BACKGROUND: A positive correlation between an individual's cholesterol level and development of CHD has been suggested. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are important risk factors and oxidation of LDL has been implicated as an initiator of atherosclerosis. AIM: Attempts are being made worldwide for the search of effective antioxidants that can prevent oxidation of LDL. Role of fermented milk and culture containing dairy products as effective antioxidants and their potential hypocholesterolemic effect is the focus of research. Keeping this in view, the various lactobacilli cultures were screened for their in vitro antioxidative activity. Lactobacillus casei ssp casei showing maximum antioxidative activity was selected for carrying out in vivo studies. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Six groups of Wistar albino rats were fed on diets containing 20% fresh or oxidized soybean oil supplemented with 5% lyophilized culture or fermented milk prepared using L. casei ssp casei for a period of 90 days. The plasma was separated in different lipoprotein fractions and analyzed for cholesterol content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). RESULTS: The cholesterol levels were less in plasma of groups fed on fermented milk by 2-11% and by 15-25% in groups fed on lyophilized culture as compared to group fed on skim milk. The levels of TBARS were lower in the LDL fraction of plasma in rats fed on fermented milk or culture than the control group fed on skim milk. CONCLUSIONS: The results depict the cholesterol-lowering and antioxidative potential of Lactobacillus casei ssp casei for their application as dietary adjunct.

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BACKGROUND: Immunochemical method of measuring Ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels for the diagnosis of Wilson's disease has replaced enzymatic method for the main reason of being more sensitive and quantitative. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In this study, we compared both the methods for various factors such as sensitivity, specificity and the time consumed in the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples from patients (n=33) with a provisional diagnosis of Wilson's disease were analyzed for Cp levels by enzymatic copper oxidase method and immunochemical method using polyclonal antibodies specific to Cp embedded in agar. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Pearson's regression analysis was performed to compare the two methods. RESULTS: The mean Cp obtained by immunochemical method is 5.87 mm ± 1.17 and by enzymatic method, it is 0.37 (Optical Density) ± 0.136. Pearson's Regression analysis of the measurements showed a good correlation with an 'r' value of 0.765 between the two methods. CONCLUSION: A good correlation indicated that these two tests are comparable and thus both these methods can be used together for a definitive and better diagnosis of Wilson's disease.

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The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has resulted in an increase in the prevalence of many opportunistic infections and has caused re-emergence of certain diseases in the developing world. In tropical countries, immunosupression due to HIV infection has resulted in changes in the clinical presentation of endemic infections. Although the immune deficiency caused by HIV infection should presumably lead to an increased frequency of clinical malaria in areas with endemic malarial infection, like India, evidence of the association between HIV and malaria in India is scanty, with only a few studies showing a positive correlation. We hereby report a case of concurrent infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in a young male patient.

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Primary cardiac lymphomas are rare lesions in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Most of them are high-grade Burkitt's or Burkitt-like lymphomas. They usually present with congestive cardiac failure, pericardial effusion or tamponade, arrhythmias, with predominant systemic 'B' symptoms and often with widespread extranodal involvement. The clinical profile and operative and pathological findings of a 4-year-old boy with AIDS-associated Burkitt's lymphoma of the heart presenting with acute right heart failure and fatal secondary pulmonary hypertension is reported.

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BACKGROUND: Recently, Acinetobacter emerged as an important pathogen and the prevalence of isolation has increased since the last two decades worldwide. AIMS: To determine Acinetobacter incidence, their clinical demography, antibiotyping and speciation. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A study of the clinical samples submitted to microbiology laboratory of a teaching hospital over a period of 3 years (December 1994 through November 1997). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Identification, speciation and antibiotyping were performed for the isolates of Acinetobacter recovered from infective samples. Clinical demographic characteristics were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Total 510 of 5391 (9.6%) of isolates were Acinetobacter, responsible for 71.2% (363 of 510) monomicrobial and 28.8% (147 of 510) polymicrobial infections. The organism was responsible for 156 (30.6%) cases of urinary tract infection and 140 (27.5%) cases of wound infection and was most prevalent in the intensive care unit (30.8%, 140 of 455). The crude mortality rate due to multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter septicemia was 7.9% (36 of 455). The isolates could be classified into 7 species, with A. baumannii being most predominant. No peculiar pattern during antibiotyping was observed, but most of them were multi-drug resistant. CONCLUSION: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter nosocomial infection has emerged as an increasing problem in intensive care units of the hospital, responsible for 7.9% deaths. The analysis of risk factors and susceptibility pattern will be useful in understanding epidemiology of this organism in a hospital setup.

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[FULL TEXT]  [PDF] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

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