Common Chemical Agents Research Articles

Application of questionnaires in studying the frequency of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome

BACKGROUND: Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome is a set of adverse physiological reactions of the human body to exposure to common chemical agents in low doses, which are considered non-toxic to the population. AIM: To study the frequency and characteristics of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome manifestation using the Russified questionnaire Quick Environment Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the pilot study, 468 people undergoing a preventive medical examination were surveyed (232 men, average age 34.2±9.3 years, and 236 women, average age 42.9±13.8 years). To assess multiple chemical sensitivity, an analysis of three subscales of the Russified validated QEESI questionnaire (chemical intolerance, severity of symptoms, and impact on everyday life) was used. The statistical significance of differences in relative indicators was assessed using the Pearson χ2 criterion. Absolute indicators were presented as M (SD). Relationships and differences in indicators were considered statistically significant at p 0.05. RESULTS: The frequency of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome was 45.5%, 51.7% of patients had concomitant diseases. The frequency of comorbidities with and without multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome was comparable: allergic diseases — 25.6 vs 17.5%, χ2=3.84, p=0.069; irritable bowel syndrome — 8.1 vs 10.9%, χ2=3.648, p=0.057; migraine — 11 vs 10.5%, χ2=0.642, p=0.424. Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome was more often detected in women (74.3 vs 25.6%, χ2=5.76, p=0.001) and patients with a sedentary lifestyle (58.3 vs 24.8% χ2=11.9; p=0.01). In patients with multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, the most common central nervous system complaints were mood lability (26.5 vs 11.3%, χ2=18.936, p=0.003), headaches (27.4 vs 10.5%, χ2=7.555, p=0.006); in the gastrointestinal tract — nausea (13.7 vs 7.6%, χ2=4.826, p=0.029), abdominal pain (10.9 vs 5.5%, χ2=4.178, p=0.041). CONCLUSION: A high frequency of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (45.5%) was revealed, which was typical for women and patients with a sedentary lifestyle. Patients with this syndrome significantly more often reported complaints from the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

The Effect of Resveratrol on Gamma Globin Gene Expression in Patients with Beta Thalassemia: The Role of Adaptation to Cellular Stress

HbF induction is an appropriate strategy to ameliorate the severity of β-thalassemia symptoms. Hydroxyurea (HU) is the most common chemical agent introduced as an HbF inducer but responsiveness to HU is variable and the introduction of HbF inducers alternative to HU with low cytotoxicity has been a crucial challenge. Resveratrol is an HbF inducer agent that may have favorable effects on the differentiation of hematopoietic erythroid progenitors (HEPs). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol on γ-globin, stress response, and anti-apoptotic gene expression among hydroxyurea (HU)-responders and HU-nonresponders (HU-NR). Four cases of HU-R and four cases of HU-NR were studied. HEPs of the patients were cultured, and the expression of γ-globin, Foxo3, and Bclxl was assessed. Moreover, the differentiation and apoptotic rate of the cells were investigated using flow cytometry analysis. In three cases, the γ-globin gene expression increased after resveratrol treatment. All of the HU-NR patients were also non-responders to resveratrol (Res-NR). The expression of Foxo3 and Bclxl genes was higher in responders to resveratrol (Res-R) compared to non-responders (Res-NR). The rate of apoptosis in Res-R patients was also lower than in Res-NR. Responders to resveratrol also had a higher rate of HEP maturation. The cells of both HU–NR and Res-NR patients could not adapt to stress conditions and proceed to the erythroid differentiation. In conclusion, resveratrol increased the γ-globin expression in HEPs of β-thalassemia patients. The response was observed only in R-HU patients with similar cellular pathways.

