Cistus salviifolius Toxicity in Cattle.

Toxicity related to consumption of Cistus sp. pl. has been described in ruminants in some countries. This report describes the clinical and pathological findings of Cistus salviifolius toxicosis in 3 beef cattle herds located in 2 different areas of Sicily, Italy. Outbreaks were observed after grazing in poor winter pasture where C. salviifolius was abundant. Mean morbidity and mortality were 29% and 21%, respectively. Most of the affected animals (6 to 36 months old) showed anorexia, weight loss, and pollakiuria culminating in recumbency and death. Occasionally, abortion and neurological signs were observed. In animals with acute signs, there was a moderate decrease of sodium and chloride concentrations in serum. Animals with chronic signs showed an increase of serum urea, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and phosphorus and a decrease in total serum protein, calcium, chloride, and magnesium concentrations. Moderate anemia and slight neutropenia, lymphocytosis, and eosinophilia were detected in all groups. At necropsy, the main lesion was severe distention of the urinary bladder with turbid hemorrhagic urine and crystalluria. Histologically, chronic cystitis, interstitial nephritis, eosinophilic enteritis, and nonsuppurative necrotizing hepatitis were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. salviifolius toxicosis in cattle in Italy.

Modulation of intestinal microbiota, morphology and mucin composition by dietary insect meal inclusion in free-range chickens.

BACKGROUND: Gut health in poultry depends on the balance between the host, intestinal microbiota, intestinal microscopic features and diet. The effects of insect meal (a promising alternative protein source for poultry feed) on chicken gut morphology have recently been reported, but no data about intestinal microbiota and mucin composition modulation are available. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary Tenebrio molitor (TM) meal inclusion on gut health of free-range chickens by intestinal microbiota, morphology and mucin composition characterization. RESULTS: One hundred forty female medium-growing hybrids were divided into 2 dietary treatments (control feed [C] and 7.5% TM inclusion, with 5 replicate pens/treatment and 14 birds/pen) and slaughtered at 97 days of age (2 birds/pen for a total of 10 chickens/diet). The gut microbiota assessment on cecal content samples by 16S rRNA amplicon based sequencing showed higher alpha (Shannon, P < 0.05) and beta (Adonis and ANOSIM, P < 0.001) diversity in birds fed TM diet than C. In comparison with C group, TM birds displayed significant increase and decrease, respectively, of the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla, with higher Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratios (False Discovery Rate [FDR] < 0.05). The relative abundance of Clostridium, Oscillospira, Ruminococcus, Coprococcus and Sutterella genera was higher in TM chickens than C (FDR < 0.05). On the contrary, TM birds displayed significant decrease of the relative abundance of Bacteroides genus compared to the C group (FDR < 0.05). Gut morphology evaluation by morphometric analysis on small intestine revealed similar villus height, crypt depth and villus height to crypt depth ratio between C and TM birds. Characterization of gut mucin composition by periodic-acid Schiff, Alcian Blue pH 2.5 and high iron diamine staining on small and large intestine showed unaffected mucin staining intensity in TM chickens when compared to C group. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary TM meal inclusion may positively modulate the gut microbiota of the free-range chickens without influencing the intestinal morphology and mucin composition. Since the rapid growth of chickens directly depends on morphological and functional integrity of the digestive tract, the gut health assessment by a post mortem multidisciplinary approach appears to be fundamental.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Carrying Temozolomide for Melanoma Treatment. Preliminary In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

AIM: To develop an innovative delivery system for temozolomide (TMZ) in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), which has been preliminarily investigated for the treatment of melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SLN-TMZ was obtained through fatty acid coacervation. Its pharmacological effects were assessed and compared with free TMZ in in vitro and in vivo models of melanoma and glioblastoma. RESULTS: Compared to the standard free TMZ, SLN-TMZ exerted larger effects, when cell proliferation of melanoma cells, and neoangiogeneis were evaluated. SLN-TMZ also inhibited growth and vascularization of B16-F10 melanoma in C57/BL6 mice, without apparent toxic effects. CONCLUSION: SLN could be a promising strategy for the delivery of TMZ, allowing an increased stability of the drug and thereby its employment in the treatment of aggressive malignacies.

