Effect of antibiotics on the resistance of white mice to C1. perfringens toxin]

The effect of potassium benzylpenicillin, streptomycin sulfate and chlortetracycline on experimental gangrenous intoxication was studied. When the antibiotics were injected before intoxication, the albino mice resistance did not significantly change. When the antibiotics were injected immediately after the toxin administration, the resistance of the test animals markedly decreased.     

Role of antibodies in protection from pseudotuberculous infection and intoxication]

Lethal doses of virulent pseudotuberculosis bacilli and antipseudotuberculosis sera of different specificity were injected to albino mice simultaneously. A high neutralizing activity of antibodies against pseudotuberculosis intoxication was demonstrated. The type-specific antibodies proved to protect the mice from the toxins of the homologous types of the microbe only. Group antibodies of plaque antiserum and serum procured from the pseudoteburculosis convalescent produced a cross antitoxic action. The antiinfectious effect from the antibody administration was weak. Apparently in pseudotuberculosis the antibodies were the principal factor of the toxin neutralization and were of auxiliary significance in the protection from the developing infection. Neutralization of pseudotuberculosis toxins with plague antiserum served as an additional confirmation of cross immunity between plague and pseudotuberculosis.     

Detoxifying effect of antibiotics and their effectiveness in experimental plague at the stage of explicit intoxication]

The effect of antibiotics such as amikacin, rifampicin, doxycycline, polymyxin B and cefotaxime on the toxins of the plague microbe (lipopolysaccharide + fraction II according to Beiker) was studied in vitro and in vivo. The study on the antibiotic neutralization of plague toxins revealed that only polymyxin had toxin neutralizing capacity which depended on the dose. Investigation of the polymyxin effect at various stages of plague infection showed that when polymyxin in a dose of 1250 units and a mixture of plague toxins in lethal doses were administered simultaneously to albino mice, the positive effect amounted to 100 per cent. When the antibiotic was administered 30 or 60 minutes later, the antibiotic efficacy proved to be lower by 90 or 76.6 per cent, respectively. The intoxication in later periods (in 90-120 minutes) resulted in a decrease in animal survival up to 40-15 per cent. It was demonstrated on the model of the plague infection in albino mice that the use of amikacin, cefotaxime, rifampicin or doxycycline during polymyxin therapy at the stage of marked generalization of the infection provided a significant increase in the animal survival (60 to 80 per cent) as compared to that after the use of the same drugs alone (0 to 20 per cent).     

Effects of alcohol on natural resistance to Ancylostoma caninum in mice.

Experiments were performed to study the effect of alcohol on natural immunity of Swiss albino mice during Ancylostoma caninum infection. Natural resistance is lowered in alcoholic mice; 40% alcohol by mouth produced significant effect after 20 daily injections. The effect of the drug on natural immunity depended upon the concentration and the period of consumption. Animals retained maximum number of larvae during alcohol treatment.     

Splenopentin--modulator of immunological and behavioral reactions in secondary immunodeficiency state induced by experimental alcoholism

Effect of splenopentin on some patterns of immunity was studied in mice with chronic alcoholic intoxication. Splenopentin was administrated into animals once intraperitoneally (250 micrograms/kg). Administration of splenopentin was found to normalize several immunological patterns in animals with chronic alcoholic intoxication: the immune response to the thymus-dependent antigen sheep red blood cells and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. Also observations over C57B1/6 mice characterized by high level of alcoholic motivation showed that alcohol consumption in mice decreased after administration of splenopentin at a dose of 250 micrograms/kg during two weeks.     

Coordination of lymphocyte enzyme systems and resistance of mice to the action of staphylococcus toxin]

The activity of acid phosphatase and some dehydrogenases was studied in the blood peripheral lymphocytes of intact mice. Then this mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of LD50 of staphylococcus toxin; in 2 days 42 mice perished and 38 survived. The groups of survived and perished animals differed (the difference was statistically significant) by the extent of coordination of the enzymatic lymphocyte systems: the correlation of enzymatic indices in the survived animals was greater than in the perished ones. The data obtained are discussed from the aspect of a priori intoxication prognosis and the significance of the enzymatic coordination.     

