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115 results on '"Balboula, Ahmed Z"'

1. Mechanisms of DNA Damage Response in Mammalian Oocytes

Author

Sun, Fei, Sutovsky, Peter, Patterson, Amanda L., Balboula, Ahmed Z., Sutovsky, Peter, Editor-in-Chief, Kmiec, Z., Series Editor, Schmeisser, Michael J., Series Editor, Timmermans, Jean-Pierre, Series Editor, Schumann, Sven, Series Editor, and Balboula, Ahmed Z., Series Editor

Published
2024
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15. Adverse PFAS effects on mouse oocyte in vitro maturation are associated with carbon‐chain length and inclusion of a sulfonate group.

Author

Feng, Jianan, Soto‐Moreno, Edgar J., Prakash, Aashna, Balboula, Ahmed Z., and Qiao, Huanyu

Subjects
FLUOROALKYL compounds, PERFLUOROOCTANE sulfonate, SULFONATES, OVUM, REACTIVE oxygen species, MITOCHONDRIAL membranes, MEMBRANE potential
Abstract

Objectives: Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man‐made chemicals that are widely used in various products. PFAS are characterized by their fluorinated carbon chains that make them hard to degrade and bioaccumulate in human and animals. Toxicological studies have shown PFAS toxic effects: cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. However, it is still unclear how the structures of PFAS, such as carbon‐chain length and functional groups, determine their reproductive toxicity. Methods and Results: By using a mouse‐oocyte‐in‐vitro‐maturation (IVM) system, we found the toxicity of two major categories of PFAS, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA), is elevated with increasing carbon‐chain length and the inclusion of the sulfonate group. Specifically, at 600 μM, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) reduced the rates of both germinal‐vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar‐body extrusion (PBE) as well as enlarged polar bodies. However, the shorter PFSA, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), and all PFCA did not show similar adverse cytotoxicity. Further, we found that 600 μM PFHxS and PFOS exposure induced excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Cytoskeleton analysis revealed that PFHxS and PFOS exposure induced chromosome misalignment, abnormal F‐actin organization, elongated spindle formation, and symmetric division in the treated oocytes. These meiotic defects compromised oocyte developmental competence after parthenogenetic activation. Conclusions: Our study provides new information on the structure‐toxicity relationship of PFAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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16. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and machine learning application for early pregnancy detection using bovine vaginal mucosal membrane

Author

Kunii, Hiroki, primary, Kubo, Tomoaki, additional, Asaoka, Natsuki, additional, Balboula, Ahmed Z., additional, Hamaguchi, Yu, additional, Shimasaki, Tomoya, additional, Bai, Hanako, additional, Kawahara, Manabu, additional, Kobayashi, Hisato, additional, Ogawa, Hidehiko, additional, and Takahashi, Masashi, additional

Published
2021
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18. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and machine learning application for early pregnancy detection using bovine vaginal mucosal membrane

Author

Kunii, Hiroki, Kubo, Tomoaki, Asaoka, Natsuki, Balboula, Ahmed Z., Hamaguchi, Yu, Shimasaki, Tomoya, Bai, Hanako, Kawahara, Manabu, Kobayashi, Hisato, Ogawa, Hidehiko, Takahashi, Masashi, Kunii, Hiroki, Kubo, Tomoaki, Asaoka, Natsuki, Balboula, Ahmed Z., Hamaguchi, Yu, Shimasaki, Tomoya, Bai, Hanako, Kawahara, Manabu, Kobayashi, Hisato, Ogawa, Hidehiko, and Takahashi, Masashi

Abstract

An early and accurate pregnancy diagnosis method is required to improve the reproductive performance of cows. Here we developed an easy pregnancy detection method using vaginal mucosal membrane (VMM) with application of Reverse Transcription-Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) and machine learning. Cows underwent artificial insemination (AI) on day 0, followed by VMMcollection on day 17-18, and pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography on day 30. By RNA sequencing of VMM samples, three candidate genes for pregnancy markers (ISG15 and IFIT1: up-regulated, MUC16: down-regulated) were selected. Using these genes, we performed RT-LAMP and calculated the rise-up time (RUT), the first-time absorbance exceeded 0.05 in the reaction. We next determined the cutoff value and calculated accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction value (PPV), and negative prediction value (NPV) for each marker evaluation. The IFIT1 scored the best performance at 92.5% sensitivity, but specificity was 77.5%, suggesting that it is difficult to eliminate false positives. We then developed a machine learning model trained with RUT of each marker combination to predict pregnancy. The model created with the RUT of IFIT1 and MUC16 combination showed high specificity (86.7%) and sensitivity (93.3%), which were higher compared to IFIT1 alone. In conclusion, using VMM with RT-LAMP and machine learning algorithm can be used for early pregnancy detection before the return of first estrus. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Published
2021

