Comparative Evaluation of Medicinal Plant Extracts and Antimicrobial Magistrals.

The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the active ingredient in antimicrobial magistral drug formulations and plant extracts used in folk medicine were investigated comparatively. Borax, sulfur colloid, hydrogen peroxide, benzoic acid, rivanol, brilliant green and plant extracts as active ingredients, namely: Helianthus tuberosus tuber-H2O (aqueous extract), Cydonia oblonga leaves-H2O, Allium porrum whole plant-H2O, Cistus laurifolius leaves-EtOH, Solanum muricalum-H2O, and Fumaria cilicica leaves-EtOH were studied to determine their antimicrobial activity against different bacteria and fungi (S. pyogenes, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis, K. pneumonia, H. influenza, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, E. coli, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei) by using the microdilution method. The active ingredients and plant extracts showed different activities as MIC between 1->128 µg/mL. Brilliant green and rivanol as active ingredients had MIC values of 1 µg/mL against all tested microorganisms. C. oblonga leaves-H2O as well as C. laurifolius leaves-EtOH as plant extracts were indicated as having the highest antimicrobial effect in MIC value of 16 µg/ml against A. baumannii and S. pyogenes, respectively. On the other hand, F. cilicica leaves-EtOH and C. laurifolius leaves-EtOH showed the highest antifungal activity (MIC; 16 µg/mL).

A case of impetigo herpetiformis in which termination of pregnancy was required.

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare variant of generalized pustular psoriasis that occurs during pregnancy or is triggered by pregnancy, often in association with hypocalcemia. This condition is associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We report a 29-year-old pregnant woman who presented to hospital at the gestational age of 20 weeks with widespread erythema covered with pustules that coalesced to form lakes of pus. She did not respond to corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or phototherapy. Finally, intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate was administered to terminate the pregnancy, and the patient showed complete recovery in 3 months. Insight from this case report may facilitate optimal management of this relatively rare entity.

A cell-based screening for TAZ activators identifies ethacridine, a widely used antiseptic and abortifacient, as a compound that promotes dephosphorylation of TAZ and inhibits adipogenesis in C3H10T1/2 cells.

Transcriptional co-activator with PSD-95/Dlg-A/ZO-1 (PDZ)-binding motif (TAZ) regulates in cell proliferation and differentiation. In mesenchymal stem cells it promotes osteogenesis and myogenesis, and suppresses adipogenesis. TAZ activators are expected to prevent osteoporosis, obesity and muscle atrophy. TAZ activation induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition, confers stemness to cancer cells and leads to poor clinical prognosis in cancer patients. In this point of view, TAZ inhibitors should contribute to cancer therapy. Thus, TAZ attracts attention as a two-faced drug target. We screened for TAZ modulators by using human lung cancer A549 cells expressing the fluorescent reporter. Through this assay, we obtained TAZ activator candidates. We unexpectedly found that ethacridine, a widely used antiseptic and abortifacient, enhances the interaction of TAZ and protein phosphatases and increases unphosphorylated and nuclear TAZ. Ethacridine inhibits adipogenesis in mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells through the activation of TAZ. This finding suggests that ethacridine is a bona fide TAZ activator and supports that our assay is useful to discover TAZ activators.

[A comparison between "moist ointment" and 0.25% iodophor, silver sulfadiazine paste and 0.1% rivanol in the treatment of deep II degree burn wounds].

One hundred and fifteen patients suffering from deep II degree burn were randomly divided into four groups, and "Moist ointment," 0.25% iodophor, silver sulfadiazine paste and 0.1% rivanol were respectively used as topical agents. Their effects were observed and compared. The results showed that "Moist ointment" group was significantly inferior to other groups in respects of healing of wound surface, bacteriostatic property, cost of treatment and formation of hyperplastic scar. Therefore, we suggested that the use of moist ointment in the treatment of deep II degree burn wound should be prohibited.

Efficacy of various locally applied chemicals as contragestational agents in rats.

PIP: Test agents were selected because of previous evidence of contragestationaal activity when administered systemically or because of known local effects which would be likely to cause endometrial changes having an adverse effect on pregnancy. A group of virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated on Day 3 of pregnancy (preimplantation) and another group on Day 7 of pregnancy (postimplantation). Injections of .05 ml were made directly into the lumen of each uterine horn. Sodium chloride .9% was used on 1 side and the test agent on the other side. Implantation sites were counted before injections on Day 7. The number of corpora lutea indicated the expected number of conceptions of those injected on Day 3. On Day 15 rats were sacrificed and corpora lutea, viable conceptuses, and absorption sites were counted. Ethanol at 100, 80, 70, and 63% was a highly effective contragestational agent when given on Day 3. Formaldehyde 7-.5% was also highly effective when given on Day 3 but higher concentrations produced maternal toxicity and death. Silver nitrate, iodine, rivanol, cyclizine, urea, and 17beta-bromoacetoxy-19-nortestosterone produced no maternal toxicity but were all effective in reducing the number of viable fetuses. Prostaglandin (PGF2alpha), indomethacin, and ergonovine had no observable effect on preimplantation embryos. Methotrexate reduced survival when injected on Day 3 and more so when given on Day 7 but a systemic toxic effect was also noted. When injected on Day 7 all of the compounds except methotrexate were markedly less effective. Survival of fetuses in the control horns varied from 50% to 100%. Ethanol produced sloughing and necrosis but the endometrium appeared to be normal after 96 hours. Fecundity had not returned after 4-5 estrous cycles. The other compounds produced no histologically evident long-lasting effects. Superficial endometrial damage seemed to be the mechanism of action of compounds that were effective on Day 3. The discrepancies noted between results obtained and the documented efficiency of PGF2alpha and of urea as abortifacients in humans raises the question of the suitability of the rat as a model for predicting abortifacient activity in humans. However, the action of these 2 substances may be different in later gestational phases.^ieng