Clinical Profile and Outcome of Organophosphorus Poisoning in a Tertiary Hospital.

Organophosphorus compound (OPC) poisoning is common in Bangladesh. The toxicity of the agent and paucity of appropriate medical services has resulted in high mortality rates. To find out the clinical profile and outcome of OPC poisoning patients is the main aim of my study. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from September 2016 to November 2018. In this study, mean age of the study subjects was 25.90±11.24 years. Males (70.8%) were predominant than female (29.2%). In this study, most of the poisoning was done by ingestion (98.3%) and only two (1.7%) by inhalation. Regarding features, most muscarinic effect was constricted pupil and bronchospasm (65.0%). Common nicotinic effect was fasciculation (25.0%) and central effect was headache (61.67%). Mean amount of OPC ingestion was 26.30±17.24 ml in this study. Regarding circumstances of poisoning, familial disharmony (38.3%) and quarrel with other family members (37.5%) were the major reason followed by failure of personal affairs (15.0%) and other reasons (9.2%). Regarding complications, aspiration pneumonia was found in 6.7% cases, cardiac arrhythmia was in 6.7% cases and intermediate syndrome was in 1.7% cases. Most of the study subjects (95.0%) recovered fully. Most of the patients were from rural area. Suicidal was the common motive and familial disharmony and quarrel with other family members are the common circumstances of poisoning. Mortality rate was 5.0%.

Detection of Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV-16 and HPV-18) from Bacterial Vaginosis Positive Patient Attending at Tertiary Care Hospital in Mymensingh.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the world and is the second leading malignancy among Bangladeshi women. Persistent infection with high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important cause of development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) followed by cancer. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common treatable vaginal infection which can disrupt the balanced vaginal ecosystem and its innate protective mechanisms against infection, can play an essential role in the acquisition and persistence of high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. This cross sectional study was conducted to detect the HR-HPV (HPV-16 and HPV-18) infection among bacterial vaginosis positive patient in the Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College (MMC), Bangladesh, from March 2018 to February 2019. A total of 300 endocervical swabs and high vaginal swabs were collected from the VIA (Visual inspection with acetic acid) outdoor clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Mymensingh Medical college Hospital. HPV DNA was tested among all 300 cases by nested PCR. Typing of HPV 16 and HPV 18 was done among HPV DNA positive cases with BV and intermediate flora by multiplex PCR. BV was diagnosed according to Nugent criteria by using the gram stained smear of high vaginal swab. A total of 57/300 (19.0%) samples were positive for HPV DNA by nested PCR. Of the total 300 cases 78(26.0%) had BV, 38(13.0%) had intermediate flora and 184(61.0%) had normal vaginal flora. HPV DNA was more positive in patients having intermediate flora 08/38 (21.05%) followed by the patients having normal vaginal flora 37/184 (20.11%) and BV 12/78 (15.38%). Among the 12 BV patients who were also HPV DNA positive (83.33%) were belong to high risk HPV (type 16 and 18) group and among them 08(66.67%) were HPV-16 and 02(16.67%) were HPV-18. But among 08 HPV DNA positive intermediate flora containing patients only 01(12.5%) were belong to HR-HPV (type 16 and no type 18 was detected).

Ear Infections by Non albicans Candida Species with Isolation of Rare Drug Resistant Species in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh.

Otomycosis, a fungal infection of external ear, is challenging for both patients and otolaryngologist as it requires long term treatment and follow up. Candida spp. is second common organism causing otomycosis with Aspergillus being first. Among Candida species, C. albicans is considered as most common but in recent years there is increasing incidence of Non albicans Candida (NAC) species with greater resistance and recurrence. This descriptive type of observational study was planned to determine the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. causing otomycosis. From March 2021 to February 2022, 60 patients clinically suspected of Candida associated otomycosis at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh were enrolled. Specimens were taken by an otorhinolaryngologist. After culture and microscopic examination, isolated Candida species were identified by phenotypic and genotypic method and antifungal susceptibility was determined at Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College. From 60 samples 18(30.0%) were positive for Candida on microscopy and culture. Of the isolates, C. albicans were 2(11.11%) and Non albicans Candida (NAC) 16(88.89%). Five different NAC species were identified of which C. parapsilosis was predominant 5(27.77%) followed by C. tropicalis 4(22.22%) and C. famata 3(16.67%). Rare species of C. ciferrii 2(11.11)%, Kodamaea ohmeri 2(11.11%) were isolated. Candida spp. showed highest resistance to Clotrimazole 8(44.0%) followed by Itraconazole 6(33.0%), Nystatin 4(22.0%) and Fluconazole 3(17.0%). C. ciferrii and Kodamaea ohmeri showed resistance to all antifungals except Nystatin. Outcomes from this study showed a different picture of species distribution, with isolation of rare and emerging drug resistant threatening species like C. ciferri and Kodamea ohmeri which necessitates more detailed survey.

Concurrent Infection of Orientia Tsutsugamushi with Rickettsia spp. Including Rickettsia felis in North Central Bangladesh.

Rickettsial diseases are one of the leading causes of treatable acute febrile illness in Asia pacific region. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College to diagnose scrub typhus by rapid Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) and Nested PCR followed by molecular identification of possible Rickettsial coinfection among suspected febrile patients in Mymensingh, Bangladesh from March 2019 to February 2020. Among the enrolled 402 patients, 89 samples (22.13%) were seropositive by Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) and 65 samples (16.16%) were positive for O. tsutsugamushi DNA by Nested PCR, targeting 47KDa gene. Therefore, 113/402 (28.10%) samples were positive for scrub typhus by PCR and/or ICT. All the scrub typhus positive samples were further subjected to Nested PCR targeting 17 KDa gene for identification of Rickettsial co-infection and 13/113 (11.50%) were documented as positive. Then 13 Rickettsial co-infected samples were undertaken to automate sequencing and all were genetically confirmed as Rickettsia felis. Findings of the study may help clinicians to expand their list of differential diagnoses for undifferentiated fever and detection of Rickettsial co-infection may guide them to prescribe effective antimicrobials.

A Study on Clinical Presentation and Histological Diagnosis of Lymphadenopathy Patients Admitted In Department of Medicine in A Tertiary Hospital.

Lymphadenopathy is a common problem encountered in day to day clinical practices in Bangladesh. It is an abnormal increase in size and/or altered consistency of lymph nodes. The condition generally is not a disease itself but a symptom of one of many possible underlying problems. So it is very much essential to achieve a correct diagnosis of patients presenting with lymphadenopathy. This cross sectional study carried out at the Department of Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh over a period of 6 months from January 2014 to June 2014. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinical presentations and to see the ultimate diagnosis by appropriate investigations of lymphadenopathy patients. It is a male predominance study. Metastatic carcinoma (Met. Ca) belonged to relatively higher age group, tuberculosis (TB) and acute leukaemias belonged to younger age group and lymphoma belonged to middle age group. Among 50 cases metastatic carcinoma comprises total 14(28%), lymphoma 13(26%), tuberculosis (TB) 12(24%), acute leukaemia 7(14%), non-specific (Non Sp.) 4(8%) cases. Among lymphoma non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was 10 (20%) then Hodgkin's disease (HD) was 3(6%) and among acute leukaemia acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was 5(10%) and acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) was 2(4%) cases. Most of the patients belong to younger age groups, 32% cases were from 18-30 years. Most of the patients had generalized lymphadenopathy. Biopsy of lymph node was done in 60% cases. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done in 24% cases. Bone marrow study (BMD) was done in 14% cases include all cases of leukemia. Among 50 patients correct clinical diagnosis were found 100% cases of ALL and non-specific infection, 80% cases of metastatic carcinoma, 66.66% cases of AML and NHL, 62.5% cases of TB, 50% cases of HD. AML and ALL were diagnosed by bone marrow study. Over all 70% of clinical diagnosis were found correct in this study. In conclusion malignancy, lymphoma and tuberculosis were the most common cause of lymphadenopathy patients. Most of the cases were diagnosed by taking appropriate history and examination but FNAC, biopsy and bone marrow study were need for final diagnosis.

