Testicular morphology and antispermatogenic effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in male West African Dwarf (WAD) goats

This study investigated the testicular morphology as well as the gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm reserves of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats exposed to graded levels of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Twenty male WAD goats of five goats per group were used for this study. Goats in groups A, B and C received low [75?mg/kg body weight (BW)], medium (100?mg/kg BW) and high (125?mg/kg BW) dose levels of 2,4-D, respectively. The group D goats served as the control. On day?112, goats in the four groups were sacrificed and the testicular and epididymal sperm reserves were determined. Histopathologic changes in the testis of the 2,4-D-exposed and control goats were also assessed. The mean number of spermatozoa in the testes and the various segments of the epididymides decreased significantly (p?<?0.05) in all the treatment groups relative to the control. Combined testicular sperm reserve per millilitre for the treatment groups (group A—19.61?±?2.63?×?10⁸, group B—12.02?±?1.02?×?10⁸ and group C—9.95?±?0.97?×?10⁸) reduced significantly (p?<?0.05) relative to the mean value (23.52?±?4.43?×?10⁸) of the control—group D. The total epididymal sperm reserve per millilitre in the treatment groups (group A—24.25?±?4.19?×?10⁸, group B—17.18?±?2.57?×?10⁸ and group C—17.88?±?2.89?×?10⁸) was also found to be significantly (p?<?0.05) lower than the mean value (40.85?±?11.24?×?10⁸) for the control—group D. This reduction in the testicular and epididymal sperm counts of the 2,4-D-exposed WAD goats in this study suggest disruption in spermatogenic activity, which may lead to low productivity. Variable degrees of circulatory disturbances were observed in the testis sections of 2,4-D-exposed goats.     

The Contralateral Extremity has Also Benefit from the Locally Administered Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cells and Cord Blood Serum in Diabetic Ischemic Wound Healing

Objective

Impaired wound healing could be a disaster especially in diabetes and amputation is the major risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of BMMCs and CBS on wound healing.

Methods

Diabetic rats were underwent bilateral limb ischemia and wounding of skin defects on both extremities. The groups were formed as BMMCs (group A), BMMCs and CBS (group B), only CBS (group C), and phosphate buffer solution (group D) that were injected into wounds on right legs.

Results

The complete recovery of right legs was established as a mean of 21.4?±?1.1 days, 12.9?±?1.5 days, 30.0?±?0.0 days and 38.1?±?1.5 days according to Groups A, B, C, and D (p?<?0.05). The recovery of left legs were calculated as a mean of 27.0?±?0.0 days, 24.0?±?0.0 days, 35.6?±?1.1 days and 37.3?±?1.6 days according to Groups A, B, C and D (p?<?0.05). At the end of the recovery, the HE staining showed that vascularity was increased in groups A and B.

Conclusion

Transplantation of BMMCs and CBS to the ischemic wounds of the diabetic rats accelerate the repair. The recovery was also superior in the same group although the treatment was not applied to the left extremity directly.     

A low-virulence Eimeria intestinalis isolate from rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in China: molecular identification,pathogenicity, and immunogenicity

An Eimeria intestinalis isolated from a rabbit in China was first identified by amplifying the 18S small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene. The size of the amplified fragment was 1521 bp. The 18S SSU RNA gene of the E. intestinalis isolate shared 99 % sequence identity with E. intestinalis isolates from France and the Czech Republic, with 100 and 96 % coverage, respectively. Then, the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of the E. intestinalis isolate were evaluated in specific pathogen free (SPF) rabbits. In the pathogenicity assay, SPF rabbits in four groups were infected with 5?×?10³, 5?×?10⁴, 5?×?10⁵, and 0 sporulated oocysts, respectively. Clinical signs including diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, and reduction of body weight gain were observed in rabbits inoculated with 5?×?10⁴ and 5?×?10⁵ oocysts. And one rabbit (25 %) inoculated with 5?×?10⁵ oocysts died 15 days after the inoculation. In the immunogenicity assay, SPF rabbits in five groups (named B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5) were immunised with 5?×?10¹, 5?×?10², 5?×?10³, 0, and 0 sporulated oocysts, respectively. All rabbits but the B5 group were challenged with 1?×?10⁶ oocysts. After the challenge, no or slight clinical signs were seen in rabbits of the B2 and B3 groups. Compared with the control, a 69.6 and 84.5 % reduction of oocyst output was observed in the B2 and B3 groups, respectively. The body weight gain of the two groups was obviously higher than that of the challenge control group. All the results show that the E. intestinalis isolate has low virulence but immunogenicity in rabbit.     

