The first report of meningitis in a Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus).

The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is a large species of shark found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and is believed to be the longest living vertebrate. Relatively little is known about its biology, abundance, health or diseases. In March 2022, only the third reported UK stranding of this species occurred and it was the first to undergo post-mortem examination.

Endemic lizard is a paratenic host of invasive in Tenerife, Spain.

is an invasive zoonotic nematode which causes eosinophilic meningitis in accidental hosts – vertebrates including humans – and is known to impact wildlife. Even though the parasite originates in Southeast Asia, it has spread worldwide, especially into fragile island ecosystems. The Canary Islands are a biodiversity hot spot with numerous endemic species affected by biological invasions.

Comparison of remdesivir and favipiravir - the anti-Covid-19 agents mimicking purine RNA constituents.

By December 2019, humanity was challenged by a new infectious respiratory disease named coronavirus disease of 2019 or COVID-19. This is a viral infection based on the presence of the previously non-problematic coronavirus with assigned number 2. This virus causes severe acute respiratory distress and is known now as SARS-CoV2.

Respiratory Tract Disorders in Fishes.

"The piscine respiratory system is represented by gills. Gill diseases are extremely common and may be caused by a large variety of etiologic agents. The gills are in direct contact with water and reflect its quality, for example, pollution, and they also must face the presence of biotic agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

The first case of periorbital human dirofilariasis in the Czech Republic.

Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis are the most common filarial species affecting humans in Europe. Dirofilaria repens causes subcutaneous or ocular infection, whereas D. immitis is responsible mainly for the pulmonary form.

Anti-progressive Effects of a Series of Glycinyl and Alaninyl Triazolyl-oxazolidinones on Kelly Neuroblastoma Cell Line.

Background/aim: Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial malignant childhood tumor accounts for about 15% of cancer-related deaths in children. Despite the intensive treatment of patients with high-risk scarification of NB, clinical outcomes indicate tumor recurrence greater than 50% and late severe adverse effects. Oxazolidinones are 5-membered heterocyclic compounds with antibacterial activity against resistant bacterial strains.

Tacrine and its 7-methoxy derivate; time-change concentration in plasma and brain tissue and basic toxicological profile in rats.

The search for tacrine derivatives, as potential Alzheimer´s disease treatment, is still being at the forefront of scientific efforts. 7-MEOTA was found to be a potent, centrally active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor free of the serious side effects observed for tacrine. Unfortunately, a relevant argumentation about pharmacokinetics and potential toxicity is incomplete; information about tacrine derivatives absorption and especially CNS penetration are still rare as well as detailed toxicological profile .

The In Vitro Anti-Proliferative Interaction of Flavonoid Quercetin and Toxic Metal Cadmium in the 1321N1 Human Astrocytoma Cell Line.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal occurring in the environment as an industrial pollutant. The systematic accumulation of Cd in the human body may lead to major health problems. Quercetin (QE) is a natural flavonoid widely distributed in plants and is a part of human diet.

Stability studies of endocrine disrupting tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds in an artificial sea water model.

Triorganotins belong to toxic components present predominantly in antifouling paints for marine vessels. Tributyltin/triphenyltin at pico- or nanomolar concentrations in sea water are known to induce an irreversible sexual abnormality in females of over 190 marine species, an "imposex" phenomenon - the superimposition of male genitalia on a female. Moreover, trialkyltins and triaryltins function as potent nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXR) agonists.

Effect of Diabetea tea ™ consumption on inflammatory cytokines and metabolic biomarkers in type 2 diabetes patients.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Diabetea tea™ (DT) is an anti-diabetic alternative medicine in some Asian countries. The main constituent of DT is black tea originating from Camellia sinensis that is supplemented by 12 other medicinal plants. Black tea contains a large amount of the flavonoids catechins especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative capacity.

Self-expandable biodegradable biliary stents in porcine model.

Background: Treatment or prevention of a benign biliary tree stricture is an unresolved problem. A novel self-expandable biodegradable polydioxanon biliary stent in a porcine model was studied.

Materials And Methods: This new stent was used in 23 pigs.

Chlamydiaceae and Chlamydia-like organisms in free-living small mammals in Europe and Afghanistan.

Few data are available on the occurrence of chlamydial infections in wild small mammals. We investigated the significance of free-living small mammals as reservoirs or transmission hosts for microorganisms of the phylum/class Chlamydiae. We obtained 3,664 tissue samples from 911 animals in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Afghanistan.

Organs of BALB/c mice can be injured in course of tularemia.

