scholarly journals Piperazine-Derivative MMV665917: An Effective Drug in the Diarrheic Piglet Model of Cryptosporidium hominis

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangun Lee ◽  
Melanie Ginese ◽  
Don Girouard ◽  
Gillian Beamer ◽  
Christopher D Huston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Oocyst Excretion ◽  
Cryptosporidium Hominis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Piperazine Derivative ◽  
Gnotobiotic Piglets

Abstract Background Cryptosporidiosis, an enteric protozoon, causes substantial morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhea in children <2 years old in low- to middle-income countries. There is no vaccine and treatments are inadequate. A piperazine-based compound, MMV665917, has in vitro and in vivo efficacy against Cryptosporidium parvum. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of MMV665917 in gnotobiotic piglets experimentally infected with Cryptosporidium hominis, the species responsible for >75% of diarrhea reported in these children. Methods Gnotobiotic piglets were orally challenged with C hominis oocysts, and oral treatment with MMV665917 was commenced 3 days after challenge. Oocyst excretion and diarrhea severity were observed daily, and mucosal colonization and lesions were recorded after necropsy. Results MMV665917 significantly reduced fecal oocyst excretion, parasite colonization and damage to the intestinal mucosa, and peak diarrheal symptoms, compared with infected untreated controls. A dose of 20 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days was more effective than 10 mg/kg. There were no signs of organ toxicity at either dose, but 20 mg/kg was associated with slightly elevated blood cholesterol and monocytes at euthanasia. Conclusions These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this drug against C hominis. Piperazine-derivative MMV665917 may potentially be used to treat human cryptosporidiosis; however, further investigations are required.

scholarly journals Smartphone microendoscopy for high resolution fluorescence imaging

2016 ◽  
Vol 09 (05) ◽  
pp. 1650046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangqian Hong ◽  
Vivek K. Nagarajan ◽  
Dale H. Mugler ◽  
Bing Yu
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Past

High resolution optical endoscopes are increasingly used in diagnosis of various medical conditions of internal organs, such as the cervix and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts, but they are too expensive for use in resource-poor settings. On the other hand, smartphones with high resolution cameras and Internet access have become more affordable, enabling them to diffuse into most rural areas and developing countries in the past decade. In this paper, we describe a smartphone microendoscope that can take fluorescence images with a spatial resolution of 3.1 [Formula: see text]m. Images collected from ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo samples using the device are also presented. The compact and cost-effective smartphone microendoscope may be envisaged as a powerful tool for detecting pre-cancerous lesions of internal organs in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

scholarly journals Drug repurposing in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a breath of fresh air?

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (147) ◽  
pp. 170098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Boyer ◽  
Eddy Pasquier ◽  
Pascale Tomasini ◽  
Joseph Ciccolini ◽  
Laurent Greillier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Lower Treatment ◽  
Lower Treatment Cost

Drug repurposing is the use of known drugs for new indications. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. So far, few treatments have been approved in this disease. However, its incidence is expected to increase significantly, particularly in developing countries. Consequently, drug repurposing appears as an attractive strategy for drug development in MPM, since the known pharmacology and safety profile based on previous approvals of repurposed drugs allows for faster time-to-market for patients and lower treatment cost. This is critical in low- and middle-income countries where access to expensive drugs is limited. This review assesses the published preclinical and clinical data about drug repurposing in MPM.In this review, we identified 11 therapeutic classes that could be repositioned in mesothelioma. Most of these treatments have been evaluatedin vitro, half have been evaluatedin vivoin animal models of MPM and only three (i.e.valproate, thalidomide and zoledronic acid) have been investigated in clinical trials, with limited benefits so far. Efforts could be coordinated to pursue further investigations and test promising drugs identified in preclinical experiments in appropriately designed clinical trials.

scholarly journals Characterization of Weissella viridescens UCO-SMC3 as a Potential Probiotic for the Skin: Its Beneficial Role in the Pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1486
Author(s):  
Marcela Espinoza-Monje ◽  
Jorge Campos ◽  
Eduardo Alvarez Villamil ◽  
Alonso Jerez ◽  
Stefania Dentice Maidana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Acne Vulgaris ◽  
Topical Administration ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Mice Model ◽  
Cutibacterium Acnes ◽  
Snail Helix Aspersa

