Resveratrol treatment protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by alleviating oxidative damage

The possible protective effects of resveratrol (RVT) against cardiotoxicity were investigated in Wistar albino rats treated with saline, saline+doxorubicin (DOX; 20 mg/kg) or RVT (10 mg/kg)+DOX. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded on the 1^st week and on the 7^th week, while cardiomyopathy was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography before the rats were decapitated. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity resulted in decreased blood pressure and heart rate, but lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase and 8-OHdG levels were increased in plasma. Moreover, DOX caused a significant decrease in plasma total antioxidant capacity along with a reduction in cardiac superoxide dismutase, catalase and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities and glutathione contents, while malondialdehyde, myelopreoxidase activity and the generation of reactive oxygen species were increased in the cardiac tissue. On the other hand, RVT markedly ameliorated the severity of cardiac dysfunction, while all oxidant responses were prevented; implicating that RVT may be of therapeutic use in preventing oxidative stress due to DOX toxicity.     

Changes in fatty acid composition,cholesterol and fat‐soluble vitamins during development of eggs and larvae in shabbout (Barbus grypus,Heckel 1843)

Changes in fatty acid composition, cholesterol and fat‐soluble vitamins were studied during development (fertilized eggs, yolk‐sac larvae, and after yolk resorption of shabbout, Barbus grypus). Significant differences were found in the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFA/saturated fatty acids (SFA), ∑n‐3 and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratios between eggs and larvae (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also observed in the C14:0, C16:1n‐7, C18:1n‐9, C18:3n‐6, C20:0, C20:4n‐6, C24:0, C24:1, C22:6n‐3 fatty acids between eggs and larvae after yolk‐sac resorption (P < 0.05). Vitamin α‐ Tocopherol and retinol content increased during embryogenesis, but changes were insignificant in retinol acetate, δ‐Tocopherol, K1, K2 and cholesterol content between eggs and larvae after yolk resorption (P > 0.05).     

Absorption ratio of treatment couch and effect on surface and build-up region doses

Aim

In this study, at different fields, energies and gantry angles, treatment couch and rails dose absorption ratio and treatment couch effect on surface and build-up region doses were examined.

In vitro effects of thyroxine on the mechanical properties of erythrocytes

In vitro effects of thyroxine on erythrocyte deformability and mechanical fragility were observed. Deformability of erythrocytes was improved in a dose dependent manner by thyroxine. Mechanical hemolysis was found to be lower if thyroxine was included in erythrocyte suspensions at concentrations close to the physiological levels (10(-9)M). These changes might be related to the alterations of intracellular calcium concentration, as in the erythrocyte suspensions containing 10(-9)M thyroxine, intracellular calcium concentration was found to be 30 times lower than the control suspensions which did not contain thyroxine. Thyroxine also reduced the mechanical hemolysis ratio in calcium loaded cells. These observations suggest that thyroxine might play some role in the regulation of the mechanical properties of erythrocytes which might be mediated via the effects on calcium metabolism.     

Cutaneous leishmaniasis infection in Balb/c mice using a Leishmania tropica strain isolated from Turkey.

Leishmania tropica, which is endemic in Turkey, is the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmania tropica promastigotes (2 x 10(7)) isolated from a patient with dermal leishmaniasis and reproduced in NNN medium were inoculated subcutaneously into the footpads of 10 Balb/c mice. Cutaneous leishmaniasis developed on the footpads of 4 mice approximately 45 days later. Leishmania tropica amastigotes were observed in smear slides and then cultivated in NNN medium. Balb/c mice are a suitable laboratory model for this isolate of L. tropica and thus a source of amastigotes for studies on the immunology, chemotherapy, and pathogenicity of cutaneous leishmaniasis.     