Socio-demographic and Clinico-epidemiological Study of Scrub Typhus in A Tertiary Care Hospital of Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Scrub typhus is one of the leading causes of undifferentiated treatable febrile illness in Asia pacific region. It is grossly under diagnosed in many tropical countries of South Asia including Bangladesh, due to wide range of non-specific clinical presentations, low index of suspicion among clinicians, limited awareness and lack of accurate diagnostic facilities. This cross sectional observational study was conducted at department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from March 2019 to February 2020 enrolling 113 diagnosed cases of scrub typhus by Immunochromatographic test (ICT) and / or Nested PCR to characterize the socio-demographic and clinico-epidemiological features of scrub typhus in Mymensingh area. Majority of the scrub typhus cases came from rural areas (63.83%) and there was a slight female predominance (52.21%). The young (32.74%) and the young-adult age group (28.31%) were mostly affected. Most of the scrub typhus cases were housewives (30.98%), followed by farmers (23.89%) and students (21.23%). All the enrolled cases presented with fever. Other findings were myalgia (76.10%), headache (56.63%), cough (30.97%), vomiting (12.38%) and Respiratory distress (9.73%). Typical eschar of scrub typhus was present only in 9(7.96%) cases and 4(3.53%) patients had rashes on their skin. Few cases (3.53%) had jaundice and 15.96% cases were anaemic. Oliguria (7.96%) and neck rigidity (1.76%) were also documented. Most of the Nested PCR positive scrub typhus cases were documented during late rainy season and beginning of winter months. Findings of the study may offer increased awareness about high burden of scrub typhus as well as heightened suspicion among clinicians for early diagnosis, timely treatment and prevention of complications.

Detection of Quinolone Resistance Pattern and Presence of qnr Genes in Human Salmonella Isolates at Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Among the quinolones, fluoroquinolones are broad spectrum antimicrobial agents used for treating many clinical infections including Salmonellosis. Although high level of resistance to fluoroquinolones remains low in Salmonella but reduced susceptibility is increasing worldwide. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) of qnr type (qnrA, B and S) has been identified now a day in several enterobacterial species including Salmonella spp. This cross-sectional study was held at department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from March 2019 to February 2020. This study was conducted to determine the current quinolone resistance pattern and to detect the presence of qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes among Salmonella isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of 36 Salmonella isolates were done by disc diffusion method. MIC of ciprofloxacin was detected by agar dilution method. Then amplification with specific primers of qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes were performed for all Salmonella isolates. The present study observed 80.5% resistance to nalidixic acid, 33.3% to ciprofloxacin and 19.4% to ofloxacin by disc diffusion method. qnr A gene was detected in 2(5.5%) isolates, where as qnrS was detected in 5 (13.8%) isolates. None of the isolates was positive for qnrB gene. All the qnrA positive isolates showed resistance to Ciprofloxacin (MIC=128µg/ml) and Ofloxacin. In conclusion, presence of qnr genes in the study isolates is alarming, because, rapid dissemination might occur due to conjugative plasmid mediated horizontal transfer.

Detection of Biocide Resistance Genes (qacE and qacΔE1) in Pseudomonas spp Isolated from Patients with CSOM at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh.

Biocides, including disinfectants and antiseptics, are used for a variety of topical and hard surface applications in health care facilities. Biocides play a significant role for preventing and controlling nosocomial infections. However, failures in the antimicrobial activities of biocides have been reported. The resistance mechanism to disinfectants is usually determined by genes which are related to resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds, namely, qacE, qacΔE1 that are found in Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this study is to detect the prevalence of Biocides resistance genes, qacE and qacΔE1, in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas spp. It was carried out from March 2017 to July 2018 in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Samples were collected from Outpatient of ENT department, MMCH. In this study, 300 clinical samples of CSOM cases were tested by the PCR method. The present study shows detection of biocide resistance genes (qacE, qacΔE1) among 87 isolated Pseudomonas spp by uniplex PCR. Among 72 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 67(93.05%) had the gene qacEΔ1 and 25(34.72%) had the gene qacE. In addition other 15 Pseudomonas spp 3(20%) isolates had the qacEΔ1 gene and 2(13.33%) isolates had the qacE gene. In this study there is a marked difference in detection of the qacEΔ1 gene between the MDR and non MDR P. aeruginosa isolates. The qacEΔ1 was identified in 50 of 54(92.59%) MDR isolates and 7 of 18(38.89%) non MDR strains respectively. While gene qacE was detect 25(46.29%) MDR isolates and did not show any qacEΔ1gene in non MDR isolates. This study shows that the genes, qacE, qacΔE1 are widespread among Pseudomonas aeruginosa, they are higher in MDR strains than non MDR strains.