Evaluation of sperm characteristics and plasma testosterone in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) during four consecutive seasons

The overall objective of the study was to investigate changes in quantitative parameters of goldfish (Carassius auratus) semen, testosterone (T), and gonadosomatic index (GSI) during the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter). Simple environmental and hormonal treatments were used to induce out-of-season spawning in goldfish. The semen was taken from goldfish in different periods during the four seasons, and the characteristics of sperm and pH were analyzed. Plasma levels of T, GSI, and histological studies of the testes, as well as a range of indices of ovarian development, were measured. No significant differences were observed between volumes of semen which can be extracted per fish, in the four seasons (P?>?0.05). Significant differences were found between sperm motility at different seasons (P?<?0.05), as the maximum total duration of motility was observed in autumn (109.25?±?14.00 s). Sperm density showed a higher value during summer (57.30?±?10.41?spermatozoa (spz)?ml^?1) and winter (65.09?±?80.40 spz ml^?1) than values that were obtained from spring (48.00?±?7.08 spz ml^?1) and autumn (40.42?±?16.54?×?10⁹ spz ml^?1) (P?<?0.05). However, spermatocrit (in percent) was higher in winter (39.90?±?4.74) compared with other seasons (P?<?0.05). Values of pH were higher in autumn (7.87?±?0.05) and in winter (7.83?±?0.03) than values that were obtained from other seasons. The peaks of T and GSI during spermiation in spring (T, 21.08 ng/ml, and GSI?=?5.21 %) and in summer (T, 23.32 ng/ml, and GSI?=?6.10 %), when most gonadal development took place, were statistically significantly higher than the levels observed during autumn (T, 15.08 ng/ml, and GSI?=?3.21 %) and winter (T, 22.18 ng/ml, and GSI?=?2.78 %) (P?<?0.05). Our results provided the statistically significant evidence of seasonal variation in sperm characteristics, T and GSI, for goldfish. These findings may be used to: (1) optimize semen collection for hatchery production and (2) characterize the potential impact of seasons on sperm quality and plasma androgen levels.     

Hematological reference values of the snakes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxyrhopus guibei</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenodon neuwiedii</Emphasis> (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

The aim of this study was to establish the reference range of hematological values for two species of Brazilian nonpoisonous snakes recently wild-caught and sent to the Butantan Institute. Blood samples were collected from the ventral caudal vein of 26 Oxyrhopus guibei (18 females and 8 males) and 19 Xenodon neuwiedii (nine females and ten males) snakes. Hematologic analyses were performed using manual standard methods and mean values (X ± SD) for O. guibei and X. neuwiedii were, respectively, red blood count ×10⁹/L (476.6?±?138.8 and 455.3?±?125.9); white blood count ×10⁹/L (4.8?±?2.1and 4.5?±?2.0); thrombocyte count ×10⁹/L (7.3?±?2.7 and 7.6?±?2.8); hematocrit % (24.3?±?6.0 and 23.8?±?6.7), hemoglobin g/dL (6.8?±?2.3 and 6.3?±?2.0); proerythrocyte ×10⁹/L (21.5?±?25.3 and 23.5?±?18.6); differential white blood cell count in ×10⁹/L: lymphocytes (1.8?±?0.7 and 1.7?±?1.0), azurophils (1.9?±?1.0 and 1.9?±?0.8), heterophils (0.8?±?0.9 and 0.6?±?0.4), and basophils (0.4?±?0.2 and 0.4?±?0.3). There were no significant differences in hematological parameters between the two species of snakes. Some hematological changes observed in both species are probably associated with factors that influence their physiological state such as stress of capture, seasonality, and diet among others. Intracellular parasites were not found in any of the specimens studied. These hematological results provide a reference range for adult snakes in the two species and are similar to those of previously studied snake species from other groups.     

