents in Delhi.

The study revealed 31% were the victims of Head injury injury in this part of Delhi in vehicular accidents. Although majority of the fatalities were on the spot quite a number of such victims survived for a varied period. A multipronged approach including the preventive and curative measures for this man-made calamity is the need of the hour. Amongst various preventive measure are wearing helmet be made compulsory for both the driver and pillion riders of two-wheelers, development of a safe traffic sense amongst the road users. Traffic Police should be honest, exemplary punishment for the reckless driver, decongestion of Delhi roads etc. The curative measures are facilities of CT scanners and neurosurgeons in all the major hospitals, provision of first-aid in the PCR (Police control room) vans, to institute immediate treatment to the victim without waiting for the medico-legal formalities, opening of more fully equipped Accident and trauma centres. It is high time the concerned authorities gave some serious thought towards this avoidable epidemic on Delhi roads.

Anaerobic and aerobic microflora of pouch of Douglas aspirate v/s high vaginal swab in cases of pelvic inflammatory disease.

The anaerobic and aerobic bacterial flora in pouch of Douglas (POD) aspirate and high vaginal swabs (HVS) was studied in 43 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) using standard techniques. High vaginal swabs from 20 healthy women were included as controls. Anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were isolated from 37 (86%) HVS and 31 (72%) POD aspirates from these 43 women. A total of 100 aerobic and 10 anaerobic bacterial strains were recovered from both the sites. Coagulase negative staphylococci (28), Escherichia coli (23) and Streptococcus faecalis (14) were predominant aerobic bacteria. Of the anaerobes, peptostreptococci species and Bacteroides species were more common, polymicrobial flora (more than one type of organism) was present in a total of 27 specimens. However mixture of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were seen in only 5 specimens. Of the 20 control specimens, ten were positive for organisms. Ten aerobic and 3 anaerobic bacterial strains were recovered.

An outbreak of viral hepatitis E: role of community practices.

A small localised outbreak of viral hepatitis due to HEV occurred in an educated and well placed community. The overall attack rate was found to be 1.9%; the children and adults were equally affected. No fatality was observed. Five blood samples collected from the cases of jaundice were found negative for Anti HAV IgM, HBsAg and Anti HBc IgM, but positive for Anti HEV. The infection spread by contamination of piped water by sewage system resulting from scarcity of water, intermittent water supply and installation of on-line private booster pumps by the residents. Community action, especially the boiling of drinking water till the quality of piped water improved, restricted jaundice cases to only one incubation period. The outbreak highlights the importance of community behaviour in first precipitating the crisis and then limitating the damage.