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H S Randhawa

Publications and source records attributed to H S Randhawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Thermophilic actinomycetes in cane sugar mills: an aeromicrobiologic and seroepidemiologic study.

Aerial prevalence of clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes and occurrence of precipitating antibodies against them in sera of 153 exposed workers have been reported. The study was carried out in two cane sugar mills namely, the Upper Doab Sugar Mills and the Ramala Sugar Mills, located in north-west India. In both the sugar mills, T. sacchari was the predominant species, it accounted for 55.1% and 50.3% of the total population of thermophilic actinomycetes, followed by T. vulgaris (19.7% and 23.7%), T. thalpophilus (21.1% and 17.1%), Saccharomonospora viridis (3.4% and 5.0%) and Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (Faenia rectivirgula) (0.7% and 3.9%), respectively. Precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes were demonstrable in 34 (22.2%) workers; T. sacchari alone accounted for 20 of the positive precipitin reactions, followed by S. rectivirgula in 10. The mean absorbance values for IgG antibody activity against T. sacchari as well as S. rectivirgula were found to be elevated significantly in the symptomatic workers than in the asymptomatic workers (p < 0.05) or unexposed controls (p < 0.001). However, the difference in IgG antibody activity was insignificant between precipitin-positive symptomatic workers and precipitin-positive asymptomatic workers. The results indicate that clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes are widely prevalent in cane sugar mills, and T. sacchari and S. rectivirgula are the major species involved in the sensitization of the bagasse workers in India.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1992

Nomenclature of fungal diseases: a report and recommendations from a Sub-Committee of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM).

The ISHAM Mycoses Nomenclature Committee has considered the present status of fungal disease names. It suggests that the traditional approach to mycoses nomenclature in which the name of a causative taxon is suffixed with '-asis', '-iasis', '-osis' or '-mycosis' leads to names that are frequently unstable with respect to subsequent taxonomic and clinico-epidemiological changes. It is therefore recommended that individual mycoses should be named as often as possible in the form 'pathology A due to/caused by fungus X' or '[adjectival] fungus X pathology A' in preference to construction of names based solely on fungal taxa. A list of recommended mycosis names retained for their long tradition or intrinsic convenience is provided, together with a combined index and list of rejected names.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Efficacy of seed-based media for the mould-yeast conversion of Blastomyces dermatitidis.

The efficacy of 20 seed-based media is reported for the in vitro mould-yeast conversion of Blastomyces dermatitidis, employing pharmamedia agar, peptone glucose agar, glucose agar and water agar as controls. The mould-yeast conversion varied significantly according to the culture medium, fungal strains and incubation period (p less than 0.01). Garden-pea, chick-pea, cow-pea, soybean, peanut, green gram, French bean, lentil, okra and cottonseed converted all of the 7 B. dermatitidis test strains after 5 days of incubation at 37 degrees C. Although the efficacy of many of these seed media was found to be at par with pharmamedia agar - a commercial cottonseed embryo-derived protein, garden-pea seed agar is adopted because of the wider availability and low fat content of this seed. The recommended composition of the medium comprises 2% aqueous seed extract, 2% glucose and pH 6-7. Only nigerseed and sunflower seeds failed to support the conversion of B. dermatitidis. Of the control media, peptone glucose agar, glucose agar and water agar did not support the conversion of 2 of the B. dermatitidis test strains. The mechanism underlying variable mould-yeast conversion of B. dermatitidis on seed-based media is not clearly understood. However, most of the seeds supporting excellent mould-yeast conversion are known for their high protein content. The conversion was apparently not affected by the fat content of the seeds or by incorporation of glucose in the medium.

Blastomyces↗
PubMed1991

Occurrence and significance of precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes in the sera of dairy herd workers, Nangali, Delhi.

