SEASONAL VARIATION IN WATER QUALITY AND PHYTOPLANKTON PRODUCTION IN JOHILA RESERVOIR, LALPUR, AMARKANTAK (M.P.)

Present study has been undertaken in order to assemble knowledge regarding physicochemical parameters analysis from June 2021 – May 2022 in relation to the abundance, composition and seasonal variation in the phytoplankton of Johila reservoir Lalpur Podki, Amarkantak (M.P.). It is interiorly located at Latitude 22046'20, Longitude, 81044'39'' in Lalpur and no study regarding hydrobiology in general and phytoplankton abundance in particular has yet not been conducted. Johila reservoir has its origin from Jwaleshwar temple kund of Amarkantak, hill located in Makel velly. It starts flowing opposite site to the Narmada River after 15 Kilometre and finally joins the river Sone at Dasrathghat of Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh. Total area of Johila reservoir is 86 hectare (216 acers). Since no study yet has been done on phytoplankton production in relation to its physico-chemical characteristic hence present study has been undertaken. Phytoplankton population were dominated by Chlorophyceae, Myxophyceae and Bacillariophyceae in decreasing order. Chlorophyceae members revealed dominance over Myxophyceae and Bacillariophyceae.

ALTERATIONS IN UNITS OF CENTRAL DOGMA UNDER ARSENIC EXPOSURE DURING PREPARATORY PHASE OF TESTICULAR CYCLE OF Mystus (M.) vittatus (Bl.)

Central dogma units comprise of DNA, RNA and synthesis of protein. Reproductive cycle in ?shes is always dynamic and the units of central dogma are always changing in different phases of testicular and ovarian cycle which constitute reproductive cycle in ?shes. The adult specimens of Mystus (M.) vittatus, a tropical siluroid, when exposed for 30 days to sublethal concentration of trivalent arsenic (11.24 mg/l) revealed signi?cant decline in DNA, RNA and consequently protein in the ovary of Mystus (M.) vittatus during its preparatory phase of Testicular cycle. However, 15 days exposure revealed less signi?cant alterations. Causes for declining in various units of central dogma and consequently protein synthesis is discussed in this paper

ARSENIC INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN GLYCOGEN AND LIPID DURING TESTICULAR CYCLE OF A FRESHWATER SILUROID, MYSTUS (M.) VITTATUS (BL.)

The increasing order in the glycogen and lipid content was observed during preparatory and spawning phase but decrease in these biochemical parameters was during post-spawning phase of testicular cycle in Mystus (M.) vittatus, a freshwater siluroid. Less signi?cant alteration in glycogen and lipid was noticed after 15 days of exposure but highly signi?cant decrease was observed after 30 days of exposure in SLC (Sublethal concentration) of trivalent arsenic as AsCl3. causes for decline in these biochemical parameters have been discussed.

Intraepidermal injection of autologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspension in lesions of stable vitiligo: A novel method of repigmenting vitiligo

Background: Transplantation of autologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspension containing melanocytes (ANEM) is one of the well-known surgical options for repigmenting stable vitiligo lesions. The recipient site for transplantation has traditionally been prepared by dermabrasion, liquid N2, or laser resurfacing, which is costly, cumbersome and has risk of scarring. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to experiment a novel method of repigmenting stable vitiligo lesions by intraepidermal injection of ANEM in the vitiligo lesions. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 stable vitiligo lesions in 50 patients were included in the study. The prepared ANEM was inoculated intraepidermally in the lesions. Patients were given PUVASOL therapy in post-operative period and followed up 4 weekly for 24 weeks to see repigmentation. Results: At 24 weeks, pigmentation was seen in 31 (62%) lesions of 50 lesions. It was excellent in 6 (12%), good in 10 (20%), satisfactory in 8 (16%), and poor in 7 (14%) patients. Adverse events were mild and insignificant. Conclusion: Intraepidermal ANEM inoculation in stable vitiligo lesions is an effective, safe, and cheap dermatosurgical procedure.

Myelodysplastic syndrome.

Pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), though rare, constitutes a distinct entity quite different from adult MDS. They have unique clinical features, aggressive clinical course with an overall mean survival of only 9.9 months. A pediatric approach to the WHO classification has become necessary since the WHO classification of MDS has failed to address the uniqueness of pediatric MDS. A new prognostic system also needs to be evolved since the international prognostic system has limited prognostic impact in children. Intensive chemotherapy such as the one used in de novo-acute myeloid leukemia (AML) leads to complete remission in some children and this may be the treatment of choice in pediatric MDS.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinico-hematological profile and treatment outcome in children suffering from auto immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). METHODS: Twelve children were diagnosed with auto immune hemolytic anemia over a period of four years. Direct antiglobulin test was positive in all the cases. Other causes of hemolytic anemia like thalassemia syndromes, hereditary spherocytosis, G6PD deficiency were excluded by appropriate tests. The children were followed up for 6 months to 4 years. RESULTS: The age ranged from 7 mth to 9 yr with a mean age of 4.51 yr. All patients had pallor as the presenting complaint followed by splenomegaly (83.3%), jaundice (66.7%), fever (50%) and bleeding manifestations (16.7%). 9 patients had primary disease and 3 had secondary disease. Tubercular infection was seen in 2 patients with secondary disease. Jaundice was seen equally in both the groups. Oral prednisolone produced remission in 83.3% cases. 4 patients (3 in primary and one in secondary group) had relapse after initial response. All responded to a second course of steroids but had subsequent relapses and developed a chronic course. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is an uncommon cause of hemolytic anemia in children. Tubercular infection is an underlying pathology in cases of secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Although oral steroids induce remission in most of the cases, relapses are common.

16S rRNA PCR for differentiation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic leptospira isolates.

PURPOSE: To determine the risk factors, microbiological features, clinical features and other epidemiological characteristics of Nocardia keratitis seen at a tertiary eye care centre in south India. METHODS: We evaluated 31 patients with Nocardia keratitis seen over two years, from September 1999 to September 2001. Corneal scrapings were subjected to microscopy and culture using standard protocols. RESULTS: Out of 2184 corneal ulcers cultured, 31(1.42%) were found to be Nocardia asteroides. All 31(100%) were detected correctly by 10% potassium hydroxide wet mount preparation. The highest percentage of isolates was susceptible to gentamicin (100%) followed by ciprofloxacin(93.55%). Twenty four (77.42%) patients were from rural areas; 22(70.97%) were agricultural workers; 29(93.55%) had history of trauma; 2(6.45%) had previous ocular surgery; 28(90.32%) had ocular injury with soil and sand; and 22(70.97%) had ocular injury while working in the agricultural fields. Ten (32.26%) patients presented at our institute between 15 to 35 days of onset of illness, 26(83.87%) had previous medical treatment, and 15(48.39%) patients had used traditional eye medicines. The average age of the patients was 46.16 years, with a range of 11 to 75 years. No seasonal variation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspicion of Nocardia infection should exist in patients with a history of trauma to the eye by soil or sand. The organisms are sensitive to commonly used topical ocular antibiotics.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with pure red cell aplasia.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is an extremely rare condition, with few cases reported worldwide. More commonly PRCA is associated with thymoma or viral infections. Steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs are the preferred treatment of PRCA.

Low dose cyclosporine-a therapy in severe aplastic anaemia.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of low dose cyclosporine-A in the patients of severe aplastic anaemia, who cannot afford allogenic bone marrow transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin. METHODS: The diagnosis of severe aplastic anaemia was established by standard criteria. Twelve patients were given cyclosporine-A orally at a dose of 6 mg/kg body weight in divided doses in two daily equal proportions for six months. Eleven patients were put on oral stanozolol in the dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight/day in divided doses. All surviving patients were evaluated at three and six months. RESULTS: At the end of six months, 41.66% of twelve patients responded to cyclosporine-A. One patient had complete response and four patients had partial response. Only one out of 11 patients receiving stanozolol responded. CONCLUSIONS: i) Cyclosporine-A is a viable therapeutic option in the treatment of severe aplastic anaemia, ii) Low dose cyclosporine-A is able to slow down the stormy course of the severe aplastic anaemia, iii) Androgens have very little effect on the survival of patients of severe aplastic anaemia.

Red cell alloimmunization in multi-transfused chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are frequently used in the management of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing hemodialysis for dialysis-related anaemia. Consequently, they are subject to all hazards associated with repeated transfusions, such as red cell alloimmunization. A retrospective study was performed to estimate the frequency of alloimmunization against red cell antigens in multitransfused CRF patients. A total of 81 patients (67 males & 14 females) with CRF were studied who received a mean of 8.5 units of RBC matched for ABO & Rh(D) antigens only. Using standard techniques (indirect antiglobulin test, enzyme, polyethylene glycol, and low ionic strength solution), we observed a RBC alloimmunization rate of 9.8% (8/81). Nine alloantibodies were detected in 8 patients, and most (88%) involved antigens in the Rhesus & Kell systems. No correlation was observed with the alloantibody formation & number of units transfused. The calculated risk of 1.3% observed in the present study, suggests that renal failure patients are not at a higher risk of red cell alloimmunization than the general population.

