Design of a microbial fuel cell and its transition to microbial electrolytic cell for hydrogen production by electrohydrogenesis.

Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from industrial wastewater and soil samples and tested for exoelectrogenic activity by current production in double chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC), which was further transitioned into a single chambered microbial electrolytic cell to test hydrogen production by electrohydrogenesis. Of all the cultures, the isolate from industrial water sample showed the maximum values for current = 0.161 mA, current density = 108.57 mA/m2 and power density = 48.85 mW/m2 with graphite electrode. Maximum voltage across the cell, however, was reported by the isolate from sewage water sample (506 mv) with copper as electrode. Tap water with KMnO4 was the best cathodic electrolyte as the highest values for all the measured MFC parameters were reported with it. Once the exoelectrogenic activity of the isolates was confirmed by current production, these were tested for hydrogen production in a single chambered microbial electrolytic cell (MEC) modified from the MFC. Hydrogen production was reported positive from co-culture of isolates of both the water samples and co-culture of one soil and one water sample. The maximum rate and yield of hydrogen production was 0.18 m3H2/m3/d and 3.2 mol H2/mol glucose respectively with total hydrogen production of 42.4 mL and energy recovery of 57.4%. Cumulative hydrogen production for a five day cycle of MEC operation was 0.16 m3H2/m3/d.

Habits and beliefs pertaining to tobacco among undergraduates of medical college in the state of Uttarakhand.

Background: Tobacco surveillance among medical students offers an opportunity to assess the preparedness for tobacco control among future healthcare professionals in India. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of tobacco in the undergraduate medical students and to assess the factors influencing medical students to indulge in tobacco use. Objective: To assess the prevalence of tobacco use among undergraduate students and to assess the attitude and awareness towards participating in tobacco cessation. Material and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to assess the prevalence of tobacco use among undergraduate students of Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun (Uttarakhand State) was conducted from January 2010 to January 2011. A pre-designed structured questionnaire was used to study various correlates of the tobacco use. Data was collected and analysed. Global Health Professional Students Survey (GHPSS), questionnaire given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, USA, which is a standard pre-tested questionnaire for assessing prevalence of tobacco use among health care professionals around the world was used. Results: Overall, 386 of 400 eligible students (97%) participated in the survey. The mean age and standard deviation of the study group was 21.47 ± 3.70 years. The rates of smoking among male medical and female medical students were 38.6% and 6.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). A 6-times higher tobacco use was found among male medical students as compared to females. Out of the 386 participants, current tobacco use (last 30 days) was reported by 11.1% of students. About 21.7% of students had never used tobacco. More than 80% favoured a ban on tobacco sales to adolescents, tobacco advertising, and tobacco use in public places. Over 90% reported interest in further training in tobacco control. There was a familial aggregation of the use of tobacco. The factor initiating the use of tobacco was peer pressure in most of the cases. Conclusion: This study reflects an alarming situation and demands urgent measures to be adopted by health professionals, who happen to be health promoters and health role models for the society.

Lupus Vulgaris of Nose.

Lupus vulgaris represents a rare manifestation of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.It is important to consider tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of all nasal lesions and take biopsy samples for histological and bacteriological studies. Antitubercular chemotherapy is satisfactory with good result. We hereby report 3 cases of Lupus vulgaris of nose.

Diabetic Foot in Uttaranchal

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and the bacteriological profile of patients with diabetic foot. The clinical and the bacteriological profile along with the antibiotic sensitivity pattern was assessed in patients with Diabetes mellitus over 3 years period (From January 2001 to December 2004). The foot ulcers were categorized as mild or non-limb threatening and severe or limb threatening. Cultures from the wounds were sent prior to the first debridement and the antibiotic sensitivity was done in each case. The possible risk factors responsible for these ulcers were also recorded. Out of 61 cases of diabetic foot ulcers, non-limb threatening infections were seen in 38 patients (62.29%) and the limb threatening was seen in 23 patients (37.7%). Of these 23 patients with limb threatening infections, 14 (60.87%) had to undergo amputation during one-year follow-up. The organisms isolated from the cultures included Staphylococcus sp in 15 patients (28.84%), Streptococcus sp in 11 (21.15%), Pseudomonas sp in 8 (15.38%), Enterococcus sp in 30 (57.69%) and anaerobes in 27 patients (51.92%). The antibiotics to which they were found to be most sensitive included Amoxy-Clav 49 (94.23%), Ceftrioxone 48(92.30%), Ceftazidime 41 (78.84%), Cefurexime 46 (88.46%), Chloremphenicol 44(84.61%), Amikacin 46(88.46%) and Polymixin- B 46 (88.46%).

