Investigation of the Effects of Spinal Dexamethasone Injection as a Premedication in Rabbit Anesthesia.

Anesthesia and analgesia are important in human and veterinary medicine, especially in surgical procedures. Rodents, avians, and exotic species are required to be anesthetized using an appropriate anesthetic regimen. This study aimed to suggest a new anesthetic drug and method in order to facilitate anesthesia as well as analgesia among rabbits, laboratory animals, and humans. Spinal injection of dexamethasone combined with intramuscular ketamine among rabbits can play the role of premedication agents. A total of 24 healthy white adult rabbits from New-Zealand were equally assigned into four groups. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were subjected to spinal xylazine (5mg/kg) with ketamine (35mg/kg,IM), spinal dexamethasone (0.37mg/kg-four times diluted) with ketamine (35mg/kg,IM), dexamethasone (4mg/kg,IM) with ketamine (35mg/kg,IM), and spinal dexamethasone (0.37mg/kg-four times diluted), respectively. The results showed that there was a significant difference in terms of clinical reflexes recorded for group 2, compared to groups 1 and 3. A significant difference was also observed regarding clinical reflexes between group 2 and the other groups. Furthermore, no abnormality was observed in terms of histological sections within groups 2 and 4. Spinal dexamethasone can be used as a premedication combined with ketamine in rabbit anesthesia.

Cloning, expression and dynamic simulation of TRYP6 from Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER).

Leishmania, a digenetic protozoan parasite causes severe diseases in human and animals. Efficient evasion of toxic microbicidal molecules, such as reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species is crucial for Leishmania to survive and replicate in the host cells. Tryparedoxin peroxidase, a member of peroxiredoxins family, is vital for parasite survival in the presence of antioxidant, hence it is one of the most important molecules in Leishmania viability and then, it may be an appropriate goal for challenging against leishmaniasis. After cloning and sub-cloning of TRYP6 from Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER), homology modeling of the LmTRYP6 was proposed to predict some functional property of this protein. The refined model showed that the core structure consists of a seven ß stranded ß-sheet and five α helices which are organized as a central 7-stranded ß2-ß1-ß5-ß4-ß3-ß6-ß7 surrounded by 2-stranded ß-hairpin, α helices A and D on one side, and α helices B, C and E on the other side. The peroxidatic active site is located in a pocket formed by the residue Pro45, Met46, Thr49, Val51, Cys52, Arg128, Met147 and Pro 148. The catalytic Cys52, located in the first turn of helix αB, is in van der Waals with a Pro45, a Thr49 and an Arg128 that are absolutely conserved in all known Prx sequences. In this study, an attractive molecular target was studied. These results might be used in designing of drugs to fight an important human pathogen.

The Role of Liposomal CpG ODN on the Course of L. major Infection in BALB/C Mice.

BACKGROUND: Historically, leishmanization is the most effective protective measure against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), CL lesion induced by leishmanization sometimes takes a long time to heal. Manipulation of leishmanization inoculums needed to induce a mild and acceptable CL lesion. The aim of this study was to explore if liposomal form of CpG ODN (Cytosin phosphate Guanin Oligodeoxynucleotides) mixed with Leishmania major would induce a milder lesion size in Balb/c mice. METHODS: This study was performed in Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad, and Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran, Iran during 2008-2009. Different groups of BALB/c mice were subcutaneously (SC) inoculated with L. major mixed with liposomal form of CpG ODN, or L. major plus free CpG ODN, or L. major mixed with empty liposomes or L. major in PBS. The lesion onset and the size of lesion were recorded; the death rate was also monitored. RESULT: Footpad thickness was significantly (P<0.01) smaller, death rate was also significantly (P<0.05) lower in the mice received L. major mixed with liposomal CpG ODN or free CpG ODN than control groups received L. major in PBS or L. major plus liposomes, also mice which received L. major mixed with CpG ODN in soluble form showed a significantly (P<0.001) smaller lesion size than control groups. CONCLUSION: CpG ODN seems to be an appropriate immunopotentiator mixed with Leishmania stabilate in leishmanization.

Effect of a calcium soap of fatty acids on reproductive characteristics and lactation performance of fat-tailed sheep.

