Ovine papillomavirus type 3 virus-like particle-based tools for diagnosis and detection of infection.

The design of prophylactic and diagnostic tools specific to animal papillomaviruses is hampered by the difficulties of viral in vitro manipulation and by the scarce availability of dedicated biotechnological tools. This paper reports the production of Ovine Papillomavirus 3 (OaPV3)-based virus-like particles (OaPV3-VLPs) in the baculovirus system and their use to investigate host humoral immune response through the establishment of an indirect ELISA test., Polyclonal sera and monoclonal antibodies were generated against OaPV3-VLPs, and their isotype and reactivity were determined.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Antibiotics Research in Mussels from the Coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Sardinia, Italy).

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are compounds found in several environmental compartments whose ubiquitous presence can cause toxicity for the entire ecosystem. Several personal care products, including antibiotics, have entered this group of compounds, constituting a major global threat. It is essential to develop simple and reliable methods by which to quantify these contaminants in several matrices.

Development of immunodiagnostic tools for in situ investigation of Ovis aries papillomavirus 3 (OaPV3).

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a malignant lesion characterized by proliferation and transformation of keratinocytes in the epidermis and infiltrating derma. cSCC is reported in domestic and wild animal species, worldwide. The occurrence and development of cSCC rely on synergic multifactorial conditions, most importantly sunlight exposure and Papillomavirus (PV) infection.

An Overview of Antibiotics as Emerging Contaminants: Occurrence in Bivalves as Biomonitoring Organisms.

Antibiotics are used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in both human and veterinary medicine and as growth promoting agents in farms and aquaculture. They can accumulate in environmental matrices and in the food chain, causing adverse effects in humans and animals including the development of antibiotic resistance. This review aims to update and discuss the available data on antibiotic residues, using bivalves as biomonitoring organisms.

Bisphenols' occurrence in bivalves as sentinel of environmental contamination.

Bisphenols are massively used in several manufacture processes such that bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous in environment worldwide. After the implementation of regulations about BPA use, manufacturers have moved their production toward alternative substances structurally similar to it. Unfortunately, BPA analogues, given their structural similarity, exert also similar adverse effects.

Determination of Praziquantel in L. after Administration of Medicated Animal Feed.

Praziquantel (PZQ) is an anthelmintic drug used in humans and animals against Platyhelminthes and in aquaculture in the Far East. Medicated feed is one of the most convenient forms of oral administration of drugs in aquaculture because it allows to treat a large population of fish in an easy way. However, this treatment may lead to residues in fish intended for human consumption.

Evaluation of curcuma and ginger mixture ability to prevent ROS production induced by bisphenol S: an study.

The use of bisphenol S (BPS) as a substitute of Bisphenol A is increasing in several products and it can be found in different environmental and biological matrices. Its toxicity has been studied at different levels and one of BPS toxic mechanisms at high concentrations seems to be the induction of oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study evaluates the ability of a curcuma and ginger (CG) mixture to exert an antioxidant effect on rat hepatocytes treated with BPS.

LC-MS/MS analysis of two new designer drugs (FLY serie) in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

The widespread diffusion of new psychoactive substances, requires a continuous update and development of new methods able to identify and quantify these new molecules in biological matrices. In this study an analytical method for the determination of two new benzodifuranyl derivatives, 1-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydrofuro[2,3-f][1]benzofuran-4-yl)propan-2-amine and 2-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydrofuro[2,3-f][1]benzofuran-4-yl)ethanamine, in rat plasma was developed. A solid phase extraction using C18 cartridges was carried out obtaining good recoveries with low matrix effect.

Microcystins Presence in Mussels and Water of Two Productive Mediterranean's Lagoons (Sardinia, Italy).

Microcystins (MCs) are hepatotoxins harmful for animal and human health. The most toxic type between them is MC-LR whose presence has been investigated in different reservoirs all around the world. In this work microcystins were monitored in spring and summer in water and mussels of two Sardinia lagoons: Cabras and Calich lagoons.

Investigation of the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides against cadmium induced damage in testis.

This study describes the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on testicular damage induced by cadmium (Cd). Adult male rats were i.p.

Possible antioxidant effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on hepatic cadmium-induced oxidative stress in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) pretreatment against cadmium (Cd)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Wistar rats were divided into control group, LBP group (300 mg/kg orally, once a day, for 30 days), Cd group (CdCl 4 mg/kg i.p.

ELISA Detection of 30 New Amphetamine Designer Drugs in Whole Blood, Urine and Oral Fluid using Neogen® "Amphetamine" and "Methamphetamine/MDMA" Kits.

Amphetamine designer drugs are central nervous system stimulants that are widely disseminated in the illegal market. Generally, in forensic laboratories, immunoassay methods are the first line of screening for these types of drugs in a biological specimen (typically blood, urine or oral fluid). In this article, we describe the cross-reactivity profiles of 30 new amphetamine designer drugs, using the Neogen(®) [Amphetamine Specific and Methamphetamine/3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) assays] drug tests.

