Protective effect of N-(p-amylcinnamoyl) anthranilic acid,phospholipase A2 enzyme inhibitor,and transient receptor potential melastatin-2 channel blocker against renal ischemia–reperfusion injury

The production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory events are the underlying mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). It was determined that transient receptor potential melastatin-2 (TRPM2) channels and phospholipase A₂ (PLA ₂) enzymes were associated with inflammation and cell death. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-( p-amylcinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (ACA), a TRPM2 channel blocker, and PLA ₂ enzyme inhibitor on renal IRI. A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), I/R + ACA 5 mg, I/R + ACA 25 mg. In I/R applied groups, the ischemia for 45 minutes and reperfusion for 24 hours were applied bilaterally to the kidneys. In the I/R group, serum levels of the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cystatin C (CysC), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and interleukin-18 increased. On histopathological examination of renal tissue in the I/R group, the formation of glomerular and tubular damage was seen, and it was detected that there was an increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), caspase-3, total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI); and there was a decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase enzyme activity. ACA administration reduced serum levels of BUN, creatinine, CysC, KIM-1, NGAL, interleukin-18. In the renal tissue, ACA administration reduced histopathological damage, levels of caspase-3, MDA, TOS, and OSI; and it increased the level of TAC and catalase enzyme activity. It has been shown with the histological and biochemical results in this study that ACA is protective against renal IRI.     

Rapid detection of methicillin resistance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> isolates; evaluation of colorimetric Quicolor ES agar and determination of breakpoint inhibition zone diameters of cefoxitin

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate colorimetric Quicolor ES agar for the rapid detection of methicillin resistance and to determine susceptibility and resistance breakpoint zone diameters for cefoxitin by using 51 methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 63 methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. In the study, while oxacillin and cefoxitin results were obtained within 4–7 h (5.5 h in average) for MSSA isolates, the results of MRSA isolates were obtained within 5.5–9 h (6.6 h in average) for both antibiotics on QC ES agar. QC ES agar is an inexpensive medium for rapid detection (4–9 h) of methicillin resistance by disc diffusion method using oxacillin or cefoxitin. Additional studies for further evaluation of the efficiency of QC-ES agar in rapid determination of methicillin resistance in S. aureus may be beneficial.     

Derivation,characterization and expansion of fetal chondrocytes on different microcarriers

Fetal chondrocytes (FCs) have recently been identified as an alternative cell source for cartilage tissue engineering applications because of their partially chondrogenically differentiated phenotype and developmental plasticity. In this study, chondrocytes derived from fetal bovine cartilage were characterized and then cultured on commercially available Cytodex-1 and Biosilon microcarriers and thermosensitive poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PHEMA-PNIPAAm) beads produced by us. Growth kinetics of FCs were estimated by means of specific growth rate and metabolic activity assay. Cell detachment from thermosensitive microcarriers was induced by cold treatment at 4 °C for 20 min or enzymatic treatment was applied for the detachment of cells from Cytodex-1 and Biosilon. Although attachment efficiency and proliferation of FCs on PHEMA-PNIPAAm beads were lower than that of commercial Cytodex-1 and Biosilon microcarriers, these beads also supported growth of FCs. Detached cells from thermosensitive beads by cold induction exhibited a normal proliferative activity. Our results indicated that Cytodex-1 microcarrier was the most suitable material for the production of FCs in high capacity, however, ‘thermosensitive microcarrier model’ could be considered as an attractive solution to the process scale up for cartilage tissue engineering by improving surface characteristics of PHEMA-PNIPAAm beads.     

Declines in scavenging by endangered vultures in the Horn of Africa

Scavenging is an important ecological process. By quickly locating and consuming carrion, vertebrate scavengers cycle nutrients, stabilize food webs, and may help mitigate disease transmission to humans. Across Africa, many scavengers feed at abattoirs (i.e. slaughterhouses), thereby aiding in waste removal. Little information exists on the scavenger community composition and dynamics at abattoirs, and, to our knowledge, the carrion removal that scavengers provide at these sites has never been quantified. We studied vertebrate scavenger ecology at 6 abattoirs in Ethiopia with time-lapse photography and in-person surveys from 2014–2019. Specifically, we investigated daily, seasonal, and inter-annual patterns in use of abattoirs by vertebrate scavengers and estimated carrion consumption rates. We demonstrated the importance of abattoirs for supporting a large number and diversity of scavenger species, including 3 critically endangered, 2 endangered, 1 vulnerable, and 2 regionally endemic bird species. At the start of the study, vultures contributed 57% of carrion removal provided by vertebrate scavengers. Detections of critically endangered Rüppell's (Gyps rueppelli) and white-backed (G. africanus) vultures declined by 73% and critically endangered hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) declined by 15% over the study period. Simultaneously, the detections of dogs more than doubled. Using estimates of species-specific carrion consumption rates from the literature, coupled with changes in scavenger detections in our study, we estimated a 12% (54 kg/day) reduction in carrion consumption, or nearly 20,000 kg carrion less consumed per year by the end of the study at these 6 abattoirs. Our results indicate that ongoing vulture declines across Africa could significantly reduce carrion removal. We recommend that improving fencing around abattoir facilities could help restrict access by feral dogs, increase foraging by vultures, and, therefore, increase overall carrion removal rates.