The pharmacist in same day emergency care: a service evaluation of pharmacy services on the ambulatory assessment unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Same day emergency care (SDEC) is an increasingly important part of urgent care delivery in secondary care. This service evaluation examined the role of the pharmacy service on a busy SDEC unit over a 3 week period. A total of 634 patients were seen on the unit and 513 pharmacy interventions were made. Patients were taking a mean number of 6.7 medicines and the average age was 59.3. The most common medication type pharmacists intervened in were anticoagulants. To meet the demands of SDEC service, the pharmacy team is crucial for maintaining medication safety and ensuring patient flow through hospital pathways.

Analysis of anaerobic digester mixing: comparison of long shafted paddle mixing vs gas mixing.

The anaerobic digestion (AD) process is influenced by a variety of operation parameters, such as sludge rheology, mixing, temperature, solid retention time (SRT), hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solids concentration. The optimum in the mixing lies somewhere between no-mixing and continuous mixing, as the lack or excessive mixing can lead to poor AD performance instead. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics steady/unsteady model, incorporating the rheological properties of the sludge, was developed and applied to quantify mixing in a full-scale anaerobic digester. Mechanical and gas mixing solutions were taken into account, keeping constant the daily energy consumption. Results, consisting of velocity magnitude and patterns, dead zone formation and turbulence levels were discussed. Compared to the mechanical mixing, gas mixing had lower percentage of dead zones (about 5% against 50%), larger maximum velocity (about 3 m/s against 1 m/s) as well as larger turbulent kinetic energy levels (0.24 m2/s2 against 0.001 m2/s2).

Revealing interference by continuous variable discordant states.

In general, a pair of uncorrelated Gaussian states mixed in a beam splitter (BS) produces a correlated state at the output. However, when the inputs are identical Gaussian states the output state is equal to the input, and no correlations appear, as the interference had not taken place. On the other hand, since physical phenomena do have observable effects, and the BS is there, a question arises on how to reveal the interference between the two beams. We prove theoretically and demonstrate experimentally that this is possible if at least one of the two beams is prepared in a discordant, i.e., Gaussian correlated, state with a third beam. We also apply the same technique to reveal the erasure of polarization information. Our experiment involves thermal states and the results show that Gaussian discordant states, even when they show a positive Glauber P-function, may be useful to achieve specific tasks.

Antioxidant, xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and phenolics of Bauhinia rufescens Lam. (Caesalpiniaceae).

An aqueous acetone extract of the stem with the leaves of Bauhinia rufescens and its fractions were analysed for their antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory activities, as well as their phytochemical composition. For measurement of the antioxidant activities, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzoline-6-sulphonate) and the ferric-reducing methods were used. The results indicated that the aqueous acetone, its ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions possessed considerable antioxidant activity. Further, the xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory assays showed that the n-butanol fraction possessed compounds that can inhibit both these enzymes. In the phytochemical analysis, the ethyl acetate and the n-butanol fractions of the aqueous acetone extract were screened by HPLC-MS for their phenolic content. The results indicated the presence of hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin quercetin, quercitrin, p-coumaric and ferulic acids in the non-hydrolysed fractions. In the hydrolysed fractions, kaempferol, p-coumaric and ferulic acids were identified.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon giganteus essential oils alone and in combination.

As part of ongoing research on the chemical composition and the antimicrobial properties of Burkinabe plants essential oils alone and in combination, essential oils (EOs) from leaves of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon giganteus from Burkina Faso were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Five constituents, which accounted for 96.3% of the oil, were identified in the EO of C. citratus. Geranial (48.1%), neral (34.6%) and myrcene (11.0%) were the major constituents. For C. giganteus a total of eight compounds were identified which represented 86.0% of the oils extracted. The dominant compounds were limonene (42%) and a set of monoterpene alcohols: trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (14.2%), cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (12%), trans-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol (5.6%) and cis-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol (5.2%). The EOs were tested against nine bacteria by using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. C. giganteus EO showed antimicrobial effects against all microorganisms tested whereas C. citratus EO failed to inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial activity of combinations of the two EOs was quantified by the checkerboard method. Combinations of the two EOs exerted synergistic, additive and indifferent antimicrobial effects. Results of the present investigation provide evidence that the combinations of plant EOs could be assessed for synergistic activity in order to reduce their minimum effective dose.

Antioxidant, diuretic activities and polyphenol content of Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (Bignoniaceae).

