Diabetogenic and Obesogenic Effects of Cadmium in Db/Db Mice and Rats at a Clinically Relevant Level of Exposure.

Studies show an association between cadmium (Cd) exposure and prediabetes or type II diabetes mellitus. We have previously reported that Cd causes decreased levels of serum leptin in rats following 12 weeks of daily Cd dosing (0.6 mg/kg/b.

Kratom Use Within the Context of the Evolving Opioid Crisis and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Kratom (, Korth.) is an evergreen tree that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. When ingested, kratom leaves or decoctions from the leaves have been reported to produce complex stimulant and opioid-like effects.

The Pharmacodynamic-Toxicodynamic Relationship of AUC and in Vancomycin-Induced Kidney Injury in an Animal Model.

Vancomycin induces exposure-related acute kidney injury. However, the pharmacokinetic-toxicodynamic (PK-TD) relationship remains unclear. Sprague-Dawley rats received intravenous (i.

Evaluation of the Mitragynine Content, Levels of Toxic Metals and the Presence of Microbes in Kratom Products Purchased in the Western Suburbs of Chicago.

Kratom (, Korth) is a tree-like plant that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaf products have been used in traditional folk medicine for their unique combination of stimulant and opioid-like effects. Kratom is being increasingly used in the West for its reputed benefits in the treatment of pain, depression and opioid use disorder.

A Method for the Evaluation of Site-Specific Nephrotoxic Injury in the Intact Rat Kidney.

In a previously published report we detailed an in situ method to quantify cell death in the renal cortex by perfusing the cell membrane impermeable fluorochrome, ethidium homodimer in situ. The objective of the present study was to use this in situ viability assay to examine cell death following the administration of nephrotoxic drugs known to produce cell death and/or injury in specific segments of the nephron. Male Sprague/Dawley rats were treated with the following nephrotoxicants: Gentamicin, amphotericin-B, and indomethacin.

Genistein diet improves body weight, serum glucose and triglyceride levels in both male and female ob/ob mice.

Purpose: Diabetic obesity in the leptin-deficient ob/ob mouse is associated with weight gain, and hyperglycemia, along with hyperinsulinemia. We have previously examined the effects of genistein (a naturally occurring isoflavone found in soy) on metabolic disturbances in the ob/ob mouse and demonstrated beneficial effects of genistein (600 mg genistein/kg diet, for 4-weeks) on T production and corticosterone status. The goal of this study was to examine whether dietary genistein could prevent, or at least lessen, the typical phenotype in this murine model of diabetic-obesity, and to assess potential sex-differences.

Evaluation of Fetal and Maternal Vancomycin-Induced Kidney Injury during Pregnancy in a Rat Model.

Previous literature suggests that maternal vancomycin crosses the placental barrier to the fetus. Further, early animal studies indicated that kidney injury was not observed in the progeny. These studies were conducted prior to the availability of sensitive biomarkers for kidney injury.

Twenty-four hour pharmacokinetic relationships for intravenous vancomycin and novel urinary biomarkers of acute kidney injury in a rat model.

Objectives: To identify the pharmacokinetic (PK) and toxicodynamic (TD) relationship for vancomycin-induced kidney injury.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received intravenous (iv) vancomycin. Doses ranging from 150 mg/kg/day to 400 mg/kg/day were administered as a single or twice-daily injection over 24 h (total protocol duration).

Comparative Performance of Urinary Biomarkers for Vancomycin-Induced Kidney Injury According to Timeline of Injury.

Urinary biomarkers are superior to serum creatinine for defining onset and extent of kidney injury. This study classifies the temporal predictive ability of biomarkers for vancomycin-induced kidney injury (VIKI) as defined by histopathologic damage. Male Sprague-Dawley rats ( = 125) were randomized to receive 150 to 400 mg/kg of body weight/day vancomycin via once or twice daily intraperitoneal injection over 1, 3, or 6 days.

Cadmium Nephrotoxicity Is Associated with Altered MicroRNA Expression in the Rat Renal Cortex.

Cadmium (Cd) is a nephrotoxic environmental pollutant that causes a generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubule characterized by polyuria and proteinuria. Even though the effects of Cd on the kidney have been well-characterized, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects have not been fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate cellular and physiologic function by modulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.

Effects of sub-chronic Cd exposure on levels of copper, selenium, zinc, iron and other essential metals in rat renal cortex.

Cd (Cd) is a nephrotoxic environmental pollutant that causes generalized proximal tubule dysfunction. Even though the specific mechanisms by which Cd damages the kidney have yet to be fully elucidated, there is evidence to suggest that some of these nephrotoxic effects may result from the ability of Cd to alter the levels and function of metals such as Cu, Se, Zn and Fe within the kidney. In order to further explore this issue, we examined the effects of subchronic Cd exposure on tissue levels of a panel of metals (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Se and Zn) in the rat renal cortex.

24-Hour Pharmacokinetic Relationships for Vancomycin and Novel Urinary Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury.

