Predicting In Vivo Efficacy of Potential Restenosis Therapies by Cell Culture Studies: Species-Dependent Susceptibility of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Although drug-eluting stents (DES) are successfully utilized for restenosis therapy, the development of local and systemic therapeutic means including nanoparticles (NP) continues. Lack of correlation between in vitro and in vivo studies is one of the major drawbacks in developing new drug delivery systems. The present study was designed to examine the applicability of the arterial explant outgrowth model, and of smooth muscle cells (SMC) cultures for prescreening of possible drugs. Elucidation of different species sensitivity (rat, rabbit, porcine and human) to diverse drugs (tyrphostins, heparin and bisphsophonates) and a delivery system (nanoparticles) could provide a valuable screening tool for further in vivo studies. The anticipated sensitivity ranking from the explant outgrowth model and SMC mitotic rates (porcine>rat>>rabbit>human) do not correlate with the observed relative sensitivity of those animals to antiproliferative therapy in restenosis models (rat≥rabbit>porcine>human). Similarly, the inhibitory profile of the various antirestenotic drugs in SMC cultures (rabbit>porcine>rat>>human) do not correlate with animal studies, the rabbit- and porcine-derived SMC being highly sensitive. The validity of in vitro culture studies for the screening of controlled release delivery systems such as nanoparticles is limited. It is suggested that prescreening studies of possible drug candidates for restenosis therapy should include both SMC cell cultures of rat and human, appropriately designed with a suitable serum

Study on Effect of Diatomaceous Earth (DAE) on Afl atoxin-Induced DNA Damage in Visceral and Lymphoid Organs in Broiler Chicken

Background: Limited information exists concerning on the effect of diatomaceous earth (DAE) on aflatoxin-induced DNA damage in visceral and lymphoid organs.Objectives: The present investigation is an attempt to detect the effect ability of Diatomaceous earth (DAE) in reducing the detrimental effects of aflatoxin (AF) in broiler diet was evaluated based on structural characteristic of DNA in liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius.Materials and Methods: Three hundred and sixty healthy unsexed one day old broiler chicks were assigned to 9 groups comprising of control and treatment groups. DAE was supplemented @ 400 and 800 mg Kg-1 of feed along with 0.5 and 1 ppm of AF Kg-1 of feed for a period of 35 days. DNA fragmentation assay was conducted to detect changes in DNA.Results: The DNA fragmentation in the toxin fed birds was severe in liver and lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius), followed by kidneys, heart and pancreas. The damage was more pronounced at 1 ppm in comparison to 0.5 ppm of dietary afl atoxin. The damage to DNA in most of the organs was reduced in birds of co-treatment groups fed with varying dosage of afl atoxin and DAE in the diet.Conclusions: The present study showed that aflatoxin at graded doses induced marked DNA fragmentation indicating the genotoxic effect of aflatoxins. Addition of diatomaceous earth to aflatoxin mixed feed caused decreased DNA fragmentation in visceral and lymphoid organs.</p

