role of enchinacea purpurea against immuno - supressive effect of dimethoate on male albino rat

Dimethoate, an organophosphate pesticide, is used in controlling the pests of a variety of crops. Herbal medicine is the most widely used form of medicine in the world today where the medicinal plants contain many curative bioactive ingredients. The present work was planned to evaluate the potential protective effect of Enchinacea purpurea [EP] against the immunotoxic effect induced by dimethoate in adult male albino rats. Rats were classified into four groups [10 in each]. Rats in the 1[st] group received no treatment and served as control. Rats in the 2[nd] group were orally administered dimethoate 40%EC in a dose level of 3mg / kg bw. Equivalent to 1/10 LD50. Rats in the 3[rd] group were orally administered EP [Immulant] in a dose level of 2.5 ml/kg bw. The fourth group was treated with dimethoate 40%EC as in group II in addition to EP in a dose level as in the third group. Administration of tested substances was carried out daily for successive 7 days. Rats from treated as well as from control group were injected IP with [1-2x10[8]] sheep RBCs as non specific antigen. After 7 and 14 days from injection of sheep RBCs [SRBCs] five rats from each group were taken, blood and tissue samples were collected. The present data revealed a significant decrease in WBCs count [leucopenia], neutrophillia and lymphocytpenia with lower haemagglutination inhibition antibody titre [HI] and significant decrease in IgM in serum samples from dimethoate treated rats. Also in the same group there was a significant decrease in serum thymus were recorded in dimethoate treated group. EP supplementation induced appreciable improvement in all previous abnormal alterations observed in dimethoate treated rats. Therefore, this study revealed that EP exhibit marked protective role against the toxic effect of dimethoate on immune system of male albino rats

Comparison of BBL chromagar MRSA to conventional media for the detection of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in surveillance nasal swabs

Objectives This study aims to detect MRSA nasal carriers among medical staff and patients in Dermatology ward Hospital Kuala Lumpur by using two methods, the conventional blood sheep agar (BSA) and the novel BBL CHROMagar MRSA (C-MRSA). It also aims to compare the BSA medium with the C-MRSA medium in terms of specificity, sensitivity and time to detection to MRSA. Method A single centre, prospective study where 100 nasal swab samples were taken from medical staff and inpatients, then plated on to both BSA and C-MRSA. After 24 hours incubation, the plates were examined for presence of bacterial colonies, then incubated for another 24 hours if no colonies were present. All colonies on C-MRSA and BSA were subjected to coagulase and susceptibility testing for confirmation of MRSA. MRSA strains produce mauve colonies on CMRSA from hydrolysis of the chromogenic substance, thus C-MRSA uses colour as a diagnostic tool. Results Mauve colonies were present on nine C-MRSA plates in the first 24 hours which were all confirmed to be MRSA. Another nine CMRSA plates isolated bluish colonies which were not MRSA. There were colonies on 96 BSA plates, nine of which were MRSA. C-MRSA medium has 100% sensitivity and specificity in detecting MRSA. Both culture media had similar detection rates of MRSA from nasal swabs, however C-MRSA allows for earlier detection of MRSA within 24 hours compared to BSA which takes 48 hours. 2.2% of ward staff and 15.7% of inpatients were found to be MRSA carriers. Conclusion CHROMagar MRSA allows for more rapid identification of MRSA carriers within 24 hours compared to the conventional BSA which takes 48 hours. This allows earlier action to be taken to reduce the spread of MRSA infection.