RESUMO
The decolourization of azo dyes by various white rot fungi was studied in the absence of an external carbon source. Although the decolourization abilities of strains used in this study are well documented, these strains have not been studied or compared for their decolourization abilities in the absence of an external carbon source. Decolourization of dyes was also studied in the presence of the external carbon source glucose. Daedalea flavida and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were able to decolourize the dyes in the absence of glucose. D. flavida exhibited a better ability to decolourize the dyes as compared with P. chrysosporium in the absence of glucose. Culture conditions were optimized to enhance the decolourization ability of D. flavida. Shaking of cultures inhibited the decolourization of Amaranth by D. flavida. The optimum culture conditions were 36 degrees C and pH 5.5 for decolourization of Amaranth in a stationary culture condition. We achieved 99% decolourization of Amaranth in 5 days under optimum conditions in the presence of glucose. D. flavida also decolourized the Amaranth with equal efficiency in the absence of glucose. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper reporting the decolourization of dyes in the absence of an external carbon source by D. flavida.
Assuntos
Compostos Azo/metabolismo , Phanerochaete/metabolismo , Pycnoporus/metabolismo , Trametes/metabolismo , Análise da Demanda Biológica de Oxigênio , Corantes/metabolismo , Resíduos Industriais , Indústria Têxtil , Gerenciamento de Resíduos/métodosRESUMO
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a ciliated parasite causing ichthyophthiriasis (white spot disease) in freshwater fishes, results in significant economic loss to the aquaculture sector. One of the important predisposing factors for ichthyophthiriasis is low water temperature (i.e., below 20°C), which affects the health and makes freshwater fishes more susceptible to parasitic infections. During ichthyophthiriasis, fishes are stressed and acute immune reactions are compromised, which enables the aquatic bacterial pathogens to simultaneously infect the host and increase the severity of disease. In the present work, we aimed to understand the parasite-bacteria co-infection mechanism in fish. Later, Curcuma longa (turmeric) essential oil was used as a promising management strategy to improve immunity and control co-infections in fish. A natural outbreak of I. multifiliis was reported (validated by 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing method) in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus from a culture facility of ICAR-CIFRI, India. The fish showed clinical signs including hemorrhage, ulcer, discoloration, and redness in the body surface. Further microbiological analysis revealed that Aeromonas hydrophila was associated (validated by 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing method) with the infection and mortality of P. hypophthalmus, confirmed by hemolysin and survival assay. This created a scenario of co-infections, where both infectious agents are active together, causing ichthyophthiriasis and motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS) in P. hypophthalmus. Interestingly, turmeric oil supplementation induced protective immunity in P. hypophthalmus against the co-infection condition. The study showed that P. hypophthalmus fingerlings supplemented with turmeric oil, at an optimum concentration (10 ppm), exhibited significantly increased survival against co-infection. The optimum concentration induced anti-stress and antioxidative response in fingerlings, marked by a significant decrease in cortisol and elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in treated animals as compared with the controls. Furthermore, the study indicated that supplementation of turmeric oil increases both non-specific and specific immune response, and significantly higher values of immune genes (interleukin-1ß, transferrin, and C3), HSP70, HSP90, and IgM were observed in P. hypophthalmus treatment groups. Our findings suggest that C. longa (turmeric) oil modulates stress, antioxidant, and immunological responses, probably contributing to enhanced protection in P. hypophthalmus. Hence, the application of turmeric oil treatment in aquaculture might become a management strategy to control co-infections in fishes. However, this hypothesis needs further validation.
