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The article discusses a study which investigated the effect season on sperm quality in fresh and cryopreserved boar sperm. Topics covered include assessment of semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa and total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, and the effect of season on semen volume.

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Minipigs are one of the most important laboratory animals because of their similarity to human. They are small, thus, much easier for handling. Also, requirements of food, space and pharmacologic products are significantly reduced. There are at least 45 breeds of minipigs available worldwide (Smith & Swindle, 2006). While conventional farm pig breeds are extensively used in pork industry, smaller pigs, named minipigs or miniature pigs, are produced by cross-breeding of various purebred or wild species for special needs (Vodicka et al., 2005). The aim of our study was to describe growth intensity and reproduction parameters of minipigs bred in the Institute of Animal Science Prague. The herd was established in 2009. The minipigs of Minnesota type were the basis for a new herd. The stabilization of a phenotype, especially in body weight, was realised during last years. Only natural breeding is used in minipigs. Piglets are weaned at two months of age. The special feed mixture is used for minipigs to fed them. The data from 89 litters were collected in years 2009-2017. The number of piglets born, born alive and weaned was monitored and percentage of piglet losses was calculated. The growth parameters were measured in 100 piglets-birth weight, weight at weaning and every month until one year of age. The average birth weight of piglets was 352 ± 85 g, weight at weaning - 3520 ± 743 g and live weight at 12 months of age was 49.4 ± 6.3 kg. Reproduction parameters of monitored litters were as follows: number of total born piglets - 8.6 ± 2.9, number of live born piglets - 7.1 ± 2.3, number of weaned piglets - 6.7 ± 2.4 and calculated piglet losses were 6.1%. Farm breeding of minipigs is not common in the Czech Republic; breeding as pet animal prevails. There are no available data for comparison. In comparison with original Minnesota minipigs, more piglets born/litter and lower birth weight were monitored in our study. Minnesota breed reaches at average 6 piglets per litter, birth weight of piglets is 590 g and body weight of adult minipig is 55-70 kg (McAnulty et al., 2005). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the association between newborn birth weight and the presence of intra-amniotic infection, presence of sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, and absence of intra-amniotic inflammation in pregnancies with preterm labor with intact membranes., Methods: A total of 69 pregnancies with preterm labor with intact membranes between gestational ages 22 + 0 and 34 + 6 weeks who delivered within seven days of admission were included in this retrospective cohort study. Transabdominal amniocentesis to determine the presence of microorganisms and/or their nucleic acids in amniotic fluid (through culturing and molecular biology methods) and intra-amniotic inflammation (according to amniotic fluid interleukin-6 concentrations) were performed as part of standard clinical management. The participants were further divided into three subgroups: intra-amniotic infection (presence of microorganisms and/or nucleic acids along with intra-amniotic inflammation), sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (intra-amniotic inflammation alone), and without intra-amniotic inflammation. Birth weights of newborns were expressed as percentiles derived from the INTERGROWTH-21st standards for (i) estimated fetal weight and (ii) newborn birth weight., Results: No difference in birth weights, expressed as percentiles derived from the standard for estimated fetal weight, was found among the women with intra-amniotic infection, with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, and without intra-amniotic inflammation (with infection, median 29; with sterile inflammation, median 54; without inflammation, median 53; p =  0.06). Differences among the subgroups were identified in the birth weight rates, expressed as percentiles derived from the standard for estimated fetal weight, which were less than the 10th percentile (with infection: 20%, with inflammation: 13%, without inflammation: 0%; p  = 0.04) and 25th percentile (with infection: 47%, with inflammation: 31%, without inflammation: 9%; p  = 0.01). No differences among the subgroups were observed when percentiles of birth weight were derived from the birth weight standard., Conclusions: The presence of intra-amniotic inflammatory complications in pregnancies with preterm labor with intact membranes prior to the gestational age of 35 weeks was associated with a higher rate of newborns with birth weight less than the 10th and 25th percentile, when percentiles of birth weight were derived from the standard for estimated fetal weight., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2022 Matulova, Kacerovsky, Bolehovska, Kukla, Bostik, Kolarova, Frydrychová, Jacobsson and Musilova.)

Natural killer (NK) cells represent an important component of the human body´s defense against viruses, bacteria and other intra-cellular pathogens as well as against tumor cells. NK cells are capable of very fast response without prior sensitization. They produce a wide range of cytokines and chemokines regulating both innate and acquired immune responses. Similar to excessive physical activity, stress can lead to a reduction in the numbers of NK cells, consequently increasing the susceptibility of the organism to viral, bacterial or parasitic diseases. Historically, NK cells were viewed as natural killers with relatively simply regulated functions. But new findings have shown that NK cells play roles in many processes and regulation of their functions in many infectious diseases represents a complex issue. This review presents new potential roles of NK cells in viral infections, autoimmunity and their specific functions in some organs.