Transmissive drug resistance and virulence of "epidemic" strains of S. typhimurium]

A total of 59 "epidemic" strains of S. typhimurium and 52 cultures isolated from the cases with sporadic diseases were studied with respect to the nature of their resistance to 10 antibiotics and virulence for albino mice under conditions of subcutaneous and oral inoculation. The virulence of the cultures isolated from the cases with sporadic diseases was higher in the strains sensitive to antibiotics. The "epidemic" strains were characterized by the lowest virulence for the mice and resistance to 8-10 antibiotics simultaneously with the transmissive nature of resistance to 1-5 drugs. The transmissive nature of resistance to antibiotics and its spectrum may serve an additional epidemiological marker of the strains.     

Structure and biosynthesis of glycoproteins. Preface

We used the knockout mice lacking gangliosides and evaluated their response to tetanus and botulinum toxins. We found that tetanus toxin and botulinum type A or B toxin was less toxic in the knockout mice. We conclude that the toxins bind to the gangliosides on the synapses in the initial step of intoxication prior to penetration of the toxins into the neural cells.     

Ultrastructural morphology of the air-blood barrier and pulmonary surfactant in pulmonary inflammation in experimental alcoholic intoxication

Combined investigation of ultrastructure of components of air-haematic barrier and surface-active properties of surfactant in 21 guinea pigs' lungs with simulated pneumonia against a background of alcoholic intoxication was carried out. It was established, that alcoholic intoxication aggravates a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant occurred in pneumonia because of its high phagocytosis with alveolar macrophages. The increase of mobilization of alveolar macrophages in alcoholic intoxication may be connected with the rise of surfactant secretion by hyperfunctional pneumocytes of the 2nd type. Stopping of alcoholic intoxication may lead to normalization of qualitative composition of surfactant phospholipids.     

Lysozyme activity of pneumococci]

Examination of 329 pneumococcal strains showed that 41.2 per cent of the cultures had lysozyme activity. The frequency of the lysozyme feature depended on the method used. The lysozyme active strains were more frequently isolated from patients than from healthy persons and characterized by antibiotic resistance. The lysozyme feature correlated with the pneumococcal virulence with respect to albino mice, capacity for capsule formaiton and resistance to phagocytosis.     

Occurrence of non-protein low molecular weight cardiotoxin in Indian King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) Cantor 1836, venom

Pathophysiology due to snakebite is a combined effect of various actions of the complex venom constituents. Importance of protein toxins in snake envenomation is well known. The present investigation reports the existence of nonprotein/nonpetide low molecular weight toxin in Indian King Cobra venom, which plays an important role in envenomation consequences in experimental animal models. A group of non-peptidic toxins (OH-NPT1) was isolated from Indian King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah by thin layer chromatography and silica gel column chromatography. UV, IR, NMR and (ESI) TOF-MS studies characterized the OH-NPT1 as a mixture of aliphatic acids having molecular weights 256, 326 and 340Da. The minimum lethal dose of OH-NPT1 was found to be 2.5 microg/20g (iv) and 4microg/20g (ip) in male albino mice. The cardiotoxic property of OH-NPT1 was established through studies on isolated guinea pig heart and auricle preparations, ECG studies in albino rat and estimation of LDH1/LDH and CPK-MB/CPK ratio in Swiss albino mice. Commercial antiserum failed to neutralize the lethality and cardiotoxicity of the toxin. However, calcium and magnesium effectively neutralized the lethal action.     

