[Securing the distribution of patient-specific unit dose medication following the installation of a unit dose dispensing system: Cartography of risks a priori within a hospital pharmacy]. / Sécurisation de la dispensation individuelle et nominative suite à l'implantation d'un automate de dispensation nominative : cartographie des risques a priori au sein d'une pharmacie à usage intérieur.

INTRODUCTION: With a view to reinforcing the security of the drug distribution process, the hospital pharmacy has decided to automate the patient-specific unit dose distribution system which, up to now was performed manually, through the acquisition of a unit dose dispensing system: the ACCED S 300 (ECODEX®). The aim of this work is to realize a cartography of risks, focused on the dispensing stage, prior to the implementation of the automated system. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A multidisciplinary group applied the preliminary risk analysis (PRA) technique. The study was limited to the dispensing stage of unit doses within the hospital pharmacy. RESULTS: This analysis revealed 122 accident scenarii, including 18 with an initial unacceptable criticality (14.8 % of scenarii). In total, 140 risk management actions were proposed. These actions include: acquisition of equipment, communication and training of pharmacy staff, communication with services, human resources management and organization of working hours, writing and updating quality documents, programming the software and interfaces linked with the robot. CONCLUSION: The implementation of risk management actions should reduce the risk and contribute to avoiding the most critical scenarii. This will require the availability of human and financial resources and the implication of management.

[Severe poisonings in intensive care unit: study of announced substances in 2011]. / Intoxications graves en réanimation : étude des substances annoncées en 2011.

INTRODUCTION: To treat poisonings, physicians must rapidly make a diagnosis. As of today, exhaustive data on most frequently reported toxics are not available in France. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of announced substances at patients' admissions in intensive care unit for poisoning in 2011 at Lariboisière hospital. Announced substances were collected from anamnesis reported in patient medical records. Verbatims were harmonized and substances classified in medicinal products and three categories of non-medicinal products (recreational/addictive drugs, others, unknown nature). RESULTS: Three hundred and fifteen patients were included, with 891 announced specified substances corresponding to 198 different verbatims. Most of them (83%) are medicinal products (mainly nervous and cardiovascular system molecules). There were 13% of recreational/addictive substances, 3% of other non-medicinal substances. Of the occurrences, 1.5% represent unknown substances. DISCUSSION: These substances supposedly used in poisoning should be included in toxicology learning programs. Their dosage should be possibly performed in routine by toxicology laboratories. CONCLUSION: An ongoing study in a prospective and retrospective manner will become an observatory of the substances involved in poisoning.

A rapid method for determining the antimicrobial activity of novel natural molecules.

Preservatives used in the Agro-food industries may be of natural origin or obtained chemically. Because of the increasing interest of consumers in food products that contain only natural ingredients, studies on preservative molecules of natural origin, such as organic acids or peptides, have been reported in the past several years. Such studies, which require numerous assays, may be limited by the large amount of molecules required. Microscale assays provide an opportunity for testing natural components available in low quantity. This study examined a rapid method that used microplates for the evaluation of anti-microbial substances. The method was validated using five foodborne pathogens. It required a low amount of product and was convenient for the determination of correlations between the bacterial growth inhibition and concentration of the antimicrobial substance.

[Fluctuations of serotonin and its metabolites in the lung and intestinal mucosa in the rat infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis]. / Fluctuations de la sérotonine et de ses métabolites au niveau du poumon et du mucus intestinal chez le rat infesté par Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

The influence of parasitism on host biogenic amine levels was investigated in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infected rats. Amine levels were estimated in tissues surrounding Nematods in their biological environment: the lung and intestinal mucus. D0 being the day of infestation, tissues were obtained at 24, 30 and 45 hrs, and every day between D4 and D14 (when the rat was completely deparasited by the self-cure phenomenon). Biogenic amines belonging to the serotoninergic pathway were quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection. In the lungs and mucus, parasitism resulted in an important decrease in serotonine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels, as opposed to the immediate 5-HT precursor, the 5-hydroxy-tryptophane (5-HTP). Host response to parasitism is translated by serotoninergic pathway levels. This leads to two hypotheses: 5-HT turn-over may be accelerated, but the inhibition of 5-HT synthetic enzyme, 5-hydroxytryptophane hydroxylase, by the parasite present in the host seems more probable.

