exudates and Disease-Models--Animal

Topics: Africa; Animals; BCG Vaccine; Dapsone; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Independent State of Samoa; India; Leprosy; Liver; Malaysia; Mediterranean Islands; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Myanmar; Mycobacterium leprae; Pakistan; Spleen; Sulfones; Time Factors; West Indies

Disease associated with Nipah virus infection causes a devastating and often fatal spectrum of syndromes predominated by both respiratory and neurologic conditions. Additionally, neurologic sequelae may manifest months to years later after virus exposure or apparent recovery. In the two decades since this disease emerged, much work has been completed in an attempt to understand the pathogenesis and facilitate development of medical countermeasures. Here we provide detailed organ system-specific pathologic findings following exposure of four African green monkeys to 2.41×105 pfu of the Malaysian strain of Nipah virus. Our results further substantiate the African green monkey as a model of human Nipah virus disease, by demonstrating both the respiratory and neurologic components of disease. Additionally, we demonstrate that a chronic phase of disease exists in this model, that may provide an important opportunity to study the enigmatic late onset and relapse encephalitis as it is described in human disease.

Topics: Animals; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Encephalitis, Viral; Henipavirus Infections; Lung Diseases; Malaysia; Male; Nipah Virus

To evaluate vasorelaxant and vasoconstriction effects of Zingiber officinale var. rubrum (ZOVR) on live rats and isolated aortic rings of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).. During the screening of various ZOVR extracts, ZOP produced the most reduction in blood pressures of SHRs and so did HFZOP. HFZOP significantly decreased phenylephrine-induced contraction and enhanced acetylcholine-induced relaxation. L-NAME, indomethacin, methylene blue, atropine, and glibenclamide significantly potentiated the vasorelaxant effects of HFZOP. Propranolol and prazosin did not alter the vasorelaxant effects of HFZOP. HFZOP significantly suppressed the Ca. This study demonstrates that ZOP may exert an antihypertensive effect in the SHR model. Its possible vascular relaxation mechanisms involve nitric oxide and prostacyclin release, activation of cGMP-K

Topics: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Aorta, Thoracic; Blood Pressure; Disease Models, Animal; Hypertension; Malaysia; Male; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Vasodilator Agents; Zingiber officinale

To investigate the protective effects of Tualang honey against the toxicity effects induced by cadmium (Cd) on the ovary.. A total of 32 female Sprague Dawley rats were taken and randomly divided into four groups (n = 8). Throughout the experimental period of 6 weeks, negative control-NC (vehicle deionized water), positive control-CD (Cd at 5 mg/kg), Tualang honey followed by Cd exposure-TH (Tualang honey at 200 mg/kg and Cd at 5 mg/kg) and Tualang honey control-THC (Tualang honey at 200 mg/kg) groups, were administered orally on a daily basis.. Rats exposed to Cd were significantly higher in ovarian weight, number of antral and atretic follicles as compared to the NC group. The disruptive effects of Cd on ovarian follicles were associated with a disruption in gonadotropin hormones and decreases in follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Moreover, a significant formation of oxidative stress in ovarian Cd-exposed rats has been proven by increasing the level of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde) and decreasing the levels of enzymatic antioxidant (catalase). Interestingly, a daily supplementation of high antioxidant agents such as Tualang honey in these animals, caused significant improvements in the histological changes. Additionally, less atretic follicles were observed, restoring the normal level of LH and FSH (P < 0.001), and normalizing the ovarian malondialdehyde (P < 0.05) and catalase levels in comparison with CD group (P < 0.05).. Tualang honey has protective effects against Cd-induced ovarian toxicity by reducing morphological abnormalities, restoring the normal levels of gonadotropin hormones and stabilizing equilibrium levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme in ovaries of rats.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cadmium Poisoning; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Honey; Lipid Peroxidation; Luteinizing Hormone; Malaysia; Ovarian Diseases; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Shigella is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes bacterial dysentery called shigellosis. The assessment of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators produced by immune cells against this bacteria are vital in identifying the effectiveness of the immune reaction in protecting the host. In Malaysia, Shigella is ranked as the third most common bacteria causing diarrheal disease among children below 5 years old. In the present study, we aim to examine the differential cytokine gene expressions of macrophages in response to two types of clinical strains of Shigella flexneri 2a (S. flexneri 2a) isolated from patients admitted in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. THP-1-derived macrophages, as the model of human macrophages, were infected separately with S. flexneri 2a mild (SH062) and virulence (SH057) strains for 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. The gene expression level of inflammatory mediators was identified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The production of nitric oxide (NO) by the macrophages was measured by using a commercialized NO assay kit. The ability of macrophages to kill the intracellular bacteria was assessed by intracellular killing assay. Induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-12, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and NO, confirmed the pro-inflammatory reaction of the THP-1-derived macrophages in response to S. flexneri 2a, especially against the SH507 strain. The SH057 also induced a marked increase in the expression levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs at 12 h and 24 h post-infection. In the intracellular killing assay, both strains showed less viable, indicating the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the presence of iNOS and NO was crucial in the stimulation of macrophages for the host defense against shigellosis. Transcription analysis of THP-1-derived macrophages in this study identifies differentially expressed cytokine genes that correlated with the virulence factor of S. flexneri 2a.

