Linker-based lecithin microemulsions for transdermal delivery of lidocaine.

In this work, we introduce alcohol-free lecithin microemulsions formulated with linkers to produce transdermal delivery vehicles. The food-grade linker system consists of a combination of sodium caprylate and caprylic acid (hydrophilic linkers), and sorbitan monooleate (lipophilic linker). A "carrier" oil (isopropyl myristate) was used to predissolve a model lipophilic drug, lidocaine.

Doctors' and nurses' attitudes towards neonatal ethical decision making in Ireland.

Objective: To explore the clinical staff attitudes towards ethical decision making in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Ireland, to establish differences between doctors and nurses and to compare attitudes in Ireland with those in Europe.

Design: Cross-sectional study by means of an anonymous questionnaire. 64 doctors and 228 nurses in seven NICUs participated (response rates 74% and 81%, respectively).

MICs of selected antibiotics for Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus mycoides from a range of clinical and environmental sources as determined by the Etest.

This paper presents Etest determinations of MICs of selected antimicrobial agents for 76 isolates of Bacillus anthracis chosen for their diverse histories and 67, 12, and 4 cultures, respectively, of its close relatives B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B.

A high risk of hepatitis C infection among Egyptian blood donors: the role of parenteral drug abuse.

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Egyptian blood donors, 188 consecutive adult blood donors from four hospitals and one temporary donor center located in Cairo, Egypt were evaluated. Sera were tested for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) using second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits. Sera that were repeatedly reactive by ELISA were further verified by a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA).

[Immediate effects of dimenhydrinate on uterine contraction and the fetal cardiac rhythm during labor].

The effects of intravenous administration of 100 mg of dimenhydrinate (Gravol) were studied in 20 patients during active spontaneous labour. The uterine activity and the fetal heart rate were monitored by an invasive technique. After administration of the medication the uterine activity increases significantly, and in 20% of the cases decelerations in the fetal heart rate of the hypoxic type occurred.