Antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of vitexilactone on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Cisplatin (CP) is an antineoplastic drug; however, owing to its nephrotoxicity, its clinical use is limited. We investigated whether vitexilactone (vitex) is a safe and effective treatment for CP induced kidney injury. We allocated Sprague-Dawley rats into six groups: control group, low dose-high dose vitex groups (40 and 80 mg/kg vitex for 6 days before administration of CP), CP group (single 6 mg/kg dose on day 6) and CP + low dose vitex-CP + high dose vitex group (40 and 80 mg/kg vitex for 6 days, and a single 6 mg/kg dose of CP on day 6. Rats were euthanized 5 days after CP treatment. After exposure to CP and/or vitex, total oxidative stress and total antioxidant status were assessed. The histology of the kidney was examined using hematoxylin and eosin, and periodic acid-Schiff. We used immunohistochemical and fluorescence staining to detect expression of caspase-3. We also measured blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and creatinine levels. Nephroprotective effects of vitex were associated with decreased serum toxicity markers and increased antioxidant activity. Vitex also reduced the expression of the apoptosis marker, caspase-3. Treatment with CP increased blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine levels and total antioxidant status, and decreased total antioxidant status compared to the control group. Use of vitex for protection from CP induced nephrotoxicity appears to be a safe and efficacious alternative for treatment of kidney injury.

An investigation on the anticandidal activity of some traditional medicinal plants in Turkey.

Methanol and chloroform extracts obtained from eight plant species belonging to six families, which were selected depending on their use in Turkish folk medicine, including Mentha longifolia L. (Labiatae), Mentha piperita L. Hudson (Labiatae), Prongos ferulaceae (Umbelliferae), Galium verum L. (Rubiaceae), Salvia limbata C. A Meyer (Labiatae), Artemisia austriaca Jacq. (Artemiceae), Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae) and Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) were evaluated for their in vitro anticandidal activity. The anticandidal activity of extracts against 99 human pathogenic clinical isolates belonging to 35 Candida albicans, 33 Candida tropicalis and 31 Candida glabrata and standard strains of Candida spp. (C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. glabrata ATCC 80030 and C. tropicalis ATCC 22019) were tested by disc diffusion method and the active extracts were assayed for the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Chloroform extracts of plants have no inhibitory effect against both clinical and standard strains of Candida spp., whereas methanol extracts exhibited good activity. Among the plants tested, M. piperita showed the highest anticandidal activity with 12.3 mm inhibition zone and 1.25 mg ml(-1) MIC value against C. albicans, M. longifolia, P. lanceolata and A. austriaca also displayed activity against C. albicans and C. tropicalis.

The effectiveness of three instrumentation techniques on the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis from a root canal: an in vitro study.

The in vitro reduction of a bacterial population in a root canal by mechanical instrumentation using three techniques was evaluated. Root canals inoculated with a Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) suspension were instrumented using hand Hedstroem files, Giromatic files, and Hero 642 rotary instruments. Irrigation was performed using sterile saline solution. Root canals were sampled before and after instrumentation. After serial dilutions, samples were plated onto Mitis-Salivarius agar and the colony forming units grown were counted. All instruments tested were able to significantly reduce the number of bacterial cells in the root canal, however, the results of this study indicated that Hedstroem files, Giromatic, and Hero 642 techniques were not significantly different in their ability to reduce intracanal bacteria.

Assessment of antibacterial activity of some topical otological solutions.

OBJECTIVES: Otological solutions have long been used in the treatment of the bacterial and fungal infections of the ear. We investigated antibacterial activity of some otic solutions against the most common bacteria isolated from discharging ears. STUDY DESIGN: Three solutions were used (Castellani's, Burrow's, and 2% salicyl alcohol) for 20 fresh isolates of each of the following organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter spp.. The activity of each solution was determined by the size of the zone of inhibition of bacterial growth. RESULTS: The Castellani's solution showed significantly larger average inhibition zones than the other solutions did (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The Castellani's solution may be considered a good option against bacterial or mixed infections (bacterial and fungal) of the ear.

Investigation of In Vitro Activity of Five Antifungal Drugs against Dermatophytes Species Isolated from Clinical Samples Using the E-Test Method.

OBJECTIVE: Dermatomycosis is an infection with fungi related to the skin: glabrous skin, hair and/or nails. Oral treatment of fungal infections in dermatology has become a preferred modality for the management of these very common conditions. Although there are increasing numbers of antifungals available for treatment of dermatophytes, some cases and relapses have been unresponsive to treatment. The determination of fungus in-vitro antifungal susceptibility has been reported to be important for the ability to eradicate dermatophytes. It is necessary to perform antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes. E-test (AB Biodisk, Sweden) is a rapid, easy-to-perform in-vitro antifungal susceptibility test. The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of the different species of dermatophyte strains isolated clinical specimens to five antifungal agents using the E-test method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 66 specimens were collected from the nails, feet, inguinal region, trunk and hands. These strains tested MIC endpoints of E-test for amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, caspofungin, and ketoconazole were read after 72, and 96 hours incubation for each strain on RPMI 1640 agar. RESULTS: The dermatophytes tested included Trichophyton rubrum 43 (65.1%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes 7 (10.7%), Microsporum canis 5 (7.6%), Trichophyton tonsurans 5 (7.6%), Epidermophyton floccosum 4 (6.0%) and Trichophyton violaceum 2 (3.0%). The most active agent against all dermatophytes species was caspofungin with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) range (µg/mL(-1)) (0.02-3, 0.032-4, 0.125-0.50, 0.032-2, 0.25-0.50, 0.125-0.50) and it raconazole with an MIC range (µg/mL(-1)) (0.038-1.5, 0.094-1.5, 1-32, 0.016-0.50, 0.25-0.50, 0.125-0.50). The least active agent was fluconazole with an MIC range (µg/mL(-1)) (0, 19-48, 2-256, 2-8, 256, 256, 8-24). CONCLUSION: E-test seems to be an alternative method to MIC-determination of antifungal drugs for dermatophytes species, since it is a less-laborious methodology and results could be obtained faster.

