Spatial Memory, Motor Coordination, Cerebellar and Hippocampal Histoarchitectural Changes following Atropine Administration to Adult Mice

Atropine is a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist. In overdoses, atropine is poisonous. It is sometimes added to potentially addictive drugs, particularly anti-diarrhoea opioid drugs such as diphenoxylate or difenoxin. The aim of this study was to investigate spatial memory and motor changes associated with varying doses (5 and 10 mg/kg body weight) ingestion of atropine, as well as its impact on the hippocampal and cerebellar histoarchitecture in mice.Fifteen BALB/c mice were divided into three groups of 5 serving as control, low dosage, and high dosage groups. Atropine at 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight was administered into low and high dosage groups, respectively. Administration of atropine in both groups showed significant histological tissue damage in the hippocampus which includes neurodegeneration of neurons and distortion of the granular layer, while no evident histomorphological change to the cerebellum was observed. Low dosage mice showed memory and motor deficit, whereas the high dosage group showed no statistically significant memory function difference with the control group. Further research is necessary to find the cause of these motor deficits

Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients: systematic review and meta-analysis from a public health policy perspective.

Immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to severe or complicated influenza infection. Vaccination is widely recommended for this group. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients in terms of preventing influenza-like illness and laboratory confirmed influenza, serological response and adverse events

Relatório de estágio em farmácia comunitária

Relatório de estágio realizado no âmbito do Mestrado Integrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas, apresentado à Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbr

Analysis of Biological Activities of Two Novel Metal (II) Complexes of Andrographis Paniculata Crude Extract

Many diseases in nature have led to the death of many young and old. Many bacteria have developed resistance to the available antibiotics on the market. And many drugs employed in treating many diseases such as diabetes mellitus are expensive and are not locally available. Therefore, in order to search for more effective, inexpensive, and locally available drugs, this study synthesized and investigated the biological activities of Andrographis paniculata crude extract and its Co (II) and Ni (II) complexes. The crude extract and synthesized complexes were characterized using a solubility test, Infrared, and Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopic analysis. Their antibacterial potentials were investigated against two gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus) and three gram-negative bacteria (Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas) while their antidiabetic activities were examined against ?-amylase and ?-glucosidase enzymes. Acarbose was employed as a standard drug. The crude extract and its metal complexes showed different degrees of solubility in the employed solvents. Infrared analysis suggested coordination of the crude extract to the metal ions through the oxygen donor atom while the formation of the complexes was affirmed through the occurrence of d-d transitions in the visible region of the metal complexes. The metal complexes were found to display more antibacterial activity than the crude extract. Co (II) and Ni (II) complexes of the crude extract were found to exhibit better activities against ?-amylase and ?-glucosidase enzymes, respectively than the crude extract and acarbose. It is concluded that the metal complexes could be considered potential antibacterial and antidiabetic agents

Prevalence of serum bactericidal antibody to serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis in England a decade after vaccine introduction.

Serogroup C meningococcal disease incidence and carriage declined rapidly in the United Kingdom after infant serogroup C conjugate vaccination was introduced in 1999, with catch-up vaccination for children under 18 years. Antibody levels and effectiveness waned quickly in children vaccinated at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. Therefore, in 2006, the current revised schedule of doses at 3, 4, and 12 months was introduced. This study assessed age-specific protection in 2009 compared with data from historical prevaccination and early postvaccination studies. Rabbit complement serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) was measured in anonymously banked serum samples collected in England in 2009 (n = 1,174), taking titers of ≥ 8 as protective. Age-stratified proportions of SBA titers that were ≥ 8 and geometric mean titers were compared. SBA titers varied markedly by birth cohort and time since vaccination. Overall, 35% of samples (95% confidence interval [CI], 33 to 38%) had titers that were ≥ 8. Only in cohorts eligible for catch-up vaccination did the majority of individuals have protective antibody levels. Antibody levels were higher in children eligible for vaccination at primary and secondary school ages, compared to those eligible below the age of 5 years. In those eligible for completed vaccination under the current schedule, protective levels were very modest and there was no evidence of superiority to cohorts that were eligible for the previous schedule. This supports a need for older childhood or adolescent booster vaccination in those previously eligible for vaccination during the infant, toddler, or preschool periods, to maintain direct protection and potentially enhance population immunity

