#antimicrobial agent

[chemtexspecialityltd]

How is ALSTASAN SILVOX able to reduce germs concentration and ensure infection control in Hospital? | Chemtex

Alstasan Silvox, or Silver Hydrogen Peroxide based sanitizer is a well effective multipurpose disinfectant. The eco-friendly and bio-degradable nature of this silver peroxide makes it effective for both commercial and domestic usage.

ALSTASAN SILVOX is helping hospitals and healthcare units achieve higher standards of infection control, ultimately contributing to safer environments for patients and healthcare workers alike.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Maya Yang at The Guardian:

A controversial study that promoted hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, as a treatment for Covid-19 has officially been withdrawn. On Tuesday, Elsevier, a Dutch academic publishing company which owns the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, issued the retraction of the March 2020 study, saying “concerns have been raised regarding this article, the substance of which relate to the articles’ adherence to Elsevier’s publishing ethics policies and the appropriate conduct of research involving human participants”. Elsevier added that concerns had also been raised by “three of the authors themselves regarding the article’s methodology and conclusions”. An investigation by Elsevier’s research integrity and publishing ethics team, as well as the journal’s co-owner, the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, found multiple issues within the study, according to a lengthy retraction notice. Among those include the journal being unable to confirm whether any of the patients involved in the study were acquired before ethical approval had been obtained. The journal has also not been able to establish whether there was equipoise between the study patients and the control patients. According to the Association of Healthcare Journalists, equipoise is the “genuine uncertainty within the expert medical community – not necessarily on the part of the individual investigator – about the preferred treatment.” The retraction notice also said that the journal has not been able to establish whether the subjects in this study should have provided informed consent to receive azithromycin as part of the study. According to the original study, the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid would increase if used with azithromycin, an antibiotic. It went on to add that there is “reasonable cause to conclude that azithromycin was not considered standard care at the time of the study”. Since the study’s publication, three of its authors, Johan Courjon, Valérie Giordanengo and Stéphane Honoré, have contacted the journal to express their concerns “regarding the presentation and interpretation of results” and stated that they “no longer wish to see their names associated with the article”. Meanwhile, several other authors disagree with the retraction and dispute the grounds for it, the retraction notice said.

According to Nature, the study is the highest-cited paper on Covid-19 to be retracted, as well as the second-most-cited retracted paper overall.

The International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents retracts a March 2020 study that promoted hydroxychloroquine as a dubious COVID “cure”.

[danhengposting]

a couple of besties can be the current and previous incarnation of the same soul

[oaresearchpaper]

Evaluating Citrullus colocynth Extracts as Natural Preservatives for Chevon Meatballs

Abstract

Chevon is one of the most favorable meats between Arabian populations. Its consider one of the primary source of protein, fat, and water, which providing all essential amino acids, micronutrients, vitamins B6, B12, vitamin D, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which makes it best media for growth of microorganism and highly perishable food item. That increasing the demand to find safe materials extending the shelf life of meat. The aim of the study is to examine Citrullus colocynthis extract as natural preservatives. Fifty chevon samples were investigated microbiologically. Then determined the antibacterial effect of Citrullus colocynthis (aquas & ethanolic) extracts by different concentrations; (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 12.5 & 15) % against six foodborne microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis and Vibrio parahaemolyticus). Finally, addition of the different concretions of each extract to the chevon was performed. On the other side obtained results observed that all extracts have antibacterial effect by varies degree against all tested microorganisms and the extracts successes to extend the shelf life of chevon to about 17 days. According to obtained results indicated that herbal extracts consider a promising choice for the creation as a novel technique to overcome some food pathogens. So, it can be utilized as an alternative to traditional food preservative products.

Introduction

Chevon is referred to the goat meat which considers as one of the most favorite edible red meat kind especially for Arabian societies consumers’. Chevon meat differ in nutritional values than beef meat as it has lower saturated fat, cholesterol and calories contents, in addition to its higher potassium and lower sodium contents all that make this meat kind of choice to people suffering from heart disease and other cardiovascular disorders (Singh et al., 2014).

On the other hand, chevon deterioration may result by the effect of; the meat enzymatic autolysis, lipid oxidation and/or microbial spoilage. Chevon as all meat kinds is one of the excellent media for microbial growth including foodborne microorganisms due to its nutritional value richness (Heifa’a et al., 2018).