Involvement of the cytochrome P450 genes CYP6DW3 and CYP4C64 in afidopyropen resistance in Bemisiatabaci Mediterranean (Q Biotype)

The tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a notorious pest affecting various crops globally, and it exhibits high levels of resistance to various insecticides. Afidopyropen is a recently commercialized pyropene insecticide for B. tabaci control with high selectivity and a novel mode of action. We previously identified a high level of afidopyropen resistance in a field-collected population after selection in the lab, and named it the HD-Afi strain. In the present study, minimal cross-resistance in the HD-Afi strain was found between afidopyropen and other common chemical agents. However, the P450 enzyme activity in HD-Afi was 2.18 times the level in susceptible strain HD-S. Expression analysis revealed that two of 12 candidate P450 genes, namely CYP6DW3 and CYP4C64, were significantly up-regulated in HD-Afi. Silencing CYP6DW3 and CYP4C64 by RNA interference (RNAi) substantially increased the susceptibility of whitefly adults, confirming their involvement in afidopyropen resistance. Homology modeling and molecular docking analyses demonstrated stable binding of afidopyropen to CYP6DW3 and CYP4C64, with binding free energies of -6.87 and -6.11 kcal mol-1, respectively. The findings of this study suggest that the induction of CYP6DW3 and CYP4C64 facilitates afidopyropen detoxification, contributing to the development of resistance in B. tabaci.

L-Asparagine Mediation: A New Initiative to Breaking the Microbial Drug Resistance

Due to increasing drug resistance bacterial isolates in hospitals, morbidity and mortality are gradually increasing throughout the globe. Newer antibiotics are also not coming up as most drug manufacturing industries are reluctant to manufacture antibiotics due to low profit. In this context, we have to determine the antimicrobial activities of other common chemical agents. Thus in this experiment, we have studied L-asparagine- an amino acid with various biological activities to find out its antimicrobial activity if any. We were particularly interested in MDR bacteria in this study. Clinically isolated bacteria from different samples were identified by the automated Vitek automated system and stocked in the laboratory for our study. All isolates were used in lawn culture to find out the sensitivity of different bacteria to asparagine. In our experiment, we aimed to find out which specific concentration of L-Asparagine amino acid shows the most potent antibacterial effect on these bacterial species. In general, growths of all tested bacteria found inhibited at a very low concentration of 39 µg/ml. This uniform result against all resistant bacteria tested in this experiment clearly indicates its future utility against all extremely drug resistant bacteria.

Multiple chemical sensitivity scoping review protocol: overview of research and MCS construct

IntroductionMultiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) has been characterised by reported adverse responses to environmental exposures of common chemical agents (eg, perfumes, paint, cleaning products and other inhaled or ingested agents) in...

The Role of 1-methylcyclopropylene (1-MCP) and Salicylic Acid (SA) in Induced Resistance of Postharvest Fruits

Postharvest diseases cause huge postharvest losses of horticultural fresh produce. Cooling and synthetic fungicide are used as traditional postharvest preservation technology. Recently, induced resistance has been thought to be an optional and perhaps alternative preservation technology. 1-methylcyclopropylene (1-MCP) and salicylic acid (SA) are two more common chemical agents used mostly as a preservative for harvested fruit in order to achieve better quality and better taste. Many reports have also proven that 1-MCP and SA could induce postharvest fruit resistance. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of 1-MCP and SA in postharvest fruit resistance, including the effect of 1-MCP and SA on the induced resistance as well as its involved mechanism; the effects of 1-MCP and SA on firmness, phenolic metabolism, membrane lipid metabolism, and reactive oxygen species in fruit after harvest; and the effects of 1-MCP and SA on disease resistance-related defense enzymes, proteins, signaling synthesis, and signaling pathways as well as the combined effect of 1-MCP and SA on the induced resistance and its mechanism. Meanwhile, we prospect for the future direction of increasing postharvest fruit resistance by 1-MCP and SA in more depth.

Characteristics of chemical attacks.