Hematology and plasma chemistry of wild Keeled Indian Mabuya, Eutropis carinata (Schneider 1801)

Hematology and plasma chemistry of the circulating blood of Eutropis carinata were studied during 2003 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. Blood samples were taken from coccygeal and lower abdominal vein, and different blood parameters were measured for a population sample (15 males and 19 females) of the species, considering the sex of the lizards. Results revealed the erythrocytes' number and shape and the centrally located oval nucleus in both male and female lizards. Leukocytes were rounded, circular, or disk-shaped, and the mean size was larger in male than female lizards. The number of leukocytes was found to be maximum 1.74?×?10⁴ in both sexes, and mean values of differential leukocyte count were 13.33?±?4.51 and 15.66?±?4.04 % heterophils, 5.66?±?2.35 and 7.68?±?1.59 % eosinophils, 61.33?±?8.5 and 61.66?±?7.5 % lymphocytes, 3.66?±?1.52 and 2.33?±?1.27 % monocytes, and 5.31?±?2.45 and 5.24?±?1.19 % basophils in male and female lizards, respectively. Hemoglobin content of the lizard did not differ between the sexes. In terms of plasma chemistry, there was a significant difference in the mean value of protein and cholesterol contents between male (60.85?±?6.37 and 3.56?±?3.97 mg/ml) and female (102.46?±?5.26 and 2.48?±?2.91 mg/ml) lizards.     

The kinetics of oocyst shedding and sporulation in two immunologically distinct strains of Eimeria maxima, GS and M6

The kinetics of oocyst shedding and sporulation of two immunologically distinct strains of Eimeria maxima (GS and M6) were compared. Both strains had a prepatent period of approximately 120?h followed by peak oocyst shedding at 144-150?h post inoculation. Mean total oocyst output determined for each strain demonstrated that the fecundity of the M6 strain (12.8?×?10³?±?1.95) of E. maxima was roughly twice that of the GS strain (6.9?×?10³?±?3.33) when inoculated at the rate of 1,000 infective oocysts per bird. The process of oocyst sporulation was followed by repetitive sampling of sporulating oocysts at 26?°C with aeration over a 138 hour period. Sporulation was divided into five morphologically distinguishable stages whose abundance peaked at the following times during sporulation: unsporulated oocysts at 0?h; sporoblast anlagen at 18?h; sporoblasts without sporocyst walls at 22?h; and sporocysts without mature sporozoites at 38?h. The time to 50?% sporulation of E. maxima oocysts observed in the present study was approximately 53?h for both strains and all viable oocysts had completed sporulation by 60?h. In the present study, the prepatent periods, duration of oocyst shedding, and the relative kinetics of sporulation of the GS and M6 strains of E. maxima were found to be virtually identical despite the immunological distinctiveness of these two parasite strains.     

Improvement of diabetic or obese patients’ erythrocyte deformability by the program of the brain-oriented obesity control system (BOOCS)

Diabetes is characterized by absolute or relative insulin deficiency complicated with microangiopathy, whereas obesity stems from insulin resistance. A psychosomatic approach to obesity and diabetes has been highlighted, including the brain-oriented obesity control system (BOOCS). Impaired deformability of erythrocytes in obese or diabetic patients is closely linked to disturbed microcirculation, and improvement of abnormal erythrocyte rheology is a prerequisite for the prevention and treatment of microangiopathy. Therefore, erythrocyte filterability, whole cell deformability defined as flow rate of erythrocyte suspension relative to that of saline, was assessed by the nickel-mesh-filtration technique. Subjects included healthy controls (group A, n?=?14), diabetic, non-obese participants (group B, n?=?29), and non-diabetic, obese participants (group C, n?=?32) in the 6-month BOOCS program, and most patients in groups B and C (86.9?%) completed this program. Baseline mean erythrocyte filterabilities were 89.4?±?1.7?% in group A, 82.8?±?5.2?% in group B, and 84.1?±?5.6?% in group C, showing significant intergroup differences (p?<?0.001). This program significantly improved (p?<?0.001) the impaired erythrocyte filterability in groups B (87.9?±?4.4?%) and C (88.5?±?3.7?%). Declines in HbA1c (p?=?0.387) and body mass index (p?=?0.479) were not correlated to this improvement. These findings indicate that the mechanisms of BOOCS-induced improvement of diabetic or obese patients?? erythrocyte deformability are multifactorial, and that the BOOCS program for these patients is a holistic, cost-effective, and highly compliant approach possibly ameliorating microcirculation.     

