Antibiotic usage in pediatric respiratory tract infection

Respiratory tract infections are the worldwide main cause of death in children aging less than 5 years. In developed countries; respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of morbidity, accounted for 20% of medical consultation, 30% of work absenteeism and 75 % of all antibiotic prescription. Upper respiratory tract infections in children, which often associated with viral infection, and in average about 40 – 60 % of children with upper respiratory tract infections were prescribed with antibiotics. The type of antibiotics also varies from hospital to another.The objectives of this study are to describe the pattern, outcome, and cost of antibiotic usage in pediatric respiratory tract infections. A prospective study of pediatrics admitted to Pediatric Ward, Penang Hospital for respiratory tract infections was carried out. Appropriate descriptive analysiswas used. The results showed that penicillin, erythromycin; amoxicillinclavulanate were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for respiratory tract infections. The average duration of antibiotic therapy 3.0 ± 3.2 days, fever clearance time 2.2 ± 2.4 days, improvement of sign and symptoms 3.7 ± 2.5 days and mean length of stay in the ward was 4.9 ± 2.8 days. The average cost of antibiotics was RM 14.83 ± 83.13, and total cost of respiratory tract infections treatment was RM 98.88 ± 65.87.Key words: antibiotic, respiratory tract infection, pediatric, hospita

Phytochemical analysis of Elateriospermum tapos and its inhibitory effects on alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase

Elateriospermum tapos contains high unsaturated fat and phytochemicals with many health benefits. This paper focuses on activities and inhibitory effects of E. tapos on digestive enzymes. Cold water, hot water and 70% ethanol extracts of the seed and shell of the fruit of E. tapos were used in this study. The extracts were screened for antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and inhibitory effects on α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Hot water extraction of shell of the E. tapos fruit had the highest total phenolic content (1298.60 ± 4. 24 µg GAE 100 g-1), total flavonoid content (16685.58 ± 487.77 µg CE 100 g-1) and antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene methods (84.16 and 122.17% respectively). The seed cold extract showed maximum α-amylase inhibition with IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 0.03 mg mL-1. The lowest IC50 (0.02 mg mL-1) for α-glucosidase inhibition was from seed ethanol extracts while shell cold extract had the lowest IC50 for pancreatic lipase inhibition (37.80 mg mL-1). Results confirmed E. tapos as potential antioxidant and inhibitor of digestive enzymes for lipid (pancreatic lipase) and carbohydrate (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) which are beneficial to combat obesity and diabetes

Structures of the Signal Recognition Particle Receptor from the Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus: Implications for the Targeting Step at the Membrane

In all organisms, a ribonucleoprotein called the signal recognition particle (SRP) and its receptor (SR) target nascent proteins from the ribosome to the translocon for secretion or membrane insertion. We present the first X-ray structures of an archeal FtsY, the receptor from the hyper-thermophile Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu), in its free and GDP•magnesium-bound forms. The highly charged N-terminal domain of Pfu-FtsY is distinguished by a long N-terminal helix. The basic charges on the surface of this helix are likely to regulate interactions at the membrane. A peripheral GDP bound near a regulatory motif could indicate a site of interaction between the receptor and ribosomal or SRP RNAs. Small angle X-ray scattering and analytical ultracentrifugation indicate that the crystal structure of Pfu-FtsY correlates well with the average conformation in solution. Based on previous structures of two sub-complexes, we propose a model of the core of archeal and eukaryotic SRP•SR targeting complexes

Advanced catalysts and effect of operating parameters in ethanol dry reforming for hydrogen generation. A review

There is actually an intense research in ethanol dry reforming because bioethanol and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, can be converted into syngas and, in turn, into chemicals and energy such as dihydrogen (H2). Here we review dry reforming of ethanol with focus on thermodynamics, catalysts and effect of operating conditions. Noble metal-based catalysts typically exhibit both ethanol and CO2 conversions above 85% in the range of 923‒1073 K, yet the high cost of precious metals has restrained their potential applications. H2 yield of 90% and above is achieved at 1073 K or above due to the endothermic nature of ethanol dry reforming. Improving catalytic performance and inhibiting coke formation may be achieved by using bimetallic catalysts and other types of metal oxides