Topics: Animals; Child, Preschool; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Dysentery, Bacillary; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genes, Bacterial; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Macrophages; Malaysia; Male; Shigella flexneri; Virulence; Virulence Factors

Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) is a medically important snake species found in Southeast Asia. The neurotoxic effects of envenoming present as flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscles. It is unclear whether geographical variation in venom composition plays a significant role in the degree of clinical neurotoxicity. In this study, the effects of geographical variation on neurotoxicity and venom composition of B. candidus venoms from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand were examined. In the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation, all venoms abolished indirect twitches and attenuated contractile responses to nicotinic receptor agonists, with venom from Indonesia displaying the most rapid neurotoxicity. A proteomic analysis indicated that three finger toxins (3FTx), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors were common toxin groups in the venoms. In addition, venom from Thailand contained L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), cysteine rich secretory protein (CRISP), thrombin-like enzyme (TLE) and snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP). Short-chain post-synaptic neurotoxins were not detected in any of the venoms. The largest quantity of long-chain post-synaptic neurotoxins and non-conventional toxins was found in the venom from Thailand. Analysis of PLA2 activity did not show any correlation between the amount of PLA2 and the degree of neurotoxicity of the venoms. Our study shows that variation in venom composition is not limited to the degree of neurotoxicity. This investigation provides additional insights into the geographical differences in venom composition and provides information that could be used to improve the management of Malayan krait envenoming in Southeast Asia.

Topics: Animals; Bungarotoxins; Bungarus; Chickens; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Indonesia; Malaysia; Male; Neuromuscular Junction; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Neurotoxins; Proteome; Proteomics; Reptilian Proteins; Severity of Illness Index; Snake Bites; Thailand

Rodent models have been used extensively to study West Nile virus (WNV) infection because they develop severe neurological symptoms similar to those observed in human WNV neuroinvasive disease. Most of this research has focused on old lineage (L) 1 strains, while information about pathogenicity is lacking for the most recent L1 and L2 strains, as well as for newly defined lineages. In this study, 4-week-old Swiss mice were inoculated with a collection of 12 WNV isolates, comprising 10 old and recent L1 and L2 strains, the putative L6 strain from Malaysia and the proposed L7 strain Koutango (KOU). The intraperitoneal inoculation of 10-fold dilutions of each strain allowed the characterization of the isolates in terms of LD50, median survival times, ID50, replication in neural and extraneural tissues and antibody production. Based on these results, we classified the isolates in three groups: high virulence (all L1a strains, recent L2 strains and KOU), moderate virulence (B956 strain) and low virulence (Kunjin and Malaysian isolates). We determined that the inoculation of a single dose of 1000 p.f.u. would be sufficient to classify WNV strains by pathotype. We confirmed the enhanced virulence of the KOU strain with a high capacity to cause rapid systemic infection. We also corroborated that differences in pathogenicity among strains do not correlate with phylogenetic lineage or geographic origin, and confirmed that recent European and African WNV strains belonging to L1 and L2 are highly virulent and do not differ in their pathotype profile compared to the prototype NY99 strain.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Mice; Phylogeny; Virulence; West Nile Fever; West Nile virus

