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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous oxytocin and PGF2a on seminal quality and libido sexualis in bucks. To investigate the role of these hormones on male fertility, semen samples from 20 Norduz bucks (3-4 years of age) were collected with an artificial vagina twice a week with five replications in breeding season. Bucks were randomly assigned to five groups, control group was administered with 2 mL of sodium chloride, 0.9% (w/v)) i.m., whilst the experimental groups were administered with oxytocin 10 IU, i.v. (Group 1, n = 5), oxytocin 20 IU, i.v. (Group 2, n = 5), PGF2a 5 mg, i.m. (Group 3, n = 5) or PGF2a 10 mg, i.m. (Group 4, n = 5) 20 min before each collection. There was no statistical difference between the treatment groups in terms of motility (P>0.05). However, semen volume, concentration, abnormal spermatozoa rate, intact membrane rate and libido results were statistically significant among the different groups (P<0.05). As a result, administration of 20 IU oxytocin twenty minutes prior to semen collection in bucks did not improve overall semen quality, however, libido, semen volume, and sperm concentrations were increased. In contrast to oxytocin, PGF2a administration has led to a slight decrease in libido and has shown moderate effects on semen quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is an important multipurpose forage grass crop of Türkiye. The aim of the study was to compare the yield potential of 5 local and exotic cultivars (Trinova, Vivaro, Elif, Caramba and Grasslands Bill) for their adaptability and appropriateness to long and short-term practices at Konya and Ankara locations of Central Anatolia during 2020-2021. Plant height, ADF, NDF, crude protein ratio, dry matter digestibility, relative feed value, fresh and dry forage yields, and crude protein yield were evaluated and compared. The highest dry forage yield in all three mowings was obtained from Caramba (1 mowing: 9869 kg ha-1, 2 mowings: 17681 kg ha-1, and 3 mowings: 22154 kg ha-1) at Konya location whereas, highest dry forage yield was obtained from Trinova with a maximum yield of 10452 kg ha-1 while the difference in total dry forage yield among other cultivars was statistically non significant for 2 and 3 mowings at Ankara location. This study meets objectives by identifying varied potentials of the cultivars, and their suitability in hot and humid continental climate of Ankara and cold semi-arid climate of Konya in Central Anatolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the use and effectiveness of two different stains, one fixative solution and Motile Sperm Organelle Morphology Examination (MSOME) on morphological characteristics of spermatozoa in fresh dog semen samples from epididymis. After routine castration, cauda epididymides were collected from 20 dog testes. Morphological abnormalities were evaluated by using Hancock's buffered formol saline solution, the aniline blue stain, Diff-Quik stain and MSOME analysis in epididymal semen. Conventional semen analysies and MSOME were simultaneously performed on the same sample from each dog. Percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, head abnormality and acrosomal defects were significantly higher in samples with two different staining methods and one fixative solution than MSOME technique. It was concluded that the usage of the Aniline blue stain may be an efficient method for evaluating the sperm morphology of dog semen. Although no correlation was established amoung four different methods on sperm morphology assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and oxytocin have been used to improve reproductive performance in many mammalian species, including humans. The aim of the present study was to determine their effects on sperm quality when extended stallion semen was enriched with PGF2α or oxytocin. In this study, 16 healthy adult stallions, each 15-22 years old, were used. Five ejaculates from each stallion were collected with an artificial vagina during breeding season. Thereafter, gel-free semen was divided into 7 aliquots and diluted with an INRA96 semen extender. The following different treatments were evaluated: 3 with only PGF2α (10, 20, and 40 µg/mL) and 3 with only oxytocin (2, 3, and 4 IU/mL). Sperm quality was evaluated before and after applying the different treatments. In vitro addition of oxytocin to semen did not show improvement in any of the sperm quality parameters measured. However, sperm supplementation with 40 µg of PGF2α caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) in diluted semen motility. We concluded that the addition of PGF2α to elder stallions' semen may help maintain sperm motility. Future research might assess the effects of PGF2α on fertility. Our results were based on in vitro evaluations, and thus further fertility trials are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Less than half of migraineurs receive prescription treatment and this causes a great loss of economical resources. We aimed to evaluate the effect of migraine treatment on migraine-related economic burden among migraineurs employed in schools. Methods Forty-two subjects with migraine with two or more attacks per month included in this study. The first three-month phase was screening phase, followed by "medication adjustment phase" and the "treatment phase". Subjects prescribed symptomatic treatment only or preventive and symptomatic treatment. All subjects kept the records of the frequency, intensity and duration of headaches, number of days missed from work, decreased productivity at work, number of acute medication intake and referral to the emergency department during an attack. Results Frequency, severity and duration of headache, monthly headache days, analgesic intake per month, number of