The use of solar energy for powering a portable autoclave.

Climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels have forced the developed world to look for clean energy alternatives. Solar cooking is developing in Asian and African countries blessed with ample sun, but is still at an early stage. A portable autoclave was developed in India using this technology.

Chandipura virus encephalitis outbreak among children in Nagpur division, Maharashtra, 2007.

Background & Objectives: An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children from Nagpur division, Maharashtra was investigated to confirm the aetiology and to describe clinico-epidemiological features.

Methods: AES cases among children<15 yr, from Nagpur division, hospitalized between June-September 2007, were investigated. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for IgM antibodies against Chandipura virus (CHPV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR.

Clinical profile of chikungunya fever in patients in a tertiary care centre in Maharashtra, India.

Background & Objective: In India a chikungunya fever outbreak started in December 2005 when the country experienced more than 13 lakhs of chikungunya infected cases. We undertook this study to study detailed clinical profile of chikungunya fever in both indoor and outdoor patients in a tertiary care hospital in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 2006.

Methods: Suspected cases of chikungunya fever (n=405) during the period of July to September 2006, having clinical triad of fever, arthralgia and/or rashes were included in the study.

Study of metallo-beta-lactamase production in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A study of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production was done in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Isolates resistant to ceftazidime and imipenem were screened for MBL production by double disc synergy test (DDST) and minimum inhibitory concentration reduction test. There was complete correlation between two methods for imipenem.

Bacteriological study of pyogenic meningitis with special reference to C-reactive protein.

Seventy five clinically, biochemically and microscopically diagnosed cases of pyogenic meningitis including 28 adults and 47 paediatric patients were studied. Gram positive isolates in adults and gram negative bacilli in paediatric age group were the predominant organisms. Estimation of C-reactive protein (CRP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum was done in all cases as an early marker for rapid diagnosis of pyogenic meningitis.