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ARE ANTIBIOTICS OF ANY USE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GRANULOMA ANNULARE IN CHILDREN?
Full text linkBackground: Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign inflammatory dermatosis of unknown cause, of which generalised granuloma annulare (GGA) is a subtype that tends to be resistant to treatment. Various antibiotics have been used to treat GGA, the most recent being combination therapy with rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM). This study aims to explore the efficacy of antibiotics in treating GGA, and whether antibiotics may be useful in children with GGA.
Materials and Methods: A systematic review of literature published from 1947 to 2017 was undertaken in order to evaluate the use of antibiotics in treating GGA. Data on characteristics of children with GGA were extracted. Eligible studies were then qualitatively analysed.
Results: Seven hundred and ninety (790) potential studies were identified, of which 16 were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis. Of these 16 studies, majority were case studies (n=9, 56.3%), with 2 case series (12.5%), 2 retrospective studies (12.5%) and 3 open-label prospective studies (18.8%). Main antibiotic treatments reported were either monthly combination therapy of rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM), or monotherapy with dapsone or doxycycline. Out of a total of 158 patients with GA, 72 patients (45.6%) were treated with antibiotics. Of the 72, 48.6% (n=35) of these patients had GGA while 4 were children; two with GA (2 with GGA), all of whom were treated with dapsone.
Conclusion: There is paucity of evidence to support the use of antibiotics in the treatment of GGA in children. Although ROM has shown promising results in adults, more studies are needed to validate these findings in children
CD4+ AND CD8+ T-CELLS EXPRESSING INTERFERON GAMMA IN ACTIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS
Full text linkBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem. Immune response through CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is needed to produce Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), a cytokine eliminate Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to compare the cellular immune response based on the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing interferon gamma in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients before and after 2 months of tuberculosis treatment.
Methods: It is a longitudinal cohort study included 12 patients with new active pulmonary TB of the Pulmonary Hospital, Surabaya. The CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing interferon gamma was measured by flow cytometry method.
Results: The mean CD4+ interferon gamma percentage of new active pulmonary TB before treatment was higher than 2 months after tuberculosis treatment (4.48% vs. 1.52%) and there was a significantly decreased (p = 0.025). The mean CD8+ interferon gamma percentage of new active pulmonary TB before treatment was higher than 2 months after tuberculosis treatment (3.56% vs. 2.89%) but not significantly decreased (p = 0.186).
Conclusions: The mean CD4+ IFN-γ percentage of new active pulmonary TB before treatment was higher than 2 months after treatment, suggesting that CD4+ T cells expressing IFN-γ play a role in protection against pulmonary TB infecti
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF DRACONTOMELON DAO EXTRACTS ON METHICILLIN-RESISTANT S. AUREUS (MRSA) AND E. COLI MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANCE (MDR)
Full text linkBackground: Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant and Escherichia coli, multidrug-resistant included in the list of antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens from WHO. As multidrug-resistant bacteria problem is increasing, it is necessary to probe new sources for identifying antimicrobial compounds. Medicinal plants represent a rich source of antimicrobial agents. One of the potential plants for further examined as antibacterial is Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe. The present study designed to find the antibacterial activity of D. dao stem bark extracts on Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and E. coli Multiple Drug Resistance (MDR), followed by determined secondary metabolites with antibacterial activity and determined the value of MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration).
Materials and Methods: D. dao stem bark extracted using 60% ethanol. Disc diffusion test methods used to find the antibacterial activity, following by microdilution methods to find the value of MIC and MBC. Secondary metabolites with antibacterial activity determined by bioautography using TLC (thin layer chromatography) methods.
Results: D. dao stem bark extracts are sensitive to MSSA, MRSA and E.coli MDR bacteria. The inhibition zone is 16.0 mm in MSSA, 11.7 mm in MRSA and 10.7 mm in E. coli MDR. The entire MBC/MIC ratios for MSSA, MRSA and E.coli MDR is lower than 4. The ratio showed bactericidal effects of D. dao stem bark extracts. In TLC results, colorless bands found to be secondary metabolites with antibacterial activity.
