Development of in vitro-in vivo correlation for encapsulated metoprolol tartrate.

This study was aimed to develop level A, B and C in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) for encapsulated metoprolol tartrate (T1, T2 and T3 having metoprolol tartrate/polymer ratio of 1: 1, 1: 1.5 and 1: 2,w/w). The in vitro data were correlated with in vivo data. For level A IVIVC, drug absorption data were calculated using Wagner-Nelson method. In addition, convolution approach was used to approximate plasma drug levels from in vitro dissolution data. The coefficient of determination (R2) for level A IVIVC was 0.720, 0.905, 0.928 and 0.878 for Mepressor, T1, T2 andT3 formulations, respectively, with acceptable percent error (< 15%). The value of R2 for level B and C IVIVC was 0.231and 0.714, respectively. It is also concluded that level A IVIVC is a proficient mathematical model for biowaiver studies involving study parameters as those implemented for T1S (T1formulation tested for dissolution in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate) revealing that IVIVC level A is dosage form specific, rather than to be drug specific.

Combating of scorpion bite with Pakistani medicinal plants having ethno-botanical evidences as antidote.

Although the majority of serious cases in the world are concerned with snake bite envenomation, but those which are caused by scorpion stings are also famous for causing extreme pain. The present view is an attempt to enlist scientifically ignored medicinal plants of Pakistan exhibiting anti-scorpion venom activity. In this review data of 35 medicinal plants is collected with their families, parts used, distribution in Pakistan, and major constituents present in plant. Amaranthaceae, Astraceae and Euphorbiaceae represent 3 species. Anacardiaceae, Asclepidaceae and Liliaceae represent 2 species. Araceae, Capparidaceae, Ceasalpinaceae, Cyperaceae, Labiatae, Lamiaceae, Meliaceae, Menispermaceae, Oleaceae, Oxalidaceae, Pinaceae, Polygonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rubiaceae, Solanaceae, Valerianaceae and Zingiberaceae represented single medicinal plant with anti scorpion potential. According to literature, all parts are used in anti scorpion envenomination. Leaves exhibit 30%, whole plant 9%, fruit, bark and seeds 8% anti scorpion activity. Bulb and stems show 5% contribution in this respect and twigs, resins, inflorescence, latex and flowers express 3% potential. This article may assist the researchers to bring innovation in natural product field for scorpion bite envenomation. However, these medicinal plants are still requiring pharmacological and phytochemical investigation in order to be claimed as effective in scorpion bite envenomation.

Prevalence of nasal Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospital personnel and associated risk factors.

Hospital- and community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections pose a substantial burden in terms of morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. The extent of nosocomial S. aureus transmission, in particular methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), the prevalence of S. aureus colonization in healthy personnel working in hospital was determined. Factors associated with S. aureus nasal carriage and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates were also analyzed. A total of 129 nasal swabs and epidemiological information concerning risk factors for nasal carriage were obtained from physicians, nurses, sanitary workers and administrative staff. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method. The prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA nasal carriage was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in physicians (51.8%, 18.5%), nurses (66.6%, 27.3%) and sanitary workers (59%, 13.6%) as compared to administrative staff (27.6%, 2.1%). There was no association between smoking and nasal S. aureus carriage (p = 0.006) and the isolates from physician. The nurses and sanitary workers were comparatively more resistant to various antibiotics than the isolates from administrative staff.

Nasal carriage of staphylococci in health care workers: antimicrobial susceptibility profile.

One year prospective study was evaluated to ascertain the prevalence of nasal carriage of potentially pathogenic bacteria in health care workers and the antibiotic susceptibility profile. The bacterial strains were identified by conventional method and the antibiotic resistance was carried out by disc diffusion method. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus were 48%, 46% and 14% respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these isolates revealed that Staphylococcus aureus were more resistant towards antibiotics than coagulase negative staphylococci. The most effective antibiotic for S. aureus was found to be vancomycin with 100% efficacy, then cephalothin 92%, ciprofloxacin 91%, amikacin 77% and erythromycin 55%, ampicillin 11% and penicillin 3%. Coagulase negative staphylococci were 100% sensitive to vancomycin and cephalothin. Oxacillin showed 78% effectiveness; while ampicillin and penicillin, demonstrated 64% and 59% respectively. Doxycycline (93%), amikacin (93%), fusidic acid (90%) and erythromycin (92%) were effective antimicrobials.

Report: prevalence and resistance pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against various antibiotics.

A prospective study on various clinical isolates from patients admitted from various parts of NWFP and Afghanistan at Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar was conducted from January 2000 to December 2004 to ascertain the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Among 4709 positive isolates, 314 (6.67%) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest rate of infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed in orthopedic ward (24.61%) and OPD (20%), in other wards the infection was between 13% to 1.5%. Gender-wise prevalence showed 61.78% male and 38.22% females were infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest percentage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were observed in pus (57.64%) and urine (24.2%) samples. Maximum Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were found between March to August and the highest percentage 13.846% was observed in June. Using the disc diffusion method, the resistance patterns of 314 isolates against 14 antimicrobial agents were determined. The highest resistance was observed against ampicillin (> or = 98.4%), ampicillin/sulbactam (85.3%), co-amoxiclave (83.8%) and ofloxacin (68.4%) and least resistance was observed against amikacin (24%). Similarly the MIC for ampicillin (4 to >2048 microg/ml), ampicillin/sulbactam (1 to 2048 microg/ml) and co-amoxiclave (1 to >2048 microg/ml) against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also high. High resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against various commonly used antibiotics showed the alarming situation. The control of drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa required rational prescribing and proper use of antibiotics.