Antimicrobial Activity of Lactoferrin-Related Peptides and Applications in Human and Veterinary Medicine.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a vast array of molecules produced by virtually all living organisms as natural barriers against infection. Among AMP sources, an interesting class regards the food-derived bioactive agents. The whey protein lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that plays a significant role in the innate immune system, and is considered as an important host defense molecule. In search for novel antimicrobial agents, Lf offers a new source with potential pharmaceutical applications. The Lf-derived peptides Lf(1-11), lactoferricin (Lfcin) and lactoferrampin exhibit interesting and more potent antimicrobial actions than intact protein. Particularly, Lfcin has demonstrated strong antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiparasitic activity with promising applications both in human and veterinary diseases (from ocular infections to osteo-articular, gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases).

Severe meningeal fibrinoid vasculitis associated with Theileria taurotragi infection in two short-horned Zebu cattle.

The Authors describe a severe vasculitis with fibrinoid necrosis of the meningeal arteries observed in two brains of indigenous short-horn zebu (Bos indicus) cattle, with bovine cerebral theileriosis (BCT) caused by a tick-transmitted hemoprotozoan, Theileria taurotragi, from Northern Tanzania. In the Author's opinion, the role of T. taurotragi infection in the angiocentric and angiodestructive detected features remains to be evaluated. A possible immunopathologic cancerous mechanism, secondary to the lymphoid deregulation, could be involved. This report suggests further studies to better characterize the lymphoid cell involvement in the pathogenesis of the meningeal vascular lesions by T. taurotragi.

"Ormilo disease" a disorder of zebu cattle in Tanzania: bovine cerebral theileriosis or new protozoan disease?

"Ormilo" disease is a neurological disorder of cattle described by Maasai herders in Tanzania. It is attributed to infection by Theileria species, although no detailed data are available in the literature. The authors describe the macroscopical and histological changes observed in 30 brains of indigenous short-horn zebu cattle from Northern Tanzania, aged 2-9 years, with the characteristic neurological signs of "Ormilo". Moreover, the ultrastructural details observed in 14 selected brain samples were reported. Areas of congestion and hemorrhages, associated with the obstruction of the cerebral vessels with large numbers of parasitized lymphoid cells, were observed. Electron microscopy showed the presence of intralymphocytic parasites morphologically comparable to flagellated protozoa, not previously described in the lymphoid cells of cattle, but only reported during the sexual stages within the vector. Theileria taurotragi was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse line blot (RLB) in nine samples. The authors hypothesize that the parasite detected by electron microscopy could be a strain of a Theileria endemic to this region till now not investigated, having an intralymphocytic phase and being associated with other Theileria spp. infestation. Further studies are needed to better understand the etiology of "Ormilo" disease and to characterize the morphology of the observed parasite, clarifying its role in the disease in Tanzania.

Degenerative myelopathy in German Shepherd Dog: comparison of two molecular assays for the identification of the SOD1:c.118G>A mutation.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a late-onset, slowly progressive degeneration of spinal cord white matter which is reported primarily in large breed dogs. The missense mutation SOD1:c.118G>A is associated with this pathology in several dog breeds, including the German Shepherd Dog (GSD). The aims of the present study were to develop a tool for the rapid screening of the SOD1 mutation site in dogs and to evaluate the association of the polymorphism with DM in the German Shepherd breed. Two different techniques were compared: a minisequencing test and a real-time pcr allelic discrimination assay. Both approaches resulted effective and efficient. A sample of 47 dogs were examined. Ten subjects presented the symptoms of the illness; for one of them the diagnosis was confirmed by postmortem investigations and it resulted to be an A/A homozygote. In another clinically suspected dog, heterozygote A/G, the histopathological examination of the medulla showed moderate axon and myelin degenerative changes. GSD shows a frequency of the mutant allele equal to 0.17, quite high being a high-risk allele. Because canine DM has a late onset in adulthood and homozygous mutant dogs are likely as fertile as other genotypes, the natural selection is mild and the mutant allele may reach high frequencies. A diagnostic test, easy to implement, may contribute to control the gene diffusion in populations. The SOD1:c.118G>A mutation could be a useful marker for breeding strategies intending to reduce the incidence of DM.

