A study of antibiotic resistance pattern of clinical bacterial pathogens isolated from patients in a tertiary care hospital.

We investigated antibiotic resistance pattern in clinical bacterial pathogens isolated from in-patients and out-patients, and compared it with non-clinical bacterial isolates. 475 bacterial strains isolated from patients were examined for antibiotic resistance. Staphylococcus spp. (148; 31.1%) were found to be the most prevalent, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (135; 28.4%), Escherichia coli (74; 15.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (65; 13.6%), Enterobacter spp. (28; 5.8%), and Acinetobacter spp. (25; 5.2%). Drug-resistant bacteria isolated were extended spectrum-ß-lactamase K. pneumoniae (8.8%), E. coli (20%), metallo-ß-lactamase P. aeruginosa (14; 2.9%), erythromycin-inducing clindamycin resistant (7.4%), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species (21.6%). Pathogens belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family were observed to undergo directional selection developing resistance against antibiotics ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, and cefuroxime. Pathogens in the surgical ward exhibited higher levels of antibiotic resistance, while non-clinical P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae strains were more antibiotic-susceptible. Our research assisted in identifying the drugs that can be used to control infections caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the population and in monitoring the prevalence of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens.

Central Composite Design Expert-Supported RP-HPLC Optimization and Quantitative Evaluation of Efonidipine Hydrochloride Ethanolate & Chlorthalidone in Tablet.

Central composite design based RP-HPLC method optimization for the synchronized analysis of Efonidipine Hydrochloride Ethanolate (EFE) and Chlorthalidone (CHL) in tablet. The effective separation was performed using Inertsil ODS C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), PDA detector with 0.05 M KH2PO4 Buffer (pH 4.5): Acetonitrile (40:60%v/v) mobile phase. Independent variables were investigated include the concentration of KH2PO4 (X1) and flow rate of mobile phase (X2). Based on responses obtained (retention time, resolution and tailing factor), the optimum condition selected was X1 = 40% and X2 = 1 ml/min. Optimized HPLC condition was validated by assessing validation parameters and it meets the acceptance criteria set by ICH. The linear calibration curve was found to be in the quantity range 6.25-18.75 and 20-60 µg/ml Assay of drugs was 100.94 and 100.06% for CHL and EFE. The validated RP-HPLC-PDA method can be used for routine analysis of EFE and CHL in tablet.

A Comprehensive Review on Ulcer and Their Treatment.

A peptic ulcer is a lesion (sore) on the stomach lining, or duodenum. Peptic ulcers are probably a twentieth-century condition. The ulcer disease continues to be a significant source of worldwide morbidity and mortality. The Gastrointestinal ulcers and duodenal ulcers are considered the two most extreme types of peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers are found to be caused by an excess of violent factors including Hydrochloric acid (HCL) pepsin, refluxed bile leukotrienes (LT), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protective factors, these include mucus-bicarbonate barrier functions, prostaglandins (PGs), mucosal blood flow, cell regeneration and migration, non-enzymatic and enzymatic and certain growth factors. The primary cause of peptic ulcer disease is pylori infection and the use of NSAIDs. This review article underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of ulcers to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Kinase-dead mutation: A novel strategy for improving soybean resistance to soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines.

Protein kinases phosphorylate proteins for functional changes and are involved in nearly all cellular processes, thereby regulating almost all aspects of plant growth and development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. We generated two independent co-expression networks of soybean genes using control and stress response gene expression data and identified 392 differentially highly interconnected kinase hub genes among the two networks. Of these 392 kinases, 90 genes were identified as "syncytium highly connected hubs", potentially essential for activating kinase signalling pathways in the nematode feeding site. Overexpression of wild-type coding sequences of five syncytium highly connected kinase hub genes using transgenic soybean hairy roots enhanced plant susceptibility to soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) Hg Type 0 (race 3). In contrast, overexpression of kinase-dead variants of these five syncytium kinase hub genes significantly enhanced soybean resistance to SCN. Additionally, three of the five tested kinase hub genes enhanced soybean resistance to SCN Hg Type 1.2.5.7 (race 2), highlighting the potential of the kinase-dead approach to generate effective and durable resistance against a wide range of SCN Hg types. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that kinase-dead mutations do not alter protein cellular localization, confirming the structure-function of the kinase-inactive variants in producing loss-of-function phenotypes causing significant decrease in nematode susceptibility. Because many protein kinases are highly conserved and are involved in plant responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses, our approach of identifying kinase hub genes and their inactivation using kinase-dead mutation could be translated for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.

Pericardial Tamponade and Elevated Serum CA-125 Level in Inadequately Treated Hypothyroidism.

Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency and must be managed promptly, and reaching a diagnosis is imperative to prevent recurrence. Herein, we present a case of a young female patient that presented with progressive shortness of breath and abdominal distension and was found to have cardiac tamponade with the finding of elevation of a blood tumor marker, CA-125, in the setting of nonadherence to thyroid replacement therapy. She was managed by surgical pericardial window and abdominal paracentesis, with replacement of thyroid hormones leading to resolution of the tamponade and ascites. CA-125 elevation associated with cardiac tamponade and myxedema ascites due to hypothyroidism is very rare, and we aim to shed light on the importance of having a broad differential when approaching cardiac tamponade and understand the association between CA-125 and hypothyroidism.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury in a COVID-19-positive convalescent plasma recipient: a case report.

We present a case of transfusion-related acute lung injury as a complication of convalescent plasma transfusion in a patient who presented with COVID-19-related severe acute respiratory syndrome. Despite treatment with tocilizumab, remdesivir, and intravenous steroids, worsening dyspnea prompted adjunctive treatment with convalescent plasma. Two hours after completion of the plasma transfusion, the patient developed hypoxia-induced cardiac arrest secondary to transfusion-related acute lung injury. This case sheds light on life-threatening transfusion reactions and emphasizes the need to investigate post-transfusion monitoring protocols as well as the possible role of surveillance equipment.

Comparative homology model building and docking evaluation for RNA III inhibiting peptide of Multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain MRSA252.

Since last several years, infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus is challenging to cure using conventional antibiotics. The organism is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that can cause serious diseases not only in humans but also in animals, such as various skin infections, pneumonia, endocarditis and toxin shock syndrome. This bacterium causes such diseases by producing macromolecules such as hemolysins, enterotoxins, proteases and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1). This organism had developed the multidrug resistance by acquiring MEC-A gene. This account for made organism to come into the category of Superbug. Several studies showed that, the toxin production is induced by AIP and RAP via the phosphorylation of TRAP. TRAP is a 21 kDa protein and was believed to be associated with the membrane via SvrA Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that TRAP is histidine phosphorylated in a signal transduction pathway that is activated by RAP. The inhibition of TRAP could be done by RIP (RNAIII-inhibiting peptide). The structure for RIP is still undiscovered to be used as inhibitor. Present work has been carried out to get the structural insight with various online and offline homology modeling techniques such as SWISS-MODEL, MODBASE, GENO3D, CPHmodels and I-TASSER for getting unknown structural information target of RNAIII-activating protein from Staphylococcus aureus strain MRSA252 origin for their future exploration as a target in drug discovery process against MRSA.

Characterization of halotolerant, pigmented, plant growth promoting bacteria of groundnut rhizosphere and its in-vitro evaluation of plant-microbe protocooperation to withstand salinity and metal stress.

The use of plant associated, indigenous beneficial microbes for sustainable agriculture is getting worldwide acceptance as they successfully colonize at different plant niche under stress conditions to enhance the crop productivity. They also generate several plant growth regulators and protect plants from adversity like presence of salts and metals. In the present study, indigenous, halotolerant, plant growth promoting (PGP) bacterial isolates were isolated from the saline rhizospheric soil of groundnut plants aiming to investigate its in-vitro metal remediation capabilities under saline stress condition. Two pigmented bacteria were selected based on their phenotypic, biochemical, physiological and PGP characters and identified as members of family Bacillaceae (Bacillus and Halobacillus) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The pigments were extracted, tested for different antioxidant properties and identified by GC-MS and FT-IR spectra. Simultaneously, both strains exhibited a wide range of salinity (NaCl≥25%), metal resistance (Zinc≈1700mgkg-1, Aluminium≈1800mgkg-1, Lead≈1800mgkg-1), pH (6-10), PGP attributes (indole - 1.05-3.15µgml-1, ammonia - 0.13-19.95mmolml-1, nitrite - 0.07-0.26mmolml-1) and antibiotics sensitivity revealing their wide range of metabolic diversity. In-vitro inoculation of groundnut seedlings with selected isolates under salinity (1% NaCl) and metal (Zn, Al and Pb) stress had a positive impact on different plant physiological parameters (lesser lignification, intact proto xylem and cortical parenchyma) which was correlated with PGP attributes. Microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy analysis of seedling samples also detected less amount of metals in plants treated with bacteria indicating, an establishment of plant-microbe protocooperation to withstand salinity and metal stress. This strategy can be implemented to improve crop production in saline metal polluted agriculture fields.