The effect of ethanol upon early development in mice and rats. I. In vivo effect upon preimplantation and early postimplantation stages

The preimplantation and early postimplantation effect of chronic alcohol consumption (at least a month before mating and during pregnancy until killing) and of acute ethanol intoxication during the preimplantation period (i.v. infection of ethanol) was studied on albino rats (Wistar) and albino mice (RAP). The main results were as follows: Chronic alcoholization. Rats: significant retardation of preimplantation development and in early postimplantation stages; a tendency of lowering of the mean litter size. Mice: significant increase of the number of preimplantation pathological forms; a tendency of lowering of the mean litter size. Pathological changes show, both in rats and mice, an obvious "litter effect". Acute ethanol intoxication. Rats: significant retardation in some litters, normal or even advanced development in others. This effect differs from the previously reported effect of acute ethanol intoxication during early postimplantation stages. The results obtained attest the prenatal noxious effect of chronic ethanol consumption in both species used and of acute ethanol intoxication during preimplantation development upon early postimplantation development in rats. Within the limits of extrapolation possibilities, they represent a risk signal for other species (including human).     

The effect of ethanol upon early development in mice and rats. IV. The effect of acute ethanol intoxication of day 4 of pregnancy upon implantation and early postimplantation development in mice

Acute ethanol intoxication in albino mice (RAP) induced by intravenous administration of ethanol on day 4 of pregnancy delayed or inhibited implantation in about 25 per cent of the cases. The noxious action upon the implantation process showed a clear-cut "litter effect" and the mean litter was not affected by the experimental intervention. In very early postimplantation stage (day 6 of pregnancy) a statistically significant advance of some main morphogenetic indices was detected in treated specimens. As a possible explanation of this finding, a "selection" of more resistant and viable embryos by the acute ethanol intoxication is presumed. The data discussed in the present paper, together with authors' previous findings suggest a possible noxious action of acute ethanol intoxication during preimplantation stages upon implantation.     

Study of the restoration and balance of thiamine in the tissues of albino mice in alcoholic intoxication

Acute inhalative alcoholic intoxication has been studied for its effect on the influx and level of free and bound thiamine in tissues of white mice. It is established that acute inhalative ethanol intoxication increases 35S-thiamine incorporation in tissues and decreases the level of endogenic free and bound thiamine. The results obtained permit a conclusion on intensification of the thiamine renewal in tissues with its sufficient influx from outside as affected by the ethanol narcosis.     

Electroencephalographic study of naloxone effects in the recovery of an acute alcoholic intoxication

Experimental assays analysing EEG changes during the recovery of an acute alcoholic intoxication were carried out in three groups of cats: 1) Recovery of acute alcoholic intoxication produced by continuous intravenous perfusion of ethanol, 0.06 g/kg/min, during 20 minutes. 2) Recovery of acute alcoholic intoxication by injecting naloxone (400 micrograms/kg), just after finishing alcohol perfusion. 3) Recovery of acute alcoholic intoxication by injecting naloxone (400 micrograms/kg), 15 min after finishing perfusion. Naloxone administered after an acute alcoholic intoxication worsens the recovery of EEG parameters; 1-2 (p less than 0.05), 1-3 (p less than 0.05).     

Different response of the knockout mice lacking b-series gangliosides against botulinum and tetanus toxins

We assessed the response in knockout mice lacking the b-series (G(D2), G(D1b), G(T1b) and G(Q1b)) gangliosides against Clostridium botulinum (types A, B and E) and tetani toxins. We found that botulinum toxins were fully toxic, while tetanus toxin was much less toxic in the knockout mice. Combining the present results with our previous finding that tetanus toxin and botulinum types A and B toxins showed essentially no toxic activity in the knockout mice lacking both the a-series and b-series gangliosides (complex gangliosides), we concluded that the b-series gangliosides is the major essential substance for tetanus toxin, while b-series gangliosides may be not the essential substance for botulinum toxins, at the initial step during the intoxication process in mouse.     

