Molecular detection, risk factors, and phylogenetic analysis of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from northern Vietnam.

In tropical regions, numerous tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) play a crucial role as causative agents of infectious diseases in humans and animals. Recently, the population of companion and pet dogs has significantly increased in Vietnam; however, information on the occurrence of TBPs is still limited. The objectives of this investigation were to determine the occurrence rate, risk factors, and phylogenetic characteristics of TBPs in dogs from northern Vietnam. Of 341 blood samples tested by PCR, the total infection of TBPs was 73.9% (252/341). Babesia vogeli (18SrRNA gene - 30.5%) was detected most frequently in studied dogs followed by Rickettsia spp. (OmpA gene - 27%), Anaplasma platys (groEL gene - 22%), Bartonella spp. (16SrRNA - 18.8%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (16SrRNA - 9.4%) and Hepatozoon canis (18SrRNA gene - 1.2%), respectively. All samples were negative for Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophylum. Co-infection was detected in 31.4% of the samples (107/341) of which, A. platys/Bartonella spp. (34/94,10%), Rickettsia spp./B. vogeli (19/94, 5.6%), and M. haemocanis/B. vogeli (19/94, 5.6%) were recorded as the three most frequent two species of co-infection types. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between TBP infection and several host variables regarding age, breed, and living area in the current study. The recent findings reported herein, for the first time in Vietnam, are essential for local veterinarians when considering the appropriate approaches for diagnosing these diseases. Furthermore, this data can be used to establish control measures for future surveillance and prevention strategies against canine TBPs in Vietnam.

Potential therapeutic role of microvesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells and platelet-rich plasma in murine burn wound healing: scar regulation and antioxidant mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Microvesicles (MVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells exhibited an emerging promising therapy in many animal model diseases. Post-burn scars represent one of the significant challenges in wound healing processes. The present study investigated the possible role of MVs derived from mesenchymal stem cells vs. platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in murine burn wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats (n = 40) were assigned into four equal groups (control, burn, burn + PRP, burn + MVs). Small-sized burns were induced, morphologically followed for 3 weeks, then rats were sacrificed and skin lesions were analysed biochemically and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Both MVs and PRP modulated the burn healing process with better results in the MVs group than in PRP. MVs significantly (p < 0.05) accelerated burn wound size healing and dramatically modulated tissue interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and hyaluronidase. Both MVs and PRP significantly downregulated gene expression of miRNA203 and alpha smooth muscle actin and immunoblotting analysis of matrix metalloproteinases 3 and transforming growth factor beta compared with the burn group. The immune-staining intensity of tumour necrosis factor alpha was dramatically reversed in the MVs group compared with the burn group, whereas that of connective tissue growth factor, collagen I and III was significantly reduced in both groups. The antioxidant Nrf2 immune-staining intensity had been dramatically enhanced particularly in MVs. CONCLUSIONS: Microvesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells and PRP may improve burn wound healing via regulating scar formation and antioxidant mechanism.

Contactless method for detection of infant sleep apnoea.

This paper presents a contactless method for monitoring infant sleep apnoea. The method uses a remote infrared (IR) sensor to monitor the motion of the infant's abdomen. This method has important clinical advantages in comparison with conventional methods. First, it improves the comfort and compliance of the infants. Second, it eliminates the effects of motion artefacts and skin irritation. Third, it enhances infant safety. Fourth, it does not require frequent calibration and thus enables a continuous monitoring of sleep apnoea. Finally, it is suitable for home applications. Experimental evaluation of this method showed that it has 85% accuracy, 85.71% specificity and 84.62% sensitivity, which imply that it is a promising technique for the detection of infant sleep apnoea.

New less invasive approach for determination of the sodium concentration in human venous blood.

This paper presents a new, less invasive method for determination of sodium concentration in human venous blood. This new method is based on estimation of the blood sodium by measuring the sodium concentration in urine and potassium in blood. It allows the measurement of sodium concentration with an accuracy satisfying medical requirements. The main features of this method are that it is less invasive method in comparison with conventional methods for sodium concentration measurement in human blood, and it reduces the cost related to sodium analysis and measurement. Experimental verification of this method with results is also included.

Mathematical model of chloride concentration in human blood.

This paper deals with mathematical modelling of blood chloride concentration. The main features of the model are that it reveals mathematically the physiological relationship between blood chloride and other electrolytes and serves as an accurate indirect method for chloride measurements with accuracy fulfilling clinical requirements. The main advantages of the method based on this model are that it is more comfortable than traditional methods and clinically less harmful for the patient under study. Experimental verification of the developed model ensures that the results of chloride measurements obtained using this model are significantly correlated with the results for the blood samples obtained from standard chloride analysers.

A semiclosed-loop optimal control system for blood glucose level in diabetics.

