Carbon isotope fractionation studies of bacterial strain Rhodococcus rhodochrous MTCC 291.

Carbon isotope fractionation associated with the aerobic consumption of propane (C3) were determined using Rhodococcus rhodochrous MTCC 291 bacterial strain to estimate the amount of hydrocarbon oxidized using GC, fractionation of δ13C carbon isotopes of propane and CO2 using GC-C-IRMS and growth of bacteria by UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. The initial δ13C isotopic value of propane was -34 ‰ and after incubation the changes of the isotopic values have been determined on 6th, 10th, 14th, and 17th days. The propane isotopic fractionation value was found to be maximum of -38.0 ‰ with an average value of -36.5 ‰ and a standard deviation of -1.22 ‰. The initial δ13C isotopic value of CO2 was -19.601 ‰. The CO2 isotopic fractionation value was found to be maximum of -29.153 ‰ with an average value of -26.859 ‰ and a standard deviation of -28.338 ‰. The consumption of propane gas was estimated using Gas Chromatograph. The initial concentration of propane in control was found to be 53 ppm. On incubation, the consumption of the propane gas was observed to be of 26 ppm. The carbon isotope fractionation presented here may be applied to estimate the extent of C1-C4 oxidation in natural gas samples, and should prove useful in further studying the microbial oxidation of these compounds in the natural environment.

Evaluation of potable groundwater quality in some villages of Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Reconnaissance hydrochemical survey was conducted in some villages of Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh to assess the quality of groundwater, which is mainly used for drinking purpose. The study consists of the determination of physico-chemical properties, trace metals, heavy metals and rare earth elements in water samples. The data showed the variation of the investigated parameters in samples as follows: pH 6.92 to 8.32, EC 192 to 2706 µS cm-1, TDS 129.18 to 1813.02 ppm. The pH of the waters was within the permissible limits whereas EC and TDS were above the permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO). Total 27 elements (Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba and Pb) were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The concentration of elements in water samples ranged between 0.063 to 0.611 mg l-1 for B, 11.273 to 392 mg l-1 for Na, 5.871 to 77.475 mg l-1 for Mg, 0.035 to 1.905 mg l-1 for Al, 0.752 to 227.893 mg l-1 for K, 11.556 to 121.655 mg l-1 for Ca and 0.076 to 0.669 mg l-1 for Fe respectively. The concentrations of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, and Fe exceeded the permissible limits of WHO and BIS guidelines for drinking water quality. In the present study, Bhimavaram, Kazipalli, Kannepalli and Chennur areas of the Adilabad are especially prone to geogenic contamination. Overall water quality was found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes.

Waugh's Syndrome.

A case of Waugh's Syndrome, association of malrotation and intussusception, is being reported. It is suggested that this possibility must be kept in mind and looked for, when a case of intussusception is being treated either by surgery or by hydrostatic reduction. If not when the child develops intestinal problems like obstruction, secondary to malrotation, in the post operative period, it could be misdiagnosed as recurrent intussusception.

Pyriform sinus fistula.

Pyriform sinus fistulae/sinuses are rare causes of recurrent cervical abscess, especially on the left side. They can also present as acute thyroiditis. Treatment in the form of simple incision and drainage is invariably unsuccessful, and the entity may be confused with the residual tract of a second branchial arch anomaly. We report a case of pyriform sinus fistula, and believe that this is only the second case report in India. We feel that greater awareness can lead to proper and appropriate diagnosis of this anomaly.

Achalasia in siblings in infancy.

Achalasia is rare in children, more so familial. We report two siblings with familial achalasia who presented in their infancy with vomiting and failure to thrive. Achalasia can be misdiagnosed as upper gastrointestinal obstruction as happened in one of our siblings. Esophageal contrast roentgenography is diagnostic. Both the children were treated successfully by transabdominal esophagomyotomy with fundoplication.

Spontaneous biliary perforation presenting as gastric outlet obstruction.

Spontaneous biliary perforation (SBP) is a rare, surgically correctable cause of jaundice in neonates. The presenting feature is usually biliary ascites, and in rare cases, biliary peritonitis. This article reports a case of SBP, which presented with features of gastric outlet obstruction, leading to an erroneous preoperative diagnosis. Most probably this is the first report of such an unusual presentation of SBP. The child underwent exploratory laparotomy and a bilio-enteric bypass with drainage of the right subhepatic space, which led to a prompt resolution of the symptoms.

Intraperitoneal abscess in a new born secondary to Klebsiella septicaemia--a case report.

A five day old female baby was admitted with distension of abdomen since birth and nonbilious vomiting, fever of one day duration. Blood culture grew Klebsiella pneumoniae. Abdominal exploration revealed thick walled cavity containing purulent fluid grew klebsiella pneumoniae which was sensitive to various antibiotics including gentamycin. The child was treated with injection gentamycin and ceftazidime. The child had uneventful recovery and is doing well 3 years post operatively.

Bacteriology of peritoneal fluid in paediatric surgical emergencies.

This study deals with the incidence of aerobic and anaerobic organisms of the peritoneal fluid of 60 consecutive children subjected to emergency celiotomy. Two-thirds of the cases were below the age of year. Peritoneal fluid was collected immediately after entering the peritoneal cavity and inoculated both for aerobic an anaerobic cultures. Bacterial growth occurred in 34 (57%) of the specimens. Anaerobic bacteria alone grew in 3 (5%) of the specimens, aerobes alone in 22 (37%) of specimens. A mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria grew in 9 (15%) of the specimens. There were 44 aerobic and 19 anaerobic isolates. All anaerobes were sensitive to metronidazole while most of the aerobes were sensitive to gentamycin. Culture was positive in 20 out of 42 (47.6%) specimens, where the peritoneal fluid was clear and there was no evidence of peritoneal contamination at the time of surgery.

Meckel's diverticulum in children.

Twenty one surgically documented cases of Meckel's diverticulum in children treated at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal since 1981 are reviewed. Of them, 14 presented with intestinal obstruction, 2 with pain abdomen, 2 with Littre's hernia and 2 were found incidentally. Only one patient presented with gastrointestinal bleeding. The clinical profile of these patients is analyzed.

Intra-abdominal lymphatic cysts in children.

Ten children with intra abdominal lymphatic cysts operated in the last 8 years are reported. They formed 0.50% of all pediatric surgical admissions and 33.3% of all intra-abdominal cystic lesions. The mean age was 5 1/2 years and the male-female ratio was 1:1. Half the cysts were in the mesentery and 30% in the omentum. The other 2 cysts were located at unusual sites. Two children having mesenteric cysts presented as abdominal emergencies. Three of them were wrongly diagnosed and treated for tuberculous ascites before laparotomy. Four mesenteric cysts were excised along with the adjoining intestinal segment, and one was drained by tube marsupialisation. All 3 omental cysts and the two cysts at unusual sites were excised in toto. There was no mortality or morbidity.