Ejaculate quality indicators of men with asthenozoospermia and asthenoteratozoospermia by treatment of obesity with liraglutide

Background: Considering the influence of visceral obesity on male infertility, the investigation of ejaculate quality indicators under obesity treatment is relevant.Objective: Evaluation of ejaculate quality indicators by obesity treatment with liraglutide in andrologically healthy men with infertility and post-pubertal visceral obesity.Methods: Infertile men with post-pubertal alimentary visceral obesity were included in a pilot observational prospective study. All patients were given recommendations for body weight loss (hypocaloric diet, daily aerobic physical activity) as well as an average daily dose of liraglutide 2.4 [2.4; 3.0] mg. Evaluation of waist circumference, antioxidant activity of ejaculate, spermogram was carried out initially and after 6 months. The differences were considered statistically significant at p <0.005.Results: The body weight decrease was -11.7 [12.4; 11.0]%, the waist circumference decrease was 8 [12; 7] cm. In dynamics, increased content of living sperm in ejaculate from 92 [90; 95]% to 95 [92; 98]%, morphologically normal forms from 5 [3; 6]% to 6 [3; 8]%, mobility of A + B from 25 [15; 36] to 35 [19; 52]%, seminal antioxidant capacity, a decrease in reactive oxygen forms in the neat ejaculate were statistically significant. Increasing the sperm count in 1 ml and decreasing reactive oxygen forms in the washed ejaculate did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion: Ejaculate quality indicators improved by the complex obesity therapy with liraglutide in young andrologically healthy men with postpubertal visceral obesity.

The diversity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary isolates from western Poland

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is one of the most dangerous pathogens of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Rape plants are infested most often in spring during the flowering phase. The aggressive nature of this fungus as well as its pathogenicity is attributed to its mycotoxin, particularly oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is responsible for the development of acid environment in the plant which triggers off activity of hydrolytic enzymes. The developing crystals of calcium oxalate contribute to destabilisation of pectin compounds found in the cell wall. Moreover, oxalic acid also acts as a suppressor of reactive oxygen forms (H2O2). In this study isolates of the S. sclerotiorum were collected in the years 2012–2014 from three different locations. Collective of isolates described as populations. Two hundred twenty eight (228) isolates of S. sclerotiorum were characterized by evaluation of the total amount of acids produced by the pathogen and at molecular level using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Statistical differences were found in acids production by particular S. sclerotiorum isolates collected in the years 2012–2014. Moreover, a relationship was found between acids production and the rate of linear mycelium growth. High similarity between pathogen isolates from the same locality was found using RAPD analysis with twelve primers and small genetic differences between pathogen isolates depending on the place of origin.

COMBINED EFFECT OF REACTIVE OXYGEN FORMS AND SHUNGITE ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CYANOBACTERIA

It has been shown that hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen and shungite affect the development of the population of cyanobacteria Anabaena variabilis and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in different directions. The growth of cyanobacteria culture slows down in the presence of photosensitizer and hydrogen peroxide. In this case, the number of cells depends on the amount of shungite in the environment. Cyanobacteria Anabaena variabilis and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 grow better in the presence of 10 g/L shungite, but growth is suppressed at 100 g/L. Shungite at 10 g/L protectes cultures from the toxic effects of Bengal pink and hydrogen peroxide, which was determined by the level of photosynthesis efficiency and cell amounts. The growth of Anabaena variabilis (in terms of optical density at 680 nm) has been found to slow down in the presence of only hydrogen peroxide relative to the control. The growth of Anabaena variabilis in the presence of shungite and hydrogen peroxide is restored to the level of control samples. The number of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells slows down significantly in the presence of singlet oxygen. Being combined with singlet oxygen, shungite partially inactivates the action of Bengal pink. At the end of the experiment, the growth of the culture is restored to 60% compared to the control. A similar relationship is observed when evaluating the effectiveness of photosynthesis of cyanobacteria Anabaena variabilis and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Thus, singlet oxygen is more toxic than hydrogen peroxide. This may be due to different mechanisms of action of hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen on cyanobacteria growth. Depending on the content in the water, shungite can stimulate or inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria cells, inactivate the action of a toxicant.

