In vitro evaluation of the anti-pathogenic activity of Okoubaka aubrevillei on the human gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: Okoubaka aubrevillei is used in traditional West African medicine and in homeopathy for treatment and prevention of several gastrointestinal problems. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of repeated doses of two Okoubaka products (10 % ethanolic tincture, mother tincture (MT); 3rd decimal potency, 3X) on the microbial activity of physiological human colon microbiota using a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) and to investigate any preventive effect against infections with diarrhea-causing pathogens. METHODS: Upon inoculation with fecal microbiota from a healthy donor, 4 parallel proximal colon compartments of the SHIME were treated either with Okoubaka MT, Okoubaka 3X, ethanol control or blank control for 7 days. Using the Okoubaka-adapted microbial community from SHIME, 48 h challenge tests were performed with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Salmonella enteritidis in 4 different doses (103-108 colony forming units as typical in vivo infectious doses). Pathogen concentrations, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched SCFA production were measured in triplicate at 0, 24 and 48 h. RESULTS: In the challenge tests, both Okoubaka products were able to restrict the colonization of ETEC and Salmonella at 3 of the 4 pathogen doses (except the highest doses), with a stronger anti-pathogenic effect for MT, which included a reduction of 2.0 log-units of ETEC (p < 0.0001) and 1.1 log-units of Salmonella (p < 0.0001). Total SCFA levels remained unaffected, but butyrate increased during the first 24 h (p < 0.0001 for ETEC), accompanied by decreased acetate production. CONCLUSION: We observed in vitro a systemic activating effect of Okoubaka on intestinal microbiome resistance, which resulted in an anti-pathogenic effect, especially against ETEC. We hypothesize that the mode of action in vivo is also based on systemic regulative effects.

Daily consumption of a homeopathic product decreases intestinal damage and stool bacterial counts in mice challenged with Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is a bacterium normally found in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals that can usually control the infection. Nevertheless, some factors (high exposure, stress conditions, animal category, among others) can favor the exacerbation of E. coli infection and cause of disease. Because it is a zoonotic bacterium, it is important to control the infection, avoiding contamination of home interiors in the case of pets. There are various forms of treatment for E. coli; nevertheless, there are few options for prevention. In the present study, we evaluated homeopathy. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether administration of a prophylactic homeopathic in water would minimize the negative effects of E. coli infection, as well as reducing bacterial counts in the feces of a experimental model. Forty mice were divided into four experimental groups (n = 10/group). Groups NC (negative control) and PC (positive control) were not treated; in group T1, the animals received 0.002 mL/day/animal of the homeopathic in water, and animals in group T2 0.004 mL/day/animal. The experiment lasted 54 days, and on the 31st day, mice of T1, T2 and PC groups were infected orally a 0.2 mL inoculum of 1.5 × 108 CFU of E. coli. Euthanasia and sample collection were performed on the 40th and 54th days of the experiment (n = 5/group/time point). Blood, liver, spleen, intestine, and feces samples were collected from the final portion of the intestine. There was no significant difference in animal weight between groups at the end of the experiment. Neutrophil count was lower in PC group animals on day 40, while on day 54, the counts were lower in T2 and PC. Lymphocyte counts were lower only in the PC group than in the NC group on day 54. Globulins were lower in the NC and PC groups than in T1 and T2 on day 40, remaining lower the PC group and higher in T1 on day 54; levels of immunoglobulin IgG and IgM were higher in groups T1 and T2, which differed from PC and NC. TNF-α levels were higher in the T1 and T2 groups at 40 and 54 days. INF-γ levels were higher in T1, T2, and PC compared to NC on day 40, remaining higher than NC in groups T1 and T2 on day 54. Total bacterial count, total coliforms and E. coli counts were lower in group T1 and higher in NC and PC on days 40 and 54, when they were lower for T1 and T2. Histologically, no lesions were observed in extra-intestinal tissues; however the height of intestinal crypts in the PC group was smaller than the others on day 40. On day 54, villi and crypts of all infected groups were larger in T1 and T2 than in NC; sizes in the PC group were higher than those of all other groups. These data suggest that the homeopathic agent in the drinking water improved health of the mice.

Homeopathic treatment as an alternative prophylactic to minimize bacterial infection and prevent neonatal diarrhea in calves.

