Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography-guided transcathetar closure of ruptured noncoronary sinus of valsalva aneurysm.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm accounts for only 1% of congenital cardiac anomalies. Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm can cause aortic insufficiency, coronary artery flow compromise, cardiac arrhythmia, or aneurysm rupture. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) represents an adjunctive tool to demonstrate the ruptured sinus of Valsalva with better delineation. We present an adult patient with rupture of noncoronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm into the right atrium (RA). 3DTEE accurately delineated the site of rupture into the RA and showed the exact size and shape of the defect, which helped in the successful transcatheter closure of the defect with a duct occluder device.

Effect of heavy metals (Hg and Zn) on the growth and phosphate solubilising activity in halophilic phosphobacteria isolated from Manakudi mangrove.

The diversity of phosphobacteria in Manakudi mangrove ecosystem of Tamil Nadu was carried out in root and rhizosphere soil samples. The counts of phosphobacteria were found higher in root samples than in soil samples particularly in Hymenachene acutigluma. The abundance of phosphobacterial diversity in Manakudi mangrove showed high degree of positive correlation with the content of phosphate in rhizosphere soil of all the mangrove and associated plant species. Nine phosphobacterial species belonging to 7 genera were reported from Manakudi mangrove ecosystem. All the identified bacterial species are sensitive to both the heavy metals (mercury and zinc) in terms of growth and physiology even at lower concentrations. The content of protein and total sugars were increased by the higher concentrations of heavy metals whereas decreased trend was noticed in lower concentrations of heavy metals.