Efficient removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution by using tannery by-product (Buffing Dust).

The current study is focused on using tannery waste called buffing dust to remove hexavalent chromium from an aqueous solution. The buffing dust was characterised by using different technique like FTIR, SEM, and BET analysis. The adsorption experiment was conducted in batch mode. The different operating factors including contact time, dose and initial Cr (VI) concentration were investigated. The optimum adsorption capacity was observed at contact time of 240 min and dose of 1g/100 mL. The adsorption isotherm such as Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were investigated at different initial concentration. It was observed that Langmuir isotherm model was best fitted for present study with maximum adsorption efficiency of 11.33 mg/g. The kinetic study was performed for pseudo first order and pseudo second order and it was found that pseudo second order model was provided the best match with regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9991.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin: As a Predictor of Early Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This study was carried out to look for diagnostic and prognostic role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in early diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes individuals. NGAL was measured in both urinary and serum sample of 144 type 2 diabetes individuals stratified into three categories based on urinary albumin-creatinine ratio and 54 control populations with estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and serum creatinine <1.2 mg/dl. The serum NGAL (sNGAL), urine NGAL (uNGAL), and uNGAL/urine creatinine were significantly higher in diabetic individuals than in the control populations with significant difference in between the groups (P < 0.05). Difference of above values between control value and normoalbuminuria was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). Again, sNGAL and uNGAL correlate positively with albuminuria (P < 0.05). Tubular injury may precede glomerular injury in diabetic individuals, and NGAL can be used as a biomarker to diagnose DN even earlier to incipient nephropathy. Both sNGAL and uNGAL can predict albuminuria and be used as a noninvasive tool for diagnosis, staging, and progression of DN.

The Er/Ki-67 Proportion in Breast Tumours - An Immunohistochemical Study.

INTRODUCTION: Breast tumours are classified as benign, proliferative and invasive tumours. Estrogen hormone influences the proliferative activity and progression of the tumour. Estrogen Receptor (ER) status and proliferative index (Ki 67) are important histopathological factors in the development and prognosis of these tumours. AIM: The present study was aimed to evaluate the variations in ER and Ki-67 expression in three broad categories of breast lesions namely benign breast disease, proliferative breast disease and malignant breast disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ER% and Ki-67% was evaluated on the histopathological tissues of 15 patients each of benign, proliferative and invasive breast tumours. The ER+/ Ki-67± ratio was calculated and the variation of expression between the three categories was analyzed using student's t-test. Pearson's coefficient of correlation was used to correlate ER and Ki-67 positivity within each category. RESULTS: The mean ER+/Ki-67+ in benign, proliferative and invasive tumours was 0.81, 0.87 and 1.42 respectively. A statistically significant difference in ER+/Ki-67+ proportions was observed between proliferative breast disease category and malignant breast disease category and also between benign breast disease category and malignant breast disease category (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in benign breast disease category and proliferative breast disease category (p>0.05). A significant correlation was observed in proliferative breast disease and malignant breast disease categories. However, no significant correlation was observed in benign breast disease category. CONCLUSION: ER+/Ki-67+ ratio is an important determinant of the invasive breast cancer and can be used to differentiate invasive cancers from benign and proliferative breast tumours.

Silver nanoparticles: the powerful nanoweapon against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

In the present scenario, pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors are facing the challenges of continuous increase in the multidrug-resistant (MDR) human pathogenic microbes. Re-emergence of MDR microbes is facilitated by drug and/or antibiotic resistance, which is acquired way of microbes for their survival and multiplication in uncomfortable environments. MDR bacterial infections lead to significant increase in mortality, morbidity and cost of prolonged treatments. Therefore, development, modification or searching the antimicrobial compounds having bactericidal potential against MDR bacteria is a priority area of research. Silver in the form of various compounds and bhasmas have been used in Ayurveda to treat several bacterial infections since time immemorial. As several pathogenic bacteria are developing antibiotic resistance, silver nanoparticles are the new hope to treat them. This review discusses the bactericidal potential of silver nanoparticles against the MDR bacteria. This multiactional nanoweapon can be used for the treatment and prevention of drug-resistant microbes.

Atropine-induced rhabdomyolysis: an uncommon and potentially fatal adverse drug reaction.