Foodborne pathogens such as; (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes & Vibrio parahaemolyticus) in food poses food poisoning problem to the consumers’ health (Umesha and Manukumar, 2018). The zoonotic danger may cause by the foodborne microorganisms itself or caused by their toxins which leading to different severity of the illness signs or even death (Heredia and García, 2018; Allhyani et al., 2021).

Good preservation considered one of the best methods to avoid and/or retarding the meat spoilage (Sánchez-Ortega et al., 2014). although, there are many chemical preservatives used in food industries but almost of these chemicals have very dangerous side effect on the consumers’ health specially to young, old and immunosuppressed consumers, the hazards increase with prolong consumption of the preserved food products which may causing bad effect on liver, kidney in addition to, their teratogenic and carcinogenic. Therefore, almost recent food hygienists and researchers looking for new natural safe preservatives which can prolong the shelf life of the food item and avoid toxicological effect of the traditional preservatives using different plant parts extracts including; leaves, fruits, stems, roots, seeds and bark (Shah et al., 2014; Abo hashem et al., 2022).

Citrullus colocynthis is one of cucurbitaceae family which are widely spread characterized by its rough angular stems, lobed leaves, solitary monoecious flowers, its fruit is green turn to yellow when ripe with size similar to small orange size with numerous ovoid, compressed, light yellowish to dark brown smooth seeds and characterized by its; antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, gut disorders including gastroenteritis, colic, indigestion, and dysentery with multiple other therapeutic potency without adverse effects on human health but until now there is a wide shortage on them as food natural perservatives (Al-Snafi, 2016; Rani et al., 2017; da Silva and Hussain, 2017). In addition to the nearly absent studies on their effect in chevon preservation. This study aimed to investigate antibacterial effect of Citrullus colocynthis different extracts against some food posining pathogens which isolated from chevon samples, Performed sensetivity test by different concentration of each extract and evalute the effect of addition of the plant extracts by different concentrations on minced chevon shelf life.

Source : Evaluating the effect of Citrullus colocynth extracts as natural preservatives for some Chevon meatballs

[jcmarchi]

Startup aims to flush away the problem of icky toilet seats

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/startup-aims-to-flush-away-the-problem-of-icky-toilet-seats/

Startup aims to flush away the problem of icky toilet seats

We’ve all had the unpleasant experience of walking into a bathroom to discover a messy toilet seat. Now, an MIT alumni-founded startup is working to flush away that problem forever.

Cleana, co-founded by CTO Richard Li SM ’24, has developed an antibacterial, self-lifting toilet seat that promises a cleaner, more hygienic bathroom experience for all. Developing a new toilet seat is not quite as sexy as creating a fusion reactor, but Li believes in the importance of the company’s mission.

“A lot of people find it odd at first — a lot of our investors certainly did,” Li says. “This is meaningful to me and how I spent my time the past four years at MIT, and we now have the best solution available for solving this big problem.”

About 1,000 of Cleana’s seats have already been installed in schools, airports, gyms, and stadiums. Customers include Gillette Stadium, the YMCA, and even MIT, which has purchased several of the self-raising sensations for use on campus.

“Everyone who’s had to use a dirty toilet before knows how big a problem they are,” Li says. “Everyone is aware of it, but nobody has been able to address it in a simple, elegant way.”

Li’s foray into the toilet revolution began at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when he was a master’s student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and germs were top-of-mind for everyone.

In 2020, Li connected with Cleana co-founders Kevin Tang, Max Pounanov, and Andy Chang, who were students at Boston University, and the quest to give the toilet seat autonomy began. Li began by prototyping devices in MIT’s Sidney-Pacific dormitory and MIT D-Lab, working with hand tools, heavy machinery, and 3D printers to test different designs.

There were a number of moments that tested the founders’ commitment to the toilet revolution. Li spent many nights — when public toilets weren’t in use — touring bathrooms around Boston and disassembling hundreds of seats to test the fit of Cleana’s product on different toilet bowls. In a testament to the importance of market research, the founders stood outside the bathroom of a local bowling alley with an installed unit, and attempted to interview users about their experience.

Early feedback, while perhaps awkward, was also encouraging: Cleana’s toilet seats were consistently reported as far cleaner and drier than their standard counterparts. In fact, a months-long study across several sites found that it prevented nearly 95 percent of common toilet seat messes in bathrooms where it was deployed.

