The potency of immunomodulatory herbs may be primarily dependent upon macrophage activation.

Standardized extracts of Echinacea, cat's claw, and saw palmetto were each evaluated for ability to activate macrophage and natural killer cells, in vitro, using two independent measures of activation for each immune cell population. A standard series of exposure concentrations were tested for each herbal extract in a panel of four assays that evaluated macrophage phagocytosis, macrophage synthesis of interleukin-12, natural killer (NK) cell cytocidal activity (synthesis of granzyme B), and NK cell synthesis of interferon-gamma. Macrophage phagocytosis was stimulated by all three herbs tested: saw palmetto (up to 2.3-fold, P < .05), Echinacea (up to 3.6-fold, P < .01), and cat's claw (up to 4.7-fold, P < .01). Additionally, NK cell synthesis of interferon-gamma was stimulated by saw palmetto (up to 6.3-fold, P < .01) and Echinacea (up to 8.1 fold, P < .01) but not by exposure to cat's claw. None of the three herbs stimulated macrophage synthesis of interleukin-12 or NK cell synthesis of granzyme B. Comparison of the in vitro data with our earlier observations that cat's claw and Echinacea (but not saw palmetto) were each effective in reducing B16/F10 lung tumor colony formation in C57BL/6J mice suggests macrophage activation is the primary means by which these herbs modulate the immune system. Thus, macrophage activation (phagocytosis) may provide a potentially higher throughput method to identify herbal extracts with in vivo stimulatory effects.

Fingerprinting petroleum hydrocarbons in plankton and surface sediments during the spring and early summer blooms in the Galician coast (NW Spain) after the Prestige oil spill.

Plankton samples (20-350 microm and >350 microm) collected at three transects along the Galician coast (NW Spain) were analysed for individual aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by GC-MS. Sample collection was performed in April-July 2003, after the Prestige oil spill (November 2002), to determine whether the hydrocarbons released into the water column as a consequence of the spill were accumulated by the planktonic communities during the subsequent spring and early summer blooms. Surface sediments were also collected to assess the presence of the spilled oil, removed from the water column by downward particle transport. Plankton concentrations of PAHs (Sigma14 parent components) were in the range of 25-898 ng g(-1)dw, the highest values being close to coastal urban areas. However, the individual distributions were highly dominated by alkyl naphthalenes and phenanthrenes, paralleling those in the water dissolved fraction. The detailed study of petrogenic molecular markers (e.g. steranes and triterpanes, and methyl phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes) showed the occurrence of background petrogenic pollution but not related with the Prestige oil, with the possible exception of the station off Costa da Morte in May 2003, heavily oiled after the accident. The dominant northerly wind conditions during the spring and early summer 2003, which prevented the arrival of fresh oil spilled from the wreck, together with the heavy nature of the fuel oil, which was barely dispersed in seawater, and the large variability of planktonic cycles, could be the factors hiding the acute accumulation of the spilled hydrocarbons. Then, with the above exception, the concentrations of PAHs found in the collected samples, mostly deriving from chronic pollution, can be considered as the reference values for the region.

Nature of phosphorus limitation in the ultraoligotrophic eastern Mediterranean.

Phosphate addition to surface waters of the ultraoligotrophic, phosphorus-starved eastern Mediterranean in a Lagrangian experiment caused unexpected ecosystem responses. The system exhibited a decline in chlorophyll and an increase in bacterial production and copepod egg abundance. Although nitrogen and phosphorus colimitation hindered phytoplankton growth, phosphorous may have been transferred through the microbial food web to copepods via two, not mutually exclusive, pathways: (i) bypass of the phytoplankton compartment by phosphorus uptake in heterotrophic bacteria and (ii) tunnelling, whereby phosphate luxury consumption rapidly shifts the stoichiometric composition of copepod prey. Copepods may thus be coupled to lower trophic levels through interactions not usually considered.

Meningeal worm in experimentally-infected bighorn and domestic sheep.

In the first (July 1989) of two experiments, each of three bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and three domestic sheep, respectively, was exposed to 25, 150, or 300 infective third-stage larvae (L3) of the meningeal worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. Two bighorn sheep had temporary mild paresis and lumbar weakness; one developed paralysis and died suddenly 32 days after exposure. Adult P. tenuis were found deep within the brain and spinal cord of the one latter sheep. A generalized inflammatory response, characterized by subdural lymphoid aggregations adjacent to spinal nerve roots, was seen in the spinal cord of most domestic and bighorn sheep. In the second experiment (September 1990), each of six domestic sheep lambs and five white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns was exposed to a single dose of 15 to 125 L3 of meningeal worm. Clinical signs were seen in only one sheep; it was dull and depressed. No worms were found in this sheep. One dead adult meningeal worm was found on the brain of another sheep. First-stage larvae and adult meningeal worms were found in all deer.

Saturable elimination and saturable protein binding account for flavone acetic acid pharmacokinetics.

Flavone acetic acid (FAA) is an antineoplastic agent that has undergone extensive study in Phase I trials. Concentration-dependent plasma protein binding has been demonstrated in vitro at concentrations of total drug that are achieved in vivo. Moreover, dose-dependent total systemic clearance has been described when FAA has been administered as a short iv infusion. When administered as a prolonged 24-hr infusion, total FAA (bound plus unbound) plasma pharmacokinetics are well described with a first-order two-compartment model. However, measurement of unbound FAA intra- and post-intravenous infusion in eight patients revealed a twofold increase in fraction of FAA unbound in plasma intrainfusion. We attempted to fit pharmacokinetic structural models of varying complexity to the unbound concentrations alone and simultaneously to the unbound and bound FAA plasma concentrations. The data were adequately described only by a model that incorporated simultaneous saturable plasma protein binding and a Michaelis-Menten process for elimination. A comparison among models is presented, as well as pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for FAA in children. These clinical data are consistent with predictions of the clearance model in which both saturable protein binding (resulting in a dynamically increasing unbound fraction) and saturable elimination (resulting in gradually decreasing unbound intrinsic clearance) are operative.

