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Biomedical subjects

M Ravaoarinoro

Publications and source records attributed to M Ravaoarinoro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Sustained interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 expression following infection with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 in a HeLa/THP-1 cell co-culture model.

Chlamydia trachomatis, an intracellular obligate bacterium, remains responsible for a large spectrum of disorders that can progress to chronic diseases, resulting in severe sequelae, such as tubal infertility and blindness. These sequelae may be due to deleterious immune responses induced by repeated or persistent infections. By initiating and regulating inflammation as well as immune responses, pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by local infected epithelial and immune cells, such as monocytes, may play an essential role in immunity and in the immunopathogenesis of chlamydial diseases. In this study, we mimicked the in vivo interaction between epithelial cells and monocytes by co-culturing epithelial-like HeLa cells with monocyte-like THP-1 cells. Pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)] were measured by multiplexed cytometric bead array assay over a period of 18 days. We observed that pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion was augmented after C. trachomatis infection in HeLa and THP-1 cells. However, this heightened secretion was subsequently reduced. When infected HeLa cells were co-cultured with THP-1 cells, IL-6 and IL-8 secretion was sustained, IL-1beta expression followed a bell-shaped curve and IL-10, IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha synthesis was down regulated. IL-6 and IL-8 may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of chronic chlamydial infections. We also observed that throughout C. trachomatis persistence induced by doxycycline (Dox) treatment, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha expression was reduced, whereas the synthesis of IL-10 and IL-12p70 remained unchanged but not sustained. Thus, during chlamydial persistence infection evoked by treatment with Dox, none of the tested cytokines showed sustained expression.

Cell Line↗

Pharmacokinetics of cationic liposome-encapsulated doxycycline in mice challenged with genital infection by Chlamydia trachomatis.

Our previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of cationic liposome-encapsulated doxycycline (CaL-DOX) on the course of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro and in vivo. In this investigation, the pharmacokinetics of CaL-DOX are reported. Female mice inoculated intravaginally with 4.84 x 10(5) inclusion-forming units were treated intramuscularly, 3 days postinfection, as determined by a preliminary study, with 0.1 ml of unencapsulated doxycycline (DOX) or CaL-DOX, at 10 microg/ml body weight for 3 consecutive days. Sampling was performed at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after treatment. The microbiological test was used to measure the DOX concentration in sera, liver, kidneys and genital organs. The maximum concentration in kidneys, liver and genital organs was higher in mice treated with DOX than in those treated with CaL-DOX. However, in sera, the amount was similar to that in mice treated with DOX. The DOX concentration found in mice treated with CaL-DOX was much less than in those treated with unencapsulated DOX. This may have a direct impact on the secondary effects caused by the medication. Decreased secondary effects should have a positive outcome on patient physical and mental health. Even if this study is the only one of its kind so far, CaL-DOX could be an alternative solution for the treatment of chlamydial infections.

Animals↗

[In vitro inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis growth by liposome-encapsulated cyclines].

The antichlamydial activity of tetracycline (Tet) and doxycycline (Dox) encapsulated in cationic (CaL), anionic (AnL) and neutral (NtL) liposomes has been evaluated in vitro by adding serial dilutions of antibiotics (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC: 0.12-0.007 microgram/ml; MBC: 4 to 0.25 micrograms/ml) to HeLa 229 cell monolayers inoculated with Chlamydia trachomatis L2/434/Bu (10(3) ufi/ml). Following 72 h incubation at 37 degrees C under a 5% CO2 atmosphere, the chlamydial inclusions were stained by the May-Giemsa method to determine the MICs. After a second and third passage, the MBC1 and MBC2 were determined in antibiotic-free medium. The chlamydial inclusions were then counted to assess the degree of growth inhibition at each antibiotic dilution tested for MBC1 and MBC2 determinations. The MIC, MBC1 and MBC2 of the various antichlamydial agents were as follows: Tet (0.12; 4; 4), AnL-Tet (0.01; 1; 1), NtL-Tet (0.03; 1; 2), Dox (0.06; 1; 2), CaL-Dox (0.03; 0.5; 2), AnL-Dox (0.01; 1; 2), and NtL-Dox (0.03; 0.5; 0.5). It was found that Tet and Dox liposome-encapsulated antibiotics were more active than their non-encapsulated counterparts, and the inclusion count showed a higher inhibitory activity of the former antibiotics on chlamydial growth. The inhibition of chlamydial growth by AnL-Tet may be of bactericidal nature. In conclusion, liposome-encapsulated drugs could be of value in the treatment of chlamydial infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Effects of cationic liposome-encapsulated doxycycline on experimental Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in mice.