The use and storage of chemical weapons in war was banned. However, chemical weapons continue to be used in wars. Therefore, in this study, we tried to identify the chemical agents used by defining the characteristics of chemical attacks. We designed our study using the international dataset that can be accessed from www.start.umd.edu/gtd/. Chemical attacks between 1970 and 2020 were recorded in terms of decade, type of attack, success, suicidal purpose, property damage, number of deaths and injuries, and agents used. A total of 347 attacks were reported. The highest number of attacks was 162 (46.7 percent), which occurred between 2010 and 2020. Among the chemical agents used, acidic substances (39, 11.2 percent), chlorine gas (32, 9.2 percent), and tearing agents (24, 6.9 percent) were found to be the most common. When the distribution of the five most common chemical agents by years was examined, it was found that the use of chlorine gas gradually increased in the last three decades. In the last decade, it was found that the use of mustard gas increased, whereas cyanide was not used. In the last decade, we found that chemical attacks have increased more, especially chlorine and mustard gas were predominantly used.

Relevant Aspects of Piranha Passivation in Ti6Al4V Alloy Dental Meshes

Passivation of titanium alloy dental meshes cleans their surface and forms a thin layer of protective oxide (TiO2) on the surface of the material to improve resistance to corrosion and prevent release of ions to the physiological environment. The most common chemical agent for the passivation process of titanium meshes is hydrochloric acid (HCl). In this work, we introduce the use of Piranha solution (H2SO4 and H2O2) as a passivating and bactericidal agent for metallic dental meshes. Meshes of grade 5 titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) were tested after different treatments: as-received control (Ctr), passivated by HCl, and passivated by Piranha solution. Physical-chemical characterization of all treated surfaces was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy and sessile drop goniometry to assess meshes’ topography, elemental composition, roughness, wettability and surface free energy, that is, relevant properties with potential effects for the biological response of the material. Moreover, open circuit potential and potentiodynamic tests were carried out to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the differently-treated meshes under physiological conditions. Ion release tests were conducted using Inductively Coupled Plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The antibacterial activity by prevention of bacterial adhesion tests on the meshes was performed for two different bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-) and Streptococcus sanguinis (Gram+). Additionally, a bacterial viability study was performed with the LIVE/DEAD test. We complemented the antibacterial study by counting cells attached to the surface of the meshes visualized by SEM. Our results showed that the passivation of titanium meshes with Piranha solution improved their hydrophilicity and conferred a notably higher bactericidal activity in comparison with the meshes passivated with HCl. This unique response can be attributed to differences in the obtained nanotextures of the TiO2 layer. However, Piranha solution treatment decreased electrochemical stability and increased ion release as a result of the porous coating formed on the treated surfaces, which can compromise their corrosion resistance. Framed by the limitations of this work, we conclude that using Piranha solution is a viable alternative method for passivating titanium dental meshes with beneficial antibacterial properties that merits further validation for its translation as a treatment applied to clinically-used meshes.

Determination of Resistance of Enterococcal Isolates to Common Chemicals used for Disinfection in Homes and Hospitals

Aim: To determine the resistance Enterococcal isolates to common chemical agents used for disinfection in homes and hospitals.
 Place and Duration of the Study: Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria, between July 2012 and June 2014.
 Methods: The study analysed antimicrobial products such as Dettol, Hibitane and Jik. Identification of the organism was based on standard procedure and biochemical test.
 Results: All the three representative isolates, E. facium, E. faecalis and E. avium showed luxuriant growth with optical density (OD) range of 0.31 to 0.35 at Sodium Chloride concentration of 0.5%. The growth (OD) reduced as the salt concentration increased. E. faecium, E. faecalis and E. avium showed no growth at the concentration of 10%. Dettol had MIC of 0.385 mg/ml and MBC of 0.75 mg/ml on E. faecium; MIC of 0.75 mg/ml and MBC of 1.5 mg/ml on E. faecalis; MIC of 0.193 mg/ml and MBC of 0.385 mg/ml on E. avium. Hibitane had MIC of 0.781 mg/ml and MBC of 1.568 mg/ml on E. faecium; MIC of 1.563 mg/ml and MBC of 3.125 mg/ml on E. faecalis; MIC of 0.781 mg/ml and MBC of 1.563 mg/ml on E. avium. Jik had an MIC of 0.547 mg/ml and MBC of 1.094 mg/ml on E. faecium; MIC of 1.094 mg/ml and MBC of 2.188 mg/ml on E. faecalis; MIC of 0.547 mg/ml and MBC of 1.094 mg/ml on E. avium.
 Conclusion: The growth of the isolates reduced as the salt concentration increased. The MICs and MBCs values from this study showed that these disinfectants are effective against Enterococci sp. in the following order; Dettol (Chloroxylenol), Jik (sodium hypochlorite) and Habitane (Chlorhexidine gluconate). The study therefore showed that concentration of various disinfectants/antiseptics used in hospital settings, medical laboratory section and at home should be of paramount interest for safe elimination of Enterococci.

