Single cell oil production by a novel yeast Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans for complete and ecofriendly valorization of paddy straw

Background: Oleaginous yeasts can be grown on different carbon sources, including lignocellulosic hydrolysate containing a mixture of glucose and xylose. However, not all yeast strains can utilize both the sugars for lipogenesis. Therefore, in this study, efforts were made to isolate dual sugar-utilizing oleaginous yeasts from different sources. Results: A total of eleven isolates were obtained, which were screened for their ability to utilize various carbohydrates for lipogenesis. One promising yeast isolate Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans S2 was selected based on its capability to use a mixture of glucose and xylose and produce 44.86 ± 4.03% lipids, as well as its tolerance to fermentation inhibitors. In order to identify an inexpensive source of sugars, nondetoxified paddy straw hydrolysate (saccharified with cellulase), supplemented with 0.05% yeast extract, 0.18% peptone, and 0.04% MgSO4 was used for growth of the yeast, resulting in a yield of 5.17 g L−1 lipids with conversion productivity of 0.06 g L−1 h−1 . Optimization of the levels of yeast extract, peptone, and MgSO4 for maximizing lipid production using Box­Behnken design led to an increase in lipid yield by 41.59%. FAME analysis of single cell oil revealed oleic acid (30.84%), palmitic acid (18.28%), and stearic acid (17.64%) as the major fatty acids. Conclusion: The fatty acid profile illustrates the potential of T. mycotoxinivorans S2 to produce single cell oil as a feedstock for biodiesel. Therefore, the present study also indicated the potential of selected yeast to develop a zero-waste process for the complete valorization of paddy straw hydrolysate without detoxification

Can Seminal IL-8 Level Be Used as a Marker of Leukocytospermia and Does It Have Any Correlation with Semen Parameters in Infertile Couples?

OBJECTIVES: Infection of male genital tract leads to leukocytospermia which may have a detrimental effect on semen quality. This study was conducted to evaluate whether seminal IL-8 level can be used as a marker of leukocytospermia and does it have any correlation with semen parameters in infertile couples? METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an infertility clinic of a tertiary care hospital including 150 male partners of infertile couples who underwent semen analysis (WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 5th edn, World Health Organization, Geneva, p 271, 2010), semen culture sensitivity and seminal IL-8 levels. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were applied for analysis. RESULTS: Mean seminal plasma IL-8 level of patients with leukocytospermia was significantly higher than patients without leukocytospermia (1143.67 ± 887.03 vs. 267.174 ± 242.29, p value < 0.001). Strong positive correlation was found between seminal plasma IL-8 levels and pus cells in the semen (r = 0.950, p < 0.001); AUC for seminal plasma IL-8 was 0.985 (CI 0.972-0.988), and a cutoff value of 399 pg/ml was determined to diagnose leukocytospermia. This value had high sensitivity (91.8%), specificity (94.5%), positive predictive value (94.4%) and diagnostic accuracy (93.2%) for detecting leukocytospermia. Seminal IL-8 levels correlated negatively with sperm motility (r = - 0.29, p < 0.001) and morphology (r = - 0.230, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Seminal plasma IL-8 levels were found to be almost five times higher in male partners with leukocytospermia than in non-leukocytospermia group, and it appears to be a promising tool to detect leukocytospermia. Seminal IL-8 level correlated negatively with semen parameters including sperm motility and morphology.

Primary enterolithiasis with intestinal tuberculosis: rare presentation of a common disease.

Enterolithiasis is the formation of intestinal calculi due to stasis. Tubercular strictures resulting in intestinal stasis provide a favourable environment for enterolith formation. Intestinal tuberculosis occurs commonly in India, but coexistent enterolithiasis has been reported rarely. We are describing three cases of enterolithiasis secondary to tubercular intestinal strictures among female patients in the fourth to fifth decades of life, all of them having pulmonary tuberculosis in the past. All the cases presented with features of subacute intestinal obstruction. X-ray abdomen done for all of them revealed single to multiple round, oval and rectangular, radio-opaque shadows suggestive of stones. Coexistence of enterolithiasis with intestinal tuberculosis may worsen the symptoms of intestinal obstruction and surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. All the patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, resection and anastomosis of the diseased bowel and antitubercular therapy was started. Two patients responded well to the treatment and the third one expired due to cardiac comorbidity.

Multiple Primary Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma of the Jejunal Mesentery: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Liposarcoma arising primarily from the intestinal mesentery is a rare malignancy. Malignancy is said to be synchronous when there is occurrence of two or more tumours that have not spread from a common site or recurred and show no evidence of metastasis. Multiple synchronous primary liposarcoma of the mesentery is a very unusual clinical finding. Here, we report a rare case of synchronous multiple primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma of jejunal mesentery in a 36-year-old female patient. Radiological investigations aided in making a provisional diagnosis of an ovarian malignancy. A staging laparotomy was performed and general surgeon's help was sought due to the presence of three separate jejunal mesenteric masses of sizes 8x6 cms, 6x6 cms and 25x20 cms respectively. Complete excision of mesenteric masses with one feet of involved jejunum was done and a jejuno-jejunal anastomosis made. The histopathology report was indicative of multiple dedifferentiated liposarcoma of jejunal mesentery. Postoperatively patient received Doxorubicin, Dacarbazine and Ifosfamide based adjuvant chemotherapy in view of poorly differentiated tumour. Patient remains tumour free for the last 12 months of follow up.

