International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-007, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Synergy of daptomycin with fusidin against invasive systemic infection and septic arthritis induced by type VI group B streptococci in mice

Adel Galal El-Shemi^1,3* and Hani S. Faidah²

¹Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.

³Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.

Accepted 12 August, 2011

Abstract 

In view of the emergence of multidrug-resistant group B streptococci (GBS), and its significant clinical impact, there is a necessary need for the development of more effective therapeutic alternatives. Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of daptomycin, a novel lipopeptide antibiotic, in the treatment of type IV GBS-induced invasive systemic infection and septic arthritis in mice. We also evaluated the possible synergy between daptomycin and fusidin to combat GBS disease. Mice infected with type IV GBS and left without drug treatment displayed high incidence of deaths and severe diffuse septic arthritis, associated with excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- ), interleukin -1beta (IL-1 ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)), cyclooxygeanse-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in their blood and joints. However, treatment of these GBS-infected mice with daptomycin significantly inhibited the inoculated bacteria to grow in the blood and joints. Daptomycin-treated mice had significantly showed lower mortality rates, less frequent arthritis and lower levels of TNF- , IL-1 , IL-6, COX-2 and PGE2 than infected untreated animals. More interestingly, a marked in vivo synergy between daptomycin and fusidin that completely protected the mice from GBS infection and its associated mortality and serious sequels was clearly observed. In summary, the present study showed that daptomycin is a welcome newcomer antibacterial arsenal to eradicate GBS invasive infection and septic arthritis, in particular when given in combination with other antibacterial agents such as fusidin.

Key words: Group B streptococci, septic arthritis, daptomycin, fusidin, proinflammatory cytokines, cylooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-005, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of the effect of acupressure, fish oil capsules and ibuprofen on treatment of primary dysmenorrheal

Zafari, M.¹*, Tofighi, M.¹, Aghamohammady, A.¹, Behmanesh, F.² and Rakhshaee, Z.³

¹Department of Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari, Iran.

²Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Science. Iran.

³Department of Midwifery, Islamic Azad University Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran.

Accepted 12 June, 2011

Abstract

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the common causes of absence from workplace and decline in the quality of life of women. Because of the importance and prevalence of dysmenorrhea among women and girls of childbearing age, and due to the publication of reports concerning the effectiveness of fish oil and acupressure in curing primary dysmenorrhea, this study was conducted with the purpose of comparing the effectiveness of acupressure, fish oil capsules, and ibuprofen in treating primary dysmenorrheal. This empirical study was carried out on students of the University of Medical Sciences of Mazandaran in 2010. Students afflicted with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into three groups. The first group (60 students) received 1000 mg of fish oil capsule every day for the duration of two successive cycles; the second group (76 students) was given 400 mg ibuprofen pills, as soon as the pain started, for two months; and in the acupressure group (60 students), the Saninjao point was pressed, at the start of the pain, with a thumb for 20 min. After the information was gathered, the SPSS software, Fisher s test, Duncan s test, Friedman s test, and analysis of variance ( + 0.05) were used to test the data. Results obtained showed that there was a significant difference with respect to pain before and after the use of the medicines and acupressure (P = 0.000). Moreover, all three groups needed the same quantity of extra painkillers during the treatment duration (P = 0.295); and participants were most satisfied with ibuprofen, with acupressure and fish oil ranking second and third, in this respect (P = 0.000). Acupressure, fish oil capsules, and ibuprofen had similar effects in curing dysmenorrheal.

Key words: Primary dysmenorrhea, ibuprofen, fish oil capsule, acupressure.