orabase and Gram-Negative-Bacterial-Infections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) accelerates wound healing, as it is an excellent source of growth factors. PRP was separated from whole human blood by centrifugation. PRP powder and wafers were prepared by lyophilization, with the wafers prepared using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC). The PRP wafers showed porous structures, as indicated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, and the ability of the wafer to absorb exudates and thus promote wound healing was tested with the hydration capacity test. The platelet count was tested and indicated that the presence of PRP in the wafers had no effect on the platelet count. An antimicrobial activity test was carried out, showing that PRP had antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Compared with lyophilized PRP powder and PRP-free wafers, PRP wafers showed the highest percent of wound size reduction on induced wounds in rats. Histopathological examination of rat skin showed that the PRP wafers achieved the shortest healing time, followed by the lyophilized PRP powder and finally the PRP-free wafers. The present study revealed that PRP can be formulated as a wafer, which is a promising pharmaceutical delivery system that can be used for enhanced wound-healing activity and improved the ease of application compared to lyophilized PRP powder.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Freeze Drying; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Male; Platelet-Rich Plasma; Powders; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Skin; Wound Healing

To evaluate the effect of total bowel decontamination (TD) and selective bowel decontamination (SD) in a non-protective environment clinical and laboratory data of children treated for acute leukaemia between 1983 and 1991 were analysed retrospectively. From 1983 until 1989 34 patients [18 acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia (ANLL) patients, 16 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients] received TD and 31 patients (8 ANLL patients, 23 ALL patients) received SD from 1987 until 1991. TD consisted of colistin sulphate, neomycin, cephaloridine and amphotericin B orally as well as Orabase and sterilized food, while the patients were nursed in a single room. SD consisted of oral colistin sulphate, neomycin and amphotericin B. Those patients with ANLL were nursed in a single room; patients with ALL were nursed in a single room during remission induction therapy only. All patients except those with ANLL receiving TD received Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole. Because the two groups were heterogeneous for diagnosis and chemotherapy the occurrence of fever (central body temperature at least 38.5 degrees C) and major infections (septicaemia of infections of the deep tissues or organs) were registered during periods of neutropenia (neutrophilic granulocytes < or = 500/mm3 for at least 8 days). Patients on TD had 55 periods of neutropenia, patients on SD 80. Patients on TD had 89.1 periods of fever/100 periods of neutropenia whereas patients on SD had 56.3. Also patients on TD had 27.3 major infections/100 periods of neutropenia whereas patients on SD had 11.3. Major infections predominantly consisted of septicaemia caused by gram-positive bacteria. We conclude that, in this study, TD in a non-protective environment does not offer better protection against major infections that SD in patients with ALL or ANLL.

Topics: Adolescent; Amphotericin B; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Bacterial Infections; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Cephaloridine; Cephalosporins; Child; Child, Preschool; Colistin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Food Handling; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Infant; Intestines; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Neomycin; Neutropenia; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Retrospective Studies; Sterilization; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination