Significance of mast cells in spermatogenesis,implantation, pregnancy,and abortion: Cross talk and molecular mechanisms

Both subsets of MCs including MC_TC (tryptase‐positive, chymase‐positive) and MC_T (tryptase‐positive, chymase‐negative) are present in the testis and epididymis. Increased number of MCs, higher levels of MC‐released tryptase in testis and seminal plasma of males with fertility problems, and promoting sperm motility in individuals with oligozoospermia after using MC blockers provide evidence that MCs may play a role in male infertility/subfertility disturbances. MC‐released tryptase and histamine contribute to the fibrosis and may disrupt spermatogenesis. MCs not only influence the process of spermatogenesis but also have effects on the function of other testis‐residing cells. MC‐derived histamine may influence the steroidogenesis of Leydig cells by acting through H1R and H2R receptors. Additionally, the interaction between MC‐released ATP and P2X receptors expressed on the peritubular cells may induce the production of the pro‐inflammatory mediators by peritubular cells. Further investigations showed that MCs may be involved in the pathology of female infertility during implantation, pregnancy, and abortion. In the uterus, MC_T subtype is abundant in myometrium and adjacent basal layer while MC_TC subtype is distributed in all layers. MCs in response to hormones mainly estradiol and progesterone become activated and release a wide range of mediators including histamine, VEGF, proteases, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) that have a role in different stages of pregnancy. An increasing influx of MCs to the cervix during the pregnancy occurs that helps to the physiologic cervical ripening. While MMPs degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM), VEGF modulates neovascularization and histamine influences the embryo implantation. MC‐derived histamine may have a positive effect during implantation due to its participation in tissue remodeling. MC proteases including tryptase and chymase activate the precursors of MMP2 and MMP9 to mediate ECM degradation during the physiologic menstrual cycle. There is a line of evidence that MCs have a role in abortion by releasing TNF‐α.     

Thermal inactivation of Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus

The physico-chemical and biological characteristics of Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV) are not yet known. The present study describes the thermal stability of this virus at different temperatures for different periods. The kinetics of thermal inactivation were studied, linear regressions were plotted, the Arrhenius equation was applied, and the activation energy was calculated accordingly. Titers of the residual virus were determined in median tissue culture infective dose (TCID₅₀), and the rate of destruction of infectivity at various temperatures was determined. Infectivity of AHFV was completely lost upon heating for 3 minutes at 60 °C and for 30 min at 56 °C. However, the virus could maintain 33.2 % of its titer after heating for 60 min at 45 °C and 32 % of its titer after heating for 60 min at 50 °C. In conclusion, AHFV is thermo-labile, and its inactivation follows first-order kinetics.     

A nutraceutical extract from Inula viscosa leaves: UHPLC-HR-MS/MS based polyphenol profile,and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

Nowadays, advanced extraction techniques and highly sensitive metabolic profiling methods are effectively employed to get new information on plant chemical constituents. Among them wild medicinal plants or their parts, with large and ancient use in folk medicine, are investigated for their potential functional use and cultivation. In this context, Inula viscosa leaves engaged our attention. A simple experimental design, based on Soxhlet extraction and chromatographic fractionation, allowed us to obtain the investigated polyphenol fraction (IvE). UHPLC-HRMS analyses revealed shikimoyl depsides of caffeic acid and unusual dihydrobenzofuran lignans as main secondary metabolites. These compounds, together with cinchonain-type phenols, and hydroxycinnamoyl flavonol glycosides, are reported for the first time in inula. Overall, forty-three secondary metabolites were identified. The extract exerted a remarkable antiradical activity towards DPPH^• and ABTS^+•. Furthermore, it was able to inhibit cell viability and mitochondrial redox activity of neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma and colon carcinoma cells, whereas it did not affect cell density of HaCaT cells immortalized human keratinocytes. As detected by the oxidant-sensing probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, the inhibitory responses seemed to be related to IvE-induced increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The obtained results highlighted that inula leaves, nowadays even undervalued and unexplored, could be considered a renewable source of nutraceutical compounds.     

The Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Waves for Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study examined the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Forty patients with mild to moderate CTS were allocated to two groups: (i) shock wave + wrist splint and (ii) wrist splint. Patients used wrist splints followed by three sessions of low-energy shock wave therapy in the intervention group and wrist splints alone in the other group. The QuickDASH Questionnaire, visual analogue scale and nerve conduction studies were used to evaluate the patients before the study and at 3, 8 and 12 wk after the start of the treatment. At the end of the study, both groups saw the same clinical benefits. However, a significantly greater improvement in the median nerve distal sensory latency was noted in the shock wave group compared with the control group. We suggest that application of shock wave with alternative protocols may be effective in the treatment of CTS in future studies.     

Longitudinal Tissue Velocity and Deformation Imaging in Inferobasal Left Ventricular Aneurysm

Background: Longitudinal myocardial tissue velocity imaging (TVI) and strain rate imaging (SRI) quantify regional myocardial function. We aimed to measure TVI and SRI indices for inferobasal aneurysmal segments by echocardiography at rest. Method: Sixteen patients with inferobasal left ventricular (LV) aneurysm, LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤50%, and 14 normal coronaries with normal echocardiography (control group) were studied. In SRI, peak systolic strain (ST), strain rate (SR), and pattern of strain curves and in TVI, peak systolic inward motion (Sm) were evaluated all at rest. Ascending curve means systolic expansion and descending means shortening. Results: LVEF was significantly lower in the patient group. Mean ST, SR, and Sm of inferobasal segment showed significant difference between patient and control groups; for ST: 1.45 ± 7.18% versus ?17.64 ± 7.45%, P < 0.0001; SR: ?0.25 ± 0.26 versus ?1.44 ± 0.64 sec^?1, P < 0.0001; and Sm: 3.85 ± 1.26 versus 5.56 ± 1.28 cm/sec, P = 0.006, respectively. All inferobasal aneurysmal segments had ascending curve while normal segments showed a descending curve. In patient group, aneurysmal segments had significantly reduced ST and SR compared to normal segments. Normal functioning segments of patients showed significant reduction of ST and SR compared to normal LV segments in control subjects. The range of SR and ST for inferobasal aneurysmal segments did not overlap with that of the normal segments (?0.60, 0.19 and ?3.00, ?0.80 sec^?1 for SR, and ?8.30, 23.30 and ?35.30, ?10.00% for ST, respectively). Conclusion: SRI indices were significantly reduced in inferobasal aneurysmal segment in comparison with either the same segment in normal subjects or normal functioning segments in the same patients. SR and ST may be superior to Sm in the evaluation of inferobasal aneurysmal segments. (Echocardiography 2010;27:803‐808)     

l-Arginine supplementation enhances eNOS expression in experimental model of hypercholesterolemic rabbits aorta

Introduction: Diminished bioavailability of nitric oxide is crucial in endothelial dysfunction and the development of atherosclerosis. Several studies have found that l-arginine as a nitric oxide (NO) donor has beneficial effect in prevention of atherosclerosis, but the mechanism is not completely known. We hypothesized that increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and/or decreased inducible NOS (iNOS) expressions might be involved in the preventive effects of l-arginine in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Methods: Seventeen male rabbits were divided randomly in two groups. They received rabbits chow supplemented with 1% cholesterol (group 1, n = 8) and the other group received also l-arginine (3% in drinking water) (group 2, n = 9) for 1 month. Blood samples were obtained before and after the experiment. At the end of experiment, the aortas were harvested. The serum levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were measured. The intima/media thickness (IMT) ratio was measured and the determination of fatty streak formation was done with the aid of light microscopy. eNOS and iNOS expression in aorta were studied with immuohistochemistery. Results: The IMT ratio in first group having fatty streaks was 0.287 ± 0.15. No fatty streak lesion was detected in l-arginine-treated group. The results also indicated that eNOS expression (intensity) in aortas was significantly higher in l-arginine-treated group (group 1: 13.62 ± 2.7 and group 2: 21.77 ± 2.8; p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed for iNOS expression between the groups. Conclusion: The expression of eNOS plays an important role in the protection of the vessel wall from atherosclerosis. l-Arginine in drinking water has a beneficial effect in the enhancement of eNOS protein expression.