ABSTRACT
Aging is a natural process that occurs in all living organisms. Particularly, the skin embodies aging since it serves as a barrier between the body and its surroundings. Previously, we reported the wound healing effect of Launaea procumbens and identified compounds therein. The study aims to explore the skin anti-aging properties of the plant extract. To that effect, the antioxidant potential of L. procumbens methanolic extract (LPM) was assessed using two complementary DPPH and FRAP assays. The enzyme inhibitory effect of the extract on collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase was evaluated to assess the direct skin anti-aging effects. Similarly, the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated to explore the indirect anti-aging effects via the assessment of extract inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). In addition, ADMET and molecular docking studies were performed to explore the interaction mechanisms of identified compounds in LPM with target enzymes. LPM demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC50 = 29.08 µg/mL) and FRAP (1214.67 µM FeSO4/g extract) assays. Plant extract showed significant inhibition of collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase (IC50 = 52.68, 43.76, 31.031, and 37.13 µg/mL, respectively). The extract demonstrated significant COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibition capacity with IC50 values of 8.635 and 10.851 µg/mL, respectively. The molecular docking study revealed the high potential of the identified compounds to bind to the active sites of enzymes crucially involved in the skin aging process. ADMET analysis of the compounds revealed their good absorption, distribution, and metabolism profiles, and they were found to be safe as well. Study findings suggest L. procumbens as a promising source for the development of natural skin anti-aging and antioxidant compounds. This, in turn, may facilitate its incorporation into cosmetic formulations after further investigation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Drug errors constitute a public health problem. The objective of our study was to describe drug circuit essential steps in the Lebanese hospitals, starting at prescription to administration, in comparison with Lebanese accreditation standards. We also evaluated technical drug errors. METHODS: A cross sectional study of all hospitals in Beirut and Mount Lebanon was carried out, where a pharmacist and a nurse per hospital answered anonymous standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: We found the drug circuit suffered from gaps in all 59 hospitals that were visited: doctors should increase efforts to clarify prescriptions and furnish necessary information for nurses, pharmacists better apply accreditation standards, and nurses verify and re-verify treatments before administration. CONCLUSION: Regulatory laws are necessary for all involved actors for best responding to the responsibility in question, that is patient security.
Subject(s)
Drug Utilization Review , Medication Errors , Medication Systems, Hospital/standards , Accreditation , Cross-Sectional Studies , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Humans , Lebanon , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Encapsulating peritonitis has been recognized as a life threatening, evolutive complication of chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Three cases are reported. Etiological factors are multiple, the diagnosis is suspected on peritoneal clinical signs, partial small bowel obstruction and impaired ultrafiltration. Barium studies and CT scan show small bowel enclosed within a peritoneal cocoon, prolonged transit time, wall thickening and a trabeculated fluid collection. Laparotomy confirms the diagnosis and reveals the pathological stage of disease. The surgical treatment consists of striping away the encapsulating membrane if possible while multiple incisions and loops release are indicated in other cases. The prognosis is poor unless an early surgical treatment is done.
