Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of a new optical di-lithium di-phthalate single crystals.

Single crystals of a new alkali phthalic complex salt of di-lithium di-phthalate (C32H30Li4O21) (DLDP) were grown by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution at room temperature. The compound crystallizes in a monoclinic system with a centrosymmetric space group having the unit cell parameters; a=17.037(5) Å, b=5.134(5) Å, and c=21.398(5) Å and α=90.000(5)°, ß=113.195(5)°, and γ=90.000(5)° with Z=2. The structure has been refined up to a R-value of 0.0828 from 26,248 observed reflections using a three-dimensional X-ray diffraction intensity data. The vibrational structure of the compound confirms the presence of various functional groups in the molecule. Mass spectrometric analysis provides the molecular weight of the compound and possible ways of fragmentations occurring in the compound. Thermal stability of the crystal was also studied by simultaneous TGA/DTA analyses. The UV-VIS-NIR spectrum was recorded to study the transmittance properties of the grown crystals. The obtained results are discussed in detail.

Vittaforma corneae keratitis in southern India: role of a novel duplex PCR.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic cells and have emerged as major opportunistic human pathogens. Due to the difficulties in definitive laboratory diagnosis and insufficient knowledge, ocular microsporidiosis is infrequently reported in India. To improve diagnostic facilities, we have developed a novel duplex PCR (dPCR) for the simultaneous identification of both genera and species of isolates with microsporidian aetiology that cause keratitis. The material scraped from the corneas of 12 clinically diagnosed microsporidial keratitis patients was subjected to routine microbiological examinations and molecular diagnosis using a novel dPCR that targeted the small-subunit rRNA gene (SSU-rRNA) of microsporidia and Vittaforma corneae using genus- and species-specific primers. Of the 12 corneal scrapes, 6 showed positive results in smears, while dPCR provided positive amplification with both pan-microsporidial and V. corneae species-specific primers for 9 corneal scrapes. The results were validated by sequencing and blast analysis. The sensitivity of this novel dPCR method was higher than that of conventional microscopy in the diagnosis of corneal microsporidial infection. dPCR with specific primers is potentially more sensitive, specific and depends less on more complicated methods for exact identification of the aetiology of microsporidial keratitis.