Analysis and standardization of the new anxiolytic drug afobazole

The physicochemical properties of the new anxiolytic drug afobazole, which belongs to the group of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole derivatives, have been studied with a view to its pharmacopoeial standardization. It is suggested to check afobazole for the presence of impurities by means of TLC and HPLC. Methods for the standardization of afobazole are developed and a project for the pharmacopoeial article of manufacturer for this drug is formulated. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 40, No. 7, pp. 55–56, July, 2006.     

Morphology of the microencapsulated form of measles vaccine based on pH-dependent polymers

Morphology of microparticles of the microencapsulated measles vaccine was studied by cryofractography, transmission electronic microscopy and by atomic force microscopy; co-polymers of polyacrylic acid and of sodium-alginate (spermidine) complexes were used as the matrix. The different-composition microcapsules had clear-cut borders and a certain range of sizes; but they were different in morphology, and their structures and densities varied identically with regard for a medium acidity, which is apparently preconditioned by some conformation-type alterations of matrix molecules. The studied preparations can, probably, protect the viral material in the stomach aggressive medium and release the material to ensure its contact with the intestine lymph tissue; thereof, they can be referred to as promising for further study of mucosal vaccines.     

The morphology of the micro-capsulated polyacrylic acid-based formulation of measles vaccine

The morphology and virus localization were studied in the microcapsulated measles vaccine formulation involving polyacrylic acid (PAA) copolymers as a matrix. Transmission electron microscopy and phosphotungsic staining at a pH value of 2 to 7 showed that the morphology of microparticles was related to the value of pH and to the concentration of a polymer in the matrix. In the neutral medium, the microcapsules had the sizes of 0.5 to 10 microm, which were optimal for transport through the intestinal wall when immunization was orally used. Immunocytochemistry revealed measles virus antigen within the microparticles. The specific activity of the microcapsulated formulation of measles virus was as high as 3.36 and 4.31 lg of TCD50/0.5 ml for the samples containing 1 and 0.1% polymer, respectively. The findings suggest that the microparticles of the vaccine contain live measles virus.     

Extraembryonic motor activity during the embryogenesis of higher vertebrates

Extraembryonic rhythmic motor activity in higher vertebrates, along with the intrinsic motor activity of the embryo, is important for the normal development of the embryo. This can have different natures in different classes of amniotes (i.e., motor activities of the amnion, yolk sac, and uterus), but these have similar functional importance. This activity changes reproducibly during the process of embryogenesis, providing the optimum conditions for normal embryo development. During embryogenesis, a system for controlling extraembryonic rhythmic motor activity is also formed. There is a trend for the regulation of this activity to become more complex in mammals as compared with birds. Reptiles have received little study from this point of view. In addition to regular changes in extraembryonic rhythmic motor activity during embryogenesis which depend on the developmental stage of the embryo, motor activity can also change in response to changes in a number of environmental factors (for example, temperature and the gas composition of the air). This demonstrates the possible involvement of embryo-associated extraembryonic motor activity in adapting the embryo to changing environmental conditions and maintaining homeostasis for the development of the embryo itself. Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 961–968, October, 1998.     

Nosocomial and community acquired uropathogenic isolates of Proteus mirabilis and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles at a university hospital in Sub–Saharan Africa

ObjectiveTo ascertain antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) from clinical urine specimens at a university hospital in the spate of its recorded increasing resistance patterns.MethodsThe study was retrospective in nature. Data generated from urine cultures of patients at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for a period of five years (2004–2009) were compiled. Relevant information obtained were age and gender of patients, organisms recovered and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. P. mirabilis was identified using standard laboratory procedures.ResultsP. mirabilis showed the highest resistance against ampicillin, cloxacillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, erythromycin and chloramphenicol (100%–37.2%) while colistin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin recorded the highest activity (59.1%–96.9%) with no drug recording 100% activity. The resistance of the nosocomial isolates of the organism were significantly higher than the community acquired isolates against that of the common antibiotics in use (P<0.05).ConclusionsExtreme caution should be exercised in antibiotic administration in hospital setting and the potential benefits adequately assessed while control of nosocomial infections be given a priority so as to limit the spread of resistant bacteria.     