Zebrafish is gaining prominence as an important vertebrate model for investigating various human diseases. Zebrafish provides unique advantages such as optical clarity of embryos, high fecundity rate, and low cost of maintenance, making it a perfect complement to the murine model equivalent in biomedical research. Due to these advantages, researchers in Malaysia are starting to take notice and incorporate the zebrafish model into their research activities. However, zebrafish research in Malaysia is still in its infancy stage and many researchers still remain unaware of the full potential of the zebrafish model or have limited access to related tools and techniques that are widely utilized in many zebrafish laboratories worldwide. To overcome this, we organized the First Malaysia Zebrafish Disease Model Workshop in Malaysia that took place on 11th and 12th of November 2015. In this workshop, we showcased how the zebrafish model is being utilized in the biomedical field in international settings as well as in Malaysia. For this, notable international speakers and those from local universities known to be carrying out impactful research using zebrafish were invited to share some of the cutting edge techniques that are used in their laboratories that may one day be incorporated in the Malaysian scientific community.

Topics: Animals; Biomedical Research; Disease Models, Animal; Malaysia; Zebrafish

Person-to-person transmission is a key feature of human Nipah virus outbreaks in Bangladesh. In contrast, in an outbreak of Nipah virus in Malaysia, people acquired infections from pigs. It is not known whether this important epidemiological difference is driven primarily by differences between NiV Bangladesh (NiV-BD) and Malaysia (NiV-MY) at a virus level, or by environmental or host factors. In a time course study, ferrets were oronasally exposed to equivalent doses of NiV-BD or NiV-MY. More rapid onset of productive infection and higher levels of virus replication in respiratory tract tissues were seen for NiV-BD compared to NiV-MY, corroborating our previous report of increased oral shedding of NiV-BD in ferrets and suggesting a contributory mechanism for increased NiV-BD transmission between people compared to NiV-MY. However, we recognize that transmission occurs within a social and environmental framework that may have an important and differentiating role in NiV transmission rates. With this in mind, ferret-to-ferret transmission of NiV-BD and NiV-MY was assessed under differing viral exposure conditions. Transmission was not identified for either virus when naïve ferrets were cohoused with experimentally-infected animals. In contrast, all naïve ferrets developed acute infection following assisted and direct exposure to oronasal fluid from animals that were shedding either NiV-BD or NiV-MY. Our findings for ferrets indicate that, although NiV-BD may be shed at higher levels than NiV-MY, transmission risk may be equivalently low under exposure conditions provided by cohabitation alone. In contrast, active transfer of infected bodily fluids consistently results in transmission, regardless of the virus strain. These observations suggest that the risk of NiV transmission is underpinned by social and environmental factors, and will have practical implications for managing transmission risk during outbreaks of human disease.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Viral; Bangladesh; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Ferrets; Henipavirus Infections; Humans; Lung; Malaysia; Nipah Virus; Random Allocation; Respiratory Tract Infections; RNA, Viral; Vero Cells; Viral Load; Virus Replication; Virus Shedding

Nipah virus is a paramyxovirus in the genus Henipavirus, which has caused outbreaks in humans in Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Whereas the human cases in Malaysia were characterized mainly by neurological symptoms and a case fatality rate of ∼40%, cases in Bangladesh also exhibited respiratory disease and had a case fatality rate of ∼70%. Here, we compared the histopathologic changes in the respiratory tract of Syrian hamsters, a well-established small animal disease model for Nipah virus, inoculated oronasally with Nipah virus isolates from human cases in Malaysia and Bangladesh. The Nipah virus isolate from Bangladesh caused slightly more severe rhinitis and bronchointerstitial pneumonia 2 days after inoculation in Syrian hamsters. By day 4, differences in lesion severity could no longer be detected. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated Nipah virus antigen in the nasal cavity and pulmonary lesions; the amount of Nipah virus antigen present correlated with lesion severity. Immunohistochemistry indicated that both Nipah virus isolates exhibited endotheliotropism in small- and medium-caliber arteries and arterioles, but not in veins, in the lung. This correlated with the location of ephrin B2, the main receptor for Nipah virus, in the vasculature. In conclusion, Nipah virus isolates from outbreaks in Malaysia and Bangladesh caused a similar type and severity of respiratory tract lesions in Syrian hamsters, suggesting that the differences in human disease reported in the outbreaks in Malaysia and Bangladesh are unlikely to have been caused by intrinsic differences in these 2 virus isolates.