In a previous study, we demonstrated that cationic liposome-encapsulated doxycycline (CaL-Dox) was two-fold more effective than free doxycycline against Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro. Here, we evaluated the effects of two CaL-Dox regimens in comparison with unencapsulated doxycycline on the course of chlamydial genital infection in mice. Progesterone-treated, female CF-1 mice were challenged intravaginally with 1.2 x 10(5) inclusion-forming units (ifu) of C. trachomatis. Two days post-infection, the animals were divided into four treatment groups for im injection of doxycycline at 10 mg/kg body weight bd for 3 (3 Dox) or 7 days (7 Dox), or of CaL-Dox at the same dose level for 3 (3 CaL-Dox) or 7 days (7 CaL-Dox) consecutively. An infected fifth group served as a control and was given an empty CaL preparation. C. trachomatis were isolated after five blind passages from 82% of infected control mice, 61.4% of 3 Dox, 52.2% of 3 CaL-Dox, 29% of 7 Dox and 20% of 7 CaL-Dox animals. Histopathological reactions were found in various tissues of the genital tract in 79.5% of infected control mice, 80.9% of 3 Dox, 65.2% of 3 CaL-Dox, 47.1% of 7 Dox and 25.7% of 7 CaL-Dox animals. Total antichlamydial antibody titres were lower in 7 CaL-Dox mice than in all the other groups (P < 0.005). The results showed that progesterone-treated CF-1 mice are suitable for investigation of both lower and upper genital tract infection with a lymphogranuloma venereum biovar strain of C. trachomatis. Neither 7 CaL-Dox nor 3 CaL-Dox treatment was more effective than unencapsulated 7 Dox doses in the bacteriological cure of chlamydial genital infection in mice. However, 7 CaL-Dox prevented tissue damage in the genital tract significantly more than all the other regimens (P < 0.05). These results suggest that liposome-encapsulated doxycycline, particularly CaL-Dox, may have potential for the clinical treatment of chlamydial infections.

Animals↗

Beta-lactamases and outer membrane investigations in beta-lactam-resistant Comamonas acidovorans strains.

Imipenem-induced beta-lactamase (level of expression, specific activity and kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) in response to nitrocefin) and outer membrane proteins (OMPs) (hydrophobicity, permeability and electrophoretic pattern) were characterized in, one beta-lactam sensitive (PAC-9), one resistant (PAC-1) and two resistant laboratory mutants (PAC-9M, PAC-9M2) of Comamonas acidovorans strains. Beta-lactamases from both mutant strains showed different Vmax values compared to the parental strains. Beta-lactam resistance was found to be associated in PAC-1 with inducible beta-lactamase production and OMP alteration by the appearance of a 102-KDa protein. Moreover, PAC-1 was less permeable to nitrocefin than PAC-9. These data indicate that C. acidovorans resistance to beta-lactam resulted from synergy between beta-lactamase and OMP alterations.

