Intestinal Complication With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Diseases in Chihuahuas

The effects of cardiac disease on the intestine have been reported in humans but not in dogs. We investigated the effects of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), which is capable of causing congestion and tissue hypoperfusion, on the intestine in Chihuahuas, a breed frequently encountered in clinical practice as the preferred breed for MMVD. In this study, 69 Chihuahuas were divided into four groups based on echocardiography and chest radiography: 19 healthy Chihuahuas (H) and 50 Chihuahuas with MMVD classified according to the ACVIM consensus (stage B1, B2, C/D). In all the cases, serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and D/L-lactate concentrations, markers of intestinal mucosal injury, were measured. I-FABP was significantly higher in stage C/D Chihuahuas than in other groups (p < 0.05), and stage B2 was significantly higher than H (p < 0.05). D-lactate was significantly increased in stages B2 and C/D compared to H and stage B1 (p < 0.05). L-lactate was significantly higher in stage C/D Chihuahuas than in any other group (p < 0.05), and stage B2 was significantly higher than that in H and stage B1 (p < 0.05). Intestinal mucosal injury risk was significantly higher in Chihuahuas with heart failure due to MMVD, suggesting that the risk could increase with worsening heart disease. This is the first study to investigate the intestinal complications of MMVD, and further investigations a needed in the future.

Type 1 Achilles tendon rupture caused by grooming trauma in a young dog

Achilles tendon rupture is uncommon in small animal practice. A 9-month-old, female, mixed breed dog (weighing 2.2kg) was referred to our hospital with a primary complaint of right hind limb lameness. Complete right Achilles tendon rupture was diagnosed by physical examination and radiography. The tendon was surgically repaired the next day by using a three-loop and single near-far-far-near suture methods. Complete healing was achieved by 97 days post-surgery. This report describes the surgical technique used for complete Achilles tendon rupture repair in a young dog.

Type 1 Achilles tendon rupture caused by grooming trauma in a young dog

Achilles tendon rupture is uncommon in small animal practice. A 9-month-old, female, mixed breed dog (weighing 2.2kg) was referred to our hospital with a primary complaint of right hind limb lameness. Complete right Achilles tendon rupture was diagnosed by physical examination and radiography. The tendon was surgically repaired the next day by using a three-loop and single near-far-far-near suture methods. Complete healing was achieved by 97 days post-surgery. This report describes the surgical technique used for complete Achilles tendon rupture repair in a young dog.

Induction of immune responses and prevention of alveolar bone loss by intranasal administration of mice with Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae and recombinant cholera toxin B subunit

INTRODUCTION

Adult periodontitis is initiated by specific periodontal pathogens represented by Porphyromonas gingivalis; however, an effective measure for preventing the disease has not yet been established. In this study, the effectiveness of a vaccine composed of fimbriae of P. gingivalis and recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) was evaluated using BALB/c mice.

METHODS

Fimbriae and rCTB were co-administered intranasally to BALB/c mice on days 0, 14, 21, and 28. On day 35, mice were sacrificed to determine immunoglobulin levels in serum, saliva, and nasal and lung extracts by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevention effect of the vaccine on P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis in mice was evaluated by measuring alveolar bone loss.

RESULTS

The rCTB significantly increased serum immunoglobulin (Ig)A levels when mice were administered with a minimal amount (0.5 microg) of the fimbrial antigen. The adjuvant effect on serum IgG production was indistinct because the minimal amount of the antigen still induced a large amount of IgG. In contrast to systemic responses, a fimbria-specific secretory IgA response was strongly induced by co-administration of rCTB and 0.5 microg fimbriae; the same amount of the antigen alone scarcely induced a response. Histopathological examination revealed IgA-positive plasma cells in the nasal mucosal tissue but no observable mast cells in the area. In addition, nasal administration of the fimbrial vaccine significantly protected the mice from P. gingivalis-mediated alveolar bone loss.

CONCLUSION

Nasal vaccination with a combination of fimbriae and rCTB can be an effective means of preventing P. gingivalis-mediated periodontitis.

