Peppermint Oil: Evaluating Efficacy on Nausea in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in the Ambulatory Setting.

Background: Nausea is one of the most commonly reported side effects in patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients who experience nausea during chemotherapy may also experience depression, metabolic imbalances, dehydration, decreased ability to function, and treatment delays, which can ultimately affect outcomes.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a cool damp washcloth with peppermint essential oil versus a cool damp washcloth alone on the self-reported intensity of nausea in patients receiving chemotherapy in the outpatient ambulatory setting.

A Case Study to Address a Gap in the Device-to-Vial Interface Stopper Push-in by Chemo Spikes.

This case study is the first to address the risk, at the device-to-vial interface, of a spike pushing a stopper into a vial. It was performed after healhcare workers at cancer care hospitals complained about the risk of possible exposure to hazardous injectable drugs during the transfer if the spike pushed the stopper into the vial. This case study took a three-step approach to understand the device-to-vial interface and the factors that determine stopper push-in force threshold and spike puncture force, respectively.

Quality of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy for malaria found in Ghanaian markets and public health implications of their use.

Background: Ghana changed their antimalarial drug policy from monotherapies to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies in 2004 in order to provide more efficacious medicines for treatment of malaria. The policy change can be eroded if poor quality Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies are allowed to remain on the Ghanaian market unchecked by regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies. The presence and prevalence of substandard and counterfeit Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies need to be determined on open markets in Ghana; a review of the current policy; identifying any gaps and making recommendations on actions to be taken in addressing gaps identified are essential as the data provided and recommendations made will help in ensuring effective control of malaria in Ghana.

Collaborative health and enforcement operations on the quality of antimalarials and antibiotics in southeast Asia.

Counterfeit (or falsified) and substandard medicines pose a major public health risk. We describe the findings of Operation Storm I and II conducted in 2008-2009 to combat counterfeit medicines through partnership between national customs, Drug Regulatory Agencies (DRAs), and police in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Samples were obtained from seizures and market surveillance by national DRAs.

Integration of novel low-cost colorimetric, laser photometric, and visual fluorescent techniques for rapid identification of falsified medicines in resource-poor areas: application to artemether-lumefantrine.

The availability of falsified antimalarial drugs can be reduced with effective drug regulatory agencies and proper enforcement. Fundamental to these agencies taking action, rapid identification must be made as soon as they appear in the market place. Since falsified antimalarials occur mostly in developing countries, performing drug analysis presents itself with unique challenges.

Quality of antimalarials at the epicenter of antimalarial drug resistance: results from an overt and mystery client survey in Cambodia.

Widespread availability of monotherapies and falsified antimalarials is thought to have contributed to the historical development of multidrug-resistant malaria in Cambodia. This study aimed to document the quality of artemisinin-containing antimalarials (ACAs) and to compare two methods of collecting antimalarials from drug outlets: through open surveyors and mystery clients (MCs). Few oral artemisinin-based monotherapies and no suspected falsified medicines were found.

Ruminal degradation and intestinal digestibility of protein and amino acids in high-protein feedstuffs commonly used in dairy diets.

A study was conducted to determine the rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility of crude protein (CP) and AA, and AA composition of the rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) from 3 sources of blood meal (BM1, BM2, and BM3), canola meal (CM), low-fat distillers dried grains with solubles (LFDG), soybean meal (SBM), and expeller soybean meal (ESBM). Two Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and proximal duodenal cannulas were used for in situ incubation of 16h and for the mobile bag technique. To correct for bacterial contamination of the RUP, 2 methods were used: purines and DNA as bacterial markers.

Ration formulations containing reduced-fat dried distillers grains with solubles and their effect on lactation performance, rumen fermentation, and intestinal flow of microbial nitrogen in Holstein cows.

Sixteen multiparous lactating Holstein cows were used in 2 experiments to evaluate the effects of reduced-fat dried distillers grains with solubles (RFDG) on milk production, rumen fermentation, intestinal microbial N flow, and total-tract nutrient digestibility. In experiment 1, RFDG was fed at 0, 10, 20, or 30% of diet dry matter (DM) to 12 noncannulated Holstein cows (mean ± standard deviation: 89 ± 11 d in milk and 674 ± 68.2 kg of body weight) to determine effects on milk production.

Poor quality vital anti-malarials in Africa - an urgent neglected public health priority.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major public health problem. A vital component of malaria control rests on the availability of good quality artemisinin-derivative based combination therapy (ACT) at the correct dose. However, there are increasing reports of poor quality anti-malarials in Africa.

Poor quality drugs: grand challenges in high throughput detection, countrywide sampling, and forensics in developing countries.

Throughout history, poor quality medicines have been a persistent problem, with periodical crises in the supply of antimicrobials, such as fake cinchona bark in the 1600s and fake quinine in the 1800s. Regrettably, this problem seems to have grown in the last decade, especially afflicting unsuspecting patients and those seeking medicines via on-line pharmacies. Here we discuss some of the challenges related to the fight against poor quality drugs, and counterfeits in particular, with an emphasis on the analytical tools available, their relative performance, and the necessary workflows needed for distinguishing between genuine, substandard, degraded and counterfeit medicines.

