Journal of Applied Biomedicine, 2013 (vol. 11), issue 1

Original Research Article

Therapeutic efficacy of a novel bispyridinium oxime K203 and commonly used oximes (HI-6, obidoxime, trimedoxime, methoxime) in soman-poisoned male rats and mice

Jiří Kassa, Jana Žďárová Karasová, Markéta Krejčiová

J Appl Biomed 11:7-13, 2013 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0015-x  

The potency of a novel oxime K203 in reactivating soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase and reducing acute toxicity of soman was compared with commonly used oximes (HI-6, obidoxime, trimedoxime, methoxime) using in vivo methods. The study determining percentage of reactivation of soman-inhibited blood and tissue acetylcholinesterase in rats showed that the potency of the oxime K203 to reactivate soman-inhibited acetycholinesterase in the peripheral compartment is slightly higher than obidoxime and trimedoxime, especially in the diaphragm, slightly lower than methoxime and markedly lower compared to the oxime HI-6. The reactivating efficacy of...

Antiparasitic effects of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) extract against Toxoplasma gondii

WonHyung Choi, MeiHua Jiang, JongPhil Chu

J Appl Biomed 11:15-26, 2013 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0014-y  

Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Ginger, has been used in folk medicine as a medicinal plant, as well as a spice and food in many countries. This research was carried out to evaluate the antiparasitic effect of ginger root extract (GE) and GE/F1 (fraction 1 obtained from GE) against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in vitro and in vivo. The effects of GE and GE/F1 against the proliferation of T. gondii-infected C6 cells and T. gondii were evaluated by several indicators such as an MTT assay, nuclear staining, immunofluorescence staining, apoptotic proteins and animal testing. GE/F1 strongly inhibited the proliferation...

Automated detection of organophosphate warfare gases (nerve agents) in air based on micro-SIA - lab-on-valve system

Ondřej Pavlíček, Miroslav Polášek, Martin Foltýn, Jiří Cabal

J Appl Biomed 11:27-32, 2013 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0016-9  

Equipment for fast and accurate detection of organophosphate nerve agents is developed and tested. The method is based on the spectrophotometric monitoring of the enzyme activity of butyrylcholinesterase after its contact with air in a special absorption unit (a "scrubber") developed for the purpose. The scrubber was made from a glass tube filled with glass beads (diam. 3 mm) and filled with approx. 5 ml of butyrylcholinesterase in a phosphate buffer of pH 7.4. The air sample was bubbled through this solution for 20 s at a flow rate of 80 l hour^-1. Thereafter 8 μl of the enzyme solution were aspirated into the micro-SIA-LOV analyzer and...

Effects of insulin therapy on fracture healing and expression of VEGF in diabetic rats

Da-Wei Wang, Shun-Lei Du, Ming-Tao Xu, Yi-Ting Lu, Zhan-Chao Wang, Le-Xin Wang

J Appl Biomed 11:33-40, 2013 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0018-7  

This study was designed to investigate effects of insulin on fracture healing and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diabetic rats. Wister rats were randomly divided into diabetic control (n=66), diabetic insulin (=66) and non-diabetic control group (n=66). Diabetes was established by peritoneal injection of alloxan. Tibia fracture was surgically created and was allowed to heal. Radiological and biomechanical examinations were performed on the healing tibia. Immuohistochemistry was used to assess VEGF expression in the healing fracture tissues. Cortical reconstruction of the fracture sites in non-diabetic control and diabetic...

Constant darkness disrupt daily rhythm of adrenocorticotrophin in horses

Claudia Giannetto, Francesco Fazio, Daniela Alberghina, Michele Panzera, Giuseppe Piccione

J Appl Biomed 11:41-45, 2013 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0028-5  

Cortisol and other adrenal steroids are typically secreted in a pulsate fashion and plasma concentrations can vary widely during a 24-hour period. To investigate daily rhythmicity of plasma adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) concentration, as well as rectal temperature (RT), sample collections were performed in five Quarter Horses housed in individual boxes under natural light/dark (L/D) cycle followed by constant darkness. The two variables exhibited 24-h rhythmicity under the L/D cycle. Whereas rhythmicity of RT persisted in constant darkness, rhythmicity of ACTH concentration did not. These findings strongly suggested that ACTH secretion in the horse is...

Reviews

Influence of food restriction on mammalian immunity

Josef Berger

J Appl Biomed 11:1-5, 2013 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0029-4  

There is often an imbalance between the intake of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Oxidative damage and the production of reactive oxygen species by various immune cells follow during the ageing process. Caloric restriction induces a transcriptional response of the genes known to inhibit oxidative stress, tumourigenesis, splicing mRNA and inflammation. On the other hand, calorie malnutrition causes the depression of many immune functions. The accessibility of nutritional factors seems to be an important cause of circannual rhythms. Lowered food intake as an adverse effect of chemotherapy...