Bovine neonatal diarrhea is common due low immunity in newborn calves, poor management (or absence) of sanitary barriers, and other factors. Newborn calves with diarrhea in the first days of life suffer failure to thrive and may die if left untreated. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether prophylactic administration of a homeopathic product (Dia 100®) can control bovine neonatal diarrhea in calves born on a farm with substantial sanitary challenges. We counted total bacteria and protozoan parasites in fecal samples. We measured serum glucose, total protein, globulin, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides on days 1, 7 and 14 of life. Twenty newborn calves were maintained in individual stalls, and were divided in two groups: ten untreated animals (control) and ten animals treated with Dia 100®. Fecal consistency was evaluated daily. We diagnosed diarrhea in five animals in the treated group, and in all animals from the control group. Infections with Escherichia coli and Giardia duodenalis were identified as the responsible organisms. The E. coli count was low in the treatment group on day 7 of life compared with the control group. Antibiotics were given to eight animals in the control group, and to two animals in the treatment group. On day of life 7, serum levels of total protein and globulins were higher in the control group, but were lower on day 14. Serum levels of glucose and triglycerides were greater in treated animals on days 7 and 14, suggesting that the homeopathic product contributes to improvement of intestinal health and absorption and nutrients. We conclude that Dia 100® controls diarrhea with 50% of efficacy, and reduces antibiotic utilization.

[Effect of multicomponent environment on intestinal permeability of puerarin in biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica].

The evaluation of permeability in biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS) requires multicomponent as a whole in order to conduct research, even in the study of a specific component, should also be put in the multicomponent environment. Based on this principle, the high content components in Gegen Qinlian decoction were used as multicomponent environmental impact factors in the experiment, and the relevant parameters of intestinal permeability about puerarin were measured with using in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion model, to investigate and evaluate the intestinal permeability of puerarin with other high content components. The experimental results showed that different proportions of baicalin, glycyrrhizic acid and berberine had certain influence on intestinal permeability of puerarin, and glycyrrhizic acid could significantly inhibit the intestinal absorption of puerarin, moreover, high concentration of berberine could promote the absorption of puerarin. The research results indicated that the important research ideas of permeability evaluation in biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica with fully considering the effects of other ingredients in multicomponent environment.

Canova medication modifies parasitological parameters in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

The goals of this study were to evaluate the effect of the Canova medication, a homeopathic immune-system modulator, on the evolution of infection induced by the Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain in mice. The animals were divided into five groups: (i) untreated infected controls (I), (ii) infected animals treated with benznidazole (Bz), (iii) infected animals treated with the Canova medication (CM), (iv) infected animals treated with benznidazole and the Canova medication (Bz+CM), and (v) uninfected controls that received only the vehicle (grain alcohol) (C). The parameters evaluated were: parasitemia, mortality, control of cure, and tissue parasitism analysis. Our results showed that the evolution of the experimental infection was modified by treatment with CM, and that daily and consecutive doses were harmful to the animals, causing death in 100% of the infected animals in a brief period. The analysis of parasitism performed on the organs on the 12th day postinfection showed that in infected animals treated with CM, the number of amastigote/nests in the spleen was significantly reduced, while in cardiac tissue, intestine, and liver the number was significantly increased compared with infected control animals. These results indicate that CM has a negative influence on the host-parasite relationship, modifying the tropism of the parasite for tissues, and increasing the parasitemia peak in this experimental model.

Exploration of Zingiber officinale effects on growth performance, immunity and gut morphology in broilers / Exploração dos efeitos do Zingiber officinale no desempenho de crescimento, imunidade e morfologia intestinal em frangos de corte