Experiments were carried out to study the effect of feeding Megalac, calcium soaps of fatty acids (protected fat), on reproduction and lactation of sheep. In the first experiment, 20 Ghezel and 20 Mehraban cyclic fertile ewes (4-5 years old) were randomly allotted to 4 groups. The control group was fed with a balanced ration and the other groups received the same diet as well as a daily allowance of 40 g non-protected fat (NP), 40 g protected fat (LP), or 80 g (HP) protected fat. The ewes were fed with their respective rations for one cycle length. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for progesterone (P4), cholesterol (CHOL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) and triacylglycerols (TG). The ewes were slaughtered on their next estrous period and the size and number of follicles in ovaries were recorded. There were no significant effects of feeding fat on ovarian weights, cycle length and follicular numbers in each class, or on the size of the largest follicle. Serum concentrations of P4, CHOL, TG and HDL were greater for HP ewes as compared with the control ewes (p<0.05). In the second experiment, effects on lactation and lamb performance of feeding protected fat during mating, late gestation and early lactation were studied in Mehraban ewes. Milk and fat yields on day 25 of lactation were significantly increased by feeding protected fat. Protected fat resulted in lower weight loss in ewes and a higher lamb birth weight. Average daily weight gain of lambs from birth to day 60 and the weaning weight of lambs were increased by feeding protected fat (p<0.05). In conclusion, calcium soaps of fatty acids increased serum P4 between days 10 to 14 of the cycle which may be beneficial to early pregnancy maintenance. Protected fat seemed to have a beneficial effect on milk yield, fat yield, lamb daily gain, lamb birth weight and ewe weight loss.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of itraconazole in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: Several modalities have been used for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) with various results. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown inhibitory effects of azole drugs on Leishmania parasites. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oral itraconazole in the treatment of CL caused by L. major. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with parasitologically confirmed CL with a duration of less than 45 days from a well known L. major endemic area were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The patients received either itraconazole 200 mg daily (100 patients) or placebo (100 patients) for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures were clinical cure (complete re-epithelization of all lesions) and parasitological cure at the end of the treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients in the itraconazole and 75 patients in the placebo group completed the treatment course. After 8 weeks of treatment, clinical cure was observed in 59% and 53% and parasitological cure was observed in 83% and 76% of patients in the itraconazole and placebo groups, respectively, which were not significantly different. There was no difference in the rate of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: An 8-week course of oral itraconazole was not more effective than placebo in the treatment of CL.

The parasiticidal effect of electricity on Leishmania major, both in vitro and in vivo.

The effects of low electrical potentials on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) were investigated both in culture (in terms of promastigote viability) and in experimentally infected BALB/c and NMRI mice (in terms of the cure of pre-existing skin lesions). Exposure to direct-current potentials of 3, 6, 9 and 12 V (at 0.2-10.7 mA) killed all promastigotes in <15, <10, <10 and <10 min, respectively. When electrodes were used to pass similar direct currents across skin lesions on the tails of infected mice, all but the lowest voltage (3 V) caused unwanted ulceration. At 3 V, however, 3 weeks of electrotherapy, for 10 min twice weekly, initially appeared to cure all the lesions and the therapy was then halted. If given no electrotherapy, the BALB/c mice showed much greater Leishmania-attributable morbidity and mortality than the NMRI mice, and it was only in the treated BALB/c mice that relapses were observed, about 3 weeks after electrotherapy had ceased. The possible clinical use of electrotherapy in the treatment of human cutaneous leishmaniasis is discussed.

Immune response measured in human volunteers vaccinated with autoclaved Leishmania major vaccine mixed with low dose of BCG.

The immune responses induced against Leishmania antigens in volunteers who were vaccinated in a double-blind, randomized field efficacy trial of a preparation of autoclaved Leishmania major (ALM) mixed with a low dose of Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG) who developed either a cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesion due to exposure to infected sandfly bite(s) or did not develop a lesion during the course of the trial were studied and compared with those of non-vaccinated controls. Blood samples were also assayed from different groups including volunteers with history of CL and volunteers with previous positive or negative leishmanin skin test (LST) without a history of CL. The vaccinated volunteers had received a single dose of either ALM mixed with a low dose of BCG or the same dose of BCG alone. The LST and in vitro proliferative response (stimulation index, SI), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production and, in a few cases, interleukin (IL)-4 production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to soluble Leishmania antigens were measured. The results indicated that volunteers who developed CL in the vaccine arm showed a slightly higher SI than cases who received BCG alone. Volunteers with history of CL and volunteers with positive LST demonstrated the strongest proliferation indices and IFN-gamma production. The data suggest that a single dose of ALM + BCG induces a weak Th1 response in vaccinated volunteers that is far lower than that in volunteers with prior subclinical infection or volunteers with history of CL, who are presumed to be immune.

[Anterior open bite: the role of the infra-alveolae in its diagnosis and treatment]. / Béances antérieures: la part des infra-alvéolies dans leur diagnostic et leur traitement.

Anterior open-bites may be skeletal, alveolar or mixed. The infra-alveolae is always due to a postural or functional muscular cause and the clinical examination plays an important part in the diagnosis. Delaire's cephalometric analysis can define the type of infra-alveolae. In view of their aetiology, the infra-alveolae require functional re-education, although glossectomy and multiple bands therapy may also be useful.