Vegetation-edaphic correlation and importance value index in himalayan 'ecotone' temperate conifer forest using the multivariate technique

Himalayan 'Ecotone' temperate conifer forest is the cradle of life for human survival and wildlife existence. In spite of the importance of these areas, they have not been studied in depth. This study aimed to quantify the floristic structure, important value index (IVI), topographic and edaphic variables between 2019 and 2020 utilizing circular quadrant method (10 m x 10 m). The upper-storey layer consisted of 17 tree species belongs to 12 families and 9 orders. Middle-storey shrubs comprised of 23 species representing 14 families and 12 orders. A total of 43 species of herbs, grasses, and ferns were identified from the ground-storey layer, representing 25 families and 21 orders. Upper-storey vegetation structure was dominated by Pinus roxburghii (22.45 %) and middle-storey by Dodonaea viscosa (7.69 %). However, the ground layer vegetation was diverse in species composition (43 species) and distribution. The floral vegetation structure was encompassing of three floral communities which were diverse in IVI, such as, in Piro-Aial (Group 2), Pinus roxburghii (54.46 x 15.94) had the highest IVI value, followed by Pinus wallichiana (45.21 x 14.85) in Piwa-Quin (Group 3) and Ailanthus altissima (22.84 x 19.25) in Aial-Qugal (Group 1). However, the IVI values for Aesculus indica, Celtis australis, and Quercus incana in Aial-Qugal (Group 1) were not determined due to low detection rate. Nevertheless, eleven of these species showed 0 IVI values in Piro-Aial (Group 2) and Piwa-Quin (Group 3). CCA ordination biplot illustrated the significant differences among floral communities and its distribution, which impacted by temperature, rainfall, soil pH, altitude, and topographic features. Ward's agglomerative clustering finding reflected 'Ecotone' temperate conifer forest is rich and diverse floristic structure.

Clinicopathological profile of peritoneal tuberculosis and a new scoring model for predicting mortality: an international ID-IRI study

Existing literature about peritoneal tuberculosis (TBP) is relatively insufficient. The majority of reports are from a single center and do not assess predictive factors for mortality. In this international study, we investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of a large series of patients with TBP and determined the key features associated with mortality. TBP patients detected between 2010 and 2022 in 38 medical centers in 13 countries were included in this retrospective cohort. Participating physicians filled out an online questionnaire to report study data. In this study, 208 patients with TBP were included. Mean age of TBP cases was 41.4 ± 17.5 years. One hundred six patients (50.9%) were females. Nineteen patients (9.1%) had HIV infection, 45 (21.6%) had diabetes mellitus, 30 (14.4%) had chronic renal failure, 12 (5.7%) had cirrhosis, 7 (3.3%) had malignancy, and 21 (10.1%) had a history of immunosuppressive medication use. A total of 34 (16.3%) patients died and death was attributable to TBP in all cases. A pioneer mortality predicting model was established and HIV positivity, cirrhosis, abdominal pain, weakness, nausea and vomiting, ascites, isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in peritoneal biopsy samples, TB relapse, advanced age, high serum creatinine and ALT levels, and decreased duration of isoniazid use were significantly related with mortality (p < 0.05). This is the first international study on TBP and is the largest case series to date. We suggest that using the mortality predicting model will allow early identification of high-risk patients likely to die of TBP.

Predictors of lower limb amputations in patients with diabetic foot ulcers presenting to a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE

To assess the risk factors for lower limb amputations in diabetic patients presenting with foot ulcers.

Methods

The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from December 1, 2019, to May 31, 2020, and comprised patients of either gender having type 1 or type 2 diabetes and foot ulcers. The wounds were assessed according to Wagner wound staging and wound sepsis was evaluated in terms of local infection of the wound, leucocytosis and osteomyelitis of the bone. The glycaemic control of these patients was assessed on presentation by measuring glycated haemoglobin levels. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.

RESULTS

Of the 135 patients, 82(60.7%) were males and 53(39.2%) were females. Majority patients 59(43.7%) were aged 50-60 years. All 135(100%) patients underwent some type of amputation. Of all the amputations, 91(67.4%) were done in patients with poor glycaemic control on presentation, and 56(41.5%) in those with stage 4 wound. Local wound infection, increased total leukocyte count and bone showing features of osteomyelitis were significantly associated with increased risk of lower extremity amputations (p<0.05).

Conclusion

With proper glycaemic control and early presentation and treatment, majority of amputations could be avoided in diabetic patients with foot ulcers.

Cytoplasmic proteins of Streptococcus mutans (serotype c) and their interaction with fluoride

The protein profile of the cytoplasmic proteins of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 was determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Use of this recently developed, high-resolution analytical tool showed in excess of 140 cytoplasmic proteins. The profile consisted of mostly acidic components with pI values between 3.70 and 5.30 and relative molecular weights mainly in the 13,000 to 90,000 range. With sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the proteins were resolved into 40 to 45 components. The binding of fluoride by the proteins reached a maximum value in 15 min, and it was linear with exogenous F- doses of up to 60 to 80 ppm per mg of protein (60 to 80 micrograms/g). The proteins bound 22 to 138 times more F- from assay mixtures containing 1 mM CaCl2 than from assay mixtures containing such ions as HgCl2, ZnCl2, CuCl2, MgCl2, MnCl2, or SnCl2. When NaF, SnF2, NH4F, CsF, (CH3)4NF, and Na2PO3F were used as sources of F- (adjusted to 10 ppm of F- in all cases), the proteins bound 2.1, 1.8, 1.6, 1.4, and 0.3 ppm of F- per mg of protein, respectively. Initial fractionation of the plasma proteins by preparative column isoelectric focusing indicated that proteins with pI values of 4.1 to 4.5 as well as those with pI values of 5.0 to 5.3 bound twice as much F- as did the proteins outside these pI values.

Binding of 18F by cell membranes and cell walls of Streptococcus mutans

The binding of 18F to isolated cell membranes and cell walls of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 or other bacteria was assayed. The attachment of 18F to these cell envelopes proceeded slowly and reached equilibrium within 60 min. 18F binding was stimulated by Ca2+ (1 mM). The binding of 18F to cellular components was dependent upon the pH, as well as the amount of 18F and dose of the binder employed. The binding of 18F by cell walls prepared from fluoride-sensitive and fluoride-resistant cells of S. salivarius and S. mutans did not differ significantly. The pretreatment of cell walls or cell membranes for 60 min at 30 degrees C with 1 mg of RNase, DNase, or trypsin per ml did not influence the binding of 18F by the walls and membranes of S. mutans GS-5. However, prior exposure of cell membranes to sodium dodecyl sulfate caused a significant reduction in the number of 18F atoms bound by the membranes. In saturated assay systems, cell membranes of S. mutans GS-5 bound 10(15) to 10(16) atoms of 18F per mg (dry weight), whereas cell walls from S. mutans GS-5, FA-1, and HS-6 or Actinomyces viscosus T14V and T14AV bound 10(12) to 10(13) atoms of 18F per mg (dry weight). 18F in this quantity (10(12) to 10(13) atoms) cannot be detected with the fluoride electrode. The data provide, for the first time, a demonstration of 18F binding by cell membranes and walls of oral flora.