BACKGROUND Neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are exposed to a wide variety of drugs, most without any data on safety and efficacy. OBJECTIVE To describe the drugs prescribed to different groups of neonates hospitalized in a NICU, and to analyze off-label use and harmful potential of drugs, in terms of the potential risks. METHODS This was a six-month retrospective co...

The collection, storage and disposal of medical solid wastes are a growing environmental problem in Indian cities which needs immediate attention before it goes out of hand. While the government of India is making efforts to expand medical services by allowing private hospitals in the country, the management of medical wastes has received little attention despite their potential environmental h...

BACKGROUND Healthcare professionals (HCPs) produce various types of waste in the course of rendering healthcare services. Each classification of waste must be disposed of according to the prescribed guidelines. Incorrect disposal of waste may pose a danger to employees, patients and the environment. HCPs must have adequate knowledge of the disposal of medical waste. OBJECTIVES To determine th...

Neville asks whether society might benefit if general practitioners were routinely informed by the courts when a patient of theirs had been convicted on drug charges. Four professionals respond to his suggestion. R. Gillon, an ethicist, rejects the proposal as potentially damaging to the physician patient relationship while offering little or no benefit to patients or society. J. Havard, Secret...

Abstract: Peganum harmala L. (Zygophylaceae) has been used in a variety of practical applications in medical science. Our objective in the current study was to determine the effects of the seed extract on Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication in Vero cells. Different concentrations (100, 500, 571, 667, 800 and 1000 µg/ml) of the extract were examined. Experiments were carried ...

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston is a large academic medical center with about 12,700 employees, 350 radioisotope research labs and 200 permitted radioactive materials users. Consequently, UTMB generates a fairly large amount of radioactive waste. The majority of this waste contains short-lived radionuclides, such as 32P, 33P, and 35S, which are held for decay and then...

BACKGROUND The prevalence in the United States of dietary supplement use that may be harmful to those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown. We sought to characterize potentially harmful supplement use by individual CKD status. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional national survey (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2008). SETTING & PARTICIPANTS Community-based survey of 2...