Haematological reference ranges of cultured Clarias gariepinus in the Lower Benue River Basin,Nigeria

Blood samples were collected from 170 cultured African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to establish haematological baseline values of this important tropical pisciculture fish species in the Guinea savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The total red blood cell count and the total white blood cell count were obtained by haemocytometry, while the packed cell volume and haemoglobin were obtained by microhaematocrit and cyanomethmoglobin methods, respectively. The results obtained varied between gender and age and were as follows: total red blood cell count, 1.72?±?0.34?×?10⁶/mm³ in juveniles and 4.50?±?0.57?×?10⁶/mm³ in adults; total white blood cell count, 15.50?±?1.1510³/mm³in juvenile and 16.41?±?1.21?×?10³/mm³in adults; packed cell volume, 30.08?±?7.78 % in juveniles and 39.59?±?3.93 % in adults; haemoglobin, 9.43?±?3.45 g/dl in juveniles and 10.99?±?3.29 g/dl in the adults; mean corpuscular volume, 173.75?±?41.93 fl in juveniles and 87.01?±?14.37 fl in adults; mean corpuscular haemoglobin, 51.11?±?13.10 pg in the juveniles and 26.81?±?8.61 pg in the adults, while the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration values obtained are 32.61?±?10.42 g/dl in the juveniles and 33.80?±?10.0 g/dl in the adults.     

Clinical, serological and histopathological signs of toxoplasmosis in broiler chickens (Gallus domesticus) after experimental infection

To identify the features of experimental toxoplasmosis in broiler chickens (Gallus domesticus), a total of 48 birds aged 25?days were randomly assigned to one of four groups of 12 birds each. Tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii were injected intraperitoneally at doses of 5?×?10⁵ (group A), 1?×?10⁶ (group B) and 1.5?×?10⁶ (group C), and chickens in group D were treated with an injection of saline only (control). Before and after experimental infection, serum samples from all chickens were tested for antibodies against T. gondii with the Sabin–Feldman reaction. After infection, the clinical signs in all the chickens were recorded daily, and blood smears were prepared to determine parasitemia. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were used for semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the T. gondii B1 gene. Half of the chickens in each group were killed 25?days and half were killed 35?days after infection. All serum samples from chickens in groups A, B and C contained titers of T. gondii antibodies. However, there were no clinical signs suggesting toxoplasmosis. On day 15, the protozoan was observed in blood smears in groups A, B, and C. Analysis by PCR was negative. Microscopic lesions were observed in the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, kidney, spleen, skeletal muscle, proventriculus and lungs, but not in the eyes. Although chickens in group A were exposed to the lowest dose of T. gondii tachyzoites, lesions in this group were relatively more severe than those observed in groups B and C, which were exposed to higher doses of tachyzoites. Group B showed acute signs of toxoplasmosis with few microscopic lesions, whereas group C showed no lesions. Although no stages of the parasite were found in histopathological sections of skeletal muscle, the potential risks of infected chicken meat for public health cannot be disregarded.     

