Screening of efficient arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for Azadirachta indica under nursery condition: a step towards afforestation of semi-arid region of western India

To optimize nursery practices for efficient plant production procedures and to keep up to the ever growing demand of seedlings, identification of the most suitable species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), specific for a given tree species, is clearly a necessary task. Sixty days old seedlings of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) raised in root trainers were inoculated with six species of AMF and a mixed inoculum (consortia) and kept in green house. Performances of the treatments on this tree species were evaluated in terms of growth parameters like plant height shoot collar diameter, biomass and phosphorous uptake capabilities. Significant and varied increase in the growth parameters and phosphorous uptake was observed for most of the AMF species against control. Consortia culture was found to be the best suited AMF treatment for A.indica, while Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae were the best performing single species cultures. It is the first time in the state of Gujarat that a wide variety of AMF species, isolated from the typical semi-arid region of western India, were tested for the best growth performance with one of the most important tree species for the concerned region.

Extensively drug resistance (XDR) tb is not always fatal.

The chance of incidence of XDR TB is on the rise due to improper use of second line anti-tubercular drugs. XDR-TB is very difficult to treat successfully and is often referred to as "virtually untreatable form of TB". We herein report a case of XDR TB confirmed by bacteriological examination in a WHO recognised laboratory who after 12 months of regular treatment improved both clinically and radiologically with sputum smear conversion. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous report of any similar case in literature.

Possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory interactions of aspartame with opioids and NSAIDs.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of aspartame, an artificial sweetner and its combination with various opioids and NSAIDs for a possible synergistic response. The oral administration of aspartame (2-16mg/kg, po) significantly increased the pain threshold against acetic acid-induced writhes in mice. Co-administration of aspartame (2mg/kg, po) with nimesulide (2 mg/kg, po) and naproxen (5 mg/kg, po) significantly reduced acetic acid-induced writhes as compared to effects per se of individual drugs. Similarly when morphine (1 mg/kg, po) or pentazocine (1 mg/kg, po) was co-administered with aspartame it reduced the number of writhes as compared to their effects per se. Aspartame (4,8,16 mg/kg, po) significantly decreased carrageenan-induced increase in paw volume and also reversed the hyperalgesic effects in rats in combination with nimesulide (2 mg/kg, po).The study indicated that aspartame exerted analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects on its own and have a synergistic analgesic response with conventional analgesics of opioid and non-opioid type, respectively.

Pyrazinamide therapy and severity of haemoptysis.

Background: Pyrazinamide (PZA) has been known to adversely affect the haemostatic mechanisms in our body. Aim: This study aims to find out whether PZA has any influence on the course of haemoptysis. Methods: One hundred and six patients of active pulmonary tuberculosis and haemoptysis, having normal baseline coagulators profile, were included in this prospective study. One half of them were given PZA containing anti-tuberculosis regimens (PZA group) and the other half were prescribed non-PZA containing regimens (non-PZA group). They were managed conservatively and followed up for a period of 7 days. Results: Blood loss during therapy was moderate to massive in amount in majority (56.61%) of patients in the PZA group as compared to non-PZA group (35.84 %). Though the mean duration of haemoptysis was almost similar in both the groups (3.98 days in the PZA group versus 4.12 days in the non-PZA group), but in patients in whom haemoptysis lasted for more than 3 days, in the non-PZA group, majority (62.50 %) had minimal blood loss as compared to the PZA group (48.27 %). Concusion: Although PZA does not alter the mean duration of haemoptysis but omission of PZA can significantly reduce blood loss during therapy.

Clinical profile of neonatal sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal Sepsis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns both in developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study was to analyse the symptoms and sign of Neonatal Sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective hospital based study the date was collected from patient record files of two years (Jan. 2001-Dec.2002). RESULT: 106 Neonates with suspected sepsis were studied out of which 30 were culture positive. The most common organism was E. coli and the most common clinical presentation was the respiratory distress and letharginess. CONCLUSION: Infection in Neonate is an important cause of mortality and morbidity especially in low birth babies.

