An appropriate ingestion volume of oral sulfa drug suspension in pigs

The influence of ingested volume of a sulfa drug suspension, sodium sulfamonomethoxine (SMMNa), on the oral pharmacokinetics was studied in pigs, with regard to bioavailability and gastric emptying. Eighteen pigs, weighing 30-70 kg, were used. Phenol red solution was used for the evaluation of gastric emptying study. SMMNa suspension was used for pharmacokinetic study. Both of these fluids were administered by natural swallowing. Three experimental groups were constructed: G-I; 5 ml/kg of the test fluids to starved animals, G-II; 5 ml/kg of the test fluids to fed animals and G-III; 20 ml/kg of the fluids to fed animals. The glucose glycine electrolyte solution (GGES) was used as the vehicle for both the compounds. Six pigs, having duodenal cannula, were used for the study of gastric emptying. The gastric emptying rate was rapid in G-I, relatively rapid in G-III, and slow and variable in G-II. In agreement with the result of gastric emptying study, the values of Cmax and tmax were high and rapid in G-I, relatively high and rapid in G-III, and low and slow in G-II. Accordingly, the voluminous ingestion of drug suspension can facilitate the gastric emptying, in turn may make the oral absorption of the drug rapid-and-uniform. The 20 ml/kg volume of sulfa drug suspension may practically be recommended for the oral administration in pigs.     

Identification of tropomyosin as a major allergen in the octopus Octopus vulgaris and elucidation of its IgE-binding epitopes

ABSTRACT: The major allergen (named Oct v 1) in the muscle of the octopus Octopus vulgaris was purified by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300, anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography on Mono Q and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography on TSKgel Octadecyl-4PW. In addition to the molecular mass, amino acid composition and cross-reactivity with Tur c 1 (turban shell Turbo cornutus allergen), the determined partial amino acid sequence clearly demonstrated that Oct v 1 is tropomyosin, similar to the known molluscan and crustacean allergens. Using peptide fragments isolated from the lysylendopeptidase digest of Oct v 1, competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay inhibition experiments showed that IgE-binding epitopes of Oct v 1 are contained in two peptides (77–112 and 148–160) in the central region and one peptide (269–281) in the C-terminal region. In the peptide 77–112, the same sequence as the IgE-binding epitope proposed for Cra g 1 (oyster Crassostrea gigas allergen) is recognized at 92-105. Moreover, the peptide 148-160 partly overlaps with the IgE-binding epitopes suggested for Pen i 1 (shrimp Penaeus indicus allergen) and Pen a 1 (shrimp Penaeus aztecus allergen), and the peptide 269–281 with those for Tur c 1 and Pen a 1.     

Impairment of macrophage function in Mongolian gerbils.

Chemiluminescence studies on superoxide generation by phagosomes using opsonized zymosan showed the highest fluorescence in murine splenic macrophages among four different kinds of splenic or peritoneal macrophages from mice or gerbils. Murine splenic macrophages phagocytized two to three times more latex particles than gerbil splenic macrophages, but peritoneal macrophages did not show a significant difference in phagocytic activity between mice and gerbils. Phagocytosis by macrophages was determined by a technique based on measurement of the release of hydrogen peroxide and myeloperoxidase from phagosomes using microspheres conjugated with 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (HPPA-MS). HPPA is a substrate of lysosomal myeloperoxidase. The fluorescence of HPPA-HPPA-MS produced by phagocytized HPPA-MS was measured with an immunoreaction analysis system (IMRAS), and the enzyme activities of the four different kinds of peritoneal or splenic macrophages from mice and gerbils were compared. All four kinds of macrophages produced HPPA-HPPA-MS in their phagosomes during phagocytosis and murine splenic macrophages showed the highest level of enzyme activity.     

Protection against chicken leucocytozoonosis provided by immunization with spleen homogenate infected with Leucocytozoon caulleryi

Protection against chicken leucocytozoonosis was assessed in chickens immunized with spleen homogenates from chickens that had received sporozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi 7 or 13 days previously. Chickens immunized with the homogenate were challenged with sporozoites of L. caulleryi and observed for changes in clinical signs, parasitemia, serum-soluble antigen, and antibody responses. In chickens immunized with either the 7-day or 13-day homogenate, clinical signs and parasitemia were moderate, mild or absent. This was the case both after immunization with the homogenate and after sporozoite challenge. Immunization with spleen homogenates demonstrated protection against chicken leucocytozoonosis.     

Compositional and structural characteristics of residual biomass from tropical plantations

Many products and abundant wastes from tropical plantations, such as latex, palm oil, and coconut production due to replantation, are waiting effective utilization. Nonutilized tropical biomass — oil palm (Elaeis guneensis Jacq.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) coir dust and coir fiber, and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) wood — were analyzed for chemical and structural characteristics of wall polysaccharides and lignin. Coconut coir dust is mostly composed of middle lamella and is separated from coir fiber, which is composed of secondary walls. These were supported by lignin content, and structural characteristics of wall polysaccharides and lignin. The chemical and spectroscopic characteristics of walls of rubber xylem were similar to those of typical temperate angiosperm woods. Oil palm frond was significantly rich in arabinoxylan, and numerous acetyl groups were substituted to the arabinoxylan. Lignin of oil palm frond and wall polysaccharides of coconut coir dust are substituted with hydroxybenzoic acids with ester and ether linkages. Some p-hydroxybenzoic acid substituted to the wall polymers of coconut coir dust would contribute to the formation of associations between polysaccharides and lignin. Based on the above results it is suggested that coconut coir fiber and rubber wood are suitable resources for chemical pulp production for paper-making, but oil palm frond is not.     

Effects of postharvest ethanol vapor treatment on activities and gene expression of chlorophyll catabolic enzymes in broccoli florets

Postharvest yellowing of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Italica Group) is an important indicator of quality deterioration and occurs with chlorophyll (Chl) degradation. Postharvest ethanol vapor treatment could delay the yellowing of broccoli florets, through the suppression of Chl degradation. As the first step in identifying the mechanism of this delay, the effects of postharvest ethanol vapor treatment on activities and gene expression of the Chl catabolic enzymes in broccoli were determined. Broccoli branchlets were placed in a perforated polyethylene bag with or without (control) an ethanol pad and stored at 20 °C in darkness. The Chl contents of the control broccoli florets decreased remarkably after three days in storage, whereas the contents of the ethanol-treated broccoli showed no significant changes except at day one. Changes in chlorophyllase activity in the ethanol-treated broccoli were similar to those of the control until three days in storage, but then the activity tended to decease. Mg-dechelatase and Chl-degrading peroxidase activities, which increased greatly with senescence in the controls, remained unchanged in the ethanol-treated broccoli. BoCLH1 expression showed changes almost similar to those of chlorophyllase activity. BoPAO expression in the control broccoli increased greatly at day one in storage and was maintained at a high level until three days. In contrast, this expression in ethanol-treated broccoli was suppressed until two days. BoRCCR expression in the control broccoli increased until two days in storage, while the expression in the ethanol-treated broccoli showed no change during storage. These results show that postharvest ethanol vapor treatment suppressed the activities and gene expression of Chl catabolic enzymes, resulting in delayed yellowing of broccoli florets.     

Seroepidemiological survey of morbillivirus infection in Kuril harbor seals (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) of Hokkaido, Japan

Serological analysis was performed to detect morbillivirus infection in Kuril harbor seals in Hokkaido, Japan. Serum samples were collected from the seals at Nosappu (231 sera), Akkeshi (16), and Erimo (75) between 1998 and 2005. Antibodies to phocine distemper virus (PDV) were detected by ELISA in seals from Nosappu and Erimo. Antibodies to PDV were found in 56% (5/9) of the sampled seals from Nosappu in 1998, versus only 5% (3/66) for 2003, 1% (1/79) for 2004, and 1% (1/77) for 2005. These suggest epidemic caused by the virus in or before 1998. As antibody-positive seals included juvenile seals in 2003 and 2005, sporadic infections of the virus are thought to have occurred in recent years. In Erimo, antibodies to PDV were found in 50% (14/28) of sampled seals in 2004, versus only 13% (1/8) for 1999, 7% (1/15) for 2003, and 0% (0/24) for 2005. These suggest sporadic infection by the virus before 2003 and the epizootic between after autumn in 2003, when samples of 2003 were collected, and 2004. Since antibodies to canine distemper virus (CDV) were detected in one adult seal from Nosappu in each year from 2003 to 2005, sporadic infections of the virus were suggested. There were no difference in incidence of seals with antibodies to the viruses between males and females and between juveniles and adults.