Search

Two species of Ipidia [viz. Ipidia (Hemipidia) sjoebergi Jelínek, 1978 and Ipidia (Ipidia) variolosa Reitter, 1879] have been worked out of a collection from India. The genus and the species are re-described. A key to the species of Ipidia from India is appended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymetallic Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag mineralization in the Dariba-Rajpura-Bethumni (DRB) belt, Rajasthan is hosted by metamorphosed Proterozoic calc-silicatebearing siliceous dolostone, carbonaceous metapelite, tuffaceous schist and carbonaceous chert. The characteristics of the chert-bearing rocks from this belt are described here and based on their nature, field relationships and oxygen isotope composition, comments on their possible mode of origin are made. The present- day origin of chert is mainly biogenic with diatoms and radiolarians playing a dominant role in its formation; but in the Precambrian, the noticeable absence of these organisms did not affect the silica cycle and a chemically precipitated chert-forming mechanism was suggested. It is postulated that sulphide mineralization in the DRB belt resulted from the exhalation of silica-bearing hydrothermal fluids with subsequent precipitation in a semi-restricted basin with euxinic conditions. The chert precipitated out from the same exhalative siliceous mineralizing fluids as evidenced by similar oxygen isotope values in the host rocks and the associated cherty rock units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fossilized larva of an aquatic beetle, Protodytiscus johillaensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from a ferruginous micaceous siltstone bed of the Permo-Triassic Parsora Formation of the South Rewa Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India, and its systematic position and ordinal relationships within the coleopterous suborder Adephaga are discussed. Hitherto, the oldest known fossils of the hydradephagan superfamily Dytiscoidea have been Jurassic. The discovery of P. johillaensis extends the range of the Dytiscoidea back to the Permo-Triassic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capparis sepiaria L, a profusely branched hedge plant, is used in Indian traditional medicine. Capparis sepiaria leaves were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to dryness. The LD50 value was determined as 894.43 mg/kg body weight by acute toxicity study. The ethanol extract was investigated for possible hypoglycemic effect produced by single oral administration at various dose levels 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg in the streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and compared against normal saline control and the standard glibendamide. A maximum fall of plasma glucose level 9.40%; 13.57%; 15.25% and 18.80% was observed after 12 h of treatment when administered with ethanol extract of Capparis sepiaria at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, and glibenclamide 10 mg/kg dose, respectively. The findings from the study suggest that the Capparis sepiaria leaves may be prescribed as an adjunct to traditional formulation and drug treatment for controlling diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the author describes the status of welding technology in India and previews topics published within the issue which include a dimensional heat transfer analysis in laser-arc hybrid welding and papers in the IIW Assembly and the International Conference held at Seoul, South Korea.

The present study reports fayalite-bearing granite bodies from the Assam-Meghalaya Gneissic Complex of North East India. These are weakly peraluminous with high amounts of alkalis and meagre contents of magnesium, calcium, titanium and phosphorus. The chondrite normalized REE pattern is flat, having minor enrichment of HREE with negative europium anomaly suggesting their A-type character. The discrimination based on Rb, Y, Yb, Nb and Sc content indicates their generation due to melting of crustal components. Early crystallized fayalite and fluorite grains indicate that their emplacement in an extensional tectonic set-up most possibly represents the final stage of Rodinia Supercontinent amalgamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sr and Nd isotopic studies of various rock suites and their mineral separates in and around the Sausar Mobile belt, Central India, have revealed that (1) the last amphibolite facies metamorphism (≡main Sausar metamorphism) occurred during 800–900Ma and has more or less reset the Rb–Sr isotopic clock in this whole terrain whereas older Sm–Nd isotopic signatures were mostly unaffected; (2) the main Sausar Group of rocks is bounded both in the North and the South by two granulite belts of different crustal histories at least up to ∼1100Ma; (3) the Northern granulite belt experienced peak metamorphism during pre 1100Ma, followed by steep decompression and subsequent cooling around 1100Ma; (4) peak metamorphism in the Southern granulite belt occurred at ∼2672Ma. This was followed by emplacement of a vast basic igneous body (represented as metagabbro) and subsequent cooling around ∼1400Ma. These two granulite belts were juxtaposed with each other during the Neo-Mesoproterozoic which is correlatable with high pressure metamorphism in the northern granulite belt. This tectonic movement might have been triggered by Mesoproterozoic rifting of the southern Bastar craton, resulting in basic magmatism in the southern granulite belt. Mafic dykes were emplaced during subsequent readjustment of the crust and amphibolite facies reactivation (∼main Sausar event) of granulites in the whole terrain. Lithological and tectonic arrangements, metamorphic history along with the present geochronological data from CITZ point towards an evolutionary history similar to the Grenville Province of Canada. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sap beetle, Epuraea ocularis Fairmaire usually lays eggs and breeds on fermenting overripe fruits, and larvae pass through different instars before pupating on soil. In laboratory condition, mating pairs of adults copulated and females laid eggs in clusters; larva hatched out in 1 to 2 days, passed through four instars; mature larva migrated to soil for pupation. Larval development took about 12 to 17 days; and adult hatched out of pupa in about 4 to 5 days. Detailed morphology of egg, larva and pupa is presented herein, and significance of larva in taxonomy of beetles has been indicated.

