Lower Frequency and Diversity of Antibiotic-Producing Fluorescent Pseudomonads in Rhizosphere of Indian Rapeseed–Mustard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> L. Czern.)

Fluorescent pseudomonads are one of the most important microbial communities which play a key role in rhizosphere to enhance plant growth-promotion and protection. The diverse groups of antibiotics viz. 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (PLT) are produced by fluorescent pseudomonads inhibiting growth of fungal pathogens which results in health upliftment of plants. The present study, discusses about frequency and diversity of 138 antibiotic-producing fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from eight genotypes of rapeseed mustard rhizosphere (Brassica juncea L. Czern.). The plant growth promoting traits and antibiotics (DAPG, PCA and PLT) production of isolates were examined by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and dot blot-hybridization. Among 138 isolates, 47, 25 and 9 % of isolates were positive in indole production, phosphate solubilization and antagonism potential against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (causal agent of white mold disease in rapeseed mustard), respectively. PCR amplifications showed that none of the isolates had phlD (DAPG) and phzC (PCA) genes, but four isolates (UKA-2, UKA-8, UKA-11, UKA-66) had pltB (PLT) gene, which was further confirmed by TLC and DNA dot-blot hybridization. BOX profiles of pltB positive isolates were distinct, showing unique genetic diversity in the small population. The four pltB positive fluorescent pseudomonad isolates could be used as promising bio-control and plant growth-promoting inoculants for Indian rapeseed mustard.     

Adulticidal, repellent, and ovicidal properties of indigenous plant extracts against the malarial vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquito-borne diseases with an economic impact create loss in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Mosquito control is facing a threat because of the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Extracts from plants may be alternative sources of mosquito control agents because they constitute a rich source of bioactive compounds that are biodegradable into nontoxic products and potentially suitable for use to control mosquitoes. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. In view of the recently increased interest in developing plant origin insecticides as an alternative to chemical insecticide, this study was undertaken to assess the adulticidal, repellent, and ovicidal potential of the crude hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, aqueous, and methanol solvent extracts from the medicinal plants Andrographis paniculata, Cassia occidentalis, and Euphorbia hirta against the medically important mosquito vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae).The adult mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate adulticide effects; however, the highest adult mortality was found in methanol extract of A. paniculata followed by C. occidentalis and E. hirta against the adults of A. stephensi with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 210.30, 225.91, and 263.91 ppm and 527.31, 586.36, and 621.91 ppm, respectively. The results of the repellent activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, aqueous, and methanol extract of A. paniculata, C. occidentalis, and E. hirta plants at three different concentrations of 1.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mg/cm² were applied on skin of forearm in man and exposed against adult female mosquitoes. In this observation, these three plant crude extracts gave protection against mosquito bites without any allergic reaction to the test person, and also, the repellent activity is dependent on the strength of the plant extracts. Mean percent hatchability of the ovicidal activity was observed 48 h post-treatment. The percent hatchability was inversely proportional to the concentration of extract and directly proportional to the eggs. Mortality of 100 % with methanol extract of A. paniculata exerted at 150 ppm and aqueous, methanol extract of C. occidentalis and E. hirta were exerted at 300 ppm. These results suggest that the leaf extracts of A. paniculata, C. occidentalis, and E. hirta have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. stephensi. Further detailed research is needed to identify the active ingredient in the extracts and implement the effective mosquito management program.     

Use of knotless barbed sutures for closure of intraoral incisions for maxillofacial trauma: a randomised controlled trial

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of knotless barbed sutures in intraoral wound closure for maxillofacial trauma in comparison with conventional (vicryl) sutures. This was a randomised controlled clinical trial involving 40 patients with isolated mandibular angle fractures who required intraoral incisions for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The sample was randomised into the study group (20 patients) and control group (20 patients). Following fracture fixation by a standardised surgical protocol, the wound closure was done with bidirectional knotless barbed suture and vicryl for the study and control groups, respectively. The wounds were closed in layers (periosteum and mucosa). All operations were performed by a single surgeon. Outcome parameters measured were intraoperative wound closure time and wound healing using ‘Landry’s wound healing index’ on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days. Statistically significant difference in suturing time was noted between the study and control group (p value <0.001). The study group demonstrated a mean (SD) suturing time of 9.46 (2.01) minutes, compared with the 17.61 (2.57) minutes in the control group. Wound healing was found to be better and statistically significant in the study group than the control group (p value<0.001). Knotless barbed suture is a promising alternative to vicryl for intraoral wound closure.     