Citric Acid in the Passivation of Titanium Dental Implants: Corrosion Resistance and Bactericide Behavior.

The passivation of titanium dental implants is performed in order to clean the surface and obtain a thin layer of protective oxide (TiO2) on the surface of the material in order to improve its behavior against corrosion and prevent the release of ions into the physiological environment. The most common chemical agent for the passivation process is hydrochloric acid (HCl), and in this work we intend to determine the capacity of citric acid as a passivating and bactericidal agent. Discs of commercially pure titanium (c.p.Ti) grade 4 were used with different treatments: control (Ctr), passivated by HCl, passivated by citric acid at 20% at different immersion times (20, 30, and 40 min) and a higher concentration of citric acid (40%) for 20 min. Physical-chemical characterization of all of the treated surfaces has been carried out by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy, and the ‘Sessile Drop’ technique in order to obtain information about different parameters (topography, elemental composition, roughness, wettability, and surface energy) that are relevant to understand the biological response of the material. In order to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the different treatments under physiological conditions, open circuit potential and potentiodynamic tests have been carried out. Additionally, ion release tests were realized by means of ICP-MS. The antibacterial behavior has been evaluated by performing bacterial adhesion tests, in which two strains have been used: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram–) and Streptococcus sanguinis (Gram+). After the adhesion test, a bacterial viability study has been carried out (‘Life and Death’) and the number of colony-forming units has been calculated with SEM images. The results obtained show that the passivation with citric acid improves the hydrophilic character, corrosion resistance, and presents a bactericide character in comparison with the HCl treatment. The increasing of citric acid concentration improves the bactericide effect but decreases the corrosion resistance parameters. Ion release levels at high citric acid concentrations increase very significantly. The effect of the immersion times studied do not present an effect on the properties.

Exposure of military unit employees to carcinogenic factors in the work environment in 2018-2019

The aim of the study was to analyze data on the exposure of military personnel to carcinogenic chemical substances, ionizing radiation and technological processes. Reports collected from the Military Centers of Preventive Medicine on carcinogens and exposure of workers in military units and institutions were subjected to a detailed analysis. The number of workers exposed to carcinogenic factors increased in the period under analysis. In 2019, the total number of people exposed in the workplace to chemical carcinogens or mutagens was 4058, to ionizing radiation - 1015, and to technological processes with carcinogenic or mutagenic effects - 12, compared to 3224, 1289 and 8 people, respectively, in 2018. The most common chemical agents in military units which caused exposure, from the point of view of occupational health and safety, were mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons used as fuel for driving vehicles and devices with internal combustion engines. In military units dedicated to the provision of medical services, exposure to X-ray radiation (diagnostics imaging) and formaldehyde (pathomorphology) was the most common. The collected data presents different approaches of individuals in terms of reporting and assessing occupational exposure. Understanding the long-term health effects requires more thorough research. Med Pr. 2021;72(5):501-8.

