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The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin - in horses. Four healthy crossbred horses were included in the study and assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg-1) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg-1) intravenously. In treatment II (T2), the animals received intragastric administration of pregabalin (4.00 mg kg-1) followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg-1) intravenously after 60 min. Head height above ground (HHAG) and echocardiographic indices were evaluated. In T1, recordings were made 5 minubefore and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minu after drug administration. In T2, recordings were made 5 min before pregabalin, 55 minu after pregabalin administration, and then 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after xylazine hydrochloride acepromazine injection. Analyses of the data showed there were no significant differences regarding HHAG and echocardiographic indices between the two treatments. Intragastric administration of pregabalin prior to xylazine could be considered as an alternative premedication regimen when acepromazine administration is contraindicated or undesirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of acepromazine-clonidine versus acepromazine-xylazine in horses. Four healthy cross-bred horses were included in the study. They were assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg-1) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg-1) intravenously (IV). In treatment II (T2), the animals received intra-gastric administration of clonidine (0.002 mg kg-1) followed by acepromazine (0.05 mg kg-1; IV) after 60 min. Head height above the ground (HHAG) and echocardiographic indices were evaluated. In T1, recordings were made 5 min before and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after drug administration. In T2, recordings were made 5 min before clonidine, 55 min after clonidine administration, and then 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min after acepromazine injection. Analyses of the data showed there were not significant differences regarding HHAG and echocardiographic indices between two treatments. For sedation of healthy horses, it was concluded that intra-gastric administration of clonidine and IV administration of acepromazine showed similar sedative and cardiovascular effects compared to IV acepromazine-xylazine administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was initially reported in September 2012 in Saudi Arabia (1); the first human infected died of respiratory and renal failure (2,3). As of July [...]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the preparedness of Iranian nurses against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak and influencing factors. Design: A cross-sectional study. Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty five nurses in emergency and Intensive Care Units of two hospitals in the northwest of Iran were selected via stratified random sampling. Data was collected through a questionnaire with three dimensions of management and prevention, training for coronavirus and awareness of the center's policies for information transmission and infection control. Results: The percentage of nurses' preparedness in total was 51.27%. The preparedness score of training for coronavirus was the least of the three (31.77%), but dimensions of management and prevention (55.13%) and awareness of the center's policies for information transmission and infection control (58.42%) needs planing to improvement too. The nurses preparedness significantly related with presence in a training program, educational level, age, nursing work experience, work experience in current department and the number of hours of training for coronavirus. Conclusions: Iranian nurses showed moderate preparedness against MERS-CoV. They needed to be prepared for the outbreak of coronavirus, especially in terms of in-service training for dealing against diseases caused by coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Varicocoele (VCL), one of the main causes of male subfertility, negatively affects testicular function. Due to limited access to human testicular tissue, animal model studies have been used to evaluate molecular and, recently, epigenetic changes attributed to pathophysiology induced by VCL. Objectives: This review aims to provide an update on the latest findings regarding the link between VCL‐induced biochemical stress and molecular changes in germ cells and spermatozoa. Endocrine and antioxidant status, testicular chaperone‐specific hemostasis failure, altered testicular ion balance, metabolic disorders, and altered carbon cycling during spermatogenesis are among the many features that will be presented. Discussion: Literature review coupled with our own findings suggests that ionic imbalance, hypoxia, hyperthermia, and altered blood flow could lead to severe chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress in patients with VCL leading to defective spermatogenesis and impairment of the integrity of all sperm cell components and compartments down to the epigenetic information they carry. Conclusion: Since oxidative stress is an important feature of the reproductive pathology of VCL, therapeutic strategies such as the administration of appropriate antioxidants could be undertaken as a complementary non‐invasive treatment line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell scaffolds should structurally be manufactured similar to the target tissue's extracellular matrix. This property should be maintained until cell differentiation. For this purpose, in the current study, electrospun nanofiber (EN) of chitosan (Ch)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), as a tissue-friend scaffold, was fabricated by electrospinning in different formulations and borax was utilized as an innovative cross-linking agent to up-regulate the structural and biomechanical properties. The weight loss, water absorbability, structural stability, tensile strength and biocompatibility of borax-included and non-included ENs were compared. The finest morphology, weight loss, water absorbability, structural stability in an aqueous environment, tensile strength and cell viability were found in the borax-included EN containing Ch50.00%v/PVA50.00%v. Moreover, The ENs exhibited appropriate antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In conclusion, borax can be used to improve the mechanical and biocompatibility features of the Ch/PVA-based ENs. Furthermore, it could be suggested that borax-included Ch/PVA ENs can exhibit high appropriate biological properties, candidate them as an appropriate scaffold in the field of tissue engineering. However, in vivo trials are needed to clearly their side effects and advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Tendon healing is substantially slow and often associated with suboptimal repair. Cell therapy is one of the promising methods to improve tendon repair. Blastema, a population of undifferentiated cells, represents characteristics of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells and has the potentials to be used in regenerative medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of blastema allotransplantation in rabbit tendon healing. Materials and Methods: In this study, one rabbit was used as a blastema donor, and twenty-four rabbits were divided into control and treatment groups. Blastema cells were obtained from ear pinna upon punch hole injury in the donor rabbit. Under general anesthesia, a complete transverse tenotomy was performed on the midsubstance of deep digital flexor tendon followed by suture-repair. In the treatment group, 1 × 106 blastema cells suspended in buffer saline were injected intratendinously at the repair site, while the control group received only the buffer saline. Cast coaptation was maintained for two weeks. Eight weeks after the operation, tendons were harvested, and histopathological, biomechanical, and biochemical assays were performed on samples. Results: Mechanical testing showed a significant increase in ultimate load, energy absorption, stiffness, yield load, stress, and strain in blastema-treated tendons compared to controls. Also, higher hydroxyproline content and improved collagen alignment along with lower inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased angiogenesis were observed in blastema-treated tendons. Conclusion: Increased levels of hydroxyproline and improved histopathological and biomechanical parameters in the treatment group suggest that blastema cells could be considered an adjunct to tendon repair in rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan bears numerous properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and nontoxicity making it suitable for use in different biomedical fields. Zinc (Zn) is required for fibroblasts proliferation and collagen synthesis as essential elements of wound healing. Its nanoparticles are well known for their capability to enhance wound healing by cell adhesion and migration improvement through growth factors-mediated mechanisms. Poor blood supply and unique histological characteristics of tendon make its regeneration always slow. Also, adhesion formation between tendon and its surrounding tissues is another problem for neotendon to return to its normal structure and functional activities. In this study, a novel tubular scaffold of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles loaded chitosan has been fabricated for tendon repair. Experimental complete tenotomy of deep digital flexor tendon in a rabbit model was done and scaffolds were placed in the transected area after two ends suturing. After four and eight weeks, adhesion formation around the tendons and tissue reaction to the scaffolds were evaluated macroscopically. Inflammation, angiogenesis and collagen fibers arrangement were also analyzed in histopathological evaluations. After eight weeks, the scaffolds were absorbed completely, adhesions around the tendon were decreased and there was no sign of significant tissue reaction and/or infection in histopathological analyses. The reduced adhesion formation, improved gliding function and better histopathological characteristics suggest this scaffold application as a potential therapy in treatment of tendon acute injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the composition of volatile components of two species,A. setaceaandA. vermicularis, under the temperate climatic conditions (north of Iran) and to investigate quantification of fatty acids in the oil extracted using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and to evaluate the antioxidant potential and the phytochemical profile in terms of phenolic acids and flavonoids content of the oils obtained from the plants. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the essential oils showed that the major compounds ofA. setaceawere nerolidol (20%) and α-cubebene (14%), while inA. vermiculariswere camphor (15%) and borneol (13%). Oil analysis revealed that the major components were palmitic and myristic acids. Chromatographic separation of their phenolic compounds (high-performance liquid chromatography) demonstrated that sinapic, gallic, caffeic, vanillic, syringic, and ferulic acids were present in the two oils of the plants, but in different amounts. These results confirmedA. setaceaandA. vermicularisas important sources of bioactive metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]