Determination of microcystin-LR in clams (Tapes decussatus) of two Sardinian coastal ponds (Italy).

The presence of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was monitored in Tapes decussatus harvested in two Sardinian ponds (Cabras and Tortolì, Italy) in spring and summer. After solid phase extraction, samples were analyzed using a screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by a liquid chromatographic coupled to tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Results obtained through the ELISA test showed the presence of microcystins with a maximum concentration in August for Cabras pond (0.

Target-antigen Detection and Localization of Human Amniotic-derived Cells after in Utero Transplantation in Rats.

Human amniotic-derived cells (hAMCs) have recently raised interest for their differentiation capability and immunomodulatory properties. To assess the feasibility of hAMCs therapeutic treatment during fetal development, we explored the localization of cells derived from the human amniotic membrane in rat organs after in utero transplantation. Rats were sacrificed at different time points and their organs were analyzed for the distribution of hAMCs by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against Human Cytoplasm and through detection of human DNA.

Simultaneous Determination of 11 Illicit Phenethylamines in Hair by LC-MS-MS: In Vivo Application.

Existing phenethylamines are a class of synthetic compounds that differ from each other only in small changes to a largely conserved chemical structure. The recreational and illicit use of phenethylamines is a widespread problem. A simple procedure for the simultaneous quantitative determination in hair of 11 phenethylamines that are officially recognized as illicit by Italian legislation (p-methoxyamphetamine; p-methoxymethamphetamine; 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine; 2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine; 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine; 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine; 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine; 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine; 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine; 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-n-propylthiophenethylamine) has been developed and validated.

Investigation on gabapentin residues in eggs from free-range hens exposed to saline slags from pharmaceutical industry.

A simple, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated to monitor the presence of gabapentin as environmental contaminant in albumen and yolk of eggs from grazing flocks exposed to open air stored saline wastes from pharmaceutical industry. The method involved a simple liquid extraction followed by a gradient elution with formic acid 0.2 % and acetonitrile in reverse phase.

Quantitative assay for bradykinin in rat plasma by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

An assay to quantify bradykinin in rat plasma has been developed and validated, using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sar-D-Phe(8)-des-Arg(9)-bradykinin was used as internal standard. Aprotinin was added to rat plasma to inhibit the activity of proteinases.

Brain renin-angiotensin system modifies the blood pressure response to intracerebroventricular cadmium in rats.

In order to elucidate the involvement of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in cadmium intracerebroventricular (ICV) hypertension, we evaluated the effects of a pretreatment with different drugs: clonidine, an alpha(2) adrenergic agonist, enalapril and captopril, both ACE inhibitors, and saralasin, a competitive nonselective AT(1) and AT(2) receptor antagonist. We used a rat strain with low levels of kallikrein (LKR) that was more sensitive to ICV cadmium hypertension, compared with normal kallikrein rats (NKRs), the control strain. The interplay between the kallikrein-kinin system and the RAS in the LKR strain caused various hemodynamic alterations, which we believe were the result of elevated RAS activity in these animals.

Gluten exorphin B5 stimulates prolactin secretion through opioid receptors located outside the blood-brain barrier.

Gluten exorphin B5 (GE-B5) is a food-derived opioid peptide identified in digests of wheat gluten. We have recently shown that GE-B5 stimulates prolactin (PRL) secretion in rats; this effect is abolished by preadministration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. However, since the structure of naloxone allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and antagonize opioid effects centrally as well as peripherally, it could not established, on the basis of those data, if GE-B5-induced PRL release is exerted through sites located inside or outside the BBB.

Intravenous administration of the food-derived opioid peptide gluten exorphin B5 stimulates prolactin secretion in rats.

Gluten Exorphin B5 (GE-B5) is a food-derived opioid peptide, identified in vitro in enzymatic digests of wheat gluten. It has been suggested that this peptide may play a regulatory role on pituitary secretion, since it stimulates prolactin (PRL) secretion when administered in the cerebral ventricles in rats. It is not known, however, if GE-B5 can exert this stimulatory action after peripheral administration.

Prolactin and growth hormone response to intracerebroventricular administration of the food opioid peptide gluten exorphin B5 in rats.

Although it has long been known that opioid peptides cause marked changes of pituitary hormone secretion in both animals and humans, little is known about the possible effect(s) of food-derived opioids (exorphins) on pituitary function. In order to investigate the possible role of exorphins derived from wheat gluten on pituitary function, we gave the following treatments to four groups of male rats: intracerebroventricular (ICV) vehicle, Gluten Exorphin B5 (GE-B5) 200 microg ICV, naloxone intraperitoneally (IP) followed by vehicle ICV, naloxone IP followed by GE-B5 ICV. Blood samples for Prolactin (PRL) and Growth Hormone (GH) were taken at intervals for 90 minutes after vehicle or GE-B5 administration.