Procainamide for the acute management of atrial fibrillation and flutter in the emergency department: a systematic review

Introduction: Chemical or electrical cardioversion are utilized for acute atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) management in the emergency department (ED). Procainamide is a common chemical agent used in Canada; however, there are substantial practice variations.
 Method: Systematic search of five databases and grey literature completed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective controlled cohort studies including adults with acute AFF comparing procainamide with other cardioversion strategies were eligible. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019142080).
 Results: From 3847 potential citations, 6 studies were included (four RCTs and two cohort studies). Procainamide was less effective in achieving conversion to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) at 1st attempt compared to other chemical (RR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.90) and electrical (RR 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56 to 0.92) options. Procainamide in a drug-shock approach was as effective as electrical cardioversion alone in restoring NSR (RR 1.04; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.08). The occurrence of hypotension was higher in patients receiving procainamide compared to electrical cardioversion (RR 1.87; 95% CI: 1.14 to 3.06). Deaths and strokes were not well-reported.
 Conclusion: Procainamide is less effective than other chemical options and electrical cardioversion strategies to restore NSR. The efficacy of procainamide in a drug-shock approach is similar to electrical alone at restoring NSR. The evidence shows that hypotension is a common procainamide adverse effect suggesting that electrical cardioversion as a first approach is preferable.

LO07: Procainamide for the acute management of atrial fibrillation and flutter in the emergency department: a systematic review

Introduction: Management of acute atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) in the emergency department (ED) can be performed with chemical or electrical cardioversion. Procainamide is the most common chemical agent used in Canada; however, there is substantial practice variation. The objective of this systematic review was to provide comparative evidence on return to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and adverse events to better support clinical decisions. Methods: Systematic search of five electronic databases and grey literature. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective controlled cohort studies including adults (≥17 years) with recent-onset of AFF comparing intravenous procainamide with other cardioversion strategies (e.g., electrical cardioversion, placebo or other antiarrhythmic drugs) were eligible. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019142080). Results: From 4060 potentially relevant citations, 7 studies were considered eligible and three RCTs and two cohort studies included in the analysis. Procainamide was less effective in promoting return to NSR at 1st attempt compared to other chemical (RR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.90) and electrical (RR 0.58; 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.64) options. Electrical cardioversion was more effective in restoring NSR compared to procainamide when used as 2nd attempt in one RCT (RR 0.46; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.92). Pre-specified serious adverse events were assessed and reported by two studies showing that hypotension was more common in patients receiving procainamide in comparison with electrical cardioversion (RR 20.57; 95% CI: 1.59 to 265.63). Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was infrequently reported with only two studies reporting that no patients withdrew from the study following treatment with procainamide. The remaining studies provided incomplete data reporting on adverse events. Conclusion: Shared decision-making for patients with acute AFF in the ED requires knowledge of the effectiveness and safety of comparative interventions. Overall, procainamide is less effective than other chemical options and electrical cardioversion strategies to restore NSR. Evidence shows that hypotension is a concern when procainamide is administered; however, the overall adverse events information provided from the studies is suboptimal.

Carcinogenic or mutagenic chemical substances and technological processes in the workplace in Poland in 2013-2017

The aim of this paper was to present data on occupational exposure to carcinogens and mutagens in Poland in 2013-2017, based on information sent to the "Central Register of Data on Exposure to Carcinogenic or Mutagenic Chemical Substances, Mixtures, Agents or Technological Processes," kept by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland. The legal bases, purpose and scope of data collection were also discussed. Data on occupational exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, mixtures and technological processes, submitted to the Central Register by Polish employers in 2013- 2017, were analyzed. The data were shown in various configurations and presented in the form of spatial distribution of the exposure to and occurrence of selected occupational carcinogens and mutagens. The number of chemical substances reported to the Central Register in the reference period had increased gradually since 2013. In 2017, 368 substances were reported, i.e., an increase of 21.1% compared to 2013. Also, the number of reporting enterprises increased (to over 4000 enterprises in 2017). The most common chemical agents in the reference years were formaldehyde, particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzene and chromium( VI) compounds. Among the technological processes, most of the plants reported works in exposure to hardwood dust (about 800 plants and over 10 000 to almost 15 000 exposed workers). It is necessary to legally define the term "exposure" and its quantification so that there would be no doubts for employers and supervision services about the number of people exposed in the workplace. Exposure spatial distribution maps are a transparent and easy-to-understand way of presenting data on exposure to occupational carcinogens and mutagens. Med Pr. 2020;71(2):187-203.

