Effect of nebulized formoterol, ipratropium bromide, and furosemide in combination with fluticasone propionate on arterial blood gases of premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThe purpose of this study was to assess the clinical effect of nebulized formoterol (FM), ipratropium bromide (IB) and furosemide (FS) combined with fluticasone propionate (FP) on l ung function in premature calves with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Thirty-six premature calves with RDS were randomly assigned to six different treatment groups (D1 to D6). All groups received the standard treatment, including oxygen and support treatment. Calves in D1 received only the standard treatment. The following combinations of nebulized drugs were used for the other groups: D2: FP, D3: FP+FM; D4: FP+IB; D5: FP+FS and D6: FP+IB+FM+FS. The treatment period (72 h) involved the application of FM (15 μg totally/12 h), IB (2 μg/kg/12 h), FS (1 mg/kg/12 h) and FP (15 μg/kg/12 h) for five minutes. A significant increase over time in blood pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), oxygen saturation (SatO2) and a decrease in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and lactate were detected in all groups that received nebulized treatment; while in the D1, a significant change was observed only for PaCO2. Calves in D6 had the highest PaO2 and lowest PaCO2 values amongst all groups at the end of treatment. No statistical difference was observed between the Nebulization Groups (NG). Nebulized FM, IB and FS with FP combination in premature calves with RDS, in addition to the standard treatment showed a significant curative effect on lung function

Aphididae

The Aphididae, or aphids, is a large family of nearly 4000 small and soft-bodied insects in the superfamily Aphidoidea. More than 25 aphid species have been found in citrus orchards throughout the world, of which some are of economic importance and others probably occur there sporadically. The aphids infesting citrus in the Mediterranean Region reach their maximal numbers in spring, attaining another, lower peak in autumn, and sometimes a third, of minor importance, during summer. Some of the citrus aphids, like Aphis craccivora Koch, A. fabae Scopoli, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), and Myzus persicae (Sulzer), never reach high population levels due to the activity of their natural enemies. The others, Aphis gossypii Glover, A. spiraecola Patch, Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) and T. citricida (Kirkaldy), are serious pests, either because they occur in very large numbers or due to their ability to transmit many virus diseases, including citrus tristeza virus (CTV). Their management is mostly by their many natural enemies. These include parasitoids of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and many predators of the families Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Syrphidae (Diptera); Cecidomyiidae, Chamaemyiidae (Diptera); Anthocoridae, Lygaeidae, Miridae, and Nabidae (Hemiptera) and Chrysopidae (Neuroptera). © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers. All rights reserved

Comparison of two sampling methods for leafhoppers (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) associated with sesame in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey

Yellow sticky-traps and a modified Johnson-Taylor suction-trap were used to index the relative population dynamic of leafhoppers associated with sesame in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey. Comparison of the obtained results signified important differences between both traps. 32 leafhoppers species were caught in the suction-trap while only 18 species were determined on yellow sticky-traps. For most of the leafhopper species, relatively more males were determined on the yellow-traps than in the suction-trap, indicating a higher activity of male leafhoppers during daytime hours. A close relationship between the seasonal flight pattern as indexed by sticky-traps and by suction-trap was only observed for Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) and Empoasca decipiens Paoli. For most other leafhopper species no or only a very poor correlation for the relative population dynamic was determined between both traps. Important leafhopper vector species, e.g., Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant et Rey) and Orosius orientalis (Matsumura) were better represented in yellow sticky-trap catches than they were in the suction trap.TUBITAK-TOAG 1104The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (Project TUBITAK-TOAG 1104)

Cicadellidae

The large hemipteran family Cicadellidae, or leafhoppers, has more than 2300 species described in 338 genera in the Palearctic region. Many are world-wide pests of crops. Sixty-one leafhopper species were collected in citrus orchards in the Mediterranean Region, but many have low economic importance. Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli), Empoasca alsiosa Ribaut, and E. decipiens Paoli are common and devastating cicadellids. They live on vegetables, vineyards and cotton in summer, moving to citrus later on, when other host-plants are no longer available. On the other hand, members of the Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant and Rey) complex are less common than the three aforementioned species, but are capable of transmitting Spiroplasma citri Saglio et al., the causal agent of citrus stubborn disease. Many parasitoids and predators of cicadellids have been identified. Gonatopus lunatus Klug on Circulifer haematoceps and Aphelopus sp. on Asymmetrasca decedens and Empoasca decipiens were effective parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae). Chrysoperla carnea (Stephen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Deraeocoris pallens (Rt.) (Hemiptera: Miridae), Nabis ferus (L.) (Hemiptera: Nabidae), Geocoris sp. (Hemiptera: Geocoridae), Paederus f.c. kalalovae Curtis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are common predators feeding on cicadellids in citrus orchards. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers. All rights reserved

Effects of arginine and trehalose on post-thawed bovine sperm quality.

