Protective effects of kolaviron and quercetin on cadmium-induced testicular damage and endocrine pathology in rats

This study evaluated the effects of kolaviron, a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seed, and quercetin on cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in rats. Adult male rats were administered with either cadmium (15 mg kg(-1)) alone or in combination with kolaviron (200 mg kg(-1)) or quercetin (10 mg kg(-1)) daily for 5 days. Cadmium-treated rats showed (P < 0.05) decrease in the body weight gain, testis and epididymis weights. However, upon co-administration of kolaviron or quercetin, these changes were significantly reversed in cadmium-treated rats. Also, administration of kolaviron or quercetin significantly prevented cadmium-mediated decrease in sperm motility and epididymal sperm concentration and reversed the increased level of sperm abnormality to near control. In testes and sperm, cadmium treatment resulted in significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, whereas it increased glutathione S-transferase activity as well as hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels. While plasma levels of triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine remained unaffected, the levels of testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were decreased in cadmium-treated rats. Cadmium treatment caused mild congestion of interstitial vessels and oedema in the testes. Taken together, kolaviron and quercetin inhibited the adverse effects of cadmium on the antioxidant enzymes, markers of oxidative stress, endocrine and testicular structure in rats.     

Healthcare staff's experiences of using manual physical restraint: A meta-synthesis review

Manual restraint is a hands-on type of physical restraint used to prevent harm to service users and staff, and to administer necessary treatments. This article reports on a review and meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature on healthcare staff's experiences of using manual restraint. Three electronic databases (CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) were systematically searched, and 19 studies were included. Thematic synthesis was used to synthesize the findings. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist was used to appraise study quality. The synthesis generated one overarching interpretive theme, “unpleasant but necessary,” and five subthemes: “maintaining safety triumphs all,” “emotional distress,” “significance of coping,” “feeling conflicted,” and “depletion.” Seven studies indicated that, from staff perspectives, manual restraint was not always used as a last resort. Healthcare staff experience manual restraint as a psychologically and physically unpleasant practice, yet paradoxically deem its use to be sometimes necessary to keep themselves and service users safe from harm. The findings indicate a need for healthcare staff support, post-restraint debriefing meetings with service users, and the implementation of manual restraint minimization programs in healthcare settings.     

Development of monoclonal antibody and lateral test strip for sensitive detection of clenbuterol and related β2-agonists in urine samples

Being the most used and preferred β₂-agonist, clenbuterol (CLB) has been reported to be illegally abused in animal production and breeding as it improves growth rate while inhibiting fat synthesis and deposition leading to buildup of lean muscle. Due to its potential hazard to human health, causing food poisoning that can be fatal, it has been forbidden as a growth promoter for food-producing animals in most countries including China. Therefore, frequent monitoring of CLB abuse is necessary for consumer safety against its residues. We therefore report development of a monoclonal antibody and lateral flow test strip for sensitive detection of CLB in urine samples. In this investigation, male BALB/C mice were first immunized for antibody production. Thereafter, gold nanoparticles were utilized for antigen and antibody immobilization during construction of the strip. Under optimized conditions, the cut-off limit of the test strip was found to be 2.5 and 5?ng/g in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and urine using the wet method. When the dry method was used for CLB detection, the cut-off limit of the test strip in PBS and urine was found to be 3?ng/g. Each test was evaluated within 6?min. The data obtained show that the strip developed is sensitive and has an advantage of fast test results and simplicity and hence can be adopted for screening of CLB residues in urine samples for mitigation of CLB residue effects to human health.