Efficacy of avermectin B1 given orally against equine intestinal strongyles and Onchocera microfilaria

Three groups of horses and ponies (N = 13, 13 and 12) were treated with ivermectin paste (0.2 mg/kg p.o.), avermectin B1 solution (0.2 mg/kg p.o.), or fenbendazole suspension (10 mg/kg via nasogastric tube). The avermectin B1 was a 1% solution in a propylene glycolglycerol formal base. Faecal strongyle egg counts were performed before, and 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 d, after treatment. Full-thickness skin biopsies from the neck, pectoral and umbilical regions were examined for Onchocera microfilaria before treatment, and again 14 and 70 d later. Ivermectin therapy produced a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in mean strongyle egg counts 14, 28, 42 and 56 d after treatment. Avermectin B1 therapy resulted in significant (P less than 0.01) decreases in mean strongyle egg counts 14, 28 and 42 d after treatment. All horses given ivermectin or avermectin B1 had zero strongyle egg counts 14 and 28 d after treatment. Fenbendazole failed to significantly decrease strongyle egg counts. Both ivermectin and avermectin B1 resulted in zero microfilaria counts in all horses 14 d after treatment. On day 70 the percentage decrease in microfilaria counts were 100% and 99.6% respectively. Fenbendazole failed to significantly decrease microfilaria counts. The oral administration of this formulation of avermectin B1 appeared to be highly efficacious against intestinal strongyles and Onchocera microfilaria. The duration of anti-strongyle activity was, however, significantly (P less than 0.01) shorter than that of ivermectin paste.     

Low-density lipoprotein, collagen, and thrombin models reveal that Rosemarinus officinalis L. exhibits potent antiglycative effects

Using the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), collagen, and thrombin models, we report here that the rosemary extracts (REs), either the aqueous (REw) or the acetonic (REA), all possessed many antiglycation-related features, and the effective concentrations required were as follows: 0.1 mg/mL for suppressing the relative electrophoretic mobility, 1.3 microg/mL for anticonjugated diene induction, 0.5 mg/mL for inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances production, 0.1 mg/mL for AGEs (advanced glycation end products) formation, 0.1 mg/mL to block glucose incorporation, and 0.05 mg/mL as an effective anti-antithrombin III. Using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, we identified five major constituents among eight major peaks, including rosmarinic acid, carnosol, 12-methoxycarnosic acid, carnosic acid, and methyl carnosate. In the LDL model, REA was proven to be more efficient than REw; yet, the reverse is true for the collagen and the thrombin III models, the reason of which was ascribed to the higher lipid-soluble antioxidant content (such as rosmarinic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid, 12-methoxycarnosic acid and methyl carnosate) in REA than in REw and the different surface lipid characteristics between LDL and collagen; although to act as anti-AGEs, both extracts were comparable. To assist the evidence, a larger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capability with less total polyphenolic content was found in REA. We conclude that rosemary is an excellent multifunctional therapeutic herb; by looking at its potential potent antiglycative bioactivity, it may become a good adjuvant medicine for the prevention and treatment of diabetic, cardiovascular, and other neurodegenerative diseases.     

Enhanced anti-inflammatory activities of Monascus pilosus fermented products by addition of ginger to the medium

Hypercholesterolemia initiates the atherogenic process; however, chronic inflammation promotes atherogenesis. Monascus spp. fermented products are recognized for their anti-hypercholesterolemic effect, but their anti-inflammatory activity is not as significant as that of many plant-derived foods. To enhance the anti-inflammatory function of Monascus pilosus fermented products, ginger was added to the PDB medium at a ratio of 20% (v/v). The mycelia and broth were collected, freeze-dried, and extracted by ethanol for assays. Macrophage RAW264.7 was challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and coincubated with the extracts of fermented product cultured in ginger-supplemented medium (MPG) or extracts of fermented product cultured in regular PDB medium (MP) for 18 h. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell HUVEC was challenged with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and coincubated with the extracts of either MPG or MP for 6 h. The results showed that MPG significantly (p<0.05) lowered the production of macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by 68.53%, 84.29%, 32.55%, 84.49%, and 69.49%, respectively; however, MP had no inhibitory effect. MPG significantly downregulated the expression of p-IκB, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophage by 42.16%, 50.87%, and 51.35%, respectively, while MP had no inhibition on COX-2 expression and only 16.64% and 19.22% downregulatory effect on iNOS and phosphorylated-IκB (p-IκB), respectively. Moreover, MPG significantly suppressed the expression of vessel cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and p-IκB in endothelial cell by 63.48% and 63.41%, respectively. LC/MS/MS analysis indicated that 6-gingerdiol was formed in the ginger-modified medium during fermentation. The results of this study will facilitate the development of Monascus spp. fermented products as antiatherosclerotic nutraceuticals.     

Monitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars

Objective The aims of this work were to (1) develop a low-cost equine movement tracking collar based on readily available components, (2) conduct preliminary studies assessing the effects of both paddock size and internal fence design on the movements of domestic horses, with and without foals at foot, and (3) describe distances moved by mares and their foals. Additional monitoring of free-ranging feral horses was conducted to allow preliminary comparisons with the movement of confined domestic horses. Procedures A lightweight global positioning system (GPS) data logger modified from a personal/vehicle tracker and mounted on a collar was used to monitor the movement of domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and internal fence designs for 6.5-day periods. Results In the paddocks used (0.8–16 ha), groups of domestic horses exhibited a logarithmic response in mean daily distance travelled as a function of increasing paddock size, tending asymptotically towards approximately 7.5 km/day. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance travelled also dependent on paddock size. Without altering available paddock area, paddock design, with the exception of a spiral design, did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled. Feral horses (17.9 km/day) travelled substantially greater mean daily distances than domestic horses (7.2 km/day in 16-ha paddock), even when allowing for larger paddock size. Conclusions Horses kept in stables or small yards and paddocks are quite sedentary in comparison with their feral relatives. For a given paddock area, most designs did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled.     

Isotope-edited nuclear magnetic resonance: novel methodologies for investigating metabolism

While the use of NMR and stable isotopes in metabolism studies is hardly new, it is only recently that isotope-edited NMR spectroscopy has been applied in kinetic studies of glyphosate metabolism of soil microbes. NMR can detect multiple species simultaneously and non-destructively, yielding valuable information on structural identification of metabolites. T riple R esonance I sotope ED ited spectroscopy (TRIED), [²H]NMR, and [²H–¹³C] INEPT (I nsensitive N ucleus E nhancement through P olarization T ransfer) are three isotope-edited techniques which have been used in combination to examine the microbial degradation of glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine). Using ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-labeled glyphosate, TRIED can detect multiple metabolites in crude matrices at submicrogram levels, an improvement over earlier techniques where milligrams were needed. It can detect 500 nanograms of ¹³C–¹⁵N-labeled compound in a crude sample (1 : 1400 mass ratio), only a few hours work being required. [²H]NMR and [²H–¹³C]INEPT were also used as complementary techniques to further examine metabolites whose ¹³C–¹⁵N bond has been cleaved. The three-isotope-edited methods produced results consistent with both radioactivity and HPLC analyses. Accordingly, we are able to detect minute levels of metabolites in the presence of complex mixtures, minimizing the costs and time of sample purification. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Improvement of Fertility in Artificially Inseminated Ewes Following Vaginal Treatment with Misoprostol Plus Terbutaline Sulphate

The effect of vaginal administration of misoprostol plus terbutaline sulphate 6 h prior to artificial insemination (AI) upon the site of AI (vaginal or cervical) and fertility was studied using a total of 87 estrous synchronized Serra da Estrela ewes (control n = 42 and treated n = 45). Artificial insemination was performed using refrigerated semen at 54–55 h after sponge removal. Lambing rate (fertility) and prolificacy were compared between control and treated ewes. The effect of the site of semen deposition on fertility was also evaluated. Prolificacy rate was not different between control (1.5) and treated (1.59) ewes. The proportion of cervical AI achieved in control (45.2%) and treated (37.8%) ewes was not significantly different. Overall, fertility was significantly lower in control than in treated ewes (42.9% vs 64.4%; p < 0.04). Fertility following vaginal AI was significantly lower for control for than treated ewes (30.4% vs 60.7%; p < 0.03) but the difference was smaller and not significant for cervical AI (control 57.9% vs 70.6%). It was concluded that vaginal administration of misoprostol plus terbutaline sulphate 6 h prior to artificial insemination did not affect the proportion of cervical inseminations but significantly improved the fertility of treated ewes. Although needing confirmation, it was hypothesized that drugs might have induced local secretory modifications leading to an increase of cervical ability to retain more viable spermatozoa for fertilization.