Comparison of two different cryopreservation protocols for freezing goat semen

In this study, two different semen cryopreservation protocols were compared to freeze goat semen. The ejaculates (n = 12) were collected by using electro-ejaculator from six mature bucks (two ejaculates per each buck). Each ejaculate was divided into two groups as Protocol 1 (P1) and Protocol 2 (P2). In P1, semen was diluted directly in an extender containing 15% egg yolk, 300 mM Tris, 28 mM glucose, 95 mM citric acid 5% glycerol to a concentration of 200 × 10⁶ sperm/mL. In P2, after the removal of seminal plasma by centrifugation, the semen sample was diluted with the first portion of milk extender consist of 100 mg/mL skimmed milk powder and 27.75 mM glucose (without glycerol) to a concentration of 400 × 10⁶ sperm/mL. The second portion of the milk extender containing 14% glycerol was added to semen gradually in order to achieve sperm concentration 200 × 10⁶ sperm/mL and 7% glycerol level in the final volume. Extended semen was loaded in 0.25 mL straws, held for 2 h at 4 °C, frozen in nitrogen vapor and stored in liquid nitrogen. Post-thaw motility and live sperm rate (mean ± SEM) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in P1 as compared to P2 (47.50 ± 1.23% vs. 55.63 ± 1.72%; 80.04 ± 1.29% vs. 84.04 ± 1.08%, respectively). However, live intact, total intact, abnormal, reacted acrosome and DNA damaged sperm rates were similar (P > 0.05) in both protocols. It was concluded that both protocols used in this study provided reasonable post-thaw parameters; however, P2 yielded better motility and live sperm rate compared to P1.     

sFas levels increase in response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients

The Fas/Fas Ligand (FasL) system and survivin have counteracting roles in cell survival. Therefore, we explored the role of circulating soluble Fas (sFas) and the tissue levels of Fas and survivin with regard to response to chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Serum samples from 52 lung cancer patients and 54 control subjects (19 benign lung disease and 35 healthy control subjects) were collected prior to and 24 and 48 h after chemotherapy. sFas was statistically significantly higher in the cancer group than that in the control groups (p < 0.001). Baseline (before chemotherapy) sFas values showed a statistically significant inverse correlation with overall survival (r = ?0.599, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in serum sFas levels 24 h after treatment (p < 0.05). Contrarily, tissue levels of Fas and survivin were not changed following the chemotherapy (p > 0,05). In conclusion, increased sFas may be an indicator of poor outcome in lung cancer patients. However, cisplatin‐based chemotherapy may not be effective via neither the Fas/FasL system nor survivin pathway. Indeed, larger sample size is required for further evaluation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Increase in Candida parapsilosis Fungemia in Critical Care Units: A 6-Years Study

Objectives

We aimed to asses possible clinically significant differences between C. parapsilosis and other candida species candidemia receiving care in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting.

Methods

The study included 118 adult patients diagnosed as candidemia after admission to the ICU of a university hospital between January 2004 and December 2009. Data about demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and risk factors for ICU-related candidemia were collected.

Results

During the study period, 118 patients with candidemia were identified among 2,853 patients admitted into the ICU. Candidemia was seen in 41.4 cases per 1,000 ICU admissions. The overall incidence of candidemia in ICU patients during the study period was 2.09 per 1,000 hospital admissions. Of the isolates, 18.6% were C. albicans and 81.4% were C. non-albicans. The species most frequently isolated was C. parapsilosis (66.1%, 78/118). The distribution of other Candida spp. was as follows: 15 had C. tropicalis (12.7%) and 3 had C. glabrata (2.5%). By Statistical analysis, when patients with candidemia who had C. parapsilosis were compared with other Candida spp., the following factors were found to be significantly associated with C. parapsilosis fungemia; intravascular catheters (p = 0.008), malignity (p = 0.049) and age (p = 0.039). Relationship was found between C. tropicalis and hematologic malignancies (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

When infections with a high mortality such as candidemia is suspected in critically ill patients, it is important to know local risk factors and epidemiological distributions of causative agents in selection of empirical and effective antifungal treatment.     