A simple and highly sensitive bioanalytical method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of nimesulide (NSD) and its active metabolite 4-hydroxy-nimesulide (M1) in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) and applied in a bioequivalence study performed on Indian subjects. The bioanalytical method was carried out by LC-MS/MS with celecoxib (CXB) as an internal standard (IS) using liquid-liquid extraction technique. The chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed-phase Agilent eclipse plus C18 (75 mm × 4.6 mm, particle size 3.5 µm) column with a mobile phase of acetronitrile and water containing 5 mM ammonium formate (9:1, v/v). Method validation and clinical sample were analysed as per USFDA and EMA guidelines and results met the acceptance criteria. The lower limit of quantitation of NSD and M1 was found 10 ng/mL with a large linearity range from 10 to 6000 ng/mL for both NSD and M1 using only 100 µL of plasma and reported no matrix effect. The multiple reaction monitoring transitions of m/z 307.20 → 229.20, m/z 323.00 → 245.00 and m/z 380.20 → 316.20 were used to measure NSD, M1 and CXB (IS), respectively. The assay method was successfully applied for the simultaneous quantification of both NSD and M1 in plasma samples after oral administration of nimesulide 100 mg tablet in healthy human subjects.

The study characterizes a collection of 67 neonatal septicaemic Escherichia coli isolates on the basis of phylogroup, serotype, virulence, antibiotic resistance and also the association of CTX-M-producing E. coli and the ST131 clone in a developing country. Phylogroups B2 and D were predominant (33% and 19%, respectively). The most prevalent virulence factors (VFs) were traT (69%) and iucC (68%) and most VFs were concentrated in the B2 isolates. High levels of resistance (⩾70%) to cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was recorded but meropenem remained the most active antimicrobial. Six (9%) of the study isolates belonged to the ST131 clone, five of which were from the same hospital, and were either indistinguishable or closely related by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Although the prevalence of CTX-M-15-producing isolates was high (81%), the ST131 clone was relatively infrequent (11%) in extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producers. The ST131 clone was characterized by the presence of bla CTX-M-15, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, IncF plasmids and virulence determinants such as iucC, papC, traT, usp, hlyA, iroN E.coli , cnf, and sat. We conclude that clonal spread of ST131 did not contribute directly to the high prevalence of CTX-M-15 in our settings.

