Synergistic Effects of Honey and Propolis Toward Drug Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli and Candida Albicans Isolates in Single and Polymicrobial Cultures.

Synergistic Effects of Honey and Propolis toward Drug Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli and Candida Albicans Isolates in Single and Polymicrobial Cultures.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Int J Med Sci. 2012; 9(9): 793-800
Al-Waili N, Al-Ghamdi A, Ansari MJ, Al-Attal Y, Salom K

Background: Propolis and honey are natural bee products with wide range of biological and medicinal properties. The study investigated antimicrobial activity of ethyl alcohol extraction of propolis collected from Saudi Arabia (EEPS) and from Egypt (EEPE), and their synergistic effect when used with honey. Single and polymicrobial cultures of antibiotic resistant human pathogens were tested.Material and methods; Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus),), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albicans (C.albicans) were cultured in 10-100% (v/v) honey diluted in broth, or 0.08-1.0% (weight/volume) EEPS and EEPE diluted in broth. Four types of polymicrobial cultures were prepared by culturing the isolates with each other in broth (control) and broth containing various concentrations of honey or propolis. Microbial growth was assessed on solid plate media after 24 h incubation.Results; EEPS and EEPE inhibited antibiotic resistant E.coli, and S.aureus, and C.albicans in single and polymicrobial cultures. S.aureus became more susceptible when it was cultured with E.coli or C.albicans or when all cultured together. C.albicans became more susceptible when it was cultured with S.aureus or with E.coli and S. aureus together. The presence of ethyl alcohol or honey potentiated antimicrobial effect of propolis toward entire microbes tested in single or polymicrobial cultures. EEPS had lower MIC toward E.coli and C.albicans than EEPE. When propolis was mixed with honey, EEPS showed lower MIC than EEPE. In addition, honey showed lower MIC toward entire microbes when mixed with EEPS than when it was mixed with EEPE.Conclusion; 1) propolis prevents the growth of the microorganisms in single and mixed microbial cultures, and has synergistic effect when used with honey or ethyl alcohol, 2) the antimicrobial property of propolis varies with geographical origin, and 3) this study will pave the way to isolate active ingredients from honey and propolis to be further tested individually or in combination against human resistant infections.
HubMed – drug

 

Deciding when to stop: towards evidence-based deprescribing of drugs in older populations.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Evid Based Med. 2012 Nov 7;
Scott IA, Gray LC, Martin JH, Pillans PI, Mitchell CA

Minimising the harm from inappropriate prescribing in older populations is a major urgent concern for modern healthcare systems. In everyday encounters between prescribers and patients, opportunities should be taken to identify patients at high risk of harm from polypharmacy and reappraise their need for specific drugs. Attempts to reconcile life expectancy, comorbidity burden, care goals and patient preferences with the benefits and harms of medications should be made in every patient at significant risk. Drugs identified by this process of reconciliation as conferring little or no benefit and/or excessive risk of harm should be candidates for discontinuation. Evidence supporting a structured approach to drug discontinuation (or deprescribing) is emerging, and while many barriers to deprescribing exist in routine practice, various enabling strategies can help overcome them.
HubMed – drug

 

Pancreatitis: A Potential Complication of Liraglutide? (November).

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Ann Pharmacother. 2012 Nov 7;
Franks AS, Lee PH, George CM

OBJECTIVE:To review the evidence surrounding a potential association between liraglutide and pancreatitis.DATA SOURCES:A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (1948-July 12, 2012) and EMBASE (1974-week 27, 2012) using the search terms pancreatitis, liraglutide, and glucagon-like peptide 1/adverse effects. Reference citations from identified publications were reviewed. The manufacturer was contacted and regulatory documents from the Food and Drug Administration website were reviewed for unpublished data related to cases of pancreatitis associated with liraglutide use.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All identified sources that were published in English were considered for inclusion.DATA SYNTHESIS:Eleven cases of pancreatitis have been reported in patients taking liraglutide. Seven were from the LEAD (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes) studies, 1 was reported in the extension of a clinical trial, and 1 was in an unpublished obesity trial. Two were published postmarketing case reports. Nine of the cases reported were diagnosed as acute pancreatitis, while 2 were classified as chronic pancreatitis. The mean age of the patients was 57.5 years and mean body mass index was 33.92 kg/m(2). Six of the 11 cases occurred in male patients. Nine of the patients were white and 1 was African American. In 7 of the cases, onset occurred at liraglutide doses at or above 1.8 mg daily. Common comorbidities included history of pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, and diabetes. One case was fatal.CONCLUSIONS:Pancreatitis is a potential complication with liraglutide therapy. Liraglutide should be used cautiously in patients at risk of pancreatitis (eg, alcohol abuse, history of pancreatitis, cholelithiasis).
HubMed – drug

 


 

VIDEO: Record Newswatch Oct. 6, 2010 – Featured in today’s edition of Record Newswatch – Police launch a search for Richard Giga, the man accused of fatally stabbing a security officer at the Renaissance Project drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in the Town of Wawarsing; an additional indictment has been handed up against Tuxedo Park murder suspect Jesse Green and Kingston’s proposed cat law is dead.

 

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