An-Najah Staff

Objectives: This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (seed), Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf) and Sacropoterium spinosum (seed) and antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphate and sulfadimethoxine against four clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methodology: Evaluation of the interaction between ethanolic extracts and different antimicrobial agents has been done using well-diffusion method. Results: It showed that ethanolic extracts increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracycline HCl, gentamicin sulphate, and sulfadimethoxine, while combinations between these plant extracts and enrofloxacin decrease inhibition zone.
Conclusion: This study probably suggests the possibility of concurrent use of these antimicrobial drugs and plant extracts in combination in treating infections caused by S. aureus strains or at least the concomitant administration may not impair the antimicrobial activity of these antibiotics. 

Three broiler trials were conducted to age of 7-days, 21-days and 42-days, for trials 2, 3, respectively and I. In trial 1, two treatments were used: 1) the control (c) in which chicks received no preventive medication in the form of chlortetracycline (tetracycline HCL); 2) preventive medication (m-7) in which one day old chicks were given a preventive course (for seven days) of chlortetracycline at 0.5 g/L drinking water. In trial 2, three treatments were used: treatments 1 (c) and 2 (m-7) where similar to those in trial 1; however, chicks in treatment 3 (m-10) were given the preventive course for 10 days. In the third trial, four treatments were used, 1) common broiler house clean-out and chicks were given no medication (c-nm); 2) common broiler house clean-out and one day-old chicks were given a preventive.

A total of 210 twenty-day-old broiler chicks were used in this programme to investigate the performance, feed intake, digestibility and visceral organ mass of broiler chicks fed with high level of olive pulp supplemented with two antibiotics: streptomycin and tylosin. The two antibiotics were added to supply 150 mg/kg of the active ingredient. Chicks which consumed the medicated dietshad more (p,0.05) gain compared to chicks which consumed the basal diet. However, streptomycin caused more (p,0.05) gain compared to tylosin. Antibiotics had no effect on feed intake. The chicks that consumed the antibiotics had heavier (p0.05) weights of edible, inedible organs and small intestine but lower weights of large intestine and cecum. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract increased (p0.05) in chicks fed with the medicated diets compared to the chicks fed with the basal diet. It is concluded that antibiotic supplementation had a positive effect on chick's performance and digestibility

A total of 210 twenty two- day-old broiler chicks were used in this programme to investigate the performance, feed intake, digestibility and visceral organ mass of broiler chicks fed with high level of olive pulp supplemented with two antibiotics: streptomycin and tylosin. The two antibiotics were added to supply 150 mg/kg of the active ingredient. Chicks which consumed the medicated diets had more (p<0.05) gain compared to chicks which consumed the basal diet. However, streptomycin caused more (p<0.05) gain compared to tylosin. Antibiotics had no effect on feed intake. The chicks that consumed the antibiotics had heavier (p<0.05) weights of edible, inedible organs and small intestine but lower weights of large intestine and cecum. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract increased (p<0.05) in chicks fed with the medicated diets compared to the chicks fed with the basal diet. It is concluded that antibiotic supplementation had a positive effect on chick's performance and digestibility.

Objectives: This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts ofRhus coriaria (seed) , Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf) and Sacropoterium spinosum(seed) and antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphateand sulfadimethoxine against four clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Methodology: Evaluation of the interaction between ethanolic extracts and differentantimicrobial agents has been done using well-diffusion method.Results: It showed that ethanolic extracts increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracycline HCl,gentamicin sulphate, and sulfadimethoxine, while combinations between these plant extractsand enrofloxacin decrease inhibition zone.Conclusion: This study probably suggests the possibility of concurrent use of these antimicrobialdrugs and plant extracts in combination in treating infections caused by S. aureus strains or atleast the concomitant administration may not impair the antimicrobial activity of theseantibiotics.

A total of 210 twenty two- day-old broiler chicks were used in this programme to investigate the performance, feed intake, digestibility and visceral organ mass of broiler chicks fed with high level of olive pulp supplemented with two antibiotics: streptomycin and tylosin. The two antibiotics were added to supply 150 mg/kg of the active ingredient. Chicks which, consumed the medicated diets had more (p<0.05) gain compared to chicks which consumed the basal diet. However, streptomycin caused more (p<0.05) gain compared to tylosin. Antibiotics had no effect on feed intake. The chicks that consumed the antibiotics had heavier (p<0.05) weights of edible, inedible organs and small intestine but lower weights of large intestine and cecum. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract increased (p<0.05) in chicks fed with the medicated diets compared to the chicks fed with the basal diet. It is concluded that antibiotic supplementation had a positive effect on chick's performance and digestibility. KEYWORDS: antibiotics; olive pulp; chicks; performance; digestibility; visceral organs

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate self-medication practices with antibiotics among school teachers in Palestine.
Methods: A survey was conducted via a structured questionnaire among governmental school teachers regarding their practices and attitude toward antibiotics. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 15.
Results: A total of 1039 teachers completed and returned the questionnaire; giving a response rate of 64.9%. Respondents were divided as follows: group I (19.4%) were those who used antibiotics through self-medication only, group II (12.4%) used antibiotics by prescription only, group III (44.7%) used antibiotics by self-medication and prescription while those in group IV (23.3%) were those who did not report using antibiotics in the past six months. Antibiotic utilization among respondents was 76.7% in the past six months. Respondents in the 4 groups had comparable demographic characteristics. Respondents in group I were more likely (42.2%) to administer antibiotics to children without medical consultation, store antibiotic leftover (52.3%) for further use, stack antibiotics at home (59.7%) to be used whenever needed and had the least attitude to finish the entire antibiotic course when prescribed to them (59.9%). Across the four groups, male and female respondents had comparable attitude toward antibiotic use except that males tend to store antibiotic leftover more than females while females tend to finish the entire antibiotic course when taken by self-medication more than males. Respondents in groups I and III mainly consulted pharmacists on self-medication and obtained the antibiotics mainly from community pharmacy. Penicillin was the major class utilized by respondent either by self-medication or by prescription in groups I (74.3%), II (70.5%) and III (68.9%). Sore throat was the most common (30.3%) clinical condition that respondents self-treat with antibiotics, followed by symptoms of common cold (24.4%).
Conclusion: Our study showed that self-medication practices with antibiotics are common and that most of these practices were inappropriate. These results should trigger health policy makers in Palestine to take action in order to prevent antibiotic misuse. Public awareness about proper use of antibiotics is needed. Furthermore, strengthening pharmacy laws and pharmacy control over non-prescription sale of antibiotics is highly recommended.

Objectives: This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (seed), Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf) and Sacropoterium spinosum (seed) and antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphate and sulfadimethoxine against four clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methodology: Evaluation of the interaction between ethanolic extracts and different antimicrobial agents has been done using well-diffusion method.
Results: It showed that ethanolic extracts increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracycline HCl, gentamicin sulphate, and sulfadimethoxine, while combinations between these plant extracts and enrofloxacin decrease inhibition zone.
Conclusion: This study probably suggests the possibility of concurrent use of these antimicrobial drugs and plant extracts in combination in treating infections caused by S. aureus strains or at least the concomitant administration may not impair the antimicrobial activity of these antibiotics.