Synergistic mechanisms by which sirolimus and cyclosporin inhibit rat heart and kidney allograft rejection

The studies presented herein examined the mechanism(s) whereby sirolimus (SRL) and cyclosporin (CsA) act synergistically to block allograft rejection. Combination index (CI=1 reflects additive, CI<1 antagonistic, and CI<1 synergistic, effects) analysis documented potent synergism between SRL and CsA to block allograft rejection. Combinations of the two drugs produced synergistic prolongation of heart (CI=0.001–0.2) or kidney (CI=0.03–0.5) allograft survival at SRL/CsA ratios ranging from 1:12.5 to 1:200. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the individual drugs showed that CsA does not affect the blood levels of SRL, and SRL mildly increases the levels of CsA in SRL/CsA-treated rats. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to document that both subtherapeutic (1.0 mg/kg) and therapeutic (2.0 or 4.0 mg/kg) CsA doses inhibited the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (P<0.03) and IL-2 (P<0.003) mRNA produced by T helper (Th) 1 cells, as well as IL-10 (P<0.001), but not IL-4 (NS) mRNA produced by Th2 cells. Contrariwise, all tested SRL doses (0.02, 0.04 or 0.08 mg/kg) did not affect cytokine mRNA expression. However, heart allografts from rat recipients treated with synergistic SRL/CsA doses displayed reduced levels of IFN-γ (P<0.01), IL-2 (P<0.001) and IL-10 (P<0.001) mRNA. Thus, because subtherapeutic doses of CsA reduce Th1/Th2 activity, thereby facilitating the inhibition of signal transduction by low does of SRL, the two agents act synergistically to inhibit allograft rejection.     

Lack of effect of opioid peptides,morphine and naloxone on superoxide formation in human neutrophils and HL-60 leukemic cells

Summary There are controversial reports in the literature concerning the effects of opioids on superoxide (O ₂ ^– ) formation in phagocytes, these agents being either inhibitory or stimulatory. We re-examined this issue and compared the effects of the Chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-l,-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), ATP, platelet activating factor (PAF), cytochalasin B (CB) and prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) with those of various opioids on O ₂ ^– formation in human neutrophils and HL-60 leukemic cells under defined experimental conditions. In the presence of CB, fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF concentration-dependently activated O ₂ ^– formation in neutrophils with EC₅₀ values of 20 nM and 100 nM, respectively. In the absence of CB, fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF were much less effective. PAF synergistically enhanced O ₂ ^– formation induced by fMet-Leu-Phe. ATP at a concentration of 100 M and the opioids, methionine enkephalin, -endorphin, dynorphin, [d-Ala², N-Me-Phe⁴, Gly⁵-ol]-enkephalin, [d-Ala²-d-Leu⁵]-enkephalin and morphine at concentrations between 10 pM to 1 M did not activate O ₂ ^– formation. ATP but not \-endorphin potentiated fMet-Leu-Phe-induced O ₂ ^– formation. O ₂ ^– formation induced by a maximally stimulatory concentration of PMA (100 ng/ml) was enhanced by fMet-Leu-Phe but was unaffected by methionine enkephalin or PGE₁. PMA at a non-stimulatory concentration (2 ng/ml) potentiated the effect of fMet-Leu-Phe but did not induce responsiveness to PAF, ATP or -endorphin. PGE₁ strongly inhibited fMet-Leu-Phe-induced O ₂ ^– formation, whereas morphine, methionine enkephalin and the opioid antagonist, naloxone, were without effect. In HL-60 cells differentiated with dibutyryl cAMP, fMet-Leu-Phe, PAF and ATP but not -endorphin activated O ₂ ^– formation. Our results show that O ₂ ^– formation is differentially regulated by various classes of intercellular signal molecules and that opioids do not play a role in the regulation of O ₂ ^– formation. The precise definition of the experimental conditions and control experiments with established modulators of O ₂ ^– formation are essential to evaluate the role of opioids in the regulation of this effector system.Send offprint requests to R. Seifert at the above address     

Synergistic effect of a combination of nicarbazin and monensin against coccidiosis in the chicken caused by Eimeria spp.