Physiological and biochemical effects of Lantana camara L. allelochemicals on the seed germination of Avena sativa L.

ABSTRACT Lantana camara (L.) is considered one of the main weeds of agricultural crops, and allelochemicals produced by this species may be a source for the development of natural herbicides. In this study, phytotoxic effects of L. camara aqueous extracts on seed germination and seedling growth of Avena sativa (L.) were assessed. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, with treatments resulting from two assays, testing five concentrations of the extract (0 %, 2.5 %, 5.0 %, 7.5 % and 10 %; vv-1). During the seed germination, physiological (e.g., seed imbibition, germination and vigor) and biochemical (e.g., catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, proline, phenols, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide) proprieties were evaluated. The leaf extracts of L. camara affected the response variables on A. sativa by reducing the germination speed index (phases I and II) and seed viability (phase III of germination), thus causing a solute leakage and increasing the production of reactive oxygen forms and, finally, lipid peroxidation. Extract concentrations above 2.5 % inhibit the growth of epicotyls. Therefore, the studied allelochemicals showed potential to be exploited in the development of natural herbicides.

INFLUENCE OF MECHANOMAGNETIC ACTIVATION OF SOLUTIONS CaCl2 AND Na2S2O3 ON PHASE STRUCTURE OF CEMENT STONE

The mechanism of the joint influence of the magnetic field and hydrodynamic cavitation on the properties of CaCl2 and Na2S2O3 solutions used for mixing cement pastes is considered. Hydrodynamic cavitation leads to the formation of reactive oxygen forms, HCO3– anions, carbon dioxide nanobubbles, and initiates the interaction of new forms with impurity metal cations dissolved in water. After mechanomagnetic treatment of the solutions, particles of a solid phase with sizes of 5...10 and 10...100 nm were found in them. The observed increase in the ξ- potential indicates the stabilization of such dispersed systems with the preservation of nanoscale fractions in them (up to 3 days). At the same time, the progress of reactions under the conditions of tightness that occur after cement paste has been mixed. The effect of activating factors in tap water is more pronounced than in distilled water, which is explained by the process of hydration of the carbonate ion and the formation of fine nucleation centers. Using X-ray phase analysis, it was found that, along with calcite, aragonite crystallizes in the resulting cement stone, which is practically absent in the control sample. In addition, the analysis of diffraction patterns taken on the modified samples reveals the inclusion of a carbonate ion. Obviously, optimization of the pore space in the cement stone is achieved both by clogging the pores with fine calcium carbonate, and by forming small pores during crystallization of ettringite-like phases. It is established that the resulting cement stone is characterized by increased strength (by 9-30%) and frost resistance (up to 55%) compared to that obtained by the traditional method.

Reactive oxygen radicals – the therapeutic effectiveness of antioxidants

Oxidative stress occurring in cells is a consequence of an excessive activity of reactive oxygen forms, resulting from an imbalance between the release of free oxygen radicals and their removal from the cell by antioxidant systems. 90% of reactive oxygen radicals emerge in mitochondrial respiratory chain during an incomplete four-electron oxygen reduction. The remaining 10% originate from different reactions occurring in the cell. The established compounds are characterised by a short half-life and are highly reactive. Sparse quantities of free oxygen radicals have a positive effect on cell functions. Oxidative stress leads to damage in cellular membranes, enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins, as well as DNA. Therapy with antioxidants as exogenous dietary supplements aims at preventing or reducing the risk of development of diseases involving the presence of the oxygen radicals. Whether the antioxidant therapy will bring positive or negative effects depends on numerous factors that need to be considered before their inclusion in the applied treatment.

Protective effects of vitamin E against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rabbits

The influence of CCl4 on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), the value of the total antioxidant status (TAS), and the concentration of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) was monitored in plasma or whole blood of rabbits. The administration of CCl4 caused the increase of the SOD activity to approximately 150 % and the decrease in the activity of GPx and GR by about 50 %. These changes were accompanied with the increase in TAS value and MDA concentration and the decrease of GSH concentration. The effect of CCl4 was suppressed by the previous 7 days lasting or simultaneous administration of vitamin E. Oxidative stress caused by CCl4 was accompanied by the development of reactive oxygen forms, especially superoxide radical anion.