Temperature on admission among cases of neonatal sepsis and its association with mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of hyperthermia and different categories of hypothermia among the cases of probable and culture-proven neonatal sepsis, and to evaluate association of mortality rate with axillary temperature at admission. METHODS: This analytical study was conducted at Fazl-e-Omar Hospital, Rabwah, Pakistan, from January to December 2013, and comprised all cases of culture-proven and probable neonatal sepsis admitted in the neonatal intensive-care unit of the hospital. Using World Health Organisation classification, cases were categorised according to their temperature on admission, and outcome was recorded. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 374 patients, 47(12.6%) died. Besides, 217(58%) cases had normal temperature, 49(13.1%) had hyperthermia, 50(13.4%) had mild hypothermia, and 58(15.5%) had moderate hypothermia. Mortality rate was high among cases with mild and moderate hypothermia i.e. 15(32.6%) and 15(33%), compared with the mortality rate in cases with normal temperature i.e. 12(6.1%). Mortality rate among cases with hyperthermia was 5(11.6%). In early onset cases, 33(16.2%) had mild and 45(22.1%) had moderate hypothermia. In late onset cases, 37(21.8%) had hyperthermia. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases with neonatal sepsis had normal temperature. Mild and moderate hypothermia were found to be associated with higher mortality rate.

Exploring thermophilic cellulolytic enzyme production potential of Aspergillus fumigatus by the solid-state fermentation of wheat straw.

Cellulases can be used for biofuel production to decrease the fuel crises in the world. Microorganisms cultured on lignocellulosic wastes can be used for the production of cellulolytic enzymes at large scale. In the current study, cellulolytic enzyme production potential of Aspergillus fumigatus was explored and optimized by employing various cultural and nutritional parameters. Maximum endoglucanase production was observed after 72 h at 55 °C, pH 5.5, and 70 % moisture level. Addition of 0.3 % of fructose, peptone, and Tween-80 further enhanced the production of endoglucanase. Maximum purification was achieved with 40 % ammonium sulfate, and it was purified 2.63-fold by gel filtration chromatography. Endoglucanase has 55 °C optimum temperature, 4.8 optimum pH, 3.97 mM K m, and 8.53 µM/mL/min V max. Maximum exoglucanase production was observed at 55 °C after 72 h, at pH 5.5, and 70 % moisture level. Further addition of 0.3 % of each of fructose, peptone, and Tween-80 enhances the secretion of endoglucanase. It was purified 3.30-fold in the presence of 40 % ammonium sulfate followed by gel filtration chromatography. Its optimum temperature was 55 °C, optimum pH was 4.8, 4.34 mM K m, and 7.29 µM/mL/min V max. In the case of ß-glucosidase, maximum activity was observed after 72 h at 55 °C, pH 5.5, and 70 % moisture level. The presence of 0.3 % of fructose, peptone, and Tween-80 in media has beneficial impact on ß-glucosidase production. A 4.36-fold purification was achieved by 40 % ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography. Optimum temperature of ß-glucosidase was 55 °C, optimum pH was 4.8, K m was 4.92 mM, and V max 6.75 µM/mL/min. It was also observed that fructose is better than glucose, and peptone is better than urea for the growth of A. fumigatus. The K m and V max values indicated that endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and ß-glucosidase have good affinity for their substrates.

Production, purification, and characterization of exoglucanase by Aspergillus fumigatus.

Fungi are considered good producers of industrially valuable enzymes with higher enzymatic activities. Among these cellulases are group of extracellular enzymes commonly employed in many industries for the hydrolysis of cellulolytic material. Aspergillus fumigatus produced exoglucanase having high enzymatic activity (83 U/gds) during the solid-state fermentation of wheat straw under optimum physical and nutritional conditions. Maximum production was obtained after 72 h of fermentation, at 55 °C temperature, pH 5.5, 80 % moisture level, and 2 mL fungal inoculum. Production was further increased by the addition of fructose (0.3 %) as additional carbon source, peptone (0.4 %) as nitrogen source, Tween-80 (0.3 %) as surfactant, and ammonium sulfate (0.2 %) in media. Exoglucanase was 2.30-folds purified by adding 40 % ammonium sulfate with volumetric activity 95.4 U/gds and specific activity 14.74 U/mg. Further, it was 5.18-folds purified by gel filtration chromatography with volumetric activity 115.2 U/gds and specific activity 33.10 U/mg. Purified exoglucanase has maximum activity at 55 °C and pH 4.8 using 1 % Avicel aqueous solution as substrate. The K(m) and V(max) were 4.34 mM and 7.29 µM/min, respectively. Calcium, magnesium, and zinc ions have positive effect on exoglucanase activity.