Comparative evaluation of platelet-rich plasma, autologous blood serum, and umbilical cord serum for corneal healing after penetrating keratoplasty in New Zealand rabbits.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous blood serum (ABS), and umbilical cord serum (UCS) on corneal healing following penetrating keratoplasty (PK). A total of 120 New Zealand white rabbits, forty were designated as donors, while the remaining eighty rabbits were randomly divided into four groups after undergoing PRP Group (n = 20), ABS Group (n = 20), UCS Group (n = 20) and Control Group (n = 20). Corneal opacity score, corneal vascularization, corneal staining, histopathological analysis, and immunohistochemical analysis (including CD4+, CD8+, and major histocompatibility complex [MHC] II) were assessed at postoperative 1, 2, 3, and 12 weeks. The results showed that corneal opacity score and corneal vascularization did not differ significantly among the groups. However, corneal staining was found to be statistically higher in the PRP group (0.40 ± 0.60) compared to the other groups (p = 0.011). Immunohistochemical examination revealed no significant differences in CD4+, CD8+, and MHC II levels among the groups. Notably, in all groups, CD4+, CD8+, and MHC II levels were significantly higher at 12 weeks compared to other time points. PRP, ABS, and UCS demonstrated positive effects on corneal healing after PK. However, among the three products, PRP exhibited a superior healing effect compared to ABS and UCS crucial in the postoperative period following PK procedures, as they significantly impact visual quality, graft transparency, graft survival, and prevention of stromal resorption caused by infections. Despite the avascular nature of the cornea and its immune privilege, failure to resolve epithelial defects (ED) commonly observed after PK can result in irreversible scarring and ulceration, leading to graft rejection. While epithelial defects are observed in 14-100% of cases on the first postoperative day, approximately 3-7% of them persist as non-healing ED in subsequent periods. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that PRP, ABS, and UCS have a positive effect on corneal healing after PK.

Effects of fish oil on methotrexate-induced reproductive damage in rats.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid antagonist that is commonly used in paediatric and adult oncology to treat a variety of malignancies. Internal organs, including the testis, are severely cytotoxic and genotoxic to MTX. Omega-3, as an antioxidant, has been shown to protect rat testis tissue from injury. The effect of fish oil (FO) on MTX-induced reproductive damage in rats was investigated in this work. The 28 animals were divided into four groups for this purpose (control, FO, MTX, and MTX-FO). On the third day, the MTX group received a single intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg MTX. Furthermore, in the FO and MTX-FO groups, FO was delivered through gavage once daily for 14 days. All animals euthanized under general anaesthesia on the 15th day. TBARS, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase levels were measured biochemically. The Cosentino grading system was utilized for histology. Germ cell thickness and caspase-3 activity were also evaluated. In addition, sperm motility rate, epididymal sperm count, aberrant sperm rate, and sperm vitality were measured to assess sperm quality. Some TBARS levels have increased, but GSH levels decreased significantly in the MTX group. FO reduced TBARS levels while considerably increasing GSH levels. All sperm quality measures were significantly lowered in the MTX group, while FO had a recovery effect. There were no notable variations in histopathology across groups except for germ cell thickness, which reduced considerably in the MTX group and recovered with FO treatment. As a result, FO has been shown to reduce testicular toxicity following MTX treatment in rats.

Protective role of the dried white mulberry extract on the reproductive damage and fertility in rats treated with carmustine.

The present study investigated the protective effect of dried white Mulberry extract (DWME) against carmustine (Crm) induced biochemical alterations and spermatological, histopathological, and fertility damage in Wistar albino rats. Male rats were divided into four groups (control, Crm, Crm + DWME, and DWME group). It was found that Crm decreased the motility. Crm decreased the concentration (not different from control group) compared to DWME groups. Total blood MDA levels were reduced during the recovery period. Also, the recovery period reduced the MDA levels in the Crm group/testicular tissue. The GSH levels in the Crm + DWME group were the highest among all groups in the testicular tissue/experiment period. In the immunohistochemical evaluation of the testicular tissue, a high level of caspase-3 was observed in the cells that underwent meiosis in the Crm group. The most pronounced DNA damage was also detected in the Crm group. The Crm + DWME group showed the highest number of offspring born during recovery period. In conclusion, dried white mulberry extract protects against the spermatological damages caused by carmustine. Moreover, recovery period played a positive effect on spermatological parameters and fertility.

Investigation of brain mast cells in ovine encephalitic listeriosis.

Mast cells in the brain are associated with increased inflammation during the acute period following exposure to infection; these cells are important for destroying the infectious agents. We investigated the relation between histopathological lesions and mast cells in sheep brains infected with Listeria. Pons and medulla regions from 17 infected and eight normal sheep brains were examined. Microabscesses and perivascular infiltration were assessed for histopathology. Mast cells were identified using toluidine blue and Listeria monocytogenes were investigated immunohistochemically. We found a significant increase in mast cells in infected sheep brains that was related directly to the extent of brain lesions. A strong correlation was found between mast cells and microabscess formation. A correlation between bacteria level and brain lesions also was observed, but not between bacteria level and mast cells. Our findings indicate that mast cells are increased following Listeria infection in sheep in proportion to the severity of brain lesions; the increase may contribute to acute inflammatory reactions and also may destroy bacteria directly.

ISOLATION OF STREPTOCOCCI FROM A FATAL CASE OF MYOCARDITIS IN A CAPTIVE BROWN BEAR (URSUS ARCTOS).

A 10-yr-old, male brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) from Bursa Zoo in Turkey died without any apparent signs. Severe purulent pericarditis and myocarditis with mild ascites, lung edema, and moderate liver congestion were observed during necropsy. Microscopically, there were severe neutrophilic infiltrations in the myocardium and thoracic lymph nodes. A member of the Streptococcus bovis - Streptococcus equinus complex (SBSEC) was isolated and identified phenotypically.

Meningoencephalitis caused by pathogenic Sarcocystis species in a naturally infected sheep in Turkey.

A 3-year-old sheep was examined after an acute onset of hind limb paralysis and ataxia. At necropsy, central nervous system, pulmonary and intestinal hyperaemia and ecchymoses in the aortic arch were observed. Main microscopic lesions were confined to the heart, cerebrum and cerebellum. There were a multifocal mild myocarditis and nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis together with protozoal cysts in the heart and the brain. Protozoal cystic structures were observed within many of the myocardial fibers as well as in the cerebrum and cerebellum. Using light microscopy it could not be morphologically determined whether these organisms were Toxoplasma (T.) gondii or Neospora (N.) caninum. Additional diagnostic methods like immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction provided differentiation of Sarcocystis from T. gondii and N. caninum. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated characteristic features of Sarcocystis sp. as previously described. This is the first confirmed diagnosis of Sarcocystis sp. in the central nervous system of a sheep from Turkey.

Parasitologic and pathologic observations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus).

This study describes the parasites and related pathologic observations in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). In total, 48 birds were examined and 41 sparrows were found to be infected with one or more endoparasites (85.4%). The most common parasites were liver trematodes identified as Brachydistomum microscelis and Brachydistomum gracupicae. In addition, coccidia and a cestode (Infula spp.) were observed. In one bird, one female Tetrameres sp. and one female Microtetrameres sp. were found in the proventriculus. No blood parasite was found after examination of the blood smears. No gross pathologic lesion was seen in the organs except for the proventriculus, gut, and liver. At histologic examination small necrotic areas and inflammatory reactions were seen in the liver and the gastrointestinal system related to the parasites. Incidentally, anthracosis was diagnosed in 23 and mild pneumonia in 12 of the lungs.