Assessment of Plasma Fibrinogen Level and Lipid Profile in Sudanese Smokers

Background: Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Epidemiologic studies in smokers confirm the association between the alteration in lipid profile levels and CVDs risk. Fibrinogen, an acute phase reactant with active involvement in endothelial function, thrombosis and inflammation. It is signified as a systemic marker of carotid atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of fibrinogen and lipid parameters in Sudanese tobacco smokers.

Investigation of a spatiotemporal cluster of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 infections in eastern England in 2007

An outbreak of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) infections linked to an open farm occurred in eastern England in April and May 2007. This paper describes the investigation and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration for successful control of such outbreaks. There was a temporal cluster of 12 confirmed symptomatic cases of VTEC O157 and one asymptomatic carrier, from five families. The investigation revealed that four of these cases formed part of an outbreak involving two families who visited an open farm. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the isolates from the two families and the putative farm animal contacts were indistinguishable, indicating that the animals were the source of the primary infections. No epidemiological link could be established between the remaining three families affected and the open farm or people having visited the farm. Control measures included improved hand washing facilities on the farm, information for visitors and staff, restricted access and suspended petting and feeding of animals, and thorough cleaning and disinfection of affected areas.

Investigation of a spatiotemporal cluster of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 infections in eastern England in 2007

An outbreak of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) infections linked to an open farm occurred in eastern England in April and May 2007. This paper describes the investigation and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration for successful control of such outbreaks. There was a temporal cluster of 12 confirmed symptomatic cases of VTEC O157 and one asymptomatic carrier, from five families. The investigation revealed that four of these cases formed part of an outbreak involving two families who visited an open farm. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the isolates from the two families and the putative farm animal contacts were indistinguishable, indicating that the animals were the source of the primary infections. No epidemiological link could be established between the remaining three families affected and the open farm or people having visited the farm. Control measures included improved hand washing facilities on the farm, information for visitors and staff, restricted access and suspended petting and feeding of animals, and thorough cleaning and disinfection of affected areas.

Legionnaires' disease: when an 'outbreak' is not an outbreak

During August 2006, there was a large increase in non-travel related legionella cases throughout England and in the Netherlands.

Outbreak of low pathogenicity H7N3 avian influenza in UK, including associated case of human conjunctivitis

On 26 April 2006, the veterinary authorities in the United Kingdom reported that there had been an outbreak of avian influenza type A/H7 among a 35 000-bird housed poultry flock in eastern England, United Kingdom.

Outbreak of hepatitis A infection among intravenous drug users in Suffolk and suspected risk factors

A prolonged outbreak of hepatitis A infection amongst drug users in Suffolk prompted a study of the natural immunity against hepatitis A in this population, and a retrospective analysis of the relationship between specific drug-taking behaviours and the risk of hepatitis A infection. Prior to the outbreak, age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A IgG in drug users was similar to that amongst blood donors in the region. Of those without effective immunity, intravenous drug users, multiple drug users and those injecting frequently were more likely to have developed hepatitis. The reported frequency of equipment sharing and the number of injecting partners were not related to the risk of infection. The potential for blood-to-blood, and a suggested faecal-blood transmission were considered to be important in propagating the outbreak in this population. We suggest that a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine administered opportunistically should be used in outbreaks involving drug users.

Voltammetric, spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods to determine flufenamic acid

Simple, rapid and sensitive voltammetric, spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods for determination of flufenamic acid (FF) in bulk powder and capsule dosage form are presented. The methods are based on the cyclisation reaction of FF with concentrated sulphuric acid to produce the corresponding acridone derivative. The voltammetric method is based on the adsorptive stripping differential pulse (DP) technique. The acridone derivative is determined over the concentration range of 8-60 ng ml(-1) using adsorptive preconcentration at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The lower detection limit was found to be 1.02 ng ml(-1). The fluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods are based on the measurement of the fluorescence intensity at 450 nm (lambda(ex) = 400 nm)and peak-to-peak measurements of the first- (D1) and second-derivative (D2) curves, respectively. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration ranges of 2-20 ng ml(-1) and 0.2-8.0 microg ml(-1) for the fluorimetric and spectrophotometric measurements, respectively. The three methods were proved to be accurate and reproducible as indicated by a relative standard deviation of <2%.

UV-spectrophotometric determination of ampicillin sodium and sulbactam sodium in two-component mixtures

A simple spectrophotometric method is used for the resolution of the binary mixtures of ampicillin sodium and sulbactam sodium. In aqueous solution, zero-order spectra are subject to interference, so first-derivative spectrophotometry was used to enhance the spectral details allowing the determination of ampicillin sodium from the signal at the zero-crossing point for sulbactam sodium at 268 nm. In 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, sulbactam sodium was determined from the absorbance at 260 nm with negligible contribution from ampicillin sodium. Also, sulbactam sodium was determined without interference using first- and second-derivative spectra in 0.1 N sodium hydroxide at 276 nm (peak-height) and 262-284 nm (peak-to-peak), respectively. The method is rapid, simple, does not require a separation step and allows the determination of each drug without interference from the other. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the assay of these drugs in mixtures and in commercial injections.

Second derivative spectrophotometric determination of acetaminophen and phenacetin in presence of their degradation products

A rapid and accurate method for determining acetaminophen and phenacetin in presence of their degradation products is presented. Solutions of these drugs in 0.1N HCl were analyzed by measuring their second derivative spectral response at 295 nm where the degradation products do not interfere. The mean percent recoveries for mixtures of acetaminophen and/or phenacetin with the corresponding degradation products were 100.2 +/- 0.6 and 100.6 +/- 1.1, respectively. The method can be used for assessing the stability of the 2 drugs. The proposed method is also applied to the determination of acetaminophen in tablets and syrups.