Acute Chemical Eye Injury and Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency-A Prospective Study in the United Kingdom.

To analyze the incidence, nature, outcomes, and complications of acute chemical eye injuries, including the incidence of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) and to compare the 2 main classifications for ocular chemical injuries: Roper-Hall (RH) and Dua. This is a prospective, consecutive, interventional single-center study between April and October 2009 of all new patients with acute chemical eye injury presenting to the Royal Victoria Infirmary eye emergency department (EED). Of 11,683 patients who attended the EED, 98 patients (110 eyes) presented with acute chemical eye injury (60% male). This represents an estimated annual incidence of 5.6 new cases per 100,000 population. Mean age was 36.5 years (1-78; SD 17.1 years), including 7 children (age <10 years). Fifty-one patients (52%) had work-related injuries. The most common chemical agent was alkali (78%). All 4 RH grade IV cases were unilateral, assault with ammonia, and required early amniotic membrane transplantation as per the protocol, but despite full treatment, they developed total LSCD in the affected eye. Acute chemical eye injuries are rare. Male patients in the working age group are more prone to work-related chemical injuries, whereas young children tend to have domestic injuries. Grade I, II, and III RH and Dua chemical injuries had a very good prognosis with topical treatment only, whereas RH grade IV (Dua grade IV-VI), mainly assaults with ammonia, progressed to total/severe LSCD despite appropriate management including early amniotic membrane transplantation. The Dua classification includes conjunctival involvement, having a greater value in predicting the final clinical outcome when grading chemical eye injuries.

Acidic and alkaline chemicals' influence on a tricalcium silicate-based dental biomaterial.

Bioactive hydraulic tricalcium silicate materials are commonly used in several dental procedures. Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is one such material, which is used in a variety of clinical applications, the most recent of which is root canal sealing material, during which, the MTA potentially comes in contact with remnants of the chemical agents used for disinfecting root canals. The effects of commonly used root canal irrigating solutions on MTA have not been investigated in depth, thus far. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of five common chemical agents used in root canal preparation (sodium hypochlorite/NaOCl, ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid/EDTA, mixture of sodium hypochlorite and etidronic acid/NaOCl + EA, mixture of EDTA and Chlorhexidine/QMix, or saline) on a commercial tricalcium silicate (MTA Plus). Samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Inductively coupled plasma techniques to see effects of phases formed and calcium ion release. Specimens immersed in NaOCl and NaOCl + EA had strong peaks for calcium hydroxide, but materials exposed to EDTA and QMix had lesser XRD peaks for calcium hydroxide. The calcium hydroxide peak in the XRD indicates hydration of tricalcium silicate and formation of amorphous calcium silicate hydrate. Calcium released from samples immersed in EDTA and NaOCl was less than in NaOCl + EA and QMix solutions. Fewer calcium phosphate crystals and less calcium hydroxide were observed with the samples in NaOCl, EDTA and QMix, which could have an important impact as it negatively influences the bioactivity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 107B: 377-387, 2019.