Topics: Animals; Bangladesh; Cricetinae; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Henipavirus Infections; Humans; Lung; Malaysia; Mesocricetus; Nipah Virus; Respiratory System

Henipaviruses are implicated in severe and frequently fatal pneumonia and encephalitis in humans. There are no approved vaccines or treatments available for human use, and testing of candidates requires the use of well-characterized animal models that mimic human disease. We performed a comprehensive and statistically-powered evaluation of the African green monkey model to define parameters critical to disease progression and the extent to which they correlate with human disease. African green monkeys were inoculated by the intratracheal route with 2.5 × 10(4) plaque forming units of the Malaysia strain of Nipah virus. Physiological data captured using telemetry implants and assessed in conjunction with clinical pathology were consistent with shock, and histopathology confirmed widespread tissue involvement associated with systemic vasculitis in animals that succumbed to acute disease. In addition, relapse encephalitis was identified in 100% of animals that survived beyond the acute disease phase. Our data suggest that disease progression in the African green monkey is comparable to the variable outcome of Nipah virus infection in humans.

Topics: Animals; Chlorocebus aethiops; Communicable Diseases; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Encephalitis; Henipavirus Infections; Malaysia; Nipah Virus

Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe disease in humans. The mechanisms of pathogenesis are not well described. The first Nipah virus outbreak occurred in Malaysia, where human disease had a strong neurological component. Subsequent outbreaks have occurred in Bangladesh and India and transmission and disease processes in these outbreaks appear to be different from those of the Malaysian outbreak. Until this point, virtually all Nipah virus studies in vitro and in vivo, including vaccine and pathogenesis studies, have utilized a virus isolate from the original Malaysian outbreak (NiV-M). To investigate potential differences between NiV-M and a Nipah virus isolate from Bangladesh (NiV-B), we compared NiV-M and NiV-B infection in vitro and in vivo. In hamster kidney cells, NiV-M-infection resulted in extensive syncytia formation and cytopathic effects, whereas NiV-B-infection resulted in little to no morphological changes. In vivo, NiV-M-infected Syrian hamsters had accelerated virus replication, pathology and death when compared to NiV-B-infected animals. NiV-M infection also resulted in the activation of host immune response genes at an earlier time point. Pathogenicity was not only a result of direct effects of virus replication, but likely also had an immunopathogenic component. The differences observed between NiV-M and NiV-B pathogeneis in hamsters may relate to differences observed in human cases. Characterization of the hamster model for NiV-B infection allows for further research of the strain of Nipah virus responsible for the more recent outbreaks in humans. This model can be used to study NiV-B pathogenesis, transmission, and countermeasures that could be used to control outbreaks.

Topics: Animals; Bangladesh; Cells, Cultured; Cricetinae; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Giant Cells; Henipavirus Infections; Humans; Malaysia; Mesocricetus; Nipah Virus; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Virus Cultivation

Human infections with Nipah virus in Malaysia and Bangladesh are associated with markedly different patterns of transmission and pathogenicity. To compare the 2 strains, we conducted an in vivo study in which 2 groups of ferrets were oronasally exposed to either the Malaysia or Bangladesh strain of Nipah virus. Viral shedding and tissue tropism were compared between the 2 groups. Over the course of infection, significantly higher levels of viral RNA were recovered from oral secretions of ferrets infected with the Bangladesh strain. Higher levels of oral shedding of the Bangladesh strain of Nipah virus might be a key factor in onward transmission in outbreaks among humans.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Viral; Bangladesh; Choroid Plexus; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelial Cells; Endothelium; Ependyma; Ferrets; Henipavirus Infections; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Neurons; Nipah Virus; Palatine Tonsil; Viral Load; Virus Shedding