儿童血液凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌的感染情况及耐药性分析

目的了解本院儿童血培养凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（CNS）的感染率及其药物敏感情况,为儿科合理使用抗生素提供依据。方法对本院2006年1月至2007年12月间住院及门诊儿童血液培养的结果进行回顾性统计分析。结果在1265例儿童血培养中共检出CNS117株,其中表皮葡萄球菌41株（占35．0％）,人葡萄球菌27株（占23．1％）,溶血葡萄球菌21株（占18．0％）,其他凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌28株（占23．9％）;耐甲氧西林凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（MRCNS）分离率为79．5％;MRCNS药敏结果显示多重耐药。结论CNS已成为儿童血液感染的重要致病菌,MRCNS检出率高且多重耐药,万古霉素、喹宁始霉素-达福普汀、呋西地酸是治疗MRCNS感染的首选药物。     

细菌及其毒素诱发小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的机制初探

给ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ小鼠腹腔注射产肠毒素Ｂ金黄色葡萄球菌（ＳＥＢＳ）、绿脓杆菌（ＰＡ）或葡萄球菌肠毒素Ｂ（ＳＥＢ）,均可引起小鼠胸腺萎缩,呈现胸腺重量减轻、胸腺细胞数减少、胸腺细胞存活率降低。实验发现,在这些细菌或毒素作用下,胸腺细胞发生了具有细胞凋亡的特征性形态学和生化学变化。进一步研究表明,小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的机制可能与这些细菌或毒素诱导宿主产生ＴＮＦ－α、ＩＦＮｒ和ＩＬ－６等细胞因子有关。     

Partial Resistance of Carrot to Alternaria dauci Correlates with In Vitro Cultured Carrot Cell Resistance to Fungal Exudates

Although different mechanisms have been proposed in the recent years, plant pathogen partial resistance is still poorly understood. Components of the chemical warfare, including the production of plant defense compounds and plant resistance to pathogen-produced toxins, are likely to play a role. Toxins are indeed recognized as important determinants of pathogenicity in necrotrophic fungi. Partial resistance based on quantitative resistance loci and linked to a pathogen-produced toxin has never been fully described. We tested this hypothesis using the Alternaria dauci – carrot pathosystem. Alternaria dauci, causing carrot leaf blight, is a necrotrophic fungus known to produce zinniol, a compound described as a non-host selective toxin. Embryogenic cellular cultures from carrot genotypes varying in resistance against A. dauci were confronted with zinniol at different concentrations or to fungal exudates (raw, organic or aqueous extracts). The plant response was analyzed through the measurement of cytoplasmic esterase activity, as a marker of cell viability, and the differentiation of somatic embryos in cellular cultures. A differential response to toxicity was demonstrated between susceptible and partially resistant genotypes, with a good correlation noted between the resistance to the fungus at the whole plant level and resistance at the cellular level to fungal exudates from raw and organic extracts. No toxic reaction of embryogenic cultures was observed after treatment with the aqueous extract or zinniol used at physiological concentration. Moreover, we did not detect zinniol in toxic fungal extracts by UHPLC analysis. These results suggest that strong phytotoxic compounds are present in the organic extract and remain to be characterized. Our results clearly show that carrot tolerance to A. dauci toxins is one component of its partial resistance.     

Has mortality related to alcohol decreased in Sweden?

In Sweden sales of alcohol dropped 17% from 1976 to 1982. Similarly, comparison of data from 1979 and 1982 shows that the mortality from cirrhosis of the liver declined appreciably, by 28% in men and 29% in women. During 1979-82 mortality from pancreatitis also declined noticeably, by 30% in men and 36% in women. By contrast, no decrease occurred in mortality from alcoholic psychosis, alcoholism, or alcohol intoxication. The decrease in mortality from cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis is probably explained by a decrease in the consumption of alcohol among an important subgroup of high consumers of alcohol. The lack of a decrease in mortality from alcoholic psychosis, alcoholism, and alcohol intoxication may be because such diagnoses are often made in socially deteriorated, more dependent alcoholic subjects who have not been able to reduce their consumption.