Effect of mebendazole on hydatid cysts in pigs

Mebendazole given per os was found to be effective against larval Echinococcus granulosus infection in pigs. Twenty-four pigs were experimentally inoculated with adult E. granulosus tapeworms. Mebendazole (40 mg/kg) or placebo was injected into six pigs 2 months after infection. Seven other pigs were given mebendazole (25 mg/kg) in their feed for 10 days twice (2 and 5 months after infection). Post-mortem examination performed 8 months after infection revealed that two of the pigs treated with mebendazole per os had a single hydatid cyst each; the other five pigs were free of infection. All eleven control untreated pigs were infected with between two and 21 cysts of E. granulosus.Mebendazole given intraperitoneally was not effective as mebendazole given per os in preventing the development of hydatid cysts in pigs.     

Antioxidant activity of betanidin: electrochemical study in aqueous media

The antioxidative mechanism of action of betalains is of significant interest because these pigments are recently emerging as highly bio-active natural compounds with potential benefits to human health. Betanidin, the basic betacyanin, comprises the 5,6-dihydroxyl moiety, which results in its high antioxidant activity. Oxidation of betanidin by voltammetric techniques and chro matographic identification of the oxidation products with spectrophotometric and mass spectrometric detection (LC-DAD-MS/MS) were performed. Two main oxidation peaks for betanidin are observable at pH 3-5. These peaks become merged at higher pH, suggesting a different mechanism of oxidation at higher and lower pH values. The low oxidation potential of betanidin confirms its very strong reduction properties. The presence of two prominent oxidized products, 2-decarboxy-2,3-dehydrobetanidin and 2,17-bidecarboxy-2,3-dehydrobetanidin, indicates their generation through two reaction routes with two different quinonoid intermediates: dopachrome derivative and quinone methide. Both lead to the decarboxylative dehydrogenation of betanidin. Subsequent oxidation and rearrangement of the conjugated chromophoric system results in formation of 14,15-dehydrogenated derivatives.     

Increased prevalence of hyperthyroidism as an early and transient side-effect of implementing iodine prophylaxis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of hyperthyroidism just after implementation of iodine prophylaxis among adults from an area with iodine deficiency. STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A total of 1648 adults (age 16 years and older) were sampled from an area of southern Poland during two nationwide epidemiological surveys. Of these, 1424 adults with negative medical history for thyroid disorders qualified for final analysis. The authors compared thyroid dysfunction in participants prior to (1989-1990) and after implementation of iodine prophylaxis (1997-1999). SETTING: The southern part of Poland. RESULTS: We found an increase in the serum concentration of anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies from 4.9% in the years 1989-1990 to 12.1% after introduction of iodised household salt (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of hyperthyroidism (defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone < 0.4 microU ml- 1) significantly increased in the equivalent period from 4.8 to 6.5% (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a sudden rise in iodine intake after implementation of iodine prophylaxis among adults from the area with iodine deficiency may lead to an increase in thyroid autoimmunity and prevalence of hyperthyroidism. Those possible early side-effects appear to be only temporary and are acceptable when compared with the evident benefits of adequate iodine intake.     

Structures of cage, prism, and book isomers of water hexamer from broadband rotational spectroscopy

Theory predicts the water hexamer to be the smallest water cluster with a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network as its minimum energy structure. There are several possible low-energy isomers, and calculations with different methods and basis sets assign them different relative stabilities. Previous experimental work has provided evidence for the cage, book, and cyclic isomers, but no experiment has identified multiple coexisting structures. Here, we report that broadband rotational spectroscopy in a pulsed supersonic expansion unambiguously identifies all three isomers; we determined their oxygen framework structures by means of oxygen-18-substituted water (H(2)(18)O). Relative isomer populations at different expansion conditions establish that the cage isomer is the minimum energy structure. Rotational spectra consistent with predicted heptamer and nonamer structures have also been identified.     

