The Morphophysiological, Histological, and Biochemical Response of Some Nontarget Organisms to the Stress Induced by the Pesticides in the Environment

Ferns, amphibians, and fish are groups of nontarget organisms affected by many types of pesticides that end up in the environment. This chapter aims to approach the following themes: the influence of different pesticides on the spore germination process and on the differentiation of their gametophyte; aspects regarding the impact of some pesticides on breathing in fish (physiology and histopathology at the branchial level), as well as a series of effects at the hematological and biochemical levels; and changes of some hematological, biochemical, and structural parameters in amphibians. Species that are not directly targeted by the action of the pesticide in the environment, ferns can be used in their gametophyte stage, young or mature sporophyte in different biotests to evaluate the risk associated with these substances. The biochemical, hemathological, and histopathological changes recorded in both fish and amphibians can be considered biomarkers of pesticide pollution

Lupan-Skeleton Pentacyclic Triterpenes with Activity against Skin Cancer: Preclinical Trials Evolution

Skin cancer is an increasingly frequent pathology, with a dangerous high percentage of malignant melanoma. The use of synthetic chemotherapy raises the problem of severe adverse effects and the development of resistance to treatment. Therefore, the use of natural therapies became the focus of numerous research groups due to their high efficacy and lower systemic adverse effects. Among natural products evaluated as therapeutical agents against skin cancer, betulinic acid was emphasized as a highly selective anti-melanoma agent and is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials as topical application. Several other pentacyclic triterpenes exhibit antiproliferative activities. This chapter aims to present the latest main discoveries in the class of pentacyclic triterenes with antitumor effect and the evolution of their preclinical trials. Furthermore, it includes reports on plant sources containing pentacyclic triterpenes, as well as the main possibilities of their water solubilization and cancer cell targeting. A review on recent data regarding mechanisms of action at cellular and molecular levels complements information on the outstanding medicinal potential of these compounds

Covid-19 pandemic and quality of life among Romanian athletes

The aim of this study was to analyze athletes’ quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 249 athletes between 15 and 35 of age, M = 21.22, SD = 5.12. The sample was composed of eight Olympic Games medalists, three European medalists, 67 international medalists, and 63 national medalists. The instruments used were: (1) COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, (2) Athlete Quality of Life Scale, (3) Impact of Pandemic on Athletes Questionnaire, and (4) International Personality Item Pool (IPIP Anxiety, Depression, and Vulnerability Scales). The results indicate significant differences in COVID-19 anxiety depending on the sport practiced, F (9239) = 3.81, p < 0.01, showing that there were significant differences between sports. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic mediates the relationship between trait anxiety and the athletes’ quality of life. The percentage of mediation was 33.9%, and the indirect effect was −0.11, CI 95% (−0.18, −0.03), Z = −2.82, p < 0.01. Trait anxiety has an increasing effect on the intensity of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 0.23, CI 95% (.10, 0.35), Z = 3.56, p < 0.01, and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has a decreasing effect on quality of life, −0.47, CI 95% (−0.67, −0.27), Z = −4.62, p < 0.01. Gender and age did not moderate the relationship between the negative impact of COVID-19 and athletes’ quality of life. The results of the study highlighted the impact that social isolation and quarantine have on athletes’ affective well-being

LIVER HISTOPATHOLOGY AT MICE WITH INDUCED DIABETES TREATED WITH VEGETAL EXTRACT OF SYLIBUM MARIANUM

In this study we have followed the liver’s histopathologic changes at CD-line mice (mice rederived from a nonconsanguineous stem) with alloxan-induced diabetes, treated with vegetal extract of Sylibum marianum. We have followed the liver’s changes of weight following the removal and its histopathologic changes. Thus, mice with weight ranging from 20 to 25 g were divided into three experimental lots, a witness lot, a lot of mice with alloxan-induced diabetes, and another lot with diabetes treated with vegetal extract of Sylibum marianum. Diabetes was induced by administering two doses of Alloxan monohydrate 0,2 ml (130 mg/kg body dissolved in physiological saline), following which 0.2 ml of vegetal extract of milk thistle was administered by gavage during two weeks. The results obtained for the liver blades sampled from the mice with diabetes showed the presence of hepatic steatosis; following the administration of the vegetal extract to the mice with diabetes a decrease of the blisters full of neutral lipids (hepatic triglycerides) can be noticed, which reveals the beneficial action of the vegetal extract of milk thistl

