Journal of Applied Biomedicine, 2015 (vol. 13), issue 1

Contents

J Appl Biomed 13:v, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/S1214-021X(14)00113-6  

Caffeine downregulates antibody production in a mouse model

Miroslav Pohanka

J Appl Biomed 13:1-6, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.09.001  

Caffeine is a secondary plant metabolite found in coffee and tea. Its major pathway is interaction with adenosine receptors. Minor pathways are also known. An effect of caffeine on immunity has been proposed. In this paper, the role of caffeine on the immune system was studied, using a BALB/c mouse model. The animals received saline (controls), keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) 1 mg/kg or caffeine (alone or in combination with KLH) in doses of 1-16 mg/kg. The mice were sacrificed 1-7 days later and plasma levels of interleukin (IL) 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 and antibodies against KLH were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Caffeine caused...

HPLC analysis and antimicrobial, antimycobacterial and antiviral activities of Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC

Aline Augusti Boligon, Mariana Piana, Thaís Felli Kubiça, Débora Nunes Mario, Tanise Vendruscolo Dalmolin, Pauline Cordenonsi Bonez, Rudi Weiblen, Luciane Lovato, Sydney Hartz Alves, Marli M.A. Campos, Margareth Linde Athayde

J Appl Biomed 13:7-18, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.01.004  

Antimicrobial, antimycobacterial and antiviral activities of crude extracts, fractions and subfractions of Tabernaemontana catharinensis were evaluated. Best antimicrobial results occurred with the dichloromethane (DCM) and butanolic (NB) fractions against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus sp., Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis (minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC = 31.25-1000 μg/mL). Considering the Gram-negative bacteria, only NB fraction was effective against Proteus mirabilis and Aeromonas sp. (MIC = 62.5 μg/mL and 250 μg/mL, respectively). In addition, the fungi Candida...

Chicken immunoglobulins for prophylaxis: Effect of inhaled antibodies on inflammatory parameters in rat airways

Jana Hadrabová, Barbora Majerová, Věra Černá, Michaela Moserová, Radim Holuša, Václav Mandys, Marie Stiborová, Ilja Stříž, Petr Hodek

J Appl Biomed 13:19-22, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.04.003  

The prophylaxis against microbial airway infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is an emerging application of chicken yolk antibody (IgY), however, no data on the effect of inhaled IgY have been published yet. Rats were daily (for 28 days) exposed to an aerosol of IgY, ovalbumin (OVA), Fab fragment of IgY, or PBS and their serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissue were examined for inflammation signs. There were no marked changes in lung parenchyma, except for an elevated number of alveolar macrophages in the OVA-exposed group. While the administration of OVA or IgY aerosols slightly increased levels of cytokine TNF-α and GRO/KC...

Study on novel, superparamagnetic and biocompatible PEG/KFeO₂ nanocomposite

Lavanya Khanna, Narendra Kumar Verma

J Appl Biomed 13:23-32, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.05.003  

The present study reports the synthesis of polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated potassium ferrite nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the formation of orthorhombic structure of KFeO₂ nanoparticles, along with additional characteristic peaks of PEG at 2θ ∼19° and 23°. The characteristic IR bands of PEG confirmed its coating thereby making the nanocomposite feasible for bio-conjugation. The coating of PEG on KFeO₂ nanoparticles, spherical formation, and reduced agglomeration of the nanocomposite were revealed by high resolution transmission electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and scanning...

Antianxiety effect of Tong Luo Jiu Nao, traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, in rats

Vera Klenerova, Sixtus Hynie, XiaoJing Li, Qian Hua

J Appl Biomed 13:33-38, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.06.001  

Tong Luo Jiu Nao (TLJN), a modern formula of traditional Chinese medicine, has proven to be clinically efficacious in several vascular cerebral diseases but its specific effect is not known. In the present study we investigated the acute and persisting effects of TLJN on anxiety model in Wistar male rats. TLJN was administered intragastrically during three successive days (Days 1-3) and then, the double TLJN dose was given on Day 7. For the evaluation of anxiety-related behavior of animals, we used the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) paradigms. Testing in the OF was performed on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 14 and 22; in the EPM on the Day 23.Two-way...

Neuroprotective efficacy of newly developed oximes in comparison with currently available oximes in tabun-poisoned rats

Jiri Kassa, Jan Misik, Jana Zdarova Karasova

J Appl Biomed 13:39-46, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.10.001  

The ability of two newly developed oximes (K361, K378) to reduce tabun-induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms was compared with the oxime K203 and trimedoxime using a functional observational battery. The neuroprotective effects of the oximes studied combined with atropine on rats poisoned with tabun at a sublethal dose (310 μg/kg i.m.; 90% of LD₅₀ value) were evaluated. Tabun-induced neurotoxicity was monitored by functional observational battery at 2 h following tabun challenge. The results indicate that all tested oximes combined with atropine enable tabun-poisoned rats to survive till the end of experiment. Both newly developed...

The prevalence of some Pseudomonas virulence genes related to biofilm formation and alginate production among clinical isolates

Abdolamir Ghadaksaz, Abbas Ali Imani Fooladi, Hamideh Mahmoodzadeh Hosseini, Mohsen Amin

J Appl Biomed 13:61-68, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.05.002  

Chronic infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolates are mainly related to resistance to antimicrobials and the production of certain virulence factors. The purpose of this study was twofold: to investigate the prevalence of virulence genes and to study the relationship between biofilm formation/alginate production/antibiotic resistance and the presence of genes associated with biofilm, alginate, flagella and exotoxin A in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa.Microtiter plate biofilm assay and Carbazole method were used to examine the biofilm formation and alginate production ability of the isolates, respectively....

Lipid metabolism and cancer progression: The missing target in metastatic cancer treatment

Maxwell Omabe, Martin Ezeani, Kenneth Nwobini Omabe

J Appl Biomed 13:47-59, 2015 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2014.09.004  

There is a renewed interest in metabolism alterations and its impact on cancer development and progression. The metabolism of cancer cells is reprogrammed in order to support their rapid proliferation. Elevated fatty acid synthesis is one of the most important aberrations in cancer cell metabolism, and is required both for carcinogenesis and cancer cell survival. We have previously shown that cancer cells explore metabolic pathways especially autophagy and particularly enhanced glycolysis and suppressed oxidative phosphorylation to promote treatment resistance. To support cell proliferation in cancer, lipid metabolism and biosynthetic activities is...