Optimization of culture conditions for production of the anti-tubercular alkaloid hirsutellone A by Trichoderma gelatinosum BCC 7579

AIMS

This work aimed to optimize the culture conditions for production of a novel and potent anti-tubercular alkaloid, hirsutellone A, by the saprophytic soil fungus Trichoderma gelatinosum BCC 7579.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The fungus was initially cultured in shake flasks at 25 degrees C in the potato dextrose broth (PDB) supplemented with various carbon and nitrogen sources and mineral salts to select suitable medium for mycelial growth and hirsutellone A production. Cultivation conditions were further optimized by adjusting initial pH and changing temperature levels to maximize the production of hirsutellone A. The optimal condition that increased the production of hirsutellone A from 19.04 mg l(-1), obtained from basal condition, to 610.55 mg l(-1) and reduced the cultivation time from 40 to 6 days was to cultivate in a shaker at 200 rev min(-1) at 25 degrees C in PDB plus 20 g l(-1) soluble starch, 10 g l(-1) peptone and 2.5% (v/v) salt solution with initial pH of 7. Production of hirsutellone A in larger-scale using a 5-l batch fermenter was also completed yielding 958 mg l(-1) of hirsutellone A within 6 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The suitable culture conditions for hirsutellone A production by T. gelatinosum BCC 7579 was the cultivation in 5-l fermenter at 25 degrees C in PDB plus 20 g l(-1) soluble starch, 10 g l(-1) peptone and 2.5% (v/v) salt solution with an initial pH of 7.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The production of hirsutellone A in a fermenter to obtain a high yield and reduce an incubation period will become very useful in anti-tubercular drug development process in the future.

[Prospective study of systemic inflammatory response syndrome after cardiac surgery as a effective indicator]

This prospective study was designed to elucidate the meaning of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), the mechanisms that lead to the protraction of SIRS, and whether SIRS is potentially a simple and effective postoperative indicator or not in patients who are operated on with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We studied the duration of SIRS in 90 patients. Our data showed that 83 (92%) of the 90 patients met 2 or more criteria for SIRS and that significant relationship between the protraction of SIRS and the duration of aortic clamping time, CPB time, operation time, and the risk of postoperative organ damage and complication. Those results suggest that SIRS after cardiac surgery with CPB can be regarded as right criteria and highly valuable indexes of preparatory state of organ dysfunction.

Cytokine responses to recombinant cholera toxin B subunit produced by Bacillus brevis as a mucosal adjuvant

We attempted to clarify the mechanism of the mucosal adjuvanticity of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB), which is inherently uncontaminated with the holotoxin produced by Bacillus brevis and has a powerful mucosal adjuvant activity, on cytokine responses compared with that of cholera toxin (CT). rCTB had no ability to stimulate cyclic AMP formation in mouse peritoneal macrophages (Mphi). Cytokine production by non-immunized Mphi cultured with rCTB or CT and by the spleen cells of mice co-immunized intranasally with ovalbumin (OVA) and rCTB or CT was examined. rCTB alone did not induce interleukin (IL)-1alpha/beta or IL-6 production by Mphi, but combination of rCTB with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced both IL-1alpha/beta production. Conversely, CT plus LPS suppressed IL-1alpha/beta production more than LPS alone. Both rCTB and CT suppressed IL-12 secretion induced by interferon gamma (IFN gamma) plus LPS. IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were secreted by mouse spleen cells restimulated with OVA after intranasal co-administration of OVA together with rCTB, and in response to CT, the same cytokines were secreted. The different effect of rCTB on Mphi from that of CT may mean a difference between the mechanisms of rCTB and CT during the early stage of an immune response.

Antimalarial halorosellinic acid from the marine fungus Halorosellinia oceanica

Three known compounds, 2-hexylidene-3-methylsuccinic acid (1), cytochalasin Q (2), and 5-carboxymellein (3), together with two new derivatives, 2-hexylidene-3-methylsuccinic acid 4-methyl ester (4) and an ophiobolane sesterterpene named halorosellinic acid (5), were isolated from culture broth of the marine fungus Halorosellinia oceanica BCC 5149. Compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against KB and BC-1 cell lines with IC(50) values of 1-13 microg/mL, while compounds 2, 3, 5, and 6 showed antimalarial activity with respective IC(50) values of 17, 4, 13, and 19 microg/mL. Halorosellinic acid (5) possessed only weak antimycobacterial activity with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 200 microg/mL.

