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D J Jenkins

Publications and source records attributed to D J Jenkins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Evaluation of the efficacy of emodepside+praziquantel topical solution against cestode (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaeformis, and Echinococcus multilocularis) infections in cats.

Emodepside+praziquantel topical solution was developed to provide broad-spectrum anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal parasites in cats. Eight controlled studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a topical solution of emodepside (3 mg/kg) and praziquantel (12 mg/kg) (Profender, BayerAG, Leverkusen, Germany) against feline infections with three species of cestodes. Studies featured naturally acquired infections of Dipylidium caninum or Taenia taeniaeformis, or experimental infections with Echinococcus multilocularis that were placebo-controlled, randomized and blinded. Cats were euthanatized and necropsied between 2 and 11 days after treatment, depending on the target parasite. The efficacy of emodepside+praziquantel topical solution was 100% against D. caninum and T. taeniaeformis, and 98.5- 100% against E. multilocularis. No significant systemic or local adverse reactions to treatment were noted in cats that received the combination. Topical treatment of cats with emodepside+praziquantel topical solution was safe and highly effective against cestode infections.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2005

Emergence/re-emergence of Echinococcus spp.--a global update.

This review provides an update of the biological aspects of the genus Echinococcus and focuses on newly recognized endemic areas. Infection with the intermediate cystic stage of all species of Echinococcus causes disease and incapacity in animals and humans, and in the most serious cases, death of the host. Transmission of Echinococcus to new continents has occurred during European colonisation and the parasite has often taken advantage of Echinococcus-naive wildlife populations in these new environments, incorporating them into its transmission pattern. Echinococcus granulosus consists of a complex of 10 strains. Host specificities of these strains have important implications for transmission and control. As a result of human behaviour and/or political instability in a number of countries Echinococcus is re-emerging as an important public health issue. The importance of wildlife reservoirs in perpetuating transmission and as a source of infection for domestic animals and humans is addressed. The review also refers to the transmission pattern of a recently described new species, Echinococcus shiquicus, from China.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Effect of cyclosporin A on the survival and ultrastructure of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in vitro.

Surgical treatment of human hydatidsosis involves the use of various scolicidal agents to kill infective Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces that may disseminate into the peritoneal cavity during surgery and potentially re-infect the patient. Currently, no scolicidal agent is completely effective in killing intracystic protoscoleces in humans. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has previously been found to be lethal for E. granulosus protoscoleces in vitro. In this study, we further assessed the effectiveness of CsA as a scolicidal agent by testing the toxic effect of CsA at higher doses over various time-periods. Experiments were performed on activated and unactivated protoscoleces cultured in nutrient medium or sheep hydatid cyst fluid. All activated protoscoleces were killed following culture in 100 microg/ml of CsA for 3 days and 50 or 20 microg/ml for 5 days. The lethal effect of CsA on unactivated protoscoleces varied but reached 100% over 15 days in culture with 100 or 50 microg/ml of CsA. Pulse treatment of protoscoleces with 50, 20 or 10 microg/ml of CsA for 5 min or 72 h killed all parasites by day 10 and day 5 respectively. Untreated protoscoleces remained greater than 95 % viable for the duration of experiments. Changes in protoscolex ultrastructure induced by treatment with 10 microg/ml of CsA over 10 days in in vitro culture was assessed by TEM. Protoscolex alterations observed in treated parasites included an increase in cellular vacuolization, swelling of mitochondria, rounding of cells, damage to the tegument, decrease in glycogen, a breakdown of the extracellular matrix and an increase in lipid globules. The untreated protoscoleces, by comparison, had few changes during the 10-day culture period with the exception of large amounts of extracellular glycogen observed in the protoscoleces at culture days 7 and 10. From these results, CsA is clearly an effective scolicidal agent in vitro that may have potential application as a new therapeutic agent in the treatment of human hydatid disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Partial characterisation of carbohydrate-rich Echinococcus granulosus coproantigens.