Stereospermum kunthianum was used for biological and phytochemical investigations. In biological studies, antioxidant activities were investigated with water, methanol and aqueous acetone extracts. Furthermore, the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and the diuretic activity of an aqueous acetone extract were evaluated. In the phytochemical investigations, the flavonoids and polyphenols were quantified spectrophotometrically in all extracts followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis of an aqueous acetone extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) methods have shown that the aqueous acetone extract presents the best antioxidant activities. This aqueous acetone extract was further proven to have interesting xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, but only a weak diuretic activity. This aqueous acetone extract also possessed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. HPLC-MS analysis allowed identifying and quantifying, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetin, hyperoside, quercitrin and luteolin and the glycosides of ferulic, sinapic p-coumaric acids and kaempferol, apigenin in aqueous-acetone extract.

Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds from Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Del (Balanitaceae) galls and leaves by HPLC-MS.

Balanites aegyptiaca is a tropical plant which is widely used for medicinal purposes in several African countries, including Burkina Faso. Despite its widespread use, little is known about its phenolic content. This study sought to carry out a screening of the polyphenols from the leaves and galls of B. aegyptiaca. A high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to investigate the phenolic content in the parts of the plant studied here. The phenolic acid profile showed the presence of gentisic, p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic and sinapic acids in the crude and hydrolysed extracts. The flavonoids pattern showed hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutoside and quercitrin in the crude extract of leaves. Myricetol, quercetol and kaempferol were found after acid hydrolysis of the leaves extract. Ferulic acid, isoquercitrin, rutoside and quercitrin were identified as major phenolic compounds in this study.

In vitro antioxidant, xanthine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. (Balanitaceae).

The present study aimed to test the validity of Balanites aegyptiaca remedies used for the treatment of rheumatisms and mental disorders by examining the antioxidant, xanthine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of galls and leaves extracts and fractions. The total phenolics and flavonoids were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 reagents, respectively. Two methods i.e., FRAP and ABTS were used to estimate the total antioxidant capacity of the plant materials. The FRAP and ABTS antioxidant activities showed that among all extracts and fractions tested, the best antioxidant activities were found with the galls dichloromethane and the leaves ethyl acetate fractions. The antioxidant activities did correlated significantly with the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The study also showed that B. aegyptiaca galls and leaves fractions exhibited a moderate xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity comparatively to the acetylcholinesterase which was weakly inhibited by the tested extracts and fractions.

Aerated biofilter with seasonally varied operation modes for the production of irrigation water.

Water reuse for agricultural irrigation can contribute to the conservation of valuable water resources and opens the possibility to reuse the wastewater's nutrients (N and P) at the same time. As irrigation is usually limited to vegetation periods, effluent requirements for treated wastewater may vary seasonally. A process concept for wastewater treatment with variable operation modes for the seasonal production of nutrient-rich irrigation water and nutrient-poor discharge water is proposed. It is shown that a two-step process consisting of organics removal followed by biological aerated filters (biofilters) for nitrogen removal is a promising combination which allows a flexible and seasonally varied operation with a fast re-start of biological nitrification after shut-down periods. To date, there is no commonly accepted practice amongst operators to take biofilters out of service for periods of time while - at the same time - maintaining biological activity to enable a quick start-up. This paper shows that during shut-down periods the activity drop rate is the smallest if the filter bed is maintained flooded and without aeration; then a very quick re-start is possible.

In vitro antioxidant, lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of fractions from Cienfuegosia digitata Cav., Sida alba L. and Sida acuta Burn f. (Malvaceae).

In this study polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, lipoxygenase (LOX) and Xanthine Oxidase (XO) inhibitory effects of n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of aqueous acetone extracts from S. alba L., S. acuta Burn f and Cienfuegosia digitata Cav. were investigated. The total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and total tannins were determined by spectrophotometric methods using Folin-ciocalteu, AlCl3 reagents and tannic acid, respectively. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using three methods: inhibition of free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydramzyl (DPPH), ABTS radical cation decolorization assay and Iron (III) to iron (II) reduction activity (FRAP). For enzymatic activity, lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities were used. This study shows a relationship between polyphenol contents, antioxidant and enzymatic activities. Present results showed that ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions elicit the highest polyphenol content, antioxidant and enzymatic activities.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Combretum nioroense Aubrév. ex Keay (Combretaceae).

