Pharmacokinetics of carfentanil and naltrexone in domestic goats (Capra hircus).

Using a crossover study design, the pharmacokinetics of carfentanil and naltrexone after i.v., i.m., and s.c. administration were determined in eight domestic goats (Capra hircus). Serial blood samples were taken up to 120 hr after carfentanil administration, and the plasma drug concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy. All goats were immobilized with 40 microg/kg carfentanil i.m., although the resulting neurologic effects varied considerably. Plasma profiles showed rapid carfentanil absorption and a simple biphasic decline for 12-48 hr. Naltrexone given at 100 mg naltrexone/mg carfentanil 30 min after carfentanil administration produced rapid reversal of immobilization after all routes of administration. Variable fluctuations in the naltrexone plasma concentrations during the first 2.5-3.5 hr were observed, followed by a more consistent biphasic decline. The time to standing was significantly shorter after i.v. compared with s.c. naltrexone, although the time difference (1 min) had little clinical relevance. No statistically significant differences between the naltrexone pharmacokinetic parameters measured for the three routes of naltrexone administration were identified, although the recoveries after i.m. administration were, subjectively, the smoothest. The carfentanil half-life did not differ significantly in the goats given naltrexone by different routes. Although it is currently recommended that the naltrexone dose be divided into s.c. and i.v. portions, this practice does not appear to offer any benefit.     

Cytotoxicity for porcine islet cells by complement of six animal species

Complement-mediated cytotoxicity for porcine islet cells (PICs) was evaluated using sera of six animal species. Then soluble complement receptor type-1 (sCR1) as an anti-complement agent was added to those sera, and the changes in 50% hemolytic unit of complement serum (CH50) and cytotoxic effect of those sera on PICs were examined. All the sera except for that of pig showed cytotoxicity. However, the extent of toxicity was considerably different between species. In the rat and human serum, sCR1 significantly reduced CH50 and cytotoxicity, however in the dog serum, sCR1 had no suppressive effects. These results may suggest that complement contribute to humoral cytotoxicity for PICs as a main factor, and the compatibility of complement with PICs differs between animal species.     

Surgical procedure and postoperative management of a perineal urethrostomy in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

A chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) with traumatic loss of the distal penis developed a gradually enlarging ventral urethral swelling and progressive dysuria. Endoscopy identified a urethral diverticulum, and endoscopic resection of the diverticulum wall was performed. Postoperative infection caused extensive necrosis of the penis, which necessitated a perineal urethrostomy. Complications of the urethrostomy included urethral obstruction from recurrent urethral stricture. The stricture was managed by regular dilatation using urethral bougies. Because of considerable postoperative swelling, catheterization was required to allow micturition following both the diverticular resection and polyp debulking. A shortened catheter sutured to the skin was tolerated for up to 10 days. Four yr after the urethrostomy, the animal is healthy and asymptomatic with endoscopic examinations performed at 12 mo intervals. This case demonstrates that with appropriate aftercare, perineal urethrostomy is an effective technique in the treatment of chronic distal urethral obstruction in the chimpanzee and probably other primate species.     

Reddish coloration of Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis) procyanidins during heat treatment and effect on antioxidant and antiinfluenza viral activities

To investigate the effects of processing Chinese quince fruit on the denaturation of phenolics and their food functions, fruit phenolic extracts were heated together with organic acid for up to 12 h. Chinese quince phenolic (mostly procyanidins) solution subjected to heat treatment changed from almost colorless, pale yellow, to a reddish color. Before heat treatment, the absorption spectra of polymeric procyanidins were observed only around 280 nm; after heat treatment, absorption occurred between 400 and 600 nm, which is related to the reddish color appearance. Thioacidolysis of denatured reddish phenolics showed that (-)-epicatechin subunits decreased during heat treatment and, in contrast, cyanidin increased. In addition, novel substances that could not be degraded by thioacidolysis were formed. Meanwhile, antioxidant activities, assessed by linoleic acid peroxidation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Folin-Ciocalteu, and FRAP methods, increased during heat treatment. The antiinfluenza viral activity of denatured reddish phenolics was inferior to that of intact fruit phenolics; however, they retained moderate activity. These results indicate that red coloration of fruit products of Chinese quince was mainly due to the spectral (i.e. structural) changes of procyanidins accompanied with formation of cyanidin. Increasing the length of heat treatment increased the antioxidant capacity of phenolics, and the resultant reddish phenolics retained moderate antiinfluenza viral activity.     