Vancomycin has been associated with acute kidney injury in preclinical and clinical settings; however, the precise exposure profiles associated with vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury have not been defined. We sought to determine pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics indices associated with the development of acute kidney injury using sensitive urinary biomarkers. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received clinical-grade vancomycin or normal saline as an intraperitoneal injection.

Evaluation of Vancomycin Exposures Associated with Elevations in Novel Urinary Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury in Vancomycin-Treated Rats.

Vancomycin has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the pharmacokinetic/toxicodynamic relationship for AKI is not well defined. Allometrically scaled vancomycin exposures were used to assess the relationship between vancomycin exposure and AKI.

Evaluation of cystatin C as an early biomarker of cadmium nephrotoxicity in the rat.

Cadmium (Cd) is a nephrotoxic environmental pollutant that causes insidious injury to the proximal tubule that results in severe polyuria and proteinuria. Cystatin C is a low molecular weight protein that is being evaluated as a serum and urinary biomarker for various types of ischemic and nephrotoxic renal injury. The objective of the present study was to determine if cystatin C might be a useful early biomarker of Cd nephrotoxicity.

Effects of cadmium on the sub-cellular localization of β-catenin and β-catenin-regulated gene expression in NRK-52E cells.

The E-cadherin/β-catenin complex is a structural component of adherens-type junctions in epithelial cells. Moreover, β-catenin acts as an intracellular signaling molecule that can influence the expression of a variety of genes that regulate apoptosis and cell cycle control. Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental toxicant that causes renal dysfunction and disrupts cadherin-dependent cell-cell adhesion in various types of epithelial cells.

Long-term follow-up of a supradescemetic keratoprosthesis in rabbits: an immunofluorescence study.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical and immunohistological outcome of two different non-penetrating keratoprosthesis (KPro) implanted in non-injured rabbit corneas.

Materials And Methods: Three rabbits underwent implantation of a pHEMA-MMA(34) synthetic cornea in the supradescemetic space, and PMMA synthetic corneas in the supradescemetic space and within the central stroma. Animals were followed for at least 24 months before euthanasia.

Comparison of macular function and visual fields after membrane blue or infracyanine green staining in vitreoretinal surgery.

Background: To compare possible toxic effects of membrane blue and infracyanine green used as vital stains in macular surgery. Vital stains are used in vitreoretinal surgery to perform peeling of the internal limiting membrane and idiopathic epiretinal membrane. There are many controversial studies about their toxicity, safety, and their effects on the retinal pigment epithelium and the neuroretinal elements.

Expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) in relation to necrosis and apoptosis during the early stages of Cd-induced proximal tubule injury.

Cadmium (Cd) is a nephrotoxic industrial and environmental pollutant that causes a generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubule. Kim-1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is normally not detectable in non-injured kidney, but is up-regulated and shed into the urine during the early stages of Cd-induced proximal tubule injury. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between the Cd-induced increase in Kim-1 expression and the onset of necrotic and apoptotic cell death in the proximal tubule.

Direct antiangiogenic actions of cadmium on human vascular endothelial cells.

The vascular endothelium is a primary target of cadmium (Cd) toxicity, but little is known regarding a potential mechanism whereby Cd may inhibit angiogenesis. Recent findings showing that Cd can disrupt cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion suggested that Cd might inhibit angiogenesis by altering the function of VE-cadherin, a molecule that is essential for angiogenesis. To address this issue, endothelial cells (ECs) were exposed to Cd in the presence of serum and subjected to angiogenesis-related cell migration and tube formation assays.

Kidney injury molecule-1 is an early biomarker of cadmium nephrotoxicity.

Cadmium (Cd) exposure results in injury to the proximal tubule characterized by polyuria and proteinuria. Kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein not normally detected in the mature kidney, but is upregulated and shed into the urine following nephrotoxic injury. In this study, we determine if Kim-1 might be a useful early biomarker of Cd nephrotoxicity.

A novel method for the evaluation of proximal tubule epithelial cellular necrosis in the intact rat kidney using ethidium homodimer.

Background: Ethidium homodimer is a cell-membrane impermeant nuclear fluorochrome that has been widely used to identify necrotic cells in culture. Here, we describe a novel technique for evaluating necrosis of epithelial cells in the proximal tubule that involves perfusing ethidium homodimer through the intact rat kidney. As a positive control for inducing necrosis, rats were treated with 3.

Corneal stroma regeneration in felines after supradescemetic keratoprosthesis implantation.

Purpose: To show corneal regeneration in 3 cats that underwent lamellar keratectomy (90%) depth during supradescemetic keratoprosthetic implantation.

Methods: Three 2-year-old cats that underwent spontaneous keratoprosthesis extrusion between 15 and 150 days after implanting a supradescemetic prosthesis into their right eyes were studied. Corneal structures and stroma thickness were evaluated by slit-lamp photographs, pachymetry, and confocal microscopy.