“It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but it did get us the data we needed,” Li laughs.

Cleana’s smart seat looks a lot like a regular toilet seat with a special handle — but don’t let the standard design fool you; creating Cleana’s seat was a more complex challenge than it may first appear. The company couldn’t just use a set of springs to lift the seat up immediately (which could cause wiping interference, among other issues we won’t detail here). Cleana ultimately went through three major design pivots before settling on today’s product.

Cleana’s current seat is battery-free and in fact uses no electronics. It lifts mechanically after a predetermined amount of time, thus removing it from areas prone to common messes. Importantly, the seat detects when an individual is using the seat and utilizes a clever system to adjust when it should lift itself.

Cleana’s seat especially shines in public men’s and all-gender restrooms, where negligent behavior results in a considerable amount of splatter. The seat also incorporates antimicrobial agents to prevent the spread of germs, and its special handle spares users from having to touch the rest of the seat.

Customers have reported fewer toilet seat messes and less maintenance with Cleana’s seats.

“It saves the cleaning staff a lot of time,” Li says. “Sometimes, businesses had to send cleaning staff into their bathrooms multiple times a day to check on the toilet seat to make sure it’s clean. Now they’re finding that every time they go in, it’s already clean.”

The team is also creating a premium version of the seat geared toward the home, that automatically lowers the toilet seat and lid instead of lifting it. The product uses the same technology as its commercial seat, simply flipped around. The invention aims to end the age-old debate over lowering the toilet seat, while also protecting young children, pets, or dropped items from the risks of an open bowl.

“It’s funny developing a second product which is essentially the opposite of our first, but we’ve been absolutely blown away by the interest in it, especially amongst homeowners and developers,” said Li. “Several large plumbing companies with interest in the product have also conducted independent surveys, finding that more than half of consumers may adopt them in the coming years.”

Ultimately, Li wants to get to a point when he can go into any random gas station or restaurant, and, when nature calls, find his company’s smart seat waiting for him. That dream got real on a recent trip to the Roche Brothers in Watertown, Massachusetts, when Li was delighted to discover his sparkling seat in the restroom by chance.

But Li knows Cleana’s team still has a long way to go before the toilet revolution is complete. That’s why this past spring, when Li finally stood to collect his diploma at MIT’s Commencement, he wore not a sash around his neck, but a toilet seat.

Others kept their distance, but Li knew it was clean.

[truth4ourfreedom]

THE BENEFITS OF IVERMECTIN. IF YOU HAVE CANCER, FREQUENT COLD OR INFECTIONS, MUSCLE SHRINKAGE, CARDIAC ISSUES, CROHNS, HERPES, ETC.

The study was published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.  LET'S TALK ABOUT IVERMECTIN 1 – Ivermectin prevents the damage caused to RNA Vaccines.  2 – Ivermectin blocks the entry of Spike Protein into cells.  So, if the person was vaccinated with COVID, they have hope, they have a way to treat themselves through Ivermectin.  3 – Ivermectin is a treatment after Covid and after vaccination, it is an effective medicine in all phases of Covid 19, even before entering the cell, Ivermectin already destroys the virus in the blood.  It only has beneficial effects and no harmful effects in the treatment of the coronavirus.  4 – Ivermectin has a very powerful anti-inflammatory action against Coronavirus.  5 – Ivermectin has a powerful action for traumatic and orthopedic injuries, it strengthens muscles and has no side effects like corticosteroids.  6 – Ivermectin treats autoimmune ailments such as: rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, allergic rhinitis.  7 – Ivermectin reduces the frequency of flu and colds.  8 – Ivermectin improves the immunity of cancer patients.  9 – Ivermectin treats Herpes Simplex and Herpes Zoster.  10 – Ivermectin reduces the frequency of sinusitis and diverticulitis.  11 – Ivermectin protects the heart in cardiac overload, in an embolism for example, it prevents cardiac hypoxia because it stimulates the production of basic energy so that the tissue is not destroyed and thus improves cardiac function.  12 – Ivermectin is antiparasitic.  13 – Ivermectin is anti-neoplastic (anti-cancer), it suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells, only killing cancer cells and preserving healthy cells, improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment, as it kills cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy, defeating the resistance to multiple chemotherapeutics that tumors develop, and combined with chemotherapy and/or anti-cancer agents, it provides an increase in the effectiveness of these treatments.  14 – Ivermectin is antimicrobial (bacteria and viruses), and increases immunity.  15 – Ivermectin reaches the Central Nervous System and regenerates the nerves.  16 – Ivermectin regulates glucose and insulin metabolism.  17 – Ivermectin regulates cholesterol metabolism.  18 – Ivermectin reduces liver fat in steatose.  19 – Ivermectin protects the liver exposed to insecticides.  20 – Ivermectin attacks the virus wherever it is, regardless of mutations.  21 – Ivermectin serves for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus, surprisingly.  Unproven efficacy is not of Ivermectin, but of vaccines.  22 – Ivermectin, used as a prophylactic agent, was associated with a significant reduction in infection, hospitalization and mortality rates due to COVID-19.  23 - Ivermectin does not attack the liver, since it is not metabolized in it, and if in the intestine, on the contrary, it protects the liver. 

