Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from poultry environment and UTI patients in Kerala, India: A comparison study.

Background: There are only narrow insights regarding the antimicrobial resistance of pathogens in poultry environment in India and its transmission to humans. The use of antimicrobials in food animal production is not properly regulated in India. So, many clinically important antimicrobials are used indiscriminately.

Freeze dried cross linking free biodegradable composites with microstructures for tissue engineering and drug delivery application.

Biodegradable laminated polymer composites of agarose (A), gelatin (G) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) having 3D network of interconnected pores (1-500 μm) were fabricated without using cross linking agents. The incorporation of HAp to A, G and AG had considerable influence on the swelling behaviour, drug release and haemolytic activity. A-HAp scaffolds demonstrated interconnected porosity with extended drug release.

Blood compatibility of iron-doped nanosize hydroxyapatite and its drug release.

Nanosize hydroxyapatite (nHAp) doped with varying levels of Fe(3+) (Fe-nHAp of average size 75 nm) was synthesized by hydrothermal and microwave techniques. The samples were characterized for physiochemical properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), mechanical and dielectric properties. The biological properties like hemocompatibility, antibacterial efficacy, in vitro bioactivity and the cell proliferation of the samples were determined.

Characterization of Candida species isolated from cases of lower respiratory tract infection.

Objectives: (1) To identify and characterize the Candida species isolates from lower respiratory tract infection. (2) to determine the rate of isolation of Candida species from sputum samples.

Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal from June 2002 to January 2003.