A 25 year old woman received daily injection of 0.6 mg atropine for seven days by the intra-venous route. In addition to fever, incomprehensible speech and alteration of sensorium she developed albuminuria, hemoglobinuria and myoglobinuria. A diagnosis of atropine-induced rhabdomyolysis was made on the basis of clinical presentations and investigations. Although, datura poisoning and intoxication with wild mushrooms are known to result in rhabdomyolysis, this can be considered to be the first case of atropine-induced rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria.

Morphological and genetic differentiation among four pigment producing Indian species of Phoma (Saccardo, 1899).

A PCR-based technique, involving the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), was used for assessing genetic relatedness among isolates of the genus Phoma. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed the presence of interspecific genetic variation among the pigment producing isolates of Phoma and has shown distinct phylogenetic cluster. The major objective of the study was to study the genetic variation, if any. Study was aimed to differentiate four pigment producing species of Phoma based on morphological studies and molecular markers in general and RAPD in particular. We found that the test species of Phoma can be very well differentiated using molecular markers. Phoma sorghina was differentiated from P. exigua, P. fimeti and P. herbarum. RAPD profiles of P. herbarum and P. fimeti has shown the maximum similarity, which indicates the genetic relatedness among these two species which were considered earlier as distinct species based on morphological observation.

Fabrication of silver nanoparticles by Phoma glomerata and its combined effect against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

AIMS: We report extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) from Phoma glomerata and its efficacy against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacteria exhibiting resistance to various antibiotics showed remarkable sensitivity, when used in combination of antibiotics and Ag-NPs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Biosynthesis of Ag-NPs was carried out by challenging the fungal cell filtrate with 1 mmol l(-1) silver nitrate. The Ag-NPs were characterized with the help of UV-Visible spectrophotometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out to detect the size of Ag-NPs. Evaluation of the combined effect(s) was studied by disc diffusion method against E. coli, Staph. aureus and Ps. aeruginosa. CONCLUSIONS: The biosynthesis route seems to be eco-friendly and easy to scale up the process. Thus, these Ag-NPs may prove as a better candidate for drugs and can potentially eliminate the problem of chemical agents because of their biogenic nature. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The bacterial resistance against antibiotics has been increasing with alarming rate. To overcome this problem, there is a pressing need to develop bactericidal agents. Ag-NPs may prove to be an answer to drug-resistant bacteria.

Micro determination of ascorbic acid using methyl viologen.

A new simple and sensitive analytical spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of ascorbic acid reduces methyl viologen to form a stable blue coloured free radical ion. This method has a sensitivity and lower limit detection of 0.1mugml(-1) of ascorbic acid (0.1ppm) which is comparable to the flow injection analysis reported earlier. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 1.0-10mugml(-1) of ascorbic acid per 10ml of the final solution (0.1-1.0mugml(-1)) at 600nm. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 1.5x10(5)+/-100lmol(-1)cm(-1) and 0.001mugcm(-2), respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of ascorbic acid in food, pharmaceuticals and biological samples.

TLC-spectrophometric separation and trace determination of monocrotophos and dichlorvos in enviromental and biological samples.

Organophosphorus insecticides, monocrotophos and dichlrovos are increasingly being used in agriculture to control insects on a wide range of crops. Their ready access has resulted in misuse in many instances of homicidal and suicidal poisoning cases. This paper describes about a chromogenic spray reagent for the detection/determination of monocrophos and dichlrovos in environmental and biological samples by TLC and spectrophotometric method. Monocrotophos and dichlorvos on alkaline hydrolysis yield N-methyl acetoacetamide and dichlroacetaldehyde respectively, which in turn react with diazotized p-amino acetophenone to give red-violet and red coloured compounds. Other organophosphorus insecticides do not give this reaction. Moreover, organochlorine and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides and constituents of viscera (amino acids, peptides, proteins etc), which are generally coextracted with the insecticides, do not interfere. However, phenolic compounds and hydrolysed product of carbamate insecticides may interfere and differentiate from monocrotophos and dichlrovos by Rf values. The lower limit of detection is 0.2 mg for monocrotophos and 0.1 mg for dichlorovos. The absorption maxima of the reddish-violet and red colour formed by monocrotophos and dichlrovos, are measured at 560 nm and 540 nm respectively. Beer's Law is obeyed over the concentration range of 1.2 to 6.8 mg and 6.2 to 35 mg in the final solution volume of 25 mL. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of monocrotophos and dichlrovos were found to be 7.1 x 10(5) (+100) 1 mole(-1) cm(-1) and 0.008 mg cm(-2), 1.2 x 10(5) 1 mole(-1) cm(-1) and 0.003 mg cm(-2) respectively. The standard deviation and relative standard deviation were found be +/- 0.005 and 2.05% +/- 0.007 and 2.02% respectively. The developed method has been successfully applied to the detection and determination of monocrotophos and dichlrovos in environmental and biological samples.