RNAseq Analysis of Livers from Pigs Treated with Testosterone and Nandrolone Esters: Selection and Field Validation of Transcriptional Biomarkers.

The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) as growth promoters in farm animals is banned in the European Union, representing both an illicit practice and a risk for consumer health. However, these compounds are still illegally administered, often in the form of synthetic esters. This work aimed to characterize significant coding RNA perturbations related to the illicit administration of testosterone and nandrolone esters in fattening pigs. A total of 27 clinically healthy 90-day-old pigs were randomly assigned to test and control groups. Nine animals were treated with testosterone esters (Sustanon®) and other nine with nandrolone esters (Myodine®). At the end of the trial, liver samples were collected and analyzed using RNAseq, allowing the identification of 491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The transcriptional signature was further characterized by a smaller sub-cluster of 143 DEGs, from which a selection of 16 genes was made. The qPCR analysis confirmed that the identified cluster could still give good discrimination between untreated gilt and barrows compared to the relative testosterone-treated counterparts. A conclusive field survey on 67 liver samples collected from pigs of different breeds and weight categories confirmed, in agreement with testosterone residue profiles, the specificity of selected transcriptional biomarkers, showing their potential applications for screening purposes when AAS treatment is suspected, allowing to focus further investigations of competent authorities and confirmatory analysis where needed.

Epidemiological significance of the domestic black pig (Sus scrofa) in maintenance of bovine tuberculosis in Sicily.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an emerging disease among wild animals in many parts of the world. Wildlife reservoir hosts may thus represent a potential source of infection for livestock and humans. We investigated the role played by the Sicilian black pig, an autochthonous free- or semi-free-ranging domestic pig breed, as a potential source of bTB infection in an area where bTB prevalence in cattle is high. We initially performed a preliminary field study to assess the occurrence of bTB in such animals. We sampled 119 pigs at abattoir and found 6.7% and 3.4% of them to be affected by gross tuberculous-like lesions (TBL) and Mycobacterium bovis culture positive, respectively. We then proceeded to investigate the dissemination and characteristics of lesions in a second field study performed on 100 animals sampled from infected herds. Here, tissues collected at the abattoir were examined macroscopically, microscopically, and by culture tests. Most pigs with TBL showed generalized lesions in both gross and histological examinations (53% and 65.5%, respectively). Head lymph nodes were the most frequently affected in both localized and generalized TB cases observed macroscopically and microscopically. M. bovis was the most frequently isolated etiologic agent. The molecular characterization of isolates from both field studies by spoligotyping and analysis of 12 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) loci, followed by their comparison to isolates of cattle origin, suggested a potential transmission of mycobacteria from domestic animals to black pigs and vice versa. Our findings, along with ethological, ecological, and management considerations, suggest that the black pig might act as a bTB reservoir in the ecosystem under study. However, additional studies will be necessary to establish the true epidemiological significance of the Sicilian black pig.

Transcriptional Biomarkers and Immunohistochemistry for Detection of Illicit Dexamethasone Administration in Veal Calves.

