No abstract available.
Antitoxins/*therapeutic use ; Clostridium perfringens/*pathogenicity ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/*therapeutic use ; Liver Abscess/*drug therapy/microbiology

AIMTo evaluate the protective/ameliorative effects of vitamin E (vit E) on ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS)-induced testicular toxicity in rats.

METHODSThe rats were assigned to eight groups, seven rats in each, and were injected intraperitoneally with vehicle, a single dose of ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) (75 mg/kg bodyweight), vit E (100 mg/kg bodyweight) or EDS + vit E for 3? days. Thereafter, the rats were weighed, anaesthetized with ether and killed by cervical dislocation. The left testis weights were recorded and the relative testis weights were calculated. The left testes were processed for routine paraffin embedding. Three right testes from each group were taken randomly and then processed for routine electron microscopy. Tissue sections were examined using light and electron microscopy, and were scored for histopathological changes.

RESULTSVit E coadministration did not prevent the bodyweight loss on days 3 and 7. However, vit E administration prevented the EDS-induced testicular-weight loss in rats that received vit E for 3 days but not 7 days. The relative testis weight was higher on day 3 (instead of on day 7) than other groups. Nevertheless, the testis histology was not markedly protected by vit E in the EDS-treated rats. Detailed microscopic assessment showed few Leydig cells and abundant fibroblast-like cells indicating only some protection.

CONCLUSIONVit E cotreatment showed partial protective effects on the testicular weight and testicular histology in rats that received EDS.

Animals ; Antitoxins ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesylates ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVES: Vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus are essential in providing immunity against these bacterial infections. The potency of diphtheria and tetanus toxoid vaccines can be measured using the in vivo toxin neutralization assay. The limit of potency of this assay was determined only for children. Therefore, we assessed the potency of adult vaccines using this assay to identify the feasibility of limit for adult vaccines. METHODS: Fifteen lots of tetanus-reduced diphtheria and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccines were used. In vivo toxin neutralization and lethal challenge assays were conducted on each vaccine to calculate the potencies of the toxoids. National reference standards for toxins and antitoxins were used for in vivo toxin neutralization assay. RESULTS: All 15 lots satisfied the limits of potency for lethal challenge assay. The potency of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids exceeded 1 and 8 units/mL, respectively, for in vivo toxin neutralization assay. CONCLUSION: Although additional studies are required for new assays and limits, the current level of potency for adult vaccines as determined by in vivo toxin neutralization assay, was demonstrated in this study. Such efforts to improve assays are expected to promote the development of diphtheria and tetanus vaccines for adults and to contribute to vaccine self-sufficiency.
Adult* ; Antitoxins ; Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Diphtheria Toxoid ; Diphtheria* ; Humans ; Tetanus Toxoid* ; Tetanus* ; Toxoids ; Vaccination ; Vaccines* ; Whooping Cough

Bacteria are often infected by large numbers of phages, and host bacteria have evolved diverse molecular strategies in the race with phages, with abortive infection (Abi) being one of them. The toxin-antitoxin system (TA) is expressed in response to bacterial stress, mediating hypometabolism and even dormancy, as well as directly reducing the formation of offspring phages. In addition, some of the toxins' sequences and structures are highly homologous to Cas, and phages even encode antitoxin analogs to block the activity of the corresponding toxins. This suggests that the failure of phage infection due to bacterial death in abortive infections is highly compatible with TA function, whereas TA may be one of the main resistance and defense forces for phage infestation of the host. This review summarized the TA systems involved in phage abortive infections based on classification and function. Moreover, TA systems with abortive functions and future use in antibiotic development and disease treatment were predicted. This will facilitate the understanding of bacterial-phage interactions as well as phage therapy and related synthetic biology research.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antitoxins/chemistry* ; Bacteria/genetics* ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry* ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics* ; Bacteriophages/genetics* ; Toxin-Antitoxin Systems/genetics*

To investigate the anti-pyretic and anti-endotoxin effect of Chinese herb medicine Jinhuaqingre capsules.Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits with lipopolysaccharide-induced fever were divided into 5 groups (6 rabbits in each): animals in model group were given normal saline by gavage, animals in positive control group were given aspirin (0.2 g/kg), and animals in Jinhuaqingre groups were given Jinhuaqingre capsules 6.0, 3.0 or 1.5 g/kg, respectively. The changes in body temperature of rabbits were observed. Fifty healthy Kunming mice were divided into 5 groups (10 mice in each): mice in model group were given normal saline by gavage, mice in positive control group were given aspirin (0.2 g/kg), and those in Jinhuaqingre groups were given Jinhuaqingre capsules 6.0, 3.0, 1.5 g/kg, respectively. Matrix coloration method was used to detect the degradation rate of endotoxin in mice.The body temperature in rabbits of high and medium dose Jinhuaqingre capsule groups declined significantly 60 min after drug administration, and the temperature of high-dose group returned to the baseline after 300 min; while the body temperature of low-dose group started to decline at 180 min after drug administration. The endotoxin degradation rates in mice of high, medium and low dose groups was (56.73±3.12)%, (47.23±1.77)% and (21.08±2.30)% at 30 min after drug administration; those were (82.76±1.00)%, (64.75±1.77)% and (38.21±1.57)% at 60 min after drug administration, respectively.Chinese herb medicine Jinhuanigre capsules have anti-pyretic and anti-endotoxin effects, which may provide a new option for the treatment of heat-toxin syndrome.
Animals ; Antitoxins ; pharmacology ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Fever ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Lipopolysaccharides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Sodium Chloride ; therapeutic use

An attempt has been made to evaluate diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin response to diphtheria and tetanus toxoid as pressently marketed in Korea. A total of 80 infants divided in two groups according to doses of vaccine, were studied One group of 30 infants (group I ) received 1, 2 or 3 doses of D. P. T. vaccine (0.3ml, each) at approximately monthly interval. 1) In control group of 19 infants not immunized, the protective level of diphtheria antitoxin was found in 36.8% of infants, and the protective level of tetanus antitoxin was found in 5.3% of infants. These finding suggested the antitoxin level which was passively transmitted from the mother. 2) The frequency of diphtheria and tetanus vaccination correlates with antitoxin level, but there was no difference in antitoxin response between group I or group 11. 3) The antitoxin response were more excellant in infants given same dose of vaccine divided into multiple dose. 4) In both group I and 11, 100% of infants achieved protective level of diphtheria (0.03u/ml) and tetanus antitoxin (0.1u/ml) after 3 primary vaccination.
Diphtheria Antitoxin ; Diphtheria* ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Mothers ; Tetanus ; Tetanus Antitoxin ; Tetanus Toxoid ; Vaccination

This study is to investigate the effects of sophoridine on NF-kappaB signaling pathway in kidney tissue of endotoxemia mice and the mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caudal vein injection, then sophoridine was administered by intraperitoneal injection. Totally 50 mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, LPS model group, sophoridine treatment 12 mg x kg(-1) group, 6 mg x kg(-1) group and 3 mg x kg(-1) group. All animals were sacrificed at 6 hours after treatment. Kidney and blood samples were harvested. IKKbeta mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression of renal tissue was measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and phosphorylation IKKbeta protein (pIKKbeta) was detected by immunohistochemistry. NF-kappaB P65 protein expression and distribution of renal tissue were observed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. Serum TNF-alpha level was detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the sophoridine significantly reduced the expression of IKKbeta mRNA and pIKKbeta protein, and inhibited the expression of NF-kappaB P65 protein and decreased the entry nuclear rate of NF-kappaB P65 in the renal tissue of endotoxemia mice. Thereby the renal TNF-alpha mRNA expression and serum TNF-alpha level were significantly reduced. These results suggest that sophoridine could inhibit inflammatory reaction induced by LPS through inhibiting activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antitoxins ; pharmacology ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; I-kappa B Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phosphorylation ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunity level of diphtheria antibody among children living in the areas where different coverage rates of 4-vaccines stratified by results of national immunization program (NIP) reviewed in 2004.

METHODSAccording to data from 4-vaccine coverage rates of NIP reviewed in 2004, 3 levels could be set. We randomly selected 2 counties at each level and then 10 villages from each county with 42 children involved who were born between 1992 and 2003. ELISA quantitative method was used to test IgG of diphtheria antitoxin.

RESULTS(1) The positive rate of diphtheria antitoxin was only 49.6% with the highest as 78.1% and lowest as 33.0%. There was a significant decreasing trend of this positive rate with the increase of age. The highest (61.2%) fell in the group that were born in 2003 and the lowest (37.6%) was seen among children born in 1992 to 1995. (2) Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) was only 0.48 IU/ml with a trend of decrease when age was increasing. There was no GMCs peak seen in children who were at the age of boosting, as expected. (3) Positive rates of children born between 2001 and 2003 were lower than 62% while the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine coverage rates were all higher than 90%. (4) There was no significant difference of diphtheria antitoxin positive rates between children with eligible routine immunization (58.1%) and those were ineligible (59.6%).

CONCLUSIONOther than some specific ones, children from most of the investigated counties had a low level of antibody against diphtheria. The coverage rate of DPT vaccine did not necessarily reflect the immunity against diphtheria, suggesting the increase of immunity against diphtheria an urgent task to be taken care of.

Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Diphtheria ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Diphtheria Antitoxin ; immunology ; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diphtheria has been markedly reduced and almostly eradicated by widespread use of DTP vaccines in developed countries. However, outbreaks of this disease may be occurred under some circumstances of ineffective immunization. In recent time, some studies reported persistent outbreaks of diphtheria in developed countries and indicated the existence of a large pool of susceptible individuals with potential for epidemic infection. In Korea, diphtheria vaccination has been well maintained since 1956 with high acceptant vaccination rates. So, there has been no reported diphtheria patient since 1987. But, there has been few study to diphtheria serosuvey, and no assessment of diphtheria immunization. Also, we do not use Td vaccine in adults for maintenance of diphtheria immunity. In this aspect, we conducted age related seroepidemiology of diphtheria and indirectly assessed the immunity of diphtheria vaccines, used in Korea. METHODS: For the evaluation of age related serosurvey of diphtheria immunity in Korean populations, study subjects below 10 years old aged children were classified into 10 groups (A~J) with one year interval, and beyond this age to 60 years old aged adults were classified into 5 group (K~O) with 10 years interval. And the adults over 60 years old age was classified into the last group (P). The numbers of each group were 100, and sex distributions of each group were almostly equal. And for the indirect assessment of diphtheria immunization in Korean children, children under 15 years old were classified into 6 groups (I~ VI) according to the status of DTaP vaccination. The numbers of this each group were 30, and sex ratio was almostly equal. Detection of specific IgG antibody to diphtheria toxin were determined by ELISA (contained fragment A & B toxin; IBL, Germany). RESULTS: In age related groups, the antibody titers to diphtheria toxin were well maintained until 10 years old age group, thereafter the titers abruptly decreased below 0.1 IU/mL and then slightly elevated after 30 years old age group and then maintained with low levels. In the groups related DTaP vaccine status, the antibody titers were very low (below 0.07 IU/mL) in prevaccination status, but the titers after primary vaccinations were markedly increased and maintained (above 0.6 IU/mL) until 15 years. And diphtheria antitoxin levels in the groups (L, M, N) showed no significant differences between males and females. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that the antibody titers to diphtheria toxin in the 20~50 years old aged groups dramatically decreased. This result indicated that vaccine induced diphtheria immunity did not last throughout life, and Td vaccination program in adults should be considered for maintenance of diphtheria immunity. And the immunity to diphtheria in Korean children indicated that 3 timesprimary and 2 times booster diphtheria immunizations were optimal.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Developed Countries ; Diphtheria Antitoxin ; Diphtheria Toxin ; Diphtheria* ; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Ratio ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

Since a nationwide childhood vaccination with tetanus toxoid, tetanus has become a rare disease in Korea. However, we recently experienced 17 cases of adult tetanus in a university hospital during a 21-month period. Seventy percent of the patients were female, and the mean age was 63 yr (range, 29-87). The majority (88.2%) of the patients did not get primary vaccinations for tetanus and decennial tetanus-diph-theria toxoid booster. Most patients (88.2%), who sustained acute injury, did not seek medical care for their wounds or did not receive the prophylaxis for tetanus. Tetanus was found most frequently among farmers. Tetanus was diagnosed initially only in 53% of patients. The case-fatality ratio was 23.5%. These cases show that recently occurring tetanus in Korea is a disease, affecting the elderly and the female who may have a lower immunity against tetanus, and the farmers who are likely to be exposed to Clostridium tetani. In addition, diagnosis of tetanus is often delayed in area where cases are seen infrequently. Therefore, improved education among patients and physicians, emphasis of anti-tetanus immunization and awareness of tetanus respectively, may be essential for the prevention of disease and the reduction of its mortality.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Agricultural Workers' Diseases/epidemiology ; Diagnostic Errors ; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* ; Human ; Immunization, Secondary/psychology ; Immunization, Secondary/utilization* ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Tetanus/diagnosis ; Tetanus/epidemiology* ; Tetanus/prevention & control ; Tetanus/therapy ; Tetanus Antitoxin/therapeutic use ; Tetanus Toxoid ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaccination/utilization* ; Wounds, Penetrating/complications