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In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of U rtica dioica L. ( UD) that has antioxidant feature in the experimental testicular I/R model in rats in terms of anti-apoptotic and antioxidative effects. In our study, 24 male rats were divided into three groups: control group, I/R group and I/R + UD (2 mg kg−1) group. Seminiferous tubule calibre measurement, Johnson score, haematoxylin-eosin staining, proliferative cell nucleus antigen ( PCNA) immunohistochemical staining and TUNEL as histopathological have been conducted. The structural deterioration in the testicular on I/R group has reduced after the treatment of UD. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of in situ identification of apoptosis using terminal dUTP nick end labelling ( TUNEL), and there was a rise in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA) in testis tissues of UD-treated rats in the I/R group. The I/R + UD group showed a decrease in malondialdehyde levels and an increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in comparison with the I/R group. It could be concluded that protective effects of UD on the I/R testicles are via reduction of histological damage, apoptosis, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of quercetin on changes in testes due to arsenic exposure. Twenty-seven male rats were divided into three groups: control (10 ml kg−1 day−1 saline), arsenic (10 mg kg−1 day−1 sodium arsenite) and arsenic + quercetin (arsenic + 50 mg kg−1 day−1 quercetin). The rats were sacrificed at the end of 15-day experiment. There was no difference between control group and arsenic group in body weight gain, testicular weight and serum total testosterone level. Quercetin treatment did not cause a significant difference in these parameters. In the arsenic group rats, we determined deterioration in the structure of seminiferous tubules, a decrease in the number of spermatogenic cells, an increase in the number of apoptotic cells, a decrease in the number of PCNA-positive cells, a decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities, and an increase in the MDA level in testicular tissue. In all these changes, arsenic+quercetin group showed an improved compared to arsenic group. The amount of arsenic increased in the arsenic group was compared to the control group, and there was no difference between arsenic group and arsenic + quercetin group in the amount of arsenic. In conclusion, quercetin prevented arsenic-induced testicular damage with its anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Poultry Science / Archiv für Geflügelkunde is the property of Verlag Eugen Ulmer and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Microscopy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of fish omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced acute cardiotoxicity. A total of 24 rats were divided into three groups: control, DOX-treated, and DOX treated with fish n-3 fatty acids. Control group received 0.4 ml/kg/day of saline intragastrically. The rats in the fish n-3 fatty acid-pretreated group were given 400 mg/kg/day fish n-3 fatty acids for 30 days by intragastric intubation. To induce acute cardiotoxicity, DOX (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally by a single dose and the rats were killed after 48 h. DOX treatment caused severe damage in heart tissues. Disorganization of myocardial muscle fibers, myofibrillar loss, and cardiotoxic myocardial fibers with cytoplasmic vacuoles were seen. Fish n-3 fatty acid-treated rats showed an improved histological appearance in the DOX-treated group. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling in cardiomyocytes of the DOX-treated group with fish n-3 fatty acids therapy. The DOX-treated with fish n-3 fatty acids group showed a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels, and an increase in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in comparison with the DOX-treated group. This study showed that fish n-3 fatty acids may be a suitable cardioprotector against acute toxic effects of DOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the family of stainless steels, cast austenitic stainless steels (CASSs) are preferably used due to their high mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. These steels owe their properties to their microstructural features consisting of an austenitic matrix and skeletal or lathy type δ-ferrite depending on the cooling rate. In this study, the solidification behavior of CASSs (304L and 316L grades) was studied using ThermoCalc software in order to determine the solidification sequence and final microstructure during cooling. Theoretical findings were supported by the microstructural examinations. For the mechanical characterization, not only hardness measurements but also tribological studies were carried out under dry sliding conditions and worn surfaces were examined by microscopy and 3D profilometric analysis. Results were discussed according to the type and amount of microstructural features.

Acute pharyngitis in adults is primarily a viral infection; only about 10% of cases are of bacterial etiology. Most cases of bacterial pharyngitis are caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS). One laboratory method for the diagnosis of GABHS is rapid antigen diagnostic testing (RADT), which can be processed during an emergency department visit and which has become a popular alternative to throat swab cultures. We conducted a study to define the sensitivity and specificity of RADT, using throat culture results as the gold standard, in 100 emergency department patients who presented with symptoms consistent with streptococcal pharyngitis. We found that RADT had a sensitivity of 68.2% (15 of 22), a specificity of 89.7% (70 of 78), a positive predictive value of 65.2% (15 of 23), and a negative predictive value of 90.9% (70 of 77). We conclude that RADT is useful in the emergency department when the clinical suspicion is GABHS, but results should be confirmed with a throat culture in patients whose RADT results are negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mercury poisoning can occur as a result of occupational hazard or suicide attempt. This article presents a 36-year-old case admitted to emergency department (ED) due to exposure to metallic mercury. Case Presentatıon A 36-year-old woman presented to the ED with a three-day history of abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. One week ago her daughter had brought mercury in the liquid form from the school. She had put it on the heating stove. One day later, her 14-month old sister baby got fever and died before admission to the hospital. Her blood pressure was 134/87 mmHg; temperature, 40.2°C; heart rate 105 bpm and regular; respiration, 18 bpm; O2 saturation, 96%. Nothing was remarkable on examination and routine laboratory tests. As serine or urinary mercury levels could not be tested in the city, symptomatic chelation treatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) was instituted with regard to presumptive diagnosis and history. At the 7th day of admission she was discharged without any sequelae or complaint. At the discharge day blood was drawn and sent for mercury levels which turned out to be 30 μg/dL (normal range: 0 - 10 μg/dL). Conclusion Public education on poisoning and the potential hazards of mercury are of vital importance for community health.

Abstract: Plasma and laser treatments are used in combination to modify the wetting properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which is one of the preferred polymers in various applications ranging from aerospace to medical devices. Wetting is a critical issue especially for biomedical applications of PEEK. Here we present a novel approach to create hierarchically patterned PEEK surfaces composed of nano- and microstructures. This method is fast, easy and applicable to large areas without using complicated lithography and mask-based techniques. We achieved surfaces exhibiting a wide spectrum of wetting ranging from super-hydrophilic to hydrophobic nature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: The protective effect of vitamin E (vit E) on cadmium (Cd) induced oxidative stress was studied in the blood of rats. Methods: The rats were randomly divided in to three experimental groups: Control, Cd treated and Cd + vit E treated, each containing 10 animals. The Cd treated and Cd + vit E treated groups were injected subcutaneously daily with CdCl2 dissolved in isotonic NaCl in the amount of 2 mL/kg for 20 days, resulting in a dosage of 0.49 mg Cd/kg/d. In addition, Cd + vit E treated group received intramuscular injection of 150 mg/kg vit E until the end of the study. Results: Cd treatment increased significantly malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in plasma and erythrocytes compared to the control group. Cd + vit E treatment, decreased significantly elevated MDA levels in plasma and erythrocyte and also reduced significantly the enhanced antioxidant levels. Cd treatment increased significantly the activity of iron levels in the plasma compared to the control group. Cd + vit E treatment, decreased the activity of iron levels in the plasma compared to the Cd treated group. In the control group, the histology of erythrocytes was normal. In Cd treated group, there was marked membrane destruction and there were hemolytic changes in erythrocytes. In Cd + vit E treated group, these changes were less than Cd treated group. Conclussion: Our results show that vit E exerts a protective effect against cadmium toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]