24. Hot topic: Pregnancy-induced expression of interferon-stimulated genes in the cervical and vaginal mucosal membranes

Author

Kunii, Hiroki, Koyama, Keisuke, Ito, Tsukino, Suzuki, Toshiyuki, Balboula, Ahmed Z, Shirozu, Takahiro, Bai, Hanako, Nagano, Masashi, Kawahara, Manabu, Takahashi, Masashi, Kunii, Hiroki, Koyama, Keisuke, Ito, Tsukino, Suzuki, Toshiyuki, Balboula, Ahmed Z, Shirozu, Takahiro, Bai, Hanako, Nagano, Masashi, Kawahara, Manabu, and Takahashi, Masashi

Abstract

In ruminants, IFN-tau (IFNT) is a pregnancy recognition signal secreted by the embryonic trophectoderm before implantation, and it induces the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISG) in the uterine endometrium and blood leukocytes. The expression of ISG in blood leukocytes could indicate the presence of a viable conceptus before return of the next estrus; however, expression levels have high variation for confirming pregnancy. We hypothesized that the secreted IFNT in the uterus would affect ISG expression in cervical and vaginal tissues because they are directly adjacent to the uterus. To prove the hypothesis, we investigated the expression of 3 ISG (ISG15, MX1, and MX2) in cervical and vaginal mucosal membranes collected from pregnant (n = 12) and nonpregnant (n = 11) lactating Holstein cows at 17 to 18 d after artificial insemination. Mucosal membrane samples of the cervical canal near the external os (cervix) and deep vaginal wall surrounding the external os (vagina) were collected separately by simply scraping with a curette on d 17 or 18 of pregnancy (d 1 = ovulation), at which time IFNT secretion into the maternal uterus is maximal. After pregnancy diagnosis on d 30 and 60, separately collected samples confirmed as pregnant and nonpregnant were used for evaluation of the expression of IFN-stimulated protein 15 kDa (ISG15) and myxovirus-resistance protein 1 and 2 (MX1, MX2) with quantitative real-time PCR. The collected mucosal membrane samples from cervix contained mostly cell clots showing membrane structure and a low content of blood cells. The expression levels of all 3 genes were significantly increased in pregnant cows compared with nonpregnant cows in both cervical and vaginal samples. These results suggest that increased expression of ISG in the cervix and vagina is a pregnancy-associated phenomenon and is highly affected by IFNT secreted from the conceptus through the uterus.

Published
2018

28. Estrous cycle stage-dependent manner of type I interferon-stimulated genes induction in the bovine endometrium

Author

SHIROZU, Takahiro, primary, IWANO, Hiroki, additional, OGISO, Takatoshi, additional, SUZUKI, Toshiyuki, additional, BALBOULA, Ahmed Z., additional, BAI, Hanako, additional, KAWAHARA, Manabu, additional, KIMURA, Koji, additional, TAKAHASHI, Hitomi, additional, RULAN, Bai, additional, KIM, Sung-Woo, additional, YANAGAWA, Yojiro, additional, NAGANO, Masashi, additional, IMAKAWA, Kazuhiko, additional, and TAKAHASHI, Masashi, additional

Published
2017
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39. Effect of summer heat environment on body temperature, estrous cycles and blood antioxidant levels in Japanese Black cow.

Author

SAKATANI, Miki, BALBOULA, Ahmed Z., YAMANAKA, Kenichi, and TAKAHASHI, Masashi

Subjects
*BODY temperature, *ESTRUS, *ANTIOXIDANTS, *CATTLE breeding, *OXIDATIVE stress, *RADIO telemetry, *SUMMER
Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of summer heat environment on estrous cycles and blood antioxidant levels in Japanese Black cows. A total of 13 non-lactating Japanese Black cows (summer: 9, winter: 4) were examined. Body temperature was measured rectally and intravaginally using a thermometer and data logger, respectively. Estrous behavior was monitored using a radiotelemetric pedometer that recorded walking activity. Rectal temperatures were higher during summer than winter ( P < 0.001). There was an acute increase in vaginal temperature at the onset of estrus during winter but such an increase was not observed during summer. Walking activity during estrus decreased dramatically in the summer compared to the winter. Duration of estrous cycle was longer in summer (23.4 days, P < 0.05) than winter (21.5 days), and the subsequent rise in progesterone concentrations following estrus tended to be delayed in summer. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in peripheral blood cells was higher during summer ( P < 0.05), while the levels of superoixde dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione were lower ( P < 0.05). These results indicate that high ambient temperature during summer increases both body temperature and oxidative stress, and also reduces signs of estrus in Japanese Black cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2012
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46. β-Cell Heterogeneity and Plasticity

Author

Yong, Hyo Jeong, Wang, Yue J., Sutovsky, Peter, Editor-in-Chief, Kmiec, Z., Series Editor, Balboula, Ahmed Z., Series Editor, Golson, Maria L., Series Editor, and Schumann, Sven, Series Editor

Published
2024
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