Bacterial tracheitis in children.

We examined the records of 14 patients aged 7 months to 10 1/4 years who were treated for bacterial tracheitis from May 1982 to December 1987; the management protocol for 13 of the patients included the use of nasotracheal intubation. The infection was caused by Staphylococcus aureus in seven, Haemophilus influenzae in three, Branhamella catarrhalis in one and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one. Both H. influenzae and B. catarrhalis were isolated in another patient, and no organism was found in the remaining patient. In addition to the bacteria, viruses were cultured from the tracheal secretions of two patients. The mean duration of intubation was 7.6 days and of hospital stay 9.2 days. Twelve of the cases occurred during the cold months of the year (October to March). Of the three deaths only one occurred in the pediatric intensive care unit and was due to severe bronchospasm and an air leak that caused bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. In one patient subglottic stenosis developed that necessitated tracheostomy. Healing began 5 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms, as demonstrated with the use of repeated fibreoptic bronchoscopy. We found that the airway could be safely managed with the use of a nasotracheal tube. Bronchoscopy helped to confirm the diagnosis, to remove adherent secretions and to monitor the course of the disease. The ventilation tube can be removed after the patient''s temperature returns to normal, if there is an air leak around the tube, if the quantity and viscosity of the secretions decrease and if healing is observed at bronchoscopy.     

Expression of a whey acidic protein transgene during mammary development. Evidence for different mechanisms of regulation during pregnancy and lactation

Expression of the mouse whey acidic protein (WAP) gene is specific to the mammary gland, is induced several thousand-fold during pregnancy, and is under the control of steroid and peptide hormones. To study developmental regulation of the mouse WAP gene, a 7.2-kilobase (kb) WAP transgene, including 2.6 kb of 5'- and 1.6 kb of 3'-flanking sequences, was introduced into mice. Of the 13 lines of mice examined, 6 expressed the transgenes during lactation at levels between 3 and 54% of the endogenous gene. Although expression was dependent on the site of integration, the transgenes within a given locus were expressed in a copy number-dependent manner and were coordinately regulated. The WAP transgenes were expressed specifically in the mammary gland, but showed a deregulated pattern of expression during mammary development. In all six lines of mice, induction of the WAP transgenes during pregnancy preceded that of the endogenous gene. During lactation, expression in two lines increased coordinately with the endogenous gene, and in three other lines of mice, transgene expression decreased to a basal level. These data indicate that the 7.2-kb gene contains some but not all of the elements necessary for correct developmental regulation. At a functional level it appears as if a repressor element, which inactivates the endogenous gene until late pregnancy, and an element necessary for induction during lactation are absent from the transgene. Complementary results from developmental and hormone induction studies suggest that WAP gene expression during pregnancy and lactation is mediated by different mechanisms.     

Genetic variants in post myocardial infarction patients presenting with electrical storm of unstable ventricular tachycardia

Electrical storm (ES) is a life threatening clinical situation. Though a few clinical pointers exist, the occurrence of ES in a patient with remote myocardial infarction (MI) is generally unpredictable. Genetic markers for this entity have not been studied. In the present study, we carried out genetic screening in patients with remote myocardial infarction presenting with ES by next generation sequencing and identified 25 rare variants in 19 genes predominantly in RYR2, SCN5A, KCNJ11, KCNE1 and KCNH2, CACNA1B, CACNA1C, CACNA1D and desmosomal genes - DSP and DSG2 that could potentially be implicated in electrical storm. These genes have been previously reported to be associated with inherited syndromes of Sudden Cardiac Death. The present study suggests that the genetic architecture in patients with remote MI and ES of unstable ventricular tachycardia may be similar to that of Ion channelopathies. Identification of these variants may identify post MI patients who are predisposed to develop electrical storm and help in risk stratification.     