Coproantigen ELISA based tests for diagnosis of canine echinococcosis provide high specificity and sensitivity. However, the antigenic molecules present in faeces from infected dogs have not yet been characterised. While initial attempts to determine the molecular weights of Echinococcus granulosus coproantigens by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting with coproantigen reactive capture antibodies were equivocal, they suggested presence of a significant carbohydrate component. Periodate treatment of coproantigen positive faecal supernatants resulted in a significant reduction (53%) in ELISA activity, suggesting that carbohydrates are involved in the antigenic structure of E. granulosus coproantigens. Protease treatment of antigenic molecules resulted in an 11% reduction in absorbance in ELISA, indicating that protein components were also present which affected by enzyme activity. Lectin-binding ELISA assays indicated strong affinity of E. granulosus coproantigens to concanavalin agglutinin and Lens culinaris agglutinin, and moderate binding to wheat-germ agglutinin and peanut agglutinin. No binding was detectable to Ulex europaensis agglutinin-I, Bandeiraea simplicifolia or Dolichos biflorus agglutinin. These data indicate that E. granulosus coproantigens from infected dog faeces possibly contained alpha-D-mannose and/or alpha-D-glucose, beta-galactose and N-acetyl-beta-glucosamine residues. To verify the role of carbohydrate moieties in coproantigens, faecal samples were treated with exoglycosidase and tested in the coproantigen ELISA. Treatment with beta-galactosidase or N-acetyl-beta-glucosamine reduced ELISA activity by 44 and 30%, respectively. Incubation with a panel of other specific exoglycosidases including alpha-galactosidase as well as alpha-L-fucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-mannosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta- fructosidase, or neuraminidase, did not alter coproantigen detection in ELISA. The results indicate that coproantigens present in faeces from E. granulosus naturally infected dogs were highly glycosylated and contain beta- galactose and N-acetyl-beta-glucosamine. The putative relationship of antigenic molecules with the tapeworm glycocalyx is discussed.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed2003

Transmission ecology of Echinococcus in wild-life in Australia and Africa.

Following the introduction of E. granulosus into Australia with domestic animals during European settlement, the parasite quickly became established in the E. granulosus-naive native animals of the continent. The distribution of E. granulosus in wildlife in Australia is restricted by rainfall, but nevertheless the parasite is currently widespread and highly prevalent in many areas including numerous national parks and privately owned farms. The human population of Africa is rapidly increasing resulting in ever more pressure on wild-life populations and habitat. National parks, reserves and conservation areas now provide important tracts of preserved habitat for maintaining populations of wildlife that are also important in the maintenance of E. granulosus. In some parts of Africa, hydatid-infected humans provide a source of E. granulosus infection to wildlife definitive hosts. In many areas felids may also act as important definitive hosts for E. granulosus with the parasite being maintained in a prey/predator relationship between lions and a range of intermediate hosts. Populations of E. granulosus-infected wild-life both in Australia and Africa act as important reservoirs in perpetuating the transmission of E. granulosus to both domestic animals and humans. In Australia, E. granulosus-infected wild-life is infiltrating urban areas and currently represents a potentially important new public health problem.

Africa↗
PubMed2003

Milbemycin oxime in a new formulation, combined with praziquantel, does not reduce the efficacy of praziquantel against Echinococcus multilocularis in cats.

Twenty European domestic cats were each infected with 15,000 protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis extracted from metacestodes grown in experimentally infected common voles (Microtus arvalis). Sixteen days after infection, ten cats were treated with a broad-spectrum anthelmintic and acaricide comprising praziquantel and milbemycin oxime. Five days later treated and untreated cats were euthanized and the intestine examined for E. multilocularis. Five of ten untreated cats were infected with E. multilocularis with worm burdens ranging from 235 to 1920 worms per cat. No E. multilocularis were recovered from any of the treated cats. This study has demonstrated that this new combination broad spectrum anthelmintic and acaricide for cats is highly efficacious against E. multilocularis and the relevance of this is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of natural products and nutraceuticals on steroid hormone-regulated gene expression.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing trend in the use of complementary and alternative therapies to treat or prevent hormonally dependent pathologies. Methods determined whether several of these natural products and nutraceuticals, commonly taken for hormone-related effects, possess steroid hormone activity. The agonist and antagonist estrogenic, androgenic, and progestational activities of 20 natural products and nutraceuticals were assessed using an in vitro tissue culture indicator system. Two steroid-regulated proteins (pS2 and prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) were quantified, using ELISA-type immunoassays, as markers of agonist and antagonist activity. RESULTS: Four of the products tested, two isoflavone preparations, Promensil and Estro-Logic, chamomile, and grapeseed extracts, were found to have weak estrogenic agonist activity, with the latter two also demonstrating weak progestational activity. Several of the products tested exhibited antagonistic (blocking) activity, including antiestrogenic activity by Prostate-Ease, wild yam root, and dong quai, and antiandrogenic activity by dong quai, Promensil, and rosehips. CONCLUSIONS: Several of these natural products demonstrate weak steroid hormone activity.