HIV Sero-pervalence and Tuberculosis in Uttaranchal.

Setting: Patients of tuberculosis attending the out patient department of Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), a post graduate institute and a large tertiary care centre in Dehradun. Objective: To study the trend of HIV seropositivity in patients of tuberculosis along with demographic profile, clinical features and associated complications, in patients of HIV-TB co-morbidity. Design: HIV seropositivity was assessed among all tuberculosis patients (pulmonary &extra-pulmonary), diagnosed between January 1999 and August 2005 attending the out patient department of HIMS. Result: HIV seropositivity in tuberculosis patients rose from 1.19% in 1999 to 4.19% in 2005. Out of total 42 HIV seropositive patients, 71.42% were males, 88.09% were married, and 69.04% belonged to rural population. Most common route of HIV transmission was heterosexual (66.67%) followed by blood transfusion (16.67%). 64.28% of the patients had pulmonary tuberculosis and 35.71% had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Sputum was positive for Acid Fast Bacilli in 40.74%. Fever was the most common (83.33%) symptom and oral candidiasis (40%) was the most commonly associated complication.

Choice of antibiotic for empirical therapy of acute cystitis in a setting of high antimicrobial resistance.

BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among urinary isolates in the Garhwal region of Uttaranchal. AIMS: To identify the most appropriate antibiotic for empirical treatment of community-acquired acute cystitis on the basis of local antimicrobial sensitivity profile. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective clinico-microbiological study including all clinically diagnosed patients with community acquired acute cystitis attending a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of three years. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Clean-catch midstream urine specimens, from 524 non-pregnant women with community-acquired acute cystitis, were subjected to semi-quantitative culture and antibiotic susceptibility by the Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method. A survey was also conducted on 30 randomly selected local practitioners, to know the prevalent prescribing habits in this condition. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The difference between the susceptibility rates of E. coli isolates to Nitrofurantoin and the other commonly prescribed antibiotics was analysed by applying the z test for proportion. RESULTS: 354 (67.5%) specimens yielded significant growth of E. coli.> 35% of the urinary E.coli isolates were resistant to the fluoroquinolones, which were found to be the most commonly used empirical antibiotics in acute cystitis. Resistance was minimum against Nitrofurantoin (9.3%, 33) and Amikacin (11.0%,39).> 80% of the fluoroquinolone-resistant strains were found to be sensitive to Nitrofurantoin. CONCLUSION: The best in vitro susceptibility profile in our study has been shown by Nitrofurantoin and a significantly high proportion of the urinary E. coli isolates have already developed resistance to the currently prescribed empirical antibiotics, viz. the fluoroquinolones. In view of these in vitro susceptibility patterns, a transition in empirical therapy appears imminent.

Microbial forensics: a new forensic discipline.

In microbial forensics, researchers work to track down the source of a microbe, whether in a criminal investigation of bioterrorism attacks or a study of naturally occurring disease outbreak. It is interplay of classical microbiology, microbial genomics, phylogenetics and bioinformatics. Although microbes have been used as weapons for centuries, the anthrax letter attacks of 2001 generated great terror in the public and revealed the need to establish "attribution." The benefit is that it might deter at least some potential terrorists and also help in tracing natural outbreaks of disease. Microbial forensic data must hold up not only to the scrutiny of scientists in the health care community, but also to the scrutiny of judges and juries and national policy and decision makers. It poses a great challenge to develop newer techniques as the present techniques like gene sequencing, hybridization, microarray, spectrophotometry, PCR etc. are inadequate. A national microbial forensics plan needs to be developed.