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Not AvailableThe experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of zincoxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on antioxidant status of methotrexate intoxicated Wistar albino rats. Seventy-two rats of 180 to 200g weight were equally divided into six groups. MTX was used at the rate of 5mg/kg b.w intraperitoneally for three consecutive days to induce toxicity and ZnO NPs was used @ of 50mg/kg b.w through oral gavage for 45 days. Antioxidant status of rats was evaluated by estimating products of oxidative injury (MDA) and endogenous antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) in the liver on 7th, 21st and 45th days of experiment. All the antioxidant enzymes markedly reduced in MTX positive control with increased levels of MDA. In ZnO NPs positive control, the enzymes were numerically higher than normal control with mild increase in MDA levels at later stages of experiment. The MTX and ZnO NPs treated rats showed improved antioxidant status and decreased MDA levels than MTX alone intoxicated rats. ZnONPs pretreated rats showed improved antioxidant profile than ZnO NPs concurrent treatment and were comparable with that of a proven herbal hepato-protectant „Silymarin‟. In conclusion, the experiment suggested that implementation of ZnO NP scan combat MTX toxicity.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present study was conducted to assess methotrexate (MTX) induced toxicity in Wistar male albino rats. The study had two groups with 12 rats in each. MTX was used at the dose of 5mg/kg b.w. to induce toxicity. In MTX control group the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT and GPx were significantly reduced compared to those of normal control. The MDA levels caused by lipid peroxidation as a result of oxidant injury to liver was significantly higher in MTX positive controlthan compared to that of normal control. In conclusion MTX induces hepatotoxicity in rats through oxidative stress evidenced by decreased levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT and GPx and increased levels of MDA indicating increased extent of oxidative injury caused by MTX on hepatocytes.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSheep and goat brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis, one of the most virulent Brucella species accounting for economic losses through abortion, stillbirths, reduction of milk yield and infertility. Disease has wide socioeconomic impact, in countries where, livestock sector is the major source of rural income. Early diagnosis is essential to minimise the spread of the disease besides public health importance. The present study reports the isolation, identification, biotyping and molecular confirmation of Brucella spp. in 18 different sheep and goat farms in Karnataka suspected to have brucellosis. A total of 550 serum samples, 25 aborted foetuses, uterine discharges and placental tissues were collected. The serum samples were subjected to Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Competitive ELISA (c-ELISA). The clinical samples were processed for cultural isolation on Brucella Agar Media with selective antibiotic supplements. A total of 200 (36.36%) and 260 (47.27 %) serum samples were positive by RBPT and c-ELISA, respectively, further 195 (35.45 %) of them being positive by both the tests. Five Brucella isolates were recovered from 100 clinical samples. The isolates were characterized to their species by growing them on Brucella specific medium, biochemical reactions, CO2 requirement, H2S production, agglutination with A and M mono-specific antiserum, dye sensitivity to basic fuchsin and thionin. Further, molecular confirmation of the isolates was done by amplification of B. melitensis 16S (rRNA) sequence analysis by genus specific PCR and species specific IS711 repetitive DNA fragment by Brucella AMOS PCR. The present study envisages seroprevalence of at least 35.45 per cent and isolation rate of 25 per cent for B. melitensis warranting the need for institution of strict control measures.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBrucellosis still remains an infectious, highly contagious and re-emerging endemic zoonosis especially in the Mediterranean and Middle-East regions of the world involving many countries including India where it constitutes occupational hazard (Shakerian et al., 2013 and Khamesipour et al., 2014). It also poses a serious threat to livestock economy by causing abortion, loss of offspring, infertility and reduction in milk yield. The prevalence of brucellosis in animal reservoirs is an evidence of its prevalence in human population and control of animal brucellosis is the key to its control in humans. Early diagnosis is essential to minimise the spread of the disease besides public health importance. In the present study molecular characterization of five Brucella melitensis isolates was carried out through Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR and compared with Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis vaccine and challenge strains. The amplification profile confirmed the isolates as Brucella melitensis and there was a significant difference among these field isolates with that of reference vaccine strains and the amplicons of all the field isolates were similar to amplicons of reference challenge strain, Brucella melitensis 16MNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThe study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of a phytochemical gallic acid (GA) in preventing the pathomorphological alterations induced by cisplatin (CP) in testicular tissue of Wistar albino rats. One hundred and eight Wistar albino rats were equally divided into six groups. Group I served as normal control, Group II received single dose of intraperitoneal injection of CP at 7.5 mg/kg bw, Group III received GA at 75 mg/kg bw for 45 days, Group IV was treated with GA daily for 15 days prior to CP injection and discontinued post CP injection, Group V received CP injection and concurrently received GA for 45 days post CP injection and Group VI was treated with GA for 15 days prior to CP injection and continued for 45 days post CP injection. The testis samples collected on 7th, 14th, 28th and 45th day of post CP injection were subjected for histopathological examination to study the sequential pathomorphological changes. CP administration produced moderate congestion and interstitial oedema, severe seminiferous tubular atrophy, tubular cell degeneration and necrosis. The Gallic acid supplemented groups showed significant improvement in CP induced pathological changes. The pre + concurrent GA supplementation (Group VI) produced much earlier improvement in CP induced pathological changes than only pre and only concurrent GA supplementation. It was concluded that, GA supplementation have protective role against CP induced testicular toxicity.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableOvine Johne's disease (OJD) is caused by Mycobacterium avium sub sp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The disease presents diverse bacteriological, immunological and pathological spectra leading to variable efficacies of diagnostic methods at different times during the course of infection. The study was carried out to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of indirect-enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using IS900 faecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as gold standard. A total of 100 clinical samples, serum (n = 50) and faeces (n = 50), were collected from 50 adult Bannur sheep from Livestock Research and Information Centre farm Nagamangala, Mandya district of Karnataka. Of 100 total samples, 23 (23%) serum and 44 (44%) faecal samples were positive by indirect-ELISA and IS900 PCR assay, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of indirect-ELISA compared with IS900 PCR assay was 50% and 98.21%, respectively. Kappa and area under curve value indicates moderate agreement between indirect-ELISA and IS900 faecal PCR assay. The present study indicated that IS900 faecal PCR was more sensitive and specific test than indirect-ELISA in detecting for MAP infection and for early diagnosis of JD in sheep. Indirect-ELISA was screening test and IS900 PCR assay was an individual confirmatory test. Combination of indirect-ELISA with IS900 faecal PCR assay may be adopted as a model strategy for screening and diagnosis of JD in sheepNot Availabl

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Not AvailableClassical swine fever (CSF) is endemic in Karnataka and its outbreaks are reported every year. In the present study, blood was used for early detection of CSF virus (CSFV) in pigs by reverse transcription-polymerase chaini reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 113 blood samples were collected from 12 outbreaks suspected for CSF in nine different districts of Karnataka, of which 20 CSFV were positive by Antigen ELISA, whereas 40 samples were CSFV positive by RT-PCR using primers specific to NS5B genomic region of CSFV. Among 12 suspected outbreaks, 9 were confirmed as that of CSF. Among these, 44 samples were from pigs showing clinical symptoms and 69 samples were from in contact pigs without clinical symptoms. RT-PCR confirmed CSF from all the 30 samples from pigs with clinical symptoms in addition to 10 samples from pigs without clinical symptoms, indicating there by that the assay detected the presence of 449 bp amplicon specific to NS5B region before the appearance of the clinical symptoms. ELISA did not detect the presence of viral antigen in blood samples of in contact pigs without clinical symptoms. Our findings suggested that blood represents the most appropriate sample for early detection of CSFV infection in pigs.Not Availabl