Previously, we isolated lactic acid bacteria from the slime of the garden snail Helix aspersa Müller and selected Weissella viridescens UCO-SMC3 because of its ability to inhibit in vitro the growth of the skin-associated pathogen Cutibacterium acnes. The present study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 and to demonstrate its beneficial effect in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Our in vitro studies showed that the UCO-SMC3 strain resists adverse gastrointestinal conditions, inhibits the growth of clinical isolates of C. acnes, and reduces the adhesion of the pathogen to keratinocytes. Furthermore, in vivo studies in a mice model of C. acnes infection demonstrated that W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 beneficially modulates the immune response against the skin pathogen. Both the oral and topical administration of the UCO-SCM3 strain was capable of reducing the replication of C. acnes in skin lesions and beneficially modulating the inflammatory response. Of note, orally administered W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 induced more remarkable changes in the immune response to C. acnes than the topical treatment. However, the topical administration of W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 was more efficient than the oral treatment to reduce pathogen bacterial loads in the skin, and effects probably related to its ability to inhibit and antagonize the adhesion of C. acnes. Furthermore, a pilot study in acne volunteers demonstrated the capacity of a facial cream containing the UCO-SMC3 strain to reduce acne lesions. The results presented here encourage further mechanistic and clinical investigations to characterize W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 as a probiotic for acne vulgaris treatment.

scholarly journals In vivo and In vitro Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous and Ethanol Stem Bark Extracts of Vitex doniana on Doxorubicin-induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

2021 ◽  
pp. 44-55
Author(s):  
Mohammed Aliyu Sulaiman ◽  
Daniel Dahiru ◽  
Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim ◽  
Ahmed Ibrahim Hayatu
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Stem Bark ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Associated Diseases ◽  
Vitex Doniana

Background: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, muscular dystrophy, aging and other associated diseases. Vitex doniana is used in Adamawa, northern Nigeria to treat oxidative stress associated diseases. However, the antioxidative effects of the plant have not been scientifically examined in oxidative stress experimental animal models. The aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of aqueous and ethanol stem bark extracts of Vitex doniana in oxidative stress model of rats. Methods: The study used 35 adult albino rats weighing 175 ± 25 g, of which 30 were induced with oxidative stress by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) for three consecutive days. Animals were treated by oral administration of silymarin (100 mg/kg) and Vitex doniana aqueous or ethanol extract (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days before they were sacrificed on the 15th day and blood was analyzed for biochemical indices of oxidative stress. Results: The results of the phytochemistry showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides: and total flavonoids (52.70 ± 1.60 mg/ml and 75.40 ± 0.80 mg/ml), total phenols (21.45 ± 1.54 mg/ml and 26.50 ± 1.22 mg/ml) for aqueous and ethanol stem bark extracts respectively. The extracts scavenged DPPH radical, reduced Fe3+ and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Doxorubicin significantly (p<0.05) lowered the levels of SOD, CAT, GR and TAS and significantly (p<0.05) but, increased the level of LPO. Oral treatment with Vitex doniana extracts significantly (p<0.05) increased the activities of CAT, GR, SOD and TAS while LPO was significantly (p<0.05) lowered. Vitex doniana stem bark extracts significantly (p<0.05) improved the biochemical derangements observed in the induced untreated animals in comparable manner to that of Silymarin. Conclusion: The present study provides the scientific rationale for the use of Vitex doniana stem bark in traditional medicine and has a viable antioxidative capacity both in vitro and in vivo.

