Anti bacterial activity of Nigella sativa against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to be one of the commonest pathogens encountered in clinical as well as laboratory practice. It has become a major health problem worldwide. Newer antimicrobials/agents are urgently needed to combat this problem MRSA resistance to various anti-staphylococcal agents.

Rapid isolation of Mycobacteria--need of the hour in our settings.

Background: To compare Bactec MGIT 960 with LJ media in terms of time taken for the initial isolation of mycobacteria.

Methods: A total of 100 AFB (acid fast bacillus) positive sputum samples were processed and inoculated in both the Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) media and mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT) tubes.

Results: Of the 100 samples, positive growth was obtained from all the samples on both the MGIT and LJ media.

Visual grading system for vasospasm based on perfusion CT imaging: comparisons with conventional angiography and quantitative perfusion CT.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare simple visual grading of perfusion CT (PCT) maps to a more quantitative, threshold-based interpretation of PCT parameters in the characterization of presence and severity of vasospasm.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage were enrolled in a prospective study and underwent a total of 40 paired PCT and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examinations. A neuroradiologist and a neurologist reviewed the PCT mean transit time (MTT), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral blood volume maps independently; they evaluated five anatomical regions (frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital/thalami, and basal ganglia/insula) and graded them for abnormality (0 if normal, 1 if abnormal in <50% of the region, and 2 if abnormal in >or=50% of the region).

Prospective evaluation of multidetector-row CT angiography for the diagnosis of vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage: a comparison with digital subtraction angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of multidetector-row CT angiography (CTA) for the diagnosis of large-vessel vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage by comparison to digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Methods: Thirty-three patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage were enrolled in a prospective study and underwent a total of 40 CTA and DSA examinations within 24 h of each other. Two neuroradiologists reviewed the CTA examinations independently.