Angelica sinensis↗
PubMed2001

Dilution of the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test improves overall tolerability but not reproducibility in subjects with different body compositions.

Poor reproducibility of the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (75-g OGTT) is a major criticism. To test whether dilution might be a contributor, we studied the effect of administering it at 300, 600, and 900 ml on the coefficient of variation (CV) and overall tolerability. Each dilution was randomly repeated three times by 35 subjects: 11 lean (body fat [BF]: 11.5+/-1.5%, body mass index (BMI): 24.1+/-0.8 kg/m(2), age: 33+/-3 years), 12 normal (BF: 24.3+/-1.3%, BMI: 23.9+/-0.7 kg/m2, age: 33+/-3 years), and 12 obese (BF: 34.1+/-1.5%, BMI: 34.5+/-1.6 kg/m(2), age: 41+/-4 years). The protocol followed, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines with venous samples drawn at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. Scales assessing palatability, acceptability, satiety, nausea, and dizziness were also completed. No differences were detected in CV between the three dilutions at the 2 h-diagnostic-endpoint in any group. CV for glycemia, however, was lower for the 300-ml OGTT (10+/-2.1%) than either the 600 ml (17.9+/-2.1%) or 900-ml OGTT (19.9+/-4.4%) at 45 min in the lean group (P<0.05). CV for insulinemia was lower for the 300 ml (30.6+/-4.5%) and 600 ml (30.6+/-4.1%) OGTT than the 900-ml OGTT (53.7+/-7.9%) at 60 min in the obese group (P<0.05). When affective ratings were compared, the 600-ml OGTT scored highest on palatability and acceptability (P<0.05). We concluded that the dilution of the 75-g OGTT improves the overall tolerability but not reproducibility of results. Practitioners may choose to give it at the best-tolerated dilution.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Dietary glycemic load and colorectal cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Insulin and insulin-like growth factors can stimulate proliferation of colorectal cells. High intake of refined carbohydrates and markers of insulin resistance are associated with colorectal cancer. To test the insulin/colon cancer hypothesis, we determined whether the dietary glycemic index and the glycemic load are associated with colorectal cancer risk. DESIGN: A case-control study on colorectal cancer conducted in Italy. Cases included 1125 men and 828 women with histologically confirmed incident cancer of the colon or rectum. Controls were 2073 men and 2081 women hospitalized for acute conditions. We calculated average daily dietary glycemic index and glycemic load, and fiber intake from a validated food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Direct associations with colorectal cancer risk emerged for glycemic index (odds ratio (OR) in highest vs. lowest quintile = 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-2.0) and glycemic load (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5-2.2), after allowance for sociodemographic factors, physical activity, number of daily meals, and intakes of fiber, alcohol and energy. ORs were more elevated for cancer of the colon than rectum. Overweight and low intake of fiber from vegetables and fruit appeared to amplify the adverse consequences of high glycemic load. CONCLUSIONS: The positive associations of glycemic index and load with colorectal cancer suggest a detrimental role of refined carbohydrates in the etiology of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load, and breast cancer risk: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Certain types of carbohydrates increase glucose and insulin levels to a greater extent than others. In turn, insulin may raise levels of insulin-like growth factors, which may influence breast cancer risk. We analyzed the effect of type and amount of carbohydrates on breast cancer risk, using the glycemic index and the glycemic load measures in a large case-control study conducted in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cases were 2,569 women with incident, histologically-confirmed breast cancer interviewed between 1991 and 1994. Controls were 2588 women admitted to the same hospital network for a variety of acute, non-neoplastic conditions. Average daily glycemic index and glycemic load were calculated from a validated 78-item food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Direct associations with breast cancer risk emerged for glycemic index (odds ratio, OR for highest vs. lowest quintile = 1.4; P for trend <0.01) and glycemic load (OR = 1.3; P < 0.01). High glycemic index foods, such as white bread, increased the risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.3) while the intake of pasta, a medium glycemic index food, seemed to have no influence (OR = 1.0). Findings were consistent across different strata of menopausal status, alcohol intake, and physical activity level. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the hypothesis of moderate, direct associations between glycemic index or glycemic load and breast cancer risk and, consequently, a possible role of hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance in breast cancer development.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effect of a very-high-fiber vegetable, fruit, and nut diet on serum lipids and colonic function.

