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To evaluate the protective effects of Resveratrol ( RES) on azoxymethane ( AOM)-induced testicular damage using histopathology and biochemical analyses, 28 male rats were randomly divided into four groups. Groups were control, RES, AOM and ARES. At the end of the 7 weeks, following routine tissue processing procedure, testis sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome. The blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis of testosterone, total oxidative stress, total antioxidant status and oxidative stress index. Degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules such as atrophy, loss in the number of germ cells and arrested spermatogenic cell, and increase in the connective tissue of the tunica albuginea in the groups with AOM treatment were found. RES treatment ( ARES) reduced the number of affected seminiferous tubules significantly ( p < .05) compared to AOM alone. The testosterone levels in AOM group were significantly lower than in the control group ( p < .05). The total oxidative stress levels were significantly higher in AOM group compared to control group ( p < .05). The total antioxidant status levels in ARES group were significantly higher than in the AOM group ( p < .05). This study results suggest that an antioxidant like Resveratrol may be useful for decreasing the harmful effects of azoxymethane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that may involve all systems, with the respiratory system being the most commonly affected. Tuberculosis of the chest wall and its structures is rare, in which malignancy and abscess may be counted among possible differential diagnoses. In this case report, a patient with pectoral muscle tuberculosis will be presented. A 47-year-old female with a history of hypertension and epilepsy was evaluated for a rapidly enlarging painful mass under the left breast, which was later considered a cold abscess. The routine laboratory tests showed elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Further radiological imaging with computed tomography confirmed the mass with chest wall involvement. The performed biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation and subsequent tests confirmed acid-fast bacteria, with later confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis  in the culture. The patient was treated with an intensive regimen of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs consisting of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. After nine months, including a treatment extension due to possible vertebral involvement, the patient showed no symptoms and is under follow-up. Extrapulmonary TB, particularly musculoskeletal TB, comes with many diagnostic challenges due to its nonspecific symptoms. Tissue sampling remains the most important aspect of diagnosis confirmation and treatment planning; hence, TB should always be kept in mind among possible differential diagnoses, especially in endemic regions., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Dolmus et al.)

Asherman's syndrome, which can occur during the regeneration of damaged uterine tissue after surgical interventions, is a significant health problem in women. This study aimed to acquire and characterize cyclodextrin-based hydrogels, which can be used to prevent Asherman's syndrome, and investigate their effectiveness with biomedical applications. A series of hydrogels were synthesized from the cross-linking of β-cyclodextrin and different polyphenols with epoxy-functional PEG. Their chemical, physical, and biological properties were subsequently determined. The results demonstrated that the cyclodextrin-based hydrogels had a porous structure, high swelling ratio, good injectability, drug release ability, and antioxidant activity. Cell culture results illustrated that the hydrogels had no significant cytotoxicity toward L929 fibroblast cells. Considering all properties, the β-CD-PEG-600-Ec hydrogel showed the most satisfactory properties rather than other ones. The potential of this hydrogel in preventing Asherman's syndrome was evaluated in a rat model. The results revealed that the β-estradiol- and melatonin-loaded cyclodextrin-based multifunctional hydrogel group both structurally and mechanically showed an antiadhesion effect in the uterus and a therapeutic effect on the damage with the β-estradiol and melatonin that it contains compared to the Asherman (ASH) group. This double drug-loaded hydrogel can be a promising candidate for preventing Asherman's syndrome due to its versatile properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Objectives: In addition to the hemostatic properties of hemostatic agents, the investigation of their immunogenic properties, their local effects on application area has been the subject of many experimental studies. There are limited data on the inflammatory effects of Bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and Polyethylene glycol polymer. Therefore, we investigated the effects of these agents on tissue reactions and inflammation in rabbit carotid artery anastomosis in our experimental study., Methods: Twenty-one New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The right carotid artery anastomosis was performed on the control group after transection. Hemostatic agents were applied locally to other two groups separately after transection and anastomosis. At the end of 28 days, the type of inflammation, inflammatory cell infiltration, degree of inflammation, and amount of residual adhesives were examined and compared statistically., Results: Cell infiltrations associated with inflammation on the anastomosis site (eosinophils, epithelioid/giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells) and inflammation grade in the groups of hemostatic agents were significantly lower compared to the control group ( p < .05). There was no difference between the hemostatic agents. While mild inflammation (61.9%) was dominant in the groups of hemostatic agents, moderate inflammation (85.7%) was more common in the control group. No severe inflammation was observed in any of the three groups. Residual sealant grade between hemostatic agents did not differ significantly., Conclusions: When inflammation and tissue reactions of the 4th week were evaluated, it was determined that both hemostatic agents did not cause severe inflammation. However, comparative results at multiple time intervals are needed due to the dynamic process of inflammation.

