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Long term survivors of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for [beta]-thalassemia major are designated \"ex-thalassaemics\". Whether ex-thalassaemics continue to harbour residual myocardial dysfunction and thereby stand the risk of heart failure-related morbidity and mortality is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in an apparently normal ex-thalassaemic population. We conducted a single centre cross-sectional study among 62 ex-thalassaemic patients, who had undergone HSCT for [beta]-thalassaemia major at our centre. The primary outcome variable was LV systolic dysfunction, as assessed by 1) LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and 2) LV ejection fraction (EF) derived by 2D Simpsons Biplane method. Among the 62 patients included in the study, 7 [11.3%] were found to have LV systolic dysfunction, all of which were subclinical. Of these, 4 [6.5%] had abnormal GLS and LVEF, 2 [3.2%] had abnormal GLS with normal LVEF, and 1 [1.6%] had abnormal LVEF with low normal mean GLS. There were no statistically significant predictors of LV dysfunction in this cohort. There was a high prevalence of subclinical myocardial dysfunction in the ex-thalassaemic population reiterating the need for close follow up of these patients. 2D Speckle tracking echocardiography-derived LV global longitudinal strain is an effective tool in detecting subclinical myocardial dysfunction in this cohort.

A moderately halophilic bacterium, SUR308 (GenBank Accession No. KJ933394) was isolated from multi-pond solar salterns of Odisha, India. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by this strain in malt extract yeast extract (MY) medium has been optimized under batch culture system. Among the different media tested, MY medium showed an EPS production of 2.55 g/L, which increased to 2.85 g/L under optimized aeration. An initial pH of 7.5 and incubation temperature of 32 °C were found to be most suitable for EPS production by the isolate under aerobic condition. An EPS production of 3.85 g/L was achieved when the growth medium was supplemented with 2.5% NaCl. Glucose was the most favourable carbon source for EPS production and maximum production (5.70 g/L) was recorded with 3% glucose. However, growth as well as production of EPS was remarkably affected when the growth medium was supplemented with hydrocarbons as sole source of carbon. Among different nitrogen sources, casein hydrolysate at 0.5% level was proved to be the best for EPS production and an initial inoculum dose of 7% (v/v) enhanced the EPS production to 7.78 g/L, while the divalent metal ions were in general toxic to growth and EPS production, EPS synthesis by SUR308 was enhanced with Cr (VI) supplementation.

Endophytic bacteria colonizing the internal tissues of plants are known to improve plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. This study envisages the isolation and evaluation of plant growth promoting attributes of bacterial endophytes in perennial fern L. A total of 20 phenotypically distinguishable bacterial endophytes were isolated from surface sterilized leaf lamina, petiole, rhizome and spike of L. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index showed that the rhizome (1.54) harbor more diverse types of endophytic bacteria than in its petiole, leaf lamina and spike. The isolated endophytes were characterized on the basis of micromorphological and physio-biochemical characters and tentatively assigned to the genus , and . The isolates showed distinct variations in their enzymatic activities, sugar fermentation and antibiotic sensitivity profile. A number of endophytic isolates showed plant growth promoting activities like production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore, growth in nitrogen-free medium and solubilization of phosphate. Time course of growth and IAA production by the potent isolate OPR 7 have been determined. Exploitation of such plant growth promoting endophytes appears to be one of the best options in increasing biomass yield and improving plant fitness and productivity.

Background Cardiac sarcoidosis, often manifested as sudden death, can be the first manifestation of sarcoidosis. Since 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is recommended as an initial screening tool for cardiac sarcoidosis, the recognition of subtle abnormalities assumes utmost significance. The objective of this study was to identify the electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Results A detailed analysis of 12-lead ECGs obtained from sixty patients with histopathologically proven pulmonary sarcoidosis and no overt cardiac involvement was done. The findings were compared with those of an age-matched control group. Varying degrees of intraventricular conduction defects were common in the study group [67%], as well as the control group [57%] [ P  = 0.23]. There was a higher prevalence of biphasic P wave [ P  = 0.003] and bifid P wave [ P  = 0.029] in lead III and rsr’ in lead aVF [ P  = 0.03] in the study group as compared to the control group. Conclusions Our study demonstrates a greater prevalence of subtle ECG abnormalities in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis as compared to patients with other forms of pulmonary disease. Atrial depolarization abnormalities were commoner in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Corynebacterium paurometabolum SKPD 1204 (MTCC 8730), a heavy metal tolerant and chromate reducing bacterium isolated from chromite mine seepage of Odisha, India has been evaluated for chromate reduction under batch culture. The isolate was found to tolerate metals like Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Fe(III) and Hg(II) along with Cr(VI) and was resistant to different antibiotics as evaluated by disc-diffusion method. The isolate, SKPD 1204 was found to reduce 62.5% of 2 mM Cr(VI) in Vogel Bonner broth within 8 days of incubation. Chromate reduction capability of SKPD 1204 decreased with increase in Cr(VI) concentration, but increased with increase in cell density and attained its maximum at 1010cells/mL. Chromate reducing efficiency of SKPD 1204 was promoted in the presence of glycerol and glucose, while the highest reduction was recorded at pH 7.0 and 35 °C. The reduction process was inhibited by divalent cations Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II), but not by Mn(II). Anions like nitrate, phosphate, sulphate and sulphite was found to be inhibitory to the process of Cr(VI) reduction. Similarly, sodium fluoride, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, sodium azide and N, N,-Di cyclohexyl carboiimide were inhibitory to chromate reduction, while 2,4-dinitrophenol appeared to be neither promotive nor inhibitory to the process.