The study was prompted by the lack of information on the role of thermophilic actinomycetes in hypersensitivity pneumonitis in India. It reports the occurrence of precipitating antibodies against clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes in the sera of a population sample of dairy herd workers, Nangali, Delhi. Of 112 workers investigated, 28 (25%) showed precipitins against Faenia rectivirgula, 4 (3.2%) against Saccharomonospora viridis, 2 against Thermoactinomyces thalpophilus and one each against T. vulgaris and T. sacchari. The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated that IgG antibody activity against F. rectivirgula was significantly higher in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (p less than 0.05) of workers and the controls (p less than 0.01). Significant difference in F. rectivirgula IgG activity was also obtained between the precipitin-positive symptomatic group and the precipitin-positive asymptomatic group (p less than 0.05). In strong contrast, the IgG antibody activity against T. thalpophilus was found to be uniformly low. A limited aeromicrobiological sampling of the dairy farm revealed S. viridis (55.8%) to be the commonest species followed by T. vulgaris (19.2%), T. thalpophilus (18.5%), F. rectivirgula (5%) and T. sacchari (1.5%). On the basis of suggestive clinical and laboratory findings, farmer's lung disease was suspected in four dairy herd workers. A comprehensive clinical evaluation including pulmonary function studies on the dairy herd workers and their long-term follow-up is indicated to determine the extent of respiratory morbidity caused by F. rectivirgula, S. viridis, T. thalpophilus, T. sacchari and T. vulgaris in India.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Efficacy of brain heart infusion-egg albumen agar, yeast extract phosphate agar and peptone glucose agar media for isolation of Blastomyces dermatitidis from sputum.

The efficacy of brain heart infusion (BHI)-egg albumen agar, yeast extract phosphate agar and several modified peptone glucose agar media was evaluated for isolation of Blastomyces dermatitidis from sputum concomitantly seeded with the yeast form of the pathogen and Candida albicans. Based upon high per cent culture positivity of sputum, improved recovery (CFU/ml) of the seeded inoculum, faster growth rate of B. dermatitidis and low level of contamination, BHI-egg albumen agar, followed by yeast extract phosphate agar are recommended as the media of choice for the isolation of B. dermatitidis from contaminated clinical specimens.

Blastomyces↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and partial characterization of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction of Blastomyces dermatitidis.

The isolation and characterization of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction is reported from the pathogenic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis employing a simplified and inexpensive procedure. The yeast cells, suspended in an osmotic stabilizer buffer, were subjected to gentle mechanical disruption followed by a three-step differential centrifugation to obtain a 40,000 x g sediment. This fraction showed 2.7- and 3.3-fold relative enrichment of the plasma membrane marker enzymes Mg2(+)-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase, respectively, with modest cross-contamination of other intracellular membranes. The fraction comprised approximately 49% protein, 31% carbohydrate, 11% phospholipids and 9% sterol with sterol to phospholipid molar ratio of 1.1. Transmission electron microscopy of the plasma membrane-enriched fraction showed homogeneous vesicles with a tripartite unit membrane of 115 A thickness.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1990

Concomitant allergic Aspergillus sinusitis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis associated with familial occurrence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

A 24-year-old male, who had nasal symptoms with occasional wheezing was evaluated for consolidation of the right lung which led to the diagnosis of concomitant allergic Aspergillus sinusitis (AAS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), a rarely reported association. The patient's mother was a diagnosed case of ABPA. Dramatic relief of nasal and pulmonary symptoms resulted with prednisolone that could not be tapered off completely. No untoward effect of prednisolone was observed on the disease process in a follow-up of 2 years. A high index of suspicion is required for the diagnosis of AAS and family members with history of asthma and/or rhinitis should be investigated for ABPA and/or AAS.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cottonseed extract versus pharmamedia for the in vitro mould-yeast conversion of Blastomyces dermatitidis.

A cottonseed medium, based on a 1% aqueous extract of seeds of any of the eight indigenously available varieties of cotton belonging to Gossypium hirsutum or Gossypium arboreum, was evaluated for the mould-yeast conversion of Blastomyces dermatitidis in vitro, and compared with pharmamedia agar as a control. The cottonseed agar was found to be as efficient as pharmamedia agar for the mould-yeast conversion of the 19 B. dermatitidis strains tested. Therefore, cottonseeds provide an adequate and inexpensive substitute for pharmamedia for the mould-yeast conversion of B. dermatitidis. It should be noted that the term 'cottonseed' medium has been used rather loosely in the literature and that this medium is based on pharmamedia and not on a cottonseed extract. The authors suggest that media based on pharmamedia should be referred to as pharmamedia agar and the use of the term 'cottonseed' should be restricted to media containing cottonseed extract.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Distribution of clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes in vegetable substrates and soil in north-western India.

Medically important thermophilic actinomycetes were isolated from 218 (64%) of 341 samples of vegetable substrates and soil examined from sites in north-western India. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris (T. candidus) was the commonest species, occurring in 56% of samples, followed by Saccharomonospora viridis in 29%, Thermoactinomyces thalpophilus in 27%, Faenia rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni) in 21% and Thermoactinomyces sacchari in 14%. T. vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were isolated from all types of substrate examined, with T. vulgaris always more common than T. thalpophilus. Of the other thermophilic actinomycetes, F. rectivirgula was isolated predominantly from hay (44%) and S. viridis (56%) and T. sacchari (44%) from sugar-cane bagasse. The largest populations of T. vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were found in paddy straw, followed by T. sacchari, S. viridis and F. rectivirgula in sugar-cane bagasse. The widespread occurrence of these clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes suggests that exposure of humans and animals to them may be frequent in north-western India. Studies are required to determine the prevalence of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) caused by thermophilic actinomycetes in the local population.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1989

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis with coexistent aspergilloma: a long-term followup.