Purpose: We aim to determine the effect of local and systemic administration of kisspeptin-54 on ovarian hyperstimulation., Methods: Immature female rats were used. In order to generate the ovarian hyperstimulation model, 50 IU PMSG was administered for 4 consecutive days and a single dose of 25 IU hCG was administered to all groups except for the sham group. To synchronize the sham group, a single dose of 10 IU PMSG followed by 10 IU hCG (48 h later) was applied. Kisspeptin-54 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists were administered 48 h after hCG injection. While intracerebroventricular injection is performed with stereotaxic surgery, Intravenous administration was from the tail vein. Ovarian weights were measured. FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone hormones were detected in serum by ELISA. VEGFa, IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1 immunohistochemical staining was performed on the ovaries and hypothalamus and their optical densities were determined with Image J. Kiss1R mRNA expression was determined by qRT-PCR., Results: Ovarian weights increased significantly in the OHSS group and the systemic GnRH agonist group. The optical densities of VEGFa, IL-1β, TNF- α and MCP-1 immunoreactivity showed us that both local and systemic applied kisspeptin-54 attenuates the level of investigated inflammation parameters in the ovaries. Moreover, local administration of kisspeptin-54 has been shown to enhance the level of Kiss1R mRNA in both the ovaries and the hypothalamus., Conclusion(s): Local and systemic administration of Kisspeptin-54 as a post-treatment reduces inflammation parameters in the ovaries. These findings promote the potential use of kisspeptin-54 on OHSS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Since the systemic drugs have been used to reduce the hyperplasic response in the tunica intima, the periadventitial local drug applications to the vascular wall have gained more popularity. In this study, we investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and polyethylene glycol polymer on neointimal hyperplasia in rabbit carotid artery anastomosis to explore the effects of these two different agents., Methods: 21 New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The carotid artery transection and anastomosis was performed onthe control group. The bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and the polyethylene glycol polymer were applied locally on the other two groups seperatley after transection and anastomosis of the carotid arteries. At the end of 28-day follow-up, the histological and the immunohistochemical results related to neointimal hyperplasia were compared., Results: The glue residues were detected in the BSA-glutaraldehyde group, but in the PEG polymer group there was no glue residue. The intima thickness and the intima/media thickness ratio in the control group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other groups. These values did not differ significantly between the BSA-glutaraldehyde group and the PEG polymer group (p>0.05). The lumen diameter and the area in the control group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the BSA-glutaraldehyde group. These values between the control group and the PEG polymer group did not differ significantly (p>0.05). aSMA-positive staining score in the Control group was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the BSA-glutaraldehyde and PEG polymer group and the VEGF-positive staining score in the control group was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the BSA-glutaraldehyde and the PEG polymer group., Conclusions: Although the both agents have positive results on neointimal hyperplasia, it would be favorable to use polyethylene glycol polymer, since it does not seem to affect the lumen area and the lumen diameter of the vessel.

Background: A standard histomorphometric approach has been used for nearly 40 years that identifies atretic (e.g., dying) follicles by counting the number of pyknotic granulosa cells (GC) in the largest follicle cross-section. This method holds that if one pyknotic granulosa nucleus is seen in the largest cross section of a primary follicle, or three pyknotic cells are found in a larger follicle, it should be categorized as atretic. Many studies have used these criteria to estimate the fraction of atretic follicles that result from genetic manipulation or environmental insult. During an analysis of follicle development in a mouse model of Fragile X premutation, we asked whether these 'historical' criteria could correctly identify follicles that were not growing (and could thus confirmed to be dying)., Methods: Reasoning that the fraction of mitotic GC reveals whether the GC population was increasing at the time of sample fixation, we compared the number of pyknotic nuclei to the number of mitotic figures in follicles within a set of age-matched ovaries., Results: We found that, by itself, pyknotic nuclei quantification resulted in high numbers of false positives (improperly categorized as atretic) and false negatives (improperly categorized intact). For preantral follicles, scoring mitotic and pyknotic GC nuclei allowed rapid, accurate identification of non-growing follicles with 98% accuracy. This method most often required the evaluation of one follicle section, and at most two serial follicle sections to correctly categorize follicle status. For antral follicles, we show that a rapid evaluation of follicle shape reveals which are intact and likely to survive to ovulation., Conclusions: Combined, these improved, non-arbitrary methods will greatly improve our ability to estimate the fractions of growing/intact and non-growing/atretic follicles in mouse ovaries.

