Effect of serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels on the superovulation response in Holstein heifers.

BACKGROUND: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) holds potential as a biomarker for assessing the superovulation (SO) response in cattle. Nonetheless, there exists scant information regarding this aspect in the literature concerning dairy heifers. Given this gap, our objective is to explore the viability of AMH as an indicator for gauging the SO response specifically in Holstein heifers. Furthermore, our aim encompasses examining the variations in AMH levels within the same individuals before and after undergoing SO. METHODS: The study included 41 Holstein heifers. All heifers were superovulated and blood samples were taken both before and after the SO protocol. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the mean values of serum AMH concentrations before and after SO were 0.122 ng/mL (0.093-0.248 ng/mL) and 0.119 ng/mL (0.084-0.170 ng/mL), respectively. AMH concentrations in heifers were stratified into low (<0.106 ng/mL), medium (0.107-0.126 ng/mL) and high (>0.127 ng/mL) categories both before and after SO. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant correlation between AMH levels in the heifers both before and after SO treatment with the number of follicles, corpora lutea, total embryos collected or embryos transferred (p > 0.05). Furthermore, this study showed that serum AMH concentrations in Holstein heifers did not change after SO treatment. In this study, as AMH levels in Holstein heifers were in a narrow range, a relationship between AMH and SO response could not be determined. In future studies, we believe that it would be more useful to plan more studies in Holstein donor heifers, taking into account the number of animals and AMH levels.

The Influence of Ventilation Measures on the Airborne Risk of Infection in Schools: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVES: To review the risk of airborne infections in schools and evaluate the effect of intervention measures reported in field studies. BACKGROUND: Schools are part of a country's critical infrastructure. Good infection prevention measures are essential for reducing the risk of infection in schools as much as possible, since these are places where many individuals spend a great deal of time together every weekday in a small area where airborne pathogens can spread quickly. Appropriate ventilation can reduce the indoor concentration of airborne pathogens and reduce the risk of infection. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in the databases Embase, MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect using keywords such as school, classroom, ventilation, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, SARS-CoV-2, and airborne transmission. The primary endpoint of the studies selected was the risk of airborne infection or CO2 concentration as a surrogate parameter. Studies were grouped according to the study type. RESULTS: We identified 30 studies that met the inclusion criteria, six of them intervention studies. When specific ventilation strategies were lacking in schools being investigated, CO2 concentrations were often above the recommended maximum values. Improving ventilation lowered the CO2 concentration, resulting in a lower risk of airborne infections. CONCLUSIONS: The ventilation in many schools is not adequate to guarantee good indoor air quality. Ventilation is an important measure for reducing the risk of airborne infections in schools. The most important effect is to reduce the time of residence of pathogens in the classrooms.

Investigation of Neospora caninum Seroprevalence and Association with Reproductive Problems in Cows in Burdur Province of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: An apicomplexan protozoon Neospora caninum, causative agent of neosporosis, is recognized as one of the most common and important cause of sporadic and endemic bovine abortion and reduced reproductivity in dairy and beef cattle worldwide. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between N. caninum seroprevalence and infertility problems in 400 cows in Burdur, city, Turkey. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from vena jugularis into sterile serum tubes from 49 aborted, 58 infertil, 48 pregnant and 245 healthy cows for the findings of reproductive anamnesis during a period of March 2010 to March 2011. Sera samples were analyzed by competitive ELISA kit. RESULTS: The seroprevalences were 7.7%, 6.4% and 4.2% in 2-4, ≤2 and ≥4 age groups respectively and no statistically significance observed between age groups. Seropositivity rates were 5.7%, 5.1%, 4.5%, 3.6% in Holstein, Montofon, cross-breeds and Simental breeds respectively. Seroprevalence differences was not statistically significant among cattle breeds. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in rates of 16.3%, 6.9%, 6.3%, 2.4% in aborted, infertile, pregnant and healthy cows respectively and there was a significant difference (P<0.01) between aborted and healthy animals. Seroprevalences were Yesilova 10%, Gölhisar and Aglasun 8%, Bucak, Çavdir and Kemer 4%, Karamanli and Burdur Centrum 2%, according to districts. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of N. caninum was revealed in Burdur region. It was emphasized that N. caninum infection should not be ignored in reproductive problems, especially in abortion cases.

Effects of structured home-based exercise program on depression status and quality of life in burn patients.

