Fish sperm show many measurable parameters which react sensitively in a dose- and time-dependent way to toxic exposure. Fish sperm is therefore used as an in vitro toxicology test system. One of the most sensitive and easily detectable parameters is progressive motility which can be measured by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of age on the sensitivity of zebrafish sperm against mercury exposure was investigated in the present study. Although results of the use of sperm from mature individuals for toxicity tests have been published, there is no information about the exact age of the fish in some cases, which can affect the results. During the experiments, pooled sperm was stripped from males of 7, 12, or 18 months of age, divided into 5 sub-groups, diluted with different concentrations of Hg (0, 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of our study was to investigate the effects of heavy metals on the fertilizing capacity of exposed zebrafish sperm, on embryonic survival, and on occurrence of embryonic deformities following fertilization with exposed sperm. It is important to test heavy metals because they are well-known pollutants. Sperm of externally fertilizing species can get in contact with pollutants found in aquatic environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we aimed to develop a practical protocol for using cryopreserved sperm for induced/wild/tank spawning of fish species with external fertilization. Experiments were carried out on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) as a model species. Sperm was collected for cryopreservation and diluted with the cryomedium (266 mM fructose, 20% methanol) at a ratio of 1:1 with a final methanol concentration of 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFish Physiol Biochem
December 2018
The effect of heavy metals on the motility parameters of common carp sperm was investigated. In vitro test systems are widespread in ecotoxicology, and fish sperm can be a suitable model. For this reason, studies had been carried out in this topic; however, the published methods are not standard in several aspects (donor species, measured endpoint, etc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND In our previous study, some changes were presented in obstetric care and we studied the morbidity and mortality trends of infants with <500 grams birth weight. Several neonatal protocol changes occurred during the study period. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in mortality and morbidity of premature infants in light of changing neonatal protocols.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVitrification was applied to the sperm of two endangered fish species of Soča River basin in Slovenia, the Adriatic grayling (Thymallus thymallus) and marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) following testing different cooling devices and vitrifying media. Sperm was collected, diluted in species-specific non-activating media containing cryoprotectants, and vitrified by plunging directly into liquid nitrogen without pre-cooling. Progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, and straightness of fresh and vitrified-warmed sperm were evaluated with computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of sodium and potassium concentrations as well as optimal pH on the motility of common carp Cyprinus carpio L. sperm during short-term storage in artificial seminal plasma (ASP) was investigated. Sperm was collected from individual males (n = 5) and each sample diluted tenfold (1:9) in ASP (sperm:extender) containing 2 mM CaCl, 1 mM MgSO and 20 mM Tris at pH 8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of seven heavy metals on the motility parameter of zebrafish sperm was tested in order to develop an in vitro toxicological test system as an alternative to live animal testing. In vitro test systems are currently preferred in ecotoxicology due to their practical and ethical advantages and fish sperm can be a suitable model. A number of studies had been carried out previously on this topic, but the described methods had not been standardized in numerous aspects (donor species, measured endpoint, etc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring the last years, several research groups have been working on the development and improvement of new protocols for the European eel handling and maturation. As of yet, weekly injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have proved to maturate males after just 5-6 weeks of treatment, producing high volumes of high-quality sperm during several weeks. In addition, sperm cryopreservation protocols using different extenders, cryoprotectants and cooling and thawing times have been previously described for European eel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cryopreservation of zebrafish embryos is still an unsolved problem despite market demand and massive efforts to preserve genetic variation among numerous existing lines. Chilled storage of embryos might be a step towards developing successful cryopreservation, but no methods to date have worked.
Methods: In the present study, we applied a novel strategy to improve the chilling tolerance of zebrafish embryos by introducing a preconditