Cucumis callosus (Rottl.) Cogn. fruit extract ameliorates calcium oxalate urolithiasis in ethylene glycol induced hyperoxaluric Rat model.

Cucumis callosus dry fruits are traditionally used as folk remedy to treat conditions like urethral irritations, urine stoppage or dribbling and other urinary ailments of man in north-west India. But no study is reported to validate this ethnic practice of using Cucumis fruit in urolithiasis. To evaluate anti-urolithiatic potential of Cucumis, hyperoxaluria was induced in rats by supplying 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) + 1% ammonium chloride (AC) in drinking water for 14 days. Anti-urolithiatic activity of Cucumis callosus hydro-ethanolic extract (CCHEE) was assessed by measuring blood and urine biochemical parameters, oxidative stress indices, histopathology and osteopontin (OPN) expression. Administration of EG-AC to rats caused hyperoxaluria, crystalluria, azotaemia, oxidant/antioxidant imbalance (increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO), and decrease in glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT)), up-regulation of OPN and calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal deposition in kidney. Treatment of afflicted rats with Cucumis fruits extract restored renal function to a great extent (CCHEE group), testified by improvement of stated parameters. Findings demonstrate curative efficacy of Cucumis fruit extract in EG induced urolithiasis of rats. The restoration of renal function was possibly by regulating renal stone formation via reducing urinary oxalate excretion, correcting oxidant/antioxidant imbalances, and reduced expression of OPN. Hence, results of this study validate the ethnic practice of using Cucumis fruit and conclude that fruit extracts have beneficial effects on CaOx urolithiasis and renal function.

Circulating oxidative stress caused by Psoroptes natalensis infestation in Indian water buffaloes.

The present study reports the circulating oxidative stress associated with Psoroptes natalensis infestation in Indian water buffaloes. Three non-descriptive water buffaloes, age ranging between 4 and 9 years, presented to Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, IVRI, for treatment served as clinical subject. The infested animals were treated with Ivermectin subcutaneously and Amitraz topically along with antioxidant like ascorbic acid, Vitamin E and selenium. The level of lipid peroxidase was significantly higher (3.94 ± 0.34) in Psoroptes infested buffalo and was reduced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) after treatment (1.56 ± 0.40). The significantly higher levels of MDA before treatment signify the role of lipid peroxide mediated skin lesions in P. natalensis infested buffaloes. Similarly the activities of the body antioxidant like GSH and CAT were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) after treatment. The less level of the body antioxidant (GSH) and reduced activities of the antioxidant enzymes like CAT and SOD before treatment imply that Psoroptes mite-infested buffaloes were in a state of significant oxidative stress. The study provides information on oxidative stress indices in P. natalensis infested buffaloes and gives additional insight regarding the pathogenesis of the disease and its management.

Antiurolithiatic and antioxidant efficacy of Musa paradisiaca pseudostem on ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis in rat.

OBJECTIVE: Musa paradisiaca has been used in the treatment of urolithiasis by the rural people in South India. Therefore, we plan to evaluate its efficacy and possible mechanism of antiurolithiatic effect to rationalize its medicinal use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urolithiasis was induced in hyperoxaluric rat model by giving 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) for 28 days along with 1% ammonium chloride (AC) for the first 14 days. Antiurolithiatic effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of M. paradisiaca pseudostem (MUSA) was evaluated based on urine and serum biochemistry, microscopy of urine, oxidative/nitrosative indices, kidney calcium content, and histopathology. RESULTS: Administration of EG and AC resulted in increased crystalluria and oxaluria, hypercalciuria, polyuria, crystal deposition in urine, raised serum urea, and creatinine as well as nitric oxide concentration and erythrocytic lipid peroxidation in lithiatic group. However, MUSA treatment significantly restored the impairment in above kidney function test as that of standard treatment, cystone in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings demonstrate the efficacy of MUSA in EG-induced urolithiasis, which might be mediated through inhibiting various pathways involved in renal calcium oxalate formation, antioxidant effect, and potential to inhibit biochemical markers of renal impairment.

Molecular Characterization and In-Silico Analysis of the Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) Gene of Canine Mammary Tumor.

