BioAssay Research Database (BARD): chemical biology and probe-development enabled by structured metadata and result types.

BARD, the BioAssay Research Database (https://bard.nih.gov/) is a public database and suite of tools developed to provide access to bioassay data produced by the NIH Molecular Libraries Program (MLP). Data from 631 MLP projects were migrated to a new structured vocabulary designed to capture bioassay data in a formalized manner, with particular emphasis placed on the description of assay protocols. New data can be submitted to BARD with a user-friendly set of tools that assist in the creation of appropriately formatted datasets and assay definitions. Data published through the BARD application program interface (API) can be accessed by researchers using web-based query tools or a desktop client. Third-party developers wishing to create new tools can use the API to produce stand-alone tools or new plug-ins that can be integrated into BARD. The entire BARD suite of tools therefore supports three classes of researcher: those who wish to publish data, those who wish to mine data for testable hypotheses, and those in the developer community who wish to build tools that leverage this carefully curated chemical biology resource.

The relative cytotoxicity of personal care preservative systems in Balb/C 3T3 clone A31 embryonic mouse cells and the effect of selected preservative systems upon the toxicity of a standard rinse-off formulation.

Biocide chemicals are commonly used as preservatives for cosmetic and personal care products and the conditions for their use are stipulated in Annex VI of the Cosmetics Directive. In these studies the cytotoxicity (EC50 and EC90) of a range of preservatives including the isothiazolinone family, formaldehyde donors, parabens mixtures and organic acids have been established in the Balb/C 3T3 clone A31 fibroblast cell-line following a 1h exposure. Cell viability was established using the neutral red uptake assay 24h after exposure. The potency of the preservatives spanned several orders of magnitude from the isothiazolinones (EC50<10ppm) to the organic acids (EC50>10,000ppm). Although these values are directly proportional to the anti-microbial efficacy of the actives, they do not reflect the addition levels commonly used to preserve formulations, which are intended to provide prolonged protection against a wide spectrum of spoilage organisms. In a further study, the cytotoxic profile of an unpreserved standard rinse-off body wash formulation was assessed. Two concentrations of the formulation were selected: 0.1% v/v (EC98) and 0.15% v/v (EC82) to study the effects of selected preservative chemicals at recommended addition levels upon the cytotoxicity of the formulation. At 0.1%, only preservation with benzoate/sorbate at the highest addition level increased the toxicity, whereas at 0.15%, preservation with 2-bromo-2-nitro-propane-1,3-diol increased the cytotoxicity of the formulation. No other preservatives, including isothiazolinones and formaldehyde donors affected the basal cytotoxicity of the formulation. Theses studies have provided a standardised assessment of the cytotoxicity of cosmetic preservatives and demonstrated that preservation of a rinse-off formulation at recommended addition levels is unlikely to affect the cytotoxic profile.

An assessment of the comparative sensitization potential of some common isothiazolinones.

The isothiazolinones are known contact sensitizers. Data are presented which demonstrate that, in comparison with the chlorinated and dichlorinated compounds which share immunological cross-reactivity, the unchlorinated isothiazolinones have a lower potential for sensitization and no documented immunological cross-reaction with the chlorinated isothiazolinones.

Success rates for initiation of intravenous therapy en route by prehospital care providers.

The optimal extent of prehospital care, including intravenous (IV) therapy for critically ill patients, remains unclear. The authors evaluated the success rate for IV cannulation in a moving ambulance by trained emergency medical technicians and paramedics in 641 adult medical- and trauma-related cases. At least one IV line was started in 80% of medical patients and 92% of trauma patients, regardless of blood pressure. In hypotensive patients, the success rates for at least one IV in medical and trauma patients were 80% and 95%, respectively. These data suggest that IV lines can be secured with a high degree of success en route to the hospital by trained personnel, and that prompt transport of unstable patients should not be delayed solely to obtain IV access.