Antiviral activity of flavonoids with a DNA virus [herpes simplex type 1] and RNA virus [vesicular stomatitis virus]

Cytotoxicity and antiviral activities of 38 flavones and flavonols were determined. Several general trends were observed, but the lack of consistent structure-activity relationship suggested the need to conduct additional studies under conditions which measure antiviral activity by a single mechanism or at a discrete point in the virus replication cycle. Consistent with this, seven flavonoids that exhibited substantial cytotoxicity and /or antiviral activity were examined for direct viricidal action on isolated virions prior to infection

Etiology of acute diarrhea in children: diarrheogenic escherichia coli and other infective agents

During a 5-month period, a total of 92 children diagnosed as having acute diarrhea-together with 25 normal children [controls] were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 35.5 months, children had complained of diarrhea for an average 2.6 days prior to being seen and had an average of 5.5 stools during the previous 24 hours. Rotavirus was the, most commonly isolated pathogen, it was found in 21.7% of all cases of diarrhea. ETEC was the most commonly isolated bacterial pathogen, LT and/or producing strains were found in 19.6% of stools. Other categories of diarrheagenic E. coli were found, EAEC was responsible for 2 cases, while EPEC was isolated from 6 cases. Other common bacterial pathogens included Salmonella spp. found in 3.3%, Shigella. spp. found in 2.2%, and Campylobacter jejuni coli found in 4.3% of stool specimens. Bacterial enteropathogens were identified in 41.3% of 92 patients. Oocytes of cryptosporidium were found in the stools of 5 patients [5.4%] and trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were found in the stools of 3 patients [3.3%] and 6 patients [6.5%] respectively. Mixed infections were found in 5 cases

Molecular characterization of plasmid content of penicillinase-and non-penicillinase-producing neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and its epidemiologic correlate

A total number of 40 gonococcal strains isolated from patients were classified according to the production of beta-Iactamase [penicillinase] enzyme into 32 penicillinase-producing [PPNG] and 8 non- penicillinase-producing [non-PPNG] strains. Plasmid DNA was extracted from all 32 PPNG strains and 7 non-PPNG strains and was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Twenty three PPNG strains showed an identical. plasmid profile composed of 3 different plasmid species having masses of 2.6-, 24.5, and 24.5 - Md, 5 PPNG strains carried only the 2.6- and 4.5- Md plasmid, whereas the remaining 4 PPNG strains harboured a 3.2- Md plasmid in addition to the 2.6- Md plasmid. Out of the 8 non-PPNG strains 7 carried the 2.6- Md plasmid, but only 1 carried the 24.5- Md plasmid in addition and I was plasmid- free. Epidemiologically, it was found that 20 [83%] of the 24 PPNG strains isolated from patients who contracted the gonococcal infection in the Far East carried the 3 different plasmids 2.6-, 4.5, and 24.5- Md, thus all contained the 4.5- Md [Asia] plasmid. The 4 PPNG strains isolated from men who contracted infection in Moroco contained the 2.6-Md plus the 3.2-Md [Africa] plasmid. On the other hand, the 4 PPNG strains isolated from men returning from Turkey had 2 different plasmid profiles, 3 strains carried the 3 different plasmid 2.6-, 4.5, and 24.5-Md and 1 strain carried the 2 different plasmids 2.6, and 4.5- MD

Different auxotypes of neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and their patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility to four antibiotics

In a rabbit corneal model inoculated with Aspergillus flavus, the authors studied the effect of pH variation on the efficacy of topical Ketoconanzole 2% in the treatment of the fungal keratitis. Boric acid 4%, sodium bicarbonate 3% and neutral saline were adminstered prior to Ketoconazole drops in three different groups for five days. Through a microbiological study of the mean counts of CFU cornea, the Ketoconazole treated eyes in acidic pH gave the least count, which was statistically significant [0.01> p>0.001] when compared to their control eyes and also significant [0.02 > p>0.01] when compared to Ketoconazole in alkaline medium. This was confirmed by the in vitro testing as the Ketoconazole dissolved in Boric acid, gave a larger inhibition zone. In conclusion, the authors observed that the drug produced its best therapeutic effect in the acidic medium in comparison to the alkaline or neutral media