Decolourization and Detoxification of Azo Dye, Malachite Green by Pseudomonas monteilii Strain RZT1, a Bacterium Isolated from Textile Wastewater

Discharge of textile industrial effluent without proper treatment has become a severe hazard for the animal health and environment worldwide. Therefore, this study was designed to isolate azo dye-degrading bacteria from textile wastewater and evaluate their ability to biodegrade reactive dyes into non-toxic products. The potent bacterial strain which was isolated from textile wastewater was identified as Pseudomonas monteilii strain RZT1 on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence. The isolated bacterial strain exhibited good decolorization ability with yeast extract supplementation as cosubstrate in static conditions for Malachite Green dye. The optimal condition for the decolorization of Malachite Green dye by P. monteilii strain RZT1 were at pH 7.0 and 28癈. Decolorization rates of Malachite Green dye by P. monteilii strain RZT1 were varied with initial dye concentration as follow: 84.8%, 75.4%, 63.4% and 45.5% decolorization for 100ppm, 200ppm, 300ppm and 400ppm initial dye concentration respectively. We investigated the effects of dyes used in the textile industry on the seed germination of Five crops - Rice (Oryza sativa), Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Khesari (Lathyrus sativus), Mustard (Brassica nigra) and Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia). It was found that textile dye Malachite Green had negative effect on seed germination and seedling growth in test cultures. The harmful effects of dye on seed germination and early seedling growth parameters were augmented with increase of dye concentration. Interestingly, treatment of the Malachite Green dye with isolated bacteria reduced the adverse effects of that dye on seed germination and seedling growth. Thus, it indicated the potentiality of P. monteilii strain RZT1 for bioremediation of textile effluents into a non-toxic form for plants.

Reduction of Toxic Effects of Textile Dye, Basic Red-18 on Tilapia Fish by Bioremediation with a Novel Bacterium, Mangrovibacter yixingensis Strain AKS2 Isolated from Textile Wastewater

Due to rapid industrialization and market demand of vibrant textile products, the natural textile dyes have been replaced by the synthetic textile dyes. These synthetic dyes are released in environment with textile wastewater resulting in a major environmental pollution, especially in aquatic ecosystem. Hence, aquatic organisms like fish are highly vulnerable to the pollution caused by dyes of textile wastewater. This study was designed to evaluate the deleterious effects of Basic Red-18 (BR-18) dye on behavior, survivability, haematology and histology of Tilapia fish (Tilapia mossambica) and to minimize these deleterious effects of BR-18 dye by bioremediation with the novel bacteria isolated from textile wastewater. The isolated novel bacteria was identified as Mangrovibacter yixingensis strain AKS2 by 16s rRNA sequencing (Accession no. OM189530). The 30% and 70% mortality rates were observed in fish exposed to commercial BR-18 dye at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm respectively. Interestingly, the mortality rate of fish was decreased significantly to 10% and 20% when fish were exposed to 100 and 200 ppm BR-18 dye respectively after bioremediation with M. yixingensis strain AKS2. Fish exposed to tap water and bioremediated BR-18 dye solution exhibited typical behavioral responses, whereas fish exposed to commercial BR-18 dye solution exhibited anomalous behavior. Fish subjected to commercial BR-18 dye solution displayed decreased RBC, Hb, but increased WBC levels, demonstrating the dye's haemotoxicity. Contrary, no remarkable haematological toxic effect was found when fish were exposed to bioremediated BR-18 dye indicating the non-toxic character of the bioremediated dye metabolites. Similarly, extensive histological abnormalities in the gill, liver, intestinal, stomach, and heart tissues were seen when fish was cultured in commercial BR-18 dye, but the abnormalities were less significant when fish were raised in bioremediated BR-18 dye. Altogether, it can be concluded that BR-18 dye are toxic to fish, but this toxicity can be minimized by bioremediation with M. yixingensis strain AKS2.

Disaster Coping Strategy Practiced by the Affected People for their Livelihood Due to Climate Change

The purpose of the study were to (i) determine the disaster coping strategy practiced by the affected people (ii) assess the socio-economic profile of the respondents, (iii) ascertain the contribution of selected characteristics of the people and (iv) identify the constraints of disaster coping strategy practiced by the affected people. The study was conducted at Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur District. Data were collected from a sample of 302 respondents, randomly selected from disaster affected population. Age, education, family size, farm size, disaster affected land, annual income, training received, extension media contact, knowledge on disaster coping strategy, environmental awareness, household assets, credit facilities, IGAs, water and sanitation condition, risk orientation, awareness about SSNP, perception of Climate Change (CC), perception of disasters and scope of work in vulnerable situation constituted the independent variables, while disaster coping strategy practiced was the dependent variable. For measuring the disaster coping strategy practices, a 4-point rating scale was used against 50 items taking 10 items from each of five components of human needs e.g. 1) food preservation, collection and management, 2) agricultural products protection, 3) maintaining social network, 4) safeguard of health and sanitation, and 5) protection of housing and shelter. Numerical values and scales were used to measure the personal attributes. Regression and path analysis were employed to determine the contribution among the variables. For exploring relationship between the two variables Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (r) was used. The majority (77.8 per cent) of the respondents had regular coping strategies compared to 22.2 per cent were found to have occasional coping strategies in the study area. Among 19 independent variables 16 were found significant relationship with the dependent variable. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that six variables namely education (23 per cent), participation in IGAs (3.6 percent), awareness of SSNPs (2.9 percent), disaster affected land (1.2 percent), farm size (1.9 percent) and perception of CC (1 percent) were the important contributing variables which combined explained 33.6 of the total variation of practice of coping strategy. Path analysis indicated that disaster affected land (0.589) had the highest positive direct effect while farm size (0.643) had the highest positive indirect effect to the disaster coping strategy practice. The major constraints for practicing disaster coping strategy in the study area were ‘Lack of knowledge and skills of affected people‘, ‘Lack of relief materials during disaster‘, ‘Lack of technologies‘, ‘Weak weather forecasting‘, ‘Less motivation’, ‘Low sanitation & health coverage’ and ‘Lack of communication during disasters’,. To cope up with the challenges of the disasters, the people used reduction of food intake per meal, putting goods above flood level, keeping women and children in safer places, using boiled and tube well water, providing health care support to the sick family members, transfer important documents to the safer places, increasing level of homestead with soil, taking relief, credit, religious fasting, using mosque/temple as campaigning center, borrowing principal food from neighbor, use savings, migration, livestock sell, and social interconnectedness as the major coping strategies to survive the situation and improve their livelihood.

A Case Report on Unilateral Double Testicles.

A unilateral double testicle is a rare anomaly characterized by migration of one testicle towards the opposite inguinal canal. The commonest erratic development is the more or less incomplete descent of the testicle along the normal route of descent, which is known as cryptorchidism. In ectopia of the testicles, as opposed to cryptorchidism, the displaced testicle does not descend along the usual route but as it migrates downwards it moves into an entirely abnormal position. Usually the migrating testicle remains on its own side of the body but may end up in an unusual position e.g. in the superficial tissue of the inguinal region above the external ring, in the area of the base of the penis, in the upper part of the thigh, in the region of perineum or in the pelvic cavity. In this case, the right and left testicles were found to descend together on the right side, whereas the left side of the scrotum was entirely empty. The case was treated with 'Bilateral Transeptal Subdartos Orchidopexy'. The case reported here is evidently one of extreme rarity as there are about 148 reported cases since the first described by Von Lenhossek in1886.

A Case Report of Adrenal Pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine secreting tumour originating usually from adrenal medulla and produces signs and symptoms due excessive catecholamine secretion from tumour. A young female patient of 21 year age presented with paroxysmal attacks of hypertension causing palpitation, dizziness, blurring of vision and headache for last 06 months. Clinical suspicion of pheochromocytoma was confirmed by 24 hour urinary catecholamine level, transabdominal USG and CT scan of abdomen. After having two weeks of preoperative preparation with phenoxybenzamine and propanolol, open surgical removal of pheochromocytoma was done. Peroperative fluctuation of BP was well managed by IV fluid overload, intravenous phentolamine, intravenous esmolol and intravenous ephedrine. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and BP regains to normal range from 1st postoperative day. Pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of hypertension. If the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is overlooked, the consequences could be disastrous, even fatal; however, if a pheochromocytoma is identified, it is potentially curable, as being one of the cause of surgically correctable hypertension.

Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis - Experiences of 77 Cases.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common cause of gastric outlet obstruction in infants which needs surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to review the management of IHPS in our hospital to compare with other developed centers. This is a prospective analytical study carried out in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Dr. Zahed Children Hospital at Faridpur, during the period of May 2002 to October 2010. Total 77 patients were treated by Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy after proper diagnosis and resuscitation. The male to female ratio was 10:1. Most of the patients presented to us within 40 days of age (90%).Younger one was 15 days and elder one was 69 days. In all cases diagnosis were done on clinical basis. The diagnosis is confirmed by barium meal x-ray in 71 cases and sonogram in 15 cases. Serum electrolytes were not estimated in all patients. There was moderate to severe dehydration in more than 60% cases. 71 cases were operated under general anesthesia and 06 cases were operated with local anesthesia. There was one postoperative death on 4th post-operative day. Oral feeding started after 8 to 10 hours postoperatively in all cases. Mucosal perforation occurred in 1 case and that was recognized and treated conservatively without any ill effect. Superficial wound infection encountered in 3 cases. Early diagnosis, preoperative correction of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and experiences of surgeons play important role for management of IHPS.

Comparative studies on IFAT, ELISA & DAT for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Bangladesh.

The purpose of the study was to estimate the specificity and sensitivity of different serological methods for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Bangladesh. Blood samples from 155 suspected kala-azar patients together with 80 sick subjects and 50 healthy subjects from the endemic areas were collected. Out of the 155 suspected kala-azar patients, bone marrow were collected from 126 patients. All bone marrow samples were examined by direct microscopy. 92 bone marrow samples were also examined by culture method. Blood samples were examined by various serological tests. Out of 126 marrow samples, LD bodies were present by microscopy in 77 (61.1%) cases and out of 92 marrow samples, cultures for LD bodies were positive in 33 (35.9%) cases. All the three serological tests (IFAT, ELISA & DAT) were positive in all parasitologically positive kala-azar patients. They were also positive in seven (15.5%) out of 45 parasitologically negative cases and 10 (34.4%) out of remaining 29 cases in whom bone marrow samples were not available. Thus the serological tests proved to be simple, non-invasive, highly sensitive and specific methods for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. DAT is the simplest of these serological tests, although these tests did not differ in sensitivity and specificity.