BM-MSCs alleviate diabetic nephropathy in male rats by regulating ER stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic pathways

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a chronic kidney disease, is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising option to mitigate several diabetic complications.Methods: In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in a rat model of STZ-induced DN. After the confirmation of diabetes, rats were treated with BM-MSCs and sacrificed at week 12 after treatment.Results: Our results showed that STZ-induced DN rats had extensive histopathological changes, significant upregulation in mRNA expression of renal apoptotic markers, ER stress markers, inflammatory markers, fibronectin, and intermediate filament proteins, and reduction of positive immunostaining of PCNA and elevated P53 in kidney tissue compared to the control group. BM-MSC therapy significantly improved renal histopathological changes, reduced renal apoptosis, ER stress, inflammation, and intermediate filament proteins, as well as increased positive immunostaining of PCNA and reduced P53 in renal tissue compared to the STZ-induced DN group.Conclusion: In conclusion, our study indicates that BM-MSCs may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of DN and provide important insights into their potential use as a novel therapeutic approach for DN

The Impact of Mycotic Contaminated Feed on the Health of Pigs and on the Human Consumer

Mycotoxins are produced by filamentous fungi (molds) that are always present in nature and under the right conditions, have the potential to contaminate almost all raw materials used in pig feed. Mycotoxins are not produced by a single species of mold, which means that different species can produce the same mycotoxins. Molds grow using nutrients from infested plants or raw materials they infest, reducing their nutrient value. This work highlights the negative effects of the presence of microscopic fungi and the toxins released by them in the feed of farm animals, respectively pigs. However, the mycotoxins  pose a much greater risk to animals, with pigs being particularly susceptible to this contamination. Most regulatory standards set safe levels of individual mycotoxins. However, the rules do not take into account the cumulative effects of the presence of multiple mycotoxins in feed and the negative effects exerted by human consumption of meat from these animals. In the laboratory, determinations were made on the feed administered to the pigs that showed changes in the state of health, and two species of microscopic fungi were identified, namely Aspergillus and Penicillium. Knowing the negative influence of intoxication states on the health of animals as a result of the administration of moldy feed, the methods of their prevention are of major importance

Study of Bactericidal Properties of Propolis

The antibacterial activity of an alcoholic extract of propolis from Apis mellifera was investigated using a method of growth inhibition in the culture medium of microorganisms. For this study were been chosen bacterial species implicated in severe infections in animals: Streptococcus suis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pasteurella haemolytica (Mannheimia haemolytica, 1999). The propolis extract demonstrated to possess bactericidal properties against studied microorganisms in descending order as follows: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pasteurella haemolytica, Salmonella spp. All these results demonstrates the possibility of using propolis in either treatment alone, as a natural alternative, be associated with an appropriate antibiotic for the potentiating effect in the event of serious infections in animals

Intestinal Bacterial Community of the Apis Melifera Carpatica Honey Bee Workers, Depending on Season and Area

It is important to know that the intestinal flora of most organisms play a decisive role in nutrient assimilation or diseases defending action and honeybees are not an exception. The importance and composition of the intestinal micro-flora define the health and growth of honeybees. For this study were been collected as far as 10 honeybee workers from each area, from three different areas: Brasov County, near Perşani Mountains, Timiş County, from plane area and Arad County, from hillside area, from beekeepers, both in June and December. First was been detected the total number of bacteria contained in honeybees intestine samples through dilution method. The largest number of countered bacteria colonies was obtained from Timiş County (2946 colonies/millilitre) in December. The smallest number of countered bacteria colonies was obtained in Braşov County (527 colonies/millilitre) in June. After the growing colonies of bacteria from studied samples on special mediums of culture have been detected many species, Gram-positive including Bacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Gram-negative including Escherichia spp., Proteus, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas. Also have been detected Lactobacillus strains

Bird Flu: New Outbreaks but an Old Problem for Intensive European Poultry

Bird flu or avian influenza continues to cause problems at European level, with new outbreaks of disease being reported, including those identified in January 2020 in Romania. It was first identified in the 1900s in Italy, but was later found worldwide. An avian influenza virus, H5N1, was identified in 1997 in Asia and created worldwide panic, talking about the imminence of a major epidemic. In October 2005, the H5N1 virus also arrived in Romania, being identified in birds from Ceamurlia de Jos, Tulcea County. Romania is the first European country where the presence of this virus has been officially confirmed. Avian influenza has attracted the attention of the international community over the years, with outbreaks in the poultry industry or livelihoods having serious consequences on both livelihoods and international trade in many countries. Apart from Romania, avian influenza is still evolving in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, Ukraine and Northern Ireland. Preventing the occurrence and combating avian influenza can only be achieved through international cooperation and collaboration, in order to know at any time the epidemiological situation and the pathogenic capacity of the etiological agent. Continuous surveillance of avian influenza virus in wild birds is very important, as it provides us with an "early warning" about the introduction of the virus into new regions, and can conduct appropriate risk assessment studies. It is also important to understand the behavior of wild birds, possibly the transmission of the virus between wild and domestic birds, the age categories of the frequently affected wild birds, the migration routes. At the same time, it is very difficult to prevent the occurrence of avian influenza in domestic birds due to the fact that a strategy for controlling wild birds cannot be established, the only solution to prevent the occurrence of the disease being the maximum limitation of contact between domestic and wild birds