BACKGROUND: Burns can cause life-threatening injuries and severe limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the structured home-based exercise program on depression status and quality of life in burn patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in the Wound and Burn Treatment Department of University of Health Sciences, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul. Thirty burn patients voluntarily participated in this study. Patients' demographic data such as burn area and grade, percentage, type, number of grafts, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. The quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and depression status was evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The home-based exercise program was defined by the clinical physiotherapist on the day when the patient was discharged. The home-based exercise program was applied for 3 weeks. Evaluations were performed at discharge and repeated after 3 weeks at the end of the exercise program. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients who completed the study (age range, 21-61 years; mean, 34.9±12.99 years), 96.7% (n=29) were male and 3.3% (n=1) were female. A statistically significant difference was observed between BDI and SF-36 scores before and after the home-based exercise program (p<0.05). BDI scores decreased after the home-based exercise program, whereas SF-36 scores increased. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that burn patients who underwent the structured home-based exercise programs attained acceleration of their physical, social, and psychological integrity. Thus, establishing a structured home-based exercise program according to the burn type and clinical course should be continued.

Effect of flunixin meglumine or prostaglandin E2 treatment 15 days after breeding on fertility in Saanen does.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of timely injections of flunixin meglumine (FM) or vaginal application of prostaglandin E2 (PgE2) on pregnancy, fertility, fecundity, and prolificacy rates in Saanen goats. One hundred and sixty-three nonlactating Saanen does were treated with a flugestone acetate (20 mg)-containing intravaginal sponge for 12 days. They also received eCG (400 IU) and a PGF2α analogue (50 µg) 10 days after progestagen priming. Does detected in estrus were mated and assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups. The PgE2 group (N = 40) received PgE2 (2.5 mg) intravaginally 15 days after mating. The FM group (N = 54) received flunixin meglumine (total dose, 100 mg) intramuscularly 15 days after mating. Flunixin meglumine was administered at 9:00 AM. Animals in the control group (N = 69) received no treatment. Pregnancy was diagnosed using transrectal ultrasonography (B-mode at 8 MHz) 30 days after mating. The pregnancy rate was significantly greater (P < 0.01) after 30 days in goats treated with PgE2 and also in the control group than in those treated with FM (67.5%, 59.4%, and 42.5%, respectively). The pregnancy rate did not differ between the PgE2 and the control group. The pregnancy and fertility rate were lowest in the FM group compared with the other groups. There was no significant difference in the prolificacy rate among experimental groups. In conclusion, our results showed that FM administration during a late luteal phase is detrimental to early pregnancy in goats.

Intravaginal application of misoprostol improves pregnancy termination with cabergoline and alfaprostol in dogs.

The goal of this study was to compare three different medications for the induction of abortion in bitches between day 22 and 40 after mismating, to reduce the dosage and frequency of PGF2alpha applications and to investigate the effects of additional intravaginal applications of misoprostol, a PGE1 analog. For this purpose, 22 bitches of different breeds were assigned to three groups: group 1 (n = 6) received cabergoline (Galastop, 10 microg/kg daily, po) until abortion was complete (first application = day 0) and one administration of alfaprostol (Gabbrostim, 10 microg/kg at day 3, s. c.); group 2 (n = 9) was administered cabergoline (10 microg/kg daily, po) and alfaprostol (10 microg/kg at days 0 and 3, s. c.); and group 3 (n = 7) received the same combination as group 2 in addition to misoprostol (Cytotec, 400 microg for bitches with < or = 20 kg bw, 600 microg for bitches with > 20 kg bw, every other day, intravaginally). Abortion occurred in 83.3%, 77.7% and 100% of cases in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p > 0.05). Cervical dilatation time was shortest in group 3 (3.1 +/- 0.9 days vs. group 1:5.4 +/- 2.8 and group 2: 5.5 +/- 2.5; p < 0.05). Minor side effects like transient anorexia, weakness, mild vomiting and diarrhea or low grade hair loss were found in 30.3%, 54.3% and 54.0% of cases in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. We conclude that a combination of oral cabergoline (10 microg/kg) and alfaprostol (10 microg/kg) is an effective method for inducing termination of pregnancy in bitches. However, a combination of oral cabergoline (10 microg/kg), alfaprostol (10 microg/kg) and administration of additional intravaginal misoprostol may be even more effective.

Distribution of eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells in the reproductive tract of female goats in the preimplantation phase.

