Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: investigation of phenotypic variation among passive surveillance cases

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a prion disease of domesticated cattle, first identified in Great Britain (GB) in 1986. The disease has been characterized by histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical and biological properties, which have shown a consistent disease phenotype among cases obtained by passive surveillance. With the advent of active surveillance in 2001, immunological tests for detection of the prion protein revealed some cases with different biochemical characteristics and, in certain instances, differences in pathology that have indicated variant phenotypes and the possibility of agent strain variation. This study examines a case set of 523 bovine brains derived from archived material identified through passive surveillance in GB. All cases conformed to the phenotype of classical BSE (BSE-C) by histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical approaches. The analyses consolidated an understanding of BSE-C and, by western blotting, confirmed differentiation from the known atypical BSE cases which exhibit higher or lower molecular masses than BSE-C (BSE-H and BSE-L respectively).

Estimating the temporal relationship between PrPSc detection and incubation period in experimental bovine spongiform encephalopathy of cattle

This study examines tissues from sequential-kill, time-course pathogenesis studies to refine estimates of the age at which disease-specific PrP (PrPSc) can first be detected in the central nervous system (CNS) and related peripheral nervous system ganglia of cattle incubating bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Such estimates are important for risk assessments of the age at which these tissues should be removed from cattle at slaughter to prevent human and animal exposure to BSE infection. Tissues were examined from cattle dosed orally with 100 or 1 g BSE-infected brain. Incubation period data for the doses were obtained from attack rate and the sequential-kill studies. A statistical model, fitted by maximum likelihood, accounted for the differences in the lognormal incubation period and the logistic probability of infection between different dose groups. Initial detection of PrPSc during incubation was invariably in the brainstem and the earliest was at 30 and 44 months post-exposure for the 100 g- and 1 g-dosed sequential-kill study groups, respectively. The point at which PrPSc in 50 % of the animals would be detected by immunohistochemistry applied to medulla–obex was estimated at 9.6 and 1.7 months before clinical onset for the 100 g- and 1 g-dosed cattle, respectively, with a low probability of detection in any of the tissues examined at more than 12 months before clinical onset. PrPSc was detected inconsistently in dorsal root ganglia, concurrent with or after detection in CNS, and not at all in certain sympathetic nervous system ganglia.

Transportation of prion protein across the intestinal mucosa of scrapie-susceptible and scrapie-resistant sheep

To determine the mechanisms of intestinal transport of infection, and early pathogenesis, of sheep scrapie, isolated gut-loops were inoculated to ensure that significant concentrations of scrapie agent would come into direct contact with the relevant ileal structures (epithelial, lymphoreticular, and nervous). Gut loops were inoculated with a scrapie brain pool homogenate or normal brain or sucrose solution. After surgery, animals were necropsied at time points ranging from 15 min to 1 month and at clinical end point. Inoculum-associated prion protein (PrP) was detected by immunohistochemistry in villous lacteals and in sub-mucosal lymphatics from 15 min to 3.5 h post-challenge. It was also detected in association with dendritic-like cells in the draining lymph nodes at up to 24 h post-challenge. Replication of infection, as demonstrated by the accumulation of disease-associated forms of PrP in Peyer's patches, was detected at 30 days and sheep developed clinical signs of scrapie at 18-22 months post-challenge. These results indicate discrepancies between the routes of transportation of PrP from the inoculum and sites of de novo-generated disease-associated PrP subsequent to scrapie agent replication. When samples of homogenized inoculum were incubated with alimentary tract fluids in vitro, only trace amounts of protease-resistant PrP could be detected by western blotting, suggesting that the majority of both normal and abnormal PrP within the inoculum is readily digested by alimentary fluids.

Occurrence and distribution of infection-specific PrP in tissues of clinical scrapie cases and cull sheep from scrapie-affected farms in Shetland

The prion protein (PrP) genotypes of all cull sheep originating from four scrapie-affected farms in Shetland in 1998-1999 were determined and a representative sample of the different genotypes was selected for necropsy. Samples of brain and selected viscera were removed from 159 such sheep aged 2-11 years. These samples were examined immunohistochemically and by Western blotting for infection-specific forms of PrP. None of the sheep bearing the following genotypes showed any evidence of PrP accumulation in brain, intestine, selected lymph nodes or the cranial mesenteric ganglia: ARQ/ARQ (n = 41), ARQ/ARH (n = 12), ARH/ARH (n = 2), ARQ/ARR (n = 24), ARR/ARR (n= 2). In five of 71 sheep bearing a single VRQ allele, PrP accumulation was detected immunohistochemically in viscera or brain, or both. These results suggested that only a small proportion of susceptible sheep showed evidence of infection (accumulation of PrP) on the farms studied, and that even sheep of the most susceptible genotype (VRQ/VRQ) did not invariably develop disease in an infected environment. Furthermore, there was no evidence that, in sheep of semi-resistant or fully resistant genotypes, infection could be sequestered within the lymphoreticular system or peripheral nervous system and thereby provide a possible "carrier" source of infection. Rather, the data suggested that some sheep, possibly because they had been exposed to a relatively low infective dose, became infected and accumulated the infective agent over a protracted pre-clinical phase of the disease. Such sheep might be potentially infective for many years. In two VRQ/ARR genotype sheep, PrP was confined to the brain. Infection-specific PrP was also confined to the brain in two of 24 clinical cases of VRQ/ARQ scrapie. Thus, direct neuroinvasion, apparently without a prior phase of replication in the lymphoreticular system, occurred in a proportion of VRQ/ARQ sheep. Possibly it may occur in all sheep of the VRQ/ARR genotype. The factors responsible for direct neuroinvasion are not understood. However, it cannot be attributed to genotype alone.

Chiral kinetics and dynamics of ketorolac

It has been shown that the analgesic and cyclooxygenase inhibitor activity of ketorolac tromethamine (KT), which is marketed as the racemic mixture of (-)S and (+)R enantiomers, resides primarily with (-)S ketorolac and that the ulcerogenic activity of this agent also resides in (-)S ketorolac. Resolution of individual enantiomers for analysis in plasma samples has been accomplished by two methods: derivatization to form diastereomers that are separated by HPLC, or direct HPLC using a chiral phase column. When mice and rats were given oral solutions of (-)S and (+) KT, it was found that the kinetics and interconversion of the enantiomers were species and dose dependent. Interconversion was higher in mice than in rats; when (-)S KT was administered, 71% of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was due to (+)R ketorolac in mice, compared with 12% in rats. More interconversion was observed at higher doses; the percent of AUC due to (-)S ketorolac when (+)R KT was administered increased from 12% to 25% in mice and from 2% to 8% in rats. In general, more interconversion occurred from (-)S to (+)R ketorolac in the animal studies. Human subjects were given single oral solution doses of racemic KT (30 mg), (-)S KT (15 mg), and (+)R KT (15 mg). The plasma concentrations of (-)S ketorolac were lower than (+)R ketorolac at all sample times after racemic KT (22% of the AUC was due to (-)S ketorolac). When (+)R KT was administered, (-)S ketorolac was not detectable and interconversion was essentially 0%. When (-)S KT was administered, significant levels of (+)R ketorolac were detectable and interconversion was 6.5%. After all doses, plasma half-life was shorter and clearance greater for (-)S ketorolac than for (+)R ketorolac. Thus, in humans very little or no interconversion of (+)R to (-)S was observed, and interconversion of (-)S to (+)R was minimal (6.5%). These data demonstrate that the kinetics and interconversion of the enantiomers of ketorolac is different in animals and humans as well as from most other NSAIDs. This may be due to more rapid excretion or metabolism of (-)S ketorolac and a different mechanism of interconversion.

Metabolic fate of the new anti-ulcer drug enprostil in animals. 1st communication: absorption, distribution and excretion in the mouse, rat and rabbit

Absorption, distribution and excretion of [3H]-enprostil ((+-)-11a,15a-dihydroxy-9-oxo-16-phenoxy-17,18,19,20-tetranorpr osta -4,5,13(t)-trienoic acid methyl ester, TA-84135), a new anti-ulcer prostaglandin, were studied in mice, rats and rabbits. Radioactivity associated with enprostil was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with Tmax values of 15 or 30 min. Absorption was also efficient inasmuch as approximately 80% of an oral dose was recovered in bile and urine in 24 h in bile duct-cannulated rats. Experiments in pylorus-ligated, bile duct-cannulated rats demonstrated that enprostil was mainly absorbed from the intestine, rather than from the stomach. In mice given oral doses of 2, 8 and 32 micrograms/kg, Cmax and AUC values of enprostil radioequivalents increased proportionately to the increase in dose, indicating linear kinetics over this dose range. Distribution of enprostil-associated radioactivity was investigated in rats by quantitating tritium in various tissues after the oral administration of [3H]-enprostil. Radioactivity in tissues was highest at 15 or 30 min after dosing. Highest levels of radioactivity were found in the stomach and intestines, the organs which came into direct contact with the dose, and the liver and kidney, the organs involved in excretion of enprostil. The rate of elimination of enprostil-associated radioactivity from all tissues and from plasma was similar. Enprostil-associated radioactivity did not accumulate in any tissue. Radioactivity was found in fetuses following oral administration of [3H]-enprostil to rats on the 12th or 19th day of gestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolic fate of the new anti-ulcer drug enprostil in animals. 3rd communication: tissue accumulation after consecutive oral administration of [3H]-enprostil in rats

