Characterization of intrinsic variability of Mesorhizobium ciceri isolates of cultivated fields.

A large number of putative rhizobial isolates were obtained from the root nodules of various chickpea cultivars growing in agricultural research fields. Of these, thirty were selected and characterized for traits, such as, generation time, intrinsic azide resistance and several symbiotic characters.

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following a single dose of succinylcholine.

A 30-year old with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure is presented. The attack followed a minor operation under general anaesthesia during which succinylcholine was administered as muscle relaxant. The fasciculations which occurred immediately after injection of succinylcholine may possibly have precipitated rhabdomyolysis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis associated with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis with hemiparesis occurred in a young woman who was not a known diabetic. Rhyzopus species grew from the initial nasal biopsy. The patient was treated with amphotericin B, in addition to control of diabetic ketoacidosis. Surgical intervention was not done. The patient died on the fourth day of hospitalisation.

Rapid diagnostic test of Campylobacter pylori infection in patients of gastritis, duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer. A study of 100 cases.

Campylobacter pylori has been cultured from 85-90% of antral biopsies of patients of gastritis, duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer at different centres in the world. It has been now firmly implicated in the aetiology of active gastritis as well as suspected to cause repeated recurrences of peptic ulcers. However, the organism is very fastidious and is difficult to grow by standard culture methods as a result of which low positivity is often obtained even in well equipped centres. The rapid biopsy urease test for the diagnosis of C pylori infection, in which the biopsy is directly cultured in a solid medium containing urea, is a very simple test. A change in colour indicates the growth of the organism. This test is 100% specific and 98% sensitive. We performed this test in 100 patients; 93 of gastritis, 6 of DU and 1 of GU during a three month period. 87 of 93 cases of gastritis (90%) and all 6 cases of DU (100%) were positive. The single case of gastric ulcer was negative. Treatment of C pylori positive cases showed that they responded poorly to 4 weeks therapy with tinidazole; 33% were cured after 2 weeks of 1.5 g amoxycillin daily, but all responded when the therapy was continued for 4 weeks.