Assuntos
Peixes-Gato , Infecções por Cilióforos , Coinfecção , Doenças dos Peixes , Hymenostomatida , Óleos Voláteis , Aeromonas hydrophila , Animais , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Catalase , Infecções por Cilióforos/parasitologia , Infecções por Cilióforos/veterinária , Curcuma , Surtos de Doenças , Proteínas Hemolisinas , Hidrocortisona/uso terapêutico , Imunoglobulina M/uso terapêutico , Interleucina-1beta , Complexo Ferro-Dextran/uso terapêutico , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , RNA Ribossômico 16S , Superóxido Dismutase , Transferrinas/uso terapêutico , ÁguaRESUMO
Rubella, a mild, vaccine-preventable disease, can manifest as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), a devastating disease of the fetus. To emphasize the inadequacy of the existing rubella vaccination programme in India, we evaluated epidemiological evidence of rubella virus activity with data available from a tertiary-care centre. The proportion of suspected CRS cases that were laboratory confirmed increased from 4% in 2000 to 11% in 2008. During the same period, 329 clinically suspected postnatal rubella cases were tested of which 65 (20%) were laboratory confirmed. Of women (n=770) of childbearing age, 12·5% were susceptible to rubella.
Assuntos
Síndrome da Rubéola Congênita/epidemiologia , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Índia/epidemiologia , Lactente , Masculino , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/prevenção & controle , Síndrome da Rubéola Congênita/prevenção & controle , Vacina contra Rubéola/uso terapêutico , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with remission from positive symptoms in Indian patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: We evaluated 151 patients (99 men and 52 women) aged 18 to 65 years who were diagnosed with schizophrenia and followed up for ≥6 months (with a minimum of two evaluations). We assessed psychopathology, the level of best functioning in the past year, premorbid functioning (up to 1 year), daily living skills, medication adherence, adverse effects to medications, the number of stressful events in the 6 months before illness onset, perceived social support, expressed emotion from family, and personal construct of empowerment. Remission from positive symptoms of schizophrenia was defined as simultaneous attainment of a score of ≤3 (mild) for ≥6 months in the following symptoms: delusions, concept disorganisation, hallucinatory behaviour, unusual thought content, mannerisms, and posturing. Patients were categorised as remitted and non-remitted. RESULTS: Of 151 patients, 81 (53.64%) fulfilled the remission criteria. Compared with non-remitted patients, remitted patients had a shorter duration of untreated psychosis (t = -2.29, p < 0.05), better premorbid functioning in childhood (t = -1.99, p < 0.05) and general (t = -9.34, p < 0.001) subscale, higher medication adherence (t = 6.91, p < 0.001), higher daily living skills ( t = 8.65, p < 0.001), better perceived social support (t = 6.69, p < 0.001), higher empowerment (t = 5.64, p < 0.001), and received higher warmth (t = 1.99, p < 0.05) and lower hostility (t = -4.00, p < 0.001), dissatisfaction (t = -6.96, p < 0.001), and critical comments (t = -2.48, p < 0.05) from family members. Predictors of remission were duration of untreated psychosis (B = -0.020, p < 0.05), daily living skills (B = 2.063, p < 0.001), perceived social support (B = 0.084, p < 0.01), and dissatisfaction from family members (B = -0.621, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 53.64% of patients with schizophrenia achieved remission from positive symptoms. Remission was more likely to occur in patients with shorter duration of untreated psychosis, better daily living skills, higher perceived social support, and less dissatisfaction from family members.
Assuntos
Esquizofrenia/diagnóstico , Esquizofrenia/terapia , Psicologia do Esquizofrênico , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Família/psicologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Indução de Remissão , Apoio Social , Fatores de Tempo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Ultrasonic radiation produced a dose-dependent linear increase in lipid peroxidation in the liposomal membrane as reflected in the measurements of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, and malondialdehydes (MDA). Production of MDA was confirmed by spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric methods including the detection of excitation (360 nm) and emission (435 nm) maxima characteristic of the MDA-glycine adduct formed after addition of glycine in the system. Ultrasound of frequencies 20 kHz (used for laboratory purposes) and 3.5 MHz (used for clinical purposes) produced MDA in an identical manner. Ultrasound-induced lipid peroxidation was enhanced synergistically by 2.5 X 10(2) microM ascorbic acid but inhibited significantly by 10(4) microM ascorbic acid. Ultrasound-induced production of MDA could not be inhibited to any significant degree by superoxide dismutase, histidine, dimethylfuran, or beta-carotene but was very significantly inhibited by cholesterol (93%), butylated hydroxytoluene (88%), alpha-tocopherol (85%), sodium benzoate (80%), dimethyl sulfoxide (80%), sodium formate (64%), and EDTA (64%). The scavenger studies indicated the functional role of OH radicals in the initiation of ultrasound-induced lipid peroxidation.