Arsenic (As) mobilization in alluvial aquifers is caused by a complex interplay of hydro-geo-microbiological activities. Nevertheless, diversity and biogeochemical significance of indigenous bacteria in Bengal Delta Plain are not well documented. We have deciphered bacterial community compositions and metabolic properties in As contaminated groundwater of West Bengal to define their role in As mobilization. Groundwater samples showed characteristic high As, low organic carbon and reducing property. Culture-independent and -dependent analyses revealed presence of diverse, yet near consistent community composition mostly represented by genera Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Brevundimonas, Polaromonas, Rhodococcus, Methyloversatilis and Methylotenera. Along with As-resistance and -reductase activities, abilities to metabolize a wide range carbon substrates including long chain and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and HCO3, As3+ as electron donor and As5+/Fe3+ as terminal electron acceptor during anaerobic growth were frequently observed within the cultivable bacteria. Genes encoding cytosolic As5+ reductase (arsC) and As3+ efflux/transporter [arsB and acr3(2)] were found to be more abundant than the dissimilatory As5+ reductase gene arrA. The observed metabolic characteristics showed a good agreement with the same derived from phylogenetic lineages of constituent populations. Selected bacterial strains incubated anaerobically over 300 days using natural orange sand of Pleistocene aquifer showed release of soluble As mostly as As3+ along with several other elements (Al, Fe, Mn, K, etc.). Together with the production of oxalic acid within the biotic microcosms, change in sediment composition and mineralogy indicated dissolution of orange sand coupled with As/Fe reduction. Presence of arsC gene, As5+ reductase activity and oxalic acid production by the bacteria were found to be closely related to their ability to mobilize sediment bound As. Overall observations suggest that indigenous bacteria in oligotrophic groundwater possess adequate catabolic ability to mobilize As by a cascade of reactions, mostly linked to bacterial necessity for essential nutrients and detoxification.

Background: During last three decades, dengue (DF), an arthropod-borne viral disease is increasingly prevalent worldwide including India, resulting in serious public health problems., Objective: This study was carried out during 2012-2013 to evaluate the association of WHO-classified dengue disease symptoms with viral load (VL) and serum IFN-gamma levels in dengue patients from India., Study Design: Blood samples were collected from dengue symptomatic febrile patients (n=127). DEN-VL was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR using RNA, extracted from plasma and anti-DENV-IgM was detected by ELISA. Serum IFN-gamma level was detected by ELISA among DENV infected and age-matched control individuals. Association between DEN-VL and IFN-gamma level in patient's sera with WHO-classified disease symptoms was statistically analyzed., Results: DENV RNA and anti-DENV-IgM was detected among 94% (n=73) and 36% (n=28) of dengue infected patients (n=78) respectively. Fever, nausea, rash, aches & pains, leucopenia and persistent vomiting were significantly correlated with DENV infection (P-value<0.05). Only patients with high-VL exhibited leucopenia, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain and clinical fluid accumulation, which were warning signs of dengue infection according to revised WHO-criteria (P-value<0.05). Clinical symptoms of DENV infected patients, viz. leucopenia, abdominal pain and persistent vomiting were significantly correlated to each other (P-value<0.05). Increased serum IFN-gamma level was detected among dengue patients compared to control individuals. DEN-VL and symptoms like nausea, leucopenia, persistent vomiting and abdominal pain were significantly negatively correlated with serum IFN-gamma level (P-value<0.05)., Conclusion: Serum IFN-gamma level and dengue viremia among acute stage patients might be used as early prognostic marker for disease severity prediction., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

After a gap of three decades, from 2005 onwards, a series of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks occurred worldwide. This study was performed to detect CHIKV infection, its genotype among symptomatic Eastern Indian patients and to analyze any association between the presence of CHIKV genome in patient body with appearance of disease symptoms (n = 199). Plasma-extracted viral RNA was reverse transcribed to cDNA and PCR-amplified followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Viral load among CHIKV-positive patients was determined by real time RT-PCR. CHIKV-IgM in sera was detected by ELISA. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of plasma-extracted PCR products was done. CHIKV genome and IgM were detected among 65.3% (n = 130) and 41.2% (n = 82) patients respectively. Joint swelling was significantly associated with CHIKV infection (P-value: 0.0003). CHIKV PCR positive patients were grouped in two categories: Group-I: viral load <10(4)  copies/ml and Group-II: viral load ≥10(4)  copies/ml. Higher number of acute stage patients clustered in Group-II. Fever and joint swelling were significantly more prevalent among Group-II patients, whereas rash and diarrhoea among Group-I patients (P-value <0.05). Patient-isolated CHIKV sequences clustered with CHIKV ECSA genotypes in the phylogenetic tree, with two types of CHIKV strains found to circulate among them-as indicated by their different nucleotide sequences. This is the first study detecting the presence of CHIKV ECSA genotype among Eastern Indian patients. Fever and joint swelling might have appeared first followed by rash, diarrhea during disease progression-as indicated by CHIK viral load in patients. Thus, viral load can be used as unique diagnostic and prognostic marker of Chikungunya disease pathogenesis., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Argyria is an uncommon grey-blue pigmentation of skin and mucous membranes caused by prolonged silver exposure. The impetus behind this review is our experience with cases of generalized argyria resulting from a uniquely Indian socio-cultural practice and belief that it is under reported. Our objective is to increase the awareness for this esoteric entity through a review of the pertinent literature and to highlight clinical and histological features using our four well worked-up cases as examples.