In this manuscript, the well-known Bergman nonlinear mathematical model of the plasma glucose/insulin interaction is adopted and a semi closed-loop optimal technique is proposed for the correction of hyperglycemia in diabetic subjects. Computer simulations are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed technique and to demonstrate its superiority in controlling hyperglycemia over other existing algorithms.

Some pharmacokinetic data for danofloxacin in healthy goats.

The pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin was determined in five clinically normal adult female goats after intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) doses of 1.25 mg/kg body weight. Blood and urine samples were collected from each animal at precise time intervals. Serum and urine concentrations were determined using microbiological assay methods and the data were subjected to kinetic analysis. After intravenous injection, the serum concentration time curves of danofloxacin were characteristic of a two-compartment open model. The drug was rapidly distributed and eliminated with half-lives of 17.71 +/- 1.38 min and 81.18 +/- 3.70 min, respectively. The drug persisted in the central, highly perfused organs with a K12/K21 ratio of 0.67 +/- 0.25. The mean volume of distribution at a steady state (Vdss was 1.42 +/- 0.15 L/kg. After intramuscular administration, the serum concentration peaked after 0.58 +/- 0.04 h at approximately 0.33 +/- 0.01 microg/ml. While danofloxacin could be detected in serum for 4 and 6 h, it was recovered in urine for up to 24 and 72 h after IV and IM administration, respectively. The systemic bioavailability after IM injection was 65.70% +/- 10.28% and the serum protein-bound fraction was 13.55 +/- 1.78%.

Stability-indicating methods for the spectrophotometric determination of norfloxacin.

Two spectrophotometric procedures for the selective determination of norfloxacin (NF) in the presence of its decarboxylated degradant are described. The first depends upon measurement of the pH-induced absorbance difference (delta A) of the drug solution between 0.1 N HCl and 0.1 N NaOH at 280 nm. The second involves chelation of the intact drug with iron (II) in acetate buffer solution (pH 5.7 +/- 0.1) to form a yellow-coloured chelate which absorbs at 358 nm. The two procedures are applied successfully for the determination of the intact drug both in pure form and in tablet form. The two methods retain their accuracy in the presence of up to 62% and 76% degradants, respectively.

Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric determination of fluorouracil in the presence of its degradation products.

Three reliable spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric procedures are described for the determination of fluorouracil in bulk powder and ampoules in the presence of its degradation products. One spectrophotometric procedure, based on measurement at 555 nm of the violet-coloured complex formed by fluorouracil with cobalt(II), has a detection limit of 0.03 mg mL(-1). Two sensitive spectrofluorimetric procedures are also proposed. One is based on measurement of the intrinsic fluorescence of the liberated fluorouracil at 375 nm, after precipitation as its cobalt(II) complex, decomposition of the precipitate with sulphuric acid and excitation at 295 nm. The second depends on excitation of the fluorouracil-cobalt(II) complex at 395 nm and measuring its fluorescence at 483 nm. The limits of detection of the two spectrofluorimetric procedures are 0.5 and 2 microg mL(-1), respectively. The three procedures have been used successfully for the determination of fluorouracil ampoules. The validity of the methods has been assessed by applying the standard addition technique.

Microcoated wire sensors for the determination of anticancer drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosphamide in the presence of their degradates.

The construction and electrochemical response characteristics of poly (vinyl chloride) and poly (vinyl chloride) carboxylate membrane sensors for the determination of cyclophosphamide and ifosphamide are described. Based on the formation of an ion-pair complex between the drug cation and sodium tetraphenylborate, two poly (vinyl chloride) sensors, namely a cyclophosphamide membrane sensor and ifosphamide membrane sensor were fabricated. They show a linear response for both drugs over the concentration range 10(-2)-10(-4) M with cationic slopes of 56 and 54.6 mV per concentration decade, for sensor 1 and sensor 2, respectively. Based on the interaction between the drug solution and the dissociated COOH groups in the poly (vinyl chloride) carboxylate, sensor 3 was fabricated. It shows a linear response for both drugs over the concentration range 10(-3)-10(-5) M with a cationic slope of 49.7 mV per concentration decade. The direct potentiometric determination of cyclophosphamide and ifosphamide in their pharmaceutical preparations using the proposed sensors gave average recoveries of 101.3+/-0.6, 100.8+/-10.7 and 102.0+/-11.0% for the sensors 1, 2 and 3, respectively, which compares reasonably well with the data obtained using the British Pharmacopoeial method (1993). Sensors 1 and 2 were also used to follow up the stability of the drugs studied in the presence of their degradates. These degradation products have no diverse effect on the responses of sensors 1 and 2.

Anthraquinones from the polar fractions of Galium sinaicum.