The Prevalence of Hipodermosis in Cattle from South-West Side of the Country

Parasitic disease of domestic and  wild herbivores, hypodermosis is caused by the larval forms of warble fly species. This study aimed the emphasizing of hypodermosis prevalence in cattle from the south-western part of the country, in Mehedinţi district. Were been clinically examined for grub infestation 363 animals from 10 villages in Mehedinţi, 1-6 years aged, from particular breeders. Were been discovered 124 (34.15%) cattle with warbles on the back, flank and hump region, with a maximal average value of warbles on one animal of 21. From infected animals were been taken blood samples for haematological and biochemical examinations. The results of laboratory tests emphasized lower values of haematocrit, haemoglobin, eritrocytes number and a reduced level of seric glucose, proteins, albumins and calcium. All these results demonstrate the presence of anaemia and  hyporeactivity state of parasitized animals

Bluetongue in Europe and Romania in the last years

Beginning with 2006, in Europe had been a lot of Bluetongue (BT) outbreaks evolving like hemorrhagic disease in ruminants, caused by bluetongue virus (BTV). This paper reviews an epidemiological situation of this disease in Europe and in Romania in the last years with all health and economic problems that followed the outbreaks. For the first time described in 1905 in Merino sheep from South Africa, BTV is an Arbovirus isolated from wild and domestic ruminants, with sublinical to fatal symptoms of disease. The name Bluetongue derived from necrosis, cell injuries with vascular thrombosis, oedema, haemorrhages that make the tongue cyanotic, with a blue colour. By historically point of view BTV is known to be prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas between 35̊ S and 45̊ N, but many outbreaks were than reported in further northwards, an emergence may be caused by climate changes, when a high temperature contributes to both distribution and competence of certain species of Culicoides midges, known to be the insect vector of BT disease. With the exception of Antarctica BTV was been isolated on every continent. From 1,400 species of Culicoides throught the world, only about 30 species have been discovered to be competent biological vectors. There are more regions in Europe believed previously to be not a risk for bluetongue evolution but the situation since 2006 demonstrates the contrary

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Bacteria Isolated from Biofilm in Meat Processing Units

The aim of this study was to assess the hygiene of pork, beef, and poultry carcasses and to determine the phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility of the bacteria embedded in the biofilm formed on the carcasses kept in cooling chambers for at least three days. The level of hygiene was assessed by determining the total aerobic colony count (TACC) and the Enterobacteriaceae level in different sampling points of the carcasses, along with the detection of E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. embedded in the biofilm. Furthermore, the E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance profiles. A total of 130 samples collected from pork, beef, and poultry from processing units were analyzed to determine the total aerobic colony count as well as to measure the level of Enterobacteriaceae found on the carcasses. The antimicrobial susceptibility of 44 Escherichia coli and eight Pseudomonas spp. strains isolated from the carcasses were assessed using the Vitek 2 system using two different cards. Overall, the regulatory limits for the TACC were exceeded in 7.6% of the samples, and 65% of the samples exceeded the regulatory limits for Enterobacteriaceae levels. The antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the E. coli isolates analyzed with the AST-GN27 card revealed the highest resistance to be that towards ampicillin (76.1%), followed by cefazolin (71.4%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (61.9%), nitrofurantoin (52.3%), cefoxitin (47.6%), tetracycline (38.1%), piperacillin, norfloxacin (19%), trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (11.9%), cefotaxime (9.5%), ceftazidime, cefazolin, amikacin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin (4.7%). However, all of the isolates were sensitive to piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem. Thirty-two (61.5%; 95% CI 47.9–73.5) out of fifty-two isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, resulting in the expression of 10 resistance profiles. The findings of this study highlight serious hygienic and sanitary deficiencies within the meat processing units and demonstrate that the resulting meat can harbor Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp., both of which pose a serious public health risk. However, further research with a larger number of samples is required to reach thorough results

Chemical and Microbiological Air Quality in a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill and Its Surroundings, in South-Eastern Romania

The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological and chemical air quality in a municipal solid waste landfill and its inhabited surroundings, in a particular context in which Romania struggles with the incapacity to comply with its environmental commitments. The research was conducted on a landfill near the capital Bucharest between November 2018 and September 2019. To evaluate the chemical (oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and carbon monoxide–MX6 iBrid™ Détector multigas) and microbiological (airborne bacteria and fungi–aspiration method) parameters, eight sampling points were established, located both on the perimeter of the landfill and within its surroundings. CO and CH4 were not detected in any of the sampling points, during the study period; O2 was in normal values 20.09–21.05%; CO2 had a maximum average concentration of 620 ± 215; H2S had values between 0.1 and 5.0 ppm only in the sampling points inside the landfill; NH3 was present only once in a single sampling point with values between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm. The microbiological results provide an overview of the total plate count and total fungal count, with no significant differences between the level of contamination inside the landfill and within its surroundings (p > 0.05). Ten bacterial species and fungi from six genera have been identified. It was also found that the number of microorganisms in the air was significantly lower during the winter, spring and early summer months compared with the late summer and autumn months (p < 0.05)