Many industries are known to use heavy metals like chromium (Cr) to fix dyes in the fabrication processes and malachite green (MG) as colorant. Alkalinity, elevated temperature, or salinity of the industrial effluents makes conventional physicochemical removal of MG and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] more difficult to apply and demands to perceive potential cost-effective and environment-friendly treatment methods to eliminate or convert them into less toxic compounds. Here, we report simultaneous removal and bioconversion of MG and Cr(VI) by a halophilic biofilm-forming bacterium Halomonas xianhensis SUR308. It can efficiently produce exopolysaccharides as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and form biofilm under oxygen limiting condition. The reduction of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] to trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] is about 100%, and 95% after 84 h of growth in shaken and stagnant culture, respectively. The strain completely decolorizes MG after 48 h of growth in shaken culture. Furthermore, we found that strain SUR308 can efficiently detoxify chromium by reduction and degrades MG via producing various intermediate products simultaneously. Most interestingly, such conversions can also take place in alkaline environment and in environment where substantial amount of salt is present. These unique features of strain SUR308 make it suitable for the simultaneous remediation of toxic heavy metals and hazardous dye even from the environment having higher pH and salinity. The detail molecular mechanism of the bioconversion with its application in open environment would be the future research focus for bioprospecting strain SUR308.

A 21-year-old male with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate was referred for [sup.18]F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([sup.18]F-FDG PET/CT) and [sup.68]Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT for initial disease staging. The PET scans revealed hypermetabolic and PSMA expressing lobulated mass involving both lobes of the prostate and weakly metabolic and PSMA expressing few bilateral pararectal and external iliac nodes, multiple bilateral lung nodules scattered over the lung parenchyma and multiple bone marrow lesions in both axial and appendicular skeleton. Magnetic resonance imaging prostate showed gross prostatomegaly with large lobulated T2 hyperintense heterogeneously enhancing mass lesion showing restricted diffusion, involving both lobes of the prostate with extraprostatic spread along anterior, posterior, and left lateral margins with evidence of lymph nodal and osseous metastases. The demonstration of increased uptake of [sup.18]F-FDG and [sup.68]Ga-PSMA in the primary as well as bilateral pararectal and external iliac nodes, multiple bilateral lung nodules, and multiple bone marrow lesions in both axial and appendicular skeleton indicates a potential role of [sup.18]F-FDG PET/CT and [sup.68]Ga-PSMA PET/CT in disease staging in this rare aggressive tumor of the prostate. Keywords: .sup.18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, .sup.68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma prostate, rhabdomyosarcoma

A 21-year-old male with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate was referred for F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( F-FDG PET/CT) and Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT for initial disease staging. The PET scans revealed hypermetabolic and PSMA expressing lobulated mass involving both lobes of the prostate and weakly metabolic and PSMA expressing few bilateral pararectal and external iliac nodes, multiple bilateral lung nodules scattered over the lung parenchyma and multiple bone marrow lesions in both axial and appendicular skeleton. Magnetic resonance imaging prostate showed gross prostatomegaly with large lobulated T2 hyperintense heterogeneously enhancing mass lesion showing restricted diffusion, involving both lobes of the prostate with extraprostatic spread along anterior, posterior, and left lateral margins with evidence of lymph nodal and osseous metastases. The demonstration of increased uptake of F-FDG and Ga-PSMA in the primary as well as bilateral pararectal and external iliac nodes, multiple bilateral lung nodules, and multiple bone marrow lesions in both axial and appendicular skeleton indicates a potential role of F-FDG PET/CT and Ga-PSMA PET/CT in disease staging in this rare aggressive tumor of the prostate.

Endosphere, the internal environment of plants is colonized by diverse and complex endophytic microbial communities that completely or partially pass their life events inside plants. These endogenously coexisting bacterial population of plants have been well analysed for the production of wide diversity of natural compounds including the biopolyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Oleaginous plants, the fruits and seeds of which are utilized for production and extraction of oil are no exception and harbour a large array of endophytic bacteria in their internal tissues. In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the prospects of the bacterial endophytes of oleaginous plant, Brassica napus L. for the biosynthesis and intracellular deposition of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], the widely known PHA. About 82.8% of total endophytic bacterial isolates showed accumulation of P(3HB) during in vitro growth in chemically defined medium under batch cultivation. The most potent bacterium, Exiguobacterium acetylicum BNL 103 (GenBank accession number KX458037, MCC accession number 3434) endophytic to leaves of B. napus L. produced P(3HB) which accounted for about 55.4% of the dry cell mass under batch cultivation. The accumulated polyester was extracted and purified from the dry cell mass following standard methods and its identity was confirmed by the ultraviolet, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), proton ( 1 H) and carbon ( 13 C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis.

A 14-year-old boy of Asian origin presented with a history of bluish discolouration of the finger and toenail bed with associated mild fatiguability on exertion since early childhood. Clinical examination revealed bilaterally symmetric uniform central cyanosis with no associated clubbing. Cardiovascular and respiratory system examination was normal. Pulse oximetry revealed an oxygen saturation of 87% in all four limbs. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography showed no evidence of shunt lesions. In view of the past diagnosis of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae made at 4 years of age, a repeat cardiac catheterisation study was done, which revealed no shunt at any level. Interestingly, arterial oxygen tension of the chocolate-brown blood was normal in all the samples, suggesting the possibility of methaemoglobinaemia. Co-oximetry revealed methaemoglobin levels of 36%, confirming the diagnosis. Secondary causes were ruled out. The family was counselled about the hereditary nature of the condition.