Monitoring of antibiotic consumption and development of resistance by enterobacteria in a tertiary care hospital.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs in hospitalized patients, but studies have shown that the prescribed antibiotics may be inappropriate and may contribute to antibiotic resistance. We carried out a survey of antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance in our tertiary care university hospital, from 2005 to 2013. We focus on cephalosporins, one of the most prescribed groups of antibiotics in the tertiary health care. The objective was to identify any relationship between ceftriaxone consumption and resistance by enterobacteria. METHODS: Antibiotics consumption and antimicrobial resistance were monitored in the tertiary care university hospital from 2005 to 2013. Data on the use of antibiotics in surgical inpatients were obtained and expressed as defined daily doses per 100 bed days. Bacterial resistances were given as percentages of resistant isolates. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was an increasing trend in cephalosporins consumption from 9·56 DBD (2005) to 23·32 DBD (2013), with ceftriaxone as the most frequently used cephalosporin, 3·6 DBD (2005) to 10·78 DBD (2013). E. coli and P. mirabilis resistance to ceftriaxone increased significantly from 22% in 2005 to 47% in 2013 and from 31% in 2005 to 60% in 2013, respectively. We found a significant correlation between ceftriaxone consumption and E. coli resistance (r = 0·895, P < 0·05). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Our study shows that cephalosporin consumption increased from 2005 to 2013, with ceftriaxone as the most prescribed antibiotic. E. coli and P. mirabilis resistance to ceftriaxone increased significantly over the study period. E. coli resistance increased with ceftriaxone consumption.

Crosstalk between possible cytostatic and antiinflammatory potential of ketoprofen in the treatment of culture of colon and cervix cancer cell lines.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the cytostatic potential of ketoprofen in the in vitro treatment of cells derived from colon and cervix cancer. BACKGROUND: NF-κB and cyclooxygenase can have a role in different stages of the development and progression of cancer. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the possible cytostatic potential of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There are no published data on the use of ketoprofen in pharmacotherapy of the colon and cervical carcinoma. METHODS: We examined the effect of ketoprofen alone or in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil on proliferation of the two cell lines, HeLa (human cervical carcinoma cells) and Caco-2 (human colon cancer cells) by MTT test. Measurement of the level of NF-κB was also performed in the cells of both cell lines. RESULTS: The results of present study have shown that at least one of the mechanisms of antiproliferating and/or cytostatic effects of different concentrations of ketoprofen on Caco-2 and HeLa cells could include the transcription factor NF-κB. CONCLUSIONS: Since this transcription factor is controlled by the altered expression of COX-2, the inhibition of this enzyme by ketoprofen may represent a significant step in synergistic cascade of the therapy and prevention of colon and cervical cancer (Tab. 4, Ref. 31).

Chemopreventive potential of alpha lipoic acid in the treatment of colon and cervix cancer cell lines.

OBJECTIVES: The nuclear factor κB regulates the expression of genes involved in many processes that play a key role in the development and progression of cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the alpha lipoic acid in the chemoprevention of colon and cervix carcinoma in vitro. BACKGROUND: In recent years, special attention has been paid to the potential chemopreventive properties of antioxidants. There are no published data on the impact of alpha lipoc acid of chemoprevention of cervix and colon cancer. METHODS: We examined the effect of alpha lipoic acid alone or in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil on proliferation of the two cell lines, HeLa (human cervical carcinoma cells) and Caco-2 (human colon cancer cells) by MTT test. The measurement of the level of transcription factor NF-κB was also performed in the cells of both cell lines. RESULTS: At least one of the mechanisms of the antiproliferative and/or cytotoxic effect of alpha lipoic acid on Caco-2 and HeLa cells at high concentrations, the transcription factor NF-κB, may be involved, as well as the products of transcription of genes that are under its control. CONCLUSION: The alpha lipoic acid has proven to be a promising candidate in the combat arena against cancer (Tab. 4, Ref. 31).

Relationship between the incidence of idiopathic lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and the location of the thrombus depending on the changes in atmospheric pressure.

AIM: The study analysed the relationship between the incidence of idiopathic lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the location of the thrombus with changes in atmospheric pressure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During the two year period between May 2009 and April 2011, inclusively, 124 consecutive patients were diagnosed as having idiopathic lower extremity DVT at the Vascular Surgical clinic "Clinical Center of Nis", Serbia. RESULTS: The increased average daily values of atmospheric pressure for 1 millibar on the day when the event took place and 7 days before, were associated (p < 0,05) with the increase of the total risk of the occurrence of lower extremity idiopathic DVT for 5,1% (0,7-9,8%), as well as with the occurrence of idiopathic DVT above the knees (p < 0,05) for 5,9% (0,9-11,0%). The increase in the average atmospheric pressure by 1 millibar on the day when the event took place and 7 days before this in the subgroup of patients under the age of 45 years, and on the day when the event took place and 3 days before it in the subgroup of patients of the age of 45 and above, was related with the increased risk of the occurrence of lower extremity idiopathic DVT. CONCLUSION: The increase of daily values of atmospheric pressure shows a significant relationship with the incidences of idiopathic lower extremity DVT and the location of the thrombus above the knee.

Circulating nucleic acids in type 1 diabetes may modulate the thymocyte turnover rate.

The autoimmunity of type 1 diabetes is associated with T-cell hyperactivity. Current study was designed to examine the effect of circulating ribonucleic acids (RNAs), isolated from type 1 diabetic patients on proliferative, apoptotic and inflammatory potential of rat thymocytes. Rat thymocytes were assayed for proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, Bax and NF-κB level, using the flow cytometric and fluorometric assays. Cells were allocated into groups, treated with RNAs purified from plasma of juvenile diabetics, adult type 1 diabetic patients, control healthy children, healthy adult persons, nucleic acids and polynucleotide standards (RNA, polyC, PolyA, PolyIC, and CpG). The upregulation of PCNA and Bcl-2 protein and downregulation of Bax protein and NF-κB was shown when the thymocytes where incubated with RNA purified from plasma of juvenile type 1 diabetic patients. The dysregulation of inflammatory cascade and central tolerance may be a defect in autoimmune diseases related to innate immunity leading to corresponding alteration in adaptive immune response.