Chemical characterization and antifungal activity of essential oil of capitula from wild Indian Tagetes patula L.

The essential oil extracted by steam distillation from the capitula of Indian Tagetes patula, Asteraceae, was evaluated for its antifungal properties and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thirty compounds were identified, representing 89.1% of the total detected. The main components were piperitone (24.74%), piperitenone (22.93%), terpinolene (7.8%), dihydro tagetone (4.91%), cis-tagetone (4.62%), limonene (4.52%), and allo-ocimene (3.66%). The oil exerted a good antifungal activity against two phytopathogenic fungi, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum, providing complete growth inhibition at 10 microl/ml and 1.25 microl/ml, respectively. The contribution of the two main compounds, piperitone and piperitenone, to the antifungal efficacy was also evaluated and ultrastructural modifications in mycelia were observed via electron microscopy, evidencing large alterations in hyphal morphology and a multisite mechanism of action.

Antifungal potential of Spilanthes calva after inoculation of Piriformospora indica.

We investigated the influence of Piriformospora indica on the antifungal principle of Spilanthes calva, a plant of high commercial value. An antifungal efficacy was shown by aqueous and petroleum ether extracts of S. calva against Fusarium oxysporum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The petroleum ether extract of S. calva was more effective than the aqueous extract in inoculated as well as uninoculated plants. The antifungal activity of the plant was enhanced due to the increase in spilanthol content after inoculation of P. indica.

Role of ELISA in H. pylori detection and its correlation with urease test.

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans linked to acid peptic diseases, gastric carcinomas and lymphomas. The bacilli produces large amounts of urease and this property has formed the basis of detection of H. pylori by the Christensen's urease test. Where endoscopy is not clinically indicated, serology may be used to establish the diagnosis. This study was undertaken to diagnose H. pylori with the help of Christensen's urease test on endoscopic biopsy specimens & correlated with the detection in Sera, of IgG antibodies against H. pylori, by ELISA technique. The study was conducted on 100 patients suffering from acid peptic disorders out of which 40 (40%) tested positive for H. pylori both by urease and serology. Christensen's urease and ELISA were found to have sensitivities of 85.7% & 90.9% and specificities of 96% and 87.5% respectively. Christensen's urease was taken as a standard method of diagnosis and its correlation with ELISA worked out to (+1) which meant there was a strong positive association between both the tests. Hence either test could be used for primary diagnosis of H. pylori instead of histopathological study and/or culture of H. pylori.

Salmonella infection of a ventricular aneurysm with mural thrombus.

We describe a case of salmonella infection of a left ventricular aneurysm with a mural thrombus and review 12 cases described in the literature. This entity should be looked for in any patient with persistent or relapsing salmonella bacteremia in whom an intracardiac thrombus is demonstrated. Nuclear imaging may help in the diagnosis. A combined medical and surgical approach should be aggressively pursued because patients who do not undergo an aneurysmectomy are unlikely to survive.

Endogenous endophthalmitis: case report and brief review.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a potentially blinding ocular infection resulting from hematogenous spread from a remote primary source. The condition is relatively rare but may become more common as the number of chronically debilitated patients and the use of invasive procedures increase. Many etiologic organisms (gram-positive, gram-negative and fungal) have been reported to cause endogenous endophthalmitis. Risk factors are well defined and include most reasons for immune suppression. A high clinical suspicion is needed for early diagnosis and treatment. Early intravenous antibiotic therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment. The roles of intravitreal antibiotics and vitrectomy are evolving and may become more widely accepted as therapeutic modalities. The authors report a case of endogenous endophthalmitis and provide a brief review of the literature.

In vitro susceptibility of opportunistic Fusarium spp. to essential oils.

The inhibitory effects of essential oils extracted from 10 Indian plants were evaluated against five fungi. The plants used for extraction of essential oils were six species of the genus Eucalyptus and Ocimum basilicum, Prosopis cineraria and Derris indica. The fungi used in the experiments were Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, F. pallidoroseum, F. acuminatum and F. chlamydosporum. The susceptibility of the Fusarium species was tested by the paper disc method and the serial dilution technique. The results were compared with the inhibitory effects of miconazole on the fungi. The essential oils extracted from the Eucalyptus species markedly inhibited fungal growth. Prosopis cineraria did not show inhibiting properties. Among the fungi, F. oxysporum proved to be the most resistant species.