Study Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the mitochondria of granulosa cells (GC) and/or oocytes might be abnormal in a mouse model of fragile X premutation (FXPM)., Study Finding: Mice heterozygous and homozygous for the FXPM have increased death (atresia) of large ovarian follicles, fewer corpora lutea with a gene dosage effect manifesting in decreased litter size(s). Furthermore, granulosa cells (GC) and oocytes of FXPM mice have decreased mitochondrial content, structurally abnormal mitochondria, and reduced expression of critical mitochondrial genes. Because this mouse allele produces the mutant Fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) transcript and reduced levels of wild-type (WT) Fmr1 protein (FMRP), but does not produce a Repeat Associated Non-ATG Translation (RAN)-translation product, our data lend support to the idea that Fmr1 mRNA with large numbers of CGG-repeats is intrinsically deleterious in the ovary., What Is Known Already: Mitochondrial dysfunction has been detected in somatic cells of human and mouse FX PM carriers and mitochondria are essential for oogenesis and ovarian follicle development, FX-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) is seen in women with FXPM alleles. These alleles have 55-200 CGG repeats in the 5' UTR of an X-linked gene known as FMR1. The molecular basis of the pathology seen in this disorder is unclear but is thought to involve either some deleterious consequence of overexpression of RNA with long CGG-repeat tracts or of the generation of a repeat-associated non-AUG translation (RAN translation) product that is toxic., Study Design, Samples/materials, Methods: Analysis of ovarian function in a knock-in FXPM mouse model carrying 130 CGG repeats was performed as follows on WT, PM/+, and PM/PM genotypes. Histomorphometric assessment of follicle and corpora lutea numbers in ovaries from 8-month-old mice was executed, along with litter size analysis. Mitochondrial DNA copy number was quantified in oocytes and GC using quantitative PCR, and cumulus granulosa mitochondrial content was measured by flow cytometric analysis after staining of cells with Mitotracker dye. Transmission electron micrographs were prepared of GC within small growing follicles and mitochondrial architecture was compared. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of key genes involved in mitochondrial structure and recycling was performed., Main Results and the Role of Chance: A defect was found in follicle survival at the large antral stage in PM/+ and PM/PM mice. Litter size was significantly decreased in PM/PM mice, and corpora lutea were significantly reduced in mice of both mutant genotypes. Mitochondrial DNA copy number was significantly decreased in GC and metaphase II eggs in mutants. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that PM/+ and PM/PM animals lack the cumulus GC that harbor the greatest mitochondrial content as found in wild-type animals. Electron microscopic evaluation of GC of small growing follicles revealed mitochondrial structural abnormalities, including disorganized and vacuolar cristae. Finally, aberrant mitochondrial gene expression was detected. Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and Optic atrophy 1 (Opa1), genes involved in mitochondrial fusion and structure, respectively, were significantly decreased in whole ovaries of both mutant genotypes. Mitochondrial fission factor 1 (Mff1) was significantly decreased in PM/+ and PM/PM GC and eggs compared with wild-type controls., Limitations, Reasons for Caution: Data from the mouse model used for these studies should be viewed with some caution when considering parallels to the human FXPOI condition., Wider Implications of the Findings: Our data lend support to the idea that Fmr1 mRNA with large numbers of CGG-repeats is intrinsically deleterious in the ovary. FXPM disease states, including FXPOI, may share mitochondrial dysfunction as a common underlying mechanism., Large Scale Data: Not applicable., Study Funding and Competing Interests: Studies were supported by NIH R21 071873 (J.J./G.H), The Albert McKern Fund for Perinatal Research (J.J.), NIH Intramural Funds (K.U.), and a TUBITAK Research Fellowship Award (B.U.). No conflict(s) of interest or competing interest(s) are noted., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Capsule: Mechanisms that control the survival of oocytes and, by extension, the duration of ovarian function have been identified. However, it is still not clear whether oocyte "quality" is related to survival, nor is the role of the granulosa cells of follicles in follicle survival entirely understood. Here, we consider oocyte-intrinsic and oocyte-extrinsic mechanisms of oocyte loss and argue that developing a better understanding of such physiological events is needed to protect fertility, fecundity, and ovarian function in women.The duration that ovaries function is, as is intuitive, controlled by the number of remaining oocytes within follicles. Once the number of follicles drops beneath a threshold number, ovarian function ceases. Thus, understanding mechanisms that control oocyte survival is paramount as we consider strategies to protect or prolong ovarian function in women. It is often assumed that physiological oocyte survival is entirely controlled by "oocyte- intrinsic" factors, such as poor genetic quality or accumulated damage to the oocyte itself. Oocytes that have poor genetic quality due to development or accumulated damage would then die sooner than those of higher "quality." Indeed, new data suggest that oocyte-intrinsic genetic quality as determined by the ability to repair double-stranded DNA breaks is a significant contributor to oocyte survival and the duration of ovarian function. However, the nature of the follicle, where the oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells exist in intimate contact and rely upon each other for survival signals and metabolic function, makes it unlikely that oocyte-intrinsic factors entirely control oocyte survival. We and others are assessing the role of adjacent somatic (granulosa) cells in follicle survival, determining the relative importance of "oocyte-extrinsic" factors.

