Sepsis caused by bloodstream infection in patients in the intensive care unit: the impact of inactive empiric antimicrobial therapy on outcome

Background: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in the UK. Aims: The aims of this study were to identify the rate of inactive antimicrobial therapy (AMT) in the ICU and whether inactive AMT had an effect on in hospital mortality, ICU mortality, 90-day mortality and length of hospital stay. Additionally, we wanted to identify risk factors for receiving inactive AMT. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at Glasgow Royal Infirmary ICU between January 2010 and December 2013, with 12,000 blood cultures taken over this time period, of which n=127 were deemed clinically significant. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors independently associated with mortality. To identify risk factors for receiving inactive AMT a univariable and a subsequent multivariate analysis was constructed. Results: The rate of inactive AMT was 47% (n =60). Our multivariate analysis showed that receiving antibiotics within the first 24 hours of ICU admission led to a reduced mortality (RR 1.70; 95% CI 1.19-2.44.) Furthermore, it showed that severity of illness (as defined by SIRS criteria sepsis vs septic shock) increased mortality (OR 9.87; 95% CI 1.73-55.5). However, inactive AMT did not increase mortality (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.47-2.41) or length of hospital stay (53.2 vs 69.1 days p=0.348.) We identified fungal bloodstream infection as a risk factor for receiving inactive AMT (OR 5.10;95% CI 1.29-20.14. Conclusion: Mortality from sepsis is influenced by multiple factors. We were unable to demonstrates that inactive AMT had an effect on mortality in sepsis

Mutation-Induced Conformational Changes and Energetics for Binding of FMN Ligand in Flavin Mononucleotide Riboswitch by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Riboswitches are the type of regulatory elements present in the untranslated region of mRNA and specifically bind to the natural ligand to regulate gene expression. This binding specificity can be affected by even single point mutation incorporated in the core of the riboswitch. In this work, we have examined the mutations at the binding site residue in Flavin Mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitch structure with 30ns molecular dynamics simulations. The interaction of ligand (FMN) with riboswitch has been characterized using root mean square deviation, hydrogen bonding analysis, and the calculated binding affinities. Mutation at A48G and G62U show the enhanced binding energy however, the mutation at A85G, are energetically unfavorable compared to the wild type. This work gives valuable insight into the structures and energetics of the mutated FMN riboswitch to design new hits for biological applications. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF LANGUAGE TEACHING – A BRIEF STUDY

The article discusses the various methods in Language Teaching as language plays a pivotal role in this Globalised world.  It discusses the historical origin of language teaching and the method which has to be followed in the classroom to improve the communicative skills of the students especially related to the Engineering scenario

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of terbinafine and itraconazole in superficial mycoses: a prospective, randomized, controlled and cost-effective analysis study

Background: Superficial mycoses are common worldwide. Dermatophytic infections can greatly affect quality of life. Several newer antimycotic agents, have been reported effective and safe. Hence this study was planned to analyse effectiveness as well as cost effectiveness of these treatments.Methods: It were a prospective, randomized, parallel, open label, comparative study. Fifty patients were included in the study and divided into 2 groups. They were randomized to receive either oral terbinafine 250 mg or itraconazole 100 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Scaling, erythema and pruritus were rated as clinical score 0 to 3: 0 - absent, 1 - mild, 2 - moderate, and 3 - severe for the above three target symptoms. Total symptom score was assessed. Pruritus was also graded on visual analogue scale (VAS). Mycological cure was assessed by skin scraping with KOH mounts and fungal culture. Clinical efficacy scoring and VAS were assessed before the study and at each follow up visit at 2 and 4 weeks. Patients were followed up for another 4 weeks after completion of the treatment.Results: There was highly significant decrease p<000.1 in the mean total symptoms scores in both the study groups from baseline. No significant difference in the mean total symptoms score was observed when compared between groups. ADRs were more in terbinafine group.Conclusions: Both terbinafine and itraconazole are effective and safe against superficial mycoses, but adverse effects are more with terbinafine. Itraconazole was found to be cost effective compared to terbinafine

A comparative study on field performance of micropropagated plants and stem cutting derived plants of S-36 cultivar of Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

Micropropagated and stem cutting derived plants of Mulberry (Morus indica L. cv. S-36) were transferred to the similar field conditions. A comparative study was conducted based on morphological parameters and growth characteristics for three consecutive years.  The results demonstrated that micropropagation gave rise to superior clonal populations with respect to number of branches/plant and leaf yield/plant that will be suitable for the mass production of plants.  Thus in vitro grown plants did not exhibit any significant quantitative variation as compared to the conventionally grown plants, indicating the varietal multiplication to be of true-to-type

STABILITY INDICATING RP-HPLC METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM AND MOSAPRIDE CITRATE IN BULK AND FORMULATION

Objective: Development and validation of reversed phase liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in bulk and combined dosage form. Methods: A thermo Inert sil, C18 (250 x 4.6 mm i. d., 5 µ) column with mobile phase containing methanol: buffer (ammonium acetate pH 6.5): acetonitrile in the ratio of (50:20:30 %) was used. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min, column temperature was 25 °C and effluents were monitored at 245 nm. Results: The retention times of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate were 2.951 min and 4.195 min, respectively. Correlation co-efficient for Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate was found to be 0.9999 and 0.9999, respectively. The proposed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity, and robustness. Recovery of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in formulations was found to be in the range of 97-103 % and 98-102 %, respectively confirms the non-interferences of the excipients in the formulation. Conclusion: The proposed HPLC method was found to be simple, precise, accurate and sensitive for the simultaneous estimation of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Due to its simplicity, rapidness and high precision, the method was successfully applied to the estimation of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in combined dosage form

