Effect of uterine ozone therapy and anticoagulant sampling on oxidative stress parameters in mares

Ozone therapy by rectal insufflation in dogs: safety and oxidative stress - a randomized cross-over study

Ozone therapy acts in the body inducing controlled oxidative stress, thereby improving the antioxidant, immune and circulatory responses. However, very little is known about how this therapy affects oxidative stress indicators in dogs. We aimed to assess the clinical, hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters of healthy dogs subjected to ozone therapy and oxygen therapy by rectal insufflation. Ten healthy dogs were allocated into three experimental groups in a cross-over design: control, without intervention; ozone, which received 100 µg of O3/kg through rectal insufflation; and oxygen, which received an ozone-equivalent volume of medicinal O2 through rectal insufflation. Dogs received four applications weekly and were followed up until the seventh week. Ozone therapy significantly increased the weight, mean corpuscular volume and mean platelet volume and decreased total cholesterol of treated dogs. Regarding oxidative stress, ozone therapy reduced total antioxidant capacity by ferric reduction (TAC-FRAP) in D7 compared with baseline and the control, significantly increased total antioxidant capacity by cupric reduction (TAC-CUPRAC) in D42 and D49 compared with the control group, caused an increase in uric acid compared with the oxygen group and decreased lipid peroxidation on D21 compared with the control group. In conclusion, ozone therapy through rectal insufflation causes transient oxidative stress followed by an antioxidant response and discreetly interferes with a few clinical, hematological and biochemical variables in healthy dogs, although variables still remained within the reference ranges for the species, thus proving the safety of the therapy. Furthermore, oxygen therapy causes oxidative stress without inducing a subsequent antioxidant response.

In vitro effects of different ozone preparations on microorganisms responsible for endometritis in the mare

Infectious endometritis is considered one of the major causes of infertility and it can affect up to 60% of barren mares. It is characterized by the presence of one or more microorganisms in the reproductive tract and it is treated with the administration of antibiotics, ecbolic agents and uterine lavages. Ozone, thanks to its antimicrobial properties that are based on its high oxidative potential, could represent an effective alternative treatment for endometritis. The aim of this study was to test in vitro the bactericidal and fungicidal properties of different ozone formulations, either as gas (experiment 1) or dissolved in two liquid matrices (experiment 2), specifically distilled water or oil (Neozone 4000, Cosmoproject, Parma, Italy), onto 6 different species of microorganisms isolated from mares with clinical endometritis, namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. In the first experiment, 3 clinical antibiotic-resistant strains per each species were exposed to different conditions: to O2O3 gas mixtures (15 and 40 μg/ml for 1, 3 and 5 min), to 100 % O2 or left untreated. The results showed a reduction of the microbial count of over 99,9% for every pathogen, time and concentration of O2O3 gas mixtures tested. Furthermore, gaseous ozone showed both a time-dependant effect (5 vs 3 vs 1 min of exposure) and a concentration-dependant effect (40 vs 15 μg/ml) at 1 and 3 min, while after 5 min no differences were observed. In the second experiment, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC, MFC) of ozonated distilled water and ozonated oil were evaluated. Ozonated oil showed a bactericidal/fungicidal activity against all the strains tested (MIC range 12.5-25 % v/v, MBC/MFC range 12.5-50 % v/v) while ozonated distilled water didn't show an observable antimicrobial effect, discouraging its use as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of endometritis. The results of this in vitro study indicate that both gaseous ozone and ozonated oil exerted remarkable antimicrobial activities and are promising alternative treatments for infectious endometritis, even when caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and encourage further experiments in an effort to scale down or even prevent the use of antibiotics in equine reproduction.

Safety and Effects of a Commercial Ozone Foam Preparation on Endometrial Environment and Fertility of Mares

Mares' subfertility represents a complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and both clinical and subclinical endometritis are considered major causes of impaired fertility. Thanks to its properties, ozone has a big potential as a treatment for equine endometritis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the safety and the effects on endometrium and reproductive parameters of mares of a commercial ozone foam preparation (Riger Spray®). Twenty-four mares were treated during estrus: ozone group with an intrauterine instillation of ozone foam preparation (OG, n=16) and control group with 20 ml of lactated Ringer's solution (CG, n=8). Samples for endometrial cytology were collected before the ozone treatment (T0), after 24 h (T1), after one week (T2), two weeks (T3), and when the subsequent estrous phase was detected (T4). Furthermore, samples for histological examination and uterine swab for bacteriological examination were collected at T0 and T4. At T1, a statistically significant increase of endometrial inflammation in the OG mares compared to T0 (P<.05) and to CG at same time point (P<.05) was observed, but it was already resolved at T2. No differences in endometrial inflammation in CG, biopsy grade before and after the treatment in the two groups, number of mares pregnant at the end of the season and number of mares pregnant at the first cycle were observed. However, the number of inseminations required for pregnancy tended to be lower (P=.0711) in the OG (1.69±0.06) than in CG mares (2.60±0.89).