days with producvtivity loss were found to be significantly lower during treatment phase than screening phase (p<0.05). Impact of treatment started on the fourth and fifth months of the study. Direct cost in the treatment phase was significantly higher compared to the screening phase (p<0.05). Conclusion Our study results showed that migraine treatment significantly decreased indirect cost of migraine. Maximum effort should be made by the headache societies in order to increase the treatment rates of migraine sufferers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different temperatures and doses on stallion sperm survival after 24 h and 48 h short-term storage. Ejaculates from four warm-blooded stallions were used in this study. Ejaculates were collected by an open-ended artificial vagina which separates fractions of semen into sterile plastic cups. Only the second and third fractions (spermatozoa-rich fractions) were used to obtain spermatozoa for the experiment. Semen was diluted with INRA 96 extender to final concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400×106sp/ml. Diluted semen were stored at different temperatures (2, 4 or 8°C) for 24-48 h. After 24 h and 48 h cooled storage, spermatozoon motility, abnormal spermatozoon ratio and membrane integrity were evaluated. According to results the highest motility values (52.5% and 55%) were determined at 50 and 100 ×106sp/ml concentration at 4°C after 24 h cooled storage After 48 h of storage, the highest motility was obtained from semen stored at 8°C. Abnormal spermatozoon and membrane integrity values were not significantly different after cooled storage. Consequently, it was determined that semen with 50 and 100 million spermatozoa/ml concentration stored at 4°C for 24 h and semen with 50,100, 200, 400 million spermatozoa/ml concentration stored at 8°C tor 48 h gave better results with respect to motility than the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of allograft function entails methods more accurate than serum creatinine and creatinine-based GFR equations ( eGFR). This prospective trial aimed at investigating the diagnostic accuracy of creatinine- and cystatin C-based eGFR with measured GFR ( mGFR) and compared them with graft fibrosis detected by protocol biopsies ( PBx). Forty-four kidney transplant recipients were enrolled. PBx were obtained postengraftment and at 6th and 12th months. GFR was measured by Tc-99m DTPA at 3th, 6th, and 12th months after transplantation. Significant correlation existed between eGFR and mGFR at 3, 6, and 12 months ( P < 0.0001). Cystatin C-based Hoek and Larsson equations had the lowest bias and highest accuracy. The sum of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy score increased from implantation to 6th and 12th months (0.52 ± 0.79, 0.84 ± 0.88, 1.50 ± 1.35). This was accompanied by reduction of mGFR from 54.1 ± 15.2 to 49.9 ± 15.2 and 46.8 ± 16.5 ml/min/1.73 m2, while serum creatinine, cystatin C, and eGFR remained stable. Neither creatinine- nor cystatin C-based GFR equations are reliable for detecting insidious graft fibrosis. In the first year after transplantation, mGFR, with its best proximity to histopathology, can be used to monitor allograft function and insidious graft fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to examine correlations of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels with age, ovarian function and fertility performance in purebred Arabian mares and to assess the potential use of AMH concentrations as a fertility indicator for the selection of breeder animals. For this purpose, thirty-six non-lactating purebred Arabian mares with no previous fertility problems constituted the material of the study. The animals were assigned to groups according to their age: Group I (aged 4-8 years), group II (9-18 years) and group III (19-25 years). Mean serum AMH concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.001) in group II (0.873±0.096 ng/mL) than in groups I (0.466±0.051 ng/mL) and III (0.347±0.068 ng/mL). Furthermore, serum AMH concentration was positively correlated with the daily increase in ovarian follicle diameter as well with mares with higher conception rates. It was also negatively correlated with anovulation and number of mating per conception. In summary, a strong relationship was found between peripheral AMH concentrations and fertility performance in purebred Arabian mares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing progression and chronification of episodic migraine, we conducted a 12-month face to face follow-up study of episodic migraine patients. Methods: One hundred eighty patients with episodic migraine were enrolled. 120 parameters were analyzed including demographic factors, social and life-style features, comorbid medical illnesses and headache characteristics. After the first evaluation, all patients was scheduled to a structured face to face interview at 3-months interval for one-year. Results: Thirty-two (17,7%) patients developed chronic daily headache. Four out of 32 (2,2%) had definite chronic migraine. Low education level, obesity, greater tea consumption (≥4 cups/daily), predominantly hot and spicy diet, high headache frequency, long duration of headache and presence of allodynia at baseline, and more days with symptomatic drug intake were significant risk factors for progression and chronification of migraine. Cox regression analysis revealed triptan and NSAID intake, hot and spicy eating habit and allodynia as risk factors for chronification. Conclusion: Higher amount of tea consumption, hot and spicy diet appeared to be new risk factors for chronification of migraine. Weight gain is one of the most important risk factors. Patients should be warned about the risk factors to prevent chronification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]