Conclusion: D. dao stem bark extracts are potential to develop as antibacterial agent especially against MRSA and E. coli MDR strain
DETECTION OF WATER-BORNE PARASITES IN DRINKING WATER OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ
Full text linkBackground: Within the past few decades, there has been an increase in the number of water-borne disease outbreaks
and emergence of newly recognized waterborne parasites. Several factors which contribute to the spread of these
diseases include: water, heavy rains and agricultural residues which transfer the parasites to water surface from the soil.
The aim of this study was to detect the presence of parasites in the river and drinking water of Al-Wahdaa and Al-
Rasheed Drinking Project and household water tanks from some regions of Baghdad.
Method: Forty samples were collected from river and drinking water of Drinking Project. Fifty four samples of
household water tanks were collected from some regions of Baghdad.
Results: Cryptosporidium oocyst, which was founded in river water samples are more than those in drinking water.
Furthermore, it was existed in Diyala Bridge &Taha Mosque from April – August and oocyst was diagnosed by using
of Zheil-Neelson. Wet mount slide method was applied to detect cysts of free-living amoeba Acanthomoeba, Naegleria.
The number of cysts in July and August were higher than other months for Drinking Project and the water tanks for all
regions.
Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance screening of the water to prevent possible of the spread of
parasitic protozoan and that the cracks occurrence in drinking water pipes between the stations and houses led to
contamination of water with the infective stage of parasites , especially in the areas that are near agricultural fields
which polluted with the cows' waste
CAN OCIMUM BASILICUM (BASIL) RELIEF THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC UNPREDICTABLE MILD STRESS ON THE MICE SALIVARY GLANDS?
Full text linkBackground: Salivary glands are affected in acute and chronic stressful conditions. Ocimum basilicum (OB), basil,
possesses anxiolytic and antidepressant like effect so this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the chronic unpredictable
mild stress (CUMS) on the structure of salivary glands of mice and the efficacy of OB in relieving this effect.
Material and Methods: Forty male mice were distributed equally into four groups; the control, CUMS (exposed to the
CUMS for 4 weeks), CUMS+Fluoxetine (treated with Fluoxetine after exposure to CUMS), CUMS+OB (treated with OB
after exposure to CUMS). Treatments continued for 2 weeks. Behavioral changes and serum corticosterone level were
assessed at the end of the experiment. Submandibular and parotid glands were histopathologically examined and stained
with anti-alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA) and anti-brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) antibodies.
Results: A depressive behavior was observed in mice exposed to the CUMS. Serum corticosterone level significantly
increased in these mice compared to the control (130.9±8.8 versus 21.03±2.1,
HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF COSTUS SPECIOSUS (KOEN. EX. RETZ.) AGAINST PARACETAMOL-INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN MICE
Full text linkBackground: Liver diseases are a common cause of mortality and morbidity over the world. It is caused mainly by toxic chemicals and chemotherapeutic agents. Costus speciosus (Koen ex. Retz.) (Zingiberaceae) is widely employed in various traditional medicines for the prevention and treatment of different aliments. The purpose of this study is to assess the protective effect of C. speciosus rhizomes MeOH extract against the injury of the liver induced by paracetamol (PA) in mice.
Material and Methods: The mice were pretreated for seven days with distilled H2O, silymarin 12 mg/kg or 100 and 200 mg/kg MeOH extract. Then, PA (750 mg/kg) was also intra-peritoneal administrated once a day. Animals were euthanatized 24 h after the damage inducement. The levels of the serum enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase, in addition to the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), were determined. Moreover, the histopathological examination was carried out.
Results: Administration of the MeOH extract (200 mg/kg) showed improvement in the toxic effects of PA through significant fall on the serum markers enzymes of liver damage: AST, ALT, and ALP, as well as TNF-α, compared to silymarin. In parallel, the histopathological profile in the mice` liver also proved that extract markedly minimized the PA toxicity and maintained the liver tissues` histoarchitecture to near the normal ones more than that achieved by silymarin.
