A study of dermatophytes and their in-vitro antifungal sensitivity

Of the 150 clinically suspected cases of Dermatophytosis studied, majority of the cases were from age group 11-20 and 21-30 (51.4%), Tinea corporis (48.7%) and Tinea capitis (18%) were the commonest clinical types. The isolation rate was 24% (36) of which 19 (52.7%) were Trichophyton rubrum, 11 (30.55%) were Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 4 (11.1%) were Trichophyton violaceum. One isolate each of Microsporum gypseum & Epidermophyton floccosum were obtained. Griseofulvin proved to be the best drug with a sensitivity of 94.4% followed by Miconazole (75% sensitive). Tolnaftate showed a sensitivity of 47.22%. For Clotrimazole only 30.55% of the isolates were sensitive.     

The anthelmintic drug mebendazole induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis by depolymerizing tubulin in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Microtubules have a critical role in cell division, and consequently various microtubule inhibitors have been developed as anticancer drugs. In this study, we assess mebendazole (MZ), a microtubule-disrupting anthelmintic that exhibits a potent antitumor property both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of lung cancer cell lines with MZ caused mitotic arrest, followed by apoptotic cell death with the feature of caspase activation and cytochrome c release. MZ induces abnormal spindle formation in mitotic cancer cells and enhances the depolymerization of tubulin, but the efficacy of depolymerization by MZ is lower than that by nocodazole. Oral administration of MZ in mice elicited a strong antitumor effect in a s.c. model and reduced lung colonies in experimentally induced lung metastasis without any toxicity when compared with paclitaxel-treated mice. We speculate that tumor cells may be defective in one mitotic checkpoint function and sensitive to the spindle inhibitor MZ. Abnormal spindle formation may be the key factor determining whether a cell undergoes apoptosis, whereas strong microtubule inhibitors elicit toxicity even in normal cells.     

Giant Fecaloma With Idiopathic Sigmoid Megacolon

PURPOSE: Fecal impaction is a common condition, and " fecaloma" is an extreme variety of impaction. This is a report of a giant, solitary, and stubborn fecaloma not responding to nonoperative management. A surgical intervention for uncomplicated fecal impaction is rarely needed and reported in the literature. METHOD: A 39-year-old male patient with constipation presented with a firm, mobile, abdominal mass of six-months duration. Investigations revealed an isolated, giant fecaloma in a redundant sigmoid megacolon. After all the conservative measures were unsuccessful in evacuating the stubborn impaction, he was treated by sigmoid colectomy and primary anastomosis. CONCLUSION: A timely surgical intervention in recalcitrant fecal impactions may prevent possible stercoral ulcer perforation with a high mortality.     

Response of fouling brown mussel,Perna perna (L.), to chlorine

Perna perna (L.), the edible brown mussel, is very widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions and is commonly found in rocky shores. Apart from being a candidate for commercial cultivation, P. perna is also a common pest organism in cooling water systems of coastal power stations. Therefore, a lethal and sublethal response of this mussel to commonly used antifouling biocides is of considerable interest to the industry. Mortality pattern (LT(50) and LT(100)) and physiological activities (oxygen consumption, filtration rate, foot activity index, and byssus thread production) of different size groups (9-34 mm shell lengths) of P. perna were studied in the laboratory under different residual chlorine concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 mg/L for sublethal responses and 1, 2, 3, and 5 mg/L for mortality). Results showed that exposure time for 100% mortality of mussels significantly decreased with increasing residual chlorine concentration. For example, mussels of 9 mm size group exposed to 1 mg/L chlorine residual took 384 h (16 days) to reach 100% mortality, whereas those exposed to 5 mg/L chlorine took 84 h (4 days). The effect of mussel size on mortality was significant between 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L residual chlorine, with larger mussels showing greater resistance than smaller ones. For example, at 2 mg/L residual chlorine, 9 mm and 34 mm size group mussels took 228 h (10 days) and 304 h (13 days), respectively, to achieve 100% mortality. All size groups of P. perna showed progressive reduction in physiological activities, when chlorine residuals were gradually increased from 0 to 1 mg/L. Reduction in physiological activities was strongly correlated with the residual level. A comparison of present data with data available for other common fouling organisms suggests that P. perna is relatively less tolerant to chlorine than Perna viridis (L.) and Brachidontes striatulus (Hanley), which also cause fouling problems in tropical coastal waters.     