In this study, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of acetone extract, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and n-hexane fractions of acetone extract from leaves of Combretum nioroense Aubrév. ex Keay were investigated. The total phenolics and total flavonoids contents in the fractions and acetone extract were determined by spectrophotometric methods using Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3, respectively. Two methods were adopted to assess the antioxidant activities: the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and the radical scavenging activity of 2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonate) radical cation (ABTS). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of the extract and fractions against pathogenic bacteria (4) and serotyped bacteria (4) from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) were also determined using the agar-well diffusion method. The results showed that the butanol fraction, with the highest phenolic content, exhibited the best antioxidant and antibacterial activities as compared to the ethyl acetate fraction which contains more flavonoids.

Chirped biphotons and their compression in optical fibers.

We show that broadband biphoton wave packets produced via spontaneous parametric down-conversion in crystals with linearly aperiodic poling can be easily compressed in time using the effect of group-velocity dispersion in optical fibers. This result could foster important developments in quantum metrology and lithography.

Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities of five Indigofera species (Fabaceae) from Burkina Faso.

Aqueous acetone extracts prepared from five Indigofera species of Burkina Faso, namely Indigofera colutea (Burm.) Murril., I. macrocalyx Guilld et Perr., I. nigritana Hook f., I. pulchra willd. and I. tinctoria L., were investigated for their phytochemical composition and their antioxidant activities. Standard methods and TLC were used to screen the phytochemical composition. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of extracts were assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods, respectively. These extracts were also evaluated for their antioxidant potentials using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) assays. Flavonoids, saponins, quinones, sterols/triterpenes and tannins were present in all these species except for I. pulchra where quinones were not found. Gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin and myricetin in I. colutea; gallic acid, quercitrin, myricetin in I. tinctoria; galangin and myricetin in I. macrocalyx were identified by thin layer chromatography. Among these, I. colutea, I. tinctoria, I. nigritana and I. macrocalyx, which had the highest phenolic content, were also found to possess the best antioxidant activities. The results indicated a good correlation between antioxidant activities and total phenolic content (p<0.05 for FRAP/DPPH and DPPH/ABTS and p<0.01 for FRAP/ABTS). These plants represent promising sources of natural antioxidants and these findings give scientific bases to their ethnopharmacological uses.

The phytochemical composition and in vitro antiviral activity of decoctions from galls of Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel. (Combretaceae) and their relative non-toxicity for chickens.

Aqueous decoctions obtained from the galls of Guiera senegalensis were screened to determine their phytochemical composition and in vitro antiviral activity against fowlpox virus. In addition, we wanted to investigate the toxic effects, if any, of crude extracts in chickens. Steroids as well as cardiac glycosides not previously reported, an alkaloid, polyphenols and saponins were detected in the various fractions of organic solvents used for extracting the decoctions. Antiviral activity was determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay in primary chicken embryo skin cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration (EC50) was shown to be 15.6 microg/ml. Toxicity for cells was established by determining the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CCy50). A value of 90 microg/ml and a selectivity index (CCy50/EC50) of 5.8 were obtained. In vivo studies of toxicity were performed in chickens that were dosed orally with decoctions of several concentrations for 2 weeks and then monitored for 3 months. No significant changes in several blood chemical parameters were obtained, except for a significant decline in SGOT levels in birds dosed with 100 mg/kg. These levels were nevertheless within the accepted normal range. The findings suggest that aqueous decoctions of galls from G. senegalensis are non-toxic for chickens when administered orally, even at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg for 14 days.

In ovo inhibition of fowlpoxvirus replication by a gall extract from Guiera senegalensis.

Several field isolates of fowlpoxvirus (FPV) from Burkina Faso, West Africa, were isolated and partly evaluated by molecular analysis. In addition, the in ovo antiviral activity against FPV of a gall extract from Guiera senegalensis was determined. Three viral isolates were obtained from suspected fowlpox cases after passage in embryonating chicken eggs and their poxviral identity confirmed by electron microscopy. All isolates were found to be pathogenic for chicks and all grew well in cell culture. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of amplicons revealed sequences identical with those of other FPV strains. The most studied isolate was then employed for use in an antiviral assay. An aqueous acetone extract from the galls of G. senegalensis was found to inhibit both virus-induced pock formation and to reduce viral titre in embryonating chicken eggs. The suggested mechanism of action is the activation of the alternative complement pathway and the inhibition of FPV-induced cholesterogenesis in ovo by constituents of the gall extract.

[HIV in workplace: knowledges and attitudes of workers in three Senegaleses manufactures]. / Infection a VIH en milieu de travail: enquête sur les connaissances et attitudes dans trois entreprises sénégalaises.

