Effect of oral administration of kefir on serum proinflammatory cytokines on 5-FU induced oral mucositis in patients with colorectal cancer

In order to investigate the effect of kefir consumption on mucositis induced by 5-FU based chemotherapy (CT), we monitored the systemic immune response by measurement of the serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and we evaluated the anti-microbial effect of kefir with an agar diffusion method. Forty patients with colorectal cancer were included in this randomized prospective study. On the first 5 days of each CT cycle, the study group received oral lavage with kefir and then swallowed 250 ml of kefir while control group received oral lavage with 0.09% NaCl twice a day. Before and after every cycle of CT, the oral mucosa was assessed. Serum proinflammatory cytokine levels were evaluated before the initiation and after the third and the sixth cycle. Kefir was administered in 99 out of 205 courses. Mucositis developed in 27.3% of the courses given with kefir administration and in 21.7% of the courses given with 0.9% NaCl oral rinses. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). When we compared the serum proinflammatory cytokine levels of the two groups at the baseline and following the third and the sixth cycles, we again found no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Kefir consumption at the mentioned doses made no statistically significant effect on serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and on the incidence of mucositis development in cancer patients. Under in vitro conditions, kefir inhibits only Staphylococcus epidermidis.

In vitro effect of amikacin, imipenem, cefodizime, IFNalpha-2a alone and combinations of antibiotics with IFNalpha-2a on polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in chronic hepatitis patients

The in vitro effect of amikacin (8 microg/ml), imipenem (30 microg/ml), cefodizime (10 microg/ml), interferon alpha-2a (IFNalpha-2a) (10 IU/ml) and antibiotic combinations with IFNalpha-2a on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions (phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Candida albicans blastospores) was investigated in chronic hepatitis B patients. Phagocytosis and candidacidal activity was not affected after pretreatment of PMNs with amikacin and imipenem (p > 0.05). Phagocytic activity was enhanced after pretreatment of PMNs with cefodizime and IFNalpha-2a compared with that of control PMNs (p < 0.05), but candidacidal activity was not affected by the same drugs (p > 0.05). Phagocytic and intracellular activity of PMNs were not affected by combinations of IFNalpha-2a and antibiotics (p > 0.05).

In vitro effects of clarithromycin on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that antibacterial agents affect polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), which are active in the body's first line of defense, in different ways. However, few studies have investigated the effects of tablet dosage forms as opposed to pure powder forms. There is a need to demonstrate the clinical relevance of previous results with commercially available products.

METHODS

We examined the effects of clarithromycin solutions, prepared separately from either pure powder or commercially available tablets (250 mg), on human PMNs. The in vitro effects of each solution, adjusted to therapeutic concentration (1 mg/l), on PMN adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, candidacidal capacity and superoxide production were studied.

RESULTS

Solutions prepared from pure clarithromycin powder did not affect the adherence, phagocytosis or superoxide production of PMNs, but did inhibit (p<0.05) chemotaxis and candidacidal capacity. By contrast, a decrease (p<0.05) in all functions except phagocytosis was observed with solutions prepared from the tablet dosage form of clarithromycin.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that the tablet dosage form of clarithromycin may have a more pronounced inhibitory effect on human PMN functions than solutions prepared from the pure powder form.

Effect of fluconazole on human polymorphonuclear leucocyte functions ex vivo against Candida albicans

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) are important components of host defence against fungi. We investigated the ex vivo effect of fluconazole on chemotaxis, adherence, superoxide anion (O-2) generation and intracellular killing of Candida albicans blastoconidia after the administration of fluconazole (300 mg per os) to healthy volunteers. With regard to chemotaxis in response to zymosan-activated serum (ZAS), as measured using an agarose gel technique, fluconazole neither increased, nor decreased the chemotaxis of PMNs. The adherence was significantly enhanced after exposure of PMNs to fluconazole under ex vivo conditions, whereas, O-2 production after stimulation of PMNs with ZAS was not affected by fluconazole. The effect of fluconazole on intracellular killing of C. albicans blastoconidia by PMNs was determined by viable colony count, after release of yeast cells from disturbed neutrophils. Fluconazole under in vitro conditions, at a therapeutic concentration, significantly increased the intracellular killing of C. albicans by PMNs at 30 min when compared with the results obtained in ex vivo experiments (p < 0.001). During 90 min of exposure, no significant difference was found between in vitro and ex vivo conditions (p > 0.05).

Synthesis and structure elucidation of some 4-substituted benzylidene amino-5-[3(5)-methyl-5(3)-phenyl-1H-1-pyrazolyl]-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4- triazole-3-thione derivatives with their antimicrobial activities

A new series of 4-substituted benzylideneamino-5[3(5)-methyl-5(3)-phenyl-1H-1-pyrazolyl]-2 ,4-dihydro-3H- 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione was synthesized by reaction of I with suitable aldehyde and tested for their antimicrobial activities against six microorganisms. Most of the compounds showed antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria.

Synthesis and characterization of certain thiourea derivatives starting from 1,2,4-triazoline-3-thiones as potential antibacterial and antifungal agents

Several N-substituted-N'-[4-(4-alkyl/aryl-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione -5-yl ) phenyl[thioureas were synthesized in order to examine their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The structures and purity of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by UV, IR and mass spectral data and elemental analysis. However, they were found not to possess significant antibacterial or antifungal activity.

Synthesis of 3-methyl-4-[(2,4-dihydro-4-substituted-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-5-yl) phenylhydrazono]-5-isoxazolone and evaluation of their antimicrobial activities

3-Methyl-4-[(2,4-dihydro-4-substituted-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-5-yl) phenylhydrazono]-5-isoxazolone derivatives have been synthesised. The structure of these compounds was determined using spectral data and elemental analyses. These compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity.

Streptococcus mutans in plaque from margins of conventional and high copper amalgam restorations

Levels of Streptococcus mutans in plaque samples from margins of conventional and high copper amalgam restorations were compared in fourteen patients, each having one conventional amalgam filling in each quadrant and one high copper amalgam filling on the contra-lateral side were examined. The percentage of S. mutans of total CFU count in plaque was higher on conventional amalgam than on high copper amalgam. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01).