Phytosterols: perspectives in human nutrition and clinical therapy.

Phytosterols (PSs) are a group of plant derived steroid alcohols, with wide occurrence in vegetables and fruits. They are integral components of plant cell membranes, having stabilizing effects on phospholipids bilayer, just like cholesterol in animal cell membranes. Structural resemblance of PSs with cholesterol enables them to displace low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the human intestine. Protective effects of PSs against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), colon and breast cancer developments have been widely documented. Several reports have been published on the potential dietary intake of common PSs, such as ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol, and their safety concerns. Ability of PSs to reduce cholesterol levels and risks associated with heart problems has made them a class of favorite food supplements. Nowadays functional foods supplemented with PSs have become an alternative and healthy tool to lower LDL-cholesterol levels in a natural way. However, excessive use of PSs has been observed to develop premature coronary artery disease in phytosterolemic patients, high risk of atherosclerotic CVDs, myocardial infarction and even impaired endothelial functions. This manuscript will highlight the recent developments in PSs with particular focus on their role as dietary supplements and in treatment of various heart- and cholesterol-related ailments. Recently explored side effects of PSs will also be discussed.

Changing antibiotic sensitivity in enteric fever.

Emergence of drug resistance in enteric fever is a major concern for the clinician. All children hospitalized with enteric fever during the period 1 March to 31 May 2000 were studied prospectively for their clinical presentation and response to therapy, and an attempt was made to compare these results with the results of hospitalized children with enteric fever during a similar period in the years 1990 and 1995. The results revealed that there was a significant change in the response to antibiotic therapy as evidenced by significant resistance to ciprofloxacin (55.5 per cent) and early evidence of emerging drug resistance to ceftriaxone (4.4 per cent). Although the sample size was small and had its limitations, the results also pointed towards the re-emergence of sensitivity to chloramphenicol.

Knowledge, attitude and practices about neonatal hypothermia among medical and paramedical staff.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices about neonatal hypothermia among medical and paramedical staff dealing with newborn care. A total of 160 subjects were assessed (40 pediatric medicine residents, 40 obstetric residents, 40 private practitioners and 40 paramedical staff working in labor room and postnatal wards) A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used. Only 47.8% of the subjects defined neonatal hypothermia correctly. As many as 52.2% of the interviewees considered it to be an uncommon problem. Lethargy, refusal for feed and cold to touch were mentioned as common symptoms of neonatal hypothermia by 97.5%, 80% and 77.5% of the respondents respectively. Decreased body temperature, cyanosis, apnea and edema of feet were found as common signs. Only 18.6% of the interviewees had knowledge about correct method of recording the temperature in a newborn. The present study reveals the gross lacunae in the knowledge regarding various aspects of neonatal hypothermia among pediatric and obstetric residents and paramedical staff working in labor room and postnatal wards. To reduce the neonatal morbidity and mortality due to neonatal hypothermia, greater emphasis should be laid on this problem while designing curriculum for training of undergraduate and postgraduate doctors, paramedical staff and traditional birth attendants.

Kinetics of interferon-gamma production and its comparison with anti-listeriolysin O detection in experimental bovine listeriosis.

The kinetics of the production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in whole blood culture and its comparison with anti-listeriolysin O (ALLO) detection by ELISA were studied during oral infection of calves with Listeria monocytogenes. Culture filtrate antigen (CFA), listeriolysin O (LLO), and sonicated antigen (SA) were used to prime the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the plasma from orally infected calves. IFN-gamma and ALLO appeared as early as day 7 of an oral infection. IFN-gamma was detected earlier with LLO than with SA. The Max50 interleukin (IL-2) activity and IFN-gamma estimated in the culture supernatant from PBMCs primed in vitro with different antigens of L. monocytogenes revealed high induction of IL-2 and IFN-gamma by CFA, LLO and live antigen. IFN-gamma assay and ALLO detection were used for testing cases of repeat breeding in dairy cattle. It appeared that detection of IFN-gamma employing LLO can be used to diagnose listerial infections.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection-evidences of amphixenosis.

In the present investigation many of the isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from human beings, poultry and pigs fell in the same aeruginocine type. Aeruginocine A1 of Ps. aeruginosa was isolated from pigs and also from one of the pig attendants on the farm. Majority of the strains of Ps. aeruginosa of the same aeruginocine type also exhibited similar drug sensitivity patterns. The organism appeared to be polyphagous in nature and infection with this agent may be considered as amphixenosis.

Serological evidence of persistence of Japanese encephalitis virus activity in Bihar, India.

A total of 64 sera samples from ducks, 212 from 245 fowls, 1 from 16 sparrows and 5 from human were examined for HI and CF antibodies to Japanese encephalitis (JE), West Nile (NW), Dengue-2 (DN-2), and Chikungunya (CHIK) viruses. The results were compared with those obtained earlier while examining pigs' sera from the same area. The results revealed that ducks, fowls and peridomestic sparrows possessed antibodies to JEV. JEV activity in ducks and fowls was significantly higher compared to its activity in pigs in the same area reported earlier indicating persistence of its activity.

Serological evidence of Japanese encephalitis virus activity in Bihar.

Serum samples from 404 pigs originating from eight districts of Bihar were examined for haemagglutination-inhibiting and complement fixing antibodies of Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue-2, West Nile and Chikungunya viruses. Japanese Encephalitis viral infection was found to be widely prevalent compared to other arboviruses tested. RElatively large number of pigs had antibodies to JEV only (i.e. monoconverters). High geometric mean titre to JEV was observed. These observations appear to be of epidemiologic significance to the 1978 epidemic of encephalitis in Bihar. Epidemic of encephalitis was reported in 1978 from several states of India including Bihar. The only evidence of the activity of Japanese Encephalitis in Bihar came from Khan and Banerjee who found neutralizing antibodies in ardeid birds from Asansol - Dhanbad regions. Evidences are presented in this paper on the prevalence of Japanese Encephalitis in eight districts including Dhanbad of Bihar.