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Analysis and Antidiabetic Properties of Copper (II) Complex of Mangifera indica Leaf Crude Extract

Many applied conventional drugs in treating diabetes have been reported to possess some drawbacks which necessitate a search for alternative therapies. In order to search for a more active antidiabetic agent, this study synthesized and evaluated antidiabetic properties of Mangifera indica crude extract and its Cu (II) complex in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. The leaf crude extract and its metal complex were characterized using percentage metal analysis and IR spectroscopic data. Experimental animals were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Alloxan monohydrate at a single dose of 140 mg/kg body weight and animals with fasting blood glucose level (BGL) > 200 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Metformin was used as a standard drug. Fasting blood glucose level and body weight were used to assess the antidiabetic activity. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the level of statistically significant at p< 0.05. The crude extract was found to coordinate with the metal ion through O donor atom of C=O and O-H of phenol and ketone respectively. The Cu (II) complex of the crude extracts at tested dose of 600mg/kg demonstrated more antidiabetic activity without weight gain than the standard drug. It is concluded that the Cu (II) complex could be a potential material in the development of more active and negative-side-effect-free antidiabetic drug

The Impact of Integrating Palliative Medicine into COVID-19 Critical Care.

BACKGROUND: Ensuring high quality patient-centered care for critically ill COVID-19 patients presents unprecedented challenges. Many patients become critically ill unexpectedly and have not previously discussed their healthcare wishes. Clinicians lack experience with this illness and therefore struggle to predict patient outcomes. MEASURES: Critical care medicine (CCM) providers were surveyed about the effectiveness and efficiency of a pilot intervention. INTERVENTION: Proactive palliative care rounding with CCM providers on COVID-19 intensive care units. OUTCOMES: 54% of CCM providers responded to the survey (21/39). CCM providers rated the intervention highly across all domains. CCM providers frequently identified that early palliative involvement was critical to providing families with information and support when separated from their loved ones. CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED: This pilot study found that proactive rounding improves critical care provider assessments of quality of care for patients and families and allows CCM providers to focus their efforts on managing complex physiology and surges

Prevalence of malaria and helminth infections in rural communities in northern Sierra Leone, a baseline study to inform Ebola vaccine study protocols.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent parasitic infections may influence the immune response to vaccines. In the Partnership for Research on Ebola VACcinations extended follow-UP and clinical research capacity build-UP (PREVAC-UP) study being undertaken in Mambolo, northern Sierra Leone, participants are being followed up to assess the potential impact of exposure to malaria and/or helminth infections on long-term immune response to two Ebola vaccines. To support the development of the assays that will be used in this evaluation, a parasitological survey was conducted in Mambolo between November 2019 and February 2020. METHODS: Healthy individuals aged ≥1 year who were resident in Mambolo Chiefdom were selected using a stratified sampling approach and questionnaires were administered to explore their sociodemographic characteristics. Microscopy was used to detect malaria parasites, intestinal helminths and urinary schistosome infections. Rapid blood tests were used to detect infections with Onchocerca volvulus and Wuchereria bancrofti. We estimated the overall prevalence of these infections and used adjusted logistic regression models to explore risk factors for malaria and hookworm infection. RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifteen (815) residents, 50.9% of whom were female were surveyed. Overall, 309 (39.1%) of 791 persons tested for malaria had a positive blood slide; Plasmodium falciparum was the dominant species. Helminth infection was detected in 122 (15.0%) of 815 stool samples including three mixed infections. The helminth infections comprised 102 (12.5%) cases of hookworm, 11 (1.3%) cases of Trichuris trichiura, 10 (1.2%) cases of Schistosoma mansoni and two (0.2%) cases of Ascaris lumbricoides. Being male (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.15-3.50) and residing in a non-riverine community (OR = 4.02, 95%CI 2.32-6.98) were the factors associated with hookworm infection. Onchocerca volvulus and Wuchereria bancrofti infections were found in 3.3% and 0.4% of participants respectively. CONCLUSION: Malaria and hookworm are the most prevalent parasite infections and those most likely to influence long-term immune response to Ebola vaccines among the trial participants