Aminoglycosides↗

In-vitro anti-chlamydial activities of free and liposomal tetracycline and doxycycline.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-chlamydial activities in vitro of liposome-encapsulated doxycycline (Dox) and tetracycline (Tet) in comparison with free Dox and Tet. Dox and Tet encapsulated in cationic (CAL), anionic (ANL) and neutral (NTL) liposomes by sonication, were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Anti-chlamydial activities were determined by addition of serial dilutions of antibiotics (MIC 0.12-0.007 mg/L; MBC 4-0.25 mg/L) to HeLa 229 cell monolayers inoculated with Chlamydia trachomatis L2/434/Bu (10(3) ifu/well). After incubation for 72 h at 37 degrees C, chlamydial inclusions were stained by the May-Grünwald Giemsa method to establish MICs. MBCs were determined in chlamydial agent-free medium after second passages. Dox-encapsulation efficiencies were 28.6 SEM 6.4% in cationic (CAL-Dox), 49.1 SEM 6.7% in anionic (ANL-Dox) and 21.0 SEM 0.8% in neutral (NTL-Dox) liposomes. Tet-encapsulation efficiencies were 3.5 SEM 0.3% in anionic (ANL-Tet) and 2.2 SEM 0.6% in neutral (NTL-Tet) liposomes; no Tet was detected in cationic (CAL-Tet) liposomes. MIC values were 0.06 mg/L for Dox, 0.12 mg/L for Tet, 0.03 mg/L for CAL-Dox, NTL-Dox and NTL-Tet, and 0.01 mg/L for ANL-Dox and ANL-Tet. MBCs were 4 mg/L for Tet, 0.5 mg/L for CAL-Dox and NTL-Dox, and 1 mg/L for Dox, ANL-Dox, ANL-Tet, NTL-Tet and NTL-Tet. For MICs, the relative increase in anti-chlamydial activity observed with liposomal formulations compared to the corresponding free antibiotic ranged from 2- to 6-fold with Dox and from 4- to 10-fold with Tet. For MBCs, the relative increases in anti-chlamydial activity were 2- and 4-fold with liposome-encapsulated Dox and Tet, respectively. Dox was better encapsulated than Tet in all liposomes. Liposome-encapsulated drugs showed greater anti-chlamydial activities than their free forms; thus, these drug formulations have potential in the treatment of chlamydial infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Incorporation rates, stabilities, cytotoxicities and release of liposomal tetracycline and doxycycline in human serum.

Tetracycline and doxycycline were encapsulated in cationic, anionic and neutral liposomes. The amounts of antibiotic encapsulated, the stability of each preparation at 4 degrees C for 4 weeks, and the kinetics of the release of entrapped drug into human sera were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The toxicities of the liposome preparations on human erythrocytes and HeLa 229 cells were evaluated in vitro. The results showed that doxycycline was entrapped more efficiently than tetracycline, and that doxycycline-entrapped liposomes were more stable at 4 degrees C and in human sera, and less cytotoxic than tetracycline-entrapped liposomes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and tobramycin administered by hypodermoclysis in young and older healthy volunteers.