Comparative study of visceral and parietal pleural biopsy in the etiological diagnosis of pleural diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was planned to evaluate the efficacy and diagnostic reliability of conoctional parietal pleural biopsy to a technique of visceral pleural biopsy. METHOD: Study comprises of 54 diagnosed cases of pleural effusion and after establishing the clinical diagnosis for probable etiological causes. Then parietal pleural biopsy using absents punch biopsy needle and vesceral pleural biopsy using Prabhudesai et al technique was taken in all these patients. Size of the tissue yield; percentage of biopsies; diagnostic yield and sensitivity for these two techniques were compared. RESULTS: A definitive etiological diagnosis could be reached in 52 out of 54 patients on the basis of pleural biopsy (33 tuberculous, 16 malignant and 3 pyogenic), 23 (69.7%) tuberculous effusion patients were diagnosis by visceral pleural biopsy and 14 (42.4%) by parietal pleural biopsy out of 33 diagnosed tuberculous effusion cases. While for the 16 malignant effusions the visceral pleural biopsy showed suggestive histological change in 13 (81.25%) patients and the parietal pleural biopsy in seven (43.8%) with five (31.25%) of these patients being positive by both. All three pyogenic effusions showed only nonspecific inflammatory change in both pleurae. CONCLUSION: The mean size of biopsy sample obtained with modified Prabhudesai et al technique was significantly larger than that of the parietal pleural biopsy with Abrams punch (4.85 mm2 V/s 2.5 mm2 with P < 0.01). Adequate pleural tissue was identifiable in 94.4% and 90.7% of cases, respectively. The modified Prabhudesai et al technique proved to be effective safe and easily learnt. Visceral pleural sampling using this technique is a definite superior addition to the present diagnostic armamentarium of an idiopathic pleural effusion and its routine application together with parietal pleural biopsy will help to establish a definitive diagnosis in majority of patients with idiopathic pleural effusions.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzyme inhibitors namely rolipram and theophylline in pain and inflammation in experimental animals. Rolipram, a selective PDE IV inhibitor and theophylline a nonspecific PDE inhibitor exerted dose dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, respectively. Nimesulide (1, 2 mg/kg) produced significant anti-inflammatory effect. Further, nimesulide (0.5 mg/kg) potentiated analgesic effect of rolipram but it failed to modulate the anti-inflammatory effect of PDE inhibitors. Present study suggests that PDE enzymes might be playing a role in nociceptive and inflammatory responses in animals.

Influence of UV-irradiation on enzymes in mouse ocular lens: in vitro studies.

PURPOSE: In vitro study of the enzymes involved in aerobic, anaerobic and hexose monophosphate shunt in ultraviolet radiation exposed mice lenses. METHOD: Of the selected enzymes, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was representative of anaerobic glucose oxidation, succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) of the aerobic oxidation, and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) of the Hexose Monophosphate (HMP) shunt. Other enzymes studied were ATPase and glutathione reductase (GR). RESULTS: Experiments with mice lenses in vitro showed that transparent lens became opaque following UV-irradiation at 360 nm. Opacification of the lens was accompanied by a change in enzyme activities for energy metabolism. CONCLUSION: These changes were progressive in a manner analogous to sequential morphological changes, which would be crucial in maintaining lens transparency.

Antinociceptive effect of sumatriptan in mice.

Antinociceptive effect of the antimigraine drug sumatriptan (5-HT1A agonist) was studied against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Sumatriptan produced the effect in a dose-dependent manner (1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, s.c.). Naloxone (1 mg/kg i.p.) an opiate antagonist failed to reverse sumatriptan-induced antinociception. Cholinomimetic physostigmine (0.05 mg/kg, i.p.) potentiated and the muscarinic antagonist atropine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked the antinociceptive effect of sumatriptan, respectively. The antinociceptive effect of sumatriptan was compared with an another 5-HT agonist (5-HT1A) buspirone which also produced antinociception. Like sumatriptan-analgesia, the buspirone response was also potentiated by physostigmine in atropine sensitive way. Further, buspirone potentiated the analgesic effect of sumatriptan. These observations suggest that 5-HT1A agonists produce antinociception possibly by modulating central cholinergic activity.