Corticosteroids such as Dexamethasone (DEX) are commonly licensed for therapy in meat animals due to their known pharmacological properties. However, their misuse aimed to achieve anabolic effects is often found by National Residues Control Plans. The setup of a complementary "biomarker based" methods to unveil such illicit practices is encouraged by current European legislation. In this study, the combined use of molecular and histological quantitative techniques was applied on formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) muscle samples to assess the effects of illicit DEX treatment on veal calves. A PCR array, including 28 transcriptional biomarkers related to DEX exposure, was combined with a histochemical analysis of muscle fiber. An analysis based on unsupervised (PCA) and supervised (PLS-DA and Kohonen's SOM) methods, was applied in order to define multivariate models able to classify animals suspected of illicit treatment by DEX. According to the conventional univariate approach, a not-significant reduction in type I fibres was recorded in the DEX-treated group, and only 12 out of 28 targeted genes maintained their expected differential expression, confirming the technical limitations of a quantitative analysis on FFPE samples. However, the multivariate models developed highlighted the possibility to establish complementary screening strategies, particularly when based on transcriptional biomarkers characterised by low expression profiles.

Efficacy of a dietary supplement in dogs with osteoarthritis: A randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial performed to investigate the effects of a dietary supplement containing a mixture of Boswellia serrata Roxb., chlorophyll, green tea extract, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and further in the manuscript: non-hydrolised type II collagen in dogs with osteoarthritis (OA). A total of 40 dogs were enrolled in the study, they were randomly divided in control (CTR) and treatment (TRT) groups. The TRT group received the dietary supplement for 60 days. The CTR group received a placebo for the same number of days. All the subjects had veterinary evaluations during the trial and owners were requested to fill in questionnaires on chronic pain using the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index. The product was easy to administer and no side effects were reported. Combining results from veterinarian and owner evaluations, the tested product proved to be significantly beneficial in alleviating pain and in reducing the clinical signs in dogs with OA.

Nandrolone and estradiol biomarkers identification in bovine urine applying a liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics approach.

With the aim of specifically investigating patterns associated with three steroid treatments (17ß-nandrolone, 17ß-estradiol, and 17ß-nandrolone + 17ß-estradiol) in bovine, an reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)(+/-)-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) study was conducted to characterize the urinary profiles of involved animals. Although specific fingerprints with strong differences could be highlighted between urinary metabolite profiles within urine samples collected on control and treated animals, it appeared further that significant discriminations could also be observed between steroid treatments, evidencing thus specific patterns and candidate biomarkers associated to each treatment. An MS-2 structural elucidation step enabled level-1 identification of two biomarkers mainly involved in energy pathways, in relation to skeletal muscle functioning. These results make it possible to envisage a global strategy for the detection of anabolic practices involving steroids, while at the same time providing clues as to the compounds used, which would facilitate the confirmation stage to follow.

A new diet supplement formulation containing cranberry extract for the treatment of feline idiopathic cystitis.

This study aimed to investigate whether cranberry extract could reduce lower urinary tract (LUT) and gastro-intestinal (GI) signs in feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). Twenty-one client-owned cats were randomly allocated to two groups: a treated group (T, n = 10) receiving daily an oral nutritional supplement containing cranberry extract and a control group (C, n = 11). Owners were trained to recognise daily LUT and GI signs. Physical examination, urinalysis and bladder ultrasonography were performed at day 0 (T0), 15 (T15), 30 (T30), 60 (T60). Both groups showed an improvement for dysuria and periuria from T0 to T30 (p < 0.05), but only in cats of the T group, LUT signs disappeared at T60. A significant improvement in the T group was also observed for GI signs and bladder ultrasonography at T60 (p = 0.03). Urinalysis did not show any significant differences. This preliminary study suggests that cranberry could be effective in reducing LUT and GI signs in FIC.

Lactoferrin-derived peptides antimicrobial activity: an in vitro experiment.

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem, searching for new antimicrobial agents is an urgent need. In this study, in vitro antibacterial and antimicrobial effects of milk-derived antimicrobial agents, lactoferrin-derived peptides, lactoferricin (Lfc) and lactoferrampin (Lfa) (alone or in combination) and their association with natural extracts have been explored. The assessment of antimicrobial activity was based on two measurements: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Fractional Inhibitory Concentration indexes. Lfc alone is more suitable for inhibiting Staphylococcus intermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis, while Lfa against Candida albicans, a synergistic effect of the two peptides against all the three pathogens has been detected. A strong synergy of all the natural extracts with Lfc and Lfa solution against selected microorganisms in vitro was pointed out. Our results suggest that natural-derived compounds, such as milk peptides and vegetal extracts could be promising tools to treat moderate fungal and bacterial infections.

