Effect of lycopene on As2O3 induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells.

It is known that oxidative stress may cause neuronal injury and several experimental models showed that As2O3 exposure causes oxidative stress. Lycopene, a carotenoid, has been shown to have protective effect in neurological disease models due to antioxidant activity, but its effect on As2O3-induced neurotoxicity is not identified yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of lycopene on As2O3-induced neuronal damage and the related mechanisms. Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. Lycopene was administrated with different concentrations (2, 4, 6 and 8 µM) one hour before 2 µM As2O3 exposure in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The anti-oxidant effect of lycopene was determined by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS). MTT results and LDH cytotoxicity analyses showed that pretreatment with 8 µM lycopene significantly improved the toxicity due to As2O3 exposure in SH­SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Pretreatment with lycopene significantly increased the activities of anti­oxidative enzymes as well as total antioxidant status and decreased total oxidative status in As2O3 exposed cells. The results of this study indicate that lycopene may be a potent neuroprotective against oxidative stress and could be used to prevent neuronal injury or death in several neurological diseases.

Evaluation of antibiotic use among hospitalised patients in a paediatric department of a training hospital in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are widely used and inaccurate or inappropriate prescription of antibiotics causes a significant increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections among children. This research aimed to study antibiotic prescriptions in hospitalised paediatric patients and to determine the prevalence of inappropriate antimicrobial use and the main types of prescribing errors. METHODS: After obtaining the Ethics Committee approval, screening was conducted among 535 patients admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital in the period from 01 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 who had been treated with an antibiotic. Patients' demographics, diagnosis and antibiotic therapy details were collected using a standardised case report form and assessed by a clinical pharmacologist and an infectious disease specialist regarding the convenience and accurateness of prescription of antibiotics. RESULTS: Out of 535 antibiotic prescriptions, single antibiotics were used inappropriately in 216 (56.10%) of the patients and there were 39 (26%) unnecessary antibiotic combinations. Most of the errors were made in the dose frequency (55.69%), followed by indication (25.88%), administration route (16.08%) and dosage (2.67%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that a high level of antibiotics in the paediatric clinic was misprescribed. Inappropriate usage increases the chances of microbial resistance and the cost of treatment. Precautions should be taken in this regard.

Evaluation of potential drug-drug interactions in a pediatric population.

AIM: A large number of medications are prescribed in pediatric clinics and this leads to the development of drug-drug interactions (DDI) that may complicate the course of the disease. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions, to categorize main drug classes involved in severe drug-drug interactions and to highlight clinically relevant DDIs in a pediatric population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1500 prescriptions during the 12-month study period were retrospectively reviewed; 510 prescriptions that comprised two or more drugs were included in study. The presence of potential drug-drug interactions was identified by using the Lexi-Interact database and categorized according to severity A (unknown), B (minor), C (moderate), D (major), and X (contraindicated). RESULTS: There were 1498 drugs in 510 prescriptions; 253 of these (49.6%) included 2 drugs, 228 (44.7%) included 3-4 drugs, and 29 (5.6%) included ≥5 drugs. A total of 634 (42%) potential drug-drug interactions were idenfied. Among those, 271 (42.7%) were categorized as A, 284 (44.8%) as B, 53 (8.4%) as C, and 26 (4.1%) as D. There was no potential risk for X interaction. Anti-infectives (36%) were the most commonly prescribed drug classes involved in C and/or D categories. Clarithromycin was the most commonly interacting agent that interfered with budesonide. CONCLUSION: It is noteworthy that a significant number of drugs causing potential drug-drug interactions are prescribed together in pediatric clinics. Increasing the awareness of physicians on this issue will prevent potential complications and ensure patient safety.

Information technologies in education of medical students at the university of sarajevo.

INTRODUCTION: Information and communication technology have brought about many changes in medical education and practice, especially in the field of diagnostics. During the academic year 2013/2014, at Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, students in the final year of the study were subjected to examination which aim was to determine how medical students in Bosnia and Herzegovina subjectively assessing their skills for using computers, have gained insight into the nature of Information Technology's (IT) education and possessive knowledge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey was conducted voluntary by anonymous questionnaire consisting of 27 questions, divided into five categories, which are collecting facts about student's: sex, age, year of entry, computer skills, possessing the same, the use of the Internet, the method of obtaining currently knowledge and recommendations of students in order to improve their IT training. RESULTS OF THE STUDY: According to the given parameters, indicate an obvious difference in the level of knowledge, use and practical application of Information Technology's knowledge among students of the Bologna process to the students educated under the old system in favor of the first ones. Based on a comparison of similar studies conducted in Croatia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Denmark, it was observed that the level of knowledge of students of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo was of equal height or greater than in these countries.

Ethics in medical research and publication.

To present the basic principles and standards of Ethics in medical research and publishing, as well as the need for continuing education in the principles and ethics in science and publication in biomedicine. An analysis of relevant materials and documents, sources from the published literature. Investing in education of researches and potential researches, already in the level of medical schools. Educating them on research ethics, what constitutes research misconduct and the seriousness of it repercussion is essential for finding a solution to this problem and ensuring careers are constructed on honesty and integrity.