Assuntos
Peroxidação de Lipídeos , Lipossomos , Ultrassom , Hidróxidos , Radical Hidroxila , MalondialdeídoRESUMO
AIMS: To determine if T or Tk antigen activation is associated with different and more severe manifestations of illness in infants with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC); and if a policy of testing infants with suspected sepsis or NEC for T and Tk antigen activation is effective. METHODS: A case-control study of infants with confirmed NEC, born after the introduction of screening, was undertaken:17 activated infants were compared with 28 non-activated controls, matched for gestation and weight. A historical control study compared the outcome of infants before and after the introduction of testing. RESULTS: Of 201 infants with confirmed NEC, 27 were T or Tk antigen activated-10 (9%) before and 17 (19%) after the introduction of testing. T or Tk antigen activated infants had a significantly higher mortality (35% vs 7%); more frequent (71% vs 21%) and severe haemolysis, hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, acidosis; and they received more colloid for resuscitation. While only known activated infants in both time periods were managed with the use of low titre T antibody blood products, there was a significant increase in mortality (odds ratios 2.6; 95% CI 1.2, 5.6) and incidence of surgery (OR 2.7; 1.5, 4.9) after the introduction of testing. The increased mortality (OR 2.6; 0.8, 5.2) and incidence of surgery (OR 1.8; 0.9, 3.7) were no longer significant after adjustment for several perinatal risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In a retrospective case-control study, routine testing of at risk infants increased the detection rate of T and Tk antigen activation. The use of low titre T plasma products in these patients did not reduce mortality compared with historical controls. A randomised controlled trial of testing in at risk infants, or of the use of low titre T plasma products in babies with NEC and T activation, is warranted.
Assuntos
Antígenos Glicosídicos Associados a Tumores/imunologia , Enterocolite Necrosante/imunologia , Doenças do Prematuro/imunologia , Isoantígenos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Enterocolite Necrosante/mortalidade , Feminino , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Recém-Nascido Prematuro , Doenças do Prematuro/mortalidade , Masculino , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
We studied the results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using AML porous-coated femoral components at a mean follow-up of 11 years in a non-selected, consecutive series of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We reviewed 64 patients with 82 primary THAs using these components. There were seven men (8 hips) and 57 women (74 hips) with a mean age of 55.1 years (24 to 80) at the time of surgery. Nine patients (11 hips) died before the two-year follow-up. Of the remaining 71 hips, only one stem was revised for aseptic loosening. Survivorship for the stems was 98.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 94.5 to 100.0) at ten years, using a life-table analysis, with revision for any reason as an endpoint. Of the 70 unrevised stems, 66 (94%) had bony ingrowth, while four (6%) were radiologically loose at the most recent follow-up (mean 11.4 years). Our study shows the excellent long-term results which can be achieved with porous-coated femoral components in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Assuntos
Artrite Reumatoide/cirurgia , Materiais Revestidos Biocompatíveis , Prótese de Quadril , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Artrite Reumatoide/diagnóstico por imagem , Artrite Reumatoide/mortalidade , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Osseointegração/fisiologia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/diagnóstico por imagem , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/mortalidade , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/cirurgia , Desenho de Prótese , Falha de Prótese , Radiografia , Reoperação , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
Although the role of creatine in muscle metabolism is well understood, there is still uncertainty as to its effects at supplemented levels. With this in mind, this study was designed to investigate the direct effects of commercially available creatine on the isolated rat heart, retrogradely perfused and infused with varying concentrations of creatine (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mM) to determine its effects on heart rate, coronary flow and ventricular pressure. Furthermore, tissue from these hearts was used to investigate the cardiotoxic potential of supplemented levels of creatine. Results indicate that creatine directly improves the functioning of the heart under normal conditions with respect to heart rate and ventricular pressure, but may be detrimental to the functioning of energy-deprived hearts. It also showed no cardiotoxic properties since it increased the baseline levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and decreased the levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase (lCD), indicating a decrease in cellular death compared with non-supplemented control hearts.