1. To test the feasibility of administering antibiotics by subcutaneous infusion to the elderly, we compared the pharmacokinetics of tobramycin (single dose of 80 mg) given by hypodermoclysis (HDC) with the kinetics of the antibiotic injected intravenously (i.v.) in 10 young (< 50 years old) and 10 elderly (> 65 years old) healthy volunteers. Similar studies were performed with ampicillin (single dose of 1 g) in 12 young and 10 older healthy volunteers. 2. Compared with the i.v. route, HDC delayed the time to reach the maximal plasma concentration (tmax) of tobramycin in young volunteers: 32 +/- 6 (s.d.) min vs 88 +/- 46, P < 0.005, and older volunteers: 27 +/- 4 min vs 89 +/- 15, P < 0.005. Administration of the antibiotics by HDC was well tolerated. The plasma concentration of tobramycin 30 min after the end of infusion (C60) was lower (P < 0.05) following HDC than after the i.v. route in both young, 2.2 +/- 0.7 vs 3.5 +/- 0.8 micrograms ml-1, and elderly subjects, 2.2 +/- 0.8 vs 3.8 +/- 0.9. micrograms ml-1. 3. The area under the curve (AUC) of tobramycin given by HDC was slightly smaller than when given i.v., i.e. in young subjects: 740 +/- 225 (s.d.) vs 893 +/- 223 micrograms ml-1 min, NS, and in the elderly: 980 +/- 228 vs 1056 +/- 315 micrograms ml-1 min, NS. 4. When ampicillin was administered by HDC, the tmax was also delayed in young volunteers: 45 +/- 18 vs 23 +/- 6 min, and in the elderly: 49 +/- 18 vs 27 +/- 4 min, P < 0.005, the AUC was greater by HDC than i.v. in the young volunteers: 4527 +/- 1658 micrograms ml-1 min vs 3810 +/- 1033 micrograms ml-1 min and in the elderly: 6795 +/- 2094 micrograms ml-1 min vs 4217 +/- 1518 micrograms ml-1 min, and the C60 was higher by HDC in the young: 27 +/- 7 vs 24 +/- 9 micrograms ml-1, and in the elderly: 32 +/- 9 vs 23 +/- 11 micrograms ml-1, P < 0.05. 5. In conclusion, HDC delays the entry of the antibiotic into the systemic circulation, but did not affect the amount available. HDC was well tolerated and could become an adequate method for antibiotic administration to the elderly.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Incorporation, release and in-vitro antibacterial activity of liposomal aminoglycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Amikacin, netilmicin and tobramycin were incorporated into either anionic or cationic liposomes prepared by sonication. The influence of lipid constituents (charges) on encapsulation efficiency was determined after lysis of vesicles by 0.2% (v/v) Triton X-100. The in-vitro activities of the liposomal aminoglycosides were evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by agar dilution and compared with free antibiotics. Normal human pooled sera, incubated at 37 degrees C, were supplemented with anionic or cationic liposomes containing known fixed concentrations of amikacin, netilmicin or tobramycin. At various time intervals (0-48 h), samples were taken and antibiotic concentrations determined by the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT). The encapsulation efficiency of cationic liposomes (amikacin 17.1 +/- 1.55%, netilmicin: 5.63 +/- 1.13%, tobramycin 6.7 +/- 0.5%) was approximately 30% higher than that of anionic liposomes (amikacin 12.3 +/- 0.95%, netilmicin 4.0 +/- 0.06%, tobramycin 5.13 +/- 0.18%). Anionic and cationic liposomes in human serum still retained 79.13 +/- 4.04% and 82.71 +/- 2.6% of amikacin, 50.67 +/- 1.8% and 38.6 +/- 0.8% of netilmicin, and 89.09 +/- 1.0% and 88.93 +/- 0.4% of tobramycin, respectively, after 48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2. The MICs of amikacin (2, 16 and 2 mg/L), netilmicin (2, 1 and 4 mg/L) and tobramycin (1, 2 and 4 mg/L) in free, anionic or cationic liposomal formulations, respectively, were relatively comparable except for anionic liposomal amikacin for which the MIC was increased eight-fold. Empty cationic or anionic liposomes had no effect on bacterial growth. Cationic liposomes containing aminoglycosides should be evaluated further for the treatment of pseudomonal infection.

Amikacin↗

Rapid method for isolating detergent-insoluble outer membrane proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The present study compares two techniques for isolating outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Method A - selective solubilization with sodium lauryl sarcosinate, and Method B - isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation, using three criteria: the amount of proteins obtained, polypeptide patterns after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their practical aspects. Method A appears to be superior to Method B. It yields a higher outer membrane protein content and a similar polypeptide pattern as Method B, but is more rapid and less cumbersome.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Efficient entrapment of amikacin and teicoplanin in liposomes.

