Synergistic effects of Miconazole and Polymyxin B on microbial pathogens

The therapeutic value of antibiotics depends on the susceptibility of the infecting microorganism and the pharmacological profile of the drugs. To assess the value of an antibiotic combination of polymyxin B and miconazole this study examined the in vitro synergistic potential of the two drugs on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Antifungal and antibacterial activity was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of broth macrodilution and urea broth microdilution, by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Synergism was calculated using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). With Staphylococcus intermedius as target we found up to an eightfold reduction of the individual MICs when both drugs were combined. However, the FICi was 0.63 suggesting no real interaction between the two drugs. With Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Malassezia pachydermatis as targets the antimicrobial drug combination reduced the MICs of polymyxin B and miconazole from fourfold to hundredfold resulting in FICi between 0.06 and 0.5 which defines a synergistic action. Thus, if polymyxin B and miconazole are combined their effect is greater than the sum of the effects observed with polymyxin B and miconazole independently, revealing bactericidal and fungicidal synergism. Our results indicate a strong therapeutic value for the combination of these antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast and a weaker value against Gram positive bacteria for clinical situations where these pathogens are involved.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus uberis</Emphasis>-specific T cells are present in mammary gland secretions of cows and can be activated to kill <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. uberis</Emphasis>

The presence, phenotype and function of Streptococcus uberis-specific T cells in the mammary gland secretion (MGS) and blood of cows exposed to S. uberis were assessed. MGS T cells in the udder were purified and incubated with autologous blood monocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Most cows, irrespective of prior S. uberis infection status and lactation status, were shown to have S. uberis-specific T cells both in MGS and in the blood. When cells from a subgroup of cows were studied, it was found that the S. uberis-specific T cells produced high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), but low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10). A high percentage of responding T cells were of the CD8 ⁺ memory (CD45RO) subset. T cells from the MGS specific for S. uberis were propagated from animals during the drying off period and expanded in vitro using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and S. uberis antigens. This led to the accumulation of T cells of the CD8 ⁺ subset bearing memory cell markers (CD45A ⁻ , CD45RO ⁺ ), which released high levels of IFN-γ. Four of the five T cell lines derived from the MGS of three animals had substantial direct killing activity towards S. uberis in vitro. It is concluded that there is an emergence of S. uberis-specific bactericidal T cells in the MGS of cows after infection or environmental exposure to S. uberis. Vaccines aimed at activating and expanding this T cell population in the mammary glands of cattle may offer an avenue for the prevention of mastitis caused by S. uberis.     

硫酸新霉素可溶性粉在靶动物猪的安全性研究

为了客观评价硫酸新霉素可溶性粉对靶动物猪临床应用的安全性,将32头仔猪随机分为4组,每组8头,分别设1倍、3倍、5倍临床推荐剂量组和空白对照组,连续混饮硫酸新霉素可溶性粉15 d,通过检测各组受试猪的临床表现、血液常规指标、血清生化指标、尿液常规指标及病理学变化等评价其临床用药的安全性。结果:硫酸新霉素可溶性粉以5倍临床推荐剂量内应用于靶动物猪后,对其临床症状、体重、血常规、血生化及尿常规等指标没有显著影响,解剖学及病理组织学检查也未见任何病理变化,说明硫酸新霉素可溶性粉以1倍、3倍、5倍临床推荐剂量应用于靶动物猪是安全的。     

Cardiomyopathy in Dystrophin-Deficient Hypertrophic Feline Muscular Dystrophy

A colony of cats affected with hypertrophic feline muscular dystrophy was used to study the occurrence of cardiomyopathy associated with dystrophin deficiency. Affected male and female cats, obligate carrier females, and unaffected healthy littermates were followed from 12 weeks of age into adulthood. Thoracic radiography, 2-D echocardiography, and 2-D-derived M-mode echocardiography were performed at 3-month intervals until 12 months of age and regularly thereafter. From 9 months of age, all affected cats had larger hearts than normal and carrier animals. Left ventricular wall thickness in systole and in diastole and interventricular septal thickness in systole were greater in affected cats 12 months and older when compared with normal or heterozygous animals (P < .05). The myocardium of affected cats was diffusely hypoechoic and thickened. Multiple hyperechoic foci were in the myocardium and papillary musculature. Shortening fraction was normal in all cats. Changes seen in carrier females included enlargement and hyperechogenicity of the papillary musculature after the age of 2 years. Gross and light microscopic examination revealed left ventricular wall thickening with multiple foci of mineralization in 2 of 5 hearts from dystrophin-deficient cats. Although approximately 10% of the normal dystrophin amount was present in the skeletal muscle, dystrophin could not be detected in the myocardium. Early onset concentric myocardial hypertrophy was present in all adult cats. Lesions were mainly localized in the myocardium of the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septum, papillary musculature, and the endocardium. Clinical signs of heart failure developed only infrequently in cats with hypertrophic feline muscular dystrophy.     