Pathogen-induced expression of harpinPss increases resistance in tobacco against fusarium oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae

HarpinPss (encoded by the hrpZ gene), a proteinaceous elicitor produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, induces cell death in plants through hypersensitive response (HR). With an aim to generate transgenic tobacco resistant to fungal diseases, hrpZ was expressed in a secretable form, tagged with the signal peptide (SP) of PR1a, under the constitutive 35S promoter (P35S) or pathogen-inducible promoters (PIPs) like phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), osmotin (OSM), and hypersensitive-related (HSR) promoters. The constitutive expression of the secretable form of hrpZ did not permit regeneration of transformed cells due to harpinPss-induced cell death. Transformants were recovered at a low frequency (2-6%) from leaf discs infected with Agrobacterium harbouring the SP-hrpZ driven by PIPs due to wound-induced leaky expression of harpinPss. The transgenic lines were confirmed by PCR using transgene-specific primers for SP-hrpZ. The expression of hrpZ under PIPs in transgenic lines was confirmed by Western blotting after challenging the leaves with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae. RT-PCR analysis also confirmed the expression of SP-hrpZ driven by PIPs in transgenic tobacco upon infection with F. oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae. The expression of harpinPss in these transgenic lines was accompanied by expression of defense-response genes such as PR1, PR2, PR3, HSR and HIN1. Transgenic tobacco plants showed enhanced resistance to F. oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae. Our findings suggest the potential use of an elicitor gene (hrpZ), driven by PIPs (PAL, OSM, and HSR) for the development of resistant plants

GENETIC DIVERGENCE ANALYSIS OF SESAME GENOTYPES (Sesamum indicum L.)

Divergence studies through Mahalonobis D 2 statistic on 50 sesame genotypes indicated the presence of substantial diversity by forming large number of clusters with wide range of inter-cluster distances. The 50 genotypes were grouped into 14 clusters based on the D 2 values. Among the fourteen clusters, cluster II was the largest comprising of fourteen genotypes followed by cluster V with ten genotypes, cluster III with nine genotypes, cluster I with seven genotypes. The genotypes JCS 3980, Swetha thil, GT 10, JCS 4039 and JCS 4053 from these clusters having high mean values and may be directly used for adaptation or may be used as parents in future hybridization programme. The highest inter cluster distance was found between clusters VII and XII, while lowest was between IV and VII. The maximum intra cluster distance was recorded for cluster V followed by cluster II. Among all the traits studied, maximum contribution towards genetic divergence was shown by days to 50 per cent flowering followed by days to maturity, oil content, seed yield per plant and number of seeds per capsule. Greater genetic divergence was found between clusters VII and XII indicating superior and novel recombinants and explore the fullest range of variability for the characters and to realize good recombinant can be realized by mating between the lines of these clusters in a definite fashion

GENETIC ANALYSIS OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.) GENOTYPES UNDER WET DIRECT SEEDING SITUATION

Present investigation was carried out with 35 rice genotypes under wet direct seeding condition at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jagtial, PJTSAU, Telangana during kharif, 2016. High GCV and PCV values for important yield contributing traits viz., 1000 grain weight (24.41, 24.62) and number of grains per panicle (26.17, 29.30) were observed. High heritable and genetic advance values for 1000 grain weight (98.30, 49.86) and number of grains per panicle (79.80, 48.16) indicated the role of additive genes and these traits can be improved by simple selections. Effective bearing tillers/M2 recorded low values of heritability (25.40) and genetic advance (5.19) suggesting the exploitation of heterosis for improvement of this important yield character. Effective bearing tillers/M2, plant height and panicle length exhibited significant correlations with yield in desirable direction, hence direct selection for these traits could improve the yield. Highest inter cluster distance was observed between clusters IV and VI (27.75) followed by III and VI (24.69), IV and V (22.34) and III and V (22.23) thus high heterotic hybrids can be developed by making crosses between genotypes of the clusters. 1000 grain weight (44.2%) contributed highest towards total divergence followed by days to 50% flowering (40.17%) and plant height (10.76). cluster II and IV recorded lowest means for plant height and hence genotypes from these clusters can be used as parents for development of dwarf varieties desirable for wet direct seeding condition

Correlation of serum lithium levels and thyroid function tests in subjects of bipolar affective disorder: a prospective hospital-based study

Background: Lithium is used in the prophylaxis of long-term therapy of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) as a mood-stabilizing agent. Thyroid function abnormality is very commonly seen adverse effect, more common in females than males. This study aimed to correlate lithium levels and thyroid function abnormalities associated with it.Methods: Evaluation of medical records of 150 patients in Father Muller Medical College with BPAD, who were treated for 6 months with lithium, carried out from February, 12 2014 to July, 20 2014. Serum lithium levels done by ion selective electrode method in ilyte analyzer and thyroid function test (TFT) by electrochemiluminescence. Data are analyzed by Karl Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: Correlation of lithium levels and TFT in BPAD patients according to Karl Pearson correlation coefficient was negative with significant p&lt;0.002. Among 150 enrolled candidates, 52 (34.67%) were females and 98 (65.4%) were males, 4% (6) patients (3 males and 3 females) had thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) value &lt;0.27 with an average lithium value of 1.35 mEq/L, 6% (9) patients (5 males and 4 females) had TSH value &gt;4.2 with an average lithium levels of 0.44 mEq/L and 90% of the patients with an average lithium levels 0.66 mEq/L had no thyroid function abnormalities.Conclusions: As already known, Lithium is a drug of narrow therapeutic index and females are more prone for thyroid function abnormalities. Appropriate monitoring of serum lithium levels will aid in necessary dose adjustment and ensure proper utilization of drug