The Italian strategy to fight illegal treatment with growth promoters: Results of the 2017-2019 histological monitoring plan.

The Histological Control Plan has been introduced in Italy in 2008 as an indirect monitoring tool of illicit administration of sexual hormones and corticosteroids in bovine. Analysis of 2008-2016 results permitted to draw a new plan targeting risk category. This work presents the results of the histopathological monitoring plan that was carried out from 2017 to 2019. The overall prevalence of samples suspected of treatment with corticosteroid was 11.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.6-17.8] in 2017; 10.2% (95% CI 6.6-16.9) in 2018 and 8.9% (95% CI 4.6-15.4) in 2019. The overall prevalence of samples suspected of treatment with sexual hormones was 2.3 % (95% CI 0.5-6.6) in 2017; 6.2% (95% CI 2.7-11.8) in 2018 and 12.4% (95% CI 7.4-19.1) in 2019. Although not targeting and measuring specific molecules, this strategy allows to verify the trend of illicit treatments and identify farms to be submitted to further check.

Regucalcin expression profiles in veal calf testis: validation of histological and molecular tests to detect sex steroids illicit administration.

BACKGROUND: Sex steroids administration in meat producing animals is forbidden within the EU to preserve consumers' safety, but continuous monitoring to identify resurgence of their misuse is needed. Among biomarkers related to sex steroids abuse in veal calves the regucalcin (RGN) mRNA perturbations in testis have been described in RNAlater samples. To setup novel diagnostic method, to update current tests available in National Residue Control Plans (NRCPs) and in legal dispute when illicit practices on farm animals are suspected, the reliability of RGN profiling was assessed by histological and molecular techniques. METHODS: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) testis samples, chosen being the most effective preservation strategy adopted by histological NRCPs and allowing easier retrospective analysis if required by legal disputes, were analyzed from veal calves treated with nandrolone, 17ß-estradiol and a cocktail of the two hormones. RGN levels were determined by quantitative Real Time PCR and Immunohistochemistry assays. Test performances were assessed and compared by multiple ROC curves. RESULTS: Both tests resulted sensitive and specific, allowing to enrich, in future field investigation, novel integrated diagnostic protocols needed to unveil sex steroid abuse. DISCUSSION: Developed RT-qPCR and IHC methods confirmed RGN as a useful and robust biomarker to detect illegal administration of sex steroid hormones in veal calves. The developed methods, successfully applied to ten years old FFPE blocks, could allow both retrospective analysis, when supplementary investigations are requested by authorities, and future implementation of current NRCPs.

5-Aminolevulinic Acid Triggered by Ultrasound Halts Tumor Proliferation in a Syngeneic Model of Breast Cancer.

Sonodynamic therapy is a bimodal therapeutic approach in which a chemical compound and ultrasound (US) synergistically act to elicit oxidative damage, triggering cancer cell death. Despite encouraging results, mainly for anticancer treatment, sonodynamics is still far from having a clinical application. Therefore, to close the gap between the bench and bedside, more in vivo studies are needed. In this investigation, the combined effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (Ala), a natural porphyrin precursor, plus exposure to US, was investigated in vivo on a syngeneic breast cancer model. Real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry assays were performed to evaluate the effect of sonodynamic treatment on the main cancer hallmarks. The sonodynamic-treated group had a significant reduction (p ≤ 0.0001) in tumor size compared to the untreated group, and the Ala- and US-only treated groups, where a strong decrease (p ≤ 0.0001) in Ki67 protein expression was the most relevant feature of sonodynamic-treated cancer tissues. Moreover, oxidative stress was confirmed as the pivotal driver of the anticancer effect through cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy; thus, sonodynamics should be explored further for cancer treatment.

Feline morbillivirus in northwestern Italy: first detection of genotype 1-B.

