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Abstract Pyridine raffinate, the residual mixture after the extraction of pyridine, discharges as pollutants from pyridine manufacturing industries. Pyridine and its derivatives are of foremost concern as environmental pollutants. Removal of contaminant or pollutant can be achieved using three kinds of approaches: Physical, Chemical and Biological. Paralleled with other physical and chemical methods such as combustion, photolysis. Biodegradation is a fiscal and environment-friendly alternative. In the present study, bacterial laccase, a multi copper enzyme that uses molecular oxygen to oxidize wide variety of aromatic and non-aromatic compounds, was used for the biodeterioration of pyridine raffinate, sample taken from Jubilant Organosys, Gajraula. Laccase was isolated from the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and found to be an effective method to biodeteriorate pyridine raffinate instead of using harmful chemicals. It was observed that O.D. was reduced (max. 0.2327 at 501 nm) measured by UV/VIS Spectrophotometer taking raffinate as a reference. It signifies the oxidation of compounds present in the effluent that leads to the reduction in C.O.D. and found to be an effective method for the treatment of effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wetland rice fields are favorable for cyanobacterial growth, which play an important role in building soil fertility. Since agrochemicals are intensively being applied in rice fields to boost crop productivity, this study was undertaken to observe their effects on dominant N 2 -fixing cyanobacteria i.e. filamentous, heterocystous Nostoc linckia and unicellular Aphanothece pallida . These cyanobacteria were isolated from flooded rice fields and used to find out the effects of urea N-fertilizer, herbicide benthiocarb and insecticide metacid (in isolation and combinations) on their growth and N 2 -fixation ability. It was observed that N. linckia and A. pallida grew up to 25 days after inoculation (DAI) whereas acetylene reduction activity (ARA) increased up to 15 DAI in N-free medium without supplementation of agrochemicals in both cyanobacteria where N. linckia exhibited higher growth and ARA than A. pallida . Urea-N (30 ppm) was inhibitory for the growth of N. linckia whereas it stimulated the growth of A. pallida . Addition of benthiocarb (0.5 ppm) was found to have no significant impact on the growth of N. linckia but showed initial enhancement in the growth of A. pallida up to 10 DAI. Metacid supplementation at 0.25 ppm supported growth and ARA of both the cyanobacteria. It was also revealed that the use of urea-N, benthiocarb and metacid in combination reduced the growth and N 2 -fixation of N. linckia , however, these chemicals together were promotary for A. pallida. Overall, it was observed that combinations of these agrochemicals caused additive toxicity to heterocystous cyanobacterium whereas these were promotary to unicellular ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria maintain soil fertility by performing N 2 -fixation and act as a key biocatalyst in nitrogen cycle. Chemical N-fertilizers and pesticides as agrochemicals are intensively being used in rice farming to boost rice production, this work deals with the first hand information on their influence on native N 2 -fixing cyanobacteria, which play an important role in maintaining soil health. A field study was conducted for three consecutive seasons in water logged rice field to observe the influence of agrochemicals, urea, benthiocarb and carbofuran in isolation and in combinations on biomass, acetylene reduction activity (ARA) and N-yield of native cyanobacteria as well as, on growth and yield of rice. The ARA and N-yield followed almost same trend. It is discernible that both urea and benthiocarb had deleterious effects whereas, carbofuran was promoting effects on cyanobacterial growth, ARA and N-yield. The combination of all the three above agrochemicals was found inhibitory, but inhibition was comparatively less than that of urea or benthiocarb in isolation or urea plus benthiocarb treatments. It is concluded that the combination of agrochemicals was toxic, in comparison to the control, but was better than application of urea N or benthiocarb alone or with their combinations. It was recorded that along with rice straw and gain yields, panicle numbers were the maximum at the combination with treatments of benthiocarb+carbofuran. Adverse effects of used agrochemicals on cyanobacteria in wetland rice cultivation could be avoided by a prudent use of chemical N-fertilizers and pesticide(s) in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was performed to test the ability of the Pediococcus pentosaceus NCDC 273 strain for rapid utilization of lactose from paneer whey. We optimized the lactose utilization by monitoring the constitutive expression of the β-gal gene using real-time RT-PCR and also quantified lactic acid production using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Screening of β-gal gene for lactose utilization efficiency in P. pentosaceus NCDC 273 strain efficiency showed a significant (P < 0.0001) expression of the β-gal gene in the supplemented paneer whey medium (SPWM; lactose rich) compared to commercially available Deman-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS; d -glucose rich) broth medium. In addition, with the growth of P. pentosaceus NCDC 273 in SPWM, the expression of the β-gal gene was found significantly (P < 0.001) higher at 6h of fermentation during the exponential growth phase and declining no significantly at stationary phase. After 48 h of incubation, HPLC data revealed a high lactose conversion rate (42.12%) to lactic acid production (14.50 ± 0.48 g L−1). Moreover, pediocin PA-1 activity in fermented SPWM showed almost contamination-free lactic acid production. Hence, our results showed the sustainable utilization of dairy waste paneer whey for lactic acid production by P. pentosaceus NCDC 273 at a lower disposal cost. [Display omitted] • Potential of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCDC 273 for the sustainable utilization of dairy waste paneer whey. • Highest lactose conversion (42.12%) was observed to produce lactic acid (14.50 ± 0.48 g L−1) after an incubation period of 48 h. • Pediocin PA-1 activity showed almost contamination free lactic acid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of dihydroxamate siderophore in attenuation/mitigation of cadmium toxicity, an optimum level of cadmium under which cyanobacterium can grow and