Oral hygiene in intensive care unit patients with photodynamic therapy: study protocol for randomised controlled trial

BackgroundIn intensive care units (ICUs), nosocomial infections are prevalent conditions and they have been related to high mortality indexes. Some studies have suggested that inefficient oral hygiene and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are related. Nowadays, in the Brazilian public health system there is no well-defined protocol for oral hygiene in an ICU. Due to the drawbacks of the use of antibiotics, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an interesting technique in order to reduce antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Methylene blue (MB) is the most common chemical agent for PDT in Brazil. However, new formulations for improved effectiveness are still lacking. The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of an MB mouthwash as an effective oral-hygiene procedure in an ICU and to show that oral hygiene using PDT with MB mouthwash may reduce VAP frequency to rates similar to, or higher than, chlorhexidine.MethodsPhase 1 will evaluate the most effective cleaning procedure, while phase 2 will correlate oral hygiene to VAP incidence. At the start of phase 1, the ICU patients will be randomly allocated into three different groups (10 patients/group): the efficacy of chlorhexidine, classical MB-PDT, and mouthwash MB-PDT will all be measured for the quantification of viable bacteria, both pre- and post-treatment, by a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). In phase 2, the most effective procedure found in phase 1 and a mechanical cleaning with filtered water will be carried out daily, once a day, over 5 days, with a total of 52 ICU patients randomly allocated into the two groups. The clinical records will be evaluated in order to find any pneumonic diagnoses.DiscussionSince a variety of bacterial species are related to VAP, a universal primer for bacteria will be used in order to quantify the total bacteria count in the participants’ samples. In order to quantify only the living bacteria before DNA extraction, the samples will be treated with propidium monoazide. This will infiltrate the dead bacteria and will intercalate the DNA bases, avoiding their DNA amplification. This will be the first trial to evaluate MB-PDT in a mouthwash formula that can increase the effectiveness due to the control of MB aggregation. The results of this study will be able to generate an easy and low-cost protocol to be used in an ICU for the Brazilian public health system.Trial registrationThis protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Conjunto Hospitalar do Mandaqui (1.317.834, CAAE: 49273515.9.3001.5551) and it was registered in Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC number: RBR-94bvrc;). First received: 12 July 2015; 1st version 6 June 2016. Data will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Enhancement of cadmium uptake by Amaranthus caudatus, an ornamental plant, using tea saponin.

In this study, tea saponin (TS) was extracted from tea camellia seed by microwave-assisted extraction. The potential of TS was compared with ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA), which is used as a common chemical agent to enhance uptake of cadmium (Cd) by Amaranthus caudatus, an ornamental plant in the natural vegetation of Turkey under pot conditions. The enrichment coefficient (EC) and translocation factor (TF) values were calculated to evaluate the removal efficiency of the TS and EDTA. The results showed that an increase in both TS and EDTA concentration significantly increased Cd uptake by A. caudatus, accumulating Cd in different parts of the plant. Higher EC and TF values obtained from stems, leaves, and inflorescences of A. caudatus showed that this plant might be cultivated and used as a hyperaccumulator in the uptake of Cd from the Cd contaminated soils. Thus, the present technique can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain; hence, it could be applied in catchment areas of urban cities where Cd contamination has become an unavoidable factor.

In Vitro antibacterial activity of ibuprofen and acetaminophen

Background:Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are common chemical agents that have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic activity.Aims:To detect any potential antibacterial effects of ibuprofen and acetaminophen on pathogenic bacteria.Materials and methods:Ibuprofen and acetaminophen were tested for antibacterial activity against seven isolates of bacteria including gram positive bacteria (Staphylococci aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram negative bacteria (E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella typhi and Paracoccus yeei). Spectrophotometer assay was applied to determine the antibacterial activities of ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Three controls were included in this study: Ampicilline sodium (20 μg/ml); cefotaxime sodium (20 μg/ml) and chemical free medium.Results:Staphylococcus aureus and Paracoccus yeei were susceptible to lower concentrations of ibuprofen and acetaminophen (MIC=1.25 mg/ml), while two strains of Enterobacter exhibited resistance to these agents.Conclusions:Ibuprofen and acetaminophen showed a potential antibacterial effect on isolated strains of bacteria. They had the same ability to inhibit bacterial growth.

Determination of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Common Chemical Agents in Cleaning and Disinfection in Hospitals of North Jordan

Determination of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Common Chemical Agents in Cleaning and Disinfection in Hospitals of North Jordan