Determination of relationships among non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor strains from housekeeping gene sequences and ribotype patterns

Sequencing of three housekeeping genes, mdh, dnaE and recA, and ribotyping for seven non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strains isolated from different geographic sources indicate a phylogenetic relationship among the strains. Results of MLST and ribotyping indicate a clear difference between three toxigenic strains (N16961, O395, and 569B) and three non-toxigenic strains from India (GS1, GS2, and GW87) and one Guam strain (X392), the latter of which were similar in both MLST and ribotyping, while two other non-toxigenic strains from the USA and India (2740-80 and OR69) appeared to be more closely related to toxigenic strains than to non-toxigenic strains, although this was not supported by ribotyping. These results provide clues to the emergence of toxigenic strains from a non-toxigenic progenitor by acquisition of virulence gene clusters. Results of split decomposition analysis suggest that widespread recombination occurs among the three housekeeping genes and that recombination plays an important role in the emergence of toxigenic strains of V. cholerae O1.     

Gonadal dysgenesis with no uterus or vagina in a female. A case report.

An 18-year-old girl presented with primary amenorrhea and absence of secondary sexual characteristics. She had gonadal dysgenesis, clitoromegaly, absence of the vagina and a 46,XY chromosome pattern.     

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in and around Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is rising rapidly in the eastern Uttar Pradesh; however no data is available regarding its positivity rate. We have screened 1239 cases of various groups. HIV seropositivity rate of 0.28% was noted. These results suggest that HIV infection is spreading rapidly in this part of the country. M. tuberculosis was the commonest co-infection amongst them (29.5%). We recommend routine HIV screening of all patients of tuberculosis, especially if the persons frequent the cities, visit foreign countries where sex tourism is encouraged or stay away from their spouses for long periods as true history of sexual contact with commercial sex workers was difficult to obtain from them.     

Tinea pedis — a penalty of civilization A sample survey of rural and urban population

Untersuchungen von Land- und Stadtbewohnern in Indien zeigten, daß Tinae pedis auf dem Lande praktisch nicht vorkommt, jedoch bei-3 % der Stadtbewohner. Die Schuhe spielen dabei eine große Rolle. Die Pilze können anscheinend zwischen den Zehen verschieden lang verweilen, ohne dort klinische Erscheinungen zu verursachen.     

Clotrimazole in treatment of dermatomycoses and vaginitis

62 patients with dermatomycoses and 39 patients suffering from vaginitis were treated with topical application (1 %) of clotrimazole (Canesten) cream and vaginal tablets (100 mg) respectively. A majority of the patients (44) of dermatophytoses were completely cured in 3 to 6 weeks and all cases (11) of cutaneous candidiasis in 1 to 2 weeks. 14 cases of Candida vaginitis were cured in 2 weeks and 24 patients with nonspecific vaginitis responded well to the treatment showing definite clinical improvement. No untoward reactions were noticed in these patients.

Zusammenfassung

62 Patienten mit einer Dermatomykose und 39 Patientinnen die an einer Vaginitis erkrankt waren, wurden lokal mit einer 1 %igen Clotrimazol-Creme (Canesten) beziehungsweise mit Vaginaltabletten (100 mg) behandelt.
44 Patienten mit einer Dermatophyteninfektion heilten vollständig innerhalb von 3 bis 4 Wochen und 11 Candidosen der Haut in 1 bis 2 Wochen ab. Eine zweiwöchige Therapie bei 14 Patientinnen rnit einer Vaginalmykose führte zur Abheilung der Pilzinfektion. In 24 Fällen einer bakteriellen Vaginitis z am es unter der Clotrimazol-Behandlung zur Beshwerdefreiheit.     

Uranotaenia dibrugarhensis, a new species in subgenus Pseudoficalbia from Assam, India

The adult female, adult male, pupa, and larva of Uranotaenia (Pseudoficalbia) dibrugarhensis, new species, are described from the Dibrugarh District of Assam State, India.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide gene transfer by means of intranasal administration attenuates airway reactivity in a mouse model of allergic sensitization

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a bronchodilator; however, the short half-life of ANP in vivo limited its therapeutic utility to treat asthma. The efficacy of intranasally administered plasmid DNA-expressing ANP (pANP; amino acid 99-126; Acc. No. XM131840) on the prevention of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was examined in this study by using a mouse model of asthma. Ovalbumin-sensitized mice were treated with pANP versus control plasmids, and AHR was monitored after ovalbumin challenge for 5 weeks on 10-day intervals starting 4 days after gene transfer. Mice administered pANP demonstrated significantly less AHR for 20 days after treatment. The results demonstrate that pANP gene transfer protects against AHR and might be useful in the treatment of asthma.