Absorption, tissue distribution, metabolism and excretion of ormetoprim and sulphadimethoxine in cod (Gadus morhua) after oral administration of Romet30

Uptake, tissue distribution, metabolism and elimination of sulphadimethoxine (SDM) and ormetoprim (OMP) were examined in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) following oral administration of Romet³⁰ at a dose of 5 mg OMP and 25 mg SDM per kilogram fish. Absorption and elimination was rapid for OMP and slow for SDM characterized by peak plasma concentrations (C_max) of 1.44 and 20.93 μg ml^?1 after 7 and 59 h, respectively, and plasma elimination halflives (t_1/2β) of 7 h for OMP and 56 h for SDM. High concentrations of SDM were found in the bile indicating high biliary excretion of this drug whereas moderate concentrations of N‐acetylated SDM were found in tissues and bile indicating N‐acetylation to be a less important metabolic pathway for SDM in cod. The biliary concentration of OMP was low.     

Anti-complement effects of lactoferrin-derived peptides

Lactoferrin is an important biological molecule with many functions such as modulation of the inflammatory response, iron metabolism and antimicrobial defense. One effect of lactoferrin is the inhibition of the classical complement pathway. This study reports that antimicrobial peptides derived from the N-terminal region from both human and bovine lactoferrin, lactoferricin H and lactoferricin B, respectively, inhibit the classical complement pathway. No inhibitory effect of these peptides was observed on the alternative complement pathway in an AP50 assay. However, lactoferricin B reduced the inhibitory properties of serum against Escherichia coli in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the N-terminal region of lactoferrin is the important part in the inhibition of complement activation and that these peptides possess other important properties than their antimicrobial effect.     

Diseases, prophylaxis and treatment of the Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus: a review

After substantial investments in research, the Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus is now being cultivated commercially in Norway, Iceland, Scotland and Canada. As with other domesticated species, disease problems have been experienced. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of diseases of the Atlantic halibut, and their diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment. In economic terms, the most important losses have been suffered at the larval and juvenile stages. The most important infections are caused by nodaviruses, causative agents of Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy (VER), which are the major reason why Norway's production of halibut fry has been level since 1995. An aquatic birnavirus, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus, is also an important agent of mortality. Vibrio anguillarum, Flexibacter ovolyticus and atypical Aeromonas salmonicida are the major bacterial pathogens. The protozoan parasites recorded include Ichthyobodo sp., the microsporidium Enterocytozoon sp., Trichodina hippoglossi, and the metazoan pathogens include myxozoans, helminths, Entobdella hippoglossi, Lepeophtheirus hippoglossi and other parasitic copepods. Experimental vaccines have been tested against V anguillarum and atypical A. salmonicida, with good results. A recombinant vaccine against nodaviruses is under development. A few trials have been carried out on non-specific immunostimulants, but no such treatment is currently available. A number of efficacy and pharmacokinetic trials with various antibacterial agents have also been published.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of agelasine and agelasimine analogs

Agelasine and agelasimine derivatives with substantially less complicated terpenoid side chains compared to the naturally occurring compounds have been synthesized and their ability to inhibit growth of microorganisms and cancer cells has been studied. Compounds with excellent activity against cancer cell lines (MIC ca. 1 microM for the most potent compounds), including a drug resistant renal cell line, have been identified. Most compounds studied also exhibited broad spectrum antimicrobial activity including activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.     

Viral and bacterial diseases of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, their prophylaxis and treatment: a review

This review summarises the state of knowledge of both viral and bacterial diseases of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, and their diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment. The most important losses have been at the larval and juvenile stages, and vibriosis has long been the most important bacterial disease in cod, with Listonella (Vibrio) anguillarum dominant among pathogenic isolates. Vaccination of cod against pathogens such as L. anguillarum and Aeromonas salmonicida clearly demonstrates that the cod immune system possesses an effective memory and appropriate mechanisms sufficient for protection, at least against some diseases. Well-known viruses such as the nodavirus that causes viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) have been isolated from Atlantic cod and can be a potential problem under intensive rearing conditions. No commercial vaccines against nodavirus are currently available, whereas vaccines against IPNV infections based upon inactivated virus as well as IPNV recombinant antigens are available. A number of investigations of the pharmacokinetic properties of antibacterial agents in cod and their efficacy in treating bacterial infections have been reviewed.     

Characterization of a biologically active arabinogalactan from the leaves of Plantago major L.

PMIa is a Type II arabinogalactan with anti-complementary activity isolated from the leaves of Plantago major L. It has a molecular weight of 77000–80000 Da and consists of arabinose (38%), galactose (49%), rhamnose (6%), galacturonic acid (7%) and 1.5% protein with hydroxyproline, alanine and serine as the main amino acids. Characterization of PMIa by methylation and GC-MS, methanolysis and GC, Smith degradation, weak acid hydrolysis, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, two-dimensional heteronuclear NMR and DEPT show that it consists of 1,3-linked galactan chains with 1,6-linked galactan side chains attached to position 6. The side chains are further branched in position 3 with 1,3-linked galactose residues which have 1,6-linked galactose attached to position 6; these 1,3- and 1,6-linked galactose chains altogether probably form a network. Terminal and 1,5-linked arabinose in furanose form are attached to the galactan mainly through position 3 of the 1,6-linked galactose side chains.     

DNA-damage, cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis induced in BEAS-2B cells by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)

The methacrylate monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is commonly used in resin-based dental restorative materials. These materials are cured in situ and HEMA and other monomers have been identified in ambient air during dental surgery. In vitro studies have demonstrated a toxic potential of methacrylates, and concerns have been raised regarding possible health effects due to inhalation. In this study we have investigated the mechanisms of HEMA-induced toxicity in the human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH) and an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were seen after 2h of exposure, but the levels were restored to control levels after 12h. After 24h, inhibited cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death were found. The results of the Comet assay and the observed phosphorylation of DNA-damage-associated signalling proteins including Chk2, H2AX, and p53 suggest that the toxicity of HEMA is mediated by DNA damage. Further, the antioxidant trolox did not counteract the HEMA-induced cell-cycle arrest, which indicates that the DNA damage is of non-oxidative origin.     

The approximate entropy of the electromyographic signals of tremor correlates with the osmotic fragility of human erythrocytes

Background  

The main problem of tremor is the damage caused to the quality of the life of patients, especially those at more advanced ages. There is not a consensus yet about the origins of this disorder, but it can be examined in the correlations between the biological signs of aging and the tremor characteristics.     

Characterization of strains of Vibrio splendidus and V. tapetis isolated from corkwing wrasse Symphodus melops suffering vibriosis

Two vibrio bacteria pathogenic to the corkwing wrasse Symphodus melops were isolated. Vibriosis-inducing strain LP1 was isolated as the dominanting bacterium in kidney samples of dead and moribund wrasse from a population suffering vibriosis and high daily mortality in 1998 on the Norwegian west coast. The other vibriosis-inducing strain, LP2, was isolated from wrasse captured the following year. Re-infection experiments have confirmed that these strains cause vibriosis in corkwing wrasse. Both strains were typical vibrios sharing the traits of fermentative Gram-negative curved rods with motility and a positive oxidase reaction. Detailed biochemical and genetic characterisation revealed a close affiliation to known species of the marine environment. The first isolate, LP1, is a form of the ubiquitous seawater organism Vibrio splendidus, while the second isolate, LP2, is closely related to V. tapetis (previously only known as the brown ring disease agent in clams). Identification of the new wrasse pathogens V. splendidus LP1 and V. tapetis LP2 is facilitated by break points observed in this study.