BACKGROUND: Mammary tumors are the second most common tumors (after skin tumors) in female dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Tissue Inhibitor of Metlloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) is a matrix associated endogenous inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs). Cancer metastasis occurs as a result of imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs. TIMP-3 is involved significantly in regulation of MMPs as well as progression of canine mammary tumor. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to identify the structural and functional relationship between TIMP-3 and MMP which can aid in identifying the role of these proteins in canine mammary tumor. METHODS: Molecular characterization of TIMP-3 protein was done by molecular biology techniques such as gene cloning and sequencing. The homology based model of TIMP-3 protein was created and verified with a variety of available computational techniques as well as molecular dynamics simulation. RESULTS: The results indicated that predicted TIMP-3 protein structure of Canis lupus familiaris was reliable and more stable. The docking of TIMP-3 protein with MMP-2 and MMP-9 represents conformational structure of these two proteins which interact with each other but if misled canresult in the progression of tumor in canine. CONCLUSIONS: The three dimensional structure of TIMP-3 was generated and its interactions with MMP-2 and MMP-9, demonstrates the role of key binding residues. Until now, no structural details were available for canine TIMP-3 proteins, hence this study will broaden the horizon towards understanding the structural and functional aspects of this proteins in canine.

Alteration in Oxidative/nitrosative imbalance, histochemical expression of osteopontin and antiurolithiatic efficacy of Xanthium strumarium (L.) in ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis.

Xanthium strumarium has traditionally been used in the treatment of urolitiasis especially by the rural people in India, but its antiurolithiatic efficacy was not explored scientifically till now. Therefore, the present study was designed to validate the ethnic practice scientifically, and explore the possible antiurolithiatic effect to rationalize its medicinal use. Urolitiasis was induced in hyperoxaluric rat model by giving 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) for 28days along with 1% ammonium chloride (AC) for first 14days. Antiurolithiatic effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of Xanthium strumarium bur (xanthium) was evaluated based on urine and serum biochemistry, oxidative/nitrosative stress indices, histopathology, kidney calcium and calcium oxalate content and immunohistochemical expression of matrix glycoprotein, osteopontin (OPN). Administration of EG and AC resulted in hyperoxaluria, crystalluria, hypocalciuria, polyurea, raised serum urea, creatinine, erythrocytic lipid peroxidise and nitric oxide, kidney calcium content as well as crystal deposition in kidney section in lithiatic group rats. However, xanthium treatment significantly restored the impairment in above kidney function test as that of standard treatment, cystone. The up-regulation of OPN was also significantly decreased after xanthium treatment. The present findings demonstrate the curative efficacy of xanthium in ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis, possibly mediated through inhibition of various pathways involved in renal calcium oxalate formation, antioxidant property and down regulation of matrix glycoprotein, OPN. Therefore, future studies may be established to evaluate its efficacy and safety for clinical use.

Trypanosoma evansi infection in a German shepherd dog - Apparent successful treatment using serial low dose of diminazene aceturate.

The present study reports a new case of Trypanosoma evansi infection in a dog possibly due to oral transmission from a wild antelope, Nilgai. A four year old male German shepherd dog presented to the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic with history of inappetance, persistent fever, ocular discharge, standing for prolong periods and head pressing. Physical examination revealed corneal opacity, absence of menace reflex and partial blindness. The blood smear examination revealed the presence of Trypanosoma species. T. evansi infection was confirmed by RoTat 1.2 T. evansi specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Haemato-biochemical examination showed anaemia, leukopenia, neutrophilia, a mild increase in concentration of alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine, and a decrease in concentration of blood glucose level. The dog was treated with diminazene aceturate at 3.5mg/kg body weight by deep intramuscular for 5days along with supportive therapy. Marked recovery in clinical signs as well as restoration of normal organ function and oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium was observed after two weeks of treatment. The dog was followed up to 6month and was negative for T. evansi by microscopy and PCR. The present treatment of a consecutive five dose regime of diminazene aceturate along with supportive therapy may help clinicians to overcome the hurdle of relapsing parasitaemia due to T. evansi and successful recovery in clinical cases.