Expression of low-density lipoprotein receptors in peripheral blood and tonsil B lymphocytes

B lymphocytes, purified from peripheral leucocytes from young normolipaemic humans, expressed and internalized low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). The expression was assessed by a monoclonal anti-LDLR. The internalization of LDL was assessed by LDL labelled with ¹²⁵I (¹²⁵I-LDL) and 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′ tetramethyl-indocarboxycyanine perchlorate (LDL-DiI). The expression of LDLR, assessed by anti-LDLR, was: 38 ± 8% (n = 5) for fresh purified cells, 60 ± 10% (n = 12) for non-stimulated cells, 79 ± 5% (n = 10) for IL-2 (100 U/ml)-stimulated cells and 95 ± 5% (n = 8) for pokeweed mitogen (PWM) (1:200 dilution)-stimulated cells. The optimal concentrations of agonist were 100 U/ml of IL-2, and 1:200 dilution of PWM. IL-2 and PWM increased the internalization of LDL-DiI by 1.5-fold. The internalization of LDL-DiI was maximal at 60 μg of protein/ml (48 ± 8%). Scatchard analysis revealed a Kd of 3.2 ± 0.22 × 10^?8 M and 2180 ± 190 binding sites in non-stimulated cells, a Kd of 7.73 ± 0.36 × 10^?9 M and 12 500 ± 430 binding sites for IL-2 (100 U/ml)-stimulated cells, and a Kd of 7.2 ± 0.43 × 10^?9 M and 13 250 ± 450 binding sites for PWM (1:200 dilution)-stimulated cells. Lineweaver–Burk analysis of LDL binding (LDL-DiI) revealed that the apparent Kd for non-stimulated cells was 1.3 ± 0.11 × 10^?8 M , and 9.2 ± 0.2 × 10^?9 M and 7.5 ± 0.25 × 10^?9 M for IL-2- and PWM-stimulated cells, respectively. B lymphocytes from tonsils also showed a high expression of LDLR assessed with anti-LDLR (70 ± 6%). The high expression of LDLR and the avid internalization of LDL suggest that LDL may be important for B cell physiological responses.     

Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on refractory thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic HCV awaiting antiviral therapy

The possibility of delaying treatment of HCV due to severe thrombocytopenia is challenging. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of active helicobacter infection as a claimed cause of thrombocytopenia in a cohort of Egyptian patients with chronic active HCV awaiting combined anti-viral therapy. The study included 400 chronic HCV patients with thrombocytopenia. Laboratory investigations included liver function tests, real time quantitative PCR, reticulocytic count, ESR, ANA, bone marrow aspiration, measurement of anti-helicobacter antibodies, and helicobacter stool antigen. Positive cases for active H. pylori were given the standard triple therapy for 2 weeks. Helicobacter stool antigen was detected 4 weeks after termination of therapy and the change in platelet count was detected 1 month after eradication. A total of 248 out of 281 seropositive patients for H. pylori (88.3 %) showed positive stool antigen (p?=?0.01). Eradication was achieved in 169 (68.1 %) patients with platelet mean count 114.9?±?18.8?×?10³/μl with highly significant statistical difference from pretreatment value (49.7?±?9.2?×?10³/μl, p?=?0.000). Seventy-nine patients were resistant to conventional triple therapy and given a 7-day course of moxifloxacin-based therapy; 61 patients responded (77.1 %) with mean platelet improvement from 76.4?±?17.4?×?10³/μl to 104.2?±?15.2?×?10³/μl (p?=?0.000). The non-responders showed no improvement in their platelet count (74.6?±?20.5 vs. 73.6?±?15.3?×?10³/ul, P?=?0.5). Eradication of active H. pylori in HCV augments platelet count and enhances the early start of antiviral therapy.     

Erythropoietic and spermatogenic effects of subchronic administration of methanolic leaf extract of Dracaena arborea in rats

This study investigated the erythropoietic and spermatogenic effects of subchronic administration of methanolic leaf extract of Dracaena arborea in rats. Acute toxicity was performed. A total of 120 male rats weighing 140?±?14.14 g were used for the subchronic study divided into four groups. The extract was administered using the oral route daily for 91 days at the following dosages: group A, normal saline 10 ml/kg body weight, bw (control group); group B, 50 mg/kg bw of the extract; group C, 100 mg/kg bw of the extract and group D 500 mg/kg bw of the extract. The parameters assessed to determine the effect of subchronic administration of the extract were: packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HC), red blood cell counts (RBC), testicular weight (TW) and epididymal sperm reserve (ESR). The mean HC of rats in group D was significantly higher (p?p?相似文献   

The influence of ice slurry ingestion on maximal voluntary contraction following exercise-induced hyperthermia