Rainfall and removal method influence eradication success for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lantana camara</Emphasis>

The success of invasive species eradication depends on a variety of factors, including those that initially facilitated the invasion, as well as removal and post-removal protocols. Two factors that appear to influence invasion by, and eradication of, the Neotropical shrub Lantana camara (L.), in southern Indian deciduous forests, are rainfall and removal method. However, their role in influencing eradication success is yet to be quantified, and remains unclear. We conducted an experiment to clarify how rainfall (high vs. low) and removal method (cutting vs. uprooting Lantana) influence re-invasion by Lantana, and native plant recovery. Rainfall influenced both eradication effort and outcomes—drier forest had lower starting levels of invader biomass, requiring less initial eradication effort, as well as lower subsequent Lantana re-invasion (from seed and rootstock) whereas wetter forest typically had greater starting levels of invader biomass, requiring considerably greater initial eradication effort, and greater Lantana re-invasion. However, wetter forest also showed greater native tree and forb recovery. Therefore, the availability of funds, local environmental gradients, and restoration priorities should inform the selection of restoration sites. With regard to removal method, uprooting combined with weeding of germinating Lantana, particularly after the rainy season, minimized overall re-invasion. Therefore, uprooting, followed by regular weeding of germinating Lantana and secondary invaders, is crucial to long-term Lantana eradication success.     

Specific, reversible inactivation of phosphofructokinase by fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Involvement of adenosine 5'-triphosphate, oleate, and 3-phosphoglycerate.

Optimal conditions necessary for the reversible inactivation of crystalline rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase by homogeneous rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase have been studied. At higher enzyme levels (to 530 mug/ml of phosphofructokinase) the two proteins were mixed and incubated in a pH 7.5 buffer composed of 50 mM Tris-HC1, 2 mM potassium phosphate, and 0.2 mM dithiothreitol. Aliquots were removed at various times and assayed for enzyme activity. A time dependent inactivation of phosphofructokinase caused by 1-2.3 times its weight of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was observed at 30, 23, and 0 degree C. This inactivation did not require the presence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate or Mg2+ in the incubation mixture, but an adenosine 5'-triphosphate concentration of 2.7 mM or greater was required in the assay to keep phosphofructokinase in an inactive form. A mixture of activators (inorganic phosphate, (NH4)2SO4, and adenosine 5'-monophosphate), when added to the assay cuvette, restored nearly all of the expected enzyme activity. Incubations with other proteins, including aldolase, at concentrations equal to or greater than the effective quantity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase had no inhibitory effect on phosphofructokinase activity. Removal of tightly bound fructose 1,6-bisphosphate from phosphofructokinase could not explain this inactivation, since several analyses of crystalline phosphofructokinase averaged less than 0.1 mol of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate/320 000 g of enzyme. Furthermore, the inactivation occurred in the absence of Mg2+ where the complete lack of fructose-1-6-bisphosphatase activity was confirmed directly. At lower phosphofructokinase concentrations (0.2-2 mug/ml) the inactivation was studied directly in the assay cuvette. Higher ratios of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase to phosphofructokinase were necessary in these cases, but oleate and 3-phosphoglycerate acted synergistically with lower amounts of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase to cause inactivation. The inactivation did not occur when high concentrations of fructose 6-phosphate were present in the assay, or when the level of adenosine 5'-triphosphate was decreased. However, the inactivation was found at pH 8, where the effects of allosteric regulators on phosphofructokinase are greatly reduced. Experiments with rat liver phosphofructokinase showed that this enzyme was also subject to inhibition by rabbit liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase under conditions similar to those used in the muscle enzyme studies. Attempts to demonstrate direct interaction between phosphofructokinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate by physical methods were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, our results suggest that, under conditions which approximate the physiological state, the presence of fructose-1,6bisphosphatase can cause phosphofructokinase to assume an inactive conformation. This interaction may have a significant role in vivo in controlling the interrelationship between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.     

Developing a protected area network in the Nicobar islands: the perspective of endemic avifauna

Though nearly 30% of the Nicobar islands are protected as nature reserves, patterns of endemism have not been considered, resulting in an ineffective protection of the islands. I propose a protected area network for the Nicobar islands based on two criteria. First, I examine the distribution and status of endemic avifauna to prioritize areas for conservation action, based on biological criteria. Second, I examine certain socio-political considerations, and the threats arising from them, and propose a protected area network that will mitigate these threats. On the basis of the distribution of endemic avifauna, I conclude that there are three distinct subgroups, Great Nicobar, Nancowry and Car Nicobar, in the Nicobar islands. Because of the distinctiveness of avifauna assemblages and the similarity in the number of endemics present, each subgroup merits equal conservation attention. The distribution of endemic avifauna indicates that the development of protected areas on Great Nicobar, Camorta and Katchall, and satellite protected areas on Little Nicobar and Nancowry, is necessary for effective protection of the Nicobar islands. The status of the endemic avifauna indicates that the Nancowry subgroup is most urgently in need of conservation action. As the major threat to the Nicobar islands arises from habitat loss due to development activity, there is a need to incorporate all remaining contiguous habitat into protected areas, whereby the islands are adequately safeguarded by legislation from future development threats. I examine the existing protected areas in the Nicobar islands and propose the redesigning of the existing Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and the creation of the Nancowry Biosphere Reserve with a view to curtail future habitat loss.     

Domiciliary cockroaches and their oothecal parasites in India

In a survey for oothecal parasites of cockroaches in India, 6 species of cockroaches were recorded. Of theseNeostylopyga rhombifolia (Stoll.) was restricted to thatched huts whileBlattella germanica (L.),Periplaneta americana (L.),P. australasiae (F.),P. brunnea Burmeister andSupella longipalpa (F.) were common in other types of buildings. Eight species of parasites, of which 4 are new records, were reared:Anastatus tenuipes Bolivar.,Comperia merceti Compere,Evania appendigaster (L.),Evania sp. nearantennalis Westw., Genus et sp. nov. nearAnastatus. Tetrastichus asthenogmus (Waterston),T. hagenowii (Ratzeburg) andTetrastichus sp. (miser group) which is hyperparasitic. The natural and experimental hosts of these parasites are discussed. The low levels of field parasitism suggest there is scope for introducing more promising parasite species into India for biological control of cockroaches.     

Binding of cholecystokinin to high affinity receptors on isolated rat pancreatic acini

The binding of cholecystokinin (CCK) to its receptors on isolated rat pancreatic acini was investigated employing high specific activity, radioiodinated CCK (125I-BH-CCK), prepared by the conjugation of 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent (125I-BH) to CCK. Binding was specific, time-dependent, reversible, and linearly related to the acinar protein concentration. After incubation for 30 min at 37 degrees C, the 125I-BH-CCK both in the incubation medium and bound to acini remained intact, as judged by gel filtration and trichloroacetic acid precipitation studies. Scatchard analysis was compatible with two classes of binding sites on acini: a very high affinity site (Kd, 64 pM) and a lower affinity site (Kd, 21 nM). 125I-BH-CCK binding to acini was competitively inhibited by CCK and four of its analogues in proportion to their biological potencies but not by unrelated hormones. Stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK and inhibition of 125I-BH-CCK binding by the same analogues carried out under identical conditions revealed a correlation (r = 0.99) between binding potency and amylase secretion. Stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK closely paralleled the occupancy of the high affinity CCK binding sites. It is concluded that the high affinity CCK binding sites most likely are the receptors mediating the stimulation of amylase secretion by CCK.     

Evaluation of genetic and phenotypic consistency of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus coagulans</Emphasis> MTCC 5856: a commercial probiotic strain

Commercial probiotics preparation containing Bacillus coagulans have been sold in the market for several decades. Due to its high intra-species genomic diversity, it is very likely that B. coagulans strain may alter in different ways over multiple years of production. Therefore, the present study focuses to evaluate the genetic consistency and probiotic potential of B. coagulans MTCC 5856. Phenotypic and genotypic techniques including biochemical profiling, 16S rRNA sequencing, GTG 5″, BOX PCR fingerprinting, and Multi-Locus-Sequence typing (MLST) were carried out to evaluate the identity and consistency of the B. coagulans MTCC 5856. Further, in vitro probiotic potential, safety and stability at ambient temperature conditions of B. coagulans MTCC 5856 were evaluated. All the samples were identified as B. coagulans by biochemical profiling and 16S rRNA sequencing. GTG 5″, BOX PCR fingerprints and MLST studies revealed that the same strain was present over 3 years of commercial production. B. coagulans MTCC 5856 showed resistance to gastric acid, bile salt and exhibited antimicrobial activity in in-vitro studies. Additionally, B. coagulans MTCC 5856 was found to be non-mutagenic, non-cytotoxic, negative for enterotoxin genes and stable at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C) for 36 months. The data of the study verified that the same strain of B. coagulans MTCC 5856 was present in commercial preparation over multiple years of production.