Specifics of the morphological identification of the pathogen of passaluariasis of rabbits

Passalurus ambiguus (Nematoda, Oxyuroidae) is one of the most common parasites of digestive tract of domestic and wild rabbits and rodents. Passalurus spp. are cosmopolitan, and the mature nematodes are localized in the appendages and large intestine of animals. The passaluariasis infections remain quite relevant in modern rabbit breeding, because the disease is highly contagious, with the possibility of unlimited spread inducing significant economic losses. The aim of the study was to determine the identifying morphological species characteristics of P. ambiguus nematodes, which were isolated from the colon of domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus). The identifying characters of Passalurus include morphological features, namely the presence of a spherical bulb in the esophagus, and the presence of three teeth in the oral capsule. Males of P. ambiguus have a characteristic structure of the tail end, namely the presence of papillary protrusions and a massive narrowed part with a spicule handle, and five papillae around the cloaca. Twenty-eight metric indicators are proposed that characterize the size of the body, oral capsule, esophagus in different parts of it, the tail end, spicules, the location of the cloaca. Two different morphotypes of mature females of P. ambiguus were revealed – short-tailed and long-tailed, which were larger by 19 indicators (by 3.2–43.6%). The morphotypes of P. ambiguus females are characterized; the length of the tail, body length and width in different areas, depth of the oral capsule, esophageal size and its structural elements, the location of the vulva and nerve ring, the width of the caudal process. At the same time, the parameters of esophageal bulb length and caudal process in short-tailed females were higher (by 13.9% and 11.9%, respectively) than in the long-tailed females. A total of 25 morphometric parameters were proposed for the identification of P. ambiguus females. The obtained data indicate the feasibility of further research on the causes of occurrence of such morphotypes in P. ambiguus females and the need to take into account the existence of such forms of females for their differential diagnosis taking into account their proposed morphometric parameters.

Effect of oral capsule of Peganum harmala seeds on bone density in menopausal women prone to osteoporosis

Background and aims: Osteoporosis is one of the most common metabolic bone diseases with systemic involvement of the body skeleton. The Peganum harmala seed contains high amounts of carboline alkaloids, which have been shown to have positive effects on bone formation in animal studies. In the present study, the effect of an oral capsule of P. harmala seed on bone density was evaluated in menopausal women prone to osteoporosis. Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 100 women referring to the orthopedic clinic with a diagnosis of osteoporosis were included and divided into the intervention group treated with calcium D (500 mg) twice a day, Osteofos (70 mg) per week, and P. harmala (500 mg) twice‐a‐day, and the control group treated with calcium D and Osteofos. Before and three months after the intervention, patients were evaluated for osteoporosis using bone densitometry. Finally, independent t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur before and after the intervention showed significant improvements in the intervention and control groups (P<0.001). The mean differences in BMD before and after the intervention were significant in both control and intervention groups with higher improvements in the intervention group (P<0.001). Although the mean BMD of the spine before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.167), it was better in the intervention group after the intervention (P=0.030). Conclusion: The findings of the present study confirmed the beneficial effects of P. harmala on osteoporosis while the lack of any changes in liver enzymes.

Lower endoscopic delivery of freeze-dried intestinal microbiota results in more rapid and efficient engraftment than oral administration

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). However, standardization of FMT products is essential for its broad implementation into clinical practice. We have developed an oral preparation of freeze-dried, encapsulated microbiota, which is ~ 80% clinically effective, but results in delayed engraftment of donor bacteria relative to administration via colonoscopy. Our objective was to measure the engraftment potential of freeze-dried microbiota without the complexity of variables associated with oral administration. We compared engraftment of identical preparations and doses of freeze-dried microbiota following colonoscopic (9 patients) versus oral administration (18 patients). Microbiota were characterized by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and engraftment was determined using the SourceTracker algorithm. Oligotyping analysis was done to provide high-resolution patterns of microbiota engraftment. Colonoscopic FMT was associated with greater levels of donor engraftment within days following the procedure (ANOVA P = 0.035) and specific increases in the relative abundances of donor Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Porphyromonadaceae (P ≤ 0.033). Lower relative abundances of Bacteroidaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae families were associated with clinical failures. These results suggest that further optimization of oral capsule FMT may improve its engraftment efficiency and clinical efficacy.