Phomoxanthones A and B, novel xanthone dimers from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis species

Phomoxanthones A (1) and B (2), two novel xanthone dimers, were isolated from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. BCC 1323. Structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited significant in vitro antimalarial and antitubercular activities and cytotoxicity.

Structures of cordypyridones A-D, antimalarial N-hydroxy- and N-methoxy-2-pyridones from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps nipponica

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extracts from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps nipponica BCC 1389 led to the isolation of N-hydroxy- and N-methoxy-2-pyridones, cordypyridones A-D (1-4). Structures of these compounds, including absolute configuration, were determined by spectroscopic methods, chemical conversions and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Codypyridones A and B, atropisomers of each other, exhibited potent in vitro antimalarial activity with IC(50) values of 0.066 and 0.037 microg/mL, respectively, while their cytotoxicity was much weaker.

Multiplolides A and B, new antifungal 10-membered lactones from Xylaria multiplex

Two new 10-membered lactones, namely, multiplolides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the broth extract of the fungus Xylaria multiplex BCC 1111. Chemical structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of their spectral data. Multiplolides A (1) and B (2) exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans with IC(50) values of 7 and 2 microg/mL, respectively. Both 1 and 2 were inactive in the screening systems toward the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum (at 20 microg/mL) and were not cytotoxic to BC-1 and KB cell lines (at 20 microg/mL).

A new antimycobacterial, 3 beta-acetoxy-15 alpha,22-dihydroxyhopane, from the insect pathogenic fungus Aschersonia tubulata

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the cell extract of the insect pathogenic fungus Aschersonia tubulata BCC 1785 led to the isolation of dustanin (1), 3 beta,15 alpha,22-trihydroxyhopane (3), 5 alpha,8 alpha-epidioxy-24(R)-methylcholesta-6,22-diene-3 beta-ol (6), together with the new 3 beta-acetoxy-15 alpha,22-dihydroxyhopane (4). Chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analyses as well as chemical transformation. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited antimycobacterial activity with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 micrograms/ml.

Mucosal immunization against hepatitis B virus by intranasal co-administration of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen and recombinant cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) produced by Bacillus brevis carrying pNU212-CTB has been previously found to be a potent mucosal adjuvant to aluminium-non-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (nTT) and diphtheria toxoid (nDT) co-administered intranasally, and the possibility of needle-free inoculation of these vaccines with rCTB has been suggested. In this paper we examined the potentiality of rCTB as a mucosal adjuvant to aluminium-non-adsorbed yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBs) being a particulate antigen when administered intranasally with rCTB. In-house ELISA showed that a mixture of rHBs (1 or 5 microg) and rCTB (10 microg) elevated not only systemic responses but also mucosal immune responses at the nasal cavity, the lung, the saliva, the small intestine and the vagina against rHBs, and these could be further increased with higher doses of antigen. With antibody isotypes of IgG, there were equally high levels of serum HBs-specific IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies and induction of mixed Th1- and Th2-type responses was considered to occur in combination of rHBs and rCTB. Serum anti-HBs titres in almost all mice obtained from sandwich EIA using a commercial kit were higher than 1000 milli-international units ml(-1) (mIU ml(-1)). These results show that rCTB is also very effective as a mucosal adjuvant for a particulate antigen like rHBs, as well as soluble antigens like nTT and nDT reported previously, suggesting the possibility of intranasal immunization with rHBs plus rCTB in humans.

Bioxanthracenes from the insect pathogenic fungus. Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC 1620. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and antimalarial activity

Eleven bioxanthracenes and two monomers, six novel in nature, were isolated from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC 1620. Growth optimization of the strain led to the improvement of bioxanthracenes production. The bioxanthracenes were evaluated for their antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity.