Levels of biogenic amines in larvae and adults of the rat hookworm, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda).

Norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, octopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, N-acetyldopamine, dopamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, N-acetylserotonin, tyramine, tryptophan and serotonin in larvae (third free stage and parasitic stages) and adult males and females (at defined ages during the intestinal phase) of the parasitic nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were quantified simultaneously by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Biogenic amine levels depended on the stage, the age and the sex of parasites and on environmental conditions. Their physiological roles in reproductively competent adults of this nematode are discussed in relation to exuviation and egg laying. Parallel fluctuations in free ecdysteroids and norepinephrine were observed in females from the same worm populations.

[Comparative data on biogenic amines and GABA in three Rodents Filariae]. / Données comparées sur les amines biogènes et le GABA de trois filaires de rongeurs.

Detection and quantification of biogenic amines and GABA were carried out on three adult Filariae Litomosoides carinii, Acantocheilonema viteae and Molinema dessetae obtained from Rodents. Catecholamines were under the level of detection. Indolamines and GABA levels depend on species and sex. Results are discussed in relation to the parasitism and localization in the host.

Biogenic amines in newly-ecdysed cockroaches.

1. Simultaneous quantification (HPLC and electrochemical detection) of biological extracts have shown dopamine, N-acetyl dopamine, tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine, a 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid-like substance in nervous tissue and hemolymph of Blaberus craniifer and Periplaneta americana. 2. 5-Hydroxytryptophan was only detected in head and thoraco-abdominal nerve cord. 3. Octopamine, but not N-acetyl-5-HT was quantified in the hemolymph.

Biogenic amines and GABA in the larval and adult forms of the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

1. Simultaneous detection (HPLC and electrochemical detection) of biological extracts of larval and adult stages of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis was performed in order to assay biogenic amines. 2. Gamma-amino-butyric acid was assayed in the same samples. 3. Tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were at the same level in adults and larvae. 4. 5-Hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, dihydroxyphenylalanine and dopamine were significantly higher in larvae in which gamma-amino-butyric acid was not detected.

Biogenic amine levels in the cockroach Blaberus craniifer Burm. nervous system.

1. Apart from octopamine, the same indolamines and catecholamines were detected in the whole nervous system of the cockroach Blaberus craniifer Burm., at the same time. 2. However, levels were found to depend on sex, age, and the anatomic region within the nervous system. 3. Although not established, it is thought that these substances act synchronously from the ganglia. 4. The differences in levels between males and females and between anatomical regions during imaginal life suggest, in this species of cockroach, the physiological importance of the metameric organization in metabolic pathways or functional aspects of biogenic amines.

Indolamines in the cockroach Blaberus craniifer Burm. nervous system--II. Fed and crowded young males in comparison with females.

1. Indolamines were assayed by HPLC-ECD in nervous tissue of fed and crowded young males Blaberus craniifer Burm. 2. In males, as in females housed in the same conditions, levels are depending on both age and region (= ganglia) of the central nervous system. 3. Registered sex differences are discussed in terms of anatomical, physiological and behavioral sexual dimorphism.

Indolamines in the cockroach Blaberus craniifer Burm. nervous system--I. Fed and crowded young females.

1. Indolamine levels were determined in the cerebral ganglion, the thoraco-abdominal nerve cord (except the last ganglion), and the 6th abdominal ganglion of females of Blaberus craniifer. 2. Measurements were made at the imaginal molt and on fed and crowded imagos at 10, 20 and 30 post-imaginal days. 3. Indolamines were found in the nervous system of young females, but 5-hydroxytryptophan was only detected in the thoraco-abdominal nerve cord. 4. Amine levels were related to the age of the cockroach, particularly during this period, to post-ecdysis events and ootheca formation.

Putative neurotransmitters in three experimental filariasis models.

Some putative neurotransmitters in three experimental filariasis models were investigated by a new relevant chromatographic method, sensitive and specific. No catecholaminergic compounds have been detected, but serotonin was found in Dipetalonema vitae. However, further investigations revealed very high levels of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) in the macro-filariae. These data allow us to foresee new fields in filariasis therapeutics.