Procyanidin oligomers from Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) fruit inhibit activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 metalloproteinases

The influence of procyanidin extract from Japanese quince fruit on the activities of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 secreted to culture medium by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and by human leukemia HL-60 cells was investigated by gelatin zymography. The extract proved to be an effective inhibitor of the enzymes activities (for MMP-2 and MMP-9 secreted by PBMC IC50 = 16-19 microg extract/mL and 22-25 microg extract/mL, respectively). To identify the most effective components of the extract it was fractionated by means of column chromatography on TSKgel Toyopearl HW-40 (S) bed. The obtained fractions were analyzed by TLC, HPLC, and MALDI-TOF MS. Their antioxidant activity was measured as cation radicals ABTS(.+) scavenging efficiency. The fractions VIII-XIV containing oligomers from trimer to hexamer (and probably higher oligomers) appeared to be the most effective inhibitors of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity (IC50 value close to 4.6 microg total polyphenols/mL). To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on gelatinase-inhibitory activity of Japanese quince fruit polyphenol extract. We conclude that polyphenols from Japanese quince can be used in cancer chemoprevention, although further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their biological activities.     

Dry weight loss of wood after the inoculation of Scots pine stumps with Phlebiopsis gigantea

Artificial inoculation of stumps with Phlebiopsis gigantea (preparation‘PgIBL’) against Heterobasidion annosum in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands on former agricultural lands in Poland is being performed throughout the year. The practical efficiency of the biological control appears to be influenced by the moisture content in stumps and roots. In experiment 1, dry weight loss of wood 3 months and 6 months after P. gigantea inoculation in laboratory was investigated in the stumps after salvage cutting (felling of dead and dying trees) and after thinning (routine cutting of trees) and compared with the decay of the artificially inoculated stumps under field conditions. It was found that 6 months after inoculation the dry weight loss of the samples was about 3%, 17% and 22%, respectively. In experiment 2, the decay of wood from horizontal roots collected after thinning, inoculated with P. gigantea in laboratory, was evaluated. Three months after the inoculation, the loss of dry weight wood was about 22–52%, depending on initial moisture of the roots.     

Single-stage Bilateral Tibial Tuberosity Advancement With Cranial Fixation in an English Bulldog – A Case Report

This article presents a report of single-stage bilateral tibial tuberosity advancement for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in an English bulldog. The reconstruction was performed by a new surgical technique involving tibial tuberosity advancement and fixation with two cranially placed lag screws. The patient was able to ambulate normally at a walk without lameness four days postoperatively. Except for bruising of the surgical site, no complications were observed during a six-month follow-up period.     

Effect of the periparturient period on serum lipid and cholesterol lipoprotein concentrations in goats (Capra hircus)

Blood samples were taken from 12 goats during the periparturient period (4 and 1 weeks before and 2, 10 and 30 days after delivery), and from 10 nonpregnant goats. The following variables were determined: total lipids (TL), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TCH) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol fractions. One week before delivery TL (2.32 ± 0.12 g/l, P ≤ 0.05), TG (0.32 ± 0.16 mmol/l, P ≤ 0.001) and TCH concentrations (1.65 ± 0.42 mmol/l, P ≤ 0.05) were significantly increased as compared to non-pregnant goats (2.08 ± 0.28 g/l, 0.15 ± 0.05 mmol/l, 1.38 ± 0.19 mmol/l, respectively). After delivery, the concentrations of TL, TG, TCH and HDL decreased significantly. The lowest TG concentration was observed 2 days after delivery (0.18 ± 0.02 mmol/l), while TL (1.73 ± 0.21 g/l), TCH (0.95 ± 0.21 mmol/l) and HDL (0.74 ± 0.16 mmol/l) reached the lowest level 10 days after delivery. Two days after delivery a significant increase of LDL concentration was observed (0.38 ± 0.04 mmol/l); however, ten days after delivery a threefold decrease was shown in the LDL concentration (0.12 ± 0.04 mmol/l). A month after delivery all the variables studied reached levels similar to those measured in non-pregnant goats.