Seed maturity indices in Aisandra butyracea - A multipurpose tree species of lower Himalaya.

Fruits of Aisandra butyracea (Roxb.) Lamb. were collected from two sites located at different altitudes in Kumaun Himalaya for analyzing the seed maturity in relation to various fruit and seed characters. The mean seed size (length × width) across the collection dates varied between 186.44±0.05 and 238.17±0.5 mm2 across both the elevations. The fruit colour changed from dark green in the beginning to pale yellow on the maturity. The range of seed moisture content (62.83±1.33 to 63.46±0.89%) coincided with maximum germination. The colour change and seed moisture content appear to be the major indicators of seed maturation in A. butyracea.

Optimisation of fermentation conditions for gluconic acid production by a mutant of Aspergillus niger.

Aspergillus niger ORS-4, isolated from the sugarcane industry waste materials was found to produce notable level of gluconic acid. From this strain, a mutant Aspergillus niger ORS-4.410 having remarkable increase in gluconic acid production was isolated and compared for fermentation properties. Among the various substrates used, glucose resulted into maximum production of gluconic acid (78.04 g/L). 12% concentration led to maximum production. Effect of spore age and inoculum level on fermentation indicated an inoculum level of 2% of the 4-7 days old spores were best suited for gluconic acid production. Maximum gluconate production could be achieved after 10-12 days of the fermentation at 30 degrees C and at a pH of 5.5. Kinetic analysis of production indicated that growth of the mutant was favoured during initial stages of the fermentation (4-8 days) and production increased during the subsequent 8-12 days of the fermentation. CaCO3 and varying concentrations of different nutrients affected the production of gluconic acid. Analysis of variance for the factors evaluated the significant difference in the production levels.

Gluconic acid production by Aspergillus niger mutant ORS-4.410 in submerged and solid state surface fermentation.

Aspergillus niger ORS-4.410, a mutant of Aspergillus niger ORS-4 was produced by repeated irradiation with UV rays. Treatments with chemical mutagnes also resulted into mutant strains. The mutants differed from the parent strain morphologically and in gluconic acid production. The relationship between UV treatment dosage, conidial survival and frequency of mutation showed the maximum frequency of positive mutants (25%) was obtained along with a conidial survival of 59% after second stage of UV irradiation. Comparison of gluconic acid production of the parent and mutant ORS-4.410 strain showed a significant increase in gluconic acid production that was 87% higher than the wild type strain. ORS-4.410 strain when transferred every 15 days and monitored for gluconic acid levels for a total period of ten months appeared stable. Mutant ORS-4.410 at 12% substrate concentration resulted into significantly higher i.e. 85-87 and 94-97% yields of gluconic acid under submerged and solid state surface conditions respectively. Further increase in substrate concentration appeared inhibitory. Maximum yield of gluconic acid was obtained after 6 days under submerged condition and decreased on further cultivation. Solid state surface culture condition on the other hand resulted into higher yield after 12 days of cultivation and similar levels of yields continued thereafter.

Is incidence of cancer on the decline in Delhi, capital of India?

The incidence of cancer varies to a great extent in the resident population of Delhi (Urban area). The purpose of this study is to examine the time trends of incidence rates in different sites (ICD.9) of cancer. Average Annual Age-Adjusted (world population) incidence rates by site (ICD.9) is used to estimate the parameters by linear regression method. Time trends analysis of 8 years from 1988 to 1995 in Delhi for age-adjusted, truncated (35-64 years) incidence rates to world population and crude incidence rate by site (ICD.9) did not reveal statistically significant decrease or increase in the incidence.

Rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever.

A Reverse Passive Haemagglutination Test (RPHA) was designed for the detection of Salmonella typhi antigen and rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever. Two per cent fresh sheep RBC's were coated with 32 micrograms/ml of immunoglobulin. The minimal detectable level of the antigen was 1250 micrograms/ml. Cross reactions were observed with the samples of patients suffering from Salmonella paratyphi A and pseudomonas infections. The RPHA established was used for the detection of S. typhi antigen in culture broths from 100 patients with clinically suspected typhoid fever with culture and/or widal positive, 50 patients with septicemia caused by bacteria other than S. typhi and 50 normal, afebrile healthy controls. It was found that the sensitivity and specificity of this assay was 70% and 92% respectively.

Left ventricular mass index in patients of end stage renal disease (non-diabetic) on regular haemodialysis.

Echocardiography in patients of end stage renal failure (non diabetic) on regular haemodialysis revealed increase in left ventricular mass index in comparison to healthy controls. Anaemia, chronic uraemic state and hypertension were the probable contributory factors.

Cytotoxicity of anthrax lethal factor microinjected into macrophage cells through Sendai virus envelopes.

Lethal toxin (LT) secreted by Bacillus anthracis consists of two proteins, protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF). LT causes lysis of macrophages and derived cell lines at low concentrations. PA binds to the cell surface receptors and mediates translocation of LF into cytosol of mammalian cells. Internalization of LF into cytosol by osmotic lysis of pinocytic vesicles requires high concentration of LF for cell lysis. To examine the possible cell lysis by LF at low concentration, we introduced LF directly into cytosol of J774A.1 cells through reconstituted Sendai virus envelopes. The introduction of LF lysed J774A.1 cells in a concentration dependent manner. Internalization of PA alone through virosome had no toxic effect on J774A.1 cells. In the process of cytotoxicity LF was not cleaved by cellular proteases. Unlike many protein toxins, golgi was not involved in the expression of lethal toxin activity. These results indicate that LF is the toxic component of anthrax lethal toxin and prior proteolytic processing or trafficking through golgi is not required for its activity.

Cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pleural tissue and its histopathology in suspected cases of tuberculous pleural effusion.

The majority of idiopathic pleural effusion are considered to be of tuberculous etiology. The culture of bacilli provide most authentic evidence of disease process. This study was carried out on 21 cases of suspected tuberculous pleural effusion. The pleural fluid and tissue was subjected for smear examination, and cultivation of tubercle bacilli along with pleural biopsy. Overall the diagnosis could be made out of 8 (38.09%) cases. The cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pleural tissue was more sensitive (33.33%) as compared to histopathology (19.05%). However, the triad of cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pleural tissue, pleural histopathology and pleural fluid smear examination or culture should be done in each suspected case of tuberculous effusion.

Conservative management of empyema thoracis and broncho-pleural fistula.

One hundred and eight cases of empyema with and without broncho pulmonary fistula (BPF) were studied to analyse the efficacy of conservative management (aspiration/s and/or ICD). It was successful in 87.04% cases. Among those treated with intercostal drainage, the tube was removed within 2 months in 61.22%, 5 months in 71.42%, and 24 months in 85.71% cases. Only 14.29% cases showed persistent air leak even after 2 years of closed drainage. It was concluded that all cases of simple empyema and most cases of empyema with BPF can be managed successfully with conservative methods including aspirations and closed intercostal tube drainage.

Anaphylactoid transfusion reaction with anti-IgA antibodies in an IgA deficient patient: a case report.

A case of anaphylactoid transfusion reaction associated with anti-IgA antibodies is reported. The patient had low levels of serum IgA. She developed serious reaction characterised by erythematous rash, pruritus, cyanosis and dyspnoea after transfusion of otherwise compatible blood. Review of literature reveals that anaphylactoid transfusion reactions are very rare although frequency of anti-IgA in general population is quite high. The IgA deficient donors (aIgA) form a unique resource of blood components for the clinical management of patients with anaphylactoid reactions caused by anti-IgA.