Detection of Azole Drug Resistance of the Aspergillus Species Cyp51a Gene by PCR

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity pulmonary disease occurring in individuals with asthma or cystic fibrosis. In these patients, it is characterized by transient pulmonary infiltrates, reversible airway obstruction, eosinophilia

Comparison of Different Methods for Diagnosis of Malarial Parasites.

The study aims to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of different methods for diagnosis of malarial infection. Total 200 blood samples were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) Vacutainer tube from clinically suspected malaria patients. Each sample was processed as thick and thin smear stained with Leishman’s stain for light microscopic examination, quantitative buffy coat test and rapid malarial antigen (HRP II and pLDH) test. The detection rate of malarial parasites by microscopic examination was 13.5%, quantitative buffy coat test was 18% and rapid malarial antigen (HRP II and pLDH) test was 20%. Thus, findings of microscopic examination must be compared with other more sensitive methods for confirmation of malaria. This will help early detection, proper diagnosis and treatment of malaria.

Cardioprotective Efficacy of Bacopa monniera in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus: Biochemical and Histopathological Assessment.

Introduction: herbs have been used as medicines since ancient times and it has been observed that human body is well suited to herbal remedies. In the present study, the myocardial salvaging effects of Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) (Bm), a medicinal herb was evaluated in diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: Type II diabetes mellitus was induced chemically in rats using streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg). Wistar rats were randomly allocated to sham, STZ control and Bm treated groups. Lyophilized hydro-alcoholic extract of Bm (75 mg/kg) was administered once a day orally to the rats for 21 days. On the 22nd day, biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar and creatinine phosphokinase [(CPK), CPK-MB] and histopathological assessment of myocardium was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective efficacy of Bm. Results: Pretreatment of Bm to experimental rats restored the raised fasting blood sugar levels, CPK, CPK-MB activity and preserved the histopathological architecture of pancreas, heart, liver and kidney as compared to the STZ control group. Bm demonstrated significant cardioprotective effects in the experimental model of diabetic mellitus. Conclusion: Bm demonstrated significant myocardial salvaging effects in the presence of diabetes mellitus. Histopathological assessment of myocardium shows the cardioprotective effects of Bm in the STZ model of diabetes mellitus.

Prevalence of HBsAg positivity in staff and patients at MGM Medical College and Hospital, Navi-Mumbai.

Prevalence of HBsAg was studied by Elisa test in 166 hospital employees, 170 patients at random and 1042 voluntary blood donors. Prevalence of HBsAg among doctors was 3.33% in nurses and lab-technicians 0%, in nursing students 1.53% and in ward-boys 15%. Less incidence in staff members other than ward boys is because of HBsAg vaccination. Prevalence of the HBsAg in random patients was 7.65% and in voluntary blood donors was 2.11%.

Study of coagulase positive and negative Staphylococci in clinical samples.

A total of 983 patients samples (pus, urine, sputum, throat swabs, blood culture, CSF, vaginal swabs, ear swabs) were studied for a period of one year. The incidence of coagulase positive Staphylococci was highest in pus and the incidence of coagulase negative Staphylococci was highest in conjunctival swabs. Antibiotic Sensitivity pattern of routinely used antibiotics was studied. Coagulase positive Staphylococci was found to be most sensitive to Ciprofloxacin followed by Norfloxacin and Gentamycin. Coagulase negative Staphylococci showed maximum sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin followed by Norfloxacin and Chloramphenicol.