Acute effect of hemodialysis on serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines

Chronic inflammation is a common feature of end-stage renal disease, which carries a heightened risk of atherosclerosis and other co-morbid conditions. Dialysis treatment per se can bring additional risk factors for inflammation, such as increased risk of local graft and fistula infections, impure dialysate or bio-incompatible membranes. Our study was designed to determine whether a hemodialysis session leads to an acute substantial alteration in the plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the T-lymphocyte activation factor soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and an inflammation mediator and chemotactic granulocyte factor, IL-8, in end-stage renal disease patients receiving chronic intermittent HD. In this study, 21 (12 male/nine female) patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were enrolled. The acute effect of a hemodialysis session on serum cytokine concentrations was assessed by comparison of pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis determinations. Serum IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels were determined with chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assays. A significant difference was not observed for IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and sIL-2R concentrations in pre-hemodialysis and post-hemodialysis specimens (p>0.05). Serum median (25th-75th percentiles) IL-8 concentration was 69.4 (34.9-110.3) pg/ml before hemodialysis, and decreased to 31.5 (18.0-78.8) pg/ml following hemodialysis (p: 0.006). Clearance of IL-8 increased by 0.47+/-0.08 pg/ml for each unit increase in pre-dialysis IL-8 (p<0.001) and decreased by 5.63+/-2.59 pg/ml for each unit increase in pre-dialysis urea mmol/l (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that a hemodialysis session markedly decreases IL-8 concentration, which is significantly affected by pre-dialysis concentrations, indicating that removal of IL-8 is a concentration gradient-dependent action, but does not change the serum levels of IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, underlining importance of the structural characteristics of the molecules.     

The influence of environmental instability on the reproductive strategy of the critically endangered Acıgöl killifish (Aphanius transgrediens)

To investigate the variability in the reproductive tactics of Acıgöl killifish (Aphanius transgrediens), one of the most seriously threatened freshwater teleost species, this study compared its reproductive ecology in two contrasting habitats that differ substantially in terms of stability of environmental parameters, particularly salinity regime (stable vs. unstable). Fish were sampled monthly from October 2013 to September 2014 with the aim of testing whether the reproductive life-history response of fish to stable and unstable conditions differed. The reproductive effort (gonad weight) of both sexes did not differ significantly between the two habitats, but females in the unstable habitat had significantly lower fecundity and larger eggs. The relationship between fecundity and fish size was stronger in the stable habitat, whereas the relationship was quite variable and uncertain in the unstable habitat. Fish born in the unstable habitat reached their first maturity at a smaller size than those in the stable habitat. The gonado-somatic index and the duration of hydrated eggs showed that reproduction continued from February to May in both habitats; nonetheless, a second spawning event occurred during July and August in the unstable habitat, which included the reproductive contributions of YOY individuals and older generations. This study’s results suggest that A. transgrediens employs varying reproductive strategies against environmental instability in its restricted unique range. This may have further implications for the ways in which habitat-specific conservation methods are used.     

The effect of cysteine and glutathione on sperm and oxidative stress parameters of post-thawed bull semen

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and cysteine in Laiciphose® extender on semen parameters, fertilizing ability, lipid peroxidation (LPO) level and glutathione peroxidise (GPx) activity of post-thawed bull semen. Totally 54 ejaculates of three bulls were used in the study. Five groups, namely; GSH (0.5 and 2 mM), cysteine (5 and 10 mM) and control group, were conducted to test the antioxidants in Laiciphose®. Insemination doses were processed that each 0.25-mL straw contained 15 × 10⁶ sperm. The addition of antioxidants did not present any significant effect on the percentages of post-thaw sperm morphology (acrosome and total abnormalities), subjective, CASA and progressive motilities, as well as sperm motility characteristics (VAP, VSL, VCL, LIN and ALH), compared to the control groups (P > 0.05). GSH 0.5 mM (55.5 ± 7.38%) and cysteine 10 mM (48 ± 5.65%) led to lower rates of DNA damage, compared to control (P < 0.05). As regards to MDA level, cysteine at 10 mM dose gave the highest level (4.99 ± 0.44 nmol/L) (P < 0.001). GPx activity was demonstrated to be higher level upon the addition of 5 mM cysteine when compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). With respect to fertility results based on 60-day non-returns, the supplementation of antioxidants did not present significant differences (P > 0.05). The results of this study may provide an useful information for the future studies in this area. So, further studies could be suggested to achieve better information in terms of the DNA damage and fertilizing capacity of bull sperm frozen with effective antioxidants.