Two patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) who developed aspergillomas, a rare combination, are presented. Hypertropic osteoarthropathy was a unique feature in one patient. Treatment with prednisolone resulted in striking improvement in both patients. Followup of over 30 months in Patient 1 and 18 months in Patient 2 did not show any dissemination of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Efficacy of immunoprecipitation methods for rapid serodiagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

The relative efficacy of Ouchterlony's double diffusion (ODD), Wadsworth's gel diffusion (WGD) and counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) is reported for serodiagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Of the 50 sera taken from patients with confirmed or suspected ABPA, serum precipitins were demonstrated against Aspergillus fumigatus by CIE, WGD and ODD in sera from 34, 31 and 25 patients, respectively. The results were negative by the three methods in sera taken from 10 healthy volunteers. It is concluded that CIE followed by WGD is more efficacious than ODD for serodiagnosis of ABPA.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1988

In vitro interactions between Blastomyces dermatitidis and other zoopathogenic fungi.

The results of in vitro interactions between colonies of Blastomyces dermatitidis and six other zoopathogenic fungi are reported. The interactions were found to range from neutral with Histoplasma capsulatum and Candida albicans to strongly antagonistic with Microsporum gypseum, Pseudallescheria boydii, and Sporothrix schenckii, and including lysis by Cryptococcus neoformans. These observations suggest that interactions between zoopathogenic fungi may be one of the biotic factors likely to influence the occurrence of B. dermatitidis in natural systems.

Blastomyces↗
PubMed1988

The pathogenic potential of Sporotrichum pruinosum isolated from the human respiratory tract.

The repeated occurrence of Sporotrichum pruinosum, demonstrated by direct microscopy and culture, is reported from the respiratory tract of three patients who complained of cough, expectoration of sputum, dyspnoea and occasional pyrexia. This observation coupled with the presence of immediate, type I, cutaneous hypersensitivity against S. pruinosum in two of the patients and the ability of the fungus to incite lesions in experimentally infected mice supported an etiologic relationship between the fungus and the patients' symptoms. The macroscopic and microscopic characters of one of the clinical isolates of S. pruinosum are briefly described. It is suggested that the isolation of S. pruinosum from clinical specimens should not be regarded as of no etiologic significance without careful clinical and laboratory evaluation of the patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of paraffin baiting and conventional culture techniques for isolation of Nocardia asteroides from sputum.

Of 1,510 sputum samples examined from 1,016 patients with bronchopulmonary disorders, Nocardia asteroides was isolated from 67 samples by paraffin baiting, as compared with only 30 isolations by the conventional technique of culturing on Sabouraud dextrose agar. This higher efficacy of the paraffin bait technique was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.001).

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1986

Sporotrichosis in India: first authentic case report from the north-western region and a critical literature review.

The first case of sporotrichosis from north-western region is reported along with a critical review of the work done on this disease in India. The patient, a 55-year-old housewife with multiple lymphocutaneous lesions on her left arm, had never travelled to north-eastern India where sporotrichosis occurs endemically. She was a resident of Ranikhet, District Nainital, Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), situated about 235 km north-east of Delhi. The diagnosis was established by demonstration of Sporothrix schenckii through direct microscopy and culture of pus collected from multiple suppurative lesions, verification of the dimorphic character of the fungus in vitro and its pathogenicity to white mice. She was treated successfully with oral administration of potassium iodide for 6 weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Survival of Blastomyces dermatitidis in the gastrointestinal tract of an orally infected insectivorous bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei hardwickei Gray.

The survival of Blastomyces dermatitidis with markedly reduced population, in the gastrointestinal tract and faeces of Rhinopoma hardwickei orally infected with 2.5 X 10(5) colony forming units of the fungus, is reported. B. dermatitidis was cultured from the stomach, intestine and faeces up to 16-24 h and from rectum up to 48 h post infection. The results demonstrate that orally infected R. hardwickei hardwickei bats transiently shed B. dermatitidis through their faeces but the significance of this route of environmental dissemination requires further evaluation.

Animals↗