Antimutagenic potential of the Thai herb, Mucuna collettii Lace

Mucuna collettii Lace is a Thai herb with a long record of consumption among mature Thai males for the promotion of sexual potency. The mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials of Mucuna collettii extract were carried out by using the Ames test pre-incubation method in the presence and absence of S9 mixture. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 were applied as the tester strains. Prior to mutagenic and antimutagenic tests, the survival of the tester strains was performed by treating with the plant extract. Results showed Mucuna collettii extract exhibited strong cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependent manner. Toxicity of the plant was confirmed in mice in which negative adverse effect was found in kidney, uterus, ovary, and testis. Mucuna collettii extract in the presence and absence of S9 mixture was negative for mutagenic Ames test. Mucuna collettii extract in the presence and absence of S9 mixture was positive for antimutagenic Ames test towards either one or both of the tested mutagens: 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide (AF-2) and benzo(a)pyrene. The antimutagenic activity of the plant extract was confirmed in rec-assays. Micronucleus test demonstrated that Mucuna collettii extract at high dose and a long incubation time could induce micronucleus formation in tested animals, but less than the response of the positive control. The overall mutagenic and antimutagenic assays are further evidences for the antimutagenic potential of Mucuna collettii.     

A review of medication administration errors reported in a large psychiatric hospital in the United kingdom

A retrospective analysis of reports of medication administration errors over a period of three and a half years was carried out in a UK psychiatric hospital. A total of 112 errors and "near misses" were studied. The reporting rate increased over time. Psychotropic, intramuscular, and as-needed medications were overrepresented in the error reports. Fifteen percent of the errors had the potential to cause moderate or severe harm to patients. The two most common factors cited by nurses as contributing to error causation were a busy, noisy environment and personal factors, such as feeling tired or unsupported. Physicians were cited as having contributed to some errors.     

Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of hispidulin and hortensin, the flavonoids from Millingtonia hortensis L.

Studies of the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of hispidulin and hortensin, the flavonoids from Millingtonia hortensis L. (Bignoniaceae), were performed using the liquid preincubation method of the Salmonella/microsome test. At the highest dose tested, 100 micrograms/plate, both compounds showed no mutagenicity and no cytotoxicity toward S. typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 either in the presence or absence of S9 mix. However, these substances were antimutagens toward 2-aminoanthracene, aflatoxin B1 (in TA98), and dimethylnitrosamine (in TA100); but neither substance inhibited the direct mutagenic activity of 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl) acrylamide nor that of sodium azide in strains TA98 and TA100, respectively.     

Time-kill curves as a tool for targeting ceftazidime serum concentration during continuous infusion for treatment of septicaemic melioidosis

Melioidosis is a fatal community-acquired infection endemic in tropical areas. Ten isolates of the causative microorganism were subjected to time-kill study using a range of ceftazidime concentrations. This study demonstrated that a ceftazidime concentration of eight times the minimum inhibitory concentration yielded an optimal bactericidal effect and should be the target concentration administered by continuous infusion.     

Preparation and optimization of chlorophene-loaded nanospheres as controlled release antimicrobial delivery systems

Chlorophene-loaded nanospheres with various formulation parameters were evaluated. The optimal formulation was found at 0.1% w/v of poloxamer 407, 15?mL of ethyl acetate and 20% initial chlorophene loading that provided the suitable size (179?nm), the highest loading content (19.2%), encapsulation efficiency (88.0%) and yield (91.6%). Moreover, encapsulation of chlorophene in nanospheres was able to prolong and sustain drug release over one month. Chlorophene-loaded nanospheres were effective against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Candida albicans (C. albicans), the main cause of hospital-acquired infections. Chlorophene-loaded nanospheres were effective against S. aureus (>46?µg/mL) and C. albicans (>184?µg/mL). These nanospheres appeared to have profound effect on the time-dependent hemolytic activity due to gradual release of chlorophene. At the concentration of 46?µg/mL, nearly no HRBC hemolysis in 24?h compared to 80% of hemolysis from free drug. In conclusion, polymeric nanospheres were successfully fabricated to encapsulate chlorophene which can eliminate inherent toxicity of drugs and have potential uses in prolonged release of antimicrobial.     

Microwave-Accelerated Surface Plasmon-Coupled Directional Luminescence: application to fast and sensitive assays in buffer, human serum and whole blood

The applicability of a new technique, Microwave-Accelerated Surface Plasmon-Coupled Luminescence (MA-SPCL) for fast and sensitive bioassays in buffer, serum and whole blood using quantum dots as luminescence reporters is demonstrated. In this regard, a model bioassay based on the well-known interactions of biotin and streptavidin is used. Using MA-SPCL, the bioassay was kinetically completed within 1 min with the use of low power microwave heating as compared to the identical bioassay which took in excess of 30 min to reach >95% completion at room temperature, a 30-fold increase in assay kinetics. The luminescence emission from the quantum dots was coupled to surface plasmons of the gold film, enabling the detection of the luminescence emission in a highly directional fashion as compared to the normal isotropic emission, for enhanced sensitivity and detection. The combined effect of microwaves for faster assay kinetics, with surface plasmon-coupled luminescence for sensitive luminescence measurements, has also made possible the demonstration of the use of the MA-SPCL technique for assays run in complex media, such as human serum and whole blood, where the same assay could not be performed at room temperature due to the coagulation of blood. In the MA-SPCL assay run in serum and whole blood, the luminescence intensity from 33 nM quantum dots was 75% and 20% that of the luminescence intensity from the assay run in buffer, with a signal to noise ratio of 12.5 and 3, respectively.     

Activation of lucidin-3-O-primveroside mutagenicity by hesperidinase

At the maximum dose tested, 100 μg/plate, lucidin-3-O-primveroside (LUC-Prv) exhibited mutagenic potential in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 without S9 mix but not with the addition of this preparation. When the pH of the tested system was reduced from 7.4 to 6.5, the same results were obtained. However, after hesperidinase treatment at pH 6.5, higher mutagenicity was demonstrated, and the mutagenicity of the hydrolysis product in TA100 decreased in the presence of S9 mix. When the preincubation time of the mixture was kept longer, i.e. 30, 60 and 120 min, the number of revertants in TA100 without S9 mix became higher. When the concentration of hesperidinase was varied from 5 × 10^?5 to 2.5 × 10^?2 unit, no change in the number of revertants was observed. In contrast, LUC-Prv and its hydrolysis products demonstrated no mutagenicity in TA98 by the same tested system.