Background: Francisella tularensis is a biological agent exploitable for bioterrorism and biological warfare purposes due to serious pathogenic progression and easy dissemination. Despite intensive research in the past, some adverse consequences remain unclear. One consequence of this pathogen is oxidative stress.

Avian high-dose toxicity of cyanobacterial biomass.

Objectives: Previous studies using oral administration of environmentally relevant doses of cyanobacterial biomass containing microcystins (MCs) induced only sub-lethal effects in experimental birds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain data on avian high-dose toxicity of MCs and compute LD50, if possible, following the natural oral route of administration.

Design: Responses of birds to single high-dose exposure to MCs were evaluated in fourteen-day old Japanese quail males (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with average body weight of 50 g which were randomly divided into five groups.

In vivo decontamination of the nerve agent VX using the domestic swine model.

The purpose of this in vivo study was to assess a new, putatively optimised method for mass casualty decontamination ("ORCHIDS protocol") for effectiveness in removing the chemical warfare agent VX from the skin of anaesthetised, domestic white pigs. ORCHIDS protocol consists of a 1.5-minute shower with a mild detergent (Argos™) supplemented by physical removal.

Histopathology confirms white-nose syndrome in bats in Europe.

White-nose syndrome, associated with the fungal skin infection geomycosis, caused regional population collapse in bats in North America. Our results, based on histopathology, show the presence of white-nose syndrome in Europe. Dermatohistopathology on two bats (Myotis myotis) found dead in March 2010 with geomycosis in the Czech Republic had characteristics resembling Geomyces destructans infection in bats confirmed with white-nose syndrome in US hibernacula.

Metrifonate alters antioxidant levels and caspase activity in cerebral cortex of Wistar rats.

Metrifonate (trichlorfon) is an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It was used as an Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug; however, the application was withdrawn due to adverse effects. Implication of metrifonate for the antioxidant status and regulation of apoptotic processes was evaluated in the present study.

Novel biodegradable polydioxanone stents in a rabbit airway model.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate safety and biocompatibility of a novel biodegradable polydioxanone stent in a rabbit tracheal model. Metallic and silicone stents represent standard therapeutic approaches for hollow organ stenosis, although complications have been reported repeatedly. Biodegradable stents could reduce the risks associated with this procedure while still achieving the purpose of maintaining lumen patency.

Asoxime (HI-6) impact on dogs after one and tenfold therapeutic doses: assessment of adverse effects, distribution, and oxidative stress.

Asoxime (HI-6) is a well known oxime reactivator used for counteracting intoxication by nerve agents. It is able to reactivate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibited even by sarin or soman. The present experiment was aimed to determine markers of oxidative stress represented by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and antioxidants represented by ferric reducing antioxidant power, reduced and oxidized glutathione in a Beagle dog model.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in the grey partridge Perdix perdix: outbreak description, histopathology, biochemistry and antioxidant parameters.

Background: The grey partridge is an important game bird in Europe that has declined considerably over the last decades. The production and release of farm-bred birds can be threatened by infectious agents. The objective of this study was to describe the outbreak, pathology, and blood and tissue biochemical responses in a flock of grey partridges naturally infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Organophosphate hydrolases as catalytic bioscavengers of organophosphorus nerve agents.

Bioscavengers are molecules able to neutralize neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds (OP) before they can reach their biological target. Human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE) is a natural bioscavenger each molecule of enzyme neutralizing one molecule of OP. The amount of natural enzyme is insufficient to achieve good protection.

T lymphocyte activation profiles in peripheral blood of long- versus short-term residents of Kuwait: comparison with asthmatics.

Introduction: During the Arabian Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, the resident population of Kuwait sustained heavy exposure to environmental toxicants introduced by military activities. No comprehensive studies have been conducted to assess how exposure to the wartime and postwar environment may have altered the fundamental patterns of immune reactivity among Kuwaitis in ways that affect pathogenesis of disease. This present study addresses this issue by characterising immunological features of asthma and allergies in a Kuwaiti population that is unique and possibly correlates with toxicant exposures.

Partition of bispyridinium oximes (trimedoxime and K074) administered in therapeutic doses into different parts of the rat brain.

The penetration of acetylcholinesterase reactivators (oximes) into the central nervous system is typically restricted by the blood-brain barrier. Although oximes are highly hydrophilic compounds, some contradictory results confirming permeation into the brain exist. The aim of this study is to verify the penetration of oximes through the blood-brain barrier and to detect their levels achieved in different brain regions 60 min after the administration.