BIG PHARMA DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS.THEY WANT TO SELL YOU THE EXPENSIVE MEDS THEY MAKE BILLIONS ON.

Please read, save and re-blog before Tumblr takes this down.

[jppres]

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of an active plant-based quadrocomplex for skin hygiene

Image: Flickr Article published in J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 905-921, September-October 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres22.1452_10.5.905 Viktor A. Filatov1,2*, Olesya Yu. Kulyak1, Elena I. Kalenikova1 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy and Organization of Pharmaceutical Business, Faculty of Basic Medicine, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State…

[nenelonomh]

deodorant

how often do you use this product you know so little about? let me educate you.

deodorant is a personal hygiene product designed to reduce or mask body odour caused by sweating and bacterial overgrowth. it makes the skin more acidic and less attractive to bacteria that cause odour. deodorants often contain antimicrobial agents to kill odour-causing bacteria and fragrances to mask any residual odour.

there are also antiperspirants, which are a subclass of deodorants. antiperspirants prevent sweating by blocking sweat glands, reducing the amount of perspiration that reaches the skin.

picking the right deodorant for your skin type

sensitive skin: look for deodorants labelled as hypoallergenic or formulated for sensitive skin. these usually contain fewer irritants and are free from alcohol and fragrances.

dry skin: opt for deodorants with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera or glycerin to prevent further dryness.

'regular' skin: you have more flexibility and can choose from a wide range of deodorants, including those with added fragrances.

consider natural options

if you prefer to avoid synthetic chemicals, look for natural deodorants that use ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, and essential oils.

allergies

before committing to any new products, do a patch test on a small area of your skin to check for any allergic reactions.

reviews

reading reviews can give you insights into how well a product works for others with similar skin types. some brands also offer sample sizes, so you can try them out before buying a full-sized product.

end notes

reply with which deodorant you prefer and why. these kinds of topics are often avoided, but it is important to have a general understanding.

i hope you found this interesting! ❤️ nene

[covid-safer-hotties]

Infamous paper that popularized unproven COVID-19 treatment finally retracted - Published Dec 17, 2024

Today in too little, too late. Nice to see this finally done, though.

By Cathleen O’Grady

Study on hydroxychloroquine by Didier Raoult and colleagues gets pulled on ethical and scientific grounds

A 2020 paper that sparked widespread enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment was retracted today, following years of campaigning by scientists who alleged the research contained major scientific flaws and may have breached ethics regulations. The paper was pulled because of ethical concerns and methodological problems, according to a retraction notice.

The paper in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (IJAA), led by Philippe Gautret of the Hospital Institute of Marseille Mediterranean Infection (IHU), claimed that treatment with hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, reduced virus levels in samples from COVID-19 patients, and that the drug was even more effective if used alongside the antibiotic azithromycin. Then–IHU Director Didier Raoult, the paper’s senior author, enthused about the promise of the drug on social media and TV, leading to a wave of hype, including from then–U.S. President Donald Trump.

But scientists immediately raised concerns about the paper, noting the sample size of only 36 patients and the unusually short peer-review time: The paper was submitted on 16 March 2020 and published 4 days later. On 24 March, scientific integrity consultant Elisabeth Bik noted on her blog that six patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine had been dropped from the study—one of whom had died, and three of whom had transferred to intensive care—which potentially skewed the results in the drug’s favor. Larger, more rigorous trials carried out later in 2020 showed hydroxychloroquine did not benefit COVID-19 patients.