FimH Antagonists for the Oral Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections: From Design and Synthesis to in Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation

2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (24) ◽  
pp. 8627-8641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Klein ◽  
Daniela Abgottspon ◽  
Matthias Wittwer ◽  
Said Rabbani ◽  
Janno Herold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
In Vivo Evaluation ◽  
Design And Synthesis ◽  
Tract Infections

scholarly journals A Novel Piperazine-Based Drug Lead for Cryptosporidiosis from the Medicines for Malaria Venture Open-Access Malaria Box

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. e01505-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Jumani ◽  
K. Bessoff ◽  
M. S. Love ◽  
P. Miller ◽  
E. E. Stebbins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Drug Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Cryptosporidium Hominis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knockout Mouse Model ◽  
Malaria Box

ABSTRACTCryptosporidiosis causes life-threatening diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years and prolonged diarrhea in immunodeficient people, especially AIDS patients. The standard of care, nitazoxanide, is modestly effective in children and ineffective in immunocompromised individuals. In addition to the need for new drugs, better knowledge of drug properties that drivein vivoefficacy is needed to facilitate drug development. We report the identification of a piperazine-based lead compound forCryptosporidiumdrug development, MMV665917, and a new pharmacodynamic method used for its characterization. The identification of MMV665917 from the Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box was followed by dose-response studies,in vitrotoxicity studies, and structure-activity relationship studies using commercial analogues. The potency of this compound againstCryptosporidium parvumIowa and field isolates was comparable to that againstCryptosporidium hominis. Furthermore, unlike nitazoxanide, clofazimine, and paromomycin, MMV665917 appeared to be curative in a NOD SCID gamma mouse model of chronic cryptosporidiosis. MMV665917 was also efficacious in a gamma interferon knockout mouse model of acute cryptosporidiosis. To determine if efficacy in this mouse model of chronic infection might relate to whether compounds are parasiticidal or parasitistatic forC. parvum, we developed a novelin vitroparasite persistence assay. This assay suggested that MMV665917 was parasiticidal, unlike nitazoxanide, clofazimine, and paromomycin. The assay also enabled determination of the concentration of the compound required to maximize the rate of parasite elimination. This time-kill assay can be used to prioritize early-stageCryptosporidiumdrug leads and may aid in planningin vivoefficacy experiments. Collectively, these results identify MMV665917 as a promising lead and establish a new method for characterizing potential anticryptosporidial agents.

scholarly journals Organoids and Bioengineered Intestinal Models: Potential Solutions to the Cryptosporidium Culturing Dilemma

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Gunasekera ◽  
Alireza Zahedi ◽  
Mark O’Dea ◽  
Brendon King ◽  
Paul Monis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Severe Diarrhea ◽  
Transformed Cell Lines ◽  
Gnotobiotic Piglets

Cryptosporidium is a major cause of severe diarrhea-related disease in children in developing countries, but currently no vaccine or effective treatment exists for those who are most at risk of serious illness. This is partly due to the lack of in vitro culturing methods that are able to support the entire Cryptosporidium life cycle, which has led to research in Cryptosporidium biology lagging behind other protozoan parasites. In vivo models such as gnotobiotic piglets are complex, and standard in vitro culturing methods in transformed cell lines, such as HCT-8 cells, have not been able to fully support fertilization occurring in vitro. Additionally, the Cryptosporidium life cycle has also been reported to occur in the absence of host cells. Recently developed bioengineered intestinal models, however, have shown more promising results and are able to reproduce a whole cycle of infectivity in one model system. This review evaluates the recent advances in Cryptosporidium culturing techniques and proposes future directions for research that may build upon these successes.

scholarly journals Cholesterol Prevents Hypoxia-Induced Hypoglycemia by Regulation of a Metabolic Ketogenic Shift

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Naama Miron ◽  
Oren Tirosh
Keyword(s):  
Liver Fat ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Adaptation To Hypoxia ◽  
Metabolic Shift ◽  
High Cholesterol ◽  
Liver Uptake ◽  
Metabolic Markers

Blood cholesterol levels have been connected to high-altitude adaptation. In the present study, we treated mice with high-cholesterol diets following exposure to acute hypoxic stress and evaluated the effects of the diets on whole-body, liver glucose, and liver fat metabolism. For rapid cholesterol liver uptake, 6-week-old male C57BL/J6 mice were fed with high-cholesterol/cholic acid (CH) diet for 6 weeks and then were exposed to gradual oxygen level reduction for 1 h and hypoxia at 7% oxygen for additional 1 hour using a hypoxic chamber. Animals were than sacrificed, and metabolic markers were evaluated. Hypoxic treatment had a strong hypoglycemic effect that was completely blunted by CH treatment. Decreases in gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis as well as an increase in ketone body formation were observed. Such changes indicate a metabolic shift from glucose to fat utilization due to activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase/AMPK axis in the CH-treated animals. Increased ketogenesis was also observed in vitro in hepatocytes after cholesterol treatment. In conclusion, our results show for the first time that cholesterol contributes to metabolic shift and adaptation to hypoxia in vivo and in vitro through induction of HIF-1α and iNOS expression.