The purpose of this study was to determine whether ingestion of a small bolus of ice slurry (1.25?g?kg^?1) could attenuate the reduction in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque output during a 2-min sustained task following exercise-induced hyperthermia. On two separate occasions, 10 males (age: 24?±?3?years, $ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{peak}}}} $ : 49.8?±?4.7?ml?kg^?1?min^?1) ran to exhaustion at their first ventilatory threshold in a hot environment (34.1?±?0.1°C, 49.5?±?3.6% RH). Prior to and after exercise, subjects performed a 2-min sustained MVC of the right elbow flexors in a thermoneutral environment (24.6?±?0.8°C, 37.2?±?4.5% RH). The post exercise MVC was performed immediately following the ingestion of either 1.25?g?kg^?1 of ice slurry (?1°C; ICE) or warm fluid (40°C; CON), in a counterbalanced and randomised order. Run time to exhaustion (42.4?±?9.5 vs. 41.7?±?8.7?min; p?=?0.530), and rectal (39.08?±?0.30 vs. 39.08?±?0.30°C; p?=?0.934) and skin temperatures (35.26?±?0.65 vs. 35.28?±?0.67°C; p?=?0.922) and heart rate (189?±?5 vs. 189?±?6 beats?min^?1; p?=?0.830) at the end of the run were similar between trials. Torque output during the post-exercise 2-min sustained MVC was significantly higher (p?=?0.001) following ICE (30.75?±?16.40?Nm) compared with CON (28.69?±?14.88?Nm). These results suggest that ice slurry ingestion attenuated the effects of exercise-induced hyperthermia on MVC, possibly via internal thermoreceptive and/or temperature-related sensory mechanisms.     

Achilles tendon loading during walking: application of a novel optic fiber technique

An optic fiber (Ø 0.5?mm) was utilized for the study of Achilles tendon forces (ATF) in eight volunteers who walked over a 10?m force platform at three speeds (1.1?±?0.1?m?×?s^?1, 1.5?±?0.1?m?×?s^?1 and 1.8?±?0.2?m?×?s^?1). The presented ATF-time curves showed great intersubject variation in magnitudes of the sudden release of force after initial contact and in the peak ATF's (1430?±?500?N). This intersubject variation in the peak force decreased only by 4% when cross-sectional area of the tendon was considered. Measured ground reaction forces and plantar pressures confirmed that the subjects walked quite normally during recordings. The peak ATF was found to be rather insensitive to speed in contrast to the rate of ATF development which increased 32% (?p?相似文献   

Anti-leishmanial and toxicity activities of some selected Iranian medicinal plants

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis in Iran. As there is not any vaccine for leishmaniasis, treatment is important to prevent the spreading of parasites. There is, therefore, a need to develop newer drugs from different sources. The aim of this study was to assess anti-leishmanial activity of the ethanolic extracts of 17 different medicinal plants against Leishmania major promastigotes and macrophage cell line J774. The selection of the hereby studied 17 plants was based on the existing information on their local ethnobotanic history. Plants were dried, powdered, and macerated in a hydroalcoholic solution. Resulting extracts have been assessed for in vitro anti-leishmanial and brine shrimp toxicity activities. Four plants, Caesalpinia gilliesii, Satureia hortensis, Carum copticum heirm, and Thymus migricus, displayed high anti-leishmanial activity (IC50, 9.76?±?1.27, 15.625?±?3.76, 15.625?±?5.46, and 31.25?±?15.44?μM, respectively) and were toxic against the J774 macrophage cell line at higher concentrations than those needed to inhibit the parasite cell growth (IC50, 45.13?±?3.17, 100.44?±?17.48, 43.76?±?0.78, and 39.67?±?3.29?μM, respectively). Glucantime as positive control inhibited the growth of L. major promastigotes with IC50?=?254?μg/ml on promastigotes (1?×?10⁶/100?μ/well) of a log phase culture, without affecting the growth of J774 macrophages. These data revealed that C. gilliesii, S. hortensis, C. copticum heirm, and T. migricus extracts contain active compounds, which could serve as alternative agents in the control of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The activity of these herbs against L. major promastigotes and macrophage cell line J774 was reported for the first time in our study.     

