Bacillus thuringiensis strains from Western Ghats of India possess nematocidal property against Haemonchus contortus larvae of goats.

Nematocidal properties of spore crystal mixtures of six Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains (KAU 49, 50, 52, 61, 99 and 424) collected from Western Ghats, a biodiversity hot spot of India, were analysed against Haemonchus contortus larvae isolated from goats. One dose nematocidal assay dose response to lyophilised spore-crystal mixtures (SCM) of the six Bt strains were determined by adding 200 µg/mL of each SCMs to culture plate wells containing aqueous suspension of H. contortus larvae. Out of the strains screened, KAU 50 and 424 were found to possess nematocidal properties. Maximum nematocidal properties were exhibited 7 days post-inoculation of the lyophilised SCMs. The 50 per cent lethal concentrations deduced by log probit analysis for KAU 50 was found to be 130.59 µg/mL, whereas that of KAU 424 was found to be 144.536 µg/mL at 95 per cent confidence level. This is the first report on the nematocidal propery of Bt strains against Haemonchus contortus larvae isolated from goats. Further studies are needed for identification and characterisation of the toxin.

Crystal Protein of a Novel Bacillus thuringiensis Strain Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Leukemic Cells.

Parasporal inclusions of a native non haemolytic Bacillus thuringiensis strain KAU 59 was screened for its cytotoxicity against human lymphocytic leukemic cell line jurkat and normal human lymphocytes. The cytotoxicity of proteinase activated and non activated solubilised parasporal inclusions against both cell lines was assessed by Cell Titer 96 Aqueous Non Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay Kit using MTS. The 50 per cent effective concentration (EC50) values were deduced from log probit analysis at 48 h. Morphological changes associated with cytotoxicity were evaluated and molecular mechanisms of cell death were elucidated by TUNEL assay at 48 h post-inoculation. The fluorescence assisted cell sorting was done in the flow cytometer to assess the stage of cell cycle arrest. Relative quantification of caspase-3 expression in Jurkat cells treated with parasporal inclusion protein of KAU 59 was done by qRTPCR The results indicated that the protein was cytotoxic to jurkat cells at the same time non toxic to normal lymphocytes. Cytotoxicity was evident only after proteolytic activation. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed in the protein treated cells by TUNEL Assay and also up regulated caspase-3 gene expression (P < 0.001). S phase cell cycle arrest was confirmed by and fluorescence associated cell sorting.

Takayasu arteritis in an infant.

Takayasu arteritis (TA), a chronic inflammatory arteritis affecting the aorta and its main branches, is a rare condition mainly affecting young women in the second and third decades of life. Occurrence of TA in infants is extremely rare, with only less than 10 cases reported all over the world until date. We report a case of a 2-year-old girl who presented with hypertension and was diagnosed to have TA with bilateral renal artery stenosis and this is probably the youngest case reported from India.

Utility of C-arm CT in overcoming challenges in patients undergoing Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the well-known treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. Multiple digital subtraction angiography (DSA) acquisitions in different projections are required to identify difficult arterial feeders. Moreover, the tell-tale tumor blush can be obscured by proximity to lung base, small size of lesion, and breathing artifacts. C-arm CT is a revolutionary advancement in the intervention radiology suite that allows acquisition of data which can be reformatted in multiple planes and volume rendered incorporating both soft tissue and vascular information like multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). These images acquired during the TACE procedure can provide critical inputs for achieving a safe and effective therapy. This case series aims to illustrate the utility of C-arm CT in solving specific problems encountered while performing TACE.

A 'pen' in the neck: an unusual foreign body and an unusual path of entry.

Penetrating injuries to head and neck region with varying objects have been reported in the literature. Majority of these injuries occur in interpersonal violence or bomb blasts or road traffic accidents. Despite the improvement in imaging technologies and surgical methods, penetrating injuries to head and neck with impacted foreign bodies are very challenging due to the proximity to vital structures and/or difficulties in accessing them for the removal. Following injury the normal anatomy could be altered because of edema or tissue destruction, which makes the diagnosis or retrieval more difficult. Parapharyngeal or prevertebral space is an unusual place for lodgment of foreign bodies and in these cases the usual point of entry is the oral cavity, cheek or neck. Here, we report a case of a ball point pen extending to the prevertebral region at the level of C1-C2 vertebrae from point of entry at the suprazygomatic region in the temporal fossa.

Tracheal haemangioma: case report.

A case of lobular capillary haemangioma of the trachea is presented. The patient gave a history of foreign body sensation in the throat and multiple episodes of haemoptysis. The chest X-ray was normal. A spiral computed tomograph (CT) with three-dimensional reconstruction revealed a small tracheal mass in the antero-lateral wall of the trachea, which was excised by endoscopy. The histopathological diagnosis was lobular capillary haemangioma, a rare, benign tumour of the trachea. A high index of suspicion with the spiral CT finding was responsible for early diagnosis of the tumour.

The glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of five commonly consumed foods of the South Pacific.

Glycemic index (GI) has been widely used in the management of blood sugar levels among diabetes however; in the South Pacific very little information regarding the GI of local foods is made available. The objectives of this research were to determine the glycemic index and the glycemic load of 5 South Pacific foods, which have not been studied. The foods tested were plantain (Musa AAB), tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), roti or chappati, homemade pancake and Lees cabin crackers. Glucose powder mixed in 200 mL of water was used as reference food. Eight apparently healthy indigenous Fijian males from the Fiji Military Forces aged 25-36 years old were recruited for this study. Participants were given a 50 g carbohydrate portion of the test foods to ingest after a 10-12 hour fast the night before the test and the standard reference food were administered to participants on different days for comparison. In the morning, capillary blood samples were drawn from the fingers at 0 min, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes postprandially and the blood glucose level was determined. The equation of Wolever using computer software was used to calculate the glycemic index and the glycemic load was calculated using the formular provided in the Harvard Health Online. The results showed that individuals respond to foods differently thus affecting the GI average values. The glycemic index has been categorized by Miller as low GI is pounds 55, moderate GI is between 56-69 and high GI is > or = 70. All the five carbohydrate foods understudy have moderate GI values ranging from 59 to 68. The Glycemic Load (GL) for cabin biscuit was the highest.

