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This research aimed to investigate in vitro photocatalytic bactericidal effect of Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite using Escherichia coli as a model organism. Highly dispersed, Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite is used with an average particle size of less than 20 nm. Bactericidal analysis was carried out in Luria Bertani medium on solid agar plates with various illumination time and different concentrations of Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of bacterial section was used to detect the effect of irradiation of Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite on the ultra structure of the bacterial cell in order to reveal possible cellular damage. The mechanism underlying the action of photoexcited Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite on E. coli cell membrane is also evaluated. The results confirmed that E. coli cells after the contact with Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite were damaged since they showed membrane disorganization. This causes the enhanced level of membrane permeability leading to the build-up of Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite in the bacterial membrane and also cellular internalization of these nanoparticles.

Hundred diabetic patients were admitted with clinically infected foot ulcers and were studied during the period of 1 st January 2010 to 30 th June 2011. Pus samples of bacterial culture were collected from 30 patients admitted with diabetic foot infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of aerobic isolates was performed by the standard disc diffusion method as recommended by National Committee for the Clinical Laboratory Standards. Micro broth dilution test was arranged for susceptibility of anaerobic organisms to metronidazole and amoxicillin/clavulanate. A vencomycine screen agar (6 µg/ ml) was used to detect vencomycine intermediate isolates of Staphylococci. Clinical grading and bacteriological study of 100 patients revealed, 69 (69.0%) patients had Gram-negative organisms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common, while 21 (21.0%) patients had Gram-positive organisms and Staphylococci was the most common. Infection with anaerobic was found in one patient (1.0%). Both Gram-positive and-negative organisms were seen in 9 patients (9.0%). P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus exhibited a high frequency of resistance to the antibiotics tested. All the isolates were uniformly susceptible to fosfomycine, levofloxacin, amikacin and vencomycine. In this study P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Escherichia coli, S. epidermidis and Proteus were the most common causes of diabetic foot infections. The rate of antibiotic resistance was 61.86% among the isolates. All the isolates were uniformly susceptible to fosfomycine, levofloxacine, amikacin and vencomycine.

Background: Since more than a century ago, spinal anaesthesia has been a preferred approach for lower abdominal procedures. Local anaesthetics are selected primarily based on onset, duration, strength of sensory and motor block, and side effects. The aim of our study was to compare sensory and motor block characteristics, hemodynamic changes, and side effects following isobaric levobupivacaine (0.5%) and hyperbaric Bupivacaine (0.5%) in elective lower abdominal surgeries under spinal anesthesia. Materials and methods: A randomized, double‑blind study was carried out on 60 patients of either sex, aged 18-60 years, ASA grade I or II scheduled for elective lower abdominal surgeries. Patients were divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Group L received 3 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine, and Group B received 3 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine. We observed the characteristics of the sensory and motor blockade & side effects in both groups. Results: The mean time of onset of sensory block was 12.68±0.6 minutes in group L, while 7.22±0.7 minutes in group B. The mean time for total duration of sensory block was 211.1±8.2 minutes in group L, while 183.13±13.7 minutes in group B.