Bacteriological study of pus isolates from neuropathic plantar ulcers associated with acute inflammatory phase.

In this retrospective study, sensitivity of organisms cultured from ulcers of leprosy patients without and with diabetes mellitus, diabetic patients without leprosy and patients with ulcers from other causes was examined. The profile of organisms grown from these groups of patients did not differ significantly. However, there was a high prevalence of organisms like Proteus, E. coli and Enterococcus in the ulcers of leprosy patients indicating faecal contamination of the ulcers. Co-trimaxazole and tetracycline were of little value in the treatment of these ulcers. We therefore recommend that in situations where there is no culture facility, the patients be started on a course of penicillin and gentamycin. If these antibiotics fail, it would be necessary to use more advanced antibiotics like norfloxacin, amikacin and ciprofloxacin.

Detection of superoxide dismutase isozymes in normal and X-irradiated chick amniotic fluid by using isoelectric focussing.

Isoelectric focussing of amniotic fluid of chick system over pH gradient of 4-6 revealed presence of 8 superoxide dismutases. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes were identified as one major isozyme and other seven were minor ones. Higher expression of SOD (major isozyme) with exposure of 1000 R was studied. The isoelectric point (pI) of major SOD isozyme in control (5) differs from radiation exposed samples (5.12). Hence in radiation exposed amniotic fluid showed more pronounced SOD major isozyme, than control amniotic fluid. It is clearly evident that the SOD isozyme with X-irradiation having different isoelectric points, may lead to modification of the amino acid composition and charges of amino acids in the protein structure of SOD. So, the higher SOD isozyme expression has a role in defence action against free radical damage by X-irradiation during embryonic development.