Rapid Serologic and Molecular Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus among Suspected Febrile Patients Visiting Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

Scrub typhus, caused by the bacterium- Orientia tsutsugamushi is one of the leading causes of undifferentiated treatable febrile illness in Asia pacific region. It is grossly under diagnosed in many tropical countries of South Asia including Bangladesh, due to wide range of non-specific clinical presentations, low index of suspicion among clinicians, limited awareness and lack of accurate diagnostic facilities. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College to diagnose scrub typhus by rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) as well as molecular detection of O. tsutsugamushi by Nested PCR and automated nucleotide sequencing among suspected febrile patients in Mymensingh, Bangladesh during 2019-20. Blood samples were collected from 402 febrile patients of suspected Rickettsial illness, referred from inpatient and outpatient departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH). Among the enrolled 402 patients, 89 samples (22.13%) were seropositive by Immunochromatographic test (ICT) and 65 samples (16.16%) were positive for O. tsutsugamushi DNA by Nested PCR, targeting 47KDa gene. Therefore, 113/402 (28.10%) samples were positive for scrub typhus by PCR and/ or ICT. Highest number of patients was detected positive by nested PCR during the first 5-10 days of fever but only 2 cases were positive after 20 days. In case of ICT, highest positivity for only IgM (8.13%) and both antibodies (2.43%) were documented in first 5-10 days of fever, but IgG positivity was highest (41.66) in >20 days of fever. From 65 PCR positive samples, automated nucleotide sequencing was performed on 20 randomly selected samples and all were genetically confirmed to be O. tsutsugamushi.

Early and Rapid Detection of Typhoid Fever by Nested PCR in Blood.

Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi is one of the major health problems in developing countries including Bangladesh. Still now blood culture is gold standard method for diagnosing typhoid fever, but this method is laborious, requires several days and detection rate is low. Failure of early laboratory diagnosis often leads to increased morbidity and mortality. This study was intended to apply a nested PCR in blood for early diagnosis of typhoid fever. In this cross sectional study blood samples were collected from 200 suspected typhoid fever patients attending Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (n PCR) of flagellin gene was done in all the blood samples. At the same time all blood samples were subjected to culture by lytic centrifugation method. Culture positive isolates were identified as S. typhi by biochemical tests. Among the 200 blood samples, 57 (28.5%) were positive for S. typhi on nested PCR where as blood culture was positive for S. typhi in 16 (8%) samples. Among the 57 PCR positive samples, only 15 (26.3%) samples were culture positive for S. typhi and rest 42 (73.7%) were culture negative. So, in culture negative cases PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic test for diagnosing typhoid fever. Considering time requirement, PCR takes one day, whereas blood culture takes 3 or more days to confirm diagnosis.

Prevalence of ESBL Encoding Genes in Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Various Samples of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mymensingh.

The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of ESBL genes among A. baumannii isolates. In this cross sectional study, 49 Acinetobacter spp. were isolated from various clinical samples from March 2019 to February 2020 conducted in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Clinical samples including endotracheal aspirates, wound swab/pus, urine and blood. A total of 380 samples were analyzed. Growth was obtained in 34.21% of the samples yielding 130 organisms. Out of 130 organisms, 49(37.69%) were Acinetobacter spp. Among 49 Acinetobacter spp, 39(79.59%) were Acinetobacter baumannii which was identified by PCR targeting OXA-51 like gene. Amplification of the ESBL encoding genes, namely CTX-M, TEM, SHV done by molecular technique PCR. The most antibacterial resistance was against ceftriaxone (79.48%) and lower resistance only showed in colistin (12.82%). All the isolates were sensitive to tigecycline. The distribution of ESBLs genes such as TEM 20(51.28%), CTX-M 16(41.02%) and SHV 0(0%). The high resistance to most of the antibiotics among the studied strains and also a high prevalence of TEM gene in A. baumannii strains found in our study gives alarming sign towards the treatment complexity of these strains.