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is mainly treated with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). However, ERT causes side effects, mainly breast cancer, uterine cancer and thromboembolic problems. Labisia pumila var. arata (LPva), a herb with phytoestrogenic effects has the potential to be used as an alternative agent to ERT. This study was conducted to determine the effects of LPva on bone biochemical markers and bone calcium content in ovariectomised rats.. Thirty two Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, with 8 rats in each group. The first group was sham operated (Sham), the second group was ovariectomised (OVX), the third (LPva) and fourth group (ERT) were also ovariectomised and given LPva 17.5 mg/kg and Premarin(®) 64.5 μg/kg, respectively. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment to measure osteocalcin and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen levels using ELISA while the fifth lumbar bone samples were taken to measure bone calcium content using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).. The osteocalcin levels were significantly higher in both the LPva and ERT groups compared to the OVX group. The CTX levels were significantly lower in both the LPva and ERT groups compared to the OVX group. However, only the ERT group had significantly higher bone calcium level compared to the OVX group.. The supplementation of 17.5 mg/kg of LPva to ovariectomised rats for 8 weeks was able to prevent the changes in bone biochemical markers but failed to prevent the bone calcium loss induced by ovariectomy.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Bone and Bones; Calcium; Disease Models, Animal; Ethnopharmacology; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Medicine, East Asian Traditional; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Primulaceae; Rats; Rats, Wistar

The present study was carried out to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of virgin coconut oil (VCO) produced by the Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) using various in vivo models.. Two types of VCOs, produced via standard drying (VCOA) and fermentation (VCOB) processes were used in this study. Both VCOA and VCOB were serially diluted using 1% Tween 80 to concentrations (v/v) of 10, 50 and 100%. Antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory activities of both VCOs were examined using various in vivo model systems. The antinociceptive activity of the VCOs were compared to those of 1% Tween 80 (used as a negative control), morphine (5 mg/kg) and/or acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg).. Both VCOA and VCOB exhibited significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Both VCOs also exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in both phases of the formalin and hot-plate tests. Interestingly, the VCOs exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in an acute (carrageenan-induced paw edema test), but not in a chronic (cotton-pellet-induced granuloma test) model of inflammation.. The MARDI-produced VCOs possessed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Topics: Abdomen; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Coconut Oil; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; Granuloma; Malaysia; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Muscle Contraction; Pain; Pain Measurement; Phytotherapy; Plant Oils; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

New options are needed to prevent and treat metabolic disorders associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Labisia pumila var. alata (LPva)-a Malaysian herb thought to have phytoestrogenic effects-has shown promise in reducing body weight gain in ovariectomized rats. In this study, we investigated the effect of LPva on body composition and metabolic features in female rats treated continuously with dihydrotestosterone, starting before puberty, to induce PCOS.. At 9 weeks of age, the PCOS rats were randomly subdivided into two groups; PCOS LPva and PCOS control. PCOS LPva rats received a daily oral dose of LPva (50mg/kg body weight), dissolved in 1 ml of deionised water, for 4-5 weeks. PCOS controls received 1 ml of deionised water on the same schedule.. LPva increased uterine weight (27%) and insulin sensitivity (36%) measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Plasma resistin levels were increased and lipid profile was improved in LPva rats. In adipose tissue, LPva decreased leptin mRNA expression but did not affect expression of resistin and adiponectin. No effects on body composition, adipocyte size, or plasma leptin levels were observed.. LPva increases uterine weight, indicating estrogenic effects, and improves insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in PCOS rats without affecting body composition.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Malaysia; Plant Extracts; Plant Preparations; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Primulaceae; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative saprophytic soil bacterium, which is the etiologic agent of melioidosis, a severe and fatal infectious disease occurring in human and animals. Distinct clinical and animal isolates have been shown to exhibit differences in phenotypic trait such as growth rate, colony morphology, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence. This study was carried out to gain insight into the intrinsic differences between 4 clinical and 6 animal B. pseudomallei isolates from Malaysia. The 16S rRNA-encoding genes from these 10 isolates of B. pseudomallei were sequenced to confirm the identity of these isolates along with the avirulent Burkholderia thailandensis. The nucleotide sequences indicated that the 16S rRNA-encoding genes among the 10 B. pseudomallei isolates were identical to each other. However, the nucleotide sequence differences in the 16S rRNA-encoding genes appeared to be B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis specific. The growth rate of all B. pseudomallei isolates was determined by generating growth curves at 37 degrees C for 72 h. The isolates were found to differ in growth rates with doubling time varying from 1.5 to 2.3 h. In addition, the B. pseudomallei isolates exhibited considerable variation in colony morphology when grown on Ashdown media, brain-heart infusion agar, and Luria-Bertani agar over 9 days of observation. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests indicated that 80% of the isolates examined were Amp(R) Cb(R) Kn(R) Gm(R) Chl(S) Te(S). Virulence of the B. pseudomallei clinical and animal isolates was evaluated in B. pseudomallei-susceptible BALB/c mice. Most of the clinical isolates were highly virulent. However, virulence did not correlate with isolate origin since 2 of the animal isolates were also highly virulent.