An Oral FMT Capsule as Efficient as an Enema for Microbiota Reconstruction Following Disruption by Antibiotics, as Assessed in an In Vitro Human Gut Model

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an innovative therapy already used in humans to treat Clostridioides difficile infections associated with massive use of antibiotics. Clinical studies are obviously the gold standard to evaluate FMT efficiency but remain limited by regulatory, ethics, and cost constraints. In the present study, an in vitro model of the human colon reproducing medically relevant perturbation of the colonic ecosystem by antibiotherapy was used to compare the efficiency of traditional FMT enema formulations and a new oral capsule in restoring gut microbiota composition and activity. Loss of microbial diversity, shift in bacterial populations, and sharp decrease in fermentation activities induced in vivo by antibiotherapy were efficiently reproduced in the in vitro model, while capturing inter-individual variability of gut microbiome. Oral capsule was as efficient as enema to decrease the number of disturbed days and bacterial load had no effect on enema performance. This study shows the relevance of human colon models as an alternative approach to in vivo assays during preclinical studies for evaluating FMT efficiency. The potential of this in vitro approach could be extended to FMT testing in the management of many digestive or extra-intestinal pathologies where gut microbial dysbiosis has been evidenced such as inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity or cancers.

Gastrointestinal disturbance and effect of fecal microbiota transplantation in discharged COVID-19 patients

Background To investigate the potential beneficial effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on gastrointestinal symptoms, gut dysbiosis and immune status in discharged COVID-19 patients. Case presentation A total of 11 COVID-19 patients were recruited in April, 2020, about one month on average after they were discharged from the hospital. All subjects received FMT for 4 consecutive days by oral capsule administrations with 10 capsules for each day. In total, 5 out of 11 patients reported to be suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms, which were improved after FMT. After FMT, alterations of B cells were observed, which was characterized as decreased naive B cell (P = 0.012) and increased memory B cells (P = 0.001) and non-switched B cells (P = 0.012).The microbial community richness indicated by operational taxonomic units number, observed species and Chao1 estimator was marginally increased after FMT. Gut microbiome composition of discharged COVID-19 patients differed from that of the general population at both phylum and genera level, which was characterized with a lower proportion of Firmicutes (41.0%) and Actinobacteria (4.0%), higher proportion of Bacteroidetes (42.9%) and Proteobacteria (9.2%). FMT can partially restore the gut dysbiosis by increasing the relative abundance of Actinobacteria (15.0%) and reducing Proteobacteria (2.8%) at the phylum level. At the genera level, Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium had significantly increased after FMT. Conclusions After FMT, altered peripheral lymphocyte subset, restored gut microbiota and alleviated gastrointestinal disorders were observe, suggesting that FMT may serve as a potential therapeutic and rehabilitative intervention for the COVID-19.

Evaluation of rivastigmine in Alzheimer's disease

Dementia is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in older adults, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common cause. AD has a significant impact on economic and psychosocial status. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are currently the mainstay in the management of AD. Rivastigmine is the only ChEI that inhibits both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes in the brain. This dual inhibition makes it potentially more effective for AD patients. Its availability as both a transdermal formulation and oral capsule, may improve adherence rates and care giver satisfaction compared with other ChEIs. To date, the data from randomized clinical trials and post marketing observational studies have shown evidence for an impact on cognitive functions in AD with good safety and tolerability.

Effect of Oral Calcium Administration on Metabolic Status and Uterine Health of Dairy Cows With Reduced Postpartum Rumination and Eating Time

