Study of different routes of immunization using outer membrane vesicles of Neisseria meningitidis B and comparison of two adjuvants

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Neisseria meningitidis contain important antigens to trigger an immune response against meningococci and have been studied as vaccines compounds. The immune response to a vaccine may be affected by its constitution and route of administration. Therefore, Swiss mice were immunized by different routes with OMVs of N. meningitidis B with dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide in bilayer fragments (DDA-BF) or aluminum hydroxide (AH) as adjuvants. The adjuvants and different routes were compared regarding the immune responses by ELISA, western blot, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and histopathologic analysis. The antigenic preparation generated humoral and cellular immune responses. In quantitative analyzes, in general, AH was superior to DDA-BF. However, analysis such as IgG avidity index, bactericidal activity and immunoblot, revealed no important differences regarding the adjuvant or route of immunization. Regarding the parameters tested, it was not possible to define a superiority between the adjuvants and routes of immunization proposed by this study.     

Pyridostigmine bromide and its relation to Gulf War illness

Abstract

Pyridostigmine bromide acts as a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor that is used at relatively high doses in treatment of Myasthenia gravis and in low dose regimens as prophylaxis against nerve agents poisoning during the Gulf War. The manifestation of late nonspecific symptoms commonly called Gulf War illness has led to the discussion about the role of pyridostigmine bromide in the pathogenesis of this illness. In our study, we described plasma absorption profile of pyridostigmine bromide after p.o. administration in rats; subsequently, changes in blood biochemical and oxidative stress markers were measured. Pyridostigmine bromide was applied p.o. at the dose of 5.82?mg/kg b.w. according to the previously published recommendations. The absorption of pyridostigmine was relatively fast; the C_max in plasma was 110.20?±?15.12?ng/ml at T_max of 197.12?±?17.14?min. The bioavailability expressed as AUC_total was 44,348?±?7608?min ng/ml. The prolongation of pyridostigmine in circulation is in agreement with relatively long half-life that was 179.00?±?28.54?min. Several blood biochemical markers were altered, including glucose, creatinine, creatine kinase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, interleukin-6, triglycerides, and cholesterol. However, the changes could be considered as mild. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and ferric reducing ability of plasma indicate suppression of basal metabolism. The results of blood biochemical and oxidative stress markers imply that long-term use might possibly change the basal metabolism and cause cellular damage with inflammatory changes.     

五倍子对口内菌斑生物膜活性影响的体外研究

目的应用口内菌斑生物膜模型观察五倍子水提取物对菌斑生物膜活性的影响。方法将牙釉质磨片粘结于两侧下颌第一恒磨牙颊侧获得24h口内菌斑生物膜模型,实验组和对照组分别用6mg/ml五倍子水提取物和生理盐水处理3min,应用溴化乙锭/荧光素双乙酸盐(ethidium bromide/fluorescein diacetate,EB/FDA)染色技术和激光共聚焦显微镜(confocal laser scan microscope,CLSM)观察五倍子水提取物对生物膜活性的影响。结果CLSM观察可见所有样本釉质表面均有细菌的定植,有早期的生物膜形成。对照组菌斑生物膜中细菌的活性明显高于实验组,两者相比具有显著差异(P<0.05)。结论五倍子水提取物在较短的时间内就能对生物膜中的细菌产生一定的杀伤效应,使其活性下降。     

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotype f O-polysaccharide mediates coaggregation with Fusobacterium nucleatum

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intergeneric bacterial coaggregation may play an important role in plaque development. METHODS: In this study we investigated the coaggregation reaction between two periodontal pathogens, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum. RESULTS: Previous studies showed that A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b strains coaggregate with F. nucleatum strain PK1594, and that A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b O-polysaccharide (O-PS) is the receptor responsible for coaggregation between A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum. A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype f O-PS has been shown to be structurally and antigenically related to serotype b O-PS. In the present study we show that A. actinomycetemcomitans strain CU1060N, a serotype f strain, also coaggregated with F. nucleatum PK1594. Like coaggregation between serotype b strains and F. nucleatum, coaggregation between CU1060N and F. nucleatum was inhibited by galactose. An O-PS mutant of CU1060N failed to coaggregate with F. nucleatum. CONCLUSION: We concluded that A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype f O-PS, like serotype b O-PS, mediates coaggregation between A. actinomycetemcomitans and fusobacteria.     

Toxicity evaluation of root canal sealers in vitro

AIM: To compare the toxicity of methacrylate resin-based root canal sealers with sealers based on epoxy resin and silicone by two-well established cell culture methods. METHODOLOGY: Specimens of AH Plus, EndoREZ, RoekoSeal and Epiphany were prepared for direct contact in the Millipore filter diffusion test and as extracts in the MTT assay. Mouse fibroblasts (L929) were used as toxicity targets. Differences in cytotoxicity between fresh and set specimens and between the extracts of root canal sealers were determined by t-test (P < 0.05). RESULTS: In the filter diffusion test, freshly mixed Epiphany and AH Plus were rated severely toxic and RoekoSeal and EndoREZ nontoxic. When set, Epiphany was moderately toxic, whereas AH Plus, RoekoSeal and EndoREZ were nontoxic. Epiphany was significantly more toxic than RoekoSeal and EndoREZ (P < 0.05). In the MTT assay with set specimens, Epiphany was rated severely toxic; AH Plus and RoekoSeal slightly toxic; and EndoREZ nontoxic. Epiphany was significantly more toxic than the other three materials in this test (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The multi-methacrylate resin-based (Epiphany) root canal sealer was significantly more toxic to L-929 cells than the silicone-based Roeko Seal and the single methacrylate-based EndoREZ root canal sealers. AH Plus showed intermediate toxicity.     

复方异丙托溴铵+布地奈德混悬液治疗小儿喘息型肺炎的效果及安全性

目的 探究复方异丙托溴铵+布地奈德混悬液治疗小儿喘息型肺炎的效果及安全性.方法 选择2018年10月至2020年10月我院收治的78例喘息型肺炎患儿作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法将其分为观察组和对照组,各39例.观察组给予复方异丙托溴铵+布地奈德混悬液治疗,对照组给予布地奈德混悬液治疗.比较两组患儿的临床症状消失时间、肺功能指标、炎症因子水平及不良反应发生情况.结果 观察组的咳嗽、气促、呼吸困难以及喘鸣音消失时间均短于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).治疗前,两组的FVC、FEV1、PEF比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后,两组的FVC、FEV1、PEF均增大,且观察组大于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).治疗前,两组的血清CRP水平、LC比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后,两组的血清CRP水平、LC均降低,且观察组低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).观察组的不良反应总发生率低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 复方异丙托溴铵+布地奈德混悬液治疗喘息型肺炎效果显著,可改善患儿的肺功能及炎症因子指标,且安全可靠,值得推广.     

Evaluation of biofilm formation ability in different Candida strains and anti-biofilm effects of Fe3O4-NPs compared with Fluconazole: an in vitro study

Objective

Biofilm formation ability is one of the major virulence factors contributing to the pathogenesis of Candida species. Biofilms produced by Candida spp. cause complicated treatments and contribute to increasing unpleasant mortality rates. Nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ (Fe₃O₄-NPs) are considered due to their magnetic and biochemical properties, as well as their low costs. The purpose of present study was to determine biofilm formation ability in different Candida strains and evaluation of anti-biofilm effect of Fe₃O₄-NPs compared with FLC.

The effect of ipratropium bromide on intraocular pressure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an open-label study

Background: After smoking cessation, bronchodilation with anticholinergics and beta₂-agonists is the keystone of pharmacologic therapy for symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For patients who fail to get relief from a drug delivered via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) plus spacer, or for acute exacerbations in patients who are unable to use an MDI, a nebulized solution (NS) usually is preferred. Although ipratropium bromide (IB) has a low incidence of adverse events, anticholinergic drugs are known to produce side effects such as urinary retention, constipation, drying of secretions, and precipitation of glaucoma.Objective: In this open-label study, we aimed to assess the acute effects of IB on intraocular pressure (IOP) and tolerability of administration of IB by MDI and NS in patients with COPD and baseline values of IOP that were within normal limits.Methods: Eligible patients were aged >40 years and had a cigarette smoking history of >20 pack-years (ie, packs/d × years of smoking), a clinical history of COPD, and a ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to slow vital capacity (FEV₁/VC) <89% predicted value. After baseline pulmonary function testing (PFT), IOP measurements by Goldmann applanation tonometry were performed. PFT measurements were repeated at 15 and 120 minutes after drug inhalation, and IOP measurements were repeated 120 minutes after drug inhalation. Doses were administered on 3 consecutive mornings: placebo on day 1, MDI IB 40 μg on day 2, and NS IB 250 μg on day 3.Results: Measurements are expressed as mean ± SD. Twenty-one stable patients with COPD (all men; mean age, 60.95 ± 7.90 years; mean smoking history, 47.24 ± 17.62 pack-years) were selected from a university hospital outpatient population. On MDI and NS test days (days 2 and 3), respectively, mean baseline FEV₁ measurements were 1.30 ± 0.62 L (42.74% ± 20.11% predicted value) and 1.23 ± 0.58 L (41.16% ± 18.51% predicted value); mean baseline IOPs for the MDI group were 14.24 ± 2.61 mm Hg and 14.00 ± 2.51 mm Hg (right and left eyes, respectively) and for the NS group were 14.57 ± 2.52 mm Hg and 14.00 ± 2.63 mm Hg (right and left eyes, respectively). Although improvements in forced VC, FEV₁, and maximal mid-expiratory flow rate were significant at 15 and 120 minutes for both delivery methods (P < 0.01 for both delivery methods at both times), no significant increase in IOP was found.Conclusion: The single-dose administration of MDI and NS formulations of IB at doses producing bronchodilation had no significant effect on IOP in this study population.     

联合应用支气管扩张剂治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并呼吸衰竭的疗效观察

目的：探讨联合应用支气管扩张剂治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病（ chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD）合并呼吸衰竭的临床效果。方法：将126例COPD合并呼吸衰竭患者以数字随机表法分为2组各63例,对照组患者给予噻托溴铵与盐酸氨溴索吸入治疗,观察组患者在对照组的基础上辅以沙丁胺醇吸入治疗,对比观察2组患者的临床疗效。结果：观察组患者的有效率为92．06％（58／63）,明显高于对照组的79．37％（50／63）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）;治疗后,观察组患者的氧分压、一秒用力呼气容积及其占预计值百分比均明显高于对照组,二氧化碳分压明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（ P＜0．05）。结论：联合应用支气管扩张剂治疗COPD合并呼吸衰竭,能纠正呼吸衰竭,改善肺功能。