Prognostic significance of non-enteric blood culture in diabetic foot disease

The diabetic foot is a group of syndromes in which ischemia, neuropathy and infection leads to tissue breakdown resulting in morbidity and possible lower extremity amputation. The diagnosis is based on clinical criteria investigations. It is imperative that such patients are managed by a team of Physician, Surgeon, Social care worker, Physiotherapist and a Podiatrist. In this study we included 100 diabetic foot patients in the age group of 30 to 80 years. The study was done for a period of one year. 47% of our patients had Meggit Wagner grade 3 and 10% had grade 5. 27% of the patients had renal failure and 30% had anemia. These patients were subjected to non-enteric culture of blood under sterile precautions. 80% of our patients showed positive culture. The organisms commonly isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, beta haemolytic Streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Less commonly isolated were Citrobacter species, Proteus mirabilis and anaerobes. 40% of patients with positive culture went on to have lower extremity amputation. Thus we concluded that non enteric culture in diabetic foot disease has prognostic significance and the spectrum of infection in diabetic foot disease is polymicrobial in nature and at par with the literature.

A study on causes and management of acute scrotal conditions

Acute scrotal conditions form a significant proportion of cases in surgical ward. They contribute to significant morbidity in younger age group and mortality in older age group. In this study we have attempted to study the causes, aetiology, prevalence and management of acute scrotal conditions. The prevalence in descending order was Acute epididymo orchitis, Pyocele, Hematocele, Fournier’s gangrene, Acute filarial scrotum, Testicular torsion, Scrotal abscess, Mumps orchitis, scrotal trauma. Of these Epididymo orchitis, mumps orchitis and Filarial scrotum were treated conservatively with antibiotics, rest and scrotal support. Fournier’s gangrene, Scrotal abscess and scrotal trauma with wound debridement and reconstruction. Pyocele and hematocele by incision and evacuation of pus and blood respectively. Testicular torsion is treated by surgical de rotation and B/L orchidopexy. Orchidectomy was done if warranted in hematocele, pyocele, and testicular torsion.

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Towards Dengue Fever Among Patients In Hospital Taiping

@#Dengue fever is the most common vector-borne disease and major concern issues in Malaysia. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate factors influencing knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding dengue fever among patients in Hospital Taiping. A total of 300 patients were incorporated into a descriptive, public based cross-sectional study. The questionnaires were formulated to include several questions on demographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning dengue fever. Most of the respondents were from the age group of more than 35 (43.3%). The largest representations of the participants were Malay (59.3%), married (65.7%), SPM is the highest education level (53.3%), and 60.7% of the participants were conscious about dengue fever eruption. Television/radio was voted as the frequent source of information (97.3%). There is no significant relationship between knowledge score and socio-demographic factors. However, around 57.0% of the respondents believe that abdominal pain is not a symptom of dengue fever and 32% convinced that blood transfusion can transmit dengue. No significant correlation was found between attitude and practice score to socio-demographic characters. However, a good practice towards dengue fever is associated with good knowledge (65.4 %) nevertheless it did not influence their attitude. Moreover, the attitude seems to be poor regardless of knowledge level (44.0%). Therefore, more prevention practices to raise the awareness of population toward dengue fever such as health campaigns and health education in school level should be initiated. These activities will aid in fertilizing better attitude and prevention practice towards dengue fever and bring down its incidence in Malaysia.

Extraction and Characterization of Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB) from Bacillus thuringiensisKSADL127 Isolated from Mangrove Environments of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACTPolyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a renowned biodegradable plastic that do not release any toxins or residues in the environment like petroleum based plastics. In the present study, 50 bacteria isolated from mangrove niche, Saudi Arabia, were screened for maximum PHB production. All the 50 strains showed positive for PHB production, of which one strain showed maximum of 137 mgL-1. The most PHB accumulated bacterium was selected and identified asBacillus thuringiensis KSADL127, based on phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Characterization of extracted PHB was carried out by FT-IR, NMR, UV spectroscopy, DSC, TGA, and LC-MS, which later confirmed the presence of intracellular accumulated polymer and substantiated as PHB.

Azadirachta indica - cow urine extract, a novel controlling agent towards Clinically significant Multi Drug Resistant Pathogens.

Azadirachta indica have been widely used in traditional systems of medicine for a variety of diseases. In the present study, Cow urine extract of Azadirachta indica was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against MDR Clinical isolates. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated towards five MDR pathogenic strains of bacteria. The results indicated that Cow urine extract of A.indica more antibacterial activity in comparison of its organic fraction for MDR E.coli and, Klebseilla pneumonia . The phytochemical test suggests that constituents for all the 20 days were positive for flavonoids, alkaloids, quinine, coumarin, tannin, saponin and phenol. Antimicrobial activities were correlated with chemical compositions of both organic extracts and Cow urine extract of A. indica.

Partial characterization of affinity purified excretory-secretory protease from Setaria digitata.

Excretory-secretory protease of S. digitata released along with the microfilariae (mf) during hatching has been purified by affinity chromatography. No other activity could be detected in the affinity purified material. Homogeneity is checked by native PAGE. It has a pH optimum of 5.4 and a molecular weight of 70 kD. The purified material showed positivity against antibodies raised against ES material.

Effect of acetylcholine, L-glutamine and diethyl carbamazine citrate on the release of microfilariae from Setaria digitata.

Release of microfilariae from adult filarial parasite S. digitata was reversibly arrested in presence of 2 mM L-glutamine. Diethylcarbamazine also showed a similar effect, but at a lower concentration (0.26 mM). Both compounds inhibited activities of protease and leucine amino peptidase enzymes. The only difference being, different concentrations of the two materials were required for comparable effects. Levels of histamine and acetylcholine in parasite were lowered during incubation under in vitro conditions. Direct effect of L-glutamine on the release of mf was also confirmed.

In vitro release of biologically active materials from the bovine filarial parasite Setaria digitata.

Release of macromolecules by S. digitata, in 9 different media under in vitro condition have been studied. A direct relationship between microfilariae (mf) release and associated folin positive materials was seen in majority of the cases. High activities of hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, collagenase, alkaline phosphatase and lipase were detected in the excretary-secretary products and worm preparations. Activity of collagenase could not be detected in the male worm under experimental conditions.