Accumulation characteristics of radioactivity in organs and tissues were investigated after oral administration of [3H]-enprostil ((+/-)-11a,15a-dihydroxy-9-oxo-16-phenoxy-17,18,19,20-tetranorp r osta-4,5,13(t)- trienoic acid methyl ester, TA-84135) to male rats once a day (20 micrograms/kg/d) for 1, 7 or 14 days. [3H]-Enprostil was found to be partially metabolized in vivo to volatile tritium (3H2O). The ratios of volatile tritium to total radioactivity in plasma increased with repeated administration of [3H]-enprostil and the levels of volatile tritium were almost equilibrated within 7 days of drug administration. The formation rate of volatile tritium was estimated to be 1-2% of the single dose. The blood levels of non-volatile radioactivity at 1 h after each daily dosing were nearly constant. The levels at 24 h, however, increased with repeated dosing. The levels of non-volatile radioactivity in most tissues at 1 h after the multiple administration (7 and 14 times) were higher than those after the single dose. At 24 h, levels were noticeable after multiple dosing even in the tissues in which levels below the detection limit were found after the single dose. From the comparison of the multiple-dose groups, the levels in most tissues attained steady state within 7 times dosing. The daily excretions of radioactivity in the urine, feces and expired air were constant throughout the period of consecutive administration. The total recovery of administered dose was 92%, which was similar to that achieved in the single-dosing group. As described above, the retention of non-volatile radioactivity was observed in most tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolic fate of the new anti-ulcer drug enprostil in animals. 2nd communication: whole-body autoradiographic distribution of [3H]-enprostil in rats

The distribution of radioactivity was studied by whole-body autoradiography in rats after oral or intravenous administration of [3H]-enprostil ((+/-)-11a-15a-dihydroxy-9-oxo-16-phenoxy-17,18,19,20-tetranorp r osta-4,5,13(t)- trienoic acid methyl ester, TA-84135) at a dose of 23 micrograms/kg. After oral administration to male rats, radioactivity in almost all the tissues and organs reached a peak within 15 min to 1 h. The highest levels of radioactivity were found in the contents of the stomach and intestine. High levels of radioactivity were also observed in the liver and kidney, and moderate levels were found in the lung, blood, dental pulp and the walls of the stomach. Radioactivity was the lowest in the skeletal muscle, testis, eye and brain. After reaching peak levels, radioactivity in the body decreased gradually, and it was detected only in the excretory organs at 24 h after drug administration. The distribution pattern after the intravenous dose was essentially similar to that after oral administration. The distribution profile of radioactivity in non-pregnant female rats after an oral dose was similar to that in male rats. Placental transfer and excretion in milk of radioactivity was slight. When the affinity of this compound to the melanin-containing tissues such as the uveal tract of the eye and the hair follicle was examined using pigmented rats, no tendency to retention of radioactivity in these tissues was observed.

The isolation of a virus resembling a polyomavirus from normal calves

Viruses with characteristics of polyomaviruses were isolated from the kidneys of 18 out of 64 clinically normal calves 1-2 weeks old. All the viruses were serologically related.

A comparison of intranasal and oral flunisolide in the therapy of allergic rhinitis. Evidence for a topical effect

Intranasal flunisolide is an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. Flunisolide has high bioavailability when administered to normal subjects (50% of an intranasal dose reaches the systemic circulation) with minimal systemic effects. Bioavailability in patients with active rhinitis averages 62.4 +/- 15.7%. The oral dose bioequivalent to 100 micrograms intranasally is 500 micrograms. To define the comparative trial and systemic effects of intranasal flunisolide in patients with active allergic rhinitis, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted during the 1983 ragweed hayfever season. Ninety-nine patients with ragweed hayfever for greater than or equal to 2 years and positive prick skin tests to ragweed were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups: 0 = oral flunisolide 500 micrograms b.i.d. and intranasal placebo b.i.d.; N = intranasal flunisolide 50 micrograms per nostril b.i.d. and oral placebo b.i.d.; P = intranasal and oral placebo b.i.d. Treatment continued for 4 weeks. Patients kept daily symptom scores. Patients were evaluated by a blinded observer every 2 weeks and were globally evaluated at the study's end. Data were analyzed for each center and pooled. There were no significant differences in symptom severity of sneezing, nasal congestion, and throat itch in the 0 (oral flunisolide) and P (placebo) groups. N (nasal flunisolide) was significantly more effective than O or P (P less than or equal to 0.005) for each symptom for at least one 2-week period. Global evaluation demonstrated control of overall hayfever severity for N (nasal flunisolide) but not for O (oral flunisolide). We conclude that the therapeutic efficacy of flunisolide is achieved by topical and not by systemic action.

Reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of sulconazole in plasma

A sensitive and specific analytical method for the measurement of sulconazole in plasma is described. The compound was extracted from plasma at pH 10 with hexane-methylene chloride. Samples were subjected to high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an acetonitrile-phosphate buffer mixture as the mobile phase. The components of interest were measured using a variable-wavelength detector at 229 nm. Sulconazole concentrations of greater than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml can be measured with confidence using this method. Linear calibration curves were constructed over the concentration range of 0.5-5 microgram/ml for sulconazole from dog plasma. A dog was administered a single oral 1000-mg dose of tritiated sulconazole nitrate; total plasma radioactivity and sulconazole plasma levels determined by HPLC are reported.