Protective effects of curcumin against gamma radiation-induced ileal mucosal damage

The major objective of this study was to test curcumin as a potential radioprotectant for the ileum goblet cells of the rat. Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Group A was the control group and group B was the single dose radiation group. Group C was the two dose radiation group (4 days interval). The rats in groups D and E were given a daily dose of 100 mg/kg of curcumin for 14 and 18 days, respectively. During the curcumin administration period, the rats in group D were exposed to abdominal area gamma (γ)-ray dose of 5 Gy on the 10th day and group E was exposed to same dose radiation on the 10th and 14th day. Irradiation and treatment groups were decapitated on the 4th day after exposure to single or two-dose irradiation and ileum tissues were removed for light and electron microscopic investigation. Single or two dose 5 Gy γ-irradiation caused a marked intestinal mucosal injury in rats on the 4th day. Radiation produced increases in the number of goblet cells. Curcumin appears to have protective effects against radiation-induced damage, suggesting that clinical transfer is feasible

Drug resistance to anti-tuberculotics in children - three years status in Slovakia

Drug resistant tuberculosis is a serious and increasing problem worldwide, particularly in countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis and HIV infections. Resistant tuberculosis in children is usually due to the transmission of resistant strains from the environment where they live. Most often it is a transfer from the parents, or other relatives. A paucibacillary nature of the disease in children associated with difficulties in a collection of adequate sputum samples means that the samples are often microscopically negative. If the cultivation is negative, any bacteriological confirmation of the drug resistance is impossible. The aim of this study was to review current diagnostic and therapeutic principles in tuberculosis in children and to demonstrate its incidence in population of the Slovak Republic during 2010-2012. We have retrospectively analyzed all children sputum samples from children with diagnosed tuberculosis in Slovakia. The classical bacteriological analysis (culture on solid eggs-based media) was used to confirm the mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the proportion method was applied to test its susceptibility or resistance to mostly used antituberculotics. In years 2010-2012, three cases of resistant form of tuberculosis have been diagnosed in Slovakia among 16 children with cultivation positive to tuberculosis. In all of the cases the INH mono-resistance was confirmed (with the same strains present in their relatives), suggesting primary resistance origin of infection. To ensure an appropriate and successful treatment of tuberculosis in children, accurate and timely diagnostics and determination of susceptibility to anti-tuberculotics is essential

Whole-Genome Sequencing in Relation to Resistance of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, represents one of the deadliest infections worldwide. The incidence of resistant forms is increasing year by year; therefore, it is necessary to involve new methods for rapid diagnostics and treatment. One of the possible solutions is the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS)

Benefits of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of First Line Antituberculosis Drugs

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that remains a huge global health-related issue nowadays. Despite constant approvals of newly developed drugs, the use of first-line antituberculosis medicines seems reasonable in drug-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Therapeutic drug monitoring presents a useful technique for the determination of plasma drug concentration to adjust appropriate dose regimes. In tuberculosis treatment, therapeutic drug monitoring is aiding clinicians in selecting an optimal therapeutic level, which is essential for the personalisation of therapy. This review is aimed at clarifying the use of therapeutic drug monitoring of the first-line antituberculosis drugs in routine clinical practice