We tested the effects of feeding a diet very high in fiber from fruit and vegetables. The levels fed were those, which had originally inspired the dietary fiber hypothesis related to colon cancer and heart disease prevention and also may have been eaten early in human evolution. Ten healthy volunteers each took 3 metabolic diets of 2 weeks duration. The diets were: high-vegetable, fruit, and nut (very-high-fiber, 55 g/1,000 kcal); starch-based containing cereals and legumes (early agricultural diet); or low-fat (contemporary therapeutic diet). All diets were intended to be weight-maintaining (mean intake, 2,577 kcal/d). Compared with the starch-based and low-fat diets, the high-fiber vegetable diet resulted in the largest reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (33% +/- 4%, P <.001) and the greatest fecal bile acid output (1.13 +/- 0.30 g/d, P =.002), fecal bulk (906 +/- 130 g/d, P <.001), and fecal short-chain fatty acid outputs (78 +/- 13 mmol/d, P <.001). Nevertheless, due to the increase in fecal bulk, the actual concentrations of fecal bile acids were lowest on the vegetable diet (1.2 mg/g wet weight, P =.002). Maximum lipid reductions occurred within 1 week. Urinary mevalonic acid excretion increased (P =.036) on the high-vegetable diet reflecting large fecal steroid losses. We conclude that very high-vegetable fiber intakes reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease and possibly colon cancer. Vegetable and fruit fibers therefore warrant further detailed investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Simple skinfold-thickness measurements complement conventional anthropometric assessments in predicting glucose tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Skinfold-thickness measurements are considered to have limited clinical utility. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether skinfold-thickness measurements may be a useful adjunct to conventional anthropometric assessments in predicting glucose and insulin regulation, we studied responses to replicate 75-g oral-glucose-tolerance tests (OGTTs) and performed simple anthropometry in a cross section of subjects. DESIGN: Thirty-five subjects completed the study: 11 lean [mean (+/-SEM) age: 33 +/- 3.2 y; body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): 24.1 +/- 0.8; and percentage body fat (%BF): 11.5 +/- 1.5%], 12 normal-weight (age: 33 +/- 2.9 y; BMI: 23.9 +/- 0.7; and %BF: 24.3.5 +/- 1.3%), and 12 obese (age: 41 +/- 4.5 y; BMI: 34.5 +/- 1.7; and %BF: 34.2 +/- 1.5%) individuals. The lean and normal-weight groups were selected to have similar BMIs but different %BFs. We measured the participants' heights, weights, %BFs, waist circumferences, hip circumferences, and truncal and peripheral skinfold thicknesses. Subjects received nine 75-g OGTTs and blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. Mean plasma glucose and insulin values were used to calculate the insulin sensitivity index. RESULTS: The obese group had higher plasma glucose concentrations and areas under the curve (AUCs) than did the normal-weight or lean group and higher plasma insulin concentrations and AUCs than did the lean group (P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression, with adjustment for demographic and anthropometric measurements, identified the following predictors: waist circumference, peripheral skinfold thickness, and BMI for fasting plasma glucose (partial R(2) = 0.20, 0.13, and 0.13, P < 0.05); waist circumference and truncal skinfold thickness for plasma glucose AUC (partial R(2) = 0.20 and 0.13, P < 0.05); age, waist-to-hip ratio, and peripheral skinfold thickness for fasting plasma insulin (partial R(2) = 0.26, 0.22, and 0.15, P < 0.05); truncal skinfold thickness for plasma insulin AUC (partial R(2) = 0.41, P < 0.001); and peripheral skinfold thickness for both 2-h plasma glucose (partial R(2) = 0.59, P < 0.001) and the insulin sensitivity index (partial R(2) = 0.49, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Skinfold-thickness measurements may complement other established measurements for predicting abnormal glucose and insulin regulation.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Beta-oxidation of linoleate in obese men undergoing weight loss.

