Molecular confirmation & characterization of Rickettsia conorii in north India: A report of three cases.

Background & objectives: In India, spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) are an underdiagnosed cause of acute febrile illness (AFI). The non-specific Weil-Felix test is the first diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of SFGR in many laboratories due to the lack of advanced diagnostic facilities in developing countries. The aim of this study was to detect SFGR using molecular methods in the patients, presenting with AFI in a tertiary care centre in north India. Methods: Consecutive patients (>14 yr of age) with AFI were enrolled over a six month period. Standard investigations for common pathogens causing AFI in India (malaria, dengue, scrub typhus, leptospirosis and enteric fever) were carried out. In patients who were negative for all of the above investigations, blood was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene of Rickettsia. Results: Of the 51 patients with an undiagnosed aetiology, three were positive by ompA PCR. Two of the PCR products produced good sequences and BLAST identification confirmed them as Rickettsia conorii. The sequences of R. conorii reported from south India clustered with two previously reported novel rickettsial genotypes. The study sequences clustered in a group different from that of Rickettsia spp. of the south Indian sequences reported earlier. Interpretation & conclusions: This study showed the existence of R. conorii in north India. Testing for SFGR may be included in the diagnostic workup of AFI for better disease management.

Epidemiological characterisation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from India using multilocus sequence typing.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to utilize the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) technique to characterise Streptococcus pneumoniae among clinical isolates in India. MLST was used to determine clonality, to establish genetic relatedness, to check for correlation between serotypes and sequence types (STs) and its relevance associated with antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Forty consecutive invasive S. pneumoniae isolates in children<5 years were characterised. Preliminary identification of serotype and antibiotic susceptible profile was followed with MLST technique to identify the STs of the isolates. STs were then analysed for clonality using an eBURST algorithm and genetic relatedness using Sequence Type Analysis and Recombinational Tests version 2 software. RESULTS: The most common ST was ST63. Among the forty isolates, we identified nine novel STs, six of which had known alleles but in new combinations, three of which had new alleles in their sequence profile. The new STs assigned were 8501-8509. One clonal complex was found among the 40 strains characterised. The most common serotypes in this study were serotype 19F, 14 and 5. Non-susceptibility to penicillin and erythromycin was observed in 2.5% and 30% of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows a significant number of novel STs among the 40 isolates characterised (9/40, 22.5%), however, internationally recognised strains were also circulating in India, indicating, there could be greater geographical variation in pneumococcal STs in India. Molecular epidemiology data is essential to understand the population dynamics of S. pneumoniae in India before the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines in NIP in India.

Catalytic activity of Fe/ZrO2 nanoparticles for dimethyl sulfide oxidation.

A low-temperature vapor phase catalytic oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) with ozone over nano-sized Fe2O3-ZrO2 catalyst is carried out at temperatures of 50-200°C. Nanostructured Fe2O3-ZrO2 catalyst (FZN) is prepared by modified sol-gel method using citric acid as a chelating agent and conventional FZ catalyst is prepared with co-precipitation method. The catalysts are characterized using N2-BET surface area and pore size distributions, X-ray diffraction, TPR, TPD of DMS and NH3, SEM and TEM. The effects of operating temperature, ozone/DMS concentration and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) on DMS removal efficiencies via catalytic ozonation are investigated. Relatively higher amount of ozone decomposition is observed on nanocatalyst compared to the co-precipitate catalyst from 50°C to 150°C. In contrast, at 200°C irrespective of the particle size, both catalysts performed similar activity. It clearly demonstrates that under ozone assisted catalytic oxidation over nanocatalyst offers the 100% of DMS conversion at lower temperature. The synthesized nanocatalyst and ozone are observed highly efficient for low temperature catalytic oxidation of DMS. The stability test shows that the nanocatalyst have relatively high activity and stability under the reaction conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed for the oxidation of DMS based on the possible reaction products.

Clinical features and visual outcome of intermediate uveitis in children.

PURPOSE: To determine the presentation, course, treatment and outcome of idiopathic intermediate uveitis in children. METHODS: The records of all patients under the age of 16 presenting with idiopathic intermediate uveitis under the care of one consultant (SL) between 1990 and 2001 were reviewed. The case notes were analysed with respect to presenting symptoms, associated conditions, ocular signs, change in visual acuity, treatment and complications. All patients with systemic disease were specifically excluded from the study. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (45 eyes) were identified with intermediate uveitis from 114 cases of childhood uveitis seen. The mean age at presentation was 10 years (range 7-13 years) and the average follow-up time was 3 years (range 0-7 years). All patients had varying degrees of vitritis, 28 eyes had snowbanks and 5 had cystoid macular oedema at presentation. Six patients required no treatment, five received topical treatment only, five were managed with orbital floor steroids alone and a further two were managed with orbital floor steroids and oral prednisolone. Systemic steroids were required in eight patients, four of whom also required cyclosporin. Six of these children had successful disease control and maintained a visual acuity of 6/9 in at least one affected eye. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic intermediate uveitis is a relatively uncommon condition in children but can have severe effects on vision. With careful management, vision can be preserved in at least one eye. This study describes the course of the disease in a relatively large series. The variation in disease severity prompts the use of individually tailored immunosuppressive regimens.

Antiulcer activity of pipal extract.

An ethanol extract of Pipal has been studied for its ability to inhibit gastric acidity and to protect gastric mucosa against the injuries caused by pyloric ligation, acetyl salicylic acid and cytodestructing agents (80% ethanol, 06M Hcl and 0.2 M Hcl) in rats. The results of this study demonstrate that ethanol extract of papal has significant effects on various experimentally induced ulcers. It reduced significantly the intensity of gastric lesions induced by pylorus ligation, acetyl salicylic cid (ASA) and mucosal damaging agents. Also the total acidity was found to be decreased Acutic toxicity testis shoed no toxic symptoms or mortality over a period of 7 days with doses 0.25-1.5 gm/kg. These findings suggests that ethanol extract of papal exerts anticulcer effects by increasing gastric mucosal resistance and cyto-protective activities.