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Simple Summary: The placenta serves as the vital interface between maternal and fetal circulation, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the fetus's nutrition and oxygenation. It is, in fact, a highly sophisticated and multifaceted organ, capable of integrating signals from both the mother and the fetus with remarkable efficiency. PAG levels are indicative of the number of fetal cotyledons in the placenta and, consequently, the size of the placenta. This provides insight into placental development and fetal–placental well-being. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of maternal undernutrition on PAG secretion has not been extensively investigated in ruminant species. Starting from this premise, this study aimed to determine whether undernutrition might exert an influence on the production of this glycoprotein, with subsequent implications for embryonic and fetal well-being. To the best of our knowledge, no studies in the literature have reported on the relationship between the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) concentration and undernutrition during pregnancy in sheep. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of undernutrition on the blood concentration of PAGs in pregnant ewes carrying single and multiple fetuses, undergoing either dietary energy restriction or receiving 100% of their energy requirements during the period of maximal placenta growth. From d 24 to 100 of pregnancy, the ewes were fed ryegrass hay and two different iso-proteic concentrates, fulfilling either 100% of the ewes' energy requirements (control group; n = 30, 14 singleton pregnancies, 16 multiple pregnancies) or only 50% (feed-restricted group; n = 29; 11 singleton pregnancies, 18 multiple pregnancies). Blood samples were collected from all the ewes the day before intravaginal sponge insertion (T0) and, thereafter, every 30 days starting from d 24 of gestation (T1) until d 30 after parturition (T6), to determine the PAG, progesterone, NEFA, total protein, and glucose concentrations. Our results showed that PAG concentrations are not only influenced by the number of fetuses, but also by the ewe's diet. In particular, the PAG marginal means were higher in the feed-restricted group than in the control group (7.8 ± 0.6 and 10.8 ± 0.9 ng/mL for the control and feed-restricted groups, respectively; p = 0.040). This finding confirms that a dietary restriction between d 24 and d 100 of gestation leads to a growth in placental functions as inferred from the increase in the concentration of the PAG levels. Therefore, the measurement of PAG concentrations, in addition to serving as a marker of pregnancy, can also serve as a marker of placental functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although intensive care units (ICUs) are where severe and complicated cases are managed, there is limited evidence on treatment outcomes in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the magnitude and associated factors of mortality among patients with sepsis admitted to ICUs at southern Amhara public hospitals, Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 547 medical records of patients with sepsis admitted to the ICUs at Injibara, Debre Markos, and Debre Tabor hospitals in the past 3 years were retrieved from August 10–31, 2022. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported, and a p value < 0.05 was set to declare the significance of the association. Results: In this study, 46.2% (95% CI: 41.7%–50.3%) of patients with sepsis died during their ICU stay. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections contributed to 32.3%, 25.8%, and 9.6% of mortality, respectively. Individuals aged 60 and above (AOR: 4.07; 95% CI: 2.23–7.44), those with a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 10 at admission (AOR: 11.27; 95% CI: 4.64–27.37), respiratory site of infection (AOR: 5.38; 95% CI: 2.94–9.86), creatinine level > 1.1 mg/dL (AOR: 4.20; 95% CI: 2.33–7.60), vasopressor use (AOR: 3.13; 95% CI:1.66–5.95), initiation of antibiotics 1–3 h after admission (AOR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.64–4.76), and a hospital stay of more than 20 days (AOR: 3.44; 95% CI: 1.40–8.46) were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusion: Overall, the mortality rate among patients with sepsis admitted to ICUs in southern Amhara public hospitals was high. Mainly, death was attributed to respiratory infections. Elderly patients and those with deteriorated clinical conditions at admission were at higher risk. Therefore, special attention is needed for elderly patients admitted with respiratory infections, antibiotics should be initiated as early as possible, and interventions must be designed to shorten the length of stay in ICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bisphenol S (BPS) as a substitute of Bisphenol A is increasing in several products and it can be found in different environmental and biological matrices. Its toxicity has been studied at different levels and one of BPS toxic mechanisms at high concentrations seems to be the induction of oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study evaluates the ability of a curcuma and ginger (CG) mixture to exert an antioxidant effect on rat hepatocytes treated with BPS. The effects of the mixture were compared to those of a well-known antioxidant (Trolox). Three different BPS concentrations were used in order to verify ROS production. 