The Role of Oxidative Stress in Infertility

(1) Background: Oxidative stress markers in the follicular fluid and serum of the patient with IVF results (number of fertilized oocytes, number of embryos, cumulative pregnancy rate) are important in establishing the causes of infertility. (2) Methods: 42 patients were enrolled in the study over the duration of 24 months and were divided into two groups: the study group divided into the female etiology for infertility as a tubal factor, diminished ovarian reserve, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility, and the control group consisting of the male factor, excluding the sperm donors and with no female factor cause. On the day of ovarian puncture in IVF, follicular fluid and serum were collected from the patients. (3) Results: Malondialdehyde from the follicular fluid was higher in the control group. The total antioxidant capacity in the follicular fluid is positively correlated with the pregnancy rate. There is no statistically significant difference in the oxidative stress markers from serum in both groups. (4) Conclusions: The capacity of the follicular fluid environment to contain the reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to a higher pregnancy rate in the control group.

Paraclinical Changes Occurring in Dairy Cows with Spontaneous Subacute Ruminal Acidosis under Field Conditions

This study was undertaken to investigate the changes in the blood and milk biochemical parameters found in naturally occurring and long-lasting spontaneous subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), with the aim of identifying the patterns of paraclinical changes and providing valuable data for more accurately identifying SARA in cows under field conditions. The study was conducted on a dairy herd with a history of the occurrence of SARA-associated clinical signs. Twelve cows, between 20 and 150 days in milk, were randomly selected and subsequently subjected to venous blood, milk, and ruminal fluid collection. The mean pH value of the ruminal fluid was 5.56 ± 0.32, and 58% (7/12) of the tested cows were SARA positive (ruminal pH ≤ 5.5). The albumin, calcium, and phosphorus serum concentration values were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the SARA group than in the group of healthy cows. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity were significantly higher in the SARA cows (p < 0.05) than in the group of healthy cows. The mean values of milk fat, milk protein content, and milk fat-to-protein ratio were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the tested cows of the SARA group than in the healthy group of cows. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicate that long-term SARA triggered by a high-concentrate diet is associated with clinically significant changes in both the blood composition (hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia, and increased serum AST and GLDH activity) and the milk composition (decreased fat and protein percentage and milk fat-to-protein ratio). Altogether, the obtained results provide a more reliable pattern of paraclinical changes and useful insights for detecting SARA in dairy cows under field conditions.

Utilization of Rosmarinic and Ascorbic Acids for Maturation Culture Media in Order to Increase Sow Oocyte Quality Prior to IVF

The beneficial effect of antioxidant supplementation in maturation culture media of sow oocytes was evaluated by the expression quantification of apoptotic genes and the genes that ensure stability of germ cells during fertilization. The oocytes were cultivated for 44 h in conventional medium (C) or in medium supplemented with 105 µM rosmarinic acid (R) and 0.5 mM ascorbic acid (A) and classified into three quality classes by morphological observation from which the total RNA was isolated. The gene expression of Ptx3 and the apoptotic regulator p53, Bax and BCL-2 were evaluated by quantitative PCR technique. The decreased expression of the Bax gene in the A and R groups, compared to the control, indicates a protective role of antioxidants in the cells. Cell homeostasis was maintained, as reflected in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in class I COCs (cumulus-oocyte complex) regardless of the experimental group, indicating minimum cellular stress. The expression of p53 genes was higher in all class III COC, but in A1 and R1 the expression was lower than in C1, and a similar Ptx-3 gene decreased significantly in groups A1, A2, A3 and R1 compared with control groups. Antioxidant supplementation showed beneficial effects on all morphological classes of pig COCs.

Contribution Regarding the Use of Immunohistochimical Examination in Hemangiosarcoma

A post-mortem examination of a 5-year-old female Labrador sex female was performed to find out the cause of death. The macroscopic examination revealed a large amount of blood in the abdominal cavity (hemoperitoneum) and pericardial (hemopericard) and also the rupture of the right atrium. The spleen was taken for histopathological examination.