BackgroundHypocalcemia has detrimental effects on health and performance of dairy cows. As hypocalcemic cows show reduced feed intake, we hypothesized that cows with lower rumination and eating time (CRET) may benefit from Ca supplementation. The objective was to evaluate the effect of postpartum oral Ca administration on metabolic status (Ca, fatty acids [FA], and β-Hydroxybutyrate [BHB] serum concentrations) and incidence of puerperal metritis (PM) in dairy cows with reduced postpartum CRET. Cows diagnosed with reduced CRET (<489 min/d; n=88) during the first day postpartum were assigned into 1 of 2 treatments: i) Calcium administration (CA; =45) that received 1 Ca oral capsule (Bovikalc bolus, Boehringer Ingelheim, St. Joseph, MO) containing CaCl2 and CaSO4 (43 g of Ca) once per day, for 3 consecutive days, starting at d 1 postpartum; and ii) Control (CON; n=43) that did not receive oral Ca. A convenience group consisting of cows with CRET ≥489 min/d was used for comparison and did not receive oral Ca (NOR; n=96).ResultsAt day 1 postpartum cows with lower CRET had lower Ca serum concentrations (CA=2.08 mmol/L; CON=2.06 mmol/L) compared with NOR cows (2.17 mmol/L). Calcium concentrations at d 3, 5, and 12 postpartum were not different among the three groups. Serum FA concentrations at d 1, 3 and 5 postpartum were higher in both CA and CON cows compared with NOR. At d 12, only CA cows had higher FA concentrations than NOR cows. Serum BHB concentrations at d 3 were highest in CA, with no difference between CON and NOR. At d 5, BHB concentrations were higher in CA, followed by CON, and NOR. No effect was observed for Ca administration on incidence of PM and reproductive performance. CON cows had lower survival at 30 DIM (86.5%) than NOR cows (97.9%).ConclusionsCows with reduced CRET during the first day postpartum had lower Ca concentration and altered metabolic status following parturition. Oral calcium administration did not affect incidence of metabolic disorders nor reproductive health and subsequent pregnancy. Compared with normal cows, survival at 30 days in milk was lower for non-Ca supplemented cows with CRET.

Characterization of Cannabidiol in Alternative Biological Specimens and Urine, after Consumption of an Oral Capsule

Among the hundred cannabinoids present in cannabis sativa indica, cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940, which can account for up to 40% of the plant’s extract. Medically, it has been proposed to treat convulsions, inflammation, anxiety and nausea. Contrary to the hallucinogenic ingredient of the plant, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD does not seem to have a sedative effect, which can increase its popularity among users. The identification of CBD in blood and urine has been widely described in the scientific literature for several years. Only few data have been reported regarding CBD identification in alternative specimens, such as oral fluid, sweat, exhaled breath and hair. CBD capsules were purchased in the USA from a grocery store and a green capsule containing 22 mg of CBD was orally administered to a 59-year-old healthy man. Oral fluid was collected over 8 h using the NeoSal™ device. Sweat was collected using PharmCheck™ sweat patch technology over 7 days. Exhaled breath was collected with the ExaBreath® DrugTrap device over 8 h. Beard hair was collected 7 and 14 days after administration. Finally, urine specimens were collected over 48 h in plastic tubes without preservative. CBD was only detected in oral fluid at 15 min, at 20 pg/mL. Increasing concentrations, up to 96 pg/patch of CBD, were detected in the sweat patches. CBD was detected for 45 minutes in exhaled breath (Cmax of 302 pg/filter at 30 min). CBD produced a very low but significant chromatographic signal in beard hair, with concentrations &lt;1 pg/mg. Finally, CBD tested positive in urine after enzymatic hydrolysis with a Cmax at 70 ng/mL, after 6 h.

Colonic delivery of vasoactive intestinal peptide nanomedicine alleviates colitis and shows promise as an oral capsule

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of locally delivered nanomedicine, vasoactive intestinal peptide in sterically stabilized micelles (VIP-SSM) to the colon and conduct in vitro release studies of a potential oral formulation. Materials & methods: Intracolonic instillation of VIP-SSM was tested in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Based on the effective mouse dose, human equivalent dose containing nanomedicine powder was filled into enteric coated capsules for in vitro release testing. Results: Colonic delivery of VIP-SSM significantly alleviated colitis. VIP-SSM containing capsules completely dissolved at colonic pH allowing micelles to reform with active VIP. Capsule formulations exhibited reproducible release profiles when stored up to 6 weeks demonstrating stability. Conclusion: VIP-SSM is an effective nanomedicine formulation which appears to have potential for oral treatment of colitis in humans. [Formula: see text]