Feline obesity causes hematological and biochemical changes and oxidative stress - a pilot study

Obesity, an extremely important factor in feline clinical practice, is estimated to affect up to one third of the feline population. Moreover, it can trigger chronic inflammation, which could predispose to oxidative stress by increasing reactive oxygen species, thereby generating potentially irreversible cellular damage. This study analyzed hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress profiles at various degrees of feline obesity. Forty-five cats were selected and divided into three groups: control (n = 17), overweight (n = 13) and obese (n = 15), after clinical and laboratory evaluation and body condition score. Biochemical and oxidative stress analyses were performed using a photocolorimeter and hematological analyses were performed in a veterinary cell counter. Obese cats showed increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), HDL cholesterol and triglycerides and decreased activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) than control cats, although within the reference ranges for the species. As for oxidative stress, obese cats showed higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC), by the inhibition of 2,2'-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzthiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid (ABTS), inhibition of ABTS associated with horseradish peroxidase (ABTS + HRP), cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods, while overweight cats had a higher TAC-ABTS + HRP and TAC-FRAP than control cats. We conclude that the conditions of natural obesity and overweight in the feline species alter its hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters.

Relationship between Oxidative Stress and Endometritis: Exploiting Knowledge Gained in Mares and Cows

Simple Summary

Endometritis is a widespread pathology in mares and cows and one of the leading causes of reproductive efficiency decline. Although localized in the innermost layer of the uterus, this inflammation involves the release of bioactive molecules and by-products related to molecular damage. Among the bioactive substances, a primary role is played by the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which, while exerting an antimicrobial effect, can amplify the inflammation, sometimes causing unwanted and self-aggravating effects. Part of these substances enters the bloodstream, with implications that range from sustaining distant effects on organs and tissues to being used as diagnostic biomarkers. The research carried out on this matter in cows and mares has maintained certain independence due to its species specificity. This review aims to collect and analyze the information available in these species to enhance diagnostics and provide new insights to prevent and treat this pathology.

Abstract

The etiopathogenesis of endometritis in mares and cows differs significantly; this could depend on a different sensitivity and reactivity of the uterus but also on endocrine and rearing factors and different stress sources. In both species, microorganisms and the immune system play a primary role in the generation of this pathology. Microbiological and cytological tests support clinical examination and significantly improve diagnostic accuracy. For both species, during the inflammation, immune cells invade the endometrium and release bioactive substances to contrast primary or secondary pathogen contamination. These molecules are traceable to cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandins as well as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), collectively known as RONS. The RONS-mediated oxidation causes morphological and functional alterations of macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, with the consequent production of derivative compounds capable of playing harmful effects. These bioactive molecules and by-products, which have recently become increasingly popular as diagnostic biomarkers, enter the bloodstream, influencing the functionality of organs and tissues. This review has collected and compared information obtained in cows and mares related to the diagnostic potential of these biomarkers that are assessed by using different methods in samples from either blood plasma or uterine fluid.

[Physical factors in the medical rehabilitation of patients with chronic cerebral ischemia in the outpatient stage]

Chronic cerebral ischemia is an urgent problem of modern medicine due to high disability of this contingent of patients and requires new approaches to the treatment and medical rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a new technology for medical rehabilitation of the patients with chronic cerebral ischemia on an outpatient basis using therapeutic physical factors (such as ozone therapy and magnetic field in combination with endomassage) against the background of rational pharmacotherapy and psychocorrection.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There have been observed 122 patients with chronic cerebral ischemia stage I. They were divided into three groups by simple randomization. The patients of the group of comparison 1 (GC1) (n=39) had neurotropic pharmacotherapy (Cerepro and Mexidol) and a group psychotherapy; the rehabilitation programme of the patients of the group of comparison 2 (GC2) (n=41) included ozone therapy (intravenous infusions of ozone-oxygen mixture) in addition to the treatment program of GC1; the patients of the main group (MG) (n=42) received a combination of magnetic field exposure and endomassage in addition to the treatment program of GC2. Clinical monitoring, coagulation hemostasis, and cerebral vascular ultrasound were used to assess the treatment efficiency.

RESULTS

The rehabilitation treatment performed on an outpatient basis with the inclusion of ozone therapy and the combined effect of magnetic field and endomassage in MG ensured the leveling of clinical symptoms in 91.2% of cases (p<0.01). The efficiency of rehabilitation in GC1 was 74.4%, with the additional use of ozone therapy in GC2 - 82.6%.

CONCLUSION

The use of the new technology with the use of intravenous infusions of ozone-oxygen mixture and magnetic field in combination with endomassage against the background of rational pharmacotherapy and psychocorrection in medical rehabilitation of the patients with chronic cerebral ischemia on an outpatient basis provides a reliably significant increase in the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures.