Quantitative tracing the sources and human risk assessment of complex soil pollution in an industrial park.

Pollution in industrial parks has long been characterized by complex pollution sources and difficulties in identifying pollutant origins. This study focuses on a typical industrial park consisting of 11 factories (F1-F11) including organic pigment, inorganic pigment, and chemical factories in Hunan Province, China, here, a total of 327 sample points were surveyed. Eight pollutants (Mn, Cd, As, Co, NH3-N, l, 1,2-Trichloroethane, chlorobenzene, and petroleum hydrocarbons) were classified as contaminants of concern (COCs). This study assessed the contributions of driving factors to the distribution of COCs in the soil. Pollutant source apportionment was conducted using positive matrix factorization (PMF) and random forest (RF). The results revealed that the main factors driving pollution are groundwater migration, non-compliant emissions, leaks during production, and interactions among pollutants. The primary pollution sources were four chemical factories and an inorganic pigment factory. Source 5 demonstrates significant correlations with TCA (29.6%), CB (30%), and As (31.6%). Two chemical factories (F7 and F10) are the most significant pollution source with a risk assessment contribution rate of more than 60%. The present study sheds some light on the contamination characteristics, source apportionment and source-health risk assessment of COCs in industrial park. By utilizing the proposed research framework, decision-makers can effectively prioritize and address identified pollution sources.

Preovulatory follicular fluid secretome added to in vitro maturation medium influences the metabolism of equine cumulus-oocyte complexes.

BACKGROUND: In vitro embryo production is a highly demanded reproductive technology in horses, which requires the recovery (in vivo or post-mortem) and in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes. Oocytes subjected to IVM exhibit poor developmental competence compared to their in vivo counterparts, being this related to a suboptimal composition of commercial maturation media. The objective of this work was to study the effect of different concentrations of secretome obtained from equine preovulatory follicular fluid (FF) on cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) during IVM. COCs retrieved in vivo by ovum pick up (OPU) or post-mortem from a slaughterhouse (SLA) were subjected to IVM in the presence or absence of secretome (Control: 0 µg/ml, S20: 20 µg/ml or S40: 40 µg/ml). After IVM, the metabolome of the medium used for oocyte maturation prior (Pre-IVM) and after IVM (Post-IVM), COCs mRNA expression, and oocyte meiotic competence were analysed. RESULTS: IVM leads to lactic acid production and an acetic acid consumption in COCs obtained from OPU and SLA. However, glucose consumption after IVM was higher in COCs from OPU when S40 was added (Control Pre-IVM vs. S40 Post-IVM: 117.24 ± 7.72 vs. 82.69 ± 4.24; Mean µM ± SEM; p < 0.05), while this was not observed in COCs from SLA. Likewise, secretome enhanced uptake of threonine (Control Pre-IVM vs. S20 Post-IVM vs. S40 Post-IVM: 4.93 ± 0.33 vs. 3.04 ± 0.25 vs. 2.84 ± 0.27; Mean µM ± SEM; p < 0.05) in COCs recovered by OPU. Regarding the relative mRNA expression of candidate genes related to metabolism, Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) expression was significantly downregulated when secretome was added during IVM at 20-40 µg/ml in OPU-derived COCs (Control vs. S20 vs. S40: 1.77 ± 0.14 vs. 1 ± 0.25 vs. 1.23 ± 0.14; fold change ± SEM; p < 0.05), but not in SLA COCs. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of secretome during in vitro maturation (IVM) affects the gene expression of LDHA, glucose metabolism, and amino acid turnover in equine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), with diverging outcomes observed between COCs retrieved using ovum pick up (OPU) and slaughterhouse-derived COCs (SLA).

Health benefits of combined oral contraceptives - a narrative review.

PURPOSE: This review presents an update of the non-contraceptive health benefits of the combined oral contraceptive pill. METHODS: We conducted a literature search for (review) articles that discussed the health benefits of combined oral contraceptives (COCs), in the period from 1980 to 2023. RESULTS: We identified 21 subjective and/or objective health benefits of COCs related to (i) the reproductive tract, (ii) non-gynaecological benign disorders and (iii) malignancies. Reproductive tract benefits are related to menstrual bleeding(including anaemia and toxic shock syndrome), dysmenorrhoea, migraine, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), ovarian cysts, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), androgen related symptoms, ectopic pregnancy, hypoestrogenism, endometriosis and adenomyosis, uterine fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Non-gynaecological benefits are related to benign breast disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma and porphyria. Health benefits of COCs related to cancer are lower risks of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The use of combined oral contraceptives is accompanied with a range of health benefits, to be balanced against its side-effects and risks. Several health benefits of COCs are a reason for non-contraceptive COC prescription.

Antifreeze protein type I in the vitrification solution improves the cryopreservation of immature cat oocytes.