Topics: Animals; Base Sequence; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Colony Count, Microbial; Disease Models, Animal; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal; Genes, rRNA; Humans; Malaysia; Melioidosis; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Spleen; Survival Analysis; Virulence

The present study aims to investigate the effect of cocoa extract on serum glucose levels and lipid profiles in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Cocoa extract (contained 285.6 mg total polyphenol per gram extract) was prepared from fermented and roasted (140 degrees C, 20 min) beans by extracting using 80% ethanol in the ratio of 1-10. The extract of three dosages (1, 2, and 3%) was fed to normal and diabetic rats for a period of 4 weeks. In hyperglycaemic group, cocoa extract (1 and 3%) diets were found to significantly lower (p<0.05) the serum glucose levels compared to the control. Furthermore, supplementation of 1 and 3% cocoa extract had significantly reduced (p<0.05) the level of total cholesterol in diabetic rats. In addition, 1, 2, and 3% cocoa extract diets had significantly lowered (p<0.05) the total triglycerides. Interestingly, this study found that serum HDL-cholesterol had increased significantly (p<0.05) in diabetic rats fed with 2% cocoa extract, while the LDL-cholesterol had decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the 1% treated group. These results indicate that cocoa extract may possess potential hypoglycaemic and hypocholestrolemic effects on serum glucose levels and lipid profiles, respectively. The results also found that the effect of cocoa extract was dose-dependent.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Cacao; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, LDL; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Eating; Malaysia; Male; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Streptozocin; Triglycerides; Weight Loss

1. Diabetes and hypertension are both associated with an increased risk of renal disease and are associated with neuropathies, which can cause defective autonomic control of major organs including the kidney. This study aimed to examine the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtype(s) involved in mediating adrenergically induced renal vasoconstriction in a rat model of diabetes and hypertension. 2. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 220-280 g, were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone 7-day poststreptozotocin (55 mg x kg(-1) i.p.) treatment. The reductions in renal blood flow (RBF) induced by increasing frequencies of electrical renal nerve stimulation (RNS), close intrarenal bolus doses of noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) or methoxamine were determined before and after administration of nitrendipine (Nit), 5-methylurapidil (5-MeU), chloroethylclonidine (CEC) and BMY 7378. 3. In the nondiabetic SHR group, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 146+/-6 mmHg, RBF was 28.0+/-1.4 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and blood glucose was 112.3+/-4.7 mg x dl(-1), and in the diabetic SHR Group, MAP was 144+/-3 mmHg, RBF 26.9+/-1.3 ml(-1) min x kg(-1) and blood glucose 316.2+/-10.5 mg x dl(-1). Nit, 5-MeU and BMY 7378 blunted all the adrenergically induced renal vasoconstrictor responses in SHR and diabetic SHR by 25-35% (all P<0.05), but in diabetic rats the responses induced by RNS and NA treated with 5-MeU were not changed. By contrast, during the administration of CEC, vasoconstrictor responses to all agonists were enhanced by 20-25% (all P<0.05) in both the SHR and diabetic SHR. 4. These findings suggest that alpha(1A) and alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor subtypes contribute in mediating the adrenergically induced constriction of the renal vasculature in both the SHR and diabetic SHR. There was also an indication of a greater contribution of presynaptic adrenoceptors, that is, alpha(1B)-, and/or alpha(2)-subtypes.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Clonidine; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Electric Stimulation; Infusions, Intravenous; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intravenous; Kidney; Kidney Cortex; Malaysia; Male; Methoxamine; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Nitrendipine; Norepinephrine; Phenylephrine; Piperazines; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; Streptozocin; Time Factors; Vasoconstriction