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour of Small Intestine Presenting as Ileo-Ileal Intussusception - A Rare Tumour with Unusual Complication.

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumours (MPNST) arises from a peripheral nerve or exhibit nerve sheath differentiation on histology. Proximal portions of the upper and lower extremities and the trunk are the most common sites of occurrence. Around 50% are associated with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) with incidence of two to five per cent in patients with NF1. The estimated incidence in general population without NF1 is 0.0001% of which gastrointestinal MPNST are extremely rare. A 45-year-old lady without pathological antecedent for NF1 was admitted with pain in right lower abdomen and multiple episodes of vomiting for 3 months. Preoperatively intussusception was diagnosed in the small bowel with USG and CECT abdomen showing characteristic target sign. On laparotomy Ileo-ileal intussusception (proximal ileum telescoping into distal ileum) was found 2 feet proximal to ileo-caecal junction with surrounding inflammed mesentery and presence of intraluminal tumour as lead point. Resection of involved segment of ileum along with its mesentery was done followed by ileo-ileal anastomosis. Histopathology was suggestive of high grade MPNST. Postoperative course and follow up for last 10 month is uneventful. This case is unique in terms of a rare tumour presenting with unusual complication and only one case had been reported so far in western literature.

Non-functional paraganglioma of retroperitoneum mimicking pancreatic mass with concurrent urinary bladder paraganglioma: an extremely rare entity.

Paragangliomas are extra-adrenal tumours of the autonomic nervous system, which rarely present as primary retroperitoneal mass mimicking pancreatic malignancy (incidence 2-8 per million populations). Urinary Bladder Paraganglioma are also extremely rare (0.06% of all Bladder Tumour and 6% of Paragangliomas) with most being malignant and high grade tumours. Non-functional varieties of both tumours are usually incidentally diagnosed. The possibility for malignant transformation in them makes surgical excision the treatment of choice. A 45-year-old lady with abdominal pain was investigated to have a complex retroperitoneal mass behind head of pancreas and a urinary bladder mass. Complete excision of retroperitoneal and bladder lesion was done. Histopathological examinations of both specimens were suggestive of Paraganglioma with no abnormal mitotic activity and capsular/vascular invasion. Although concurrent non functional paragangliomas had been reported but the synchronous non-functional paragangliomas of retroperitoneum and urinary bladder reported in this case is extremely rare and is not reported so far in English literature.

Hematospermia (ejaculatory duct calculus)--an unusual cause.

Hematospermia is a common harmless condition that invokes a lot of anxiety to the patient. Calculous obstruction of the ejaculatory duct is an unusual cause of hematospermia. We report one such case of hemospermia due to an ejaculatory duct calculus that was diagnosed with TRUS. An endoscopic approach should be attempted to manage all such cases.

Missed fractured 'trapped JJ stent' in a solitary functioning renal unit--implications of management.

The implications of management of stuck JJ stents in solitary functioning renal units has not been adequately addressed to in English literature. We have presented the management of such a case of 'overlooked trapped JJ stent' in a solitary functioning renal unit. Retrograde removal was safely accomplished by using the double guide wire technique. A solitary functioning obstructed renal unit should be attended to promptly in the least morbid and minimally invasive manner (double guide wire and single impulse mode lithoclast). The current literature regarding their management and their implications has been reviewed and discussed.

Hydronephrotic obstructed kidney mimicking a congenital multicystic kidney: case report with review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of obstructed hydronephrotic kidney mimicking a multicystic kidney and to review the literature regarding differentiation of the hydronephrotic variant of multicystic kidney from the obstructed hydronephronic kidney. To suggest a possible algorithm in distinguishing them. METHODS: We have reported a case of a 35-year-old male who presented with dull aching pain and a palpable right-sided cystic flank mass of several years duration. The initial workup suggested a nonfunctioning multicystic kidney while the operative findings and histopathology were suggestive of an obstructed hydroenphrotic kidney with pyelonephritic changes. We searched the literature using the key words hydronephrotic dysplastic kidney and multicystic kidney. RESULTS: A detailed literature search did not reveal any such publication describing the differentiation of the hydronephrotic multicystic dysplastic kidney from the obstructed hydronephrotic kidney of pelviureteral obstruction. We reviewed the existing literature on this subject, on the basis of which, we have suggested a six-stepladder approach to distinguish such cases. CONCLUSION: By using the 6 step ladder protocol algorithm suggested by us one can attempt to distinguish the hydronephrotic variant of multicystic dysplastic kidney from the hydronephrotic kidney due to pelviureteral obstruction in patients presenting with a symptomatic cystic flank masses of renal origin. Differentiation between the two may be difficult at times due to the medial/central placement of cysts in the former. This is necessary since renal salvage may be possible in the latter while timely nephrectomy may be considered in the former to prevent against the hazards of leaving behind a dysplastic kidney in situ.