Effect of fortification on physico-chemical and microbiological stability of whole wheat flour.

Stability of fortified whole wheat flour (WWF) was evaluated using NaFeEDTA, elemental iron, ZnSO4 and ZnO as fortificants. Fortified WWF was stored in tin boxes and polypropylene bags for 60 days under ambient storage condition (ASC) and controlled storage condition (CSC). Fortification significantly (p⩽0.05) decreased moisture and protein content and increased ash content to 5.44%, 6% and 23%, as compared to control. Fortified WWF, assayed periodically for mould contamination manifested a significant inhibition (∼1 log reduction) in flours containing elemental iron. Low storage temperature and relative humidity (RH) indicated lower level of mould count during extended storage time. Tin boxes, as storage material, exhibited a better protection against mould attack, acting as an effective barrier for moisture. Fortificants exerted a slight deteriorative effect on texture characteristics of the chapattis made of these flours but chapattis were still accepted by the judges. Zinc fortificants seemed like having little or no effect on the quality of the flours and chapattis, made of such flours. Shelf life of fortified flour may be extended by using elemental iron as fortificant and storing the product in tin boxes under relatively low temperature and RH.

Effect of partial replacement of different defatted oil seed cakes as substrate in biosynthesis of bacitracin in solid-state fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis.

The present study was conducted to ascertain the effect of partial replacement of different defatted oil seed cakes as substrate i.e. sunflower meal, rice hulls and soybean meal, in biosynthesis of Bacitracin in Solid-State Fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis on laboratory scale. In solid-state fermentation, wheat bran, soybean meal, sunflower meal, rice hulls and their different combinations were used. The antibiotic activity was determined at various intervals and recorded 48 hours gave maximum yield, 4375 i.u/gm when only soybean was used. However, maximum titre 4820 i.u / gm of antibiotic were obtained when wheat bran and soybean meal was in ratio of 1:3. The raw material for its production is readily available and cheap such as soybean meal, sunflower meal and wheat bran. Thus development of this technology in our country would result in utilizing our own resources in Pakistan.

Antibiotic resistance pattern among gram-negative bacteria isolated from raw milk in Multan.

The use of raw milk in Pakistan has led to the antibiotics resistance. This investigation has showed incidence and antibiotic resistance among Coliform and Klebsiella to nalidixic acid, urixin and little to chloramphenicol. Enterobacter was sensitive to nalidixic acid, tetracycline and showed little resistance to chloramphenicol. E. coli were very sensitive to nalidixic acid, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, urixin, amoxil and with no resistance to ceftriaxone.

Resistance pattern of antibiotics against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

The present research was conducted to study the susceptibility and resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolates against various brands of commonly used antibiotics. A total of 50 bacterial isolates were obtained from various clinical specimens submitted to the clinical laboratory of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad (PIMS). Out of 50 isolates 30 (60%) were identified as coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus. These isolates were tested for susceptibility pattern 19 (63%), these isolates were resistant to penicillin, 17 (57%) to ampicillin, 19 (63%) to cloxacillin, 20 (67%) to streptomycin, 11 (37%) to clindamycin, 16 (53%) to lincomycin and 19 (63%) to neomycin. These isolates had MIC range of penicillin and lincomycin (<0.5 to > 512 microg/mL), ampicillin, cloxacillin and clindamycin (0.5 to 256 microg/mL), streptomycin (4 to >512 microg/mL) and neomycin (2 to 256 microg/mL). Clindamycin was found to be the most effective among these antibiotics tested in the study against these clinical isolates.

Biosynthesis of bacitracin in solid-state fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis using defatted oil seed cakes as substrate.

Bacitracin is being imported in Pakistan involving substantial amount of foreign exchange for its incorporation in poultry feed. The cheap raw material for its production is readily available and cheap such as soybean meal, sunflower meal, wheat bran etc. Thus development of this technology in our country would result in saving a reasonable amount of foreign exchange by exploiting indigenous resources. The present study is concerned with the biosynthesis of antibiotic bacitracin in solid-state fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis on laboratory scale using defatted oil seed cakes of agricultural by-products as starting material for maximum production of the antibiotic Bacitracin. In solid-state fermentation, wheat bran, soybean meal, sunflower meal, rice hulls and their different combinations were used. The antibiotic activity, 48 hours after inoculation was 4375 i.u / gm when only soybean was used. However, maximum titre 4820 i.u / gm of antibiotic was obtained using wheat bran and soybean meal in ratio of 1:3.