The current study aimed to determine the effects of different levels of Zingiber officinale as a herbal feed additive on growth performance, carcass characteristic, serum biochemistry, total bacterial count (TBC), gut morphology, and immunological parameters of broilers. A total of 1500, day-old broiler chicks (Hubbard) were equally accredited to five treatment groups, each with six replicates (50 birds/replicate). Five experimental diets were prepared using basal diet i.e. with antibiotics positive control (PC), 3 g/kg ginger (group A), 6 g/kg ginger (group B), 9 g/kg ginger (group C) and without antibiotics negative control (NC). Group A and C showed significantly (p<0.05) higher feed intake (FI) as compared to other groups. Group C showed significantly (p<0.05) lower Total bacterial count (TBC) followed by group B as compared to NC. Carcass characteristics showed non-significant effects among different treatments. Mean villi length and width were significantly (p <0.05) higher in all ginger supplemented groups as compared to the control groups. Blood serum parameters including cholesterol, triglycerides, and low density lipoproteins (LDL) were significantly (p<0.05) lower in groups B and C in comparison with the control groups. Whereas high-density lipoproteins (HDL) was significantly higher in group B as compared to the others. In conclusion, ginger supplementation @0.6% in the basal diet significantly improved growth performance and gut morphometry of broilers. It also showed a positive impact on cholesterol, triglycerides and gut microbes. Therefore, ginger could be a better substitute for antibiotic growth promoters.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de Zingiber officinale como aditivo à base de plantas medicinais sobre o desempenho de crescimento, características da carcaça, bioquímica sérica, contagem bacteriana total (CBT), morfologia intestinal e parâmetros imunológicos de frangos de corte. Um total de 1.500 pintos de corte de um dia de idade (Hubbard) foram igualmente credenciados em cinco grupos de tratamento, cada um com seis repetições (50 aves/repetição). Cinco dietas experimentais foram preparadas usando dieta basal, ou seja, com controle positivo de antibióticos (PC), 3 g/kg de gengibre (grupo A), 6 g/kg de gengibre (grupo B), 9 g/kg de gengibre (grupo C) e sem controle negativo de antibióticos (NC). Os grupos A e C apresentaram consumo de ração (FI) significativamente (p < 0,05) maior do que os outros grupos. O grupo C apresentou contagem bacteriana total (CBT) significativamente menor (p < 0,05) seguido pelo grupo B em comparação com o NC. As características da carcaça apresentaram efeitos não significativos entre os diferentes tratamentos. O comprimento e largura médios das vilosidades foram significativamente (p < 0,05) maiores em todos os grupos suplementados com gengibre em comparação com os grupos de controle. Os parâmetros séricos do sangue, incluindo colesterol, triglicerídeos e lipoproteínas de baixa densidade (LDL), foram significativamente (p < 0,05) menores nos grupos B e C em comparação com os grupos controle. Enquanto as lipoproteínas de alta densidade (HDL) foram significativamente maiores no grupo B em comparação com os outros. Em conclusão, a suplementação de gengibre a 0,6% na dieta basal melhorou significativamente o desempenho de crescimento e a morfometria intestinal de frangos de corte. Ele também mostrou um impacto positivo sobre o colesterol, triglicerídeos e micróbios intestinais. Portanto, o gengibre pode ser um substituto melhor para os promotores de crescimento com antibióticos.

[Key foundational science problem in experimental medicine study of Chinese materia medica: ascertainment of active and toxic constituents from Chinese materia medica].

The problem on study of the active and toxic constituents of Chinese materia medica is the core of the problems in the field of modern research of Chinese materia medica. But approved methods for ascertaining the active and toxic constituents in Chinese materia medica have not been developed yet and are in developing phases. In combination with the characteristics of Chinese materia medica in clinical use and the achievements of modern pharmaceutical research, series model may be a finer approach to make certain of the active and toxic constituents from Chinese materia medica, which includes the parent compound biotransformation by human intestinal bacteria to make biotransformation products, and the absorption and further biotransformation in intestinal wall, the metabolization in the liver, and the secretion by the kidney of the parent compounds and biotransformation products. This method is also an important research assignment in the field of experimental medicine study of Chinese materia medica.

[Influence of alum on intestinal flora in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of alum on the intestinal microecological balance in normal microorganisms. METHOD: The mice were administered orally with alum of a small dosage(0.25/kg) and a large dosage(1 g/kg) for half a month, two months and three months, and a micro flora analysis of the mice was carried out at intervals of the above mentioned administrations. RESULT: The intestinal flora in the animals administered with alum was imbalanced. The counts of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli closely related to human physiological activities were decreased. The counts of pathogenic E. Coli significantly increased; and the longer the animals were treated with alum, the stronger the microecological balance was influenced. CONCLUSION: Alum could induce imbalance of the normal intestinal flora in mice.