Comparison of the antioxidant activities of 22 commonly used culinary herbs and spices on the lipid oxidation of pork meat

The antioxidant activities of 22 selected culinary herbs and spices (i.e. ginger, cinnamon, clove, bay, sage, rosemary, thyme, savory, oregano, sweet basil, parsley, coriander, tarragon, sansho, allspice, cumin, black and white peppercorns, nutmeg, caraway, dill and fennel) when they were added to pork homogenate were measured and expressed as a thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value. The addition of liquid extracts of all the herbs and spices significantly suppressed lipid oxidation of the pork, especially the extracts of sansho, sage and ginger, which showed the strongest inhibition of lipid oxidation.     

Effect of modified oligopeptides from the beetle Allomyrina dichotoma on Escherichia coli infection in mice

The novel peptides based on a putative active site of defensin, an anti-bacterial peptide from the beetle Allomyrina dichotoma, were synthesized. These synthetic oligopeptides exhibited strong anti-bacterial activity in vitro, even against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Then, anti-bacterial activity of two newly synthesized peptides, RLYLRIGRR-NH(2) (peptide A) and RLRLRIGRR-NH(2) (peptide B) was also examined by macroscopic and histopathologic assessment during the course of infection in mice inoculated with antibiotic-resistant pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vivo. Peptide B decreased the mortality of mice inoculated with antibiotic-resistant pathogenic E. coli. The results of macroscopic and histopathologic examinations revealed that peptide B could protect the mice from infection. In contrast, peptide A failed to protect mice from infection with antibiotic-resistant pathogenic E. coli. Also, modified peptides A and B produced no toxicity or side effects in mice. These results suggest that peptide B is useful for developing novel antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.     

PCR-based discrimination of Toxoplasma gondii from pigs at an abattoir in Okinawa, Japan

To determine the prevalence of the 3 primary clonal lineages of Toxoplasma gondii (strain types I, II, and III) in pigs in Okinawa Prefecture, we analyzed lymph node samples that had been collected at an abattoir by PCR analysis using primers specific for the Toxoplasma gondii SAG2 locus. This study revealed the presence of this parasite in 57 out of 101 samples examined. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in PCR-amplified SAG2 products was used to group strains into one of the three genotypes of T. gondii. Genotypes I and II were equally predominant, accounting for 22 (44.9%) and 23 (46.9%) of 49 SAG2-positive samples, respectively, while the type III strain was found in only 4 (8.2%) of the 49 samples. The other 8 samples were indistinguishable by PCR-RFLP analysis. Polymorphisms for the 3 genotypes were confirmed at the sequence level for several samples using the sequences from the RH strain, the Beverley strain, and the C56 strain as references. On the other hand, the dihydropteroate synthase gene, which is responsible for sulfonamide resistance, was amplified in 40 of 54 SAG2-positive samples by PCR with the specific primers, and further RFLP and sequence analysis revealed that none of them carried the drug-resistant form of the dhps gene. This is the first report of genotyping of T. gondii distributed in Japan.     

Plasma Profiles of Glucose, Insulin and Lipids in the Male WBN/Kob-Lepr(fa) Rat, a New Model of Type 2 Diabetes with Obesity

Plasma profiles of glucose, insulin and lipids were examined in the male WBN/Kob-Lepr(fa) (fa/fa) rat, a new model of type 2 diabetes (T2D), in comparison with age-matched original male WBN/Kob (lean) rats. The fa/fa rats developed hypertriglycemia, obesity and hyperglycemia from 5, 7, and 9 weeks of age, respectively. Plasma insulin levels in fa/fa rats were significantly higher than those in lean rats at 5 weeks of age, but after 11 weeks of age gradually declined to the levels in lean rats. HOMA-IR, a measure of insulin resistance status, showed that fa/fa rats had insulin resistance. The fa/fa rat has the potential to become an important animal model of T2D with obesity.