Oocyte cryopreservation is not yet considered a reliable technique since it can reduce the quality and survival of oocytes in several species. This study determined the effect of different concentrations of antifreeze protein I (AFP I) on the vitrification solution of immature cat oocytes. For this, oocytes were randomly distributed in three groups and vitrified with 0 µg/mL (G0, 0 µM); 0.5 µg/mL (G0.5, 0.15 µM), or 1 µg/mL (G1, 0.3 µM) of AFP I. After thawing, oocytes were evaluated for morphological quality, and compared to a fresh group (FG) regarding actin integrity, mitochondrial activity and mass, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels, nuclear maturation, expression of GDF9, BMP15, ZAR-1, PRDX1, SIRT1, and SIRT3 genes (normalized by ACTB and YWHAZ genes), and ultrastructure. G0.5 and G1 presented a higher proportion of COCs graded as I and while G0 had a significantly lower quality. G1 had a higher percentage of intact actin in COCs than G0 and G0.5 (P < 0.05). There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the mitochondrial activity between FG and G1 and they were both higher (P < 0.05) than G0 and G0.5. G1 had a significantly lower (P < 0.05) mitochondrial mass than FG and G0, and there was no difference among FG, G0, and G0.5. G1 had higher ROS than all groups (P < 0.05), and there was no difference in GSH levels among the vitrified groups (P > 0.05). For nuclear maturation, there was no difference between G1 and G0.5 (P > 0.05), but these were both higher (P < 0.05) than G0 and lower (P < 0.05) compared to FG. Regarding gene expression, in G0 and G0.5, most genes were downregulated compared to FG, except for SIRT1 and SIRT3 in G0 and SIRT3 in G0.5. In addition, G1 kept the expression more similar to FG. Regardless of concentration, AFP I supplementation in vitrification solution of immature cat oocytes improved maturation rates, morphological quality, and actin integrity and did not impact GSH levels. In the highest concentration tested (1 µg/mL), AFP maintained the mitochondrial activity, reduced mitochondrial mass, increased ROS levels, and had the gene expression more similar to FG. Altogether these data show that AFP supplementation during vitrification seems to mitigate some of the negative impact of cryopreservation improving the integrity and cryosurvival of cat oocytes.

In vitro production of meiotically competent oocytes from early antral follicles in sheep.

The potential of using long in vitro culture (LIVC) of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from early antral follicles (EAFs) as an assisted reproductive technology in cattle has shown promising results. This study explored the feasibility of applying this technology to sheep as seasonal breeding animals. Ovaries from sheep were collected during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons. COCs were isolated from EAFs (350-450 µm) and cultured in TCM199 medium supplemented with 0.15 µg/mL Zn sulfate, 10-4IU/mL FSH, 10 ng/mL estradiol, 50 ng/mL testosterone, 50 ng/mL progesterone, and 5 µM Cilostamide. After five days of LIVC, the COCs were submitted to an in vitro maturation procedure. The results indicate successful in vitro development of COCs, evidenced by a significant increase in oocyte diameter (p < 0.000) and the preservation of gap junction communication between oocyte and cumulus cells. The gradual uncoupling was accompanied by a progressive chromatin transition from the non-surrounded nucleolus (NSN) to the surrounded nucleolus (SN) (p < 0.000), coupled with a gradual decrease in global transcriptional activity and an increase in oocyte meiotic competence (p < 0.000). Maintenance of oocyte-cumulus investment architecture, viability, and metaphase II capability was significantly higher in COCs collected during the breeding season (p < 0.000), suggesting higher quality than those obtained during the non-breeding season. In conclusion, our study confirms LIVC feasibility in sheep, emphasizing increased effectiveness during the breeding season in isolating higher-quality COCs from EAFs. These findings can influence improving the LIVC system in mammals with seasonal reproduction.

Técnica de fatiamento do ovário para obtenção de oócitos em cutias (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) / Ovarian slicing technique to obtain oocytes from agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha)

As biotécnicas da reprodução são importantes ferramentas para conservação de espécies domésticas e silvestres, pois permitem a recuperação e uso futuro de material reprodutivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar parâmetros morfológicos de CCOs de cutias, obtidos pela técnica de fatiamento do ovário para utilização em protocolos de maturação e fecundação na produção in vitro de embriões. Foram utilizadas dezessete cutias fêmeas do NEPAS, CCA- UFPI, com idade e peso médios de 3,9 anos e 2,16Kg, respectivamente, que foram submetidas à ovariossalpingohisterectomia. Os ovários após dissecados e pesados em balança de precisão, foram fatiados individualmente. Procedeu-se a busca e seleção dos CCOs em estereomicroscópio, os quais foram identificados e quantificados por cada ovário, além de classificados quanto a sua morfologia segundo a quantidade de camadas de células do cumulus e ao citoplasma em quatro graus. Verificou-se que a técnica de fatiamento do ovário possibilitou a obtenção de CCOs de cutias, com recuperação de grande quantidade e de variados graus de qualidade. Não houve correlações entre a idade dos animais e o peso dos ovários; a idade e o número de CCOs obtidos; entre o peso das cutias e o peso dos ovários e o número de CCOs obtidos.

The reproductive biotechnologies are important tools for conservation of domestic and wild animal species, because they allow the recovery and future use of reproductive material. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological parameters of COCs of agoutis obtained by slicing the ovary for using them in maturation and fertilization protocols in vitro production of embryos. Seventeen female agoutis NEPAS, CCA-UFPI, age and weight average of 3.9 years and 2.16 kg, respectively, were underwent ovariossalpingohisterectomy. The ovaries after dissected and weighed on a precision balance were sliced individually. We proceeded the search and selection of COCs in stereomicroscope, which were identified and quantified by each ovary, and classified as to their morphology, by the quantity of layers of cumulus cells and the cytoplasm into four degrees. It has been found that the technique of slicing ovarian possible to obtain agouti COCs with recovery of loads and varying degrees of quality. There was no correlation between age and weight of animal ovaries, age and the number of COCs obtained; between the weight of agoutis and weight of ovaries and the number of COCs obtained.