Critics of Raoult’s paper have pointed out more damning problems since. In an August 2023 letter published in Therapies, Bik and colleagues noted the cutoff for classifying a polymerase chain reaction test as positive was different in the treatment and control groups. The letter also raised questions about whether the study had received proper ethical approval, and noted an editorial conflict of interest: IJAA’s editor-in-chief at the time, Jean-Marc Rolain, was also one of the authors. (A statement saying he had not been involved in peer review was later added to the paper.) The letter called for the paper to be retracted.

The retraction notice states Elsevier and the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, which co-own the journal, decided to retract the paper because of ethical issues, “as well as concerns raised by three of the authors themselves regarding the article’s methodology and conclusion.”

An investigation by Elsevier could not establish whether the researchers had obtained ethical approval for the study before recruiting patients, nor whether the patients had given informed consent to be treated with the antibiotic azithromycin. This medication would not have been part of standard care for these patients in France at the time, the investigation concluded, so would have been considered an experimental treatment that required consent.

According to the notice, the three authors who raised concerns about the paper “no longer wish to see their names associated with the article.” Gautret and several other authors told the investigators they disagreed with the retraction, and the investigators did not receive a response from Raoult, the corresponding author. To date, 32 papers published by IHU authors have been retracted, 28 of them co-authored by Raoult, and 243 have expressions of concern.

In a press release, the French Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics says the now-retracted study was the “cornerstone” of a scandal that saw millions of people take hydroxychloroquine unnecessarily, endangering patients who experienced side effects including heart attacks. “This series of events serves as a reminder of an essential point when it comes to medicines: Even in times of health crisis, prescribing medicines without solid proof of efficacy, outside the rigorous framework of well-conducted clinical trials, remains unacceptable,” the society says. “One of the fundamental principles of medicine—primum non nocere (‘first, do no harm’)—has been sacrificed here, with dramatic consequences.”

[republicsecurity]

Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component of the Armor Suit

The Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component is an integral part of the advanced full-body armor suit worn by Cadets, Conscripts, Reservists and Intendurds in the Security Forces, Lifeguards, Paramedic Corps and Nursing Corps and training academies. This component is designed to ensure hygiene, control, and comfort for the wearer, whether used in conjunction with the full armor suit or as a standalone piece of equipment.

Design and Features

Material: Constructed from high-density, hypoallergenic synthetic fabrics, the component provides durability, flexibility, and breathability. The inner lining is coated with an antimicrobial layer to prevent infections and maintain cleanliness over extended periods.

Two-Chamber Design: The component features a specialized two-chamber design. One chamber securely encases the penis, while the other accommodates the scrotum, ensuring both are protected and kept in an optimal environment. This design helps in preventing chafing and maintaining hygiene, even during extended periods of use.

Chastity Mechanism: The chastity feature includes a secure, ergonomic cage designed to prevent unauthorized sexual activity. Made from lightweight, medical-grade polymers, it ensures comfort while maintaining strict control. The cage can be adjusted to fit various sizes and shapes, ensuring a snug but non-restrictive fit.

Waste Management: Integrated into the design is an advanced waste management system. This includes absorbent layers capable of handling urine and fecal matter, which are quickly wicked away to prevent discomfort and skin irritation. The component can be easily cleaned and sanitized, whether worn as part of the armor or independently.

Compatibility: The component seamlessly integrates with the full-body armor suit. Connection points allow for the automated removal and disposal of waste, managed by the suit’s internal systems. When worn independently, it functions efficiently, ensuring the wearer remains hygienic and comfortable.

Security and Monitoring: Equipped with biometric sensors, the component monitors the wearer’s physiological state, transmitting data to the suit’s central processing unit or an external monitoring system. This includes tracking hydration levels, waste excretion, arousal and other vital signs to ensure optimal health and performance.

Comfort and Fit: Designed for extended wear, the component features adjustable straps and a contoured design to prevent chafing and discomfort. The fit can be customized to each wearer, ensuring it remains secure without impeding movement or flexibility.

Usage and Maintenance

Usage: The Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component is designed for continuous use up to 7 days, with a standard operational period of 5 days. This duration ensures that cadets remain in peak condition during extended training exercises or deployments, without the need for frequent removal or maintenance.

