Phytase, phosphatase activity and p-nutrition of soybean as influenced by inoculation of bacillus.

The efficiency of different Bacillus isolates on rhizosphere soil enzyme activities and P-nutrition of soybean was carried out under microcosm conditions. Significant increase in enzyme activities viz., fluorescein diacetate activity, phosphatase and phytase activity and consequent effects on P-nutrition were observed with the inoculation of Bacillus isolates over uninoculated control. Among the isolates, BD-3-1B, KHBD-6, BDKH-3, Bacillus amyloliquefacians, and Bacillus cereus were found to be promising. The phytic acid-P as a percentage of total P content in soybean seeds decreased with the inoculation of Bacillus isolates as compared to un-inoculated control. A decrease in phytic-P in soybean seeds not only results in better digestibility and increased feed efficiency. Pearson correlation studies revealed a significant positive association between acid, alkaline phosphatases, phytase activity on available P content in soil and P content in seeds with the inoculation of Bacillus isolates, indicating role of these enzymes in P mobilization and acquisition by soybean.

Diagnostic issues in abdominal tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the modes of presentation and diagnostic issues in the management of abdominal tuberculosis at a tertiary care hospital in a developing country, where most of the established diagnostic modalities are available. SETTING: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of medical records of all inpatients, diagnosed to have abdominal tuberculosis, from January 1991 to December 1997. The data was collected and particularly analyzed for spectrum of presentation and role of various diagnostic modalities. Of special interest was the sub-group of patients, who after all investigations did not have a firm diagnosis. Following a literature review recommendations have been developed for empiric antituberculous therapy in such patients. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were diagnosed to have abdominal tuberculosis with a mean age of 34 years and a male to female ratio of 1:2. Ninety-six (71%) patients presented with chronic abdominal symptoms, while 39 (29%) presented as an acute surgical emergency mandating exploratory laparotomy. A tissue-based diagnosis was established in 95 (70.30%) patients, while radiological diagnosis was made in 30 (22.2%) patients. In 10 (7.4%) patients all investigations undertaken could not reveal a final diagnosis; these were treated empirically on the basis of a strong clinical suspicion. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis can be made confidently in most of the cases. There may be a small group of patients where diagnosis cannot be made despite appropriate investigations and a therapeutic trial of ATT may be considered with close monitoring according to a pre-fixed protocol.

Hydatid cyst presenting as a breast lump.

We report a 33-year-old woman who presented with a breast lump which, on pathological examination, was found to be a hydatid cyst. There was no evidence of any coexistent lesion elsewhere. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of hydatid disease of the breast reported from Nepal.