Conclusion: The findings suggested that C. speciosus extract acts as a potential hepatoprotective agent against PA-induced liver toxicity. This hepato-protection effect may be due to the existence of steroids, saponins, different glycosides, and phenolic compounds in C. speciosus
AN INVESTIGATION INTO UTILIZATION, BELIEFS AND PRACTICE OF INDIGENOUS MEDICINE IN SRI LANKA
Full text linkBackground: Most countries pose their own indigenous knowledge systems. Native knowledge on indigenous
medicine is one of the knowledge systems widely used in many countries in Asia and Africa. In some countries, 80% of
the population depend on indigenous medicine for primary health care. Sri Lanka is an island enriched with a wellestablished
indigenous medical system.
Materials and Methods: The objectives of the study were to identify characteristics, usage patterns, and perceptions of
communities concerning indigenous medicine. Beneficiaries of indigenous medicine were selected through purposive
sampling for this study. The data were collected through a documentary survey and interviews.
Results: The study identified that the indigenous medical system of the country is called ‘DeshiyaChikitsa,’ ‘Sinhala
Vedakama,’ or ‘Hela Vedakama,’ which encompass ritual healing practices, astrology, religious observances, and
spiritual powers. Different approaches of people including the use of domestic medicine, obtaining the assistance of
astrology, and rituals were identified. Regardless of age, level of education, or employment, communities trust
indigenous medicine as a primary or a secondary option on the health care system of the country. The survey identified
the growing demand for the indigenous medicine.
Conclusion: Around 60 to 70% of the rural population which is comprise 77.3% of total population relies on
indigenous medicine. Domestic medicine, astrology and rituals associated with indigenous medicine plays a vital role
in people’s health care process. Experts in indigenous medicine are scattered in the country
EFFECTS OF ZAMZAM WATER AND METHADONE ON THE EXPRESSION OF MU-OPIOID RECEPTOR-1 GENE IN MORPHINE-DEPENDENT RATS AFTER CHRONIC MORPHINE ADMINISTRATION
Full text linkBackground: Sodium ion is an essential ion that is implicated in many physiological functions. Recently, sodium ion was reported to facilitate the activation of Mu-Opioid Receptor (MOR) by binding at the allosteric site of the MOR. Zamzam water is water originated from Mecca. Couple of studies proved that Zamzam water has the therapeutic effect owing to its mineral. In this study, we want to determine the ion concentration of Zamzam water and then to investigate the effects of Zamzam water and co-treatment with methadone on the regulation of MOR-1gene after chronic morphine administration.
Materials and Methods: Zamzam water, tap water and normal mineral water were analyzed using Ion chromatography. Meanwhile, in animal study, 50 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups. All group of rat were made dependence on morphine using intraperitoneal injection except for normal group. Morphine dependent rats then were treated with methadone, Zamzam water and co-treatment methadone with Zamzam water for thirty days, respectively. The Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of rat’s brain was dissected and subjected to real-time quantitative RT-PCR to determine the regulation of MOR-1 gene expression. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS v.11 software, and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s Post-test.
Results: The data obtained showed that Zamzam water is significantly high in ion concentration compared to tap water and normal mineral water. Besides, the result from gene expression analysis showed co-treatment Zamzam water and methadone significantly prevented the downregulation of MOR as compared to methadone and Zamzam water treatment alone (
EFFECT OF KANGFUXIN LIQUID ON INTESTINAL BARRIER IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Full text linkBackground:Kangfuxin Liquid is extracted from America periplaneta, which is effective for treating gastrointestinal ulcers and repairing gastrointestinal mucosal tissue. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of Kangfuxin Liquid on improving intestinal barrier dysfunction in elderly patients using mechanical ventilation and effectively restraining the concentration of D-lactate.
Materials and Methods: Elderly patients with mechanical ventilation were selected, and divided into “control” and “treatment” groups by using a random number table. Patients in both groups were given conventional treatment. Patients in “treatment group” additionally received Kangfuxin Liquid. At baseline and at 3, 7days following treatment, recordings for the concentration of D-lactate, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and bowel sounds were conducted. The duration of mechanical ventilation, the time of stay in ICU and the mortality rate during 28 days were recorded.
Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences in the terms of the concentrations of D-lactate, IAP and bowel sounds in the two groups (P>0.05). At 3 and 7days following treatment, the concentration of D-lactate, IAP and bowel sounds in the “treatment group” were better than those in the “control group”. The differences were statistically significant (