The present study was conducted to examine the protective role of arginine and trehalose on post-thaw bull sperm and oxidative stress parameters. Five ejaculates for each bull were used in the study. Each ejaculate, split into three equal aliquots and diluted at 37 °C with base extenders containing 2 mM arginine, 25 mM trehalose and no antioxidant (control) was cooled to 5 °C and then frozen. Frozen straws were thawed in a water bath for evaluation. Supplementation of the semen extender with arginine decreased the percentages of post-thawed subjective motility (29 ± 8.21%), CASA motility (12.2 ± 5.69%) and progressive motility (3.52 ± 2.13%), compared with the controls (43 ± 2.73%, 55.4 ± 6.78% and 33.48 ± 4.14%, respectively, P < 0.05). Supplementation of the semen extender with trehalose produced a higher mitochondrial activity and sperm viability (36.3 ± 3.99% and 44.1 ± 2.18%) compared with the control (13 ± 8.15 and 31.7 ± 3.94%, respectively, P < 0.05). It was established that trehalose (95.1%) and arginine (92.8%) protect DNA integrity compared to the control (90.4%) (P < 0.05). Trehalose supplementation in semen extenders provided great benefit in terms of viability, mitochondrial activity, and intact sperm DNA on frozen-thawed bull sperm

Relationship of blood and seminal plasma ceruloplasmin, copper, iron and cadmium concentrations with sperm quality in Merino rams

The aim of the current study was to investigate the concentrations of ceruloplasmin, copper, iron, zinc and cadmium concentrations in blood serum and seminal plasma obtained from Merino rams. In addition, their relationship with sperm parameters, fertility rate and litter size were also studied. Blood and ejaculate samples (6 replicates) were taken in October from 19 Merino rams, aged between 18 and 24 months. Ceruloplasmin, copper, iron, zinc and cadmium in blood serum and seminal plasma were determined. Sperm parameters including volume, mass motility, motility, concentration, Hos-test, viability, abnormal sperm and acrosome abnormality in semen, fertility rate and litter size were also evaluated. Highly positive correlation was found between blood ceruloplasmin and blood copper concentrations (r = 0.812, p < 0.001), whereas negative correlation were determined between these parameters in seminal plasma (r = -0.195, p < 0.05). Seminal plasma copper concentration was positively correlated with seminal plasma cadmium (r = 0.206, p < 0.05) and seminal plasma iron (r = 0,305, p < 0.01) concentrations. Negative correlation was determined between blood ceruloplasmin level and acrosomal defect (r = -0.443, p < 0.05). Seminal plasma ceruloplasmin level was positively correlated with volume (r = 0.255, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with abnormal sperm (r = -0.186, p = 0.058) and acrosome abnormality (r = -0.213, p < 0.05). Seminal plasma iron concentration was positively correlated with other abnormality (r = 0.257, p < 0.01). Seminal plasma cadmium concentration was positively correlated with sperm abnormality (r = 0.207, p = 0.052) and other abnormality (r = 0.262, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with fertility rate (r = -0.449, p = 0.054). Blood cadmium concentration was negatively correlated with litter size (r = -0.579, p < 0.01). In conclusion, blood and seminal plasma ceruloplasmin may be suggested to have positive influence regardless of copper with its antioxidant property whereas iron and cadmium have negative influence on sperm parameters and fertility in Merino rams. © 2015 Elsevier B.V

Influence of lycopene and cysteamine on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during liquid storage of ram semen at 5 °C

Ejaculates were collected from six Merino rams with the aid of an artificial vagina twice a week. The ejaculates containing spermatozoa with &gt;80% forward progressive motility and concentrations higher than 2 × 109 spermatozoa/ml were pooled. The present study included two experiments. In experiment 1, each pooled ejaculate was divided into four equal aliquots and diluted (37 °C) with the Tris based extender, containing 0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 2 mM lycopene, at a final concentration of approximately 400 × 106 sperms/ml (single step dilution), In experiment 2, cysteamine at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 2 mM, was used as an additive in the extender, and the procedure explained above was applied for the division of aliquots and the dilution of semen. Diluted semen samples were kept in glass tubes and cooled from 37° to 5 °C in a cold cabinet, and maintained at 5 °C. Sperm and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated after 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of storage at 5 °C. The extender supplemented with 0.5 mM lycopene resulted in higher mitochondrial activity rate (p &lt; 0.05) in comparison to the control group at 72 h of storage. Lycopene at 0.5 mM dose led to higher sperm motility rate (p &lt; 0.05) when compared to 2 mM lycopene group at 72 h of liquid storage. As regards oxidative stress parameters, only 2 mM lycopene increased total glutathione levels (p &lt; 0.05) at 0 h of storage. The extender supplemented with 1 mM cysteamine gave higher motility (p &lt; 0.05) at 48 h compared to control. As regards oxidative stress parameters, 1 and 2 mM cysteamine at 48 h and 1 mM cysteamine at 72 h increased total glutathione levels (p &lt; 0.05) compared to control groups. Cysteamine at 1 and 2 mM doses decreased lipid peroxidation (p &lt; 0.05) at 0 h of liquid storage compared to control. Our data suggest that lycopene at 0.5 and 2 mM and cysteamine at 1 and 2 mM doses can be added to Tris based extender for improving the ram sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity and oxidative stress parameters during the liquid storage. © 2016 Elsevier B.V