A histological examination of the effects of Ferula elaeochytris extract on kidney and liver tissues in myoglobinuric acute renal failure.

Myoglobinuric acute renal failure (MARF) is a structural and functional disorder that occurs in the kidney following the release of muscle cell contents into the circulation. In this present study, possible protective and curative effects of Ferula elaeochytris extract against kidney and liver damage in experimentally induced MARF in a rat model were investigated. 3-4 Month-old, 200-250 g Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 8 equal groups with 7 rats per group. Group I was a no-intervention Control group. All groups except for the Group I were dehydrated for 16 hours. Following this dehydration, 50% v/v aqueous glycerol solution was injected into both hind leg muscles of the animals, at a dose of 8 ml/kg. The rats were given physiological saline (SF) once orally before the model was administered (Group II) and after the model was administered (Group V). Similarly, two different doses of Ferula elaeochytris root extract (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) were dissolved in 2 ml of SF and administered orally before (Groups III and IV) and after (Group VI, VII) the model was created. Following the experimental period, kidney and liver tissues were removed from all groups, and fixed in 10% neutral formaldehyde solution for light microscopic examinations. Intracellular vacuolization, enlargement in the Bowman's space, widespread atrophy in the tubular structures, luminal enlargement, and desquamation were detected in the kidney tissue sections of all the experimental model groups. In the liver tissue sections, was detected hepatocyte degeneration, intracellular vacuolization, irregularity in cell membrane borders, and apoptotic bodies. These histopathological consequences of MARF were evaluated for all groups, and whereas a curative effect of Ferula elaeochytris could be seen, its protective effect was higher than its curative effect.

Investigation of the effect of COVID-19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single-stranded RNA virus that causes many diseases such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. Although it has been shown that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which has a high affinity for the SARS-CoV-2 is mostly expressed in the lungs, it is also expressed especially in the cells of the testicular tissue. Although there are studies showing the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on spermatogenesis, the effects of COVID-19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in sperm quality in men who had recovered and never had COVID-19, therefore semen samples were analyzed from all individuals in the patient and control groups aged 20-50 years who agreed to participate in the study and voluntary in SBU Ministry of Health Adana City Training and Research Hospital. (Toros University Ethics Committee Decision Number: 1433, Date: April 15, 2021) (Adana Provincial Health Directorate Ethics Commission Decision dated May 27, 2021/5). Two groups were selected (100 men had and recovered from COVID-19, and 100 men never had COVID-19) spermiograms from both groups were analyzed in accordance with the World Health Organization standards. The sperm concentration of the COVID-19 negative group was significantly higher than those in the COVID-19 positive group. No statistically significant difference was detected between the groups for sperm motility and morphology. It was observed that men with COVID-19 had decreased sperm concentrations suggesting that COVID-19 may have a negative effect on male fertility. However, in the long term, more comprehensive studies with a large sample size are needed to understand better the changes in sperm concentration.

Antibody response three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic became the greatest public health challenge globally. In our study, it was aimed to determine the antibody levels in the third month after the COVID-19 infection and the symptoms that continued until the third month from the onset of the infection. One hundred people who applied to Tarsus State Hospital with the suspicion of COVID-19 and were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were included. We collected serum samples from individuals, who were 3 months postinfection, and tested them in anti-SARS-CoV-2 Quanti-Vac ELISA IgG kit coated with recombinant S1 antigen for testing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Antibody levels were found to be higher in those aged ≥55 years, nonsmokers, those with comorbidities, and those who were hospitalized. The four most common symptoms that individuals initially encounter; are weakness, muscle and joint pain, loss of taste and smell, and cough. In 3 months after COVID-19 infection, the most common four symptoms are; muscle and joint pain, insomnia, fatigue, and other problems were determined. In conclusion; more research is needed to determine threshold levels of serum antibodies that could prevent reinfection of SARS-CoV-2.

Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in human normal endometrium and endometriotic tissues.

Endometriosis is a gynocological disease characterized by the presence of the endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. This disease affects % 6-10 of women with reproductive age and it causes serious problems such as pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and infertility. Although endometriosis is one of the most investigated disease of gynecology, its pathogenesis is not clear completely. In recent years, many studies revealed the inflammatory nature of endometriosis. Many of the immune cells and their secretory products cytokines and chemokines has been detected in body fluids of women with endometriosis. Cytokines are protein or glycoprotein in structures and hormon-like molecules that act generally in a paracrine fashion to regulate immun responses. They involved in chemotaxis, cell proliferation, cell activation, motility, adhesion and morphogenesis. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine secreted by the macrophages, monocytes, neutrophiles, T cells and natural killer cells. It stimulates increase in the level of the chemokines in body fluids. Monocyte chemotactic protein 2 (MCP-2) is a chemokine act to recruit and activate monocytes into sites of inflammation area. The aim of this study to investigate the ultrastructural properties and whether the expression and localization of TNF-α and MCP-2 in the eutopic endometrium (normal endometrium of women with endometriosis) and endometritic tissues of women with endometriosis. Eutopic endometrial and endometriotic tissue samples were obtained from women with endometriosis between 20-41 y and normal endometrial tissues were collected from 5 women without endometriosis as a control group. Tissues were processed for light and electron microscopy and examined. The epithelial cells of endometriotic tissues were revealed strongly cytoplasmic TNF-α and MCP-2 immunreactivities. Eutopic endometrial tissues were also stained prominently for both TNF-α and MCP-2. Furthermore, a significant increase in stromal macrophages were observed in endometriotic tissues. Moreover, the ultrastructural observations on the normal and endometriotic tissues were exhibited microvilli-rich cells and ciliated cells. These findings suggest that TNF-α and MCP-2 may be involved in normal endometrial biology and in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.