Exogenous salicylate application affects the lead and copper accumulation characteristics of Lemna gibba L

Previous studies have shown that salicylates can change the ion permeability of root cells. Therefore the possible effects of exogenous salicylate application on lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) accumulation and its protective role against DNA damage due to metal exposure in Lemna gibba were studied. L. gibba was exposed to 5, 10, and 25 microM Pb and Cu for six days in the presence and absence of sodium salicylate (SA) (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM). At all concentrations tested, SA application decreased Pb accumulation. On the other hand, application of 0.5 mM SA increased Cu accumulation. SA did not reduce DNA damage resulting from Pb and Cu toxicity. In summary, SA may be useful for reducing Pb accumulation, and application of SA at 0.5 mM may be useful for the phytoextraction of Cu.     

Production of in vitro haploid plants from in situ induced haploid embryos in winter squash (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucurbita maxima</Emphasis> Duchesne ex Lam.) via irradiated pollen

The influence of pollen irradiation on the production of in vitro haploid plants from in situ induced haploid embryos was investigated in winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam.). Pollen were irradiated at different gamma-ray doses (50, 100, 200 and 300 Gray) and durations (9, 11, 15, 21, and 28 July). Production of in vitro haploid plantlets was influenced by irradiation dose, irradiation duration, genotype, and embryo type and embryo stage. Embryos were only obtained from lower irradiation doses (50 Gray and 100 Gray) and earlier irradiation durations (9, 11, and 15 July). The greatest embryo number per fruit was procured from “G14” and “55SI06” genotypes at 50 Gray gamma-ray dose. Necrotic embryos were higher than normal embryos at delayed harvest times (5 and 6 weeks after the pollination). The convenient harvest time for embryo rescue was observed about 4 weeks (between 25 and 30 days) after pollination. All cotyledon and amorphous embryos had only diploid plants while late-torpedo, arrow-tip, and pro-cotyledon embryos produced 33.3, 50.0, and 66.7% haploid plant. The frequency of haploid plantlets was 0.11, 1.17, 10.96 and 0.28 per 100 seeds, 100 embryos, 100 plantlets and a fruit at 50 Gray gamma-ray dose, respectively.     

Morphology, anatomy, palynology and nutlet micromorphology of the rediscovered Turkish endemic Salvia ballsiana (Lamiaceae) and their taxonomic implications

Salvia ballsiana (Rech. fil.) Hedge, previously known only from the type gathering, is a local endemic species from Turkey. The species was first collected from Gölbaşı (Malatya) by E. K. Balls in 1935, and was not collected again until 2008, when we found it in Gerger (Adıyaman). The diagnostic morphological characters of this rare endemic species are discussed, including its anatomical, palynological and nutlet micromorphological features. Morphological characteristics of leaves, calyces, corollas and types of stamens are useful for sectional and specific delimitation in Salvia . Anatomical characters such as number of ray rows in roots, distance between vascular bundles in stems, mesophyll structures in leaves, shape of mid-rib and presence/absence of sclerenchymatic tissue in petioles are of taxonomic significance. In addition, size, shape and ornamentation of pollen grains and nutlets are diagnostic.     

JC virus-induced Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Progressive multifocal encephalopathy (PML) is a fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), caused by the lytic infection of oligodendrocytes by a human polyomavirus, JC virus (JCV). PML is rare disease but mostly develops in patients with underlying immunosuppressive conditions, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphoproliferative diseases, in those undergoing antineoplastic therapy and AIDS. However, consistent with the occurrence of PML under immunocompromised conditions, this disease seems to be also steadily increasing among autoimmune disease patients (multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease), who are treated with antibody-based regimens (natalizumab, efalizumab and rituximab). This unexpected occurrence of the disease among such a patient population reconfirms the existence of a strong link between the underlying immunosuppressive conditions and development of PML. These recent observations have generated a new interest among investigators to further examine the unique biology of JCV.     

Persistence of hyperbaric oxygen-induced oxidative effects after exposure in rat brain cortex tissue

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) causes oxidative stress in several organs and tissues. Due to its high rate of blood flow and oxygen consumption, the brain is one of the most sensitive organs to this effect. Many studies have reported oxidative effects of HBO, but there is no comprehensive data about how long this effect persists. The aim of this study was to elucidate the duration of HBO-induced oxidative/antioxidant action. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. Except for the controls, the animals were subjected to 100% oxygen for 2 h at 3 atm and differed from each other by the time to dissection after exposure that began at 30, 60, 90, or 120 min. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was determined in brain cortex tissue. Additionally, nitrite-nitrate (NO(x)) concentrations were measured. All measured parameters were found to be significantly increased 30 min after exposure. SOD and GSH-Px levels persisted at significantly high levels for 60 min. In conclusion, the oxidative effect of HBO was shown to persist only for 1 h. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the possible molecular interactions during this period.