Maintenance: Regular cleaning and sanitization are required to maintain its functionality and hygiene standards. The component can be detached from the suit and cleaned using standard military-grade cleaning agents. Replacement parts and servicing are available through authorized personnel and facilities.

The Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component exemplifies the blend of technological innovation and practical application, ensuring cadets maintain hygiene and comfort during their rigorous training and operational duties.

[ratasum]

Medicine and Healing Magic

So something that lives rent free in my head all the time?

Healing magic and practical medicine.

So since hospitals, medical wards, medics, etc all exist in universe, I generally theorize that magical healing is (obviously) not as immediate or complete as healing magic in game.

Gonna use this write up I did for Kippa from the Priory TED Talk to explain my thoughts on it:

Of course, it is a well known fact for adventurers that magic is a useful tool when it comes to injuries taken on the road. But what few people are aware of is that while magic is extremely useful for everyone in our world, it’s equally important to know how to manage illnesses and injuries both without and in conjunction with magic. Many injuries cannot be immediately treated with magic safely, and others may not need the use of magic at all. Take, for example, a significant open wound. While one might be tempted to use magic to seal it immediately, it is important to make certain that the wound is thoroughly washed and all infection within the wound is managed. The best practice here would be to use an antimicrobial agent - for example garlic, honey, or peppermint - once the wound is washed, and then stitch and bandage the wound. Apply small amounts of healing, checking constantly for signs of infection, until the wound is fully healed. It is true this can take a few days! But it lowers the risk of accidentally sealing an infection in the body and running the risk of a blood infection or a potentially dangerous amputation. Broken bones are another item that must be dealt with using a gentler touch. Rapid healing may fix the break, but it can also heal the bone at the wrong angle, requiring worse treatment and a length recovery. Setting and splinting the bone, then applying small amounts of healing magic over time, is the best practice here! Obviously necessity can demand precedence. In an emergency, magic must be applied to reduce blood loss and get someone back on their feet quickly. But be aware that various after-effects can occur: dizziness, dehydration, disorientation, and migraines are common side effects from sudden, high level healing in emergency situations, and we recommend things like willow bark, cold compresses, and - surprisingly - coffee to help with the headaches. Rest once in a safe area can address the dizziness and disorientation, and drinking plenty of water is the obvious answer to the dehydration. Our world is full of fantastic natural remedies. We recommend it often for those living in cities and small towns, handed to us by those who’ve practiced these natural methods of treatment for many years before us. Feverfew for high fevers, echinacea and eucalyptus for respiratory issues, and more. Here at the Priory, we do put a high focus into ensuring all our healers learn as much as possible about the natural world. In a pinch, a tincture or a poultice can be as or more useful as any healing magic could hope to be.

Basically, magic is a stopgap. It CAN be used to fully heal an injury, but a number of different things can be taken into account, such as infection, risk of making dangerous decisions that will result in future painful treatment, etc. So both are extremely useful and necessary in a world like this.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Newly designed nanocrystals can kill bacteria under visible light

Newly developed halide perovskite nanocrystals (HPNCs) show potential as antimicrobial agents that are stable, effective and easy to produce. After almost three years, Rice University scientist Yifan Zhu and colleagues have developed a new HPNC that is effective at killing bacteria in a biofluid under visible light without experiencing light- and moisture-driven degradation common in HPNCs. A new method using two layers of silicon dioxide that Zhu and colleagues developed over years of work was used in experiments with lead-based and bismuth-based HPNCs to test their antimicrobial efficacy and stability in water. The study is published in Nano Letters. HPNCs have unique optical and electrical properties that make them promising candidates for solar power applications, bioimaging and photocatalysis, the acceleration of chemical reactions caused by light in the presence of a catalyst. One such reaction is the production of reactive oxygen species that can inactivate biological contaminants in fluids. However, perovskites are highly prone to degradation in water and biological fluids, limiting their potential in biomedical applications.

Read more.

[ukrfeminism]

Some period pants sold by high street retailers contain high levels of silver that could have health and environmental implications for consumers, an investigation has found.

Silver is used as an antimicrobial agent and is typically added to period pants to combat user concerns about smell and hygiene.

However, scientists have increasingly warned about the potential health effects. The US Food and Drug Administration found that nanosilver can kill lactobacillus, the healthy bacteria in the vagina that help fight off infection. This can put period pant users more at risk of harmful bacteria, potentially leading to an increased risk of bacterial infections and pregnancy complications.