BACKGROUND: In animals, the whole-body content and accumulation of linoleate can be measured and compared with its intake to determine linoleate beta-oxidation. This method can also provide quantitative information about the beta-oxidation of linoleate in humans. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to 1) use the wholebody fatty acid balance method to quantify whole-body concentrations of linoleate in humans, 2) estimate the distribution of linoleate between adipose and lean tissue, and 3) assess the effect of weight loss on linoleate stores and beta-oxidation in obese humans. DESIGN: Nine healthy obese men underwent supervised weight loss for 112 d (16 wk). Magnetic resonance imaging data and fatty acid profiles from fat biopsies were both used to determine linoleate stores in adipose and lean tissue and in the whole body. Linoleate beta-oxidation was calculated as intake - (accumulation + excretion). RESULTS: Mean weight loss was 13 kg and linoleate intake was 24 +/- 6 mmol/d over the study period. Whole-body loss of linoleate was 37 +/- 18 mmol/d, or 28% of the level before weight loss. Combining the intake and whole-body loss of linoleate resulted in linoleate beta-oxidation exceeding intake by 2.5-fold during the weight-loss period. CONCLUSIONS: All dietary linoleate is beta-oxidized and at least an equivalent amount of linoleate is lost from the body during moderate weight loss in obese men. The method studied permits the assessment of long-term changes in linoleate homeostasis in obese humans and may be useful in determining the risk of linoleate deficiency in other conditions.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

High-protein diets in hyperlipidemia: effect of wheat gluten on serum lipids, uric acid, and renal function.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic effects of diets high in vegetable protein have not been assessed despite much recent interest in the effect of soy proteins in reducing serum cholesterol. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the metabolic effects of diets high in vegetable protein (specifically, wheat gluten) on serum lipids, uric acid concentrations, and renal function. DESIGN: Twenty hyperlipidemic men and women consumed isoenergetic test (high-protein) and control metabolic diets for 1 mo in a randomized crossover design. In the high-protein diet, 11% of the total dietary energy from starch in the control bread was replaced by vegetable protein (wheat gluten), resulting in 27% of total energy from protein compared with 16% in the control diet. In other respects, the 2 diets were identical. RESULTS: Compared with the control, the high-protein diet resulted in lower serum concentrations of triacylglycerol (by 19.2 +/- 5.6%; P = 0.003), uric acid (by 12.7 +/- 2.0%; P < 0.001), and creatinine (by 2.5 +/- 1.1%; P = 0.035) and higher serum concentrations of urea (by 42.2 +/- 5.8%; P < 0.001) and a higher 24-h urinary urea output (by 99.2 +/- 17.2%; P < 0.001). No significant differences were detected in total or HDL cholesterol or in the renal clearance of creatinine. LDL oxidation, assessed as the ratio of conjugated dienes to LDL cholesterol in the LDL fraction, was lower with the high-protein diet (by 10.6 +/- 3.6%; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: High intakes of vegetable protein from gluten may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease risk by reducing oxidized LDL, serum triacylglycerol, and uric acid. Further studies are required to assess the longer-term effects on renal function.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Contribution of the adenine base to the activity of adenophostin A investigated using a base replacement strategy.

Syntheses of 3'-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosidoimidazole 2',3'', 4''-trisphosphate (7) and 3'-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-9-beta-D-ribofuranosidopurine 2',3'',4''- trisphosphate (8), two analogues of the superpotent 1D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor agonist adenophostin A (2), are described. 5-O-Benzyl-1, 2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-ribofuranose was prepared by an improved route from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-xylofuranose and was coupled with 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-di-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl dimethyl phosphite to give 3',4'-di-O-acetyl-2',5, 6'-tri-O-benzyl-3-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-ribofuranose. Removal of the isopropylidene acetal and subsequent acetylation gave the central disaccharide 1,2,3',4'-tetra-O-acetyl-2',5, 6'-tri-O-benzyl-3-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-D-ribofuranose. Vorbrüggen condensation with activated imidazole or purine gave the required beta-substituted derivatives which were further elaborated to 7 and 8, respectively. Radioligand binding assays to hepatic InsP(3) receptors and functional assays of Ca(2+) release from permeabilized hepatocytes gave a rank order of potency of the ligands 2 approximately 8 > 7 approximately Ins(1,4,5)P(3) indicating that the N(6)-amino group of 2 is of little importance for activity and that a minimum of a two-fused-ring nucleobase is required for activity to exceed that of Ins(1,4,5)P(3). The role of the adenine base in the activity of the adenophostins is discussed. This general method should facilitate ready access to nucleobase-modified adenophostin analogues for SAR studies.