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 7/interleukin (IL)-24 is a novel ligand that regulates angiogenesis via the IL-22 receptor

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene 7 (mda-7), also called interleukin (IL)-24, suppresses the growth of some cancers in vitro and in vivo as a result of the ectopic expression of its protein. However, the function of the secreted form of the protein in cancer has not been previously studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the antiangiogenic function of a secreted form of the MDA-7/IL-24 protein (sMDA-7/IL-24). In vitro, sMDA-7/IL-24 inhibited both endothelial cell differentiation and migration of endothelial cells induced by vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. The sMDA-7/IL-24-mediated inhibitory effect was 10-50 times more potent than endostatin, IFN-gamma, and IFN-inducible protein 10 in vitro. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect was not mediated by IFN or IFN-inducible protein 10. IL-22 receptor mediated the antiangiogenic activity of sMDA-7/IL-24. Administration of a blocking antibody to IL-22 receptor in conjunction with sMDA-7/IL-24 led to abrogation of inhibition of endothelial differentiation. sMDA-7/IL-24 inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis as evidenced by reduced vascularization and hemoglobin content in in vivo Matrigel plug assays. In vivo, the growth of human lung tumor cells was significantly inhibited, and vascularization was reduced when the cells were mixed with 293 cells stably expressing sMDA-7/IL-24. Systemic administration of sMDA-7/IL-24 inhibited lung tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Associated with tumor growth inhibition was decreased tumor microvessel density and hemoglobin content, indicating the presence of antiangiogenic activity. These data demonstrate that sMDA-7/IL-24 is a novel and potent antiangiogenic effector and support the development of MDA-7/IL-24-based therapeutics.     

Inhibition of Toll-like Receptor Signaling in Primary Murine Microglia

Microglial cells respond to the herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 by producing proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. After this inflammatory burst, these cells undergo apoptotic cell death. We have recently demonstrated that both virus-induced immune mediator production and apoptosis were induced through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling. Based upon these findings, we hypothesized that the inhibition of TLR2 signaling may serve as a means to alleviate excessive neuroinflammation. In the present study, we cloned four vaccinia virus (VV) proteins, which have been reported to disrupt either TLR signaling or NF-κB activation, and overexpressed them in HEK293T cells stably expressing murine TLR2 and in primary murine microglia. Using an NF-κB-driven luciferase reporter gene assay, we show that upon stimulation with HSV and Listeria monocytogenes, all four vaccinia proteins inhibited TLR2 signaling with different levels of inhibition in the TLR2-expressing cell line and primary microglia. We found similar results when microglial cells were stimulated with the TLR4 ligand LPS and the TLR9 ligand CpG ODN. Taken together, these data provide evidence that these VV proteins can function as inhibitors of TLR signaling in primary microglial cells.     

Tracheo-esophageal puncture (TEP) for voice rehabilitation in laryngectomised patients blom-singer® Vs Provox® Prosthesis: Our experience

Background: Stage III and IV cancers of larynx and hypopharynx often require total laryngectomy which leaves the patient with severe communication handicap. In such laryngectomised patients tracheo-esophageal puncture is the best way for voice rehabilitation using either Blom-Singer® prosthesis or Provox® indwelling valve.     

Accuracy of oxyhemoglobin saturation monitors during simulated altitude exposure of men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk for hypoxemia during air travel. We assessed the comparative performance of oxyhemoglobin saturation (%O2Hb) monitors on these patients during hypobaric exposure. We measured %O2Hb by arterial catheter blood co-oximetry (COOX) and compared these values to those from a transmittance ear oximeter and a reusable digital pulse oximeter. Additionally, we examined the effect of oxygen supplementation (4 L/min) on %O2Hb. A total of 18 ambulatory males with severe COPD were exposed to 8,000 ft (565 mm Hg) in a hypobaric chamber. Multiple measures of %O2Hb were made with each monitor at sea level and at 8,000 ft, with and without supplemental oxygen. By COOX, %O2Hb fell at altitude to clinically significant levels, and was subsequently corrected with supplemental oxygen. Saturations measured by the transmittance ear oximeter were very close to the COOX, underestimating the true value by only 0.6% at altitude (p less than 0.05), while the reusable digital pulse oximeter over-estimated %O2Hb alinearly by a mean of 3.8% at altitude.