The acquired gene cluster in mediates resistance to copper.

The pervasive environmental metal contamination has led to selection of heavy-metal resistance genes in bacteria. The and clusters are located on a mobile genetic element and linked to heavy-metal resistance. These clusters have been found in serovars isolated from human clinical cases and foods of animal origin.

Draft genome sequences of nine non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing in ready-to-eat food from supermarkets in Argentina.

Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) are recognized as an important group of bacterial enteropathogens. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of nine strains of non-O157 STEC isolated from ready-to-eat foods in Argentina. The whole-genome sequence data provide a better understanding of these isolates and will aid epidemiological investigation during outbreaks.

A Treatment Decision Support Model for Laryngeal Cancer Based on Bayesian Networks.

The increase in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the treatment of oncological diseases, as well as the limited capacity of experts to provide information, necessitates the development of therapy decision support systems (TDSS). We have developed a treatment decision model that integrates available patient information as well as tumor characteristics. They are assessed according to their relevance in evaluating the optimal therapy option.

CtpB Facilitates Growth in Copper-Limited Niches.

Copper is required for aerobic respiration by and its human host, but this essential element is toxic in abundance. Copper nutritional immunity refers to host processes that modulate levels of free copper to alternately starve and intoxicate invading microbes. Bacteria engulfed by macrophages are initially contained within copper-limited phagosomes, which fuse with ATP7A vesicles that pump in toxic levels of copper.

Use of a Ferret Model to Test Efficacy and Immunogenicity of Live Attenuated Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis Vaccines.

Native hosts for the bacterial agent that causes Johne's disease are ruminants, which include cattle, sheep and goats among others. These large animals are often too costly to be used in testing experimental vaccines. In this chapter, we provide detailed methods to use an inexpensive and more manageable animal host, the ferret, to test efficacy and immunogenicity of live-attenuated Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) mutant strains prior to consideration as vaccine candidates.

Animal brucellosis in Egypt.

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis that affects the public health and economic performance of endemic as well as non-endemic countries. In developing nations, brucellosis is often a very common but neglected disease. The purpose of this review is to provide insight about brucellosis in animal populations in Egypt and help to understand the situation from 1986 to 2013.

Characterization of ternary complexes of meloxicam-HPbetaCD and PVP or L-arginine prepared by the spray-drying technique.

Ternary complexes of meloxicam (ME) (a poorly water soluble anti-inflammatory drug) with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) and either a hydrophilic polymer, namely, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or a basic amino acid such as L-arginine, were prepared by the spray-drying technique. The solubilizing efficiency, physical properties and dissolution behaviour of each ternary system of ME-HPbetaCD with either PVP or L-arginine were compared with those of the corresponding binary system of ME-HPbetaCD. Tablets compressed from the ternary system of ME-HPbetaCD-L-arginine were compared with plain and commercial tablets.

Extravasation of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers across microvascular network endothelium.

Purpose: To study the influence of a controlled incremental increase in size and molecular weight of a series of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers on their extravasation across the microvascular network endothelium.

Methods: A series of PAMAM dendrimers (generations 0-4) were fluorescently labeled using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Purification and fractionation of the fluorescently labeled polymers were done using size exclusion chromatography.

Administration of crushed extended-release pentoxifylline tablets: bioavailability and adverse effects.

The pharmacokinetics of crushed and intact pentoxifylline tablets were compared, and the frequency of adverse effects was evaluated. Intact 400-mg extended-release pentoxifylline tablets, crushed 400-mg tablets, intact 600-mg tablets, and crushed 600-mg tablets were given sequentially to 10 healthy male volunteers. Blood samples were collected at time 0, at 30-minute intervals for the first three hours, and at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after the dose and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography for pentoxifylline and three major metabolites.

Toxicokinetics of trimethyltin in four inbred strains of mice.

Sixteen week old male AKR/J, Balb/cByJ, C57B1/6J and DBA/2J mice received single i.p. injections of trimethyltin (TMT).

Characterization of drug release from liposomal formulations in ocular fluid.

The successful application of liposomes in topical ophthalmic drug delivery requires knowledge of vesicle stabilization in the presence of tear fluid. The release of procaine hydrochloride (PCH) from large unilamellar liposomes in the presence of simulated tear fluid was studied in vitro as a function of bilayer lipid content and tear protein composition. Reverse-phase evaporation vesicles were prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine, stearylamine or dicetyl phosphate, and cholesterol.

Sustained release of acetaminophen from heterogeneous matrix tablets: influence of polymer ratio, polymer loading, and co-active on drug release.