70 µg/mL and 150 µg/mL of BPS generated a significant ROS increase (p < 0.01) as compared to control, while CG mixture was able to decrease this ROS production in hepatic cells, as compared to cells treated with 70 µg/ml of BPS (p < 0.01) restoring control levels. BPS 70 µg/mL was tested for total antioxidant capacity (TEAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total thiols. TEAC and SOD significant decreased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) as compared to controls and CG mixture was able to restore control values. Given the widespread BPS use, results obtained in this study can be of high impact for the community, demonstrating the ability of a mixture of natural products to prevent BPS-induced oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of serum or plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations is important to recognize pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, and also to predict the number of carried lambs. The 2 most common methodologies for the detection of plasma P4 are radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RIA is very expensive, and not all laboratories are equipped to perform this test; EIA is commercially available for human use, but only a few companies produce species-specific kits, which are expensive. We verified for ovine plasma a less expensive and easily available ELISA kit (DiaMetra) designed to quantify P4 in humans. Pools of ovine and human plasma were used to compare repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, and stability of P4 measured by the DiaMetra kit. Repeatability data were within 15%, and accuracy values were ~90% for both plasma matrices. Stability data showed a loss of <20% for freeze–thaw and <30% for 30-d storage. All parameters were acceptable under international guidelines for method validation. The human ELISA kit was used successfully to quantify plasma P4 in 26 ewes during pregnancy until delivery. P4 concentrations were also correlated with the number of carried lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Currently, the assessment of sperm function in a raw or processed semen sample is not able to reliably predict sperm ability to withstand freezing and thawing procedures and in vivo fertility and/or assisted reproductive biotechnologies (ART) outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate which parameters among a battery of analyses could predict subsequent spermatozoa in vitro fertilization ability and hence blastocyst output in a goat model. Ejaculates were obtained by artificial vagina from 3 adult goats (Capra hircus) aged 2 years (A, B and C). In order to assess the predictive value of viability, computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) motility parameters and ATP intracellular concentration before and after thawing and of DNA integrity after thawing on subsequent embryo output after an in vitro fertility test, a logistic regression analysis was used. Individual differences in semen parameters were evident for semen viability after thawing and DNA integrity. Results of IVF test showed that spermatozoa collected from A and B lead to higher cleavage rates (0 < 0.01) and blastocysts output (p < 0.05) compared with C. Logistic regression analysis model explained a deviance of 72% (p < 0.0001), directly related with the mean percentage of rapid spermatozoa in fresh semen (p < 0.01), semen viability after thawing (p < 0.01), and with two of the three comet parameters considered, i.e tail DNA percentage and comet length (p < 0.0001). DNA integrity alone had a high predictive value on IVF outcome with frozen/thawed semen (deviance explained: 57%). The model proposed here represents one of the many possible ways to explain differences found in embryo output following IVF with different semen donors and may represent a useful tool to select the most suitable donors for semen cryopreservation.

Abstract This study aimed to test the feasibility of a programme of semen collection and cryopreservation in Griffon vultures. Four wild-caught individuals kept in captivity because of unrecoverable traumas were used. Semen collection attempts were made twice a week during three consecutive reproductive seasons (December – March) using the abdominal massage method. Ejaculation was successfully induced between late January and late February. Semen collection efficiency was rather low (27.9%) and it did not vary among individuals (p > 0.05). No differences were found in ejaculate volumes (12.5 +/- 9.1 μl), spermatozoa concentration (28.4 +/- 30.9 million cells/ml) and viability (61.3 +/- 13.9%) among the 4 vultures. ATP values differed among the four vultures (p < 0.001); B showed higher nucleotide concentration than both C and D, while it did not differ form A, whose values were higher compared with D. After freezing and thawing, semen in vitro viability, DNA integrity and ATP intracellular concentration were determined. Spermatozoa viability after thawing did not differ among the four individuals (52.6 +/- 5.8 in A, 53.4 +/- 4.6 in B, 50.4 +/- 3.2 in C, 42.5 +/- 2.7 in D), but it decreased significantly compared to fresh semen (p < 0.05). During 4 hrs in vitro culture, spermatozoa collected from B maintained over time a higher viability in vitro when compared to A, C and D. As evaluated by the comet assay method, DNA fragmentation after freezing and thawing did not differ in the 4 vultures. ATP concentration in frozen/thawed semen was significantly lower than in fresh semen (p < 0.0001). This study indicates that semen cryopreservation can be considered as a useful tool in the conservation of Griffon vulture genetic resources, but further studies are needed to optimize this technique.