Regulation of fibroblast growth factor 9 on the differentiation of goat intramuscular adipocytes

It has been found that fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF-FGFR) signaling can regulate the expression of adipocyte differentiation genes. FGF9 is one of the members of FGFs that mainly binds receptors FGFR2 and FGFR3. FGF9 is highly expressed in the adipose tissue of humans and mice, but there are few reports on the role of FGF9 in goat intramuscular adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, this study explored the effect of FGF9 on adipocyte differentiation through cell culture, interference, and overexpression. The expression of receptors FGFR1–FGFR4 in adipocyte differentiation and their effects on differentiation were detected to screen receptor gene of FGF9. Finally, the interaction between FGF9 and the receptor was tested by cotransfection. Our results showed that FGF9 interacts with FGFR2 to inhibit goat intramuscular adipocyte differentiation by regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref1), which is a data support for subsequent pathway research.     

抗病虫基因新资源:海洋绿藻孔石莼凝集素基因

植物凝集素(Lecin)具有抵抗植物病原菌和农业害虫的活性以及抗病毒活性,在植物保护上具有广阔的应用前景。从海洋绿藻孔石莼中分离到一种凝集素基因序列,为培育抗病虫作物新品种提供了新资源。     

重庆蚕业产业布局及发展模式探索——浅析"巩固渝西、提升库区、发展渝东南"产业发展战略

蚕业是重庆市的传统优势产业和特色产业,也是全市农村经济和农民致富的重要骨干项目和出口创汇的骨干产品,为国民经济发展做出过重要贡献.<重庆市茧丝绸"十一五"发展规划>明确提出未来5年蚕桑产业发展的战略方针是"巩固渝西、提升库区、发展渝东南".笔者从重庆的自然资源优势、社会经济发展、蚕业区域布局等方面对这一产业发展战略的科学性、内涵、模式、推进措施等进行了思考、探索,以此提供给各地在发展蚕业和制定规划中参考.     

神经肽Y和瘦素对动物摄食行为的调控

采食量是影响畜禽生产水平的重要因素,许多食欲调节肽物质都可以影响动物的采食量.分别综述了神经肽Y和瘦素的结构功能及其对动物摄食行为的调控,并对它们之间的交互作用进行了简明概括.     

乙酸钠对油酸诱导的BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性的影响及机制分析

通过向油酸诱导的大鼠肝成纤维细胞(BRL-3A)脂肪变性模型中添加不同浓度(2、4、8 mmol·L^-1)的乙酸钠,探讨其对脂肪变性细胞模型脂代谢的调控机理及细胞损伤的修复作用。试验方法：1)用不同浓度的油酸(0、0.03、0.06、0.12、0.24、0.48) mmol·L^-1刺激BRL-3A细胞24 h后,分别检测细胞相对活力、总脂滴面积、三酰甘油(TG)含量、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)及丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)活性,建立脂肪变性细胞模型;2)向BRL-3A细胞中添加不同浓度的乙酸钠,通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率;3)用不同浓度的乙酸钠和0.12 mmol·L^-1油酸共同孵育BRL-3A细胞,试验分为4组,分别为油酸处理组、2 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组、4 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组和8 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组,分别对细胞脂滴、TG含量、AST、ALT活性、AMPK信号通路蛋白以及脂代谢关键基因进行检测。结果显示:1)用0.12 mmol·L^-1油酸处理BRL-3A细胞24 h,成功建立BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性模型。2)不同浓度的乙酸钠对BRL-3A细胞凋亡率没有影响;3)4、8 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠处理脂肪变性细胞模型后,与油酸处理组相比,细胞总脂滴面积、每平方毫米脂滴数、TG含量、AST和ALT活性均显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)下降,P-AMPK表达水平显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)上升;脂合成代谢相关基因ACC、FAS以及SCD-1 mRNA表达水平均有一定程度下降;脂分解代谢相关基因CPT-1、CPT-2以及ACO mRNA表达水平均有一定程度上升。本研究表明,乙酸钠会通过AMPK通路激活脂分解代谢,减轻肝细胞脂质蓄积,并且对油酸诱导的BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性模型的损伤具有一定缓解作用。