Intra-arterial contrast-enhanced spiral CT: adjunct to angiography for localizing obscure gastrointestinal bleed.

We report two patients with obscure GI bleed in whom we performed intra-arterial contrast-enhanced spiral CT scan of abdomen with the angiography catheter in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The technique localized the lesions to the mid jejunum and distal duodenum.

Effect of photostimulation on concentrations of plasma prolactin in castrated bantams (Gallus domesticus).

The annual breeding cycle of 'unimproved' breeds of domestic chicken, including the bantam, at temperate latitudes, is terminated by decreasing daylength in autumn and is initiated in late winter, while daylengths are still short. Observations on photoperiodic birds that terminate seasonal breeding by the development of long day photorefractoriness suggest that the photoinduced pattern of prolactin secretion is associated with the pattern of gonadal growth and regression. It was predicted that, if there is a causal relationship between photoinduced changes in prolactin secretion and gonadal function in birds then, in the bantam, the pattern of prolactin secretion observed after photostimulation would not be the same as in birds terminating breeding by the development of long day photorefractoriness. Experiments were carried out on surgically castrated bantams to avoid confounding the effects of photostimulation and the stimulatory actions of testicular hormones on prolactin secretion. Transfer of photosensitive castrated bantams from 8 to 14, 16, 18 or 20 h light/day initially stimulated prolactin release and, subsequently, after 20-30 days, concentrations of plasma prolactin progressively decreased. After 148 days of photostimulation, concentrations of plasma prolactin approached but were still higher than short day controls. Transfer of photosensitive castrated bantam cockerels from 8 to 12 h light/day stimulated a slower increase in plasma prolactin that subsequently remained higher than in other photostimulated groups. A further 4 h increase in photoperiod in the birds exposed for 148 days to 12 or 16 h light/day resulted, respectively, in a transitory increase and no increase in prolactin secretion. Recovery of photosensitivity for prolactin release was observed in the birds transferred to 18 or 20 h light/day for 148 days after treatment with 8 h light/day for 35 days. Attempts to obtain an independent hormonal correlate of the prolactin responses to photostimulation by measurement of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) were unsuccessful. The concentration of plasma LH in castrated bantams did not change in response to a change in photoperiod. These observations show that the photoinduced pattern of prolactin release in the bantam, a species which terminates seasonal breeding in response to decreasing daylength, is the same as that in birds which terminate seasonal breeding by the development of long day photorefractoriness. It is concluded that the photoinduced pattern of prolactin secretion in birds can be dissociated from the neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling the termination of seasonal breeding.

Ontogeny of the photoperiodic control of prolactin and luteinizing hormone secretion in male and female bantams (Gallus domesticus).

The development of the photoperiodic responses for prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion was determined in the bantam (Gallus domesticus), which becomes somatically mature at 16-18 weeks of age. Male and female bantams were reared from hatch on short days (8 h light/day) and photostimulated by transfer to 20 h light/day at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Photostimulation at all ages stimulated a robust increase in prolactin secretion in both sexes. Luteinizing hormone secretion was also stimulated except in 4-week-old females and 16-week-old males. It is concluded that the neural pathways involved in the photoperiodic control of LH and prolactin secretion are mature in juvenile bantams well before somatic maturity.

Estimation of the total surface area in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus).

Twenty-four adult Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) of both sexes and different ages and weights, belonging to the Temple Devaswoms, the Forest Department of the Government of Kerala and the Gemini Circus formed the experimental subjects from which formulae were derived to predict the total surface area from either body measurements or areas of individual regions. Several models, using the parameters studied either singly or in combination, were tried independently for males and females and also for adults irrespective of sex. The best prediction of total surface area (S) in m2 was obtained for adults irrespective of sex by using the two parameters, the height at the shoulders (H) in m and forefoot pad circumference (FFC) in m in the formula S = -8.245 + 6.807H + 7.073FFC. No significant improvement in the accuracy of prediction resulted from the use of the independent best fit formulae for males and females. The conventional method of using the exponential of body weight (kg) for predicting surface area was not found to yield an equivalent accuracy in these animals.

Estimation of body weight in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus).

Thirty-nine adult Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) of both sexes and various ages and weights, belonging to the Forest Department of the Government of Kerala (India), Temple Devaswoms, Gemini Circus and other private agencies, were used to derive formulae to predict body weight and height from body measurements. Several models were fitted separately for males and females and also for adults irrespective of sex. The best prediction of body weight (W) in kg was obtained for adults irrespective of sex by using two parameters, the body length (L) in cm from the base of the forehead to the base of the tail, and the chest girth (G) in the formula W = -1010 + 0.036 (L x G). No single parameter gave as accurate a prediction of the body weight, and the inclusion of height as a third parameter did not improve the prediction. No significant improvement in the accuracy of prediction resulted from the use of different formulae for males and females. An equation to predict the height at the shoulders (H) in cm from the right forefoot circumference (C) in cm in adult elephants irrespective of sex was also derived. This was H = -1.60 + 1.99 C.