Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation in an African American Female: An Atypical Presentation and Treatment Dilemma.

We present the case of a 32-year-old African American female with a known history of primary Sjogren's syndrome, multiple vitamin deficiencies, and prior facial cellulitis who presented with diffuse facial post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation following a motor vehicle accident. Following glucocorticoid treatment, only select hyperpigmented areas associated with inflammation, infection, or trauma improved, which thereby posed a clinical challenge to improve the patient's appearance and condition. Such results may warrant the consideration of adjunctive topical therapies to lighten the remaining areas of hyperpigmentation.

An Unusual Case of Haemophilus parainfluenzae Endocarditis in a Young Patient With Crohn's Disease.

We present a rare case of infective endocarditis (IE) associated with Haemophilus parainfluenzae in a 40-year-old male patient with a history of Crohn's Disease (CD). A complete workup, including an echocardiogram and blood cultures, revealed mitral valve vegetation colonized by H. parainfluenzae. The patient was started on appropriate antibiotics with follow-up for outpatient surgery. This case discusses the potential for ectopic colonization of heart valves by H. parainfluenzae in patients with CD. The presence of this organism as the offending agent in this patient's case of IE shines a light on the pathogenesis of CD. Although uncommon, CD-associated bacterial seeding should be a differential when assessing young patients with IE.

Lead toxicity induced phytotoxic effects on mung bean can be relegated by lead tolerant Bacillus subtilis (PbRB3).

Being a primary toxic heavy metal, lead (Pb) contamination presents an imposing environmental and public health concern worldwide. A Bacillus subtilis PbRB3, displaying higher Pb tolerance, was isolated from the textile effluent. The bacterial culture was able to remove >80% of Pb from culture solution. Upon screening in the presence of Pb, PbRB3 strain exhibited significant plant growth promoting potential. A 3 weeks long pot experiment was established to examine the capability of PbRB3 strain for physiological and biochemical traits, and Pb accumulation tendency of mung bean at 250 and 500 mg kg-1 of Pb toxicity, respectively. With respect to control treatments, photosynthetic pigments, protein synthesis, net assimilation rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were significantly constrained by Pb toxicity levels. Intrinsic and instantaneous water use efficiencies were considerably improved in inoculated plants under Pb toxicity. Compared to inoculated control, significantly higher superoxide dismutase activity in both Pb toxicity treatments, while higher malondialdehyde contents only at Pb500 treatment was recorded with PbRB3 inoculation. Catalase activity between Pb250 and Pb500 treatments was comparable at both inoculation level. Moreover, PbRB3 inoculation led to significantly higher peroxidase activity under Pb toxicity treatments compared to inoculated control. The PbRB3 inoculation led to comparable differences in root Pb content between Pb250 and Pb500 treatments. These results suggest that inoculation of Pb tolerant, Bacillus subtilis PbRB3, could be employed to improve mung bean growth potential and adaptation against Pb toxicity, and thereby accelerated Pb rhizoaccumulation from metal contaminated environment.