Clinical Features of Covid-19 Infection: a Study of SARS-CoV-2 Positive Patients from Mymensingh Region, in Bangladesh.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread to almost every country on the globe and it is considered by World Health Organization as a pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 causes the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many of country are reporting the symptomatic characteristics of their cases to give better observations into the various clinical presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the symptomatic literature is limited in Bangladesh. The aim of the study is to analyze the symptomatic characteristics of patients having the SARS-CoV-2 positive by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT -PCR) test. Here, the data of 146 patients who were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and were residents of different districts of Mymensingh region were analyzed. Patients' demographics, symptoms, history of co-morbidities condition like DM, HTN, Hypothyroid etc, travel and contact were collected from MMC Daily Reported data from April 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020. Among the total 3184 patients' nasopharyngeal samples, we have got 146 (4.58%) positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of the 146 positive patients most of the patients were male 95(65%), the majority 80(54.8%) were the 21 to 40year age group. Most of the patients 61(41.78%) were residents of Mymensingh include Mymensingh Sadar, Valuka, Trishal and Ishhorganj. Among the patients 94(64.4%) were symptomatic and 52(35.6%) were asymptomatic. The symptomatic patients presented mostly were with fever 45(30.82%), cough 33(22.6%) and breathlessness 9(6.16%). The majority of patients 54(36.9%) had a history of contact with SARS-CoV-2 patients and 16(11%) had a travel history within 14 days of their rRT-PCR test positive. The only 3(2%) patients had history of comorbidities condition like DM, HTN, Hypothyroid etc. The number of SARS-CoV-2 cases is rapidly increasing in our country. The education of the population about the most common symptoms of the virus infection is needed mostly; therefore, individuals may able to recognize these symptoms. So, that people might get themselves tested.

Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern and ESBL Production among Clinical Isolates of Salmonella Species in Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

The occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica serovars (both typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonellae) is a major public health problem especially in developing countries, which have been associated with treatment failures. Therefore, the study was undertaken to determine the current antimicrobial resistance pattern and extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) production among clinical isolates of Salmonella spp. during 2019-2020 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. In this cross sectional study, 36 Salmonella enterica isolates were obtained from blood and stool culture of suspected 200 enteric fever and 100 gastroenteritis patients attending at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Isolated Salmonella species were identified by biochemical tests and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Disk diffusion test was performed by modified Kirby Bauer method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of ceftriaxone was detected by agar dilution method. Double disk synergy test was used as a screening test for ESBL production. PCR was done for detection of blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-MU genes. The isolates showed 25% resistance to Ceftriaxone and 58.3% to Azithromycin. The highest sensitivity rates were 88.9% to Meropenem and 83.3% to Amikacin. Whereas 6(16.7%) isolates were Multi Drug Resistant (MDR). Eight (8) isolates were confirmed as ESBL producer by DDST. The marked increase in MIC was observed between 8->512µg/ml to ceftriaxone. blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-MU genes were detected in 3, 5 and 8 isolates respectively. In conclusion, the current study observed, higher level of resistance to ceftriaxone and azithromycin. At the same times 22.2% isolates showed ESBL production, which is a cause for concern as it may lead to treatment failure. On the other hand the study also showed the re-emergence of chloramphenicol and Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim sensitivity.

Quick Identification and Differentiation of Proteus spp. by PCR and RFLP Along with Their Antibiotic Resistance Pattern.