In vitro evaluation of inhibitory nature of extracts of 18-plant species of Chhindwara against 3-keratinophilic fungi.

Effect of extract of 18 plant species, viz., Acorus calamus, Adhatoda vasica, Amomum subulatum, Andrographis paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Cassia occidentalis, Centella asiatica, Cymbopogon citratus, Hemidesmus indicus, Hyptis suaveolens, Malvestrum sp., Passiflora edulis, Pergularia daemia, Peristrophe bicalyculata, Shuteria hirsuta, Solanum nigrum, Tecoma stans, and Verbascum chinense on the growth of Microsporum gypseum, Chrysosporium tropicum and Trichophyton terrestre was evaluated and discussed. The sensitivity of the keratinophilic fungi was evaluated by dry-weight method. The maximum inhibition of mycelial growth was shown by M. gypseum (86.62%) followed by T. terrestre (81.86%) and C. tropicum (74.06%) when treated with S. hirsuta whereas the minimum inhibition was exhibited by M. gypseum (0.29%), C. tropicum (0.16%) and T. terrestre (1.76%) when tested with the extract of P. edulis, A. vasica and B. diffusa respectively.

A sensitive determination of paraquat by spectrophotometry.

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of a widely used herbicide, paraquat using a versatile reducing agent sodium borohydride is described. Paraquat is reduced with sodium borohydride in an alkaline medium to give a blue radical ion with an absorbance maxima at 600 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 0.05-0.5 mug ml(-1) of paraquat. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity are found to be 2.9 x 10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.0006 mug cm(-2) respectively. The important analytical parameters and the optimum reaction conditions were evaluated. The method is free from the interference of other commonly used pesticides and metal ions. The method was applied successfully to the determination of paraquat in human samples, such as blood, urine and mother's milk compared to food and environmental samples.

Phytotherapy of skin disease by plants of patalkot and tamiya.

The authors reports in this paper the usefulness of some plants of Chindawara, Madhya Pradesh in curing superficial mycosis.

The National Nutrition Scene: an analysis of results of two national surveys.

PIP: Extrapolation of data from two national nutritional surveys in India--the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and surveys conducted by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB)--enabled the ranking of states on the basis of criteria such as nutritional status of children under 5 years of age. The most recent NNMB survey report (1988-90) indicates that between 42.5% (Kerala) and 69.5% (Orissa) of under-fives are undernourished (defined as 2 or more standard deviations below the median); 11.8% (Kerala) to 41.8% (Madhya Pradesh) were severely malnourished (3 or more standard deviations below the median). Surprising was the lack of association between average household calorie and protein consumption in the state and the prevalence of child undernutrition. The NHFS (1992-93) found lower rates of child undernutrition (28% in Mizoram and Kerala to 63% in Bihar) and severe malnutrition (6% in Kerala to 31% in Bihar); states with the lowest child mortality rates had the lowest prevalence of child malnutrition. The NFHS data were used to develop an Index of Nutrition and Social Development for each state based on life expectancy, median years of schooling, and nutritional status of children under 5 years of age. This value was lowest for Bihar and highest in Kerala. There were marked gender disparities in child mortality, even in states with high female literacy. The largest differential (43% higher for girls) was in the mortality rate for children 1-4 years old.^ieng

In vitro evaluation of medicinal plant extracts against Pestalotiopsis mangiferae.

A serious leaf-spot disease of Mangifera indica was noted during the last 10 years in Satpura plateau of India. On the basis of characteristic symptoms and cultural characters, the pathogen was identified as Pestalotiopsis mangiferae which is hitherto not reported from Satpura plateau of India. Screening of 17-medicinal plants against the test pathogen revealed 14 antimycotic whereas 3-plants, viz., Argemone mexicana, Caesalpinia bonducella, and Casia fistula acclerated the growth of the pathogen. The maximum activity was shown by Eucalyptus globulus (88%) and Catharanthus roseus (88%) followed by Ocimum sanctum (85.50%), Azadirachta indica (84.66%), Ricinus communis (75%) and Lawsonia inermis (74.33%) while the minimum activity was exhibited by Jatropha curcas (10%).