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Background: Mares are the only companion animals simulating women in the large diameter of their follicles. Horses start reproduction at the age of three years, and some of them live for >30 years, so aging influences their reproductive capacity. Mares are sensitive to summer heat stress as they can sweat like humans. Aim: The current work aimed to study the effects of age (young versus senile), season (cold versus hot), and the hormonal treatments during embryo collection on the dominant and subordinate follicular dynamics and hemodynamics and circulating ovarian hormones in embryo donor mares ovulated twice spontaneously before inducing ovulation for flushing embryos. Methods: Spontaneous oestrous cycles were studied for young mares (<10 years; N = 6) or senile (>20 years; N = 5) during months of the cold season (November to April) and hot season (May to August). In young embryo donor mares, oestrous cycles after inducing ovulation and luteolysis were studied using Doppler ultrasound. Estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), nitric oxide (NO), total cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in blood serum. Results: A decrease in the dominant follicle antrum diameter (p > 0.05) and LDH (p = 0.016) was observed after inducing luteolysis in young embryo donor mares. Both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and PGF2a treatments increased dominant follicle area (p = 0.0001), antrum area (p = 0.001), perimeter (p = 0.001), granulosa area (p = 0.0001), cholesterol (p = 0.0001), NO (p = 0.0001), and E2 (p = 0.0001). The dominant follicle area, antrum area, perimeter, color area, granulosa area, LDH, cholesterol, NO, and E2 increased (p = 0.0001) during the oestrous cycles of the hot season, but the circulatory % (p = 0.0001) declined. Senile mares had lower dominant follicle area (p = 0.002), antrum area (p = 0.0001), granulosa area (p > 0.05), LDH (p = 0.001), cholesterol (p = 0.0001), NO (p = 0.0001), and E2 (p = 0.0001) but higher circulatory % (p = 0.0001) and color area % (p = 0.023). The dominant follicle possesses the largest diameter, area, perimeter, granulosa area, and color area but the lowest circulatory % during spontaneous oestrous cycles, after inducing ovulation, or luteolysis with significant effects of the day of the spontaneous oestrous cycles on their dynamics and hemodynamics. Conclusion: During hot months, mares treated with hCG ovulated 24 hours later and prostaglandin-induced luteolysis was followed by new ovulation five days later. Follicles ovulated during the hot months were larger than those ovulated during the cold months and both had nearly the same color area %. Senile mares ovulated follicles with a lower area and antrum area but a higher color area %, so senile mares can be used as embryo or oocyte donors during the hot season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to compare the reproductive outcomes after the blind application of the standard Ovsynch and Presynch Ovsynch protocols on Egyptian Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during the breeding season. Fifty multiparous Egyptian buffalo cows of an unknown stage of the estrous cycle were randomly divided into two groups: 1) the standard Ovsynch protocol (first GnRH (G1) at d0, PGF2α at d7, and second GnRH; G2 56 h later and 2) the pre-synch Ovsynch (G6G-Ovsynch) protocol (PGF2α and GnRH 2 days apart 6 days before starting G1 of the standard Ovsynch). Cows were subjected to timed artificial insemination (TAI) 16 and 40 h after the G2 injection in both groups. Blood sampling and ovarian transrectal ultrasonography were performed at three time points, PGF2α, G2, and 2 days after G2. Serum progesterone (P4) (ng/mL) concentrations were significantly higher in the G6G-Ovsynch group than in the Ovsynch group at the time of PGF2α and two days after the G2 injection, but they were lower (P < 0.05) at the G2 injection. The Vascularity index of the corpus luteum (CL) and dominant follicle (DF) wall area (%) were higher (P < 0.05) in the G6G-Ovsynch group compared to the Ovsynch group. The ovulatory response indicated by the presence of CL at d7 was significantly higher in G6G-Ovsynch than in Ovsynch (73 vs. 51%, respectively). Moreover, a higher (P < 0.05) pregnancy rate was observed in G6G-Ovsynch than in the Ovsynch group. In conclusion, the blind application of the G6G-Ovsynch improved the ovulatory response in the early stages of the synchronization protocol and raised the pregnancy rates in Egyptian buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the efficacy of steroid and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the setting of acute noise-induced hearing loss.Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of noise-induced hearing loss treatment studies that reported on patients who (1) reported individual frequencies up to 8,000 Hz with mean and SDs; (2) were treated only with steroids ± HBOT; and (3) sustained acute acoustic trauma. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias across cohorts. Data sources were Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Databases (via Ovid EBM Reviews), and PubMed.Results: Four studies were of retrospective cohorts and one of a prospective cohort. Only one study examined blast acoustic trauma, and the remaining four examined gunfire acoustic trauma. This meta-analysis used a random-effects model for pure tone average (PTA) (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) and "high-frequency" PTA (HPTA) (4, 6, and 8 kHz) for the five studies included. Steroid therapy demonstrated a 6.55-dB (95% CI, 0.08-13.17 dB) PTA (n = 55) improvement and a 9.02-dB (95% CI, 1.45-16.59 dB) HPTA (n = 71) improvement. Steroid with HBOT demonstrated a 7.00-dB (95% CI, 0.84-13.17 dB) PTA (n = 133) improvement and a 12.41-dB (95% CI, 3.97-20.86 dB) HPTA (n = 150) improvement. According to our statistical analysis of the pooled studies' heterogeneity, there was moderate inconsistency in the cross-study results of both treatment groups.Conclusion: Steroids with or without HBOT appear to improve both low and high hearing thresholds following acoustic trauma. Future studies will require inclusion of control groups, precise definition of acoustic trauma intensity and duration, and genetic polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin is known to protect sperm against freezing‐inflicted damage in different domestic species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of semen extender with melatonin on the quality and DNA integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. We also investigated whether the addition of melatonin to the semen extender could improve the fertility of rabbit does artificially inseminated with frozen/thawed semen. Semen samples collected from eight rabbit bucks were pooled and then diluted in INRA‐82 supplemented either with (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mM) or without (0.0 mM) melatonin. Diluted semen was cooled at 5°C for 24 hr. For cryopreservation and based on the first experiment's best result, semen samples were diluted in INRA‐82 in the presence or absence of 1.0 mM melatonin and then frozen in 0.25 ml straws. Following cooling or thawing, sperm quality and DNA integrity were evaluated. Furthermore, the fertility of frozen/thawed semen was investigated after artificial insemination. Supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved (p <.05) motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrities in cooled semen compared with other groups. Sperm quality and DNA integrity were higher (p <.05) in frozen/thawed semen diluted in 1.0 mM melatonin‐supplemented extender than in the control group. Conception and birth rates were higher in does inseminated with 1.0 mM melatonin treated semen compared with the controls. In conclusion, supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved the quality of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. Melatonin can preserve DNA integrity and enhance the fertility of frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Perform a follow-up study to investigate the histologic impact of high-dose intralaryngeal cidofovir injections in porcine vocal cords, either alone or in combination with bevacizumab, and compared to saline controls.Study Design: This was an in vivo study involving 24 pigs with blinded pathologist review of specimens. Six groups were created, with four subjects in each group. Each subject received 10 or 20 mg of either cidofovir or bevacizumab alone, or in combination, injected into the right vocal cord. The left vocal fold was used as a saline control. Three separate injections were made at 2-week intervals. Larynges were harvested at 8 and 12 weeks, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and trichrome stain, and reviewed for histologic changes by two blinded pathologists.Results: Minimal inflammation, edema, and atypia were noted with all treatments. Increased glandular inflammation was noted with 10 mg bevacizumab (P < 0.05), which decreased when combined with 10 mg cidofovir (P < 0.05). No lamina propria or muscle fibrosis was observed. Drug duration had no statistically significant histologic impact.Conclusion: High-dose cidofovir and bevacizumab do not induce detrimental vocal fold changes. Combination cidofovir and bevacizumab do not cause vocal fold scarring. Further work is needed to assess systemic concentration with this high-dose combination in humans.Level Of Evidence: N/A. Laryngoscope, 127:671-675, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to manufacture a simple fiber extraction machine. The machine prototype consisted of available raw materials. The beater cylinder is the most