Exposure to low x-ray doses damages the spermatozoa, mainly by late-onset (ie, after 3 months) oxidative stress. Antioxidants ameliorate oxidation and prevent tissue damage. Prunus armeniaca L (apricot), rich in carotenoids and vitamins, is a potent natural antioxidant. We hypothesized that an apricot-rich diet might ameliorate the detrimental effects of low-dose x-rays on testis tissue. A 20% apricot diet was composed isoenergetically to the regular rodent diet. The total phenolic content, reducing power, and antioxidant capacity of both diets were determined. Sprague-Dawley rats received apricot-rich diets before and after x-ray exposure. Regular diets were given to controls. Rats were exposed to 0.2 Gy x-rays at the eighth week and were euthanized at the 20th postexposure week. Testicular oxidative status was determined by tissue thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities. For histologic evaluation, qualitative and quantitative microscopic determinations were performed, and Leydig and Sertoli cell counts and Johnsen scores were measured. The control diet group had significant testicular oxidative stress and mild tissue deterioration. Leydig and Sertoli cell counts, tubule diameters, and Johnsen scores were significantly decreased in the exposure groups. Apricot-rich diet significantly ameliorated the oxidative status and prevented the damage in tubular histology. The protective effects were prominent when the diet was maintained throughout the time course and were partially protected when the diet was initiated after exposure. The natural antioxidant activity of apricot ameliorates the delayed detrimental effects of low-dose irradiation on testis tissue. The high total antioxidant capacity of the apricot deserves further investigation., (2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we intended to determine the possible preventive effects of dietary apricot on oxidative stress due to ethanol usage in rat testes. The animals were divided into six groups as follows: Group 1 was control. Group 2 received ethanol. Group 3 were fed with apricot diet for 3 months. Group 4 were fed with apricot diet for 6 months. Group 5 received ethanol and apricot diet for 3 months. Group 6 were fed apricot diet for 3 months, and then ethanol+apricot diet for 3 months. Following sacrification, the testes were treated for morphological (tubular and germ cell histology, Sertoli and Leydig cell counts) and biochemical (superoxide dismutase, glutathion peroxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde) analyses. In Group 2, severe histopathological changes in seminiferous tubules and germ cells were determined as well as tubular degeneration and atrophy. Sertoli and Leydig cell counts in the interstitial tissue were decreased. Biochemical parameters revealed tissue oxidative stress. Similar alterations existed in Group 5, although to a lesser extent. In Groups 1, 3 and 4, no histopathological alterations were noted. Results of Group 6 were similar to the controls. Apricot rich diet may have a preventive role on histopathological changes caused by alcohol in rat testes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on the tracheal tissue of rats exposed to cigarette smoke., Materials and Methods: 40 adult Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups for an experiment of 6 weeks. Animals in group 1 were controls (n = 10). Rats in group 2 were exposed to cigarette smoke only, and rats in group 3 received daily intraperitoneal injections of resveratrol (10 mg/kg/d). Animals in group 4 were exposed to both cigarette smoke and intraperitoneal injections of resveratrol. Rats of all groups were sacrificed using cervical dislocation. The tracheas were removed and embedded in paraffin blocks. Sections of 4-5 mum thickness were prepared from the blocks. These sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and Alcian blue and viewed with a Leica DFC 280 light microscope., Results: Tracheal sections showed that, in group 2 (cigarette smoke group), there was desquamation of epithelial cells into the tracheal lumen, loss of cilia in the epithelial layer, an increase of goblet cells, activation of serous glands at the submucosa, and cell infiltration. In group 4 (cigarette smoke + resveratrol group), all these findings also existed but only a few sections were affected. It was observed that cigarette smoking caused morphological changes such as epithelial degeneration in the upper airway. These morphological changes were correlated with the amount of toxic substances in the cigarette smoke., Conclusion: We found that resveratrol had a preventive role in the histopathological changes caused by cigarette smoking in the rat trachea.