Bioxanthracenes from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC 1620. II. Structure elucidation

Structures of eleven bioxanthracenes (1 approximately 11) and two monomers (12 and 13), isolated from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps pseudomilitaris BCC 1620, were elucidated. The structure, including the axial stereochemistry, of one of the major symmetrical dimers (1) was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis, while the stereochemistries of the other isomers were deduced by chemical conversions and spectroscopic means.

Antimycobacterial and antiplasmodial cyclodepsipeptides from the insect pathogenic fungus Paecilomyces tenuipes BCC 1614

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract from the insect pathogenic fungus Paecilomyces tenuipes BCC 1614 led to the isolation and identification of two antimycobacterial and antiplasmodial cyclodepsipeptides, beauvericin and beauvericin A.

Antiplasmodial compounds from the wood-decayed fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 1067

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract from the wood-decayed fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 1067 led to the isolation of five antiplasmodial compounds, (-)-depudecin, (+)-phaseolinone, (+)-phomenone, 19,20-epoxycytochalasin Q, and (E)-methyl 3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propenoate. These structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, especially NMR analysis.

Safety evaluation of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit produced by Bacillus brevis as a mucosal adjuvant

Mucosal immune responses are known to play important roles in the establishment of protective immunity to microbial infections through mucosa. We examined the toxic effects of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) secreted by Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus brevis as a mucosal adjuvant. Incubation of guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages with cholera toxin (CT) or aluminium hydroxide gel (Al-gel) released a significantly higher activity of lactate dehydrogenase than did commercial natural CTB (CTB) or rCTB. Intraintestinal or intramuscular administration of CT, CTB or Al-gel caused severe histopathological reactions. CT also caused infiltration of neutrophils and irregular arrangement or partial loss of the respiratory epithelium. In addition, CT and CTB elicited vascular permeability-increasing effects. rCTB elicited no toxic effects to macrophages and no vascular permeability-increasing effects. Moreover, it is noticeable that no distinct local histopathological reactions were observed in the nasal cavity, the small-intestinal loop or the muscle given rCTB. These results suggest that, from a safety standpoint, rCTB is a useful candidate as mucosal vaccine adjuvant.

Characterization of functional endothelin receptors in the porcine myometrium

To characterize the endothelin (ET) receptor that mediates the contraction induced by ET-1 in the porcine myometrium, we carried out a contraction study, radioligand binding study and molecular study (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for detection of ET receptor-coding genes (mRNA). ET-1 (1 nM-1 microM) caused a tetrodotoxin-insensitive contraction in both longitudinal and circular muscles, but the longitudinal muscle was more sensitive to ET-1 than was the circular muscle. On the other hand, ET-3 and sarafotoxin S6c were less effective to cause a contractile response. The contraction induced by ET-1 was markedly inhibited by BQ123 and FR139317, but BQ788 only slightly inhibited the response induced by ET-1. The radioligand binding study indicated the presence of a single class of 125I-ET-1 binding sites with the same Kd value in both muscle layers. However, Bmax in the longitudinal muscle (3252 fmol/mg protein) was significantly higher than that in the circular muscle (1883 fmol/mg protein). ET-1 and FR139317 inhibited the specific 125I-ET-1 binding completely, but ET-3, sarafotoxin S6c and BQ3020 only slightly inhibited the specific binding (inhibition, 10-20%), suggesting that ET(A) is the dominant ET receptor subtype in the porcine myometrium. The results of the molecular study indicated the expression of both ET(A) and ET(B) receptor-coding genes in the porcine myometrium. In conclusion, ET-1 causes contraction of the porcine myometrium through activation of the ET(A) receptor present on smooth muscle cells. There is a marked muscle layer-related difference (longitudinal muscle > circular muscle) in the ET-1-induced contraction and the ET(A) receptor concentration.

