Efficacy and toxicity of praziquantel in helminth-infected barbel (Barbus barbus L.).

This study evaluated efficacy and toxicity of the pyrazinoisoquinoline anthelmintic praziquantel (PZQ) in barbel infected with metacercariae of Diplostomum spathaceum and adult Pomphorhynchus laevis, and assessed antioxidant biomarkers and the lipid peroxidation response in juvenile barbel post-treatment. The estimated 96-hr LC50 of PZQ was 28.6 mg/L. For evaluation of efficacy, barbel naturally infected with D. spathaceum were exposed to a 10 and 20 mg/L PZQ 4-day bath treatment. Both concentrations were 100% effective against D. spathaceum and significantly (p < .01) affected the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase as well as levels of reduced glutathione in liver and muscle. The efficacy of orally administered PZQ was assessed in adult barbel naturally infected with P. laevis. Fish were administered 10, 30 and 50 mg/kg of body weight and examined via gut dissection after 6 days. The 50 mg/kg dose significantly decreased the intensity of infection. Praziquantel is a feasible bath treatment for barbel infected with D. spathaceum and has potential for oral treatment of broodfish infected with P. laevis.

How NaCl and water content determine water activity during ripening of Gouda cheese, and the predicted effect on inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes.

This study describes the diffusion of NaCl and water in Gouda cheese during brining and ripening. Furthermore, we established water activity as a function of the NaCl-in-moisture content in Gouda cheese during ripening. We determined NaCl content, water content, and water activity in block-type Gouda cheeses that were brined for 3.8d and foil-ripened for a period of 26 wk, and in wheel-type Gouda cheeses that were brined for 0.33, 2.1, or 8.9d and subsequently nature-ripened for a period of 26 wk. The calculated diffusion coefficients of NaCl during brining were 3.6·10(-10) m(2)s(-1) in the block-type Gouda cheeses and 3.5·10(-10) m(2)s(-1) in the wheel-type Gouda cheeses. Immediately after brining, gradients of NaCl and water were observed throughout both types of cheese. During ripening, these gradients disappeared, except for the water gradient in nature-ripened cheeses. An empirical model was derived for Gouda cheese, in which water activity is expressed as a function of the NaCl-in-moisture content, as established for different brining times, locations and ripening times. Moreover, the effect of reduced water activity on inhibition of growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Gouda cheese was calculated. In addition to the presence of lactate and a pH of 5.2 to 5.3, the reduced water activity as seen in Gouda cheese can substantially contribute to inhibition of microbial growth and even to inactivation when cheeses are brined and ripened for extended times and subjected to nature-ripening.

[Systemic enzyme therapy in the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis]. / Systémová enzymoterapie v lécbe recidivující vulvovaginální kandidózy.

OBJECTIVE: Phase I: A prospective evaluation of long-term systemic enzyme therapy (Wobenzym; WE) effects on the frequency of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) episodes. Phase II: A retrospective analysis of possible positive effects remaining in the next 3 years. TRIAL DESIGN: Original work - pilot project consisting of prospective phase I and retrospective phase II trials. METHODS: Composition of animal and plant proteo-lytic enzymes (WE) is a common component in the treatment of chronic or recurrent inflammatory diseases and has been also shown to have immunomodulatory effects. Project involving 7 gynecology practices has been started in 2005 - 2007 to evaluate the effectiveness of WE in the complex treatment of RVVC. The trial involved 62 women with at least 4 microscopically confirmed episodes of RVVC in the last 12 months (year 1; 4-9 episodes, mean 4.4 episodes per patient-year). From the beginning of the trial, participants took WE in the dose of 2× 8 tbl/day for 10 weeks and were monitored for 12 months (year +1). All infections of RVVC were treated according to usual practice of the particular gynecologist. The number of RVVC episodes during the year -1 was compared to the number of RVVC during the year +1. To evaluate possible long-term effects of the WE treatment, retrospective analysis of the data from 3 years following the phase I (year +2, +3, +4) was performed. Complete data for 54 women were collected (87.1% of the former group of patients). All data were processed with regular statistics methods. RESULTS: Mean number of RVVC in the year +1 has decreased from 4.4 to 0.5 per patient-year (i.e. by 88.5%; p < 0.001). All women experienced an improvement, 63% of them experienced no recurrence. The lower incidence of RVVC remained also for the phase II (year +2: 0.91; year +3: 0.57; year +4: 0.52 episodes of RVVC per patient-year). The difference, as compared to the mean incidence of RVVC before the treatment (year -1), remains significant (p < 0.001) although women, who became pregnant during the trial, were not excluded from the observed population. If only non-pregnant women were analyzed (41 women), the mean incidence of RVVC was even lower (year +2: 0.69; year +3: 0.39; year +4: 0.44 episodes of RVVC per patient-year). CONCLUSION: 10 weeks of systemic enzyme therapy (WE) in women with RVVC significantly reduced recurrence of this disease not only for the first year following the treatment, but also for the next 3 years. An explanation of the basis for this effect needs further research.