Comparison of the mycobacterium growth indicator tube method and the method of proportion for drug susceptibility testing of mycobacterium tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in developed and, especially, developing countries. The incidence of multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has increased in recent years. Mycobacterial culture and susceptibility testing must be rapidly concluded for effective treatment and control of the disease. The present study evaluated the reliability of the Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) method for testing the susceptibility of M. tuberculosis to four first-line antimicrobial drugs by comparing MGIT results to those obtained by the method of proportion (MOP), which served as the reference method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 clinical isolates (28 sputum, 7 bronchoalveolar lavage, 7 cerebrospinal fluid, 3 gastric aspirates, 5 urine, 4 pleural fluid and 6 other specimens) of M. tuberculosis were tested for susceptibility to streptomycin (SM), isoniazid (INH), ethambutol (EMB) and rifampin (RIF). MOP was carried out according to National Committe for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) on Löwenstein-Jensen medium. MGIT susceptibility testing was performed according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer. RESULTS: Resistance was detected in 18.3% and 16.7% of the isolates for INH, 13.3% and 10.0% for RIF, 16.7% and 11.7% for SM and 6.7% and 8.3% for EMB by MOP and MGIT, respectively. CONCLUSION: MOP remains the method of choice, however, the correlation between MOP and MGIT suggested that MGIT can also be used routinely and that it is a reliable method for testing susceptibility of M. tuberculosis strains to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Investigating biofilm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity in Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Oral candidiasis, in the form of Candida-associated denture stomatitis, represents a common disease in a large percentage of denture wearers, and Candida albicans remains the most commonly isolated species. In this study, we aimed to evaluate biofilm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity of Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 70 patients (31 female, 39 male). Forty-eight of the patients were found to have a positive culture. A total of 48 Candida isolates representing five species, C. albicans (n=17), C. glabrata (n=10), C. krusei (n=9), C. kefyr (n=7) and C. parapsilosis (n=5), were tested. Their coagulase activities were evaluated by a classical tube coagulase test with rabbit plasma. A blood plate assay on 3% enriched sheep blood Sabouraud-dextrose agar (SDA) was used to determine their in vitro hemolytic activities. Biofilm production was determined by a visual tube method. RESULTS: Twenty-one Candida isolates exhibited coagulase activity, and the coagulase activities of the C. albicans (64.7%) isolates were higher than other species. C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr and C. krusei species demonstrated beta hemolysis. C. parapsilosis strains failed to demonstrate any hemolytic activities. Fifteen (88.0%) of the C. albicans strains were biofilm positive. Six (35.2%) of these strains were strongly positive, 8 (47.0%) C. albicans strains were moderately positive and 1 (5.8%) C. albicans strain was weakly positive. Sixteen (51.6%) of the non-albicans Candida strains were biofilm positive while 15 (48.3%) did not produce biofilms. CONCLUSION: The results of this present study indicate coagulase, hemolytic activity and biofilm production by Candida spp. isolated from patients with denture stomatitis. Investigations of these virulence factors might be helpful in gaining information about the possible virulence of oral Candida species related to denture stomatitis.

Hemolytic activities of the Candida species in liquid medium.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro hemolytic activities of 107 Candida strains isolated from different clinical samples in liquid medium, and to examine the impact of glucose on this activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 Candida isolates representing seven species (C. albicans, n=28; C. glabrata, n=23; C. tropicalis, n=17; C. parapsilosis, n=16; C. kefyr, n=14; C. krusei, n=5; C. guilliermondii, n=4) were included in the study. The hemolytic activities of the strains were tested on two different Sabouraud dextrose liquid media (SDB) containing 7% defibrinated human blood, one of which is supplemented with 3% glucose and the other without glucose. Cultures were evaluated at the end of a 48-hour incubation. The hemolysis in the media was detected spectrophotometrically by measuring the amount of released hemoglobin and compared with a standard hemolysate which was prepared prior to testing. The degree of hemolysis (percentage value) by an individual strain was calculated according to the following formula below: (Absorbance of supernatant media at 540 nm / Absorbance of standard hemolysate at 540 nm X 100). RESULTS: In the liquid medium without glucose, strains generally produced hemolysis at low levels. The degree of hemolysis produced by all species increased noticeably in the liquid medium with glucose. Strains of C. albicans and C.kefyr had demonstrated significant hemolytic activity, whereas others had lower activity. C. parapsilosis exerted very little hemolytic activity in the medium with glucose and showed no activity in the medium without glucose. CONCLUSION: The hemolytic activities of most Candida species was found to be higher in the human blood-enriched SDB medium containing 3% additive glucose than in the one free from additives. This result indicates that increased blood glucose concentration may contribute to increased hemolytic activity in Candida species, and it suggests a parallel with possible pathogenesis of Candida in patients with diabetes mellitus.