Putrescine, spermine, and spermidine are the important polyamines (PAs), found in all living organisms. PAs are formed by the decarboxylation of amino acids, and they facilitate cell growth and development via different cellular responses. PAs are the integrated part of the cellular and genetic metabolism and help in transcription, translation, signaling, and post-translational modifications. At the cellular level, PA concentration may influence the condition of various diseases in the body. For instance, a high PA level is detrimental to patients suffering from aging, cognitive impairment, and cancer. The levels of PAs decline with age in humans, which is associated with different health disorders. On the other hand, PAs reduce the risk of many cardiovascular diseases and increase longevity, when taken in an optimum quantity. Therefore, a controlled diet is an easy way to maintain the level of PAs in the body. Based on the nutritional intake of PAs, healthy cell functioning can be maintained. Moreover, several diseases can also be controlled to a higher extend via maintaining the metabolism of PAs. The present review discusses the types, important functions, and metabolism of PAs in humans. It also highlights the nutritional role of PAs in the prevention of various diseases.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a massive public health problem in developing countries like India, especially among low socio-economic class because of malnutrition, overcrowding, poor hygiene, inadequate health care and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. CSOM cases unless managed effectively may land into various complications such as persistent otorrhoea, hearing impairment, mastoiditis, labyrinthitis, facial nerve paralysis to more serious intracranial abscesses.Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital from January 2017 to December 2017 with an aim to determine the microbiological profile of ear discharge in patients suffering from CSOM and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Out of 630 samples processed, 407 (64.6%) samples were culture positive. Most common organism isolated was Pseudomonas spp. (43.2%) followed by S. aureus (39.1%). Most of isolates recovered were multidrug resistant.Conclusions: Management of CSOM consists mainly of eradicating infection and closure of tympanic membrane. Periodic monitoring of bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern is necessary for administering appropriate antibiotics as empirical treatment and also helps in reducing the potentially disabling and fatal complications of CSOM.

There have been many attempts to ascertain the mechanism of the circulatory failure in diphtheria intoxication. None of them have been entirely satisfactory. Some workers, Romberg, Pdssler, Briihns & Muller (1899), and Yabe (1922) thought it was due to the effect of toxin on the vasomotor centre, whereas others, Brodie (1899), Harding (1920), Myers (1933), andFriedemann &Elkeles (1934) considered that it was due to a direct effect on the peripheral blood vessels. Porter & Pratt (1914) found no evidence for malfunction of the vasomotor centre in diphtheria intoxication, and MacCallum (1914) reported that the toxin had no effect on the working capacity of the heart. In a few experiments in cats we have determined that the circulatory failure does not occur until the terminal stages of intoxication, and that when it does occur, death intervenes very shortly afterwards. The interval is so short that direct observations on the effects of the toxin on the circulatory system are not practicable. It probably also accounts for the conflicting views of the earlier workers. Agarwal & Holt (1959) analysed the positive Schick reaction obtained by injecting diphtheria toxin intradermally into guinea-pigs and showed that the skin vessels become refractory to adrenaline and noradrenaline in the Schick areas. They thought that the toxin may be acting on the smooth-muscle cells of the arterioles and capillaries. Hence they tested the effects of diphtheria toxin on another plain muscle, namely rabbit iris. The response of this muscle to doses of adrenaline was also depressed.The present study was undertaken to get a better understanding of the effects of diphtheria toxin on other plain muscles such as the nictitating membrane of the cat and the uterus of the rabbit. In an attempt to ascertain the mechanism by which diphtheria toxin decreases the excitability of muscles, we studied its effect on the loss of potassium from isolated guinea-pig auricles and from the rabbit uterus. We also investigated the differences in the electrolyte content ofvarious tissues in normal and diphtheria-intoxicated guinea-pigs.