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE LIVER AND KIDNEY TISSUES OF MARSH FROG (Pelophylax ridibundus) INDUCED BY THE ACTION OF TALSTAR 10EC INSECTICIDE

Abstract. Histopathological biomarkers of toxicity in frog organs are a useful indicator of environmental pollution. The frogs were experimentally exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (0.5mg bifenthrin/g of body weight) of Talstar 10EC for 3 weeks. The present study proves its toxic potential in terms of the damages in liver and kidney level. Tissues were normal in the control group. Hepatic lesions in frog exposed to bifenthrin were characterized by vacuolation of hepatocytes and nuclear pycnosis, perisinusoidal and periportal fibrosis, dilatation of Disse space and sinusoid capillaries, presence of cellular infiltrates. Kidney lesions consisted of dilation of Bowman&apos;s space, tubular necrosis, and epithelial cells shows pycnotic nuclei, discrete degree of interstitial edema

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE LIVER AND KIDNEY TISSUES OF MARSH FROG (Pelophylax ridibundus) INDUCED BY THE ACTION OF TALSTAR 10EC INSECTICIDE

Abstract. Histopathological biomarkers of toxicity in frog organs are a useful indicator of environmental pollution. The frogs were experimentally exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (0.5mg bifenthrin/g of body weight) of Talstar 10EC for 3 weeks. The present study proves its toxic potential in terms of the damages in liver and kidney level. Tissues were normal in the control group. Hepatic lesions in frog exposed to bifenthrin were characterized by vacuolation of hepatocytes and nuclear pycnosis, perisinusoidal and periportal fibrosis, dilatation of Disse space and sinusoid capillaries, presence of cellular infiltrates. Kidney lesions consisted of dilation of Bowman&apos;s space, tubular necrosis, and epithelial cells shows pycnotic nuclei, discrete degree of interstitial edema

EFFECT OF PHENOL INTOXICATION ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF PERCA FLUVIATILIS AND PELOPHYLAX RIDIBUNDUS

A significant interest to phenols and their derivatives is connected with the fact that these compounds play an important role in human industrial activity and are widely spread in our environment. In the present paper it was investigated the action of one aquatic pollutant - phenol - under two concentration (25 and 50 mg/l water) on some physiological parameters (energy metabolism, respiratory rate, number of erythrocytes and leukocytes, blood glucose level, survival) on perch (Perca fluviatilis) and marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus). The choice of these species is based on the fact that they are widely spread and can be well preserved in laboratory conditions. They are also important in the aquatic ecosystems and last, but not least, they are sensitive to various toxic actions. Phenol produces, after two weeks of immersion, a significant decrease of respiratory rhythm, glycaemia values and the number of erythrocytes. Exposure of perch to phenol action produces oxygen consumption decrease after two weeks of intoxication. In the concentration of 50 mg/l, the phenol produces, after two weeks of immersion, a significant increase of the number of leukocytes

BIOACCUMULATION AND EFFECTS OF Zn AND Mn CONTAINED BY DITHANE M45 ON EISENIA FOETIDA (OLIGOCHAETA-LUMBRICIDAE) SPECIES

The study assesses the effects of Zn and Mn contained by Dithane M45 fungicide on Eisenia foetida epigenous species. There were five experimental variants of five repetitions each. Dithane M45 concentrations were: V1:250mgkg-1/dry soil, V2:200mgkg-1/dry soil, V3:150mgkg-1/ dry soil, V4:100mgkg-1/dry soil, with the fifth (V5) as control variant. There were analyzed: 1. survival rate (%) after applying toxic and correlations between survival rate and toxic concentrations; 2. initial biomass (g) and biomass resulting from (g) intoxication; 3. Zn and Mn bioaccumulation (ppm) in earthworms. Conclusions: the survival rate decreased to the greatest concentrations compared to control variant; individual biomass decreased after applying toxic; Mn and Zn bioaccumulation in earthworms increased with increasing concentration of Dithane M45