Topics: Administration, Topical; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; HeLa Cells; Humans; Juniperus; Malaysia; Mice; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Skin Neoplasms; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Stomach Neoplasms; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Schistosoma malayensis Sp N is a putative new species of schistosome discovered in Peninsular Malaysia in 1973. This paper comprises the first report on the detailed gastrointestinal pathology present in rabbits infected with strains of the parasite. Two different strains of schistosome--the Baling and Koyan strains--from two different ecosystems were used to infect inbred rabbits and the resulting pathophysiology was studied. Our results showed that the Baling strain of S. malayensis was more virulent than the Koyan strain and produced nodular, segmental circumferential lesions and large bilharziomas measuring 1-7 cm in diameter in the distal jejunum, ileum and the ileo-caecal junction. The findings indicate that the Baling strain of S. malayensis was more pathogenic for rabbits as compared with the Koyan strain--in relation to the gross pathology of the gut and the tissue egg load. Earlier reports have shown that rabbits infected with S. japonicum induces significant intestinal lesions in rabbits (Cheever et al, 1980 a,b) but these animals are refractory to infection with S. mekongi (Byram and Lichtenberg, 1980). Our studies show that the two strains of S. malayensis adapted well in rabbits. It is also established that in rabbits, the virulence of the Baling strain of S. malayensis is greater than that of S. mekongi and approximates that of S. japonicum.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Hematocrit; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Liver; Malaysia; Organ Size; Parasite Egg Count; Rabbits; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Spleen

Using an indirect immunofluorescence technique, sera from 113 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), trapped in Peninsular Malaysia, were screened for the presence of antibody to six prototype strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi combined into three polyvalent groupings: I--Karp, TA716, and TA763; II--Gilliam; and III--TA678 and TH1817. Fifteen percent (17/113) of the monkeys had antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:50 to one or more of the antigenic groups. Although a titer greater than or equal to 1:150 is generally considered indicative or prior Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infection, we selected a less than 1:25 titer as a conservative standard to insure non-infected animals. Using this criterion, 62 (55%) of the 113 monkeys were accepted for use in scrub typhus studies. The high prevalence of antibody to scrub typhus in the semi-arboreal cynomolgus monkey is in marked contrast to the low prevalence reported in the strictly arboreal silvered leaf monkeys (Presbytis cristatus). The results of this study indicate that cynomolgus monkeys should be rigorously screened for evidence of prior infection before they are included in experimental scrub typhus studies.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Antibodies, Bacterial; Disease Models, Animal; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Macaca; Macaca fascicularis; Malaysia; Orientia tsutsugamushi

Topics: Animals; Cercopithecus; Disease Models, Animal; Haplorhini; Helminthiasis, Animal; Malaysia; Monkey Diseases

Infective larvae of Brugia malayi subperiodic obtained by dissection of infected Aedes togoi were injected subcutaneously into the scrotal region of Mastomys natalensis. From altogether 58 infected male M. natalensis 81% showed consistently or intermittently detectable microfilaraemia, whereas in 19% of the animals no microfilaraemia could be detected at any stage. The mean prepatent period was 136 days; the microfilarial density varied from 1 to 535 per 20 c. mm blood. In those animlas with consistently detectable and in general higher microfilaraemia an average of 13.1 live adult worms were found, against an average of 6.4 adult worms in animals with intermittent detectable and in general lower microfilaraemia. An average of 1.5 worms was found in animals which at no stage showed detectable microfilaraemia. A correlation between worm burden and prepatent period could be observed in the individual groups. From the total of 520 live adult worms recovered at necropsy, 37% were found in the lungs, 29% in the parenchyma of the testes and 34% in the lymphatic system. 47% of live fertile female worms were found in the lymphatic system, whereas the majority, i.e; 52% of infertile female worms were detected in the lungs. In addition, 380 encapsulated dead worms were found, most of them (98%) in the lymphatic system. 61% of a total of 900 live and dead worms were found in the region of the lymphatic system.

Topics: Animals; Blood; Brugia; Disease Models, Animal; Lymphatic System; Malaysia; Microfilariae; Rats

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Ecology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Haplorhini; Kidney; Liver; Lung; Lymph Nodes; Macaca; Malaysia; Male; Mice; Orientia tsutsugamushi; Scrub Typhus; Spleen

Topics: Animals; Blood; Cats; Child; Child, Preschool; Culicidae; Dieldrin; Disease Models, Animal; England; Female; Filariasis; Filarioidea; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Insect Control; Insect Vectors; Larva; Malaysia; Male; Periodicity