Efficient extracellular production of recombinant Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit by using the expression/secretion system of Bacillus brevis and its mucosal immunoadjuvanticity

A gene encoding the mature Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) was introduced in a vector pNU212 and expressed at high levels in Bacillus brevis HPD31. The maximum amount of recombinant LTB (rLTB) secreted into the modified 5PY medium containing erythromycin was about 350 mg l(-1) when cultivated at 30 degrees C for 8 days. The rLTB purified directly from the culture supernatant by using D-galactose immobilized agarose was identical to the native LTB with respect to the molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the amino terminal amino acid sequence. Western blot analysis with antiserum to cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) indicated that rLTB had cross-reactivity to native CTB and its GM1 binding ability was almost the same as that of the CTB. The rLTB predominantly showed the pentameric form when non-boiled samples were applied to SDS-PAGE. When rLTB was administered intranasally to mice with diphtheria toxoid (D(T)), it resulted in the substantial stimulation of D(T)-specific serum IgG antibody, and in the induction of moderate levels of D(T)-specific mucosal IgA antibody responses in the nasal cavities and in the lung, suggesting that purified rLTB acts as a promising immunoadjuvant on mucosal immunizations.

[Changes in isolated ciliary muscle caused by repeated instillation of carbachol ointment in rabbits and effect of topically applied amlexanox]

PURPOSE

We investigated changes in ciliary muscle caused by continual contraction in rabbits and evaluated the efficacy of topically applied amlexanox, which relaxes the ciliary muscle, on such changes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

After topical application of carbachol ointment 5 times daily for 2 weeks, the contractile responses of isolated ciliary muscles to carbachol were measured isometrically, and the ciliary smooth muscle fibers were stained with phosphotungstic acid and hematoxylin and observed histologically. 1% amlexanox solution was instilled 5 minutes before every instillation of carbachol ointment.

RESULTS

Repeated topical carbachol ointment caused decreases in both contractile responses of isolated ciliary muscles to carbachol and number of ciliary smooth muscle fibers stained by phosphotungstic acid and hematoxylin. Amlexanox inhibited these changes.

CONCLUSION

We found that continual contraction of the ciliary muscle caused functional and histological changes in it. These changes are thought to occur in some diseases which cause excessive contraction of the ciliary muscle. Topical amlexanox might be useful for these diseases.

K(+) channel blockers and cytochrome P450 inhibitors on acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation in rabbit mesenteric artery

Acetylcholine caused an endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated rabbit mesenteric small artery in the presence of nitro L-arginine and indomethacin. The acetylcholine-induced relaxation was attenuated by high K(+) solution, suggesting that the response is mediated by a membrane potential-sensitive mechanism, presumably an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. The acetylcholine-induced relaxation was also inhibited with tetraethylammonium, 4-aminopyridine and charybdotoxin, but not with Ba(2+), apamin, iberiotoxin nor glibenclamide. The relaxation was abolished by a combination of apamin and charybdotoxin, but iberiotoxin could not replace charybdotoxin in this combination. The responses to charybdotoxin and 4-aminopyridine were synergistic but neither apamin nor iberiotoxin increased the effect of 4-aminopyridine. Clotrimazole and proadifen inhibited the acetylcholine-induced relaxation, but these drugs also inhibited the cromakalim-induced relaxation, while protoporphyrin IX inhibited the acetylcholine- but not cromakalim-induced relaxation. 17-Octadecynoic acid and 1-aminobenzotriazole did not affect the response to acetylcholine. Four regioisomers of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids did not relax endothelium-denuded artery. A gap junction inhibitor 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid attenuated the relaxation to acetylcholine. It is suggested that in rabbit mesenteric artery, the acetylcholine-induced, nitric oxide- and prostacyclin-independent relaxation is mainly mediated by 4-aminopyridine- and charybdotoxin-sensitive K(+) channels and that the relaxation is not mediated through cytochrome P450 enzyme metabolites. The contribution of heterocellular gap junctional communication to the relaxation is discussed.

Induction of systemic and mucosal antibody responses in mice immunized intranasally with aluminium-non-adsorbed diphtheria toxoid together with recombinant cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant

Nasal mucosal immunization is very attractive for vaccination to prevent various bacterial and viral infectious diseases because of induction of systemic and mucosal immune responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of changing the immunization procedure of diphtheria toxoid (DT) from intramuscular or subcutaneous injection to intranasal administration. Intranasal immunization with aluminium-non-adsorbed diphtheria toxoid (nDT) together with recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB, 10 microg) induced, at a concentration of 5 Lf, high levels of serum DT-specific IgG antibody responses and high or moderate levels of the specific IgA antibody responses in all mice and only a slight level of the specific IgE antibody responses in some mice. Furthermore, sufficiently high diphtheria antitoxin titres more than 0.1 international units (IU) ml(-1) were obtained from mice which showed high levels of serum DT-specific IgG antibody responses. Under the same experimental conditions, induction of significant levels of mucosal DT-specific IgA antibody responses occurred in the nasal cavity, the lung, the saliva and vaginal secretions and the small and large intestines of all mice, although there were different titres between individual mice. Similar results were also obtained with rCTB-specific serum IgG and IgA and mucosal IgA antibody responses; serum rCTB-specific IgE antibody titres were not detected. These results show that intranasal administration of nDT with rCTB must be a very useful means for vaccination against diphtheria.

Cyclopropenone-containing cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Synthesis and enzyme inhibitory activities

By focusing on the amphiphilic properties of cyclopropenone (e.g. a good electrophile and a precursor for a stable 2pi-aromatic hydroxycyclopropenium cation), a new class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors containing a cyclopropenone moiety was designed. For the purpose of the present research, we needed to devise a new method to introduce a peptide-related moiety as a substituent on the cyclopropenone residue. We investigated the reaction of metalated cyclopropenone acetal derivatives (2, R2 = metal) with N-protected alpha-aminoaldehydes 4 to obtain the adduct 5, and succeeded in the preparation of highly potentiated cysteine proteinase inhibitors 8 after several steps transformations. They showed strong inhibitory activities only to cysteine proteinases such as calpain, papain, cathepsin B, and cathepsin L and not to serine (e.g. thrombin and cathepsin G) and aspartic proteinases (e.g. cathepsin D). Kinetic studies indicated that they are competitive inhibitors, and by the examinations of their inhibitory mechanism it became clear that they are reversible inhibitors.

Intranasal or subcutaneous co-administration of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit stimulates only a slight or no level of the specific IgE response in mice to tetanus toxoid

Whether recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) co-administered intranasally or subcutaneously with aluminium-non-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (nTT) can induce the production of tetanus toxoid (TT)-specific IgE antibodies in mice was investigated compared with aluminium-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (aTT) administered intranasally or subcutaneously. Mice immunized intranasally or subcutaneously with nTT together with rCTB showed a high level of TT-specific serum IgG antibody response and no or a slight level of TT-specific serum IgE antibody response. On the other hand, in mice vaccinated intranasally or subcutaneously with aTT alone, higher levels of TT-specific IgG and IgE antibodies were induced in comparison with intranasal or subcutaneous inoculation of nTT together with rCTB. These results suggest that intranasal or subcutaneous co-administration of rCTB with nTT is better than intranasal or subcutaneous administration of aTT to avoid IgE-mediated allergic reactions.

Antimalarial activity of macrocyclic trichothecenes isolated from the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an extract from the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria BCC 112 resulted in the first isolation of roridin E acetate (5) from nature together with four common macrocyclic trichothecene isomers (1-4). Trichothecenes 1-5, while known as mycotoxins, were evaluated for their high antimalarial activity.

Systemic and mucosal immune responses of mice to aluminium-adsorbed or aluminium-non-adsorbed tetanus toxoid administered intranasally with recombinant cholera toxin B subunit

For the purpose of changing the immunization procedure of tetanus toxoid from intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, which has been in practice for a long time, to intranasal administration, we examined systemic and mucosal immune responses of mice to aluminium-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (aTT) and aluminium-non-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (nTT) inoculated intranasally with recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB). Intranasal immunization with aTT induced, at a concentration of 0.5 Lf, high levels of TT-specific serum IgG antibody titres and moderate levels of TT-specific serum IgA antibody titres in the presence and absence of rCTB. Induction of high or moderate levels of mucosal TT-specific IgA antibody responses was observed with and without rCTB in the lung, the nasal cavity, the small and large intestines and the vagina. Generally speaking, the co-administration of aTT and rCTB showed higher mucosal TT-specific IgA antibody titres when compared with the administration of aTT alone. In case of intranasal administration of nTT, the dose of 5 Lf was necessary and stimulated, only in the presence of rCTB (10 micrograms), high levels of tetanus toxoid (TT)-specific serum IgG antibody responses in all mice examined and moderate or slight levels of TT-specific IgA antibody responses in the nasal, pulmonary and small and large intestinal lavages of a few mice. All mice intranasally immunized with aTT alone or nTT and rCTB escaped onset of tetanus. This is the first report concerned with the mucosal adjuvant activity of an aluminium compound. Judging from these results, intranasal administration of aTT with and without rCTB or nTT with rCTB appears to be a very useful means for a vaccination against tetanus with respect to ease, safety, certainty, low cost and no need for an injection needle.

Alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes and two receptor systems in vascular tissues

The subtypes of alpha1-adrenoceptor are coexpressed in many tissues. We examined the relationship between coexpressed alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes and their functions in blood vessels. Rat and rabbit aortas coexpressed three subtypes (alpha1A, alpha1B, alpha1D) and four subtypes (alpha1A, alpha1B, alpha1D, alpha1L), respectively. In rat aorta however, noradrenaline-induced contraction was mediated predominantly through the alpha1D subtype, and oxymetazoline produced alpha1B-mediated contraction. In rabbit aorta, concentration-response curves for noradrenaline were composed of two components (alpha1B and alpha1L-mediated), while oxymetazoline produced alpha1L-mediated contraction. Therefore, the inhibitory actions of some antagonists varied markedly among tissues and agonists. These results demonstrate diversity of the two receptor systems and suggest that the heterogeneity of physiological responses reflects the differences in functional subtypes among tissues and in their sensitivities to agonists and antagonists.

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit acts as an adjuvant for the mucosal and systemic responses of mice to mucosally co-administered bovine serum albumin

We examined the mucosal adjuvant activity of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) produced by Bacillus brevis carrying pNU212-CTB by intranasal or oral co-administration of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Intranasal administration stimulated a high level of BSA-specific serum IgG antibody response and BSA-specific IgA antibody responses in the nasal and pulmonary lavages. Oral administration induced a moderate level of BSA-specific serum IgG antibody and a low level of BSA-specific IgA antibody in the large intestinal washes. These results show that CTB alone can act as an intranasal or oral delivery carrier; it also has strong adjuvant properties for stimulating serum IgG and mucosal IgA immune responses to unrelated, non-coupled antigens after intranasal or oral co-immunization.

Long-term effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on diabetic peripheral neuropathy and serum lipids in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

The present study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of a new, highly purified (purity greater than 91%), ethyl esterification product from natural eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA-E, C20:5 omega 3) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Hemodynamic changes were assessed at the level of the dorsalis pedis artery using an ultrasonic color Doppler duplex system before and after oral administration of EPA-E at a dose of 1800 mg/day for 48 weeks. The cross-sectional area of the dorsalis pedis artery increased significantly from 2.5 +/- 0.2 to 3.9 +/- 0.4 mm2 (48 weeks, mean +/- SE, p < 0.05). Moreover, EPA-E improved the clinical symptom (coldness, numbness) as well as the vibration perception threshold sense of the lower extremities [from 32.1 +/- 8.5 to 16.1 +/- 4.8 (48 weeks) microns]. A significant decrease of serum triglycerides was also noted by EPA-E administration. Furthermore, significant decrease of the excretion of albumin in urine [from 24.4 +/- 3.3 to 13.9 +/- 1.8 (48 weeks) mg/g.Cr, p < 0.05]. The results of this study suggest that EPA-E has significant beneficial effects on diabetic neuropathy and serum lipids as well as other diabetic complications such as nephropathy and macroangiopathy.

[Parathyroid selective venous sampling]

It is important to localize the site of abnormal parathyroid glands in treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Selective venous sampling with parathyroid hormone assay is one of the methods for localization of adenoma or hyperplasia in primary hyperparathyroidism. Since Reitz first described it in 1969, it has been improved during the last two decades and there is a high sensitivity (70-80%). Especially in those cases, localization is unknown in imaging methods, the first operation fails or the patients has previously been explored in the neck, venous sampling becomes a very useful method. How to perform, indication, performance, strengths and weakness of selective venous sampling is described here.