Effects of long-term exposure to simazine in real concentrations on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

The effects of a 90 day simazine exposure at concentrations of 0.06 (reported concentration in Czech rivers), 1, 2, and 4 µg L⁻¹ were assessed in one-year-old common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Its influence on biometric parameters, hematology, blood biochemistry, liver biomarkers, and histology was investigated. Biometric parameters of common carp exposed to simazine at 0.06 µg L⁻¹ showed no differences from untreated fish. Simazine concentrations of 1, 2, and 4 µg L⁻¹ caused significant (p<0.01) increase of hepatosomatic indices relative to controls. Hematological profiles showed significant (p<0.01) decrease in leukocyte count relative to controls at all concentrations. Biochemical profiles of common carp exposed to simazine at all concentrations showed significant (p<0.01) increase in activity of alkaline phosphatase. In addition, at concentrations of 1 and 2 µg L⁻¹, there was a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (p<0.05), and, at 4 µg L⁻¹, a significant increase in total protein (p<0.05), albumins (p<0.05), and alanine aminotransferase (p<0.05) compared with controls. Renal histology revealed severe hyaline degeneration of the epithelial cells of caudal kidney tubules in fish at all exposure levels compared to controls. Chronic exposure of common carp to simazine caused significant shifts in hematological, biochemical, and biometric profiles, and histopathological changes. The results of this study indicate that chronic exposure of simazine has altered multiple physiological indices in fish hematology and biochemistry, which potentially may be a biomarker of simazine toxicity; however, before these parameters are used as special biomarkers for monitoring residual simazine in aquatic environment, more detailed experiments in laboratory need to be performed in the future.

EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus with neuropsychiatric manifestations: report of a task force of the EULAR standing committee for clinical affairs.

OBJECTIVES: To develop recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) manifestations. METHODS: The authors compiled questions on prevalence and risk factors, diagnosis and monitoring, therapy and prognosis of NPSLE. A systematic literature search was performed and evidence was categorised based on sample size and study design. RESULTS: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are at increased risk of several neuropsychiatric manifestations. Common (cumulative incidence > 5%) manifestations include cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and seizures; relatively uncommon (1-5%) are severe cognitive dysfunction, major depression, acute confusional state (ACS), peripheral nervous disorders psychosis. Strong risk factors (at least fivefold increased risk) are previous or concurrent severe NPSLE (for cognitive dysfunction, seizures) and antiphospholipid antibodies (for CVD, seizures, chorea). The diagnostic work-up of suspected NPSLE is comparable to that in patients without SLE who present with the same manifestations, and aims to exclude causes unrelated to SLE. Investigations include cerebrospinal fluid analysis (to exclude central nervous system infection), EEG (to diagnose seizure disorder), neuropsychological tests (to assess cognitive dysfunction), nerve conduction studies (for peripheral neuropathy) and MRI (T1/T2, fluid-attenuating inversion recovery, diffusion-weighted imaging, enhanced T1 sequence). Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy are indicated when NPSLE is thought to reflect an inflammatory process (optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, peripheral neuropathy, refractory seizures, psychosis, ACS) and in the presence of generalised lupus activity. Antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy is indicated when manifestations are related to antiphospholipid antibodies, particularly thrombotic CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE patients should be first evaluated and treated as in patients without SLE, and secondarily attributed to SLE and treated accordingly.

Use of biometric, hematologic, and plasma biochemical variables, and histopathology to assess the chronic effects of the herbicide prometryn on Common Carp.

BACKGROUND: Effects of acute and subchronic exposure of fish to s-triazine herbicides have been well documented, but data on the effects of prometryn on blood analytes in carp at environmentally realistic concentrations are lacking. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether biometrics, blood analytes, and histopathology could serve as bioindicators in fish living in waters polluted by triazine. METHODS: Fish were exposed to prometryn at concentrations of 0.51 (reported concentration in Czech rivers), 8.0, and 80 µg/L for 14, 30, and 60 days. Prior to and during this period, biometrics, blood analytes, and histopathology were evaluated. RESULTS: After 60 days' exposure to 8.0 and 80 µg/L of prometryn, spleen weights (P < .05) and lactate (P < .01) levels were significantly lower, and concentrations of HGB (P < .01) and MHC (P < .01) and MCHC (P < .01) were higher, relative to controls. After 30 and 60 days' exposure to 0.51, 8.0, and 80 µg/L of prometryn, AST activity, calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate levels were lower (P < .01), while creatinine concentration and ALT activity were higher (P < .01) than in controls. Glucose was higher after exposure to 80 µg/L after 30 and 60 days, and after 60 days' exposure to 8.0 µg/L. Renal histology revealed severe hyaline degeneration of the epithelial cells of caudal kidney tubules in fish at all exposure levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows effects in fish blood at a concentration of 0.51 µg/L of prometryn, a significant finding in view of prometryn reaching a maximum of 4.4 µg/L or less in European rivers. Select blood analytes, such as creatinine, and histologic changes in caudal kidney are potential biomarkers for monitoring residual triazine pesticides in Common Carp.