Effect of additional oral ofloxacin administration in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

The effect of additional oral ofloxacin administration was evaluated in 19 HIV-negative patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Their mean duration of illness was 3.6 years. Based on chest roentgenograms, 13 patients had advanced disease and 6 had moderate disease. In addition to 'second-line drugs', patients were treated with oral ofloxacin; high dose 800 mg per day (12 patients), low dose 400 mg per day (2 patients) and intermittent twice a week regimen of 800 mg a day (5 patients). With treatment, there was a significant clinical improvement. Sputum smear conversion occurred in 18 patients (mean duration 15 weeks) and this sputum smear negativity persisted for a mean duration of 7 months. Chest roentgenograms revealed regression of lesions in 18 patients. Reversible side effects were encountered in four patients. Results of present study suggest that additional administration of oral ofloxacin is both effective and safe for the treatment of MDR-TB.

Fatal pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium smegmetis in an infant.

Mycobacterium smegmetis is a rapidly growing mycobacteria which is usually regarded as an environmental saorophyte. Recently it has been isolated from human beings mainly from skin and soft tissue lesions. Pulmonary lesions are extremely rare. A case of pulmonary consolidation caused by M. smegmetis in an infant is reported. The outcome was fatal. The organism was resistant to various antitubercular drugs. A brief review is presented.

Ultrasonic evaluation of pleural opacities.

Fifty patients of pleural effusion were subjected to radiological and ultrasonic examinations. The results of both examinations were compared and presented here. The study was undertaken to assess the comparative efficacy of ultrasonography in diagnosing pleural effusion.

Airway obstruction in bronchiectasis and its reversibility--a study of 38 patients.

Thirty-eight patients (20 males and 18 females) with bronchiectasis were studied for the evidence of airway obstruction and its reversibility in response to subcutaneous terbutaline. There was an improvement in VC (8.56%), FEV1 (6.36%), PEFR (15%) and PEF 25-75% (18%) respectively. The difference being statistically significant in VC and highly significant in FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75 as compared to initial values and in 6 patients the improvement in FEV1 was more than 15%. The improvement in airway obstruction was not related to the character of expectoration. It is suggested that all the patients of bronchiectasis should be assessed for the reversibility of airway obstruction and those showing a reversible pattern be treated accordingly.

Hepatopulmonary amoebiasis. Efficacy of various treatment regimens containing dehydroemetine and/or metronidazole.

Thirty three patients with hepatopulmonary amoebiasis were studied. Pulmonary involvement was observed in 55%, pleuro-pulmonary lesions in 30%. Typical chocolate coloured sputum was obtained in 24% and pleural fluid in 21% of patients. Entamoeba histolytica were demonstrable in the sputum in only 6% and in the pleural fluid in 15%. The best therapeutic results were obtained with a combination of dehydroemetine and metronidazole. However, metronidazole was found to be nearly as effective as dehydroemetine, and metronidazole 400 mg and 800 mg were equally effective.

Bronchogenic carcinoma. A study of 109 cases.

The clinical profile of 109 cases of bronchogenic carcinoma has been studied. Definite histopathological typing of malignancy was possible in 61 patients, squamous cell carcinoma being the commonest tumour in 27 followed by small cell carcinoma in 16, adenocarcinoma in 11 and large cell carcinoma in 7. Another 23 patients showed changes suggestive of malignancy on histological/cytological examination. Definitive diagnosis was obtained in half of the patients by bronchial biopsy, in 16% by bronchial aspiration fluid cytology, in 13% by pleural biopsy, in 11% by lymph node biopsy and in others by pleural fluid cytology, lung biopsy and skin biopsy. Commonest radiological involvement among different cell types was hilar involvement in small cell carcinoma in 62%, evidence of bronchial obstruction (collapse/consolidation) in squamous cell carcinoma in 56%, peripheral mass in adenocarcinoma in 54% and cavitation in a mass in squamous cell carcinoma in 15% cases.

Prevalence of atypical mycobacteria in sputum of patients undergoing treatment at a tuberculosis clinic.

A total of 4,554 sputum specimens of 3,943 patients were examined with a view to isolate atypical mycobacteria. Of these 604 (13.3%) specimens were culture positive for AFB, out of which 48 cultures (7.9%) from 47 patients were identified as atypical mycobacteria. Two patients were considered as probable cases of atypical mycobacterial disease while in the remaining 45 patients, atypical mycobacteria appeared to colonize the lungs without producing any disease.