Salivary flow rate, pH, and buffer capacity in the individuals with obesity and overweight; A meta-analysis.

Background: Weight in individuals can affect the saliva structure, which has an essential role in caries prevention. Aim: This meta-analysis aimed to compare individuals with obesity (OB)/overweight (OW) and normal weight (NW) in terms of salivary flow rate (SFR), salivary pH (SpH), salivary buffer capacity (SBC). Materials and Methods: After electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Open Grey databases) were screened, studies were selected depending on inclusion criteria. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias in individual studies. Mean differences (MD) were used to measure the effect estimates in the comparisons of OB vs NW, OW vs NW, and OB+OW vs NW. Additional analyzes such as subgroup, moderator, sensitivity, and grade were also performed. Results: 24 studies and 2072 participants (SFR: 748 OB, 896 NW, SpH: 137 OB, 166 NW, SBC: 62 OB, 63 NW) were included in the quantitative synthesis. Significantly lower SFR was found in the group with OB compared to NW when saliva was stimulated (MD = -0.21, 95% CI [-0.30, -0.12], P < 0.001), but no significance was obtained when saliva was unstimulated (MD = -0.02, 95% CI [-0.11, 0.06], P = 0.55). No significant difference was found in the group with OB compared to NW in SpH (MD = -0.07, 95% CI [-0.26,0.12], P = 0.48) and SBC (MD = -1.10, 95% CI [-2.29,0.09], P = 0.07). Conclusions: SFR significantly decreases in individuals with OB, notably when saliva is stimulated. Besides, the decrease in SFR is much more prominent in adolescence and adulthood than in childhood. Furthermore, the increase in the severity of OB causes a much greater decrease in SFR. However, regarding SpH and SBC, no significant association exists.

The ameliorative effects of Nigella sativa, thymoquinone, and bentonite against aflatoxicosis in broilers via AFAR and Nrf2 signalling pathways, and down-regulation of caspase-3.

1. Aflatoxins (AFs) are metabolites which especially have toxic effects on proteins, and are detoxified by the aflatoxin-B1 aldehyde reductase (AFAR) pathway. In this pathway, the aldo-keto reductase family 7, member A2 (AKR7A2) enzyme, which is controlled by nucleic-related erythroid factor 2 (Nrf2), plays an active role. However, data on the efficacy of this critical pathway in broilers is limited.2. The aim of the following study was to investigate the changes in the expression levels of AKR7A2, Nrf2, and caspase-3, and the effects of Nigella sativa seeds (NS), thymoquinone (TMQ), and bentonite (BNT) in broilers exposed to AFs.3. One-hundred broilers were divided into ten groups (control (CNT); AF; NS; TMQ; BNT; AF+TMQ; AF+NS; AF+BNT; AF+BNT+NS; AF+BNT+TMQ) and fed for 28 d. AF, TMQ, NS and BNT were added to diets at levels of 2 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 50 g/kg and 10 g/kg respectively.4. The addition of AF to the diet decreased AKR7A2 and Nrf2 levels dramatically, but increased caspase-3 (P < 0.01). TMQ, NS and BNT additions to the diet eliminated all negative effects caused by AF (P < 0.01); and AKR7A2 and Nrf2 were further raised in TMQ and NS groups when compared to the control group. TMQ and NS showed a positive effect on detoxification parameters when given together with BNT.5. Supplementation with NS and TMQ enhanced AF detoxification via the AFAR pathway, by increasing AKR7A2 and Nrf2 levels, in addition to reducing hepatocyte apoptosis.

Ultrasonographic examination of the scrotal content in the rabbit.

This study was performed to describe a practical technique for ultrasound examination of the scrotal content of the rabbit. The scrotal content of normal rabbits and those with induced lesions (i.e. needle biopsy of the testis and epididymal ligation) were viewed using a portable scanner connected to a 5 or 7.5 MHz real time, B-mode linear array transducer. The effect of frequency (5 and 7.5 MHz), pad material placed under the testicle (rubber, plastic and carton) and the presence of a water sack between the probe and organ were examined to optimize the technique. The best image quality was obtained using a 5-MHz probe when the testicle was fixed on a rubber pad and covered by a water sack. Testicular parenchyma was imaged as homogeneous and moderately echoic. Caput and cauda epididymis were identified as homogeneous and less echoic compared with the testis parenchyma. Variations in the testicular echotexture that occur secondarily to epididymal ligation and testis biopsy could be screened readily. In conclusion, real-time ultrasonography, performed as described in this study, may provide a valuable tool to screen scrotal contents and to identify certain pathological conditions that affect fertility in the rabbit.

Subacute oral toxicity of endosulfan in male new zealand white rabbits.

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted using 6 to 8 month old New Zealand white male rabbits (nine rabbits per treatment group). Daily gavages of 3, 1.5, 0.75, or 0 mg endosulfan/kg BW in corn oil resulted in the death of five (55%), three (33%), zero (0%), and zero (0%) rabbits, respectively, in 30 days. All rabbits were monitored for any observable toxic symptoms throughout the experimental period (30 d) and they also were weighed weekly to monitor body weight gain. All deaths occurred within the first 3 weeks and nervous symptoms were observed only for a few minutes before death. Alterations recorded in hematological parameters within the groups (hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and total erythrocyte count) were due to endosulfan exposure. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly elevated in the 3 mg/kg dose group. Gross post-mortem and histopathological changes in various organs (lung, liver, kidney, and testes) of rabbits treated with endosulfan were observed with typical organochlorine dose-dependent signs of toxicity. Although some animals appeared to adjust to relatively high daily doses of endosulfan for 30 days, biochemical and histological evidence indicated varied liver and kidney damage relative to dosage administered to these animals. The current subacute (30 day) study suggested a NOAEL of 0.75 mg endosulfan/kg in New Zealand white rabbits.

