We investigated the efficacy of tachyplesin III and clarithromycin in two experimental rat models of severe gram-negative bacterial infections. Adult male Wistar rats were given either (i) an intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg Escherichia coli 0111:B4 lipopolysaccharide or (ii) 2 x 10(10) CFU of E. coli ATCC 25922. For each model, the animals received isotonic sodium chloride solution, 1 mg/k...

The segregation of compound-second chromosomes in males from two different stocks has been examined. Segregation is random in males from the C(2L)RM4, dp; C(2R)RM4, px stock. Gametes containing only one of the two compound chromosomes comprise 50% of the gametes, and gametes containing either both elements or neither element make up the other 50% of the gametes. In males from the C(2L)RM, b; C(...

Plant-parasitic nematodes are destructive pathogens causing enormous economic losses worldwide. With the withdrawal of fumigants, organophosphates and carbamates, pathogenic nematode control is more difficult. Phytochemicals are the plant secondary metabolites and are friendly for men and the environment. For developing new nematocidal candidates, we screened 790 phytochemicals using the model ...

Cardiotoxic and lethal effects of Listeria monocytogenes hemolysin were studied in CD-1 mice injected with varying doses of hemolysin. Intravenous injection of 100 complete hemolytic units (CHU) caused 100% lethality within 4 to 5 min. Doses ranging from 40 to 50 CHU caused death of approximately 50% of the animals. Adrenergic blocking agents and antihistamine failed to protect mice against let...

Self-destructive behavior in the adolescent is a continuum that ranges from drug intoxications to gestures of low lethality to suicide attempts with high lethality of intent. Such behavior should be treated as a signal of long-term stress and strife. A "Psychological biopsy" is outlined for evaluation of the severity and type of perturbation. This focuses on 9 areas of inquiry: the circumstanti...

Secondary pneumococcal pneumonia is a serious complication during and shortly after influenza infection. We established a mouse model to study postinfluenza pneumococcal pneumonia and evaluated the role of IL-10 in host defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae after recovery from influenza infection. C57BL/6 mice were intranasally inoculated with 10 median tissue culture infective doses of infl...

A large number of extracellular polypeptides bound to their cognate receptors activate the transcription factor STAT3 by phosphorylation of tyrosine 705. Supplemental activation occurs when serine 727 is also phosphorylated. STAT3 deletion in mice leads to embryonic lethality. We have produced mice with alanine substituted for serine 727 in STAT3 (the SA allele) to examine the function of serin...