The body weight changes and gut morphometry of clarias gariepinus juveniles on feeds supplemented with walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) leaf and onion (Allium cepa) bulb residues / Cambios de peso corporal y morfometría intestinal en clarias gariepinus juvenilespor alimentos suplementados con hojas de nogal (Tetracarpidium conophorum)y residuos de bulbo de cebolla (Allium cepa)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of walnut (T. conophorum) leaf and onion (A. cepa) bulb on the gut morphometry of Clarias gariepinus towards elucidating its mechanism of growth promotion. Twenty Clarias gariepinus juveniles (7.39+/-0.29g/ fish) were allocated to nine treatments, with three replicates each. Nine experimental diets were formulated at 40 percent crude protein representing different level of walnut leaf and onion bulb (0.5 percent, 1.0 percent, 1.5 percent and 2.0 percent) respectively and the control diet was free from walnut leaf and onion bulb and were fed twice daily at 3 percent body weight for 12 weeks. Growth indices like Mean Weight Gain (MWG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured. Gut morphormetry such as villi length, villi width and cryptal depth were investigated. Data were analyzed using linear regression, descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p= 0.05. Results showed that weight gain and specific growth rate of Clarias gariepinus increased with increasing level of walnut leaf and onion bulb residues. The highest weight gain (53.81+/-5.85), specific growth rate (1.09+/-0.11), feed conversion ratio (2.16+/-0.02) was observed with 1.5 percent inclusions of walnut leaf residue diets. Although, FCR and SGR were not significantly different (p>0.05) among the treatments, the treated groups had better area of absorption and cryptal depth compared to the control. Treatment with 1.5 percent inclusion of walnut leaf residue recorded highest villi length and villi width and treatment with 1.5 percent inclusion of onion bulb recorded highest cryptal depth (30.00+/-0.00). These results indicate that using walnut leaf and onion bulb as a supplement in plant ­based diets may be useful in improving feed acceptability and growth performance of cultured C. gariepinus fed low cost, plant ­ based diets and it was concluded that walnut (T. conophorum) leaf at 1.5 percent inclusion...

Este estudio fue realizado para evaluar los efectos de la hoja del nogal (T. conophorum) y el bulbo de la cebolla (A. cepa) sobre la morfometría intestinal de Clarias gariepinus con el fin de dilucidar su mecanismo de promoción del crecimiento. Veinte Clarias gariepinus jóvenes (7,39+/-0,29 g/pez) fueron asignadas a nueve tratamientos, con tres repeticiones cada uno. Nueve dietas experimentales se formularon con la proteína cruda al 40 por ciento que representan los diferentes niveles de hoja del nogal y el bulbo de la cebolla (0,5 por ciento, 1,0 por ciento, 1,5 por ciento y 2,0 por ciento), respectivamente, y dieta de control libre de la hoja del nogal y el bulbo de la cebolla, que fueron alimentados dos veces al día en un 3 por ciento del peso corporal durante 12 semanas. Fueron medidos los índices de crecimiento como aumento de peso medio (APM), tasa de crecimiento específico (TCE), consumo de alimento (CA) y el índice de conversión alimeticia (ICA). La morfometría intestinal como longitud de las vellosidades, ancho de las vellosidades y profundidad de las criptas fueron investigados. Los datos fueron analizados mediante regresión lineal, estadística descriptiva y ANOVA con un valos p=0,05. Los resultados mostraron que el aumento de peso y la tasa de crecimiento específico de Clarias gariepinus se elevó al aumentar el nivel de la hoja de nogal y los residuos del bulbo de cebolla. La mayor ganancia de peso (53,81 +/- 5,85), tasa de crecimiento específico (1,09 +/- 0,11), tasa de conversión alimenticia (2,16 +/- 0,02) se observó con inclusiones de 1,5 por ciento de las dietas de residuos de hojas de nogal. Aunque el ICA y TCE no fueron significativamente diferentes (p> 0,05) entre los tratamientos. Los grupos tratados tuvieron una mejor área de absorción y profundidad de las criptas en comparación con el control. El tratamiento con 1,5 por ciento de inclusión de hojas de nogal registró la mayor longitud y ancho de las vellosidades y el tratamiento con 1,5...

Pancuronium and abnormal abdominal roentgenograms.

Pancuronium bromide treatment in severely ill, mechanically ventilated infants has been shown to result in lower peak transpulmonary pressure, with an accompanying lower-than-expected incidence of pneumothorax. Infants, treated with pancuronium often demonstrate an ominous abdominal roentgenographic finding: the "gasless abdomen." Of 38 mechanically ventilated infants, 22 of 24 pancuronium-treated infants (as compared with four of 14 untreated infants) had diminished or absent bowel gas. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to birth weight, mortality, or incidence of respiratory distress syndrome. Pancuronium prevents swallowing of air but does not inhibit gut peristalsis, thus accounting for the evacuation of abdominal gas three hours or more after administration of the drug. Clinicians who treat infants with pancuronium should be aware of the phenomenon, to avoid needless roentgenographic studies.

[Pathohistological changes in guinea pigs experimentally infected with Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 9]. / Patokhistologichni promeni u morski svincheta, eksperimentalno zarazeni s Yersinia enterocolitica serotip 9

A total of forty-five guinea pigs were injected subcutaneously with 0.1 cu cm carboneum tetracholoratum each and were infected with Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 9. Part of the animals (31) were treated at the 24th hour following infection with omnopon (a morphine preparation). All infected guinea pigs developed an infectious process manifested by dystrophic and inflammatory changes in the liver, intestine, spleen, lymph nodes and lungs. Those treated with omnopon manifested a more acute infectious process. After the 13--20th day of infection the lesions became more weakly expressed. On the 50th day the inflammatory reaction was observed in the lymph nodes and spleen only. The mortality rate in both groups was about 50 per cent.