Disposition of antineoplastic agents in the very young child.

Maturation of physiologic process which govern the disposition of pharmacologic agents can yield significant changes in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs in neonates, infants and children. However, there are very little data concerning the disposition of anticancer drugs in young children. Pharmacokinetic data for six anticancer agents were compared in infants less than 1 year of age and children greater than 1 year of age treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. No pharmacokinetic data were available for infants less than 2 months of age. Median methotrexate clearance tended to be lower in four infants (0.26-0.99 years) vs 108 children (1-19 years): 80 vs 103 ml min-1 m-2, respectively (P = 0.01). There was no difference in the median 42 h methotrexate concentration. Teniposide systemic clearance and terminal half-life and cytarabine systemic clearance were not different between the two groups. There was no significant difference in etoposide systemic clearance when normalised to body surface area (ml min-1 m-2), however a significantly lower systemic clearance relative to body weight (ml min-1 kg-1) was observed in two infants, 0.5 to 1 year of age, vs 23 children, 3-18 years of age. Doxorubicin systemic clearance was not significantly different between the two groups when systemic clearance was expressed in ml min-1 kg-1. However, there was a trend toward a lower rate of systemic clearance in ml min-1 m-2 in infants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vestibular syndrome associated with an ependymoma in a cat.

An ependymoma was diagnosed in a 4.5-year-old spayed Siamese cat with clinical signs of vestibular disease. Diagnosis was based on history, results of neurologic examination, and the finding of neoplastic cells in CSF. Necropsy revealed an ependymoma arising from the fourth ventricle of the ventricular CNS and involving the left medullary and cerebellar areas.

Virulence differences among three strains of Haemophilus somnus following intratracheal inoculation of calves.

Pneumonia was induced in four month old Holstein calves by intratracheal inoculation of 1 x 10(9) colony forming units of Haemophilus somnus. Twenty calves were divided into four groups of five and challenged with a pneumonic strain (Group 1), an encephalitic strain (Group 2), a preputial strain (Group 3), or a placebo (Group 4). The clinical score, neutrophil count, respiratory rate, and temperature were significantly increased in group 1 by day 1 postinoculation (P less than 0.05) and maintained until day 6 postinoculation (P less than 0.05). The macroscopic pathological changes were significantly greater in group 1 (P less than 0.05). Haemophilus somnus was consistently isolated from pneumonic tissue of group 1 only. Groups 2 and 3 had mild transient increases in all parameters measured and macroscopically only small focal lesions were present. It is concluded that virulence differences exist between H. somnus strains following intratracheal challenge of bovine lungs.

Effects of vaccination of calves against induced Haemophilus somnus pneumonia.

The efficacy of a killed whole-cell Haemophilus somnus bacterin against induced H somnus pneumonia was examined in 10-week-old male calves. Twenty calves were assigned to 1 of the 3 following groups: group 1, nonvaccinated controls (n = 4); group 2, vaccinated once (n = 8); and group 3, vaccinated twice 14 days apart (n = 8). The serum antibody response to vaccination and challenge exposure was evaluated by the bacterial agglutination test and solid-phase immunoassay (SPIA). Vaccinating calves twice, 14 days apart, significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced the severity of clinical signs of pneumonia and gross lesions. Deaths occurred in 1 of 4 nonvaccinated controls, 1 calf vaccinated once, and none of the calves vaccinated twice, 14 days apart. Postvaccination bacterial agglutination titers measured 14 days after the final vaccination were not significantly different between groups 2 and 3, but SPIA titers were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in groups 2 and 3, compared with those in group 1. The less severe clinical signs of pneumonia observed in group-3 calves, compared with those in calves in groups 1 and 2, were significantly (P less than 0.01) correlated to higher SPIA titers, indicating the protective value of vaccinating twice.

An evaluation of the API ZYM system as a means of identifying Haemophilus somnus and related taxa.

The commercially available API ZYM microbiological identification system was evaluated for the rapid identification of Haemophilus somnus. Eighty-seven isolates of the organism had API ZYM profiles which were characteristic. The API ZYM profiles demonstrate clear differences between H. somnus and other genera but suggest a close association to three related organisms. Enzyme activity of H. somnus isolates were similar to organisms identified as Histophilus ovis, Haemophilus agni and strains UQV of Actinobacillus actinoides and Actinobacillus seminis but was clearly different from isolates of Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica and group EF4. The API ZYM system allowed more rapid identification of H. somnus than conventional biochemical tests and may be a useful adjunct to conventional methods used for identification of H. somnus isolates. The test did not reveal obvious differences between isolates from various anatomic locations.

Gastritis in Lake Tanganyika cichlids (Tropheus duboisii).

Necrotic and granulomatous gastritis is described in Lake Tanganyika cichlids. Clostridium hastiforme and flagellated protozoa were both associated with the reaction but the significance of either is unknown. Nevertheless, treatment of surviving fish with ampicillin was carried out and mortalities ceased. The possible involvement of an unsuitable diet as a predisposing factor is discussed.

Malignant pilomatrixoma in an old english sheepdog.

A tumor of hair follicle origin with histological features characteristic of a benign pilomatrixoma was removed surgically from the tail of a five year old male Old English Sheepdog. The tumor recurred locally two months after surgery, and 14 months later metastatic involvement of the lungs became clinically evident. This aggressive local growth and metastasis indicate that canine pilomatrixoma, although normally considered benign, may have malignant potential which is difficult to predict histologically.