Polysaccharides and Peptides With Wound Healing Activity From Bacteria and Fungi.

Bacteria and fungi are natural sources of metabolites exhibiting diverse bioactive properties such as wound healing, antioxidative, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. Two important groups of bacteria or fungi-derived metabolites with wound-healing potential are polysaccharides and peptides. In addition to bacteria-derived cellulose and hyaluronic acid and fungi-derived chitin and chitosan, these organisms also produce different polysaccharides (e.g., exopolysaccharides) with wound-healing potential. The most commonly used bacterial peptides in wound healing studies are bacteriocins and lipopeptides. Bacteria or fungi-derived polysaccharides and peptides exhibit both the in vitro and the in vivo wound healing potency. In the in vivo models, including animals and humans, these metabolites positively affect wound healing by inhibiting pathogens, exhibiting antioxidant activity, modulating inflammatory response, moisturizing the wound environment, promoting the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, increasing collagen synthesis, re-epithelialization, and angiogenesis. Therefore, peptides and polysaccharides derived from bacteria and fungi have medicinal importance. This study aims to overview current literature knowledge (especially within the past 5 years) on the in vitro and in vivo wound repair potentials of polysaccharides and peptides obtained from bacteria (Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria) and fungi (yeasts, filamentous microfungi, and mushrooms).

Are we using drugs rationally? A survey study from Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the rational use of drugs from patient's perspective. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Afyon Kocatepe University Training and Research Hospital between February and March 2013. Data were collected with a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test were used. RESULTS: About 54% (n=419) of participants reported that they used drugs without the advice of a physician. The 19-24 age group, secondary and high school graduates, and students used drugs more often without consulting a physician (P < 0.05). Participants that used drugs after consulting a physician did not fully use the drugs as recommended by the physician, and physicians did not give patients adequate information about prescribed drug(s). 72% of participants stored drug(s) at home. CONCLUSIONS: Rational use of drugs is not completely achieved. Certain patient groups and even physicians are closer to being a part of the irrational use of drugs.