Screening of some weeds for larvicidal activity against Aedes albopictus, a vector of dengue and chikungunya.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Screening of crude extracts of plants facilitates the establishment of highly effective extract for mosquito control. This practice should be preferred before in depth study of plant extracts rather than spending much efforts and energy in detailed examinations for practically ineffective extracts. In this study, leaf powders of four weed plants were used for the quick screening of effective plant extract as larvicide against III instar larvae of Aedes albopictus Skuse. At the same time, effect of different seasons on the larvicidal efficacy of plants and selection of proper solvents for further investigation were also studied. METHODS: Leaves of Vernonia cinerea, Prosopis juliflora, Hyptis suaveolens and Malvastrum coromandelianum plants were collected in summer, winter and rainy seasons from Madhya Pradesh region (India). To assess the larvicidal efficacy the suspensions of leaf powders in different solvents (isopropanol, methanol, acetone, dimethylsulfoxide and water) were used for larvicidal bioassay. The mortality counts were made after 24 h and the LC50 and LC90 values were calculated. RESULTS: Results showed that leaf powder of V. cinerea in acetone collected during summer showed highest efficacy with LC50 value of 0.22 g/l and LC90 of 0.96 g/l followed by methanolic solution of P. juliflora with LC50 of 0.44 g/l and LC90 value as 1.85 g/l. Amongst all solvents, leaf powder in acetone; while among seasons, summer collected plant materials were found to be more effective larvicides as compared to others. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Summer and winter collected leaves of V. cinerea and P. juliflora dissolved in the solvents of medium polarity range showed significant larval toxicity and thus suggests a detailed study on these plants as potential larval control agents.

Typing of Plasmodium falciparum DNA from 2 years old Giemsa-stained dried blood spots using nested polymerase chain reaction assay.

A panel of 129 Giemsa-stained thick blood spots (TBS) confirmed for Plasmodium falciparum infection having different levels of parasite density were collected from a malaria endemic area. DNA was extracted and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed to amplify P. falciparum DNA. Nested PCR assay successfully amplified P. falciparum DNA at a very low parasitaemia of ~10 parasites/µl of blood. Current PCR assay is very simple and can be used retrospectively to monitor the invasion and prevalence of different Plasmodium species in endemic areas.

Pre-operative considerations in aesthetic facial surgery.

This article reviews the common pitfalls in the complex process of pre-operative assessment for facial plastic surgery. Legal guidelines and best practice are discussed, and attention is directed mainly towards the consenting and psychological issues surrounding this area of surgery.

Role of phosphate fertilizers in heavy metal uptake and detoxification of toxic metals.

As a nonrenewable resource, phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient for plant growth and nutrition. Demand of phosphorus application in the agricultural production is increasing fast throughout the globe. The bioavailability of phosphorus is distinctively low due to its slow diffusion and high fixation in soils which make phosphorus a key limiting factor for crop production. Applications of phosphorus-based fertilizers improve the soil fertility and agriculture yield but at the same time concerns over a number of factors that lead to environmental damage need to be addressed properly. Phosphate rock mining leads to reallocation and exposure of several heavy metals and radionuclides in crop fields and water bodies throughout the world. Proper management of phosphorus along with its fertilizers is required that may help the maximum utilization by plants and minimum run-off and wastage. Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria along with the root rhizosphere of plant integrated with root morphological and physiological adaptive strategies need to be explored further for utilization of this extremely valuable nonrenewable resource judiciously. The main objective of this review is to assess the role of phosphorus in fertilizers, their uptake along with other elements and signaling during P starvation.

Development and validation of a reverse phase liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous quantification of eserine and pralidoxime chloride in drugs-in-adhesive matrix type transdermal patches.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, a simple, precise, specific, fast, accurate and reliable reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination and quantification of eserine and pralidoxime chloride in drugs-in-adhesive matrix type transdermal patches. METHODS: The chromatographic separation was achieved by C18 column, using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: 10 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 10 mM heptane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt monohydrate in water (30:70, v/v) adjusted at pH 3.0 with ortho-phosphoric acid. Flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and UV detection at 238 nm. The method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. RESULTS: The calibration curves were linear over the different concentration ranges of 0.5-10 µg/ml for eserine and 5-25 µg/mL for 2PAM. Relative standard deviation for precision was less than 2.0%. Limit of detection values of eserine and 2-PAM were 0.018 µg/mL and 0.008 µg/mL, respectively. The limit of quantification of eserine and 2-PAM were 0.055 µg/mL and 0.026 µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION: The developed method was applied for the routine analysis of these 2 drugs in drugs-in-adhesive matrix type transdermal patches in order to evaluate the drug content of different formulations. It could be also used with reliability for the determination of the drug in other pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Studies on the ovitraps baited with hay and leaf infusions for the surveillance of dengue vector, Aedes albopictus in northeastern India.

Ovitraps baited with hay and leaf infusions were evaluated for enhancing the oviposition response of gravid females of the dengue vector Aedes albopictus. The egg density per trap (mean ± SEmean) was the highest with 30% infusions of Pennisetum grass hay (623.6 ± 41) and rice straw (580 ± 51.3), which corresponded to oviposition activity index (OAI) of 0.62. Infusions (5-50%) of mango and banana leaves with OAI ranging from -0.36 to 0.39 were not observed to enhance the oviposition response significantly over control. Rice straw and Pennisetum grass hay are available round the year in northeastern India and the use of these infusions can be a cost effective way to augment the ovitrap surveillance of dengue vectors.

Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity, Antibacterial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Garcinia lancifolia.

Garcinia lancifolia (Clusiaceae) is an unexplored medicinal plant used as stomachic, diuretic and its fruit is used to cure dysentery and diarrhoea. The acidic fruits are used to prepare juice, pickle and curries. The phytochemical analysis of different extracts of G. lancifolia leaf, stem and fruit revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. The high phenolic content was observed in the methanol extract of leaf followed by methanol extract of stem and dichloromethane extract of leaf. The G. lancifolia fruit juice exhibited high antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus subtilis. The methanol extract of fruit pulp was also very effective against Gram-positive bacteria when compared with Gram-negative bacteria. The radical scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl was highest in fruit juice followed by methanol extract of leaf and stem. All extracts showed concentration-dependent increase in the antioxidant activity.

Molecular characterization of 'Bhut Jolokia' the hottest chilli.

The northeast region of India, considered as 'hot spot' of biodiversity, having unique ecological environment with hot and high-humidity conditions, has given rise to the world's hottest chilli, 'Bhut Jolokia', which is at least two times hotter than Red Savina Habanero in terms of Scoville heat units (SHU). This study was undertaken to determine the distinctiveness of 'Bhut Jolokia' from Capsicum frutescens or Capsicum chinense through sequencing of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene-internal transcribed ((ITS) region along with its phylogenetic analysis. Although a compensatory base change (CBC) in the ITS2 region was not observed between the closely related species of C. frutescens and C. chinense when compared with Bhut Jolokia; phylogenetic analysis using ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 sequences indicated a distinct clade for all the accessions of 'Bhut Joloikia', while C. frutescens and C. chinense occupied discrete lineages. Further, a unique 13-base deletion was observed in all the representative accessions of 'Bhut Jolokia', making it distinct from all other members within the genus and beyond. The degree of genetic variations along with its extreme pungency might be related to ambient environmental factors of northeastern India.

Anxiety and depression in head and neck out-patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of psychological distress in head and neck out-patients. DESIGN: We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to screen 106 patients for mood disorders in a London head and neck ENT out-patient clinic. SETTING: Queen's Hospital, Romford, UK. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and six patients attending a head and neck out-patient clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score. RESULTS: Approximately 39 per cent of patients had a possible anxiety disorder (10 per cent were rated as severe), and 27 per cent had possible depression (10 per cent were rated as severe). CONCLUSION: We recommend that a member of the head and neck multidisciplinary team should be trained to identify and correctly refer psychologically distressed patients to appropriate existing psychiatric services.

Technetium-99m-labeled deoxynivalenol from Fusarium mycotoxin alters organ toxicity in BALB/c mice by oral and intravenous route

The toxicity of deoxynivalenol, both intravenously and orally, was investigated in male and female BALB/c mice. Technetium-99m (99m Tc)-labeled deoxynivalenol was administered to mice by tail vein injection and orally dosed. Distribution of labeled deoxynivalenol at 26 hours was monitored by gamma-scintigraphy. In the evaluated organs, the accumulation of radioactive deoxynivalenol was correlated with the amount of radioactivity. In addition, the toxicity of deoxynivalenol was measured by biochemical assays followed by histopathological findings. Kidney and hepatic marker enzymes were significantly increased in intravenously administered deoxynivalenol as compared to orally treated mice. Intravenously treated mice showed severe damage in liver and kidney when compared to those orally exposed. Biodistribution of 99mTc-labeled deoxynivalenol differed between oral and intravenous treatment. In intravenously exposed mice, deoxynivalenol was distributed primarily in the liver and kidney whereas in oral exposure, it was found in the stomach and intestines after 26 hours. Deoxynivalenol toxicity, associated with its biodistribution and organ toxicity, was greatest where it had accumulated. The results show that the toxicity of deoxynivalenol is associated with organ accumulation.(AU)

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections: prevalence of uropathogens and pattern of antimicrobial resistance in a UK hospital (1996-2001).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the change in the bacterial profile and pattern of antibiotic resistance of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs, the most prevalent form of nosocomial infections) between 1996 and 2001. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Catheter samples of urine (CSUs) submitted in 1996, 1998 and 2001 (2451, 2460 and 3349 specimens, respectively) were analysed. The distribution of different uropathogens in bacterial CAUTIs and their in vitro antimicrobial resistance was evaluated over the study interval. The likelihood ratio test was used to assess whether there was a linear trend according to calendar year. RESULTS: Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen in all years, but its frequency declined over time (35.6%, 32.5% and 26.6%, respectively). Enterococcus was the second most frequent overall, with a significant increase in frequency with time (11.8%, 15.3% and 22.0%, respectively). There was also a considerable change in resistance patterns to antibiotics. As a result, in 1996, CAUTIs were least often resistant to ciprofloxacin (8.0%) followed by co-amoxiclav (18.5%) and cephalexin (25.4%). In 2001, CAUTIs were least often resistant to co-amoxiclav (22.5%), followed by ciprofloxacin (27.2%) and nitrofurantoin (28.8%). CONCLUSION: The types of organisms associated with CAUTI have changed over the last 5 years in a UK institution, as have the patterns of antibiotic resistance. Currently, the most appropriate agents for the empirical management of CAUTIs seem to be co-amoxiclav, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin.