use and misuse of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections

This review aims to document the excessive use and misuse of antibiotics for the treatment of upper respiratory tract injection [URTI]. This issue constitutes a world wide public health threat particularly in the Middle East. Factors contributing to this health threat including human behaviours that influence the non discriminatory use of antibiotics [with or without prescription] will be discussed. Evidence for the negative consequences of this phenomenon on human health and health care costs will be documented and current approaches to overcome this problem will be explored. The review supports the notion that URTI is the most common reason for consulting a general practitioner and for prescribing antibiotics in primary health care centres. Evidence is provided to indicate that human behaviours on both the physician and patient sides play a major role in over prescribing of antibiotics for these self limiting conditions. It is concluded that inappropriate use of antibiotics for the treatment of URTI has led to the development of resistant respiratory pathogens with serious public health implications combined with inflation of health care costs. We contend that educational intervention programmes for physicians in primary health care practice, plus health educational programmes on URTI and use of antibiotics for the public may improve antibiotic prescribing quality

Alterations in vascular reactivity in single- and double-transgenic mice coexpressing human APP-C100 and mutant SOD(1) genes / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism underlying changes in microvascular reactivity in single- and double-transgenic mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral vascular reactivity to the vasodilators, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, on perfused microvasculature of the hind footpad was investigated using nontransgenic mice, single-transgenic mice expressing the human APP-C100 (TgC100. WT or TgC100. V717F) and double-transgenic mice coexpressing human APP-C100 and human SOD(1) (G93A) genes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Single TgC100 and double Tg mice C100/SOD(1) (G93A) at 2 - 3 months old showed a statistical decrease of 28% in blood flux compared to nontransgenic control mice. In addition, vasodilative responsiveness was markedly reduced to 34% in 8 - 9 months old TgC100 mice compared to control mice. There was no significant difference in the profile of vasodilative reaction between TgC100. WT and TgC100. V717F mice. TgC100 and double Tg mice also had higher levels of A beta peptide in plasma than nontransgenic mice (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present study suggests that the altered reactivity of the microvasculature may be mediated by circulating soluble A beta peptides. The mechanisms underlying the vasoactivity of circulating A beta in TgC100 and double Tg mice may involve both the endothelium and nonendothelium.</p>

Toxicological response of phormidium fragile to mercury

The effects of different concentrations of mercury on cyanobacterium Phormidium fragile were studied. The results revealed that dry biomass yield, protein content, chlorophyll a and carotenoids decreased with an increased concentration of mercury from 0.01 to 1.5 ppm. Also, malate dehydrogenase [MDH], glutamate dehydrogenase [GIDH] and nitrate reductase activity were affected by an increased metal concentration, whereas glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase [GOT] and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase [GFT] were hardly affected. Mercury uptake increased at the higher levels of the metal. On the other hand, all the amino acid components gradually increased with the rise of the metal level, except isoleucine, histidine and methionine which were suppressed by the smaller doses and completely disappeared by the larger doses of the metal

Physiological responses of phormidium fragile to naphthalene

The cyanobacterium, Phormidium fragile, was grown in culture media containing different concentrations of naphthalene. Tests were carried out under conditions allowing relatively free evaporation and volatilization of the hydrocarbon [open system] and in closed system in which hydrocarbon loss was minimized [closed system]. Under the former condition, the various naphthalene concentrations invariably affected dry weight gain of the organism. On the other hand, under the closed system, the dry weight decreased significantly. Under both cultural conditions, the algal protein content decreased, while the nucleic acids content was slightly affected by the type of cultural system. The alga accumulated larger amounts of carbohydrates under closed than open systems. Under the latter condition, naphthalene insignificantly affected MDH and stimulated GOT activity. On the contrary, under the closed system, MDH activity was stimulated by naphthalene, whereas GOT activity was hardly affected. Under both conditions, nitrate reductase was insensitive to naphthalene supplementation, while GPT activity increased at low concentrations, then dropped. There was a continuous increase in the different photosynthetic pigments with increased naphthalene concentrations. In the meantime, the lipid content of the alga was much higher under closed than open systems

Preliminary study on the impact of preaziquantel on phormidium fragile

This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of increasing concentrations of antischistosomal drug, Praziquantel on growth, pigmentation, enzyme activities, protein and nucleic acids contents of a common cyanobacterium, Phormidium fragile. The statistical analysis revealed that dry biomass yield, chlorophyll a and carotenoids decreased as the drug concentration in the test media increased. On the other hand, the different concentrations of the drug had a stimulatory effect on the protein accumulation as well as the activities of nitrate reductase, GOT, GPT and malate dehydrogenase. Small doses of the drug increased the accumulation of RNA, DNA, phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, while the higher doses suppressed their contents. Phycocyanin seemed to be hardly affected by the addition of the chiral drug

Impact of antimony on some physiological aspects of phormidium fragile; interaction with bivalent cations

The response of cyanobacterium, Phormidium fragile, to different concentrations of antimony and its interaction with calcium and/or cadmium had been studied. The results demonstrated that algal dry weight gain was stimulated by low doses application. Algal protein content, chlorophyll a and carotenoids significantly decreased with an increasing antimony concentration. On the other hand, antimony uptake increased with an increasing metal concentration in the external medium. The presence of calcium and cadmium in the antimony media lowered dry biomass gain and protein content. On the other hand, the combination of the three metals favored a better accumulation of pigments and greater metal uptake, especially at larger than lower dose of antimony. The effects of different concentrations of antimony as well as the interactive effects of calcium and/or cadmium on the contents and composition of the amino acids of the cyanobacterium were also discussed