ABSTRACT

A clinical study was made into the abilities of nicarbazin and monensin and a nicarbazin?+?monensin combination to control Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella in chickens. When included in the feed, at concentrations of 40?ppm nicarbazin or 40?ppm monensin, these products showed partial efficacy evaluated by daily weight gain (DWG) but no activity judged by daily feed intake (DFI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR). By contrast, the combination of 40?ppm nicarbazin?+?40?ppm monensin provided complete control of infection judged by greater DWG and DFI, and lower FCR. Monensin at a concentration of 40?ppm was ineffective in preventing lesions caused by all three species. Nicarbazin at a concentration of 40?ppm was unable to suppress lesions of E. acervulina and E. maxima but was able to suppress lesions caused by E. tenella. Nicarbazin 40?ppm?+?monensin 40?ppm suppressed lesions of all three species.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Nicarbazin or monensin at 40 ppm gave only partial control of Eimeria spp.

• A combination of 40 ppm nicarbazin + 40 ppm monensin controlled DWG, DFI and FCR.

• Nicarbazin or monensin at 40 ppm did not suppress all Eimeria spp. lesions.

• Nicarbazin 40 ppm + monensin 40 ppm suppressed lesions of all three species.

     

In-vitro interaction of azithromycin and fluoroquinolones against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria

Objective: To determine the combined in-vitro effects of azithromycin plus the fluoroquinolone ofloxacin or lomefloxacin against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Methods: Fractional inhibitory (FIC) and fractional bactericidal concentration indices of azithromycin and the fluoroquinolone were determined using a microtiter-checkerboard method. Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, Haemophilus influenzae, Xanthomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were studied. Fourteen strains of S. aureus were also studied in time-kill curves with azithromycin (4 mg/L), lomefloxacin (6 mg/L) and the two in combination.
Results: No synergism or antagonism was found in inhibitory assays. However, bactericidal assays revealed antagonism with some strains of S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, X. maltophilia, A. calcoaceticus, P. aeruginosa, P. cepacia, K. pneumoniae and E. coli. Kill-curve results with 14 strains of S. aureus showed no antagonism with four strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and antagonism with one strain of MRSA and seven methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).
Conclusions: In-vitro exposure to combinations of azithromycin and a fluoroquinolone does not produce a synergistic effect. Antagonism was found in bactericidal assays against some gram-negative bacteria and MSSA; caution is therefore recommended in the use of macrolides and quinolones against these organisms.     

基于多途径联合效应的甘草防治脓毒血症活性成分筛选及作用机制研究

目的 研究甘草中有效组分对脓毒血症的防治作用及机制。方法 采用小鼠骨髓来源巨噬细胞(bone marrow-derived macrophages,BMDM)构建体外NOD样受体热蛋白结构域相关蛋白3(NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3,NLRP3)炎症小体激活模型及H2O2诱导的氧化应激模型筛选出甘草抗炎、抗氧化应激的有效组分,采用ip脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS,20 mg/kg)诱导C57BL/6小鼠脓毒血症致死模型以及脓毒血症模型,评价致死模型中小鼠的生存率及脓毒血症模型小鼠腹腔灌洗液中巨噬细胞和中性粒细胞在渗出细胞中的占比以及外周血和腹腔灌洗液中白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)水平。结果 基于BMDM细胞NLRP3炎症小体激活模型筛选出甘草中有效组分刺甘草查耳酮,可显著抑制半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1(cystein-asparate protease-1,Ca...     

复方丹参与维生素C合用治疗过敏性紫癜32例

[背景 ]探讨过敏性紫癜的治疗方法 .[病例报告 ]应用复方丹参与维生素C合用治疗过敏性紫癜 32例 ,并辅以对症治疗 .结果 ,32例中显效 2 7例 ,有效 5例 ,总有效率为 10 0 % .[讨论 ]应用复方丹参及维生素C合用治疗过敏性紫癜疗效满意     

Memantine,amantadine, and L-deprenyl potentiate the action of L-DOPA in monoamine-depleted rats

