We report the first case of an anaphylactic reaction to Reandron 1000 (depot testosterone undecanoate with a castor oil and benzyl benzoate vehicle). While considered to have a favourable safety profile, serious complications such as oil embolism and anaphylaxis can occur. In our patient, skin testing identified benzyl benzoate to be the trigger, with no reaction to castor oil or testosterone u...

In this study, we investigated the effect of different permeation enhancers at different concentrations viz. oleic acid, olive oil and castor oil from transdermal gel for transdermal delivery of venlafaxine, a newer antidepressant. It is a first line drug in the treatment of depression and inhibits brain serotonin and norepinephrine neuronal reuptake. It is also used in the treatment of anxiety...

The effect of oral laxatives on the organisation of colonic motor complexes was investigated in four conscious dogs. Six strain gauge transducers were implanted on the colon of each dog. After a control period of two to three hours, dogs were orally dosed with 1, 2, or 4 ml/kg of castor oil, or 0.5 g/kg magnesium citrate. Oral olive oil, 4 ml/kg, was used as control. The recording was continued...

AIM The use of traditional medicine as an alternative source of cure for many ailments has played an important role in health care delivery in both developing and developed countries. Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum and Thonn (Connaraceae) is used in traditional medicine for treatment of various disease conditions, including diarrhea. The anti-diarrhea activity of the root bark aqueous extract of B...

Potassium tribromide wrapped around polyethylene glycol ({K+PEG400}Br3-) was easily prepared by two step reaction of PEG400 with KBr followed by the addition of molecular bromine to give PEG embedded potassium tribromide as a dark viscous oil. The synthesized material was found to be an efficient, cost effective, environmentally benig...

Using myoelectric recording techniques, we examined the myoelectric effects of castor oil; ricinoleic acid (cis isomer), the active ingredient of castor oil; and ricinelaidic acid (trans isomer) in the small intestine of New Zealand white rabbits. Ricinoleic acid, 2 microgram/kg per min (6mM), was perfused into a distal 12-cm ileal loop. An abnormal myoelectric pattern developed that was simila...

Polyethylene glycol 6000 precipitation was found to be an effective concentration method that enhanced the chances for detecting human virus pathogens in environmental samples. Percent recoveries from eluates of fresh and estuarine waters with 8% polyethylene glycol 6000 averaged 86 for hepatitis A virus, 77 for human rotavirus Wa, 87 for simian rotavirus SA11, and 68 for poliovirus. Percent re...

Forty-six strains of Malassezia spp. with atypical biochemical features were isolated from 366 fresh clinical isolates from human subjects and dogs. Isolates obtained in this study included 2 (4.7%) lipid-dependent M. pachydermatis isolates; 1 (2.4%) precipitate-producing and 6 (14.6%) non-polyethoxylated castor oil (Cremophor EL)-assimilating M. furfur isolates; and 37 (34.3%) M. slooffiae iso...

Human glycol ether poisonings are sparsely reported in the medical literature. We describe a healthy 22-month-old boy who accidentally drank up to 330 mL of brake fluid containing a 75% bleed of various glycol ethers (5%-50% polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 15%-40% triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1%-30% triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 1%-25% triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 1%-...

The leaf of Psidium guajava Linn. (family: Myrtaceae) is used traditionally in African folk medicine to manage, control and/or treat a plethora of human ailments, including diarrhoea. In this study, we examined the antidiarrhoeal activity of Psidium guajava leaf aqueous extract (PGE) on experimentally-induced diarrhoea in rodents. PGE (50-400 mg/kg p.o.) produced dose-dependent and significant ...