Role of bio-metal Fe(III) in anticancer behaviour of tamoxifen.

Physicochemical, microbial and pharmacological studies on Fe (III)--Tamoxifen complex have been carried out in solid and aqueous phases. On the basis of elemental analysis, polarographic studies, amperometric titrations and IR spectral studies the probable formula for the complex has been worked out to be 1:1, Fe(III)--Tamoxifen. A tentative structure has been suggested to the complex. The metal ligand interaction has been studied using polarographic method at 27 degrees +/- 1 degree C and at ionic strength of mu = 1.0 (KCl). Microbial studies on the complex was carried out against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi using Raper's method. Mouse sarcoma cell line 180 and Balb/C mice were used for the anticancer screening of solid complex, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The results of microbial and pharmacological studies with the M:Drug complex revealed that the complex is more potent as compared to the pure drug as regards to its anticancer activity. As such Fe (III) Tamoxifen complex may be recommended to the therapeutic experts for its possible use as more potent anticancer drug.

Association of Lewis blood group with ischaemic heart disease.

A total of 96 patients (74 males and 22 females) with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) who presented at a hospital in north India for cardiac bypass surgery, percutaneous coronary angioplasty or unstable angina were investigated for Lewis blood group phenotypes. A hundred and four normal healthy blood donors matched for age and sex served as controls. Lewis blood group typing was carried out on red cells using saline haemagglutination technique in a test tube with monoclonal antisera. 29.1 per cent of IHD patients had Le(a-b-) phenotype compared to 9.6 per cent of controls (P < 0.01). The relative risk of IHD for Le(a-b-) phenotype was found to be highly significant (risk = 3.87). We conclude that there is an increased frequency of Le(a-b-) phenotype among Indian patients with IHD.

Bioinorganic study on [Fe(promethazine)2H2O Cl]2+ complex.

The coordination chemistry of iron (III) is the environment of an antihistaminic drug, promethazine has been explained to include a low spin, six-coordinate complex [Fe(Prometha)2(H2O) Cl] Cl2. Metaldrug interaction in vitro in aqueous KCl phase was studied polarographically at physiological pH and temperature. On the basis of elemental, magnetic, conductometric, IR, UV-visible, NMR spectroscopic analysis it is concluded that in solid phase two promethazine molecules with their N,N donor sites encompass the metal. Mass spectral study on the complex confirms that one of the three chlorides is involved in the coordination. The respective changes in the antihistaminic activity of the drug as a result of complexation has been determined and a possible mechanism is suggested.

Role of bio-metal Fe(III) in anticancer effect of dacarbazine.

Physicochemical, Microbial and Pharmacological studies on Fe(III)-Dacarbazine complex have been done in solid and aqueous phase. On the basis of elemental analysis, polarographic studies, amperometric titrations and IR spectral studies the probable formula for the complex has been worked out to be 1:1, Fe(III)-Dacarbazine. The metal ligand interaction has been studied using polarographic method at 25 +/- 1 degrees C and at ionic strength of mu = 1.0 (KCl). Microbial studies on the complex was done against various pathogenic bacteria viz. Pseudomonas mangiferae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholarae and fungi i.e. Trichothecium and Chrysosporium sp. using Raper's method. Mouse sarcoma cell line 180 and Balb/C mice were used for the anticancer screening of solid complex in vitro and in vivo respectively. The observed polarographic data, on lingane treatment revealed the formation of single (1:1) (M:L) complex with Fe(III) and dacarbazine ligands. The results of amperometric titrations of Fe(III) with dacarbazine in IM KCl supporting electrolyte pH 7.0 +/- 0.1 supported the above findings the IR data speaks of the complex formation between the metal and the dacarbazine ligand through the two nitrogen one each of primary amide and trizo groups. The results of microbial and pharmacological studies with the M:Drug complex revealed that the anticancer activity of the drug metal complex is nearly doubled as compared to the pure drug. As such Fe(III) dacarbazine complex may be recommended to the therapeutic experts for its possible use as more potent anticancer drug.