Comparative growth potential of thermophilic amylolytic Bacillus sp. on unconventional media food wastes and its industrial application

Amylases take part with vital role in industries such as food, fermentation; starch processing, textile and paper etc. Increasing amylases demand, high nutrient expenditure and environmental pollution have forced to utilize agro-industrial residues as a low-cost feedstock for enzyme production. In present study, three soil samples were collected from agro-industrial waste dumping areas in District Faisalabad. Ten thermophilic bacterial isolates were separated at 55 °C on the basis of colonial morphology, three isolates (F6, F11, F17) showed prominent zone of clearance applying iodine test on starch agar plates. Bacterial isolate F-11 showed highest amylase activity with DNS method and molecularly identified through 16S RNA sequencing as Bacillus sp. with Accession number MH917294. Four unconventional food wastes (banana, lemon, mango and potato) pretreated with 0.8% sulphuric acid concentrations taking 1000 g/L weight released the highest sugars contents and phenolic components. Maximum amylase activity i.e. 29.23 mg/ml was achieved in mango waste at, 40 °C, with pH 6.0 and 0.17% nitrogenous source adding 8% inoculum size (2 days old) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for optimization. Crude amylase confirmed its efficiency in starch hydrolysis that suggested it as potential candidate for application in starch industries.     

Biosynthesis of rutin changes in Capparis spinosa due to altered expression of its pathway genes under elicitors’ supplementation

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Caper plant is (Capparis spinosa L.) a good source of rutin which plays a key role in the human diet. In this study, the effect of different...     

A Tunisian patient with Pearson syndrome harboring the 4.977kb common deletion associated to two novel large-scale mitochondrial deletions

Pearson syndrome (PS) is a multisystem disease including refractory anemia, vacuolization of marrow precursors and pancreatic fibrosis. The disease starts during infancy and affects various tissues and organs, and most affected children die before the age of 3 years. Pearson syndrome is caused by de novo large-scale deletions or, more rarely, duplications in the mitochondrial genome. In the present report, we described a Pearson syndrome patient harboring multiple mitochondrial deletions which is, in our knowledge, the first case described and studied in Tunisia. In fact, we reported the common 4.977 kb deletion and two novel heteroplasmic deletions (5.030 and 5.234 kb) of the mtDNA. These deletions affect several protein-coding and tRNAs genes and could strongly lead to defects in mitochondrial polypeptides synthesis, and impair oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism in the respiratory chain in the studied patient.     

Symbiotic characterization and diversity of rhizobia associated with native and introduced acacias in arid and semi-arid regions in Algeria

The diversity of rhizobia associated with introduced and native Acacia species in Algeria was investigated from soil samples collected across seven districts distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. The in vitro tolerances of rhizobial strains to NaCl and high temperature in pure culture varied greatly regardless of their geographical and host plant origins but were not correlated with the corresponding edaphoclimatic characteristics of the sampling sites, as clearly demonstrated by principal component analysis. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the 48 new strains isolated were ranked into 10 phylogenetic groups representing five bacterial genera, namely, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ochrobactrum. Acacia saligna, an introduced species, appeared as the most promiscuous host because it was efficiently nodulated with the widest diversity of rhizobia taxa including both fast-growing ones, Rhizobium, Ensifer, and Mesorhizobium, and slow-growing Bradyrhizobium. The five other Acacia species studied were associated with fast-growing bacterial taxa exclusively. No difference in efficiency was found between bacterial taxa isolated from a given Acacia species. The tolerances of strains to salinity and temperature remains to be tested in symbiosis with their host plants to select the most adapted Acacia sp.-LNB taxa associations for further revegetation programs.     

Traumatismes fermés des bourses: stratégie de prise en charge

Introduction

Blunt scrotal trauma is increasingly frequent, but surgical exploration of these cases of trauma remains controversial. The objectives of this study were to assess the diagnostic value of clinical examination and ultrasound in testicular trauma and to analyse the complications of the various treatments proposed (surgical and medical treatments), in order to more clearly define the place of medical or surgical treatment in this form of trauma in young adults.

Patients and Methods

130 cases of blunt scrotal trauma were managed between 1993 and 2004. In the absence of clinical and ultrasound criteria of severity (haematocele, very large intratesticular haematoma, rupture of the tunica albuginea), medical treatment consisting of rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, and testicular support was instituted. Surgical exploration was performed when serious lesions of the testis were suspected. Scrotal ultrasound was performed in 68 patients and 46 of them underwent scrotal exploration. The sensitivity and specificity of scrotal ultrasound were determined by comparing radiological findings with definitive intraoperative findings. The immediate morbidity and long-term sequelae were analysed.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 24 years (range: 4 to 73 years). The clinical features were dominated by pain (73.8%) and scrotal swelling (89.2%). The sensitivity of testicular ultrasound was 34.7% for testicular rupture, 100% for testicular contusions, 33.3% for intratesticular hematoma and 76.9% for haematocele. Medical and surgical treatments were instituted in 29.2% and 70.7% of cases, respectively. With a mean follow-up of 8 months, chronic pain and testicular atrophy were observed in 18% and 5.5% of cases, respectively.

Conclusion

In the absence of signs of severity, medical treatment with regular surveillance remains justified. However, in the presence of doubtful clinical or ultrasound findings, surgical exploration must be performed as soon as possible     

Les kystes intraprostatiques: à propos de trois observations

Introduction

Intraprostatic cysts are considered to be rare. Some forms may be responsible for male infertility. The authors study the various clinical aspects, with the aim of defining guidelines for the exploration and treatment of different types of intraprostatic cysts.

Materials and methods

Between 2002 and 2007, we studied 3 cases of intraprostatic cyst in 3 men aged between 32 and 39 years.

Results

The clinical presentation was primary infertility (2 cases) and pelvic pain (2 cases). Digital rectal exam revealed prostate mass in 2 cases. Spermogram results were abnormal in 2 cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by prostate ultrasound. Trans-rectal ultrasound guided needle aspiration was performed in one case with secondary recurrence. Two patients had urethroscopy showing an absence of communication between the cyst and urethral channel. Transurethral incision of the cyst was made with resection of the protruding dome. Progress was favourable in all cases with improvement of semen and dissipation of symptoms without recurrence.

Conclusion

Intraprostatic cysts are benign lesions, often of congenital origin. Imaging is an essential component of diagnosis and can sometimes guide therapeutic procedures. The treatment is not yet codified, but symptomatic and/or complicated cysts can be treated by effective and minimally invasive endoscopic methods.