Effect of Cysteamine on the Freezing of Buck Semen

This study investigated the effect of cysteamine added to an extender at different doses (5 and 10 mM) on the freezing of Saanen buck semen containing samples with seminal plasma or those in which the seminal plasma was removed. After the examinations, the ejaculates were pooled. The semen was divided into two equal volumes. The seminal plasma of one group was not removed (Group A), whereas the seminal plasma of the other volume was removed via centrifugation (Group B). Each group was again divided into three equal volumes. Therefore, a total of six groups were created. Subsequent to the equilibration process, diluted semen samples were packaged in 0.25 mL straws, frozen at -110 degrees C, and stored at -196 degrees C. Frozen semen samples were thawed in a water bath for 30 s at 37 degrees C. This procedure was repeated seven times (n=7). In the equilibration stage, 10 mM cysteamine was found to damage the spermatozoa motility regardless of the presence of seminal plasma (p<0.001). After thawing, no statistically significant difference was observed in all the groups. In this study, it was concluded that 10 mM cysteamine damages spermatozoa motility before freezing and the presence of seminal plasma and cysteamine concentrations after thawing had no effect on spermatological properties

Association of red blood cell distribution width, systemic-immune-inflammation index and poor cardiovascular outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension

Background Red cell distribution width (RDW) and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have been extensively studied as predictors of morbidity and mortality in several cardiovascular diseases. This prospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between long term major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and simple hematological parameters in hypertensive patients. Methods The study included a total of 1202 patients with newly diagnosed HT. Of the patients, 662 (55.1%) were female and 540 (44.9%) were male, with a mean age of 53.0 ± 11.4 years. The primary endpoint of the study was long term MACE, including cardiac death, stroke, and myocardial infarction. This is the first study focusing on the association of SII with major adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HT. Results Eighty-nine patients (8.7%) developed at least one MACE during a mean follow-up period of 82.2 ± 1.3 months. RDW (13.0 ± 0.9 vs. 13.5 ± 1.2%, p 13.1% (10.4 vs. 5%; p 465 x103/µL (11.8 vs. 3.1%; p < .001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed SII and RDW were independent predictors of MACEs. Conclusion The results of the study demonstrated that the RDW and SII were independent predictors of long-term cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. These simple hematological parameters may be used as prognosticators of MACE in patients with newly diagnosed HT

The Effect of Cysteamine and Oviductal Cells in Different Culture Media on the Development of Sheep Embryos

Sheep is a very important source of wool, meat and milk all over the world. Oxidative stress during in vitro culture leads to defects in development of gametes and embryos. Several antioxidants such as cysteamine, L-ascorbic acid, beta mercaptoethanol, cysteine, glutathione, proteins, vitamins are used to supplement culture media to counter the oxidative stress. This study was aimed to detect the effect of cysteamine supplementation to the maturation medium and oviductal cell supplementation to culture medium on the subsequent development rates of sheep embryos with the control group. Oocytes were obtained from slaughtered sheep ovaries. Selected oocytes were incubated with or without 100 mu M cysteamine in TCM-199 medium under 38.5-38.8 degrees C 5% CO2 for 23 h. During IVF fresh semen was collected from ram by electroejaculation, they were washed in H-SOF medium and were fertilized in B-SOF medium with oocytes incubated for 18 hours under 38.5-38.8 degrees C 5% CO2, 5% O-2 and 90% N-2. The oocytes were obtained from maturation medium with/without cysteamine (C+,-) and were cultured in SOF or CR1aa media with/without oviductal cells (Ov+,-) and were grouped as; Group Ia: SOF+(C+ Ov-), Group Ib: SOF+(C+ Ov+), Group Ic: SOF+(C-Ov-) Group Id: SOF+(C-Ov+); Group IIa: CR1aa+(C+ Ov-), Group IIb: CR1aa+(C+ Ov+), Group IIc: CR1aa+(C-Ov-), Group IId: CR1aa+(C-Ov+). Embryos were incubated under 38.5-38.8 degrees C 5% CO2, 5% O-2, 90% N-2 in culture medium for 7 days. Embryo developments were observed and recorded daily. GLM procedure found in SPSS packet program was used for statistical analysis in this study. In conclusion, the addition of cysteamine or oviductal cells in vitro culture media found to have any effect in terms of the capacity of reaching to blastocyst stage in SOF or CR1aa media and no statistical difference is detected between groups

The effect of oviductal cells on in vitro maturation of canine oocytes in different culture media

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of oviductal cells on in vitro maturation (IVM) of canine oocyte in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM-199) or synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or fetal calf serum (FCS) and to compare the maturation rates of oocytes from the diestrus and anestrus stages. Following ovariohysterectomy, 13 pairs of ovaries were collected from bitches in anestrus (n = 10) or diestrus (n = 3) and oocytes were harvested by slicing. The oviducts were flushed with TCM-199 containing 10% FCS and were scraped and squeezed into a tube in order to obtain oviductal cells. Selected oocytes were divided into groups for IVM over 48 h for each of the diestrus and anestrus stages as follows: Group Ia, SOF+BSA; Group Ib, SOF+BSA+oviductal cells; Group IIa, SOF+FCS; Group IIb, SOF+FCS+oviductal cells; Group IIIa, TCM-199+BSA; Group IIIb, TCM-199+BSA+oviductal cells; Group IVa, TCM-199+FCS; and Group IVb, TCM-199+FCS+oviductal cells. Afterwards, oocytes were fixed with acetic acid-ethyl alcohol and stained with aceto-orcein to determine nuclear maturation. When compared between anestrus and diestrus stages for all parameters (undetermined nuclear material, germinal vesicles, germinal vesicle break down, metaphase I, metaphase II, and degenerated) in different media, the differences were found to be significant statistically in Group IIa (22.9%) and Group IIIb (35.7%) for the germinal vesicle stage (P < 0.05) as compared to the other groups. In conclusion, in the oocytes obtained from bitches in diestrus and anestrus supplemented with FCS or BSA in SOF medium without oviductal cells, more positive effects were seen on canine oocyte maturation than with TCM-199 medium supplemented with same protein sources and oviductal cells

Effect of Different Activation Techniques on Immature and In Vitro Matured Cat Oocytes

This study was conducted to determine the most successful techniques on inmature and in vitro-matured cat oocytes that were parhtenogenically activated using 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) and cycloheximide (CHX), in combination with electrical stimulation and calcium ionophore. After 44 h of in vitro maturation, the oocytes with a polar body were separated as mature (M II) and those without a polar body were considered as immature. Four different activation treatments and two control groups were used for parthenogenetic activation with both mature and immature cat oocytes. After 48 h of activation, the oocytes were examined and the non-cleaved oocytes removed. The cleaved oocytes/embryos were cultured in vitro in mSOF medium for an additional four days. After six days of in vitro culture (IVC), embryo quality was evaluated. The results in the present study suggested that (I) both in vitro matured and immature cat oocytes have a potential to develop to morula and blastocyst stages after parthenogenetic activation, (II) electrical stimulation +6-DMAP is a more useful technique for both matured and immature cat oocytes and (III) to our knowledge, this is the first report that describes morula and blastocyst formation from parthenogenetically activated immature cat oocytes

Clinical and molecular evaluation of MEFV gene variants in the Turkish population: a study by the National Genetics Consortium

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disorder with recurrent fever, abdominal pain, serositis, articular manifestations, erysipelas-like erythema, and renal complications as its main features. Caused by the mutations in the MEditerranean FeVer (MEFV) gene, it mainly affects people of Mediterranean descent with a higher incidence in the Turkish, Jewish, Arabic, and Armenian populations. As our understanding of FMF improves, it becomes clearer that we are facing with a more complex picture of FMF with respect to its pathogenesis, penetrance, variant type (gain-of-function vs. loss-of-function), and inheritance. In this study, MEFV gene analysis results and clinical findings of 27,504 patients from 35 universities and institutions in Turkey and Northern Cyprus are combined in an effort to provide a better insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation and how a specific variant contributes to certain clinical findings in FMF patients. Our results may help better understand this complex disease and how the genotype may sometimes contribute to phenotype. Unlike many studies in the literature, our study investigated a broader symptomatic spectrum and the relationship between the genotype and phenotype data. In this sense, we aimed to guide all clinicians and academicians who work in this field to better establish a comprehensive data set for the patients. One of the biggest messages of our study is that lack of uniformity in some clinical and demographic data of participants may become an obstacle in approaching FMF patients and understanding this complex disease