Bacterial colonization of chronic leg ulcers: current results compared with data 5 years ago in a specialized dermatology department

Background In nearly every chronic wound different bacteria species can be detected. Nevertheless, the presence of such microorganisms is not necessarily obligatory associated with a delayed wound healing. But from this initially unproblematic colonization an infection up to a sepsis can arise in some patients. The aim of our clinical investigation was to analyse the spectrum of microbial colonization of patients with a chronic leg ulcer in our specialized dermatological outpatient wound clinic, and to compare them with the results of comparable data already collected 5 years ago. Objectives In our retrospective investigation the results of bacteriological swabs were documented in 100 patients with a total of 107 chronic leg ulcers. All patients visited the specialized wound outpatient clinic, Department of Dermatology, University of Essen in Germany. Methods A total of 60 patients were female, 40 were male. The mean age was 65 years. Altogether a total of 191 bacterial isolates and 25 different bacterial species could be identified. Results The most often detected species were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 60), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 36) as well as Proteus mirabilis (n = 17). In 10 patients (10%) we identified a colonization with methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Merely in 6 patients the taken swabs were sterile. Five years ago a comparable investigation was already carried out in our wound outpatient clinic. At that time we could detect in particular more frequent MRSA (21.5% vs. 10%) and rarely P. aeruginosa (24.1% vs. 33.6%). Conclusion The results of our investigation demonstrate the current spectrum of the bacterial colonization in patients with chronic leg ulcers in a university dermatological wound centre in comparison to the last 5 years. In our institution we were able to demonstrate a shift of the detected bacterial species from gram‐positive in direction to gram‐negative germs. Beside the already known problems with MRSA, in future therapeutic strategies in patients with chronic leg ulcers the increasing amount of gram‐negative bacteria and especially of P. aeruginosa should considered.     

Acquired immune hemolytic anemia associated with IgA erythrocyte coating: investigation of hemolytic mechanisms

We have investigated the hemolytic mechanisms in a patient with acquired immune hemolytic anemia whose red cells appeared to be coated with IgA alone. The clinical course was similar to that of patients with hemolytic anemia mediated by warm-reacting IgG antibody. Splenic sequestration of red cells was demonstrated, and marked reduction of hemolysis occurred after corticosteroid therapy. Antibody was eluted from the patient's red cells and used to sensitize normal red cells in vitro. These sensitized red cells were not lysed by fresh autologous serum, nor did they fix detectable amounts of C3. However, red cells sensitized by eluted antibody were lysed by normal human peripheral blood monocytes in a system designed to demonstrate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Monocyte-mediated hemolysis of sensitized red cells was inhibited by the addition of low concentrations of normal serum IgA to the system, but not by IgG. The ability of the eluate to induce monocyte-mediated hemolysis was abolished by its adsorption on Sepharose-bound anti-IgA, but not by preincubation with Sepharose-bound anti-IgG. In addition, normal human monocytes were demonstrated to ingest eluate-sensitized red cells. These data demonstrate an in vitro interaction of IgA-sensitized red cells with leukocytes and suggest a possible mechanism for the patient's hemolysis.     

TLIF术式在布氏杆菌性脊柱炎病人中的临床疗效及安全性分析

目的 对比分析单纯后路内固定+一期经腰椎间孔病椎间病灶清除(TLIF)与经典的前后联合手术在布氏杆菌性脊柱炎患者中的临床疗效及安全性。 方法 对我院2015年1月至2017年12月收治的93例布病性脊柱炎患者的临床资料进行分析。按手术方式分为观察组(45例)和对照组(48例)。对两组患者的基础数据、临床指标、术前术后各项指标水平以及术后并发症、植骨治愈情况。 结果 观察组与对照组基础数据比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组患者的手术时间、住院天数、术中出血量及术后下床时间均明显低于对照组(P<0.01)。两组患者术后3个月的ODI、VAS、CRP、ESR及Cobb角均明显低于术前(P<0.05);术后3个月,观察组患者的ODI、VAS、CRP、ESR及Cobb角均明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组术后并发症发生率(4.4%)明显低于对照组(25.0%)(Χ²=7.674,P<0.01)。 结论 TLIF治疗布氏杆菌性脊柱炎患者的临床疗效突出,安全性较好,更有利于患者术后身体的恢复。