Adenine↗
PubMed2000

Dilution of the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test increases postprandial glycemia: implications for diagnostic criteria.

BACKGROUND: Dilution has been noticed to increase the glycemic response to various sugars, including glucose. This effect may contribute to the poor reproducibility of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). To test this hypothesis we assessed the effect of diluting a 75-g OGTT on 2-hour postprandial blood glucose based diagnostic outcomes, incremental glycemia and area under the glucose curve. METHODS: On 3 different occasions, 10 subjects (mean age 40 [and standard error of the mean (SEM) 3.2] years; mean body mass index 27.2 [and SEM 1.2] kg/m2) without previously diagnosed dysglycemia were given a 300-mL, 600-mL or 900-mL 75-g OGTT in random order. The protocol followed the American Diabetes Association's guidelines. Finger-prick capillary blood samples were obtained at fasting and then 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after the start of the test. RESULTS: At 30, 45 and 60 minutes, incremental glycemic concentrations were significantly higher with the 900-mL meal (means [and SEMs]: 4.9 [0.4] mmol/L, 5.1 [0.6] mmol/L and 4.6 [0.8] mmol/L, respectively) than with the 600-mL (means [and SEMs]: 4.0 [0.3] mmol/L, 4.2 [0.6] mmol/L and 3.6 [0.7] mmol/L, respectively) and the 300-mL meals (means and [SEMs]: 3.8 [0.5] mmol/L, 4.0 [0.5] mmol/L and 3.2 [0.6] mmol/L, respectively) (p < 0.05). The same was true for peak incremental blood glucose, regardless of time (p < 0.05). The area under the curve for the 900-mL meal (mean [and SEM] 404 [57] min.mmol/L) was significantly higher than for the 600-mL (mean [and SEM] 331 [51] min.mmol/L) and 300-mL meals (mean [and SEM] 280 [48] min.mmol/L) (p < 0.05). No other significant differences were observed. INTERPRETATION: Dilution of the 75-g OGTT will likely not affect current screening practices that use 2-h postprandial glucose levels as the basis for diagnosis. It may, however, bias the interpretation of older criteria that rely on intermediate time points because these midpoints appear to be sensitive to alterations in the total volume of the meal ingested.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Efficacy of Droncit Spot-on (praziquantel) 4% w/v against immature and mature Echinococcus multilocularis in cats.

The causative agent of alveolar hydatidosis in humans, the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is extending its geographical range in Europe and has been found in domestic cats in some areas. A dermally applied cestocidal treatment for domestic cats has been developed and the efficacy of this treatment is reported. Thirty purpose-bred cats were experimentally infected each with 10000 protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis. Ten days later one group of ten cats was treated with Droncit(R) Spot-on (Praziquantel) 4% w/v dermally in one place on the dorsal aspect of the neck at a dose of 8 mg/kg. Eleven days later (21 days p.i.) a second group of ten cats was also treated with Droncit(R) Spot-on the same way. One group of ten cats was left untreated as controls. Twenty three days after infection the cats were examined for the presence of E. multilocularis tapeworms. No E. multilocularis were recovered from any of the cats in either of the treated groups. Echinococcus multilocularis were recovered from eight of the ten cats left untreated as controls. The worm burdens in the untreated cats were 0, 0, 5, 15, 75, 110, 220, 815, 2635, and 3045 worms per cat. The worms ranged in development from the three to four segment stage. Many of the E. multilocularis with four segments contained unshelled eggs in the terminal segment. This study indicates that Droncit(R) Spot-on (Praziquantel) 4% w/v applied dermally at 8 mg/kg is highly effective in removing E. multilocularis from the small intestine of cats infected with immature and mature (prepatent) infections of E. multilocularis. In the cats with the mature infections all tapeworms were absent from the small intestine within 2 days of treatment.

Animals↗