Claudins: Beyond Tight Junctions in Human IBD and Murine Models.

Claudins are transmembrane proteins constituting one of three tight junction protein families. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), disease activity-dependent changes in expression of certain claudins have been noted, thus making certain claudin family members potential therapy targets. A study was undertaken with the aim of exploring expression of claudins in human disease and two different animal models of IBD: dextrane sulfate sodium-induced colitis and adoptive transfer model of colitis.

Macrolones Are a Novel Class of Macrolide Antibiotics Active against Key Resistant Respiratory Pathogens In Vitro and In Vivo.

As we face an alarming increase in bacterial resistance to current antibacterial chemotherapeutics, expanding the available therapeutic arsenal in the fight against resistant bacterial pathogens causing respiratory tract infections is of high importance. The antibacterial potency of macrolones, a novel class of macrolide antibiotics, against key respiratory pathogens was evaluated in vitro and in vivo MIC values against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae strains sensitive to macrolide antibiotics and with defined macrolide resistance mechanisms were determined. The propensity of macrolones to induce the expression of inducible erm genes was tested by the triple-disk method and incubation in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of compounds.

Immunomodulatory effects of azithromycin on the establishment of lipopolysaccharide tolerance in mice.

Recent reports suggest that azithromycin can shift macrophage polarization towards the alternatively activated M2 phenotype. In order to investigate its immunomodulatory activity in vivo, the influence of azithromycin on survival and cytokine production was assessed in the LPS tolerance model which is characterized by an M2 skewed response. For induction of tolerance, mice received an intraplantar injection of 30 μg LPS, 24 h prior to intravenous challenge with 350 μg LPS.

Comparison of pulmonary inflammatory and antioxidant responses to intranasal live and heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae in mice.

Inflammatory and antioxidant responses, in male C57Bl6J mice, to single intranasal inoculations with live or heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae were studied in order to tease out differences in responses. Heat-killed bacteria elicited weak lung neutrophil infiltration and raised concentrations (peak 6-8 h), in serum or lung tissue, of CXCL1 and 2, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor, with later increases in CCL2 and IL-1β. Live bacteria induced profound pulmonary neutrophil infiltration and acute chemokine/cytokine elevations.

Accelerated healing of excisional skin wounds by PL 14736 in alloxan-hyperglycemic rats.

PL 14736 is a synthetic peptide, originally isolated from human gastric juice, that has anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective actions in experimental models of gastrointestinal inflammation. To investigate its possible benefit in poorly healing skin wounds, the effects of the topical application of PL 14736 in a gel formulation have been studied on full-thickness excisional wounds in rats, either healthy or made hyperglycemic by alloxan (175 mg/kg s.c.

Plasma proteins and haematological parameters in fattening pigs fed different sources of dietary zinc.

The effect of varying amounts of sources of dietary zinc on some blood parameters and the plasma protein ratios of fattening pigs was studied. During a 30-day pre-trial period, 42 pigs were depleted of Zn and divided into three groups of 14 animals each. During the 105-day experimental fattening period two experimental groups (T1-2) were repleted with dietary Zn in the form of inorganic salt (ZnSO4) or metallo-organic chelate (zinc methionate, ZnMET), while the control group (C) received no extra Zn.

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase and serum gamma-glutamil transferase activities in horses used for production of hyper immune sera.

The activities of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (l-AP) and serum gamma-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT), and total leukocyte counts were determined in horses submitted to the production of hyper immune sera against tetanus (Clostridium tetani). The purpose of this work was to investigate the prospective changes of mentioned parameters in horses under the described circumstances. In addition, the suitability of these parameters in assessing the health condition of the same horses had to be evaluated.