Immunization with recombinant surface antigen P50 of Babesia gibsoni expressed in insect cells induced parasite growth inhibition in dogs

This is a report of a vaccine trial directed against Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs with the use of the recombinant antigen P50. Dogs immunized with P50 showed partial protection manifested as a significantly low level of parasitemia. The results indicated that P50 is a primary vaccine candidate molecule against canine B. gibsoni infection.     

Yoga Training Improves Metabolic Parameters in Obese Boys

Yoga has been known to have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the metabolic parameters and to be uncomplicated therapy for obesity. The purpose of the present study was to test the effect of an 8-week of yoga-asana training on body composition, lipid profile, and insulin resistance (IR) in obese adolescent boys. Twenty volunteers with body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile were randomly assigned to yoga (age 14.7±0.5 years, n=10) and control groups (age 14.6±1.0 years, n=10). The yoga group performed exercises three times per week at 40~60% of heart-rate reserve (HRR) for 8 weeks. IR was determined with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). After yoga training, body weight, BMI, fat mass (FM), and body fat % (BF %) were significantly decreased, and fat-free mass and basal metabolic rate were significantly increased than baseline values. FM and BF % were significantly improved in the yoga group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Total cholesterol (TC) was significantly decreased in the yoga group (p<0.01). HDL-cholesterol was decreased in both groups (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed between or within groups for triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Our findings show that an 8-week of yoga training improves body composition and TC levels in obese adolescent boys, suggesting that yoga training may be effective in controlling some metabolic syndrome factors in obese adolescent boys.     

Digestive bleeding and acute abdomen caused by jejunal diverticulosis. Case report

We present a patient with acute abdomen and digestive bleeding caused by jejunal diverticulosis. Jejunal diverticulosis, mainly asymptomatic, when is symptomatic have a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from chronic anemic syndrome to acute abdomen. In this communication, we reviewed the clinical presentation, the pathogenesis and the treatment this infrequent pathology.     

Changes in choroidal vascular parameters following pan-retinal photocoagulation using swept-source optical coherence tomography

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To assess the effect of pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) on choroidal vascular parameters in eyes with advanced diabetic...     

Ursolic Acid-Induced Elevation of Serum Irisin Augments Muscle Strength During Resistance Training in Men

Ursolic acid (UA), a type of pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid purified from natural plants, can promote skeletal muscle development. We measured the effect of resistance training (RT) with/without UA on skeletal muscle development and related factors in men. Sixteen healthy male participants (age, 29.37±5.14 years; body mass index=27.13±2.16 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to RT (n=7) or RT with UA (RT+UA, n=9) groups. Both groups completed 8 weeks of intervention consisting of 5 sets of 26 exercises, with 10~15 repetitions at 60~80% of 1 repetition maximum and a 60~90-s rest interval between sets, performed 6 times/week. UA or placebo was orally ingested as 1 capsule 3 times/day for 8 weeks. The following factors were measured pre-and post-intervention: body composition, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), irisin, and skeletal muscle strength. Body fat percentage was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in the RT+UA group, despite body weight, body mass index, lean body mass, glucose, and insulin levels remaining unchanged. IGF-1 and irisin were significantly increased compared with baseline levels in the RT+UA group (p<0.05). Maximal right and left extension (p<0.01), right flexion (p<0.05), and left flexion (p<0.001) were significantly increased compared with baseline levels in the RT+UA group. These findings suggest that UA-induced elevation of serum irisin may be useful as an agent for the enhancement of skeletal muscle strength during RT.     

Endothelin-1 acts via protein kinase C to block KATP channels in rabbit coronary and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

We investigated the effects of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the whole-cell ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) currents of smooth muscle cells that were isolated enzymatically from rabbit coronary artery (CASMCs) and pulmonary artery (PASMCs). The size of the KATP current did not differ significantly between CASMCs and PASMCs. ET-1 reduced the KATP current in a concentration-dependent manner, and this inhibition was greater in PASMCs than in CASMCs (half-inhibition values of 12.20 nM and 1.98 nM in CASMCs and PASMCs, respectively). However, the level of inhibition induced by other vasoconstrictors (angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and serotonin) were not significantly different between CASMCs and PASMCs. Pretreatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporine (100 nM) and GF 109203X (1 microM) prevented ET-1-induced inhibition of the KATP current in both arterial smooth muscle cell preparations. The PKC activators phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and 1-olelyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) reduced the KATP current in dose-dependent manner. Although the numbers of ET receptors were not significantly different between the 2 arterial smooth muscle cell preparations, the effects of PDBu and OAG were greater on PASMCs. ET-1-induced inhibition of the KATP current was unaffected by the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMPs (100 microM) and PKA inhibitory peptide (5 microM).     

Ectopic pregnancy in an inguinal herniorrhaphy scar

An ectopic pregnancy may occur in unusual sites. In the following case, an ectopic pregnancy was discovered in the first trimester within an inguinal herniorrhaphy scar from an inguinal herniorrhaphy performed about 20 years previously. Early diagnosis of the ectopic pregnancy by sonography enabled laparoscopic management and preservation of the woman's fertility.