Changes in eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells post-insemination may affect conceptus implantation, but information regarding the numbers of such cells in the mammalian reproductive tract is limited. This study investigated the preimplantation distribution of eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells (MCs) in the reproductive tract organs of female goats. Uterus, uterine cervix and uterine tubes samples were obtained at slaughter. Cornu uteri were washed in phosphate buffer solution (each animal contained at least one embryo). Tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formol, Carnoy solution and Mota's fixative (basic lead acetate) for 48 h and embedded in paraffin. Six-micrometre-thick sections were stained with Congo red (for eosinophil granulocytes) and toluidine blue in 1% aqueous solution at pH 1.0 for 5 min (for MCs). In the uterus, MCs occurred in highest numbers in the myometrium. Higher MC numbers were observed in uterus, uterine and uterine tubes in the preimplantation (experimental) group (cycle synchronised through 7 days intravaginal sponge with 0.3 g P(4)) compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Eosinophil granulocyte numbers were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicate preimplantation-related changes in numbers of eosinophil granulocytes and MCs in goat reproductive tract organs.

Effects of eCG and FSH on ovarian response, recovery rate and number and quality of oocytes obtained by ovum pick-up in Holstein cows.

The goal of the present study was to compare the ovarian response, oocyte yields per animal, and the morphological quality of oocytes collected by ultrasound guided follicular aspiration from Holstein cows treated either with FSH or eCG. Twenty four normal cyclic, German Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups. Fourteen cows received 3000 IU eCG on day-4 prior to ovum pick-up (OPU) (day 0), 2 days later (day-2), 625 microg cloprostenol was administered. On day-1 GnRH was administered i.m. and 24h later OPU (day 0) was performed. In ten cows a total dose of 500 IU follicle stimulating hormone (Pluset) was administered intramuscularly in a constant dosage for 4 days with intervals of 12h, starting on day-5. Luteolysis was induced by application of 625 microg cloprostenol on day-2. On day-1 (24h after the last FSH treatment) GnRH was administered i.m. and 24h later OPU (day 0) was performed. Ovarian follicles were visualized on the ultrasound monitor, counted and recorded. All visible antral follicles were punctured. Recovered oocytes were graded morphologically based on the cumulus investment. Average follicle number in ovaries was higher in FSH group than eCG group (p<0.05). Oocyte yields per animal did not differ between FSH and eCG groups. The proportion of grade A oocytes was higher in the FSH group in the than eCG group (p<0.05). Likewise, rate of grade C oocytes in FSH group were lower than eCG group (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that ovarian response, follicle number in ovaries and oocyte quality are affected by the type of gonadotropin and FSH is better alternative than eCG for OPU treatment.

Cryopreservation of immature bovine oocytes by vitrification in straws.

The aim of this study was to cryopreserve by vitrification by ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) immature bovine oocytes in straws and to investigate the effects of vitrification on post-thaw oocyte maturation. A total of 575 cumulus oocyte complexes were obtained by follicle aspiration from 238 ovaries of cows slaughtered at a local abattoir. Following selection, oocytes with compacted cumulus cells and evenly granulated ooplasm were vitrified using one of the three different solutions with a non-vitrified group served as control. The first step vitrification solution contained 20% EG while the second step solution contained 40% EG+1M sucrose in a basic media used in group EG. Oocytes were matured in N-2-hidroxyethyl piperazine-N-2-ethanosulfonic acid (HEPES) buffered tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 for 24h at 39 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Oocytes were fixed following evaluation for polar body formation, stained with Giemsa solution and nuclear maturation was examined. The numbers of oocytes which were observed at Metaphase II (MII) stage were 41 (34.1%), 17 (14.9%), 29 (20.7%) and 78 (79.6%) in groups EG, DMSO, Mix and Control, respectively. Maturation rate distribution in group Mix was not statistically different when compared to maturation rate distributions in groups EG and DMSO (p>0.05). Differences between other groups were significant (p<0.001). However, better results were obtained in EG group compared to DMSO and mix groups. Maturation rates were lower in all treatment groups than the control group. The lowest maturation result was obtained in DMSO group. Maturation rate in group Mix was between maturation rates of EG and DMSO groups. Immature bovine oocytes can be vitrified in straws, but maturation success differs with the cryoprotectant and it seems that to obtain better maturation rates, new cryopreservation techniques specific for immature bovine oocytes are needed.