In vitro comparison of the neuromuscular antinicotinic and intestinal antimuscarinic effects of different nondepolarizing muscle relaxants.

The postsynaptic antimuscarinic properties of different nondepolarizing muscle relaxants were compared with their postsynaptic antinicotinic effect. d-Tubocurarine, pipecuronium and vecuronium were the most selective antagonists on postsynaptic nicotinic receptors. Gallamine, diadonium and Duador (RGH-4201) had relatively greater effect on postsynaptic muscarinic receptors. Therefore, much less side effect is expected to occur when pipecuronium, d-tubocurarine or vecuronium are used.

Proposta de preparo para enema com duplo contraste / Proposal of a new method for barium enema double contrast cleansing

É apresentado método de preparo para limpeza dos colos dos pacientes a serem estudados pelo enema com duplo contraste. O autor enfatiza as vantagens da perfusão intestinal como recurso mais garantido do que os enemas evacuantes. Recomenda o uso da sucussão abdominal durante a perfusão para obter melhores resultados. Descreve a dieta e os laxativos prescritos para a véspera do exame radiológico, assim como a técnica da perfusão intestinal.

A propósito do atendimento psicossomático de criança com constipaçäo intestinal / On the psychosomatic of a child with intestinal constipation

Os autores relatam o atendimento e evoluçäo de uma criança com constipaçäo intestinal crônica funcional dentro de um projeto de pesquisa sobre psicossomática na criança por um período de um ano e meio em dezessete atendimentos. Chamam a atençäo para o papel da relaçäo médico-mäe-criança na transformaçäo das relaçöes familiares, que tem como consequência o desaparecimento dos sintomas. Näo se trata de um relato raro, mas uma nova abordagem clínica

Chronic diseases of Hahnemann in the light of microecology

The management of Hahnemann's "chronic diseases" presents certain difficulties. In particular the difficulty of finding a suitable homoeopathic drug is noted. Bach's and Paterson's work on bowel nosodes opened a totally new way of looking at homoeopathy and chronic disease (miasms). Since theirtime the homoeopathic profession has done little to take their research further.Parallel to the work of Bach and Paterson continental bacteriologists and clinicians developed therapeutic concepts based on intestinal microbes. Their researchhas become internationally respected and is part of the new sciences of microecology (microbes vs. host association) and gnotobiology (germfree research on animals). Both these sciences allow for additional diagnostic and therapeutic insights that are relevant to homoeopathy. Althouth the non-lactose fermenters, as defined by Bach and Paterson, are important in chronic disease, other bacteria haveequal significance. The ecology of microbe and host as expressed in their qualitative relatedness, needs to be better understood. The author's effort over many years has been to correlate and integrate these moderne findings of bowel flora research and autogenous vaccines with his homoeopathic practice. It is suggestedthat, apart from the therapeutic benefits to be gained by this approach, modern faecal bacteriology analysis could become a useful monitoring tool to evaluate the response to medicines prescribed on homoeopathic principles

Contribuiçäo ao estudo da Paracoccidioidomicose na República do Equador / Contribution to study of the Paracoccidioidomycosis in Ecuador Republic

A partir dos dados de 133 pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose, obtidos do arquivo do Departamento de Micologia, do INHMT - LIP de Guayaquil, Equador, apresentamos consideraçöes sobre o diagnóstico micológico, epidemiologia clínica, e radiologia da doença. Demonstramos que a enfermidadde já é um problema de saúde pública no país, apesar de näo se conhecer sua real magnitude, em número de pacientes e extensäo das áreas endêmicas. Ressaltamos a importância do diagnóstico precoce nas regiöes rurais e damos sugestöes, visando ao adestramento do médico rural e do pessoal paramédico. Destacamos a facilidade do diagnóstico direto, pelo exame a fresco de fragmentos de simplicidade de execuçäo do teste de IDD. Assinalamos a bacia do Rio Guayas como a regiäo endêmica mais importante e discutimos o papel de outras regöes como zonas endêmicas atuais ou futuras. Apresentamos casos considerados ilustrativos de diversos quadros clínicos e radiológicos. Damos, finalmente, sugestöes tendentes a melhorar o conhecimento da doença, limitar as áreas endêmicas e favorecer o diagnóstico e tratamento da paracoccidioidomicose no Equador