OBJECTIVES: A novel morbillivirus was recently described in stray and domestic cats in Asia, the USA and Europe. Most cats infected with feline morbillivirus (FeMV) showed lower urinary tract or kidney disease. Although the association of FeMV infection and kidney diseases has been suggested, the virus pathogenicity remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the distribution of FeMV infection, as well as the relationship between FeMV infection and kidney diseases in cats from northwestern Italy. METHODS: A total of 153 urine samples (150 individuals and three pools) and 50 kidney samples were collected and included in the study; total RNA was extracted and a reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed in order to identify FeMV. Kidneys were also submitted to anatomopathological examination. Phylogenetic analysis and isolation attempts were carried out on positive samples. In FeMV-positive cats, urinalysis and blood analysis were performed. RESULTS: FeMV RNA was detected in 7.3% of urine samples and in 8% of kidney samples, both in healthy cats and in cats with clinical signs/post-mortem lesions compatible with kidney disease. At histopathological examination, tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) was shown in 3/4 positive kidney samples, but a clear relationship between FeMV and TIN was not observed. Isolation attempts were unsuccessful, although the urine sample of one castrated male cat hosted in a cattery showed a positive signal in RT-qPCR until the fourth cell passage. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this FeMV strain belonged to genotype 1-B. In the same cattery, a second genotype 1-B variant was detected from a urine pool. Urinalysis showed proteinuria in three cats, while at blood analysis three cats presented altered creatinine levels. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Data reported suggest the presence of a FeMV sub-cluster distinct from the strain previously isolated in Italy, whose role in renal disorders remains uncertain.

Efficacy of a new dietary supplement in dogs with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disease in elderly dogs. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a dietary supplement containing calcium carbonate, calcium-lactate gluconate, chitosan and sodium bicarbonate in dogs with IRIS stage 3 of CKD. Twenty dogs were enrolled in the study, ten were administered the new dietary supplementation for 180 days (T group) while the others were used as control group (C group). Haematologic, biochemical and urinalysis were performed every 30 days. A significant reduction in the T group compared to the C group in serum phosphorus level and increase in serum bicarbonate and ionized calcium values were recorded. The urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) was significantly lower in the T group at the end of the study compared to the C group. The tested supplement could be considered as a supportive treatment for dogs with advanced CKD.

Lipid nanoparticles as vehicles for oral delivery of insulin and insulin analogs: preliminary ex vivo and in vivo studies.

AIMS: Subcutaneous administration of insulin in patients suffering from diabetes is associated with the distress of daily injections. Among alternative administration routes, the oral route seems to be the most advantageous for long-term administration, also because the peptide undergoes a hepatic first-pass effect, contributing to the inhibition of the hepatic glucose output. Unfortunately, insulin oral administration has so far been hampered by degradation by gastrointestinal enzymes and poor intestinal absorption. Loading in lipid nanoparticles should allow to overcome these limitations. METHODS: Entrapment of peptides into such nanoparticles is not easy, because of their high molecular weight, hydrophilicity and thermo-sensitivity. In this study, this objective was achieved by employing fatty acid coacervation method: solid lipid nanoparticles and newly engineered nanostructured lipid carriers were formulated. Insulin and insulin analog-glargine insulin-were entrapped in the lipid matrix through hydrophobic ion pairing. RESULTS: Bioactivity of lipid entrapped peptides was demonstrated through a suitable in vivo experiment. Ex vivo and in vivo studies were carried out by employing fluorescently labelled peptides. Gut tied up experiments showed the superiority of glargine insulin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers, which demonstrated significantly higher permeation (till 30% dose/mL) compared to free peptide. Approximately 6% absolute bioavailability in the bloodstream was estimated for the same formulation through in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats. Consequently, a discrete blood glucose responsivity was noted in healthy animals. CONCLUSIONS: Given the optimized ex vivo and in vivo intestinal uptake of glargine insulin from nanostructured lipid carriers, further studies will be carried out on healthy and diabetic rat models in order to establish a glargine insulin dose-glucose response relation.