This study was conducted from may to august 2000 in three senegalese work sites randomly selected among seven which benefited from HIV preventive program. The aims were to evaluate knowledge, attitude and behavior related to HIV infection. A sample of 200 workers randomly chosen were asked about the ways of transmission and methods of protection as well as their risky attitudes and behaviors. Mean age was 41 years, 82.5% were male and 75.5% benefited from high school education; 75.75% had a good level of knowledge on HIV infection, 58% CI [51-65] stated having changed their sexual behavior into abstinence, fidelity to their partner (52.5%) and use of condom (46.5%). This good level of Knowledge and the positive changes in attitude are related to the high rate of alphabetization in our sample, information message diffused by media and preventive programs undertaken in workplace. Information campaigns via media should be maintained and strengthened and preventive programs diffused in all workplaces which will reduce diffusion of HIV in population.

[Integration of demographic factors in the characterization of risk areas for sleeping sickness in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Intégration des facteurs démographiques à la caractérisation d'un espace à risque de maladie du sommeil en Côte d'Ivoire.

The purpose of this study was to classify the risk for transmission of African human trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) according to population and settlement densities in four different areas of Zoukougbeu, Cote d'Ivoire, where the exact location of cases reported since 1990 is known. Epidemiological risk indexes were calculated from entomological data obtained from three surveys and analyzed with respect to presence of patients and occupancy rate in each area. Results indicated that there was a risk of transmission near the village of Bahigbeu II where the population density is between 30 and 40 inhabitants per km2 and settlement density is 4 per km2. There was also a risk in less inhabited areas such as Ouatigbeu where the population density is less than 30 inhabitants per km2 and dwelling density less than 4 per km2. In fact, cases are regularly reported in Ouatigbeu but never in Bahigbeu II. Based on these findings, we conclude that, while land occupancy can be considered as a risk factor for sleeping sickness, other factors such as human mobility must be taken into account to characterize risk areas and predict outbreaks.

[Incidence of African trypanosomiasis and the density of settlements in the forests of Côte d'Ivoire: the possibility of predicting high risk areas for surveillance of disease reservoirs]. / Incidence de la maladie du sommeil et densité des campements de culture en forêt de Côte d'Ivoire: possibilité de prédiction des zones à risques pour la mise en place précoce d'un réseau de surveillance.

In the forests of Côte d'Ivoire a surveillance network is needed to quickly and continuously detect cases of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). This requires knowledge of high risk areas, and thus of an appropriate epidemiological indicator. Study of several HAT foci in Côte d'Ivoire shows a striking correlation between epidemiological risk and settlement density by square kilometer (r = 0983; P < 0.05). Epidemiological risk and disease incidence will increase up to the point when human influence eradicates the vector. This hypothesis is supported by the correlation between settlement density (d) and cumulative incidence: i = 0988 d - 0967 (r = 0.951). The prevalence would be 0.5% from 1.5 settlements per km2, and 1% from a density of 2. The first results of remote sensing indicate that it is possible to identify forest areas where settlement density has reached a critical level.

[Detecting sleeping sickness: comparative efficacy of mobile teams and community health workers]. / Dépistage de la maladie du sommeil: efficacité comparée des équipes mobiles et des agents de santé communautaires.

The solution to the problem of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) first of all requires improved case detection. Effective tests have been available for a number of years but the results of medical surveys are still mediocre, mainly because the populations are poorly mobilized. Those few mobile teams still visiting villages obtain very low presentation rates. In spite of major information campaigns among villagers, in Côte d'Ivoire the Institut Pierre Richet (IPR) and Trypanosomiasis Clinical Research Project (PRCT) teams examined only 42% (9311) of the 22,300 inhabitants of a disease focus during a conventional ten-day survey. In the same focus, community health workers specially trained in sleeping sickness and in the collection of blood samples on filter-paper examined 73% of the population (15,000 individuals) in less than two months. Implementation of a sleeping sickness control strategy is restricted to two types of intervention: either conventional mobile teams which are on hand, competent and rapidly operational but which fail to carry out exhaustive case detection, or integration of case detection into primary health care by entrusting surveillance to the community health workers. This approach requires a minimum of training but ensures that sentinels are permanently present in the village communities. By using the community health workers rather than mobile teams it should be possible to achieve comprehensive monitoring. In operational terms, the cost of surveillance per person is US$ 0.55 for the mobile teams as against US$ 0.10 for the community health workers. Integration of HAT case detection into primary health care is therefore an effective and economical solution, provided the community health workers are properly supervised and above all motivated.