Natalie Hitchins, the head of home products and services at Which?, said: “Consumers should be cautious buying period pants which contain silver as experts have concerns about the health implications.

“Which? believes brands should also clearly state which products contain silver so shoppers can make informed decisions about what they are buying and the possible risks.”

The consumer rights group worked with an Italian consumer organisation, Altroconsumo, to independently test popular brands and check if they contained any chemicals of concern. They were worried to find that some products contained significant levels of silver, and this was not always made clear on the packaging.

Intima by Bodyform and pants by Marks & Spencer in particular contained notably more silver than other brands, at 126.7mg/kg and 57.8mg/kg respectively. Other brands contained 8.3mg/kg, 7.4mg/kg, and 0.9mg/kg.

Essity, the owner of Bodyform and Modibodi, said silver copper zeolite was used to “prevent odour when wearing the pants for up to 12 hours”. It added that all of its “washable underwear is certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which means that every single component has been tested for harmful substances” and “that the underwear has been designated as harmless for human health”. An M&S Spokesperson said: “We do not use either nano silver or silver zeolite and, like many brands, use a small amount of silver chloride in the middle part of the gusset – away from the skin – which is perfectly safe, approved by the UK and EU, and designed to combat odour.”

Which? said it believed the use of silver was unnecessary and that previous testing by Altroconsumo had shown that textile items treated in this way did not have the promised antimicrobial properties.

The European Chemicals Agency says silver treatments, such as nanosilver and silver zeolite, are toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.

The tests Which? carried out can detect any silver above 0.1mg/kg, and it found none in Primark, Repeat, Wuka, Lovable and Sloggi pants. Sloggi’s website says it does use a silver-based antimicrobial, and Primark says it uses Micro-Fresh, which contains silver chloride.

A Primark spokesperson said: “The nature of period pants means there is a potential for odour to develop during wear (in the same way that bacteria can cause socks and shoes to develop odours during wear) and our antimicrobial finish minimises such odours.”

Sloggi did not reply to Which? at the time of publication.

There are no legal limits in the UK about how much silver can be added to period pants. Manufacturers do not have to declare the presence of silver on their packaging or website.

[dmsous]

Uses of DMSO in Animals

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has several applications in veterinary medicine due to its unique properties, such as its ability to penetrate tissues and act as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. Here are the primary uses of DMSO in animals:

1. Anti-inflammatory Treatment

Applications: DMSO is often used topically to reduce swelling and inflammation in animals, particularly in conditions affecting joints, muscles, and tendons.

Examples:

Treating sprains, strains, and soft-tissue injuries in horses.

Managing arthritis and laminitis in livestock.

2. Carrier for Other Medications

Role: DMSO facilitates the absorption of drugs through the skin and mucous membranes, acting as a drug carrier.

Applications: It is used to deliver antibiotics, steroids, or other drugs directly to the affected site.

3. Pain Relief

Mechanism: DMSO has analgesic properties, helping to alleviate pain caused by injuries or chronic conditions.

Applications: Commonly used in horses for musculoskeletal pain relief.

4. Treatment of Neurological Conditions

Applications: DMSO is used in cases of head or spinal trauma to reduce inflammation and edema in the central nervous system.

Example: Managing cerebrospinal fluid pressure in horses and dogs.

5. Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agent

Uses: DMSO possesses mild antimicrobial properties and is occasionally used to manage infections.

Example: Treating fungal or bacterial skin conditions in animals.

6. Cryopreservation

Role: DMSO is used as a cryoprotectant to preserve cells, tissues, and embryos during freezing.

Applications: In animal breeding programs, particularly for preserving sperm and embryos.

7. Treatment of Specific Conditions

Bladder Inflammation (Cystitis): Used as an intravesical treatment for interstitial cystitis in dogs and cats.

Foot Rot: Occasionally applied to manage foot rot and similar conditions in livestock.

Precautions When Using DMSO

Tissue Irritation: May cause skin irritation or burning if applied excessively.

Odor: It has a strong garlic-like smell, which some animals may find unpleasant.

Systemic Absorption: Because DMSO can carry substances through the skin, only pure and safe compounds should be used with it.

DMSO is most commonly used in veterinary medicine for large animals like horses and livestock, but it is also utilized in smaller animals under controlled veterinary guidance.