significant component in this machine. The electric motor of 0.75 kW was used to rotate the beater cylinder. The machine theory is based on the repeated rapid beating of the beaters on a slice-stem of banana. This beating simulated what labor does by using hand hammers to eliminate the juice and extract the fibers. The machine was tested under three rotational speeds of the beater cylinder 650, 750, and 850 rpm and using three beater cylinders with a different number of beaters 8, 10, and 12. The fibers produced by the machine were straight, of good quality, and not shredded, this was achieved in abundance when using the cylinder that has 10 beaters with 750 rpm rotational speeds of the beater cylinder. Thus, under these operating conditions, the extraction efficiency, the time required, and machine productivity were 88%, 40 min, and 8.6 kg h-1, respectively. The minimum value of the power required was 0.45 kW at the rotational speed of 650 rpm and using the eight beaters. While the maximum value of the power required was 0.64 kW at the rotational speed of 850 rpm and using the number of beaters 12. At the machine productivity of 8.6 kg h-1, the production cost will be 2.7 L.E. kg-1. While the costs of manual extraction of the fibers were 10 L.E. kg-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Retinyl palmitate (RP), the most stable vitamin A derivative, is used to treat photoaging and other skin disorders. The need to minimize the adverse effects of topical drug administration has led to an enhanced interest in loading RP on ethosomes for topical drug delivery. The aim of the current study was to prepare and compare the performance of RP decorated ethosomal hydrogel with tretinoin cream in the treatment of acne vulgaris as an approach to improve drug efficacy and decrease its side effects., Methods: RP-loaded ethosomes were prepared using the injection sonication technique. A Box-Behnken design using Design Expert ® software was used for the optimization of formulation variables. Particle size, zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency percent (EE%), % drug release, and permeation over 24 h of different formulations were determined. The optimal formulation was incorporated into a hydrogel. Finally, the efficacy and tolerability of the optimized RP ethosomal hydrogel were clinically evaluated for acne treatment using a split-face comparative clinical study., Results: The optimized ethosomal RP showed particle size of 195.8±5.45 nm, ZP of -62.1±2.85 mV, EE% of 92.63±4.33%, drug release % of 96.63±6.81%, and drug permeation % of 85.98 ±4.79%. Both the optimized RP ethosomal hydrogel and tretinoin effectively reduced all types of acne lesions (inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions). However, RP resulted in significantly lower non-inflammatory and total acne lesion count than the marketed tretinoin formulation. Besides, RP-loaded ethosomes showed significantly improved tolerability compared to marketed tretinoin with no or minimal skin irritation symptoms., Conclusion: RP ethosomal hydrogel is considerably effective in controlling acne vulgaris with excellent skin tolerability. Therefore, it represents an interesting alternative to conventional marketed tretinoin formulation for topical acne treatment., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2021 Salem et al.)

In the world today, millions of people suffer from spinal cord injury (SCI) with little known effective clinical therapy. Neuropathic pain (NP) is often the result of SCI, making clinical treatment difficult. Even though key mediators in the development of NP have been discovered, the pathogenesis is still unclear. Some of the key mediators in the formation of NP include the inflammatory process, cannabinoid receptors, matrix metalloproteases, and their tissue inhibitors. Animal models have shown promising results with these mediators, yet the clinical models are still unsuccessful. One such study focusing on matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) has produced encouraging results. The relationship between MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and recovery of SCI and the CNS. Key factors that lead to the functional consequences of MMP activity are cellular localization, tissue distribution, and temporal pattern of MMP expression. Controlling the MMP activity and expression are transcription factors, signaling molecules, and inhibition by TIMPs. Studies saying that MMPs can be seen as contributors of tissue damage and as contributors in the repair mechanisms have provided a need to reexamine their roles after acute and chronic process like traumatic SCI and NP, respectively. In this review, we focus on novel findings related to NP mediators like cannabinoid receptors, MMPs, and TIMPs. We will also review current clinical findings; stressing areas that show great therapeutic potential.