Different Proteus species are encountered in human infections and may vary with the type of infections they cause. So, the present study was conducted to detect species of Proteus by PCR and RFLP along with their antibiotic resistance pattern. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 2018 to June 2019. A total of 500 wound swab and pus, urine and blood samples were tested for bacterial pathogens. Proteus spp. were identified and differentiated by biochemical test, PCR and RFLP. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed by disc-diffusion technique. Fourty Proteus spp. was isolated from 300 culture positive samples, giving 13.33% prevalence of Proteus infections. Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris were identified by culture, biochemical test, PCR and RFLP. The results were similar by both methods (biochemical tests and PCR). RFLP of 16S rRNA fragments digested with HaeIII revealed that P. mirabilis consisted of two bands at approximately 110 and 190 bp and P. vulgaris consisted of three bands at approximately 100, 180 and 220 bp. The proportion (80%) of P. mirabilis was more than P. vulgaris. Highest proportion (77.5%) of Proteus spp. was isolated from wound swab and pus followed by urine samples. A significant proportion of Proteus spp. was multidrug resistant (90%) and extensively drug resistant (37.5%). Fosfomycin was found the most sensitive drug followed by imipenem. This study provided an insight into antibiotic resistance pattern of Proteus spp. and showed high level resistance towards commonly used antimicrobial agents. PCR and RFLP may be suitable method to identify and differentiate species of Proteus and to treat them accordingly.

Design and evaluation of mucoadhesive beads of glipizide as a controlled release drug delivery system.

The present work aims at the development of a low-cost controlled release system of glipizide beads embedded in pectin to overcome the problem of frequent dosing of drug. The method of preparation has been optimised by experimental design to achieve satisfactory responses with respect to controlling variables. The controlling variables are X1, drug-polymer ratio; X2, surfactant concentration and X3, isooctane-acetone ratio. The most effective combination is X1(1:6), X2(1%), X3(50:50). Various parameters such as mucoadhesivity and swellability of beads, characterisation, dissolution, stability, ex vivo absorption and in vivo (Oral glucose tolerance test in rat) studies were performed with the optimised product. The optimised product was found quiet satisfactory that showed yield of 86.78%, drug entrapment efficiency (DEE) of 87.38% and drug release was extended up to 18 h. The present formulation of glipizide is a promising multiparticulate system of glipizide with significant hypoglycemic effect, and moreover it was prepared rapidly with ease.

Bioassay of Eucalyptus extracts for anticancer activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (eac) cells in Swiss albino mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antineoplastic activity of Eucalyptus extract (EuE) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. METHODS: Preliminary examination of four plant extracts (namely Eucalyptus, Costus, Azadirachta, Feronia) has been done by observing the reduction ability of number of EAC cells in previously inoculated Swiss albino mice. Among them as EuE showed maximum capability, the whole study has been conducted with EuE only. Important parameters viz. enhancement of life span, reduction of average tumor weight etc. have been studied. In addition the effects of EuE on hematological parameters in both normal and EAC inoculated mice have been measured. Effect of EuE on normal peritoneal cells has also been studied. RESULTS: : EuE reduced tumor burden remarkably. It reduced the tumor growth rate and enhanced the life span of EAC bearing mice noticeably. It reversed back the hematological parameters towards normal, reduced the trasplantability of EAC cells and enhanced the immunomodulatory effects in mice. The host toxic effect of EuE in mice is minimum and mostly reversible with time. All such data have been compared with those obtained by running parallel experiments with bleomycin at dose 0.3 mg/kg (i.p.). CONCLUSIONS: The Eucalyptus extract may be considered as a potent anticancer agent for advanced researches.

Transdermal delivery of atenolol: effect of prodrugs and iontophoresis.