The new anthraquinones, 6,7-dimethoxy xanthopurpurin, 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy rubiadin, 5-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl anthragallol 1, 3-dimethyl ether, 7-carboxy anthragallol 1,3-dimethyl ether, anthragallol 1-methyl ether 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, anthragallol 1-methyl ether 3-O-rutinoside, anthragallol 3-O-rutinoside and alizarin 1-methyl ether 2-O-primeveroside were isolated from the CH2Cl2 and n-BuOH extracts of Galium sinaicum roots and their structures were established by various spectroscopic techniques. In addition, two known anthraquinones were also isolated and fully characterized.

Prevalence and morbidity of schistosomiasis among rural fishermen at two Egyptian villages (Gharbia Governorate).

210 fishermen and 210 farmers from two Egyptian villages (Gharbia Governorate) were selected. Their main clinical manifestations were terminal haematuria in 17.1% and 10%, dysuria in 16.7% and 6.7%, renal colic in 13.3% and 2.4%, dysentery in 10.5% and 3.8%, bloody stool in 8.1% and 2.9%, pallor in 28.8% and 15.2%, hepatomegaly in 10.5% and 4.3% and splenomegaly in 8.6% and 3.8% in fishermen and farmers respectively with significant values among fishermen when compared with farmers. Abdominal ultrasonography of fishermen showed higher morbidity rates than farmers as regards hepatosplenomegaly, grades of periportal fibrosis, portal vein diameter, stones in Kidneys and urinary bladder as well as calcification of urinary bladder. S. mansoni prevalence was 72.4% in fishermen and 4.57% in farmers with highly significant value in fishermen when compared with farmers (P < 0.01). Geometric egg count (gm/stool) was 430 +/- 259 and 236 +/- 161 in fishermen and farmers respectively with highly significant difference (P < 0.001). All urine samples were negative for S. haematobium. The socioeconomic status of all individuals showed no significant difference between the two groups. It was concluded that fishermen had a higher S. mansoni prevalence, infection intensity and morbidity than farmers. This may be due to more water contact activities. A snail population survey of the river and main canals was recommended.

Stability-indicating method for the determination of clorazepate dipotassium-I. Via its final degradation products.

A sensitive spectrophotometric procedure is described for the determination of 1,4-benzodiazepine (clorazepate dipotassium) in the presence of its degradation products. The procedure is based on acid hydrolysis of clorazepate dipotassium to yield its final degradation products viz., 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone and glycine. The amino-chlorobenzophrenone is extracted from the neutralized hydrolysate with diethyl ether, the extract is evaporated, the residue is dissolved in methanol and its absorbance measured at about 240 nm or 380 nm. Glycine, left in the aqueous layer after etherial extraction of aminochlorobenzophenone, is treated with ninhydrin reagent in the presence of pyridine and the bluish violet colour formed is measured at about 560 nm. The suggested procedures determine 20-100 mg of clorazepate dipotassium via its degradation products aminochlorobenzophenone and glycine with mean accuracies of 100.0 +/- 0.5% at 560 nm, 100.2 +/- 0.6% at 380 nm and 99.8 +/- 0.5%. The suggested procedures are suitable for stability-testing of clorazepate dipotassium in bulk powder and in pharmaceutical preparations.

Stability-indicating method for the determination of clorazepate dipotassium-II. Via N-desmethyldiazepam and determination of its degradation products.

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of the intact clorazepate dipotassium in the presence of its degradation products is developed. It depends upon preliminary hydrolysis of clorazepate dipotassium-thus liberating its equivalent of N-desmethyldiazepam which is extracted, with benzene-methylene chloride (9:1). The extract is evaporated, the residue dissolved in methanol and its absorbance measured at about 315 nm. The procedure determines 0.4-1.6 mg of clorazepate dipotassium with an accuracy of 100.2+/-0.7%. The procedure is applied successfully for the determination of clorazepate dipotassium in bulk powder and in capsules; retaining its accuracy in the presence of up to 80% degradation. Determination of the different degradation products is also possible. Thus, N-desmethyl diazepam is determined after preliminary extraction with benzene-methylene chloride mixture, followed by TLC separation, 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone by directly applying the first derivative spectrophotometric technique, and glycine in the aqueous layer determined colorimetrically with ninhydrin reagent in the presence of pyridine.

Polarographic and colorimetric methods for determination of cyclophosphamide.

Polarographic and colorimetric methods for analysis of cyclophosphamide and its dosage forms were investigated. Both methods are based on the reaction of cyclophosphamide with nitrous acid. A single cathodic diffusion-controlled wave was used for dc polarographic determination of cyclophosphamide, with an accuracy of 99.98 +/- 1.09%. The wave was well defined and irreversible. By differential pulse polarographic analysis, as little as 10 ppm cyclophosphamide was determined; overall accuracy at 10-60 ppm was 100.16 +/- 0.99%. The linear relationship between absorbance for the lemon-yellow nitroso derivative and the concentration of cyclophosphamide was further used in colorimetric analysis; overall accuracy was 100.2 +/- 0.99%.