produce siderophore, complexation behaviour of cadmium and siderophore and kinetics of complexation along with in silico analysis have been investigated in paddy field cyanobacterium Anabaena oryzae under iron replete and deplete conditions. Results showed that cadmium concentration as 1.0 μM is optimum for growth as well as siderophore production in iron replete and deplete culture conditions. The complexation between cadmium–siderophore was evident in spectral scan. Kinetic studies as well as in silico docking analysis indicate that like iron, cadmium also forms a thermodynamically stable complex with siderophore. Thus our results suggest that the siderophore produced by Anabaena oryzae can act as a biological sequestering agent for the mitigation of cadmium metal ions from the paddy fields to improve crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To study insertion of LPS and correlate anatomically the formation of superior palpebral crease and its clinical relevance in section of Indian population. Methods Twenty-five human eyelids from cadavers ranging from 15–80 years were studied by dissection and histology. Results The levator aponeurosis traverses through interfascicular space of orbicularis oculi with twenty four inserting into subcutaneous tissue. Low septo aponeurotic sling or preaponeurotic fat was not observed. Lower one third tarsal insertion seen in twenty four specimens. Fibres become denser as it reaches the connective tissue anterior to tarsal plate. The crease was at different levels in relation to the tarsal insertion. Conclusion The aponeurosis insertion is either to the skin, the subcutaneous tissue or into the interfascicular space of the orbicularis. The present study reaffirms the insertion of LPS to the subcutaneous tissue of the eyelid with an extension reaching lower one third of the tarsal plate. The tissues in the anterior tarsal plate are closely packed but to act as a single complex to form a dynamic crease has not been confirmed in the study. No gross or histological difference was observed in the skin of the eyelid in the vicinity of the crease. The pattern of insertion of LPS aponeurosis plays a direct role in the formation of superior palpebral crease an important role in surgeries for Ptosis. The eyelids studied were of Indian origin with crease, and further comparative studies needs to be done for the precise anatomical explanation of single fold eyelids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cavernous sinus hemangioma (CSH) is a rare extra-axial vascular neoplasm that accounts for 2% to 3% of all cavernous sinus tumors. Their location, propensity for profuse bleeding during surgery, and relationship to complex neurovascular structures are factors which present difficulty in excising these lesions. The authors describe their experience of 22 patients with CSH over 14years at a tertiary care center. Patients were managed with microsurgical resection using a purely extradural transcavernous approach (13 patients) and with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS; Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) (nine patients). Retrospective data analysis found headache and visual impairment were the most common presenting complaints, followed by facial hypesthesia and diplopia. All but one patient had complete tumor excision in the surgical series. Transient ophthalmoparesis (complete resolution in 6–8weeks) was the most common surgical complication. In the GKRS group, marked tumor shrinkage (>50% tumor volume reduction) was achieved in two patients, slight shrinkage in five and no change in two patients, with symptom improvement in the majority of patients. To our knowledge, we describe one of the largest series of CSH managed at a single center. Although microsurgical resection using an extradural transcavernous approach is considered the treatment of choice in CSH and allows complete excision with minimal mortality and long-term morbidity, GKRS is an additional tool for treating residual symptomatic lesions or in patients with associated comorbidities making surgical resection unsuitable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two novel laccase enzyme-producing strains Pseudomonas monteilii and Gamma proteobacterium were isolated from woody soil sample and their productions were optimized. Maximum production of laccase was achieved at temperature (37 °C), pH (7), carbon source (glucose) and nitrogen source (yeast extract) for both the isolates. The produced extracellular laccases were extracted by centrifugation at 14000 rpm and 4 °C for 15 min. The extracted laccases were also optimized for the specific substrate to enzyme concentration ratio, pH, temperature and the results were 1:9, 6.0, 25 °C for strain Pseudomonas monteilii and 2:8, 8.0, 40 °C for strain Gamma proteobacterium respectively. The novelty of this work is here we use extracted bacterial laccase enzyme was subjected to pyridine raffinate according to optimized process parameters, a reduction in absorbance was observed up to 51% for strain Pseudomonas monteilii and 59.5% for strain Gamma proteobacterium in 140 min. The study signifies the biotransformation of pyridine raffinate into some other simpler products as it provides a novel way to bioremediate pyridine raffinate. This innovative remediation process displays a route towards reasonable treatment techniques where physical and chemical procedures appear to fall flat. • Two novel isolates from woody soil, Pseudomonas monteilii and Gamma proteobacterium further optimised for laccase production. • The laccases obtained from isolates Pseudomonas monteilii and Gamma proteobacterium subjected to pyridine raffinate. • Exceptional outcome in biodegradation of pyridine raffinate suggests around 51–59.5% degradation in 140 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe the successful excision, guided by spontaneous ventilation, of a cervico-medullary hemangioblastoma in a 22-year-old female in the sitting position. A balanced anesthesia technique comprising an oxygen, nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, fentanyl and vecuronium mixture was used. Apart from routine monitors, electroencephalographic spectral entropy monitoring was used to determine the depth of anesthesia and transesophageal echocardiography for detection of venous air embolism. The patient remained in spontaneous ventilation for 235min during tumor excision. The intraoperative and postoperative course were uneventful. The patient recovered without any major neurological deficit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]