Medications for sexual health available from non-medical sources: a need for increased access to healthcare and education among immigrant Latinos in the rural southeastern USA.

This study documented the types and quality of sexual health medications obtained by immigrant Latinos from non-medical sources. Samples of the medications were purchased from non-medical sources in the rural Southeast by trained native Spanish-speaking "buyers". Medications were screened the presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients using mass spectrometry.

Comparison of the internal energy deposition of direct analysis in real time and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The internal energy (E(int)) distributions of a series of p-substituted benzylpyridinium ions generated by both direct analysis in real time (DART) and electrospray ionization (ESI) were compared using the "survival yield" method. DART mean E(int) values at gas flow rates of 2, 4, and 6 L min(-1), and at set temperatures of 175, 250, and 325 degrees C were in the 1.92-2.

A stratified random survey of the proportion of poor quality oral artesunate sold at medicine outlets in the Lao PDR - implications for therapeutic failure and drug resistance.

Background: Counterfeit oral artesunate has been a major public health problem in mainland SE Asia, impeding malaria control. A countrywide stratified random survey was performed to determine the availability and quality of oral artesunate in pharmacies and outlets (shops selling medicines) in the Lao PDR (Laos).

Methods: In 2003, 'mystery' shoppers were asked to buy artesunate tablets from 180 outlets in 12 of the 18 Lao provinces.

Comparison of refractometers and test endpoints in the measurement of serum protein concentration to assess passive transfer status in calves.

Objective: To evaluate 3 refractometers for detection of failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunity in calves, and assess the effect of refractometric test endpoints on sensitivity, specificity, and proportion of calves classified correctly with regard to passive transfer status.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 90 calves.

Evaluation of a commercially available immunoassay for assessing adequacy of passive transfer in calves.

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic utility of a commercially available immunoassay for assessing adequacy of passive transfer of immunity in neonatal calves.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 123 calves.

Factors related to in-house agricultural animal caseloads in US veterinary teaching hospitals.

A retrospective observational study was conducted to determine whether agricultural animal caseloads at veterinary teaching hospitals declined between 1995 and 1998. Thereafter, the effect of organizational and demographic factors on 1998 in-house agricultural animal caseloads was examined. Caseload data were obtained from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.

Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins in calves.

Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins has long been accepted as imperative to optimal calf health. Many factors, including timing of colostrum ingestion, the method and volume of colostrum administration, the immunoglobulin concentration of the colostrum ingested, and the age of the dam have been implicated in affecting the optimization of absorption. The practice of colostrum pooling, the breed and presence of the dam, and the presence of respiratory acidosis in the calf also may affect passive transfer.

Effects of pasteurization of colostrum on subsequent serum lactoferrin concentration and neutrophil superoxide production in calves.

Objective: To determine the effects of pasteurization of colostrum on serum lactoferrin concentration and neutrophil oxidative function by comparing values from calves given pasteurized (76 C, 15 minutes) colostrum versus calves given fresh frozen colostrum.

Animals: 8 Holstein bull calves were used to study the effects of pasteurization of colostrum on the absorption of lactoferrin and neutrophil oxidative burst. Three additional calves were used to study the effect of exogenous lactoferrin on neutrophil oxidative burst.

Uterine inversion: a life-threatening obstetric emergency.

Background: Acute puerperal uterine inversion is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication in which the uterine fundus collapses within the endometrial cavity. Although the cause of uterine inversion is unclear, several predisposing factors have been described. Maternal mortality is extremely high unless the condition is recognized and corrected.

Clinical evaluation of a new in-line continuous blood gas monitor.

Two methodologies for obtaining accurate blood gas and electrolyte values during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are traditional laboratory analyzers, which use an electrochemical technology, and continuous in-line monitoring systems, which use a fluorometric and/or spectrophotometric technology. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of a new continuous in-line monitor, the 3M CDI Blood Parameter Monitoring System 500, which provides continuous in-line measurements of pH, PCO2, PO2, potassium (K+), oxygen saturation, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and temperature, during partial or complete CPB. Study parameters included arterial pH, PCO2, PO2, and K+ values.

Colostral immunoglobulin concentrations in Holstein and Guernsey cows.

Objective: To compare the concentration of IgG in colostrum between Holstein and Guernsey cows and among cows of various lactations.

Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.

Sample Population: Colostrum samples from 77 Holstein and 24 Guernsey cows.

A lameness scoring system that uses posture and gait to predict dairy cattle reproductive performance.

Lameness has contributed to reproductive inefficiency and increased the risk of culling in dairy cows. We developed a 5-point lameness scoring system that assessed gait and placed a novel emphasis on back posture. Our objective was to determine if this system predicted future reproductive performance and the risk of culling.