Search results for "LMI"
showing 10 items of 1764 documents
Is metal accumulation in Pomphorhynchus laevis dependent on parasite sex or infrapopulation size?
2010
SUMMARYConcentrations of the elements As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, V, Zn were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis and its fish host Barbus barbus. A total of 27 barbels were collected from the Danube River in autumn 2006 close to the town Kozloduy (685 river kilometer) on the Bulgarian river bank. Fish were divided into 3 groups. According to their P. laevis infrapopulation size hosts were considered as heavily infected (>100 worms per fish) and lightly infected (<20 worms per fish). The third group was used to compare heavy metal concentrations between male and female P. laevis. The 5 elements As, C…
Density-dependent effects on parasite growth and parasite-induced host immunodepression in the larval helminth Pomphorhynchus laevis.
2011
SUMMARYLarval helminths exploit the physiology of their intermediate hosts: first, as a resource for energy and space and second by altering the immune system activity to ensure their survival. Whereas the growth pattern under parasite competition has been investigated, the effect of multiple infections on the level of parasite-induced immunodepression in a trophically transmitted helminth has been neglected. In this study, amphipodsGammarus pulexwere infected in the laboratory by the acanthocephalanPomphorhynchus laevisto investigate how parasite density in the intermediate host affected (i) cystacanth growth and (ii) the level of parasite-induced alterations of the host immune defences, t…
Intestinal Helminth Fauna of Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatusand Common DolphinDelphinus delphisfrom the Western Mediterranean
2012
We report on the intestinal helminth fauna of 15 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus and 6 short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis from the western Mediterranean. Eight helminth species were found in bottlenose dolphin, i.e., the digeneans Synthesium tursionis, Brachycladium atlanticum, and Pholeter gastrophilus, the nematode Anisakis sp., and the cestodes Tetrabothrius forsteri, Diphyllobothrium sp., Strobilocephalus triangularis, and tetraphyllidean plerocercoids. Brachycladium atlanticum, S. triangularis , and tetraphyllidean plerocercoids are new host records. No T. forsteri had previously been reported in Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins. Three species of helminths were reco…
Perioperative pupil size in low-energy femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery
2020
Purpose To assess potential changes in pupil size during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) using a low-energy laser system. Methods The pupil sizes of eyes undergoing FLACS were measured using the Ziemer LDV Z8 by extracting images from the laser software after each of the following steps: application of suction, lens fragmentation, and capsulotomy. Furthermore, the pupil diameters were measured based on preoperative surgical microscope images and after releasing the suction. Paired t-test and the two one-sided tests (TOST) procedure were used for statistical analyses. The horizontal and vertical pupil diameters were compared in each of the steps with preoperative values.…
Altered Protein Expression in the Ileum of Mice Associated with the Development of Chronic Infections with Echinostoma caproni (Trematoda)
2015
Background Echinostoma caproni (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) is an intestinal trematode that has been extensively used as experimental model to investigate the factors determining the expulsion of intestinal helminths or, in contrast, the development of chronic infections. Herein, we analyze the changes in protein expression induced by E. caproni infection in ICR mice, a host of high compatibility in which the parasites develop chronic infections. Methodology/Principal Findings To determine the changes in protein expression, a two-dimensional DIGE approach using protein extracts from the intestine of naïve and infected mice was employed; and spots showing significant differential expression…
Amino Acid Derivatives as Palmitoylethanolamide Prodrugs: Synthesis, In Vitro Metabolism and In Vivo Plasma Profile in Rats
2015
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has antinflammatory and antinociceptive properties widely exploited in veterinary and human medicine, despite its poor pharmacokinetics. Looking for prodrugs that could progressively release PEA to maintain effective plasma concentrations, we prepared carbonates, esters and carbamates at the hydroxyl group of PEA. Chemical stability (pH 7.4) and stability in rat plasma and liver homogenate were evaluated by in vitro assays. Carbonates and carbamates resulted too labile and too resistant in plasma, respectively. Ester derivatives, prepared by conjugating PEA with various amino acids, allowed to modulate the kinetics of PEA release in plasma and stability in liver …
Sexual differences in larval life history traits of acanthocephalan cystacanths
2006
Sexual differences in life history traits, such as size dimorphism, presumably arise via sexual selection and are most readily observed in adults. For complex life-cycle parasites, however, sexual selection may also have consequences for larval traits, e.g., growth in intermediate hosts. Two acanthocephalan species (Acanthocephalus lucii and Echinorhynchus borealis) were studied to determine, whether larval life histories differ between males and females. The size of female A. lucii cystacanths had a much stronger relationship with intermediate host size than males, suggesting females invest more in growth and are consequently more limited by resources. No relationship between host size and…
Topical allopurinol or corticosteroids and acetylcysteine in the early treatment of experimental corneal alkali burns: a pilot study.
2002
PURPOSE. To investigate the effect of topical allopurinol on experimental corneal burns and to compare this to established treatment modalities such as topical prednisolone and acetylcysteine. METHODS. Twenty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=5 each). The groups were controls (normal saline), allopurinol 0.4% eye drops, prednisolone acetate 1% eye drops and acetylcysteine 8% eyedrops. Corneal burn was induced using a 3 mm paper disc soaked in 1N NaOH for 60 seconds. Drops were instilled 6 times per day. In addition, one drop/day ofloxacine was given to prevent secondary infections. Eyes were enucleated 50 hours later and fixed in 4.5% formaldehyde. Three histological leve…
Pharmacodynamic consequences of P-glycoprotein-dependent pharmacokinetics of risperidone and haloperidol in mice
2008
Efflux transporters, like P-glycoprotein (P-gp), may limit the access of drugs to the brain via the blood-brain barrier. The antipsychotic drug risperidone and its active metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone (paliperidone) are substrates of P-gp. Motor behavior of P-gp deficient mice (mdr1a/1b (-/-, -/-)) and wild type animals on a rotarod after acute doses of risperidone or haloperidol, a nonsubstrate of P-gp, were analysed aiming to show that P-gp substrate properties of an antipsychotic drug have functional consequences. Behavioral tests revealed dose-dependent effects of 0.3-3 mg/kg risperidone in wild type animals 0.5-12 h after i.p. injection of the drug. In knockout mice the 0.3 mg/kg dos…
An Autochthonous Human Case of Fasciolopsiasis in Nepal
2019
Fasciolopsiasis is rarely known as the parasitic disease in Nepal. Herein, we report a case of fasciolopsiasis in a 22-year-old man who was admitted in the hospital with abdominal pain, distension and loss of appetite for a month. He had previously diagnosed with acute viral hepatitis but, his abdominal pain was not resolving despite improvement in his liver function and general condition. During endoscopy an adult digenean worm was seen in the first part of the duodenum. After isolation, the worm was identified morphologically as Fasciolopsis buski. Microscogic examination of the patient's stool revealed eggs with a morphology consistent with F. buski. Eggs were yellow-brown, ellipsoidal, …