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of pseudoephedrine (PE), polymer ratio, and polymer loading on the release of acetaminophen (APAP) from hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrices. Granules formulated with APAP or both APAP and PE, and various blends of HPMC and PVP were compressed into tablets at varying compression forces ranging from 2000 to 6000 Ib. In vitro drug release from the matrix tablets was determined and the results correlated with those of tablet water uptake and erosion studies.

In a drug discrimination procedure isolation-reared rats generalize to lower doses of cocaine and amphetamine than rats reared in an enriched environment.

Rats with different behavioral histories, defined by rearing and housing in either an enriched condition (EC) or an isolation condition (IC), were trained in a two-lever operant procedure to discriminate 5.0 mg/kg cocaine from saline. In cocaine dose-generalization tests, the IC rats exhibited an ED50 (1.

Pharmacokinetics of diltiazem absorption in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

The absorption of diltiazem (CAS 42399-41-7) from the stomach, small intestine, and colon of the rat has been studied, using an in situ cannulation procedure. Diltiazem solutions (1 mg/ml) were prepared in isotonic buffers at pH 3.5 (stomach), 6.

Development and evaluation of a novel dissolution apparatus for medicated chewing gum products.

A novel dissolution apparatus was developed for medicated chewing gum products. A prototype gum product containing phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA) was used to evaluate the apparatus. The apparatus consists of a conical Teflon base and a rotating, ribbed Teflon plunger suspended in a dissolution vessel.

Rectal bioavailability of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol from various esters.

The bioavailability of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) from suppository formulations containing several polar esters was studied. The esters tested were the hemisuccinate, N-formyl alaninate, N-methyl carbamate, and methoxy acetate. These esters were administered to monkeys in both lipophilic and hydrophilic suppository bases, namely, Witepsol H15 and polyethylene glycol, respectively.

Rectal bioavailability of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol from the hemisuccinate ester in monkeys.

Oral administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (delta 9-THC) was shown to result in low and erratic bioavailability, while the drug showed no bioavailability from various suppository formulations. delta 9-THC-Hemisuccinate was formulated as a prodrug for delta 9-THC in suppositories using Witepsol H15 base. The bioavailability of delta 9-THC from this formulation was evaluated in monkeys.

Determination of amino acids in different regions of the rat brain. Application to the acute effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and trimethyltin (TMT).

A modified HPLC method is described for the determination of amino acids [aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, taurine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] in brain tissue utilizing precolumn derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-tert-butyl-thiol and electrochemical detection. A simple extraction procedure was employed and DL-homoserine used as internal standard. A neurotoxin previously shown to affect brain amino acids (trimethyltin, TMT) and a psychoactive compound hypothesized to act on these neurochemicals (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC) were administered to adult male rats and amino acids were measured.

Comparison of serum progesterone levels in dogs after administration of progesterone by vaginal tablet and vaginal suppositories.

Serum progesterone levels from a vaginal tablet formulation and six different vaginal suppository formulations, each containing 25 mg of progesterone, were evaluated in mongrel dogs. Bioavailabilities relative to an intravenous dose of progesterone were calculated. The vaginal tablet was found to have a significantly higher bioavailability compared with the vaginal suppositories.

An in vitro method of evaluating tolnaftate release from topical powder.

A dissolution apparatus was constructed to evaluate tolnaftate release from topical powders. It consisted of a mesh unit to support the powder, a receptor phase, and a sink. This report describes three parameters that were used to evaluate this technique.

Dissolution of meprobamate from various tablet formulations.

The effect of some formulation variables on the release of meprobamate from compressed tablets has been investigated. Possible interaction among the various variables was also studied. As a diluent, lactose produced a better dissolution rate than did starch.

Determination of sodium fusidate and fusidic acid in dosage forms by high-performance liquid chromatography and a microbiological method.

A new High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the assay of sodium fusidate (I) or fusidic acid in dosage forms was developed and compared to a microbiological assay. A linear relationship was obtained between absolute peak area and amount of I(r = 0.99+) in the 50-1000-microgram/ml range.

In vitro availability profiles of oral methoxsalen commercial products.

The in vitro release rate of methoxsalen from three commercially available tablets and an experimental tablet were evaluated at pH 2 and 7, using the USP dissolution test. The experimental tablet and one commercial product showed that 74% of the labeled amount is released in 1 h and almost completely released after 3 h at pH 2 and 7. Two products showed that only 12 and 10% of the labeled amount was released in 1 h and a maximum of 25 and 23% after 3 h at pH 2.