A higher encapsulation rate was obtained using the dehydration-rehydration method compared with the reverse-phase evaporation technique in negative multilamellar vesicles with amikacin (AMK) (45% versus 15%; P < 0.05) and teicoplanin (TCP) (34% versus 25%; P < 0.05). The addition of 250 mM sucrose to AMK- or TCP-containing liposomes without prior drying prevented a significant decrease in antibiotic content in unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles over a 3-month period at -70 degrees C.

Amikacin↗

Inducible beta-lactamases in clinical isolates of non-aeruginosa Pseudomonas.

The incidence of antimicrobial resistance and expression of imipenem-inducible beta-lactamase were examined in 22 strains of non-aeruginosa Pseudomonas isolated from clinical specimens. The percentage of strains resistant to form one to eight antibiotics was 45. The most active antibiotics against all strains were norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem. Eighteen out of the 22 strains were positive for beta-lactamase in a spectrophotometric assay using nitrocefin as substrate. A low inducible beta-lactamase specific activity (0.001-0.999 nmoles nitrocefin hydrolyzed/min/mg protein) was found in twelve strains whereas six strains had a relatively high specific activity (3.5-159.8 nmoles nitrocefin hydrolyzed/min/mg protein). Five strains representing different Pseudomonas spp. and showing high beta-lactamase activity were studied further. Crude enzymes from two species (Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas acidovorans) hydrolyzed cefazolin at a higher rate than penicillin and ampicillin. All enzymes from the five species were inhibited by cloxacillin and p-chloromercuribenzoate (1 mM), but were insensitive to inhibition by clavulanic acid, ethylenediamine acetic acid (EDTA) at the same concentration. The isoelectric point and molecular weight of the main beta-lactamase band from the 5 species were 6.5-6.8 and 47,000 respectively.

Cefazolin↗

Evaluation of three methods for curing hybridomas from mycoplasma contamination.

Hybridomas are as susceptible to mycoplasma contamination as animal cell cultures. Two in vitro methods and one in vivo passage into mice were compared for efficiency of curing hybridomas from mycoplasma contaminations. Four contaminated clones were treated with the combined action of 5-bromouracil (5-BrUra) and the Hoechst 33258 followed by photosensitization. The other in vitro method involved the use of BM-cycline. The success of overcoming the mycoplasma contamination was dependent on the level of the initial contamination of the individual hybridoma. BM-cycline was more efficient than the photosensitization method. For the most contaminated hybridomas, 10 successive treatments with 5-BrUra were necessary as compared to six treatments with BM-cycline. Moreover, the use of BM-cycline reduced the contamination by as much as 50% after the first treatment. After twenty passages following the curing of hybridomas with BM-cycline, cells were stable and retained their specificity and secretion of their respective immunoglobulins. Whereas, treatment with 5-bromouracil, recurrence of contamination was observed in one of the four hybridomas after 10 passages following treatment. Decontamination after one passage in peritoneal cavity in mice was not always sufficient since one of four hybridomas remained contaminated. BM-cycline appears to be the method of choice since it is more efficient, less time consuming, simpler and less expensive. Mycoplasma strains that could be identified were of bovine origin: Mycoplasma arginini and Acholeplasma laidlawii.

Animals↗

[Viral etiology of diarrheal diseases in Madagascan children].

Our study included a total of 318 diarrheic stools and 52 normal stools collected from out-patients with acute diarrhea at welfare Center and children admitted at Antananarivo City children's Hospital, or control free of infectious disease during 8 months period. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay and tissue cultures revealed the presence of 152 viral particles (47%) from children with diarrhea and 29 viral particles (55%) from control children. Positive cases were distributed according age, sex, and season factors. The highest infection rate was found in 25-36 months old of the children with diarrhea (72%). The two sexes were equally infected. Enteroviruses were isolated from diarrheic stools with a high frequency (43%) during the rainy and warm season while Rotaviruses were the prevailing agent during the dry and cool season, and Adenoviruses came in second place (19%). In view of our results, the etiological role of these viruses in diarrhea is discussed.

Adenoviridae↗