The pharmacokinetics of teriflunomide [CAS No. 163451-81-8], the metabolite of leflunomide [CAS No. 75706-12-6] has been evaluated in adult human volunteers after oral administration of tablet formulation. However, no published data is available regarding the bioavailability of this in the Indian population. In light of the above, a study was designed to carry out a bioequivalence study of 2 preparations of leflunomide 20 mg in healthy Indian male volunteers.24 healthy male volunteers (age, 25±4.1 years; weight, 57.58±7.01 kg) were enrolled in this study. Each subject received a test and reference formulation in a single dose, fasting 2 period, 2 way crossover study with a wash out period of 4 weeks. Analysis of teriflunomide from plasma samples was done by a simple and sensitive HPLC method using UV detection developed in our laboratory. An analysis of variance was performed on the pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ using GLM procedures in which sources of variation were subject, formulation, and period.The results indicated that there are no statistically significant differences between the 2 products in either the mean concentration-time profiles or in the obtained pharmacokinetic parameters. 90% confidence limits for the log transformed data of Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-∞. were within the acceptable range of 0.80-1.25.The results indicate that the 2 products are bioequivalent in terms of rate and extent of drug absorption. Both the preparations were well tolerated with no adverse reactions throughout the study., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

This study examined the pattern of colonization of the neonatal gut by aerobic Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) and evaluated the association between gut colonization and sepsis in the developing world. This deserves attention because of the high incidence of sepsis and the differences in hygienic environments in developing countries compared with the developed world. The study was carried out on neonates in a tertiary-care government hospital. Serial gut samples were analysed (gastric aspirates and stool samples) for GNB. Blood samples of cases showing clinical signs of sepsis were also analysed for septic screening and culture positivity. Antibiograms, serotyping and PFGE were carried out to evaluate the relatedness of the gut and blood isolates. A diverse array of GNB was isolated from the gut of the neonates, Klebsiella pneumoniae being most common, followed by Escherichia coli. The rate of isolation of GNB was consistently higher in stool samples compared with gastric aspirate samples. Colonization was influenced by a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and by the prolonged use of a feeding tube. GNB were the cause of sepsis in the majority of cases, with K. pneumoniae being the most frequently isolated GNB from the blood. Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Burkholderia cepacia were the other GNB recovered from the blood of the neonates. Neonates with GNB in the gut had a higher incidence of clinical sepsis than those without. In 50 % of cases, the genotypes of the organisms found in the blood were indistinguishable from their gut counterpart. These results show that the neonatal gut is colonized with a diverse array of GNB, and an association between gut colonization and neonatal sepsis was observed.

The bioequivalence of two oral formulations containing aceclofenac 100 mg was determined in 24 healthy Indian male volunteers. The study was designed as a single dose, fasting, two-period two-sequence crossover study with a washout period of 1 week. The content of aceclofenac in plasma was determined by a validated HPLC method with UV detection. The preparations were compared using the parameters area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t), area under the plasma concentration-time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0-infinity), peak plasma concentration (Cmax), and time to reach peak plasma concentration (tmax). No statistically significant difference was observed between the logarithmic transformed AUC0-infinity and Cmax values of the two preparations. The 90% confidence interval for the ratio of the logarithmic transformed AUC0-t, AUC0-infinity, and Cmax were within the bioequivalence limit of 0.80-1.25.

The present study was designed to study the clinical behaviour of a recent epidemic of typhoid fever in West Bengal. Of 46 cases studied, 67% (31) had chloramphenicol resistant typhoid fever. The chloramphenicol-resistant cases were comparatively severe in nature with higher complication and mortality rates. Salmonella typhi resistant to chloramphenicol were also resistant to ampicillin, cloxaxillin and cotrimoxazole. Strains of Salmonella typhi sensitive to chloramphenicol retained their sensitivity to these other antimicrobials.