Circumferential Stent Fracture: novel detection and treatment with the use of StentBoost

Circumferential stent fracture is extremely uncommon, and in rare cases, it can cause stent thrombosis. Recognizing stent fracture can be difficult on conventional fluoroscopy because of poor stent radiopacity. We found that StentBoost image acquisition yields improved visibility of stent struts, enabling the identification of stent fracture and the precise positioning of new stents over previously stented segments.We report the case of a 50-year-old man who presented with acute myocardial infarction and subacute stent thrombosis a week after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and placement of a bare-metal stent. The new lesion was crossed with a guidewire, but multiple attempts to advance a balloon catheter were unsuccessful. Live StentBoost image acquisition revealed circumferential stent fracture into 2 separate sections, with abnormal angulation between the proximal and distal portions of the stent. With StentBoost guidance, the wire and balloon catheter were both easily manipulated to cross the lesion, and angioplasty and restenting were completed with good results.StentBoost can be a useful adjunctive tool for the cardiac interventionist during complex percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and it was invaluable in this challenging situation. We discuss stent fracture and the benefits of using StentBoost in such situations.     

Neurochemical changes related to ageing in the rat brain and the effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid

Age-related impairments of cognitive and motor function have been linked to a number of deleterious morphological and functional changes involving different areas of the brain. Loss of neurotransmitters, their receptors and responsiveness to neurotransmitters are key manifestations of neurological ageing and age-related disorders. In the present investigation we have evaluated the effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on neurotransmitters in discrete brain regions of young and aged rats. The levels of neurotransmitters were found to be lowered in aged rats. Moreover, DL-alpha-lipoic acid treated aged rats showed a increase in the status of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. The results of this study provide evidence that DL-alpha-lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant) treatment can improve neurotransmitters during ageing. Hence, it can be concluded that DL-alpha-lipoic acid act as a potent neuromodulator in the brain of aged rats.     

Elevated Liver Enzymes along with Comorbidity Is a High Risk Factor for COVID-19 Mortality: A South Indian Study on 1,512 Patients

Background and Aims: Liver enzyme abnormalities in coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are being addressed in the literature. The predictive risk of elevated liver enzy...     

Effects of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol on arsenic-induced oxidative stress

Arsenic is an ubiquitous element in the environment causing oxidative burst in the exposed individuals leading to tissue damage. Antioxidants have long been known to reduce the free radical-mediated oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine whether supplementation of alpha-tocopherol (400 mg/kg body weight) and ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg body weight) to arsenic-intoxicated rats (100 ppm in drinking water) for 30 days affords protection against the oxidative stress caused by the metalloid. The arsenic-treated rats showed elevated levels of lipid peroxide, decreased levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants and activities of enzymatic antioxidants. Administration of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid to arsenic-exposed rats showed a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and enhanced levels of total sulfhydryls, reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol and so do the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase to near normal. These findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid prevent LPO and protect the antioxidant system in arsenic-intoxicated rats.     

Protective role of vitamin E on the oxidative stress in Hansen's disease (Leprosy) patients

BACKGROUND: A constellation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of damaging cellular constituents generated in excess during the chronic, inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease process of leprosy. The consequences of this leads to enhanced oxidative stress and lower antioxidant status. Enzymatic antioxidants provide first line defense against ROS. We have measured the levels of oxidative stress indices like lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyls together with enzymatic antioxidants in the blood samples of control and leprosy patients. Nutritional rehabilitation by way of exogenous supplementation of functionally efficient antioxidants like vitamin E reactivates the enzymatic antioxidant system and guards against the insult caused by ROS during the pathogenesis of the disease and antileprosy chemotherapy. DESIGN: Untreated leprosy patients were selected on the basis of clinical examination and skin smear. All diagnosed untreated leprosy patients received multi drug therapy (MDT) consisting of rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine as recommended by World Health Organization. A small number of untreated cases were selected for co-supplementation of vitamin E along with MDT. Oxidative stress indices, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant status were assayed in untreated, MDT treated and those supplemented vitamin E along with MDT. STATISTICAL METHODS: We have compared the significance in the mean+/-s.d. values of the oxidative stress indices and the levels of antioxidants using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) between control, untreated, MDT treated and those supplemented vitamin E with MDT and the results were significant at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis of the results suggests that oral administration of vitamin E lowers oxidative stress and augments antioxidant status in affected individuals.Results:Enhanced oxidative stress as evidenced by increased LPO and protein carbonyl in leprosy cases lowers the antioxidant status. Treatment with MDT has a limited impact on increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status. Coadministration of vitamin E along with MDT decreases oxidative stress and activate the antioxidant status. DISCUSSION: The excess production of ROS as seen in leprosy cases could lead to degeneration of tissues and derangement of internal organs. The possible reason for the decreased antioxidant status in leprosy cases may be increased production of ROS, deranged liver function, and the free radical producing ability of drugs used in MDT of leprosy. Intervention with antioxidant supplementation like vitamin E prevents oxidative stress mediated through ROS and activates the net antioxidant status during the chronic course of the disease and antileprosy chemotherapy.