scholarly journals Effects of retinoid therapy on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and circulating adipocytokines

2006 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Corbetta ◽  
R Angioni ◽  
A Cattaneo ◽  
P Beck-Peccoz ◽  
A Spada
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Lipid Profile ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
Glucose And Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Cholesterol Levels

Objective: In vitro and in vivo models indicate that all-trans retinoic acids influence glucose and lipid metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic treatment with acitretin, an all-trans retinoic acid, on glucose metabolism, lipid profile and adiponectin and resistin levels. Design: Ten normoglycemic, normolipemic patients affected with psoriasis vulgaris were studied before and after 1 and 3 months of oral treatment with 35 μg of acitretin. Methods: Glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and adiponectin and resistin levels were evaluated in basal conditions and after acitretin treatment. Ten healthy subjects matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity were studied as controls. Results: One-month acitretin treatment reduced psoriasis activity, insulin sensitivity, evaluated as QUICKI values (0.364 ± 0.034 versus 0.329 ± 0.051; P < 0.05) and HOMA-IR index (1.53 ± 0.73 versus 2.59 ± 1.41; P < 0.05), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels (45.2 ± 11.7 versus 39.4 ± 10.4 mg/dl; P = 0.01). The impairment in glucose and lipid homeostasis was transient and not associated to BMI variations. Adiponectin levels did not change during the treatment, while resistin levels, which were higher in untreated patients than in controls (9.4 ± 4.4 versus 6.2 ± 2.1 ng/ml; P = 0.05), fell within the normal range after 1 and 3 months of therapy. The normalization of resistin levels occurred without significant changes in circulating tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) levels, which persisted elevated throughout the treatment. Conclusions: Treatment with a low dose of acitretin induced a mild, transient reduction of insulin sensitivity and HDL-cholesterol levels that was not related to modifications of adiponectin, resistin and TNFα levels. Although the role of resistin in humans remains elusive, the levels of this adipocytokine seem to be affected, at least in part, by retinoids.

scholarly journals Essential Oils as Components of a Diet-Based Approach to Management of Helicobacter Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 3240-3246 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Bergonzelli ◽  
D. Donnicola ◽  
N. Porta ◽  
I. E. Corthésy-Theulaz
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oils ◽  
Seed Oil ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Peptic Ulcers ◽  
Carrot Seed ◽  
Bactericidal Activities ◽  
H Pylori

ABSTRACT An increased density of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa can be associated with more severe gastritis and an increased incidence of peptic ulcers. Therefore, people with asymptomatic gastritis would certainly benefit from a nutritional approach to help them manage the infection and therefore decrease the risk of development of associated pathologies. We analyzed the activities of 60 essential oils against H. pylori P1 and identified 30 oils that affected growth, with in vitro inhibition zones ranging between 0.7 and 6.3 cm in diameter. We further analyzed the effects of 16 oils with different activities on H. pylori P1 viability. Fifteen showed strong bactericidal activities, with minimal bactericidal concentrations after 24 h ranging from 0.02 to 0.1 g/liter at pH 7.4. Even though slight variations in activities were observed, the essential oils that displayed the strongest bactericidal potentials against H. pylori P1 were also active against other Helicobacter strains tested. Among the pure constituents of different essential oils tested, carvacrol, isoeugenol, nerol, citral, and sabinene exhibited the strongest anti-H. pylori activities. Although oral treatment of H. pylori SS1-infected mice with carrot seed oil did not result in significant decreases in the bacterial loads in the treated animals compared to those in the control animals, in all experiments performed, the infection was cleared in 20 to 30% of carrot seed oil-treated animals. Our results indicate that essential oils are unlikely to be efficient anti-Helicobacter agents in vivo. However, their effects may not be irrelevant if one plans to use them as food additives to complement present therapies.

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