Estrogen-responsive transient expression assay using a brain aromatase-based reporter gene in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Whereas endogenous estrogens play an important role in the development, maintenance, and function of female and male reproductive organs, xenoestrogens present in the environment disrupt normal endocrine function in humans and wildlife. Various in vivo and in vitro assays have been developed to screen these xenoestrogens. However, traditional in vivo assays are laborious and unsuitable for large-scale screening, and in vitro assays do not necessarily replicate in vivo functioning.

Developmental toxicity and brain aromatase induction by high genistein concentrations in zebrafish embryos.

Genistein is a phytoestrogen found at a high level in soybeans. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that high concentrations of genistein caused toxic effects. This study was designed to test the feasibility of zebrafish embryos for evaluating developmental toxicity and estrogenic potential of high genistein concentrations.

NaCl plus chitosan as a dietary salt to prevent the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of NaCl plus 3% chitosan on the systolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were evaluated and compared with NaCl plus KCl (NaCl, 49.36% + KCl 49.36%) and chitosan or NaCl treatment alone.

Benomyl induction of brain aromatase and toxic effects in the zebrafish embryo.

Benomyl is a benzimidazole fungicide that has been widely used on a variety of food crops and ornamental plants. It is known to cause adverse effects on reproductive systems, including decreased testicular and epididymal weights and reduced epididymal sperm counts and fertility. The brain aromatase gene is up-regulated by estrogens and estrogen mimics and considered a target gene to screen estrogen mimics.

Detection of antibodies against SARS-Coronavirus using recombinant truncated nucleocapsid proteins by ELISA.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a lifethreatening emerging respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV. The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV is highly antigenic and may be a suitable candidate for diagnostic applications. We constructed truncated recombinant N proteins (N1 [1-422 aa], N2 [1- 109 aa], and N3 [110-422 aa]) and determined their antigenicity by Western blotting using convalescent SARS serum.

Search for potential target site of nucleocapsid gene for the design of an epitope-based SARS DNA vaccine.

It is believed today that nucleocapsid protein (N) of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV is one of the most promising antigen candidates for vaccine design. In this study, three fragments [N1 (residues: 1-422); N2 (residues: 1-109); N3 (residues: 110-422)] of N protein of SARS-CoV were expressed in Escherichia coli and analyzed by pooled sera of convalescence phase of SARS patients. Three gene fragments [N1 (1-1269 nt), N2 (1-327 nt) and N3 (328-1269 nt)-expressing the same proteins of N1, N2 and N3, respectively] of SARS-N were cloned into pVAX-1 and used to immunize BALB/c mice by electroporation.

Studies on the antimicrobial potential of the cardiovascular drug lacidipine.

The cardiovascular drug lacidipine was screened in vitro for possible antibacterial activity with respect to 389 Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. It was noticed that most bacteria (233) failed to grow at 50-200 microg/mL concentrations of the drug. Some strains were inhibited at even lower concentrations.

Activity of diclofenac used alone and in combination with streptomycin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCL) shows noteworthy in vitro and in vivo antimycobacterial activity. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether DCL used in combination with the first-line antitubercular antibiotic streptomycin (STM) synergistically augments its efficacy in vitro as well as in a murine tuberculosis infection model. In vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and synergistic activities of the drugs with respect to standard strains and clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were determined.

Potential management of resistant microbial infections with a novel non-antibiotic: the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium.

Diclofenac sodium (Dc), an anti-inflammatory agent, has remarkable inhibitory action both against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant clinical isolates of various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of Dc to protect mice from a virulent Salmonella infection. Dc injected at 1.

Diclofenac in the management of E. coli urinary tract infections.

E. coli is the main agent of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and accounts for more than 85% of recurrent cystitis and at least 35% of recurrent pyelonephritis. Despite the widespread availability of antibiotics, UTIs remain the most common bacterial infection in the human population.

Pronounced inhibitory effect of chlorcyclizine (CCZ) in experimental hepatocarcinoma.

Thepiperazine chlorcyclizine HCl (CCZ), possessing significant antimetabolic as well as virucidal and virustatic activities against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other retroviruses, was selected to determine its anticarcinogenic potential The anticancer activity of CCZ was evaluated against procarcinogen n-diethylnitrosamine (NDA)-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis, which was subsequently promoted by phenobarbital (PB) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The anticancer efficacy of CCZ was monitored by estimating some potential markers of neoplastic and preneoplastic hepatic conditions, e.g.

Antimicrobial potentiality of the thioxanthene flupenthixol through extensive in vitro and in vivo experiments.

The antipsychotic thioxanthene flupenthixol, possessing a trifluoromethyl substituent at position 2, exhibited a distinct antibacterial property against 352 strains of bacteria from 3 Gram-positive and 13 Gram-negative genera. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of flupenthixol was determined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards agar dilution method. MICs ranged from 10-100 microg/mL in most of the strains, whilst some strains were inhibited at even lower concentrations.

In vitro and in vivo antimycobacterial activity of an antihypertensive agent methyl-L-DOPA.

Methyl-L-DOPA, an antihypertensive agent, has significant in vitro activity against a variety of atypical mycobacteria such as the Mycobacterium avium complex, M. scrofulaceum, M. xenopi and M.

In vitro and in vivo synergism between tetracycline and the cardiovascular agent oxyfedrine HCl against common bacterial strains.

The cardiovascular drug oxyfedrine HCl revealed noteworthy in vitro antibacterial action against 501 strains of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. It also offered significant protection to mice challenged with a mouse-virulent bacterial strain. Prompted by such results, the present study was carried out to ascertain whether this drug could augment the efficiency of an antibiotic when used in combination with it.

Antibacterial property of the antipsychotic agent prochlorperazine, and its synergism with methdilazine.

The antipsychotic drug prochlorperazine was screened in vitro for possible antimicrobial property against 157 strains of bacteria, belonging to gram positive and gram negative genera. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of prochlorperazine was determined by agar dilution method, which ranged from 25 to 200 microg/ml with respect to most of the strains. Based on such findings, a further study was undertaken to determine whether the efficacy of this drug could be enhanced in the presence of an antihistaminic agent methdilazine, reported to have remarkable antimicrobial action.

Evaluation of synergism between the aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin and the cardiovascular agent amlodipine.

Amlodipine, a cardiovascular drug, exhibited remarkable antibacterial action in vitro against 504 bacterial strains belonging to both Gram positive and Gram negative genera, as well as in vivo against a mouse-virulent bacterium. Based on such findings, the present study was undertaken to determine whether the efficacy of this non-antibiotic drug could be enhanced in the presence of any antibiotic. Twelve bacterial strains, sensitive to amlodipine as well as to 6 antibiotics, viz.