Immunohistochemical Diagnosis Method in Parvovirus

10 cases of histopathologically suggestive lesions for parvovirus in the canine species were examined by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex. For this, a mouse monoclonal antibody was used. Following the immunohistochemical examination, positive results were obtained in 80% (8 dogs) of processed samples. The most frequent positive immunohistochemical reaction was observed in macrophages, lymphocytes, necrotic cells of the intestinal crypt, evidence of parvoviral antigen is reliable for determining the etiology of the disease if parvovirus is suspected on the basis of the lesions. In order to perform the diagnostic immunohistochemical procedure, the strepto-avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was used, using the monoclonal antibody. It is of murine origin. Negative cases of parvovirus by immunohistochemical examination show the existence of other causes that produce the same lesions; coronaviruses, rotaviruses or coronaviruses associated with clostridium perfringens which may cause intestinal necrosis of the crypt. All dog breeds can do this disease, but in the Poodle breed the disease has been more common. Sex is not a criterion of receptivity, but in proportion of over 60% were affected females. Regarding the seasonal evolution, the disease is more common in the winter period compared to the other seasons.

Protein structure of the venom in nine species of snake: from bio-compounds to possible healing agents

Due to its various structures in bio-compounds, snake venom is the indisputable result of evolutionary stages of molecules with an increasingly complex structure, high specificity, and of great importance for medicine because of their potential. The present study proposed an underpinning examination of venom composition from nine species of venomous snakes using a useful and replicable methodology. The objective was the extension of the evaluation of protein fractions in the field up to 230 kDa to permit possible identification of some fractions that are insufficiently studied. The gel capillary electrophoresis method on the chip was performed using an Agilent 2100 bioassay with the 80 and 230-LabChip Protein kits. Interpretation of electrophoresis was performed using the Protein 2100 expert (Agilent) test software as follows: a) Protein 80 (peak size scale): 1.60, 3.5, 6.50, 15.00, 28.00, 46.00, 63.00, 95.00 kDa; b) Protein 230 (peak size scale): 4.50, 7.00, 15.00, 28.00, 46.00, 63.00, 95.00, 150.00, 240.00 kDa. The screening revealed the presence of compounds with a molecular weight greater than 80 kDa, in the case of Vipera aspis and Vipera xantina palestinae. For V. aspis, a 125 kDa molecular weight pro-coagulant protein was identified, known as being involved in the reduction of plasma clotting time without any direct activity in the fibrinogen coagulation process. The samples examined on the Protein 230-LabChip electrophoresis chip can be considered as a novelty with possible uses in medicine, requiring further approaches by advanced proteomics techniques to confirm the intimate structural features and biological properties of snake venoms.

Serum Protein Electrophoretic Pattern in Neonatal Calves Treated with Clinoptilolite

The objective of our study was to determine the effects of clinoptilolite supplemented in colostrum on the blood serum protein electrophoretic pattern of new-born calves.

METHODS

Romanian Black and White new-born calves involved in the study were divided into 3 groups: the control group (C) that received colostrum without clinoptilolite, and experimental groups I (E1) and II (E2) that received colostrum supplemented with 0.5% and 2% clinoptilolite, respectively. The concentration of total protein and protein fractions (albumin, α1-globulin, α2-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin) were analyzed by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate.

RESULTS

At hour 30 after birth, concentrations of γ-globulins, β-globulin and total protein in E1 group of calves were higher than in control group by 42.11% (p < 0.05), 28.48% (p > 0.05) and 18.52% (p > 0.05), respectively, and were higher, but not significantly, in group E2 compared to the control group. This was in accordance with a significant lower albumin/globulin ratio in groups E1 and E2 (29.35%, p < 0.05 and 35.87%, p < 0.05, respectively) than in control group at 30 h postpartum, which indicates an obvious increase of the globulins fraction in experimental groups. The conclusion: Clinoptilolite was effective in improving passive transfer in new-born calves, but it was more effective if added in colostrum with a dose of 0.5% than with a dose of 2%.

