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Conventional and Rapid Methods for Identification of Staphylococcus aureus from Clinical Specimens
Nneoma Confidence JeanStephanie Anyanwu,
Walter Chinaka John
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2013
Pages:
41-43
Received:
16 August 2013
Published:
20 September 2013
Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium whose incidence ranges from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. The purpose of this study was to identify Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens using routine conventional and rapid tests. Gram staining, catalase test, coagulase test, DNase test, haemolysis on blood agar and Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit tests were carried out. A total of 125 Gram positive cocci were tested. The Gram staining technique yielded 100 (80.00%) Staphylococcus spp (Gram positive cocci in clusters). 89(71.20%) isolates were positive to haemolysis on blood agar. Mannitol Salt Agar, DNase agar and Catalase test correctly identified 69 (55.2%) of the Gram positive cocci to be S. aureus as was confirmed by the Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit test. Coagulase test yielded 66 (52.8%) positive results. The Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit test identified three non-coagulase Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit test was the most reliable of the tests, with accuracy comparable to any other rapid test. However, it is the most expensive of the tests. This study established that conventional tests can be used for direct identification of S. aureus to species level if the battery of tests is increased.
Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium whose incidence ranges from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. The purpose of this study was to identify Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens using routine conventional and rapid tests. Gram staining, catalase test, c...
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Glucose Transport in Human Red Blood Cells
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2013
Pages:
44-52
Received:
27 September 2013
Published:
30 October 2013
Abstract: The penetration of D-[14C] glucose into human red blood cells (RBCs) features kinetic parameters which are readily distinguishable from passive permeation. It would be expected to require activation energy above 80 kJ/mol for permeation of glucose with five hydroxyls capable of forming hydrogen bonds, but the measured activation energy is approximately 16 kJ/mol. As a consequence, glucose permeates RBC membrane about five orders of magnitude faster than would be expected for passive permeation. Glucose transporter protein 1, or GLUT1 and SGLT1, present in all human tissues, but especially in RBCs. It is also anchored in the protective sheet of flat cells that line up the blood vessels of the brain. GLUT1 has a strong affinity for glucose and it ensures that both RBCs and the brain receive appropriate levels of glucose that they need to be able to function. The brain consumes ~120g of glucose per day; the blood glucose level in a typical person 80mg/100ml. The binding site of glucose faces intracellular and extracellular of the membrane alternately when it is loaded by a glucose. The transport is accomplished by conformational changes within GLUT1 , and not by rotation of the whole single long polypeptide chain (55kD, ~500 residues) with the presence of 12 trans membrane α-helices segments. The super family of related GLUT sugar transporters comprises 14 identified isoforms in the human genome, all adopting a 12-membrane–spanning domain structure that delineate 6 extracellular loops .The erythrocyte glucose transporter GLUT1 has an ~10-fold-lower affinity for D-glucose, Km ≈ 10–15 mM, at the inside face for net export than on the outside (Km = 1–2 mM) for net import of glucose (zero-trans net flux) at 24°C , pertaining a liganded consequential asymmetric transporter.
Abstract: The penetration of D-[14C] glucose into human red blood cells (RBCs) features kinetic parameters which are readily distinguishable from passive permeation. It would be expected to require activation energy above 80 kJ/mol for permeation of glucose with five hydroxyls capable of forming hydrogen bonds, but the measured activation energy is approxima...
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Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection of Respiratory Pathogens among Pneumonia Affected Children
Kohinoor Akter Raton,
Md. Asif Hossain,
Rashed Noor
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2013
Pages:
53-57
Received:
21 October 2013
Published:
20 November 2013
Abstract: Molecular diagnostic methods offer a rapid and more sensitive strategy with high selectivity compared to the traditional immunoassays and culture techniques. Present study attempted to employ the molecular approach for the diagnosis of respiratory viral- and bacterial infections among the pneumonia infected children in Dhaka Metropolis. Samples were aseptically collected, processed and analyzed by using Multiplex Real Time PCR technique to detect respiratory pathogens within a time frame of February 2013-June 2013. Influenza viruses, human meta-pneumo viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses and other potential infective viruses were diagnosed. Among the infective bacterial population, presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella species, Salmonella species were detected. Among the nasopharyngeal and orpharyngeal (NPOP) samples, Influenza B and Streptococcus pneumoniae were found to be dominating (34.8% and 30.4%, respectively) whereas the induced sputum (IS) samples were 100% positive for S. pneumoniae followed by around 50% prevalence with equine arteritis virus, para influenza virus and the respiratory syncytial viruses A and B. Considering the spatial identification of an array of microorganisms, results of the current study sufficiently may endorse such molecular method of diagnosis for the betterment of public health.
