Immunogenicity and potential protection of DNA vaccine of Leishmania martiniquensis against Leishmania infection in mice.

Introduction: In Thailand, Leishmania martiniquensis is the predominant species causing cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Its incidence has been increasing among immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. We developed a prototype DNA vaccine using a partial consensus sequence of the cysteine protease B (cpb) gene derived from L.

Phikud Navakot Modulates the Level of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators and the Protein Expression of SOD1 and 2 and the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in Rats with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Phikud Navakot (PN) is nine major herbs in a famous traditional Thai recipe namely "Yahom Navakot" used to treat cardiovascular disorders. This study investigated the cardioprotective effects of PN formula on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (IMI) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Forty-five rats were randomly divided into nine groups ( = 5 per group): the control, the IMI, the IMI + propranolol, the control or the IMI + PN formula (PN ethanolic extract at doses of 64, 127, or 255 mg/kg) by oroesophageal gavage for 28 days.

Cardioprotection of Atractylodes lancea against Hypoxia/ Reoxygenation-Injured H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts.

Background: Atractylodes lancea (Thunb) DC has been widely used as traditional medicine in many countries including Thailand for the treatment of fever, common cold and sore throat.

Objective: To evaluate the cardioprotective effects of Atractylodes lancea extracts against hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR)-injured H9c2 cardiomyoblasts.

Material And Method: For cytotoxic determination, the H9c2 cells were incubated with the ethanolic extract of Atractylodes lancea (AL-E) and water extract (AL-W) at the concentrations between 0.

Effect of Short-Term Oral Administration of Phikud Navakot in Rats.

Background: Phikud Navakot (PN), composed of nine herbs and used as a main component of Yahom Navakot, is used in traditional Thai medicine against dizziness and fainting.

Objective: To investigate the effects of PN on blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and antioxidant properties on male Sprague Dawley rats.

Material And Method: All rats were weighted everyday in the morning, after that, PN (10, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW) were given oroesophageal feeding for seven days.

Effects of Phikud Navakot Extract on Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Background: Phikud Navakot (PN) is a set of nine medicinal plants and the main ingredient of "Yahom Navakot", a traditional Thai herbal formula for treatment of cardiovascular symptoms.

Objective: To investigate the cardioprotective effects of PN on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) in male Sprague Dawley rats.

Material And Method: Rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: sham, IR, and IR orally pretreated with PN (10, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg B W)for 7 days.

Estrogen reduces BDNF level, but maintains dopaminergic cell density in the striatum of MPTP mouse model.

Degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) axons in the striatum triggers upregulation of striatal trophic activity and striatal DA neuronal number in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study investigated the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and the density of DA neurons in the striatum of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model in correlation with nigrostriatal DA innervation. Adult male C57Bl/6 mice were treated with E2 or vehicle for 11 days.

Cytokine profiles in the testes of rats treated with lipopolysaccharide reveal localized suppression of inflammatory responses.

Evidence indicates that the testis possesses a reduced capacity to mount inflammatory and rejection responses, which undoubtedly contributes to the ongoing survival of the highly immunogenic germ cells. The contribution of local cytokine expression to this condition was investigated in adult male rats treated with lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation. Cytokine mRNA and protein expression were determined in tissue extracts and fluids by Northern blot analysis, quantitative PCR, or RNAse protection assay and specific ELISAs.

The response of testicular leukocytes to lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation: further evidence for heterogeneity of the testicular macrophage population.

The majority of macrophages in the rat testis can be identified by the tissue-resident macrophage marker ED2. A smaller population of intratesticular macrophages do not express the ED2 antigen but are positive for the monocyte/macrophage marker ED1. Treatment of adult rats with the inflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) had no effect on the number of testicular resident (ED2(+)) macrophages but caused a transient increase in ED1(+)ED2(-) monocyte-like macrophages (an average three-fold increase 12 h later).