Protective Effect of Hypericum perforatum L. Extract on Hexavalent Chromium Induced Toxicity in Rat Adrenal Gland

This study was carried out to test the possibility of hexavalent chromium administration through drinking water to induce the structural damage in rat�s adrenal glands and the possibility of Hypericum perforatum extract to faith against chromium aggression. Chromium induced cellular stress was determined by the expression level assessment of the Bcl2 genes family, known to modulate the apoptotic pathway. Obtained results showed that exposure to chromium altered adrenal glands morphology, by induction of apoptosis. When Hypericum perforatum extract was administered expression level of Bcl2 genes and histological lesions in adrenal glands were significantly reduced.

The occurrence of mycotoxins in wheat from western Romania and histopathological impact as effect of feed intake

Background

The goal of this study has been to evaluate the extent of mycotoxins contamination and their co-occurrence in wheat grain intended for animal feed. A total of 52 wheat samples were collected from the harvest of two consecutive years (2010, 2011) from two counties (Timis and Arad) located in Western Romania and the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON) and fumonisins (FUMO) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to evaluate the toxicological impact of mycotoxins, naturally contaminated wheat samples were administered in rats feed for one month.

Results

The mycotoxin with the highest incidence in wheat samples was DON due to agro-climatic conditions typical for the west part of Romania. DON was found in 73.08% of samples harvested in 2010 and the highest level of contamination was 3390 ppb. The incidence of DON in sample from 2011 was lower than those of 2010, with a frequency of occurrence of 19.23%. The occurrence of ZON was in the range 69.23–76.92%, with an average value of 187.74 ppb. The OTA content in wheat was below the maximum tolerable limit established by EU Commission regulation for feed legislation (250 ppb). For FUMO the lowest percentage of positive samples was registered (15.38% in wheat sample harvested in 2010 and 11.54% positive samples in 2011). With respect to the co-occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins, the results proved that ZON was found as a co-contaminant together with DON, especially when climatic conditions for development of fungus are favorable (high air humidity). The differences recorded between investigated localities and their classifications according to the mycotoxin kind and year of harvest were carried out by principal components analysis (PCA). The histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation performed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining technique as well as by assessing the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) revealed significant modification of kidney, liver and spleen cells in the case of DON and FUMO. In terms of toxicity induced by OTA and ZON it was highlighted mixed normal and necrotic areas in liver, while histological assessment revealed normal VEGF expression in kidneys.

Conclusions

Although none of the analyzed samples exceeding the stipulated maximum limits for cereals used as feed, a high incidence of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species have been recorded (DON and ZON) in wheat samples harvested in Western Romania. Also, histopathological evaluation revealed significant tissue lesions in liver and kidney of rats after one month of feeding with natural contaminated wheat.

Fusarium species and fusarium mycotoxins in cereals from West Romania: preliminary survey

Fungal contamination of plant products is an important risk factor for health, because of the high mycotoxin potential deriving from these contaminations with multiple effects: hepatic toxicity, teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. The contamination of cereals with mycotoxins has been a serious problem in Balkan communities. Several studies implicated mycotoxins, in endemic kidney disease geographically limited to Balkan region (Balkan endemic nephropathy). The trichothecenes are of particular concern because they are ubiquitous found in wheat, corn and barley throughout the world. Fumonisins have been isolated from certain Fusarium species of which FB1, FB2 and FB3 are the major ones produced in naturally contaminated foods.These mycotoxins are produced on cereal grains infected by Fusarium while being grown in-the-field. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of the Fusarium species in cereals from West side of Romania and to determinate the concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisine (F1+F2). Identification of Fusarium species was done using the total number of fungal species determination method. The level of mycotoxins was determined with the immune-enzymatic method ELISA. 27 cereal samples from rural households in three counties in West Romania were analysed.