Summary Some treatments used for Parkinson's disease attenuate locomotor depression in rats treated with reserpine and -methyl-p-tyrosine. In the present study memantine (2.5, 5.0mg/kg), amantadine (10, 20mg/kg) (both uncompetitive NMDA antagonists), and L-deprenyl (1.0, 5.0 mg/kg; MAO-B inhibitor) were tested for possible synergistic interactions with the dopamine agonists: bromocriptine (2.5, 5.0mg/kg) and L-DOPA (50, 100mg/kg, + benserazide, 100 mg/kg). At higher doses, memantine (10 mg/kg), amantadine (40 mg/kg), bromocriptine (5 and 10mg/kg) and L-DOPA (100, 200mg/kg) but not L-deprenyl (up to 10 mg/kg) produced a pronounced increase in locomotor activity when given alone. The combination of memantine, amantadine and L-deprenyl with bromocriptine did not result in synergism of action and, at best, an additive effect was seen. On the other hand the combination of these agents with L-DOPA produced a pronounced synergistic effect. Hence, the clinical observation that coadministration of L-DOPA with either memantine or amantadine results in enhancement of their action is also reflected in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Such a combination therapy should allow the use of lower doses of both drugs which may reduce the occurrence of side effects and may also be predicted to have additional benefits related to the neuroprotective properties of memantine, amantadine, and L-deprenyl.     

雷藤甲素和亚硒酸钠对人白现细胞系HL60生长抑制作用的 …

目的针对雷藤甲素治疗宽度窄的缺点,探讨与亚硒酸钠联合用药以减低雷藤甲素剂量的可能性。方法以ＭＴＴ试验观察不同浓度雷藤甲素、亚硒酸钠单独或组合对ＨＬ６０细胞的生长抑制作用,以基于中效原理的药物量效作用分析软件分析协同、相加、拮抗作用。ＣＩ＜１时为协同,＝１时为相加,＞１时为拮抗。结果半数（１８／３６）组合呈现协同效应,其中７个生长抑制率＞７０％。含雷藤甲素１００ｎｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１或含亚硒酸钠１００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１的所有组合ＣＩ均＜１。结论提示在该两药联合用药方案中减低雷藤甲素的剂量而仍保持原水平疗效的可能性是存在的,值得进一步研究。     

河豚毒素与局麻药联合应用对家兔齿髓刺激所致疼痛的对抗作用

河豚毒素(tetrodotoxin，TTX)是一种毒性极高的非蛋白神经毒素。具有很强的局麻作用。其效力比目前常用局麻药强万倍以上。持续时间长。将TTX与常用局麻药联合应用于齿髓镇痛。国内外文献尚未报道。我们设想将极微量TTX与常用局麻药利多卡因、丁卡因联合给药，通过齿髓刺激试验，测定其局部镇痛作用，观察是否具有协同或增强局麻效果，以探讨TTX作为协同局麻药应用于临床的可能。     

Pronounced synergistic promotion of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine-initiated thyroid tumorigenesis in rats treated with excess soybean and iodine-deficient diets.

We have reported that excess soybean treatment and iodine deficiency synergistically interact, resulting in remarkable induction of thyroid hyperplasias in rats. In the present study, modifying effects of excess soybean and iodine-deficient diets were investigated in the post-initiation phase of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine [DHPN]-initiated thyroid tumorigenesis in rats. AIN-93G in which casein was replaced with gluten was used as a basal diet to avoid possible iodine contamination. In Experiment 1, F-344 rats of both sexes were sc injected with DHPN at a dose of 2800 mg/kg body weight and then fed a diet containing 0%, 0.8%, 4%, or 20% defatted soybean for 12 weeks, with proportional replacement of gluten by soybean flour. Although no thyroid proliferative lesions were found in any group, the absolute thyroid weights were significantly (p < 0.01) elevated with the 20% soybean treatment. In Experiment 2, after similar sc injection of DHPN, rats were fed a basal diet or a diet containing 20% soybean under iodine normal or deficient conditions for 12 weeks. Soybean feeding to both sexes under iodine deficient but not normal conditions dramatically enhanced the development of thyroid follicular adenomas (p < 0.01) and adenocarcinomas (p < 0.05), in good agreement with decrease in thyroxine and increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone. Thus co-exposure to excess soybean and iodine deficiency results in synergistic promotion of DHPN-initiated thyroid tumorigenesis in rats, of which mechanisms appear to primarily involve effects on serum hormone levels.