In-vitro activity of the synthetic protegrin IB-367 alone and in combination with antifungal agents against clinical isolates of Candida spp.

The in vitro activity of the peptide IB-367, alone or combined with either fluconazole (FLU) or amphotericin B (AMB), was investigated against 25 Candida isolates belonging to five species. IB-367 minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 2.0 to 32 microg/ml and it was active against both FLU-susceptible and - resistant isolates. A rapid fungicidal activity was observed. Synergism was documented in 41.6% and 44% of IB-367/FLU and IB-367/AMB interactions, respectively. Antagonism was never observed. The broad antifungal activity and the positive interactions with AMB and FLU suggest that IB-367 represents a promising candidate against infections due to Candida spp.

In vitro release of cisplatin from sol-gel processed porous silica xerogels.

Cisplatin an antineoplastic medicine, was incorporated into a silica gel received by the sol-gel method. Various techniques of trapping an active substance in gel were applied: at the stage of sol creation--by the predoping method--and already upon receipt of hard xerogel--the postdoping method. Further, the research aimed at the determination of the dynamics of cisplatin release from sol-gel processed silica xerogel to the water phase. Based on the achieved results, we may state that the sol-gel method is useful for trapping a medicine like cisplatin in silica gel and gives repeatable results with regard to medicine release from the pores of the so-established matrix. The postdoping method appeared to be more beneficial, because the gained gel's active substance is released almost entirely (94-96%). The time of release was 3 days.

Determination of polydimethylsiloxanes by 1H-NMR in wine and edible oils.

Fourier transform (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was suitable for the quantitative determination of polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) in wine and edible oil samples. This approach offers highly specific qualitative and quantitative analysis due to silicone-specific location of proton signals linked to carbon atoms located directly next to silicon atoms (0-0.5 ppm), as well as a different location of signals in the range for different organosilicon structures. The method can be used for the control of PDMS at regulatory limits in foodstuffs (10 mg kg(-1)) using hexamethyldisiloxane (HDMS) as an internal standard. Samples were prepared by extraction under suitable conditions to separate the analyte, and with analyte enrichment before (1)H-NMR analysis. Analytical procedures were developed to permit the determination of PDMS at 0.06 mg kg(-1) in wine and at 6 mg kg(-1) in edible oils samples using readily available NMR instrumentation. It was, however, possible to lower the limit of detection to 6 microg kg(-1) for wine and to 60 microg kg(-1) for edible oils using a higher field instrument (500 MHz). Relative standard deviations (S(r)) were obtained for wine (0.028) and for oil samples (0.043), which when compared with values obtained for samples spiked with PDMS (0.021) indicated that the sample preparation was the main factor determining the precision of the method. The average recovery rates for PDMS were 97 and 95% for wine and edible oils, respectively. PDMS was detected in four brands of Italian wine, with Chianti-Rafaello containing the highest concentration (0.35 mg kg(-1)), and in four types of edible oils, highest concentration (11.9 mg kg(-1)) being found in Italian corn oil. None of the levels of PDMS found in the food samples exceeded the permissible standards laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (10 mg kg(-1)), with the exception of the one corn oil sample.

Administration of protegrin peptide IB-367 to prevent endotoxin induced mortality in bile duct ligated rats.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative morbidity in patients with obstructive jaundice remains high because of increased susceptibility to endotoxin and the inflammatory cascade. AIMS: An experimental study was designed to investigate the efficacy of protegrin peptide IB-367, an antimicrobial positively charged peptide, in neutralising Escherichia coli 0111:B4 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bile duct ligated rats. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2 mg/kg E coli 0111:B4 LPS one week after sham operation or bile duct ligation (BDL). Six groups were studied: sham with placebo, sham with 120 mg/kg tazobactam-piperacillin (TZP), sham with 1 mg/kg IB-367, BDL with placebo, BDL with 120 mg/kg TZP, and BDL with 1 mg/kg IB-367. RESULTS: Main outcome measures were: endotoxin and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations in plasma, evidence of bacterial translocation in blood and peritoneum, and lethality. After LPS, TNF-alpha plasma levels were significantly higher in BDL rats compared with sham operated animals. IB-367 caused a significant reduction in plasma endotoxin and TNF-alpha concentrations compared with placebo and TZP treated groups. In contrast, both TZP and IB-367 significantly reduced bacterial growth compared with saline treatment. Finally, LPS induced 60% and 55% lethality in BDL placebo and TZP treated rats and no lethality in sham operated rats, while only IB-367 significantly reduced lethality to 10%. CONCLUSIONS: By virtue of its dual antimicrobial and antiendotoxin properties, IB-367 could be an interesting compound to inhibit bacterial translocation and endotoxin release in obstructive jaundice.

Lithium carbonate 24-hour extended-release capsule filled with 6 mm tablets.

A 24-h extended-release multiparticulate capsule containing a dose of 500 mg of lithium carbonate divided into 6 tablets 6 mm in size was produced. In order to achieve an immediate and prolonged drug release profile one uncoated tablet and 5 tablets coated with methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate copolymer Kollicoat MAE30DP were filled into a capsule. The core of tablets consisted of microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, povidone, macrogol and magnesium stearate.

[Polydimethylsiloxanes as food additive: improper recommendations]. / Polidimetylosiloksany jako substancja dodatkowa do zywnosci--bledne rekomendacje.

The paper signaled a mistake in JECFA recommendations on molecular masses of polidimethylosiloxanes used as food additive and reviewed published data on intestinal absorption of siloxanes.

[Low zinc levels in metabolic X syndrome (mzX) patients measured by hair zinc composition analysis]. / Niski poziom cynku u chorych z metabolicznym zespolem X (mzX) stwierdzany w oparciu o analize zawartosci tego pierwiastka we wlosach.

The hair zinc content in 16 patients with metabolic X syndrome (mzX) was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry method. The mean concentration (125.13 mg/kg) was lower than in the majority of other published studies. The differences among groups of patients with different sex or diseases (e.g. coronary heart disease, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus) were not significant. It seems to be probably that deficiency of zinc plays a role in pathogenesis of mzX or that it is a consequence of mzX.

Influence of 1-(alkylamino)silatranes and isoniazid on the antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide in mice bearing Sa 180 tumors.

It was the aim of our investigations to increase the antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide. Therefore we applied a combined treatment with silatranes and isoniazid in relation 1:20:1. The effects were directed against a transplantable sarcoma 180. The parablastomatous invasive zone and the regional lymph nodes draining an implanted tumor were taken for the histochemical and morphological studies. The doses ranged from 50 to 175 mg of body mass. The combined derivatives inhibited tumor growth by 70% in relation to the control. The authors connect the limitation of tumor progression in the applied experimental model in mice with the active response of T dependent zone of the regional lymph nodes, the rebuilding of stroma within the borderline invasive zone and the changes within the composition of cellular immune response of the peritumor tissue.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of ethoxypolysiloxan oil emulsion in radiological practice]. / Ocena przydatnosci emulsji oleju etoksypolisiloksanowego EPS w praktyce radiologicznej.

The ethoxypolisiloxan (EPS) oil glycol emulsion in radiology has been proved to have the LD50 value of 14,5 g/kg. This means that this emulsion is low toxic. The antifoaming efficiency of EPS emulsion was compared with that of Endo-Paractol. It was found that the effects comparable what proves the value of the EPS emulsion, the more so that the production costs are relatively low. The radiological clinical investigation confirmed the usefulness of the X-ray contrast in examinations of the gastrointestinal treat.