Objectives: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a widely used immunosuppressive agent that is implicated in the formation of free oxygen radicals. Melatonin is known to be a free radical scavenger and an antioxidant agent. This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on CsA-induced liver damage by histopathological examination., Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male rats of Sprague-Dawley origin were divided into 4 groups of 8 and treated for 28 days as follows: group 1 received daily doses of 0.1 ml/kg olive oil s.c.; group 2 received 4 mg/kg of melatonin; group 3 received 10 mg/kg CsA diluted in 0.1 ml/kg olive oil; group 4 was treated with 4 mg/kg melatonin i.p. and 10 mg/kg CsA s.c. Finally, the rats were sacrificed by terminal anesthesia, and liver tissue specimens were processed for light microscopy, stained with HE and examined under a light microscope., Results: Specimens of the control group showed normal liver histology, whereas group 3 showed major histopathological changes, such as cytoplasmic vacuolization, dilatation of the sinusoids, apoptosis and many mitotic figures. In group 4, the normal histology of the liver was preserved, although apoptosis, mitotic figures and cytoplasmic vacuolization were still infrequently observed. Nevertheless, there were significant differences between group 2 (melatonin) and group 3 (CsA) and between group 3 (CsA) and group 4 (CsA + melatonin) concerning these 3 parameters (vacuolization, sinusoidal dilatation and apoptosis)., Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that CsA-related liver toxicity in rats could be significantly reduced by melatonin administration., (Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Cyclosporine A (CyA) leads to liver injury, probably by causing the production of free radicals and resulting in nitric oxide (NO) deficiency. We evaluated CyA-mediated liver damage histopathologically to determine the possible beneficial effects of L-arginine (L-Arg). In this study, 7 groups of Sprague-Dawley rats; (1) Control group; (2) 0.9% NaCl group; (3) CyA group: 7.5mg/kg/day; (4) L-Arg group: 2g/lt/day; (5) l-NAME (N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) group: 5mg/100ml/day; (6) CyA+L-Arg group: L-Arg (2g/lt/day)+CyA (7.5mg/kg/day); and (7) CyA+L-NAME group: CyA (7.5mg/kg/day)+L-NAME (5mg/100ml/day) were included. At the end of the treatments, animals were killed and hepatic tissues were treated for morphological (hematoxylin and eosin) and biochemical (NO and malondialdehyde, MDA) analyses, and serum was processed for biochemical (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total protein) study. The results indicated that CyA-induced hepatotoxicity was characterized by sinusoidal dilatation, hepatocellular vacuolization, neutrophilic infiltration and hepatocellular necrosis. These findings were less pronounced in the CyA+L-Arg group than CyA alone group. L-NAME group showed moderate changes. The CyA+L-NAME (Group 7) had more severe changes. We found changes in tissue NO and MDA levels. We think that the tissue damage caused by CyA is mild and reversible at the period when biochemical parameters are just starting to become abnormal and that L-Arg may have a protective effect against CyA damage on liver.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the pre- and postpubertal 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic characteristics of the normal testis to establish baseline values for further clinical studies., Materials and Methods: The subjects consisted of male volunteers, of whom 19 were prepubertal with ages between 7 and 13 years and 24 were postpubertal with ages between 19 and 39 years. Their testes were evaluated at 1.5 T with magnetic resonance spectroscopy; in addition, testis volumes were measured. Major metabolite peaks were identified and their ratios were calculated. Metabolite differences of testis between pre- and postpubertal age were analyzed., Results: Major constituents of spectra were 3.21 ppm choline and 0.9-1.3 ppm lipid peaks. At the echo time (TE) spectrum of 31 ms, choline/lipid ratios ranged from 0.35 to 8.30 (mean=1.87) in postpubertal males and from 0.06 to 5.45 (mean=0.88) in prepubertal males (P<.013). At the TE spectrum of 136 ms, choline/lipid ratios ranged from 0.66 to 15.42 (mean=4.09) in postpubertal males and from 0.05 to 4.91 (mean=0.9) in prepubertal males (P<.016)., Conclusions: Choline/lipid ratio was higher in the postpubertal period. The existence of higher choline peak in that age group should be due to the initiation of spermatogenesis. The decrease in the lipid peak may represent the effect of testosterone on testicular tissue or may be due to histochemical changes initiated by puberty. The significant decrease in choline/lipid ratio noted after puberty could represent the presence of spermatogenesis. This hypothesis should be evaluated by further studies on postpubertal subjects with impaired spermatogenesis.