Abstract: Molecular diagnostic methods offer a rapid and more sensitive strategy with high selectivity compared to the traditional immunoassays and culture techniques. Present study attempted to employ the molecular approach for the diagnosis of respiratory viral- and bacterial infections among the pneumonia infected children in Dhaka Metropolis. Samples wer...
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The Etiology of Febrile Illnesses among Febrile Patients Attending Felegeselam Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia
Hailu Tadesse,
Kebede Tadesse
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2013
Pages:
58-63
Received:
7 October 2013
Published:
20 November 2013
Abstract: The causes of acute febrile illness remain undifferentiated in many parts of the world and their burden is still challenging particularly in resource poor countries. The problem is significance especially in malaria endemic areas of tropical and sub-tropical regions. A cross sectional study was conducted during December 2011 in Northwest Ethiopia to determine the etiological agents of febrile illnesses among 398 acute febrile patients. Vein blood was collected to determine the etiological agents of febrile illnesses. The analysis of generated data revealed that the prevalence of malaria, typhoid, typhus and relapsing fever were 51.5%, 10.3%, 5% and 0%, respectively. Malaria prevalence found to be the highest among other febrile illnesses followed by typhoid and typhus. Of the malaria infections Plasmodium falciparum prevalence accounts the highest 49.75% followed by Plasmodium vivax 1.75% (n= 398). Awareness of the community about the sign and symptom of febrile illnesses were less. In addition, Proper bed net utilization was lower in rural than urban. Therefore, it is important to perform parasitological examination and serological tests simultaneously to encourage proper diagnosis and treatment of acute febrile cases especially in malaria endemic areas.
Abstract: The causes of acute febrile illness remain undifferentiated in many parts of the world and their burden is still challenging particularly in resource poor countries. The problem is significance especially in malaria endemic areas of tropical and sub-tropical regions. A cross sectional study was conducted during December 2011 in Northwest Ethiopia t...
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Estimating False Rates-Based Relative Risk as Measure of Association in Diagnostic Screening Test
Oyeka Ikewelugo Cyprian Anaene,
Okeh Uchechukwu Marius,
Igwebuike Victor Onyiaorah,
Adaora Amaoge Onyiaorah,
Chilota Chibuife Efobi
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2013
Pages:
64-69
Received:
21 October 2013
Published:
30 November 2013
Abstract: This paper proposes false-rates-based relative risk-type measure of the strength of association between state of nature or condition in a population and test results in diagnostic screening tests. The adopted method provides an estimate for the proposed relative risk that depends only on the estimated sensitivity and specificity of the test in the event that the prevalence rate is not known. The proposed method unlike the traditional odds ratio provides estimates of not only the proposed false rates based relative risk-type measure of association, but also alternative sample estimates of its associated standard deviation and test statistic for significance that intrinsically and structurally partials out, that is, does not include in its formulation the number of subjects in the sample known or believed to actually have the condition in nature but test negative or actually do not have the condition in nature but test positive to the condition in the screening test. The proposed method given that the prevalence rate of the condition in the population is known, provides sample estimates of the false positive rate, false negative rate and their odds as well as the proportion of the population expected to test positive to the condition in the screening test which are additional useful information to guide policy formulation and implementation over and above the traditional odds ratio method. Modified estimates of the standard deviation and test statistic for the proposed measure that adjust for the fact that some sample observations in a screening test are not known and cannot therefore validly be used in traditional relative risk estimation method are provided. The proposed method which is shown to provide more information and to be at least as efficient as the traditional relative risk method is illustrated with some sample data.
Abstract: This paper proposes false-rates-based relative risk-type measure of the strength of association between state of nature or condition in a population and test results in diagnostic screening tests. The adopted method provides an estimate for the proposed relative risk that depends only on the estimated sensitivity and specificity of the test in the ...
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