Study of some haematological parameters in Barbus grypus, 1843 (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae)

Values of some haematological indices were assessed in 30 Barbus grypus (mean length, 22.88?±?4.16?cm; mean weight, 101.01?±?58.50?g). The fishes were randomly selected from ponds of Dashte Azadegan Aquaculture Centre. The blood samples were collected from the caudal vein after adaptation to laboratory conditions. The values of the haematological parameter were measured using standardized and approved methods. The following values (mean±SD) were recorded. Packed cell volume (PCV), 46?±?5.71%; haemoglobin (Hb), 9.5?±?4.58?g/dL; white blood cell, 3,196.6?±?716.54 in each mm³; red blood cell, 1,378,667?±?195,408.2 in mm³, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, 34.68?±?20.23%; mean corpuscular haemoglobin 12.53?±?70.02 (pg); mean corpuscular volume, 7.58?±?34.1 (fl); neutrophils, 25.40?±?6.04%; lymphocytes, 72.2?±?4.58%; monocytes 1.13?±?0.97% and eosinophil 0.6?±?0.67%. A significant (p?<?0.05) interaction was found between total length, weight and PCV as PCV value increases with increasing weight and length. Data obtained from this study will serve as baseline haematological parameters for use in monitoring of health and productivity of B. grypus regarding the increasing interest in this fish for aquaculture purposes.     

Sex-related differences in thermoregulatory responses while wearing protective clothing

This study examined the thermoregulatory responses of men (group M) and women (group F) to uncompensable heat stress. In total, 13?M [mean (SD) age 31.8 (4.7) years, mass 82.7 (12.5)?kg, height?1.79?(0.06)?m, surface area to mass ratio 2.46?(0.18)?m²?·?kg^?1?·?10^?2, Dubois surface area 2.01 (0.16)?m², %body fatness 14.6 (3.9)%, V˙O_2peak 49.0?(4.8)?ml?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1] and 17 F [23.2 (4.2) years, 62.4 (7.7)?kg, 1.65 (0.07)?m, 2.71 (0.14)?m²?·?kg^?1?·?10^?2, 1.68 (0.13)?m², 20.2 (4.8)%, 43.2 (6.6)?ml?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1, respectively] performed light intermittent exercise (repeated intervals of 15?min of walking at 4.0?km?·?h^?1 followed by 15?min of seated rest) in the heat (40°C, 30% relative humidity) while wearing nuclear, biological, and chemical protective clothing (0.29?m²?·°C · W^?1 or 1.88 clo, Woodcock vapour permeability coefficient 0.33?i _m). Group F consisted of eight non-users and nine users of oral contraceptives tested during the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Heart rates were higher for F throughout the session reaching 166.7 (15.9) beats?·?min^?1 at 105?min (n?=?13) compared with 145.1 (14.4)?beats?·?min^?1 for M. Sweat rates and evaporation rates from the clothing were lower and average skin temperature ( ) was higher for F. The increase in rectal temperature (T _re) was significantly faster for the F, increasing 1.52 (0.29)°C after 105?min compared with an increase of 1.37?(0.29)°C for M. Tolerance times were significantly longer for M [142.9?(24.5)?min] than for F [119.3?(17.3)?min]. Partitional calorimetric estimates of heat storage (S) revealed that although the rate of S was similar between genders [42.1?(6.6) and 46.1?(9.7) W?·?m^?2 for F and M, respectively], S expressed per unit of total mass was significantly lower for F [7.76?(1.44)?kJ?·?kg^?1] compared with M [9.45?(1.26) kJ?·?kg^?1]. When subjects were matched for body fatness (n?=?8?F and 8?M), tolerance times [124.5?(14.7) and 140.3?(27.4)?min for F and M, respectively] and S [8.67?(1.44) and 9.39?(1.05)?kJ?·?kg^?1 for F and M, respectively] were not different between the genders. It was concluded that females are at a thermoregulatory disadvantage compared with males when wearing protective clothing and exercising in a hot environment. This disadvantage can be attributed to the lower specific heat of adipose versus non-adipose tissue and a higher percentage body fatness.