Nematicidal activity of fervenulin isolated from a nematicidal actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. CMU-MH021, on Meloidogyne incognita

An isolate of the actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. CMU-MH021 produced secondary metabolites that inhibited egg hatch and increased juvenile mortality of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in vitro. 16S rDNA gene sequencing showed that the isolate sequence was 99% identical to Streptomyces roseoverticillatus. The culture filtrates form different culture media were tested for nematocidal activity. The maximal activity against M. incognita was obtained by using modified basal (MB) medium. The nematicidal assay-directed fractionation of the culture broth delivered fervenulin (1) and isocoumarin (2). Fervenulin, a low molecular weight compound, shows a broad range of biological activities. However, nematicidal activity of fervenulin was not previously reported. The nematicidal activity of fervenulin (1) was assessed using the broth microdilution technique. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the compound against egg hatch of M. incognita was 30 μg/ml and juvenile mortality of M. incognita increasing was observed at 120 μg/ml. Moreover, at the concentration of 250 μg/ml fervenulin (1) showed killing effect on second-stage nematode juveniles of M. incognita up to 100% after incubation for 96 h. Isocoumarin (2), another bioactive compound produced by Streptomyces sp. CMU-MH021, showed weak nematicidal activity with M. incognita

A Study of Non-Communicable Morbidity Pattern in Geriatric Patients Attending a Referral Railway Hospital in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Research question: What types of non-communicable geriatric cases attend the Railway referral hospital in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh? Objectives: 1) To identify the various morbidities in the geriatric population attending the OPD of the selected hospital. 2) To observe the sex-wise difference of such morbidities among the studied subjects. Study design: Hospital-based cross-sectional study. Study location: the North Central Railway Hospital of Allahabad. Study duration: 1 year (from March, 2010 to February, 2011). Material and method: Medical record analysis, clinical history taking and examination using a pretested questionnaire. Results: Total 467 respondents were included in the study (235 males and 232 females). Three-fourth of the subjects rated their health status as either ‘mostly’ or ‘somewhat’ healthy. Nearly 62% had vision abnormality while 15.2% suffered from impaired hearing. Respiratory (43.5%) and musculoskeletal symptoms were among the most commonly observed morbidities. Diabetes mellitus and overactive bladder syndrome were significantly commoner among males while respiratory complaints, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and low back ache were more common in females as compared to males. Discharge per vaginum was the most common gynecological problem noted (41.4% of all female patients). Conclusion: The study identifies the common morbidities in geriatric hospital attendees and underscores the need for appropriate resource allocation and arrangements

Composition and microstructural changes in an aged cement pastes upon two heating–cooling regimes, as studied by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction

This paper studies the microstructural changes in a 2-year-old cement paste heated up to various temperature up to 1000 °C in steps of 100 °C for a constant period of 6 h by TG/DTG and XRD. Two cooling regimes are applied: air- and desiccator-cooling regime. The impact of ageing on the microstructure of the heated specimens is analysed by comparison with a cement paste cured at 28 days. The result shows higher amounts of portlandite and carbonate calcium for the aged cement paste. The new portlandite formed during cooling continues to exist until the 1000 °C temperature plateau. The decomposition of the latter portlandite induces higher quantities of lime, and then higher mass loss in the case of the air-cooling regime compared to the desiccator one. Nevertheless, the XRD shows that the peak's intensity of lime is lower in the case of air-cooling regime. The CSH dehydration to ²-C2S and C3S becomes significant above 600 °C and the corresponding rate increases with increasing temperature. An increase in the total mass loss and in the crystallinity at 900 and 1000 °C, compared to 800 °C, is noted