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Editor’s Choice : Gastrografin Enemas for Treatment of Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
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Abstract: Background: Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) presents in both children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). When DIOS is characterized by bilious vomiting or when washout therapy with polyethylene glycol has failed, radio-opaque hypertonic enema (ROHE) is recommended as the next therapeutic option. Techniques for use of ROHE in infants with meconium ileus are described in the literature but have not been reported for children and adults with DIOS. Methods: We described the technique, volume, and results of Gastrografin enema usage for DIOS in children and adults with CF at our institution between 2006 and 2011. We reviewed the incidence of DIOS reported to the CF Foundation Patient Registry (CFFPR) between 2001 and 2011 Results: The mean amount of dilute Gastrografin used was 1220ml or 31 ml/kg, (range 240 - 3500ml; 19 – 59 ml/kg). Three patients had incomplete resolution after an initial enema and underwent repeat enemas on consecutive days. The incidence of DIOS in the CFFPR increased from 223 to 498 cases in children <18 years and 380 to 813 cases in adults >18 years over the ten year period studied. Conclusions: Large volume radio-opaque hypertonic enemas can resolve episodes of acute DIOS and can be repeated on subsequent days if needed, without complications. The incidence of DIOS reported to the United States CF Foundation Patient Registry has increased in both children and adults over the past decade. Keywords: Therapeutic intervention, radio-opaque hypertonic enema, DIOS.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Health Concerns on Microbiological Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Sold in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Abstract: Background: Dar es Salaam City has over 10 million habitants, who are constantly circumvented by water-borne diseases. The city experiences humid and hot weather throughout a year, which lead to high consumption of bottled drinking water because of being perceived as safer than tap or well water. Waterborne disease outbreaks still create havoc among the city habitants. This study determines heterotrophic plate count (HPC) values in bottled water and performs antimicrobial resistance tests on isolated microorganisms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Fifty-four samples of bottled water were randomly purchased from shops, supermarkets and streetvendors. HPC values were determined and microbial contaminants identified. The disk diffusion method was employed for testing antimicrobial resistance of microbial contaminants against four widely used antibiotics. Results: HPC values were variable (4.7 x102 to 7.0 x105 cfu/ml). Majority (86.7%) of analyzed samples revealed high HPC values. Four bacterial species were isolated and identified from 47 samples. Predominant bacterial contaminants were Brevundimonasvesicularis (54.5%), while Pseudomonas thomasii was only isolated from one brand A sample.Brand E samples had the highest HPC values (2.2 x 104 to 2.16 x105 cfu/ml) while F samples were free from microbial contaminants. A total of 21 (46.7%) bacterial isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics namely ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. Conclusion: Of 54 analyzed bottled water samples, 47 had high HPC values. High rates of antibacterial resistance was exerted against ciprofloxacin (68.2%) and ampicillin (56%). This calls for responsible authorities to impose more stringent measures on in-process quality control among bottled water producers and indefatigably conduct post- production surveillance to avert the endemic water-borne outbreaks resulting from consumption of such products. Keywords: Bioequivalence, Outliers, Likelihood distance, Estimated distance, Principal, Component.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Inhibitory Effect of a Combined Treatment of Glycyrrhizin and Caffeine on Tumor Promotion by 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate in Two-Stage Carcinogenesis in Mouse Skin
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Abstract: Cancer prevention is an important problem in the field of public health. Glycyrrhizin, a natural sweetening agent, is one of the components of licorice and caffeine in coffee and tea. Glycyrrhizin and caffeine were found to inhibit tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. Furthermore, the combined treatment of glycyrrhizin and caffeine is more effective than their single treatment on tumor promotion by TPA in mice following initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Keywords: Glycyrrhizin, caffeine, combination therapy, antitumor promotion, two-stage carcinogenesis.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Isostichopus badionotus, a Sea Cucumber from Yucatan Peninsula Coast
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Abstract: The in vitro cytotoxic activity of hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of the sea-cucumber Isostichopus badionotus (Holothuroidea) was tested against normal cells (Vero), human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7 andMDA-MB-231) ATCC cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Hexane extracts from body walls and viscera showed high cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells (IC50’s = 48.5 and 42.5 µg mL-1, respectively), while the ethyl acetate extract of body walls was considered low active (IC50 = 98.3μg mL-1). In addition, the body walls hexane extract showed a good selectivity index value of 12.0. Keywords: Holothurian, organic extracts, selectivity index, HeLa cells.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Inhibitory Effects of the Edible Mushroom Flammulina velutipes on Lipid Accumulation in 3T3-L1 Cells
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Abstract: We investigated the inhibitory effect of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes on intracellular lipid accumulation. Among the five fractions of the F. velutipes extract, the acetone fraction had an inhibitory effect on intracellular lipid accumulation. Seven known compounds were isolated from the acetone fraction: methyl linoleate, methyl γ-linolenate, ergosterol, ergosta-5,7-dien-3b-ol, ergost-7-en-3b-ol, ergosterol peroxide, and 5,6-epoxy-24(R)-methylcholesta-7,22-dien-3b-ol. Ergosterol peroxide exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the intracellular lipid accumulation. Our results indicate that ergosterol peroxide may be important as an anti-obesity agent since it inhibits the metabolic syndrome. Keywords: Flammulina velutipes, ergosterol peroxide, 3T3-L1 cells, lipid accumulation.Download Full Article |