ABSTRACT
Several environmental conditions were identified to influence the growth and morphogenesis of Candida albicans. The present study quantitatively examined the growth rate and described the kinetic profile of C. albicans under different pH, temperature, and culture medium. When C. albicans was monitored over the 12-h period under different culture media, temperature values, and pH levels, the growth kinetic profile of the organism behaved in accordance with the first-order rate equation. The organism exhibited a relatively faster growth rate when incubated at 37ºC in modified Sabouraud glucose broth medium with pH 7.4. Moreover, the growth profile exhibited a linear pattern between 1.5 h and 6 h after inoculation of C. albicans culture which coincides with the mycelium production, and subsequently shifted to an exponential increase beyond 6 h. Given the environmental conditions selectively supporting the growth and morphogenesis of C. albicans, quantitative descriptions of the rate kinetic profile of C. albicans population offer an objective approach in comparing environmental conditions with varying physicochemical characteristics and biochemical compositions.
ABSTRACT
Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is a major public health problem in tropical areas such as the Philippines. A significant portion of the population in the Philippines consists of people located in the provinces as well as hard to reach localities that often cater to fishing and rural communities. Objectives: This study determined the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections, helminth densities, and relevant risk factors associated with helminth infections among grade school children. Materials and Methods: In July 2015, the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths among Kindergarten to Grade 10 pupils in Jaime Hilario Integrated School-La Salle (JHIS-LS) in Bagac, Bataan, Philippines was determined using Kato-Katz technique. Moreover, socio-demographic profile including sex, age, and hygiene and sanitation practices of the pupils were obtained. Results: Of the 110 pupils, a prevalence rate of 6.36% with at least one STH infection was identified. The predominant parasites were Trichuris trichiura (56%), Ascaris lumbricoides (22%) and Enterobius vermicularis (22%). T. trichiura was identified in single infection while A. lumbricoides and E. vermicularis were found in mixed infections. Of the socio-demographic characteristics of the pupils, the use of soap in washing hands is a protective factor against helminth infections (OR=0.15, 95% CI: 0.02-0.97). Conclusion: Further studies using different STH diagnostic procedures must be done and other risk factors associated with STH must be identified.
ABSTRACT
Biofilm formed by Candida albicans on latex silicone surfaces was characterized by instrumental techniques such as fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The growth and viability of C. albicans on the biofilm formed were described using different kinetic rate equations. C. albicans biofilm has a complex and heterogenous structure with hyphal elements and yeast cells entrenched within a polysaccharide matrix. Spectroscopic studies revealed specific stretching frequencies of O-H, C-O, and C=O which can be attributed to the presence of some functionalities in the biofilm formed by C. albicans. Viability of C. albicans behaved in accordance with the first-order kinetic equation on the first 48 h, then shifted to a second-order kinetic equation until the 72 h, and had a doubling time of 70 h. Information on model biofilms with emphasis on growth rates and morphogenesis, structural organization, and physicochemical characteristics can possibly explain resistance to some antifungal treatments and subsequent synthesis of newer generation drugs for fungal biofilm-related infections.
ABSTRACT
Adsorption isotherm and thermodynamic profile of hexavalent chromium onto lumbang (Aleurites moluccana) activated carbon chitosan composite crosslinked with epichlorohydrin were studied. The optimum conditions were identified at pH 3, contact time of 75 min, adsorbent dose of 3 g/L, initial concentration of 60 ppm, and 30ºC temperature resulted to a removal efficiency of 93%. The composite has a round and elliptical adsorption sites, contains –OH and –NH2 functional groups, and has increased stability with epichlorohydrin crosslinking. The adsorption process is best characterized by the Langmuir isotherm suggesting a monolayer adsorption nature of Cr(VI). The adsorption kinetics obeyed the pseudo-second order model and the adsorption process is exothermic. The investigated adsorption phenomenon described a chemisorption process, with 21.32 kJ mol-1 mean free energy, due to the functional groups identified and the high porosity of the adsorbent surfaces.
ABSTRACT
Objective: A computational approach was employed to determine the interaction of molecular descriptors and the biological activity of the different fragments of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs). Methods: Using multiple linear regression analysis and leave-one-out validation method, a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed to relate the biological activity (log IC50) of the different fragment-sized compounds against HIV-1 RT(WT) DNA-dependent DNA polymerase and molecular descriptors of these compounds. Results: QSAR model identified dipole moment, solvation energy, and ovality of fragment-sized compounds to confer reverse transcriptase inhibitory action. A highly significant correlation with log P, molecular weight, polarizability, molecular energy, zero-point energy, constant volume heat capacity at 298 K, and entropy was identified to account for the variations in the potency of RTIs. An increase in ovality, log P, and molecular weight of the fragment-sized compound renders a more active reverse transcriptase inhibition. Conclusion: The quality of the established QSAR model has been validated and demonstrates its potential as a tool for computational design and synthesis of next generation RTIs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients' understanding of prescriptions is one of the key elements to a successful treatment. In the Philippines, patients do not have the benefit of having pharmacists explaining the prescription when they purchase their medicines. Inability to understand and follow prescriptions may, therefore, contribute to medication non-compliance, which leads to unwanted disease progression, complications, and even premature death. OBJECTIVE: To assess the understanding of Filipino patients of prescriptions given by their doctors and to identify the factors that significantly affect their understanding. METHODS: In total, 392 individuals, using purposive sampling, were interviewed from pharmacies around a government hospital outpatient department (OPD), a private hospital OPD, private clinics, and local health centers in Manila, Philippines. The patients' knowledge about the proper intake of the prescribed drugs was assessed and the factors that were deemed to affect their understanding were then identified. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated according to the various study factors included in the study to measure the association between each study variable and incomplete understanding of prescriptions. A multivariate logistics regression model was constructed applying a stepwise procedure to enter variables in the model. RESULTS: Among the 392 participants, 219(55.9%) patients had an incomplete understanding of prescriptions, 176 (44.9%) were not able to identify the correct dose of the prescribed drug, followed by 103(26.3%) who were not able to identify the name of the drug. Multivariate logistics regression analysis identified only three independent variables to be statistically significant predisposing factors to incomplete understanding of prescriptions: non-legible prescriptions (OR=4.598, 95% CI 2.671-7.913), prescriptions with an incomplete set of written instructions (OR=2.108, 95% CI 1.234-3.601), and patient having had no previous use of the prescribed drug or a similar drug (OR=2.126, 95% CI 1.361-3.320). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that physicians play an important role in promoting complete understanding of prescriptions. Non-legible prescriptions and prescriptions with an incomplete set of written instructions were found to significantly affect patients' understanding of prescriptions. Physicians should also be more careful in instructing patients who will take the prescribed medications for the first time. These information may be used to enhance better understanding of prescriptions among patients and thereby prevent non-compliance and treatment failure.