Inadequate skin permeability is the main challenge encountered in the transdermal drug delivery and to solve this crisis physical and chemical enhancement techniques are being developed. The aim of the present investigation was to study the combined effect of two such techniques, iontophoresis and esterification, on the transdermal delivery of atenolol. A series of ester prodrugs of atenolol were synthesized, characterized and studied for physicochemical properties and stability. In vitro permeation studies were carried out for atenolol and prodrugs at different donor concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mM) by passive process and iontophoresis (0.5 mA/cm(2)). Evaluation of the physicochemical parameters showed significant increase in lipophilicity and slight reduction in pK value in the ester prodrugs compared to parent drug. Stability studies revealed higher stability at pH 4 than pH 6. Prodrugs significantly enhanced the transdermal flux of atenolol in passive process while in iontophoresis the enhancement ranged from 1.4 to 2.7 fold compared to atenolol. In the prodrug series, permeation rate increased with increase in the length of alkyl side chain up to the addition of 5 carbon units, but thereafter no specific pattern was recorded in both passive and iontophoretic process. The steady state flux was highest in atenolol valerate (1.48 micromol/cm(2) h), which shows the promise of meeting the desired permeation rate (3.0- 31.0 micromol/ h) for maintenance of the therapeutic level in a 70 kg human.

Dietary supplies of iodine & thiocyanate in the aetiology of endemic goitre in Imphal East district of Manipur, north east India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was undertaken to study the iodine nutritional status of school children of Imphal east district in Manipur where endemic goitre persists during post-salt iodization phase along with the investigation of the factors responsible for the occurrence of goitre endemicity. METHODS: A total of 1,286 children (6-12 yr) were clinically examined for goitre from study areas of Imphal east district. A total of 160 urine samples were collected and analyzed to measure urinary iodine and thiocyanate levels. Iodine content was measured in 140 salt samples and 16 drinking water samples. RESULTS: Overall goitre prevalence was about 30 per cent (grade 1-24.7%; grade 2-5.3%) and median urinary iodine level was 17.25 microg/dl. The mean urinary thiocyanate level was 1.073 +/- 0.39 mg/dl. Iodine/thiocyanate ratio (microg/mg) was in the ranges from 15.65 to 22.34. The mean iodine content in drinking water samples was 2.92 +/- 1.75 microg/l and 97.8 per cent of edible salts had iodine level above 15 ppm at the consumption point. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that in spite of no biochemical iodine deficiency, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) is a serious public health problem in Imphal east district of Manipur. The consumption pattern of certain plant foods containing thiocyanate (or its precursors) was relatively high that interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis resulting in the excretion of more iodine. Thus, the existing dietary supplies of thiocyanate in relation to iodine may be a possible aetiological factor for the persistence of endemic goitre in the study region during post salt iodization period.

Protective efficacy of oral immunization with heat-killed Shigella flexneri 2a in animal model: study of cross protection, immune response and antigenic recognition.

Oral immunization of rabbits with four doses of 10(11) heat-killed Shigella flexneri 2a showed 100% protection against challenge with virulent S. flexneri 2a. After orally immunizing Guinea pigs with four doses of heat-killed S. flexneri 2a 100% protection could be shown against ocular challenge with the same virulent S. flexneri 2a strain but this conferred no protection against challenge with Shigella dysenteriae type 1. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot experiments both whole cell lysate-envelope (WCL-E) fraction and outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were recognized by the antisera. Though protective mechanism in shigellosis is not established with certainty, outer membrane proteins (specially 38, 34, 23 and 20kDa proteins) may be the major antigens in the induction of protective immune responses as indicated by this observation.

Environmental isolates of Citrobacter braakii that agglutinate with Escherichia coli O157 antiserum but do not possess the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of O157 somatic antigen.

While searching for Escherichia coli O157 in the aquatic environment of Calcutta using an immunodetection procedure, we fortuitously detected five strains of Citrobacter braakii, which cross-reacted with the commercially available O157 polyvalent antiserum. The five C. braakii isolates gave positive results when a sensitive dot-ELISA was performed with E. coli O157 monoclonal antibody. Further, the O157 monoclonal antibody recognized the bands of proteinase K treated whole cells of lipopolysaccharide of all the C. braakii isolates. Apart from weak reactions with two or three of the DNA probes, all the C. braakii strains did not hybridize with the other probes spanning the minimum region required for O157 O-antigen biosynthesis. These strains did not possess any of the virulence genes that are commonly found in the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) specially the serotype O157: H7. Therefore, it appears that the serological cross-reaction between C. braakii and E. coli O157 antiserum is based on structural mimicry between the O-polysaccharide of C. braakii and E. coli O157.