Study of milk and dairy products Staphylococcus contamination and antimicrobial susceptibility sold in local markets around Kabul University

This research aimed to evaluate Staphylococcus aureus contamination from milk and its derivatives available in local dairy sale centers around the Kabul University located in Kabul city. Samples were included caw`s raw and pasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, custard, and dough (native product). The mentioned products were collected and then using the conventional method was tested in the laboratory. 70 samples were tested, from tested only 18 samples were presented Staphylococcus aureus, as these isolates had a positive reaction for coagulase. The disk diffusion method plus 8 antibiotics which are commonly used in the Veterinary section were used for antimicrobial sensitivity reaction. Staphylococcus isolated samples showed resistance against more than 3 antibiotics, maximum resistance was to Nalidixic acid (50%) followed by Ciprofloxacin (44.44%), Norfloxacin (27.77%), Erythromycin and Methicillin (27.77%), and Tetracycline (22.22%). All the isolates susceptibility was high to Polymaxine and resistant to Ampicillin (100%). As we found in our study the biological quality of tested samples sold around Kabul University were notsatisfactory as well as resistance against the mentioned antibiotics except two antibiotics. The contaminated products could be a potential risk to humans .

Design, Development, and Optimization of Dexibuprofen Microemulsion Based Transdermal Reservoir Patches for Controlled Drug Delivery

The aim of the study was to develop a reservoir-type transdermal patch for a controlled delivery of dexibuprofen and to evaluate its in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in Albino Wistar rats. In order to develop these patches, six formulations of dexibuprofen microemulsion comprising ethyl oleate, Tween 80: PG (2 : 1), and water were prepared by simplex lattice design and characterized. The reservoir compartment was filled with these microemulsions and in vitro release and skin permeation were assessed. The optimized patch was obtained on the basis of the responses:Q24and flux. The impact of drug loading, surface area, membrane thickness, adhesive, and agitation speed on drug release and permeation was also studied. The skin sensitivity reaction and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of optimized patch were evaluated. Stability study at three different temperatures for three months was carried out. The result suggests that a membrane based patch with zero-order release rate,Q24of 79.13 ± 3.08%, and maximum flux of 331.17 µg/cm2h can be obtained exhibiting suitable anti-inflammatory activity with no visible skin sensitivity reaction. The outcomes of stability study recommend storage of patches at 4°C having shelf-life of 6.14 months. The study demonstrates that the reservoir-type transdermal patch of dexibuprofen microemulsion has a potential of delivering drug across skin in controlled manner with required anti-inflammatory activity.

Occurrence, Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern and Plasmid Profile of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Raw Beef Meat in Dhaka City

Salmonella is motile enterobacterium that causes diseases like typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and food borne illnesses. Salmonella infections are due to the consumption of contaminated foods. The objective of the present study was to observe the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the retail areas and to isolate pathogenic Salmonella spp from raw beef, to observe antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of Salmonella spp from the raw beef. A total of forty (40) raw beef samples were collected from the sixteen different butcher shops of the four different markets namely Bazaar-1, Bazaar-2, Bazaar-3 and Bazaar-4 of Dhaka City to determine the presence of the significant enteric pathogen Salmonella. From the colony characteristic and biochemical properties, it was found that out of forty samples Salmonella were found in thirty four (85%) samples. The prevalence of drug resistance bacteria were also assayed by antibiotic susceptibility testing. Among thirty four isolates, nearly 6% (2), 32% (11), 76% (26), 6%(2) and 32% (12) isolates showed resistance to Nitrofurantoin, Nalidixic acid, Ampicillin , Gentamycin and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole respectively. Almost 85%(29), 62%(21), 24% (8), 91% (31), 91% (31)and 68% (23) isolates showed sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin, Nalidixic acid, Ampicillin,Ciprofloxacin,Gentamycin and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole respectively Some isolates also showed intermediate in sensitivity reaction for example 3% (1), 6% (2), 3% (1) and 9% (3) isolates showed intermediate in sensitivity reaction to Nitrofurantoin, Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin and Nitrofurantoin respectively. Twenty four isolates were investigated for the plasmid profile analysis where thirteen isolates (about 54%) were found to carry plasmids of different sizes ranging from small (2.3 kb) to large sizes (>10kb and also greater than the chromosomal DNA). The presence of large plasmids may be a possible source of drug resistance. The results of this study demonstrate the unhygienic quality of beef meat and their risk of contracting food borne infections to the consumers.Bangladesh J Microbiol, Volume 29, Number 1, June 2012, pp 17-22

Fixed Drug Eruption due to Achiote Dye

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a localized type IV sensitivity reaction to a systemically introduced allergen. It usually occurs as a result of new medication, making identification and avoidance of the trigger medication straightforward; however, in a rare subset of cases no pharmacological source is identified. In such cases, the causative agent is often a food or food additive. In this report we describe a case of a FDE in a 12-year-old girl recently immigrated to the United States from Ecuador who had no medication exposure over the course of her illness. Through an exhaustive patient history and literature review, we were able to hypothesize that her presentation was caused by a dietary change of the natural achiote dye used in the preparation of yellow rice to a locally available commercial dye mix containing tartrazine, or Yellow 5, which has previously been implicated in both systemic hypersensitivity reactions and specifically in FDE. This report adds to the small body of available literature on non-pharmacological fixed hypersensitivity eruptions and illustrates an effective approach to the management of such a presentation when history is not immediately revealing.

Surface-Specific Catalytic Activity of Carbon Nanotube Encapsulated with Metal-Oxide Clusters

It is first attempted to demonstrate the catalytic efficiency and structure-sensitivity reactions on the surface of carbon nanotube (CNT) encapsulated with metal oxide particle. The results shows that the encapsulated nanoparticle CuO activate the outer orbits of CNT, and hence the surface of CuO@CNT is chemically active for hydroxyl radical generation. The results obtained from DFT calculation and experiments verified the highly active of CuO@CNT catalysts for the generation of hydroxyl radicals, and the structure-sensitivity for the oxidation of dichlorophenol. This suggests a novel strategy to design well-defined interfaces, controlling the structure-sensitivity reaction, can hence markedly improve the performance of catalysts.