Assuntos
Creatina/farmacologia , Coração/efeitos dos fármacos , Isocitrato Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Animais , Pressão Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Circulação Coronária/efeitos dos fármacos , Frequência Cardíaca/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Long-EvansRESUMO
The absorption spectra of 7, 7, 8, 8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) with nonionic surfactant. Triton X-100, anionic surfactant, SLS and cationic surfactant, CTAB in aqueous and nonaqueous media have been studied. The spectral studies show that TCNQ forms 1:1 charge-transfer (CT) complex with Triton X-100 in both media. The aqueous solution of TCNQ shows an absorption maxima at 610 nm, which is unperturbed in the presence of SLS but is shifted to 650 nm in the presence of CTAB, indicating the interaction of TCNQ with the cationic surfactant and not with the anionic surfactant. In addition to this, the stability of TCNQ-Triton X-100 complex has been determined and the probable site of CT interaction has been pointed out.
Assuntos
Compostos de Cetrimônio/química , Micelas , Nitrilas/química , Octoxinol/química , Dodecilsulfato de Sódio/química , Absorção , Cetrimônio , Estrutura Molecular , Soluções , Espectrofotometria Ultravioleta/métodos , TensoativosRESUMO
Progressive hepatocellular dysfunction in a neonate, resulting in elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein together with raised blood levels of tyrosine and methionine, a generalized amino aciduria and the absence of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid and succinylacetone, suggests a diagnosis of tyrosinemia type Ib. Classical tyrosinemia type I arises from a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase while the variant tyrosinemia type Ib results from a deficiency of maleylacetoacetate isomerase.
Assuntos
Tirosinemias/diagnóstico , Feminino , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Metionina/sangue , Aminoacidúrias Renais/diagnóstico , Tirosina/sangue , alfa-Fetoproteínas/análiseRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the pattern of sepsis in a neonatal unit in south India and assess the influence of maternal factors on early onset sepsis (EOS). DESIGN: Prospective survey from 1995-1996. SETTING: Medical College Hospital. SUBJECTS: All inborn babies who had clinical signs of sepsis or were born to mothers with potential risk factors for infection were screened for sepsis. Neonatal septicemia was defined as a disease of infants who were younger than 1 month of age, were clinically ill, and had positive blood cultures. RESULTS: Among 13,367 live births in the study period, there were 131 episodes of neonatal septicemia among 125 newborn infants, 18 (14.4%) of whom died. Thirty (24%) had EOS (< or = 48 hours) and 95 (76%) had late onset sepsis (LOS) (> or = 48 hours). Sepsis occurred in 9.8 per 1000 livebirths and 4.4% of all nursery admissions. E. coli and E. fecalis were the predominant organisms causing EOS, while Klebsiella and E. fecalis were the predominant organisms in LOS. The mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) of babies with EOS was significantly higher than those with LOS. Maternal factors significantly associated with EOS were meconium staining of liquor and multiple vaginal examinations. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of neonatal bacterial sepsis is 9.8 per 1000 livebirths. E. coli and Klebsiella were the most common organisms causing EOS and LOS, respectively. E. fecalis was also a major pathogen, both in EOS and LOS.
Assuntos
Triagem Neonatal , Sepse/microbiologia , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/epidemiologia , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/microbiologia , Infecções por Escherichia coli/epidemiologia , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Unidades Hospitalares , Humanos , Incidência , Índia/epidemiologia , Recém-Nascido , Infecções por Klebsiella/epidemiologia , Infecções por Klebsiella/microbiologia , Estudos Prospectivos , Sepse/epidemiologia , Infecções Estafilocócicas/epidemiologia , Infecções Estafilocócicas/microbiologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of once daily gentamicin administration to the conventional twice daily dosage schedule by estimation of serum gentamicin concentrations (SGC) in neonates. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Medical college hospital. SUBJECTS: Seventy three neonates of gestational age>32 weeks at risk or with clinical features of sepsis. METHODS: The subjects were divided into preterm and term groups. Babies in each of these groups were randomized to receive a single daily dose (4 mg/kg) or a twice daily dose (2.5 mg/kg) of injection gentamicin intravenously. Trough and peak SGC were estimated half an hour prior and one hour after the second dose. Statistical analysis was done using the equivalence method. RESULTS: In preterm as well as term babies, the mean peak and trough gentamicin levels were comparable in the two regimens. There is statistically significant evidence to show that the effect of once daily and twice daily dosage is similar. CONCLUSION: Once daily gentamicin administration is as effective as twice daily therapy and would be more cost effective.
Assuntos
Gentamicinas/administração & dosagem , Sepse/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Recém-NascidoRESUMO
The study of thyroid function in clinical conditions associated with the disorders of the hypothalamio-pituitary-adrenocortical axis indicated overt hypofunction of thyroid in all the three cases of Cushing's disease and subclinical hypo-or low normal function of thyroid in most of the cases of adrenogenital syndrome. It was suggested that hypo or low normal function of thyroid might facilitate excess elaboration of ACTH through CRF by swaying the balance of neurotransmitters at hypothalamus in favour of serotonin.
Assuntos
Doenças do Sistema Endócrino/fisiopatologia , Sistema Hipotálamo-Hipofisário , Sistema Hipófise-Suprarrenal , Glândula Tireoide/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Animais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Síndrome de Cushing/fisiopatologia , Doenças do Sistema Endócrino/complicações , Doenças do Sistema Endócrino/diagnóstico por imagem , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Radiografia , Testes de Função Tireóidea , Tiroxina/sangue , Tri-Iodotironina/sangueRESUMO
The objective of this study was to determine anxiety and depression and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in renal transplant (RT) recipients. A total of 105 consecutive patients were assessed cross-sectionally at least 3 months after RT. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was applied to assess anxiety and depression. QOL was assessed through the abbreviated version of World Health Organization QOL scale. Patients' awareness of illness and treatment was assessed through Structured Interview for Renal Transplantation. Nine (8.57%) patients had syndromal anxiety and 9 (8.57%) had syndromal depression. Both these groups had significantly lower scores in almost all domains of QOL compared with their non-anxious and non-depressed counterparts. There were a higher number of hospitalizations and episodes of complication or rejection in post-RT patients with anxiety as compared to those without (P = 0.001). Syndromal depression and anxiety are associated with poor QOL and syndromal anxiety is associated with significantly higher number of hospitalizations, rejections and complications in post-RT patients.
RESUMO
In this paper, corn starch based green composites reinforced with graft copolymers of Saccharum spontaneum L. (Ss) fiber and methyl methacrylates (MMA) and its mixture with acrylamide (AAm), acrylonitrile (AN), acrylic acid (AA) were prepared. Resorcinol-formaldehyde (Rf) was used as the cross-linking agent in corn starch matrix and different physico-chemical, thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated. The matrix and composites were found to be thermally more stable than the natural corn starch backbone. Further the matrix and composites were subjected for biodegradation studies through soil composting method. Different stages of biodegradation were evaluated through FT-IR and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. S. spontaneum L fiber-reinforced composites were found to exhibit better tensile strength. On the other hand Ss-g-poly (MMA) reinforced composites showed maximum compressive strength and wear resistance than other graft copolymers reinforced composite and the basic matrix.