The use of fucosphere in the treatment of dermal burns in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to prepare a new microsphere (fucosphere) system based on polyion complexation of fucoidan with chitosan, and to evaluate its treatment efficiency on dermal burns. The physicochemical properties such as mean particle size and distribution, zeta potential and bioadhesive properties of the microspheres were investigated. The formulation which had the high surface charge, narrow size distribution and the highest bioadhesive property was selected and applied on seven male New Zealand white rabbits with dermal burns. Biopsy samples were taken on day 7, 14 and 21. Each burn site was evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically and the findings were compared with controls of fucoidan solution and chitosan microspheres. The microspheres between the size ranges of 367 and 1017 nm were obtained. The work of bioadhesion of microspheres, with the surface charges +6.1 to +26.3 mV, changed between 0.081 and 0.191 mJ cm(-2). Macroscopically and histopathological observations indicated that the fastest healing of the burns was obtained in group treated with fucosphere after 21 days of treatment (P<0.05). Rete peg formation values and nuclear organize regions (NORs) were higher with treated fucospheres than the other groups on day 14. In conclusion, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of fucospheres indicated that the new microsphere system shortened the treatment period of burns and provided fast and effective healing by improving regeneration and re-epithelization. Hence fucosphere may find application in the treatment of dermal burns.

Protective role of ascorbic acid on subacute sperm toxicity in male New Zealand white rabbits treated with endosulfan.

The ameliorating effect of oral ascorbic acid (AA) was evaluated against changes in sperm parameters in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits treated with endosulfan. Rabbits (6 to 8 months old) were divided into four groups of six animals each. Rabbits in TRT-I served as control and received corn oil by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Rabbits in TRT-II received endosulfan (1 mg/kg bw per day) in corn oil. TRT-III group received oral corn oil daily and ascorbic acid (AA; 20 mg/kg bw) every other day for 6 weeks. TRT-IV group received the same amounts of endosulfan and AA. Endosulfan alone significantly reduced the sperm count and motility and increased the presence of sperm with morphologic problems. AA treatment showed significant amelioration when coupled with endosulfan. Ameliorations were up to control levels in all cases except for sperm motility. The data suggested that AA has beneficial influences in neutralizing the toxic effects of endosulfan in the spermatologic parameters of NZW males.

Evaluation of pathological changes in broilers during chronic aflatoxin (50 and 100 ppb) and clinoptilolite exposure.

This study was conducted to evaluate the pathological changes in broilers fed a diet containing low-levels of aflatoxin (AF) and clinoptilolite (CLI) until 42 days of age. A total of 576 one-day-old Ross-308 type broiler chicks were treated with varying levels of AF and CLI (15 g kg(-1)). The gross and histopathological changes in the liver, kidneys, spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius were investigated and relative organ weights were calculated. Compared to controls, significant changes (P<0.05), such as slight to moderate hydropic degeneration and/or fatty change (8 cases of 10), bile-duct hyperplasia (7 of 10) and periportal fibrosis (5 of 10), were found in chicks fed 100 ppb AF-containing diet. No gross-pathological changes were observed in any treatments. The addition of CLI to the 100 ppb AF-containing diet significantly decreased the number of affected broilers and/or the severity of lesions (hydropic degeneration and bile-duct hyperplasia) in the livers (P<0.05). The addition of CLI to the AF-free diet did not produce any significant lesions compared with the controls.

The effect of Alkanna tinctoria Tausch on burn wound healing in rabbits.

Eighteen adult male New Zealand White rabbits were used in the treatment of partial thickness, severe and olive oil burns. Both right and left sides of the animals were burned to make partial thickness, severe and hot olive oil burn wounds. The solution of A. tinctoria TAUSCH in 16% prepared in medical olive oil in weight basis, were applied to the left, and right side served as control. It was topically applied twice a day by gently rubbing against the burn area. While complete healing of partial thickness and olive oil burn wounds occurred in 7 to 10, and 26 days, respectively, with well formed dermal-epidermal junctions in both groups, severely burned wounds appeared to be nonresponsive to A. tinctoria.

Overcoming the challenges of nursing in Turkey.

The effectiveness of nursing interventions must be evaluated and nursing practice supported by research findings. Nurses in many countries, however, are confronted not only by the challenge of conducting research, but also by the challenge of providing nursing care. This article reviews the importance of planned preoperative respiratory exercises and describes how Turkish nurses were able to conduct a study designed to explore the effectiveness of this nursing intervention by capitalizing on a study being done by physicians. Although nursing research has the potential to improve patient care, such an outcome depends on implementing findings, which in a clinical setting hinges on adequate staffing.

[Ascorbic acid concentrations in ruminal fluid and in blood of cattle and sheep]. / Askorbinsäurekonzentrationen im Pansensaft und im Blut von Kälbern und Schafen.

Plasma and ruminal fluid ascorbic acid levels were determined in Holstein calves aged four months and in ruminal fluid of merino rams aged 2,5 years under in vitro conditions. Ascorbic acid values decreased in plasma until 6th month. The highest Ascorbic acid value in ruminal fluid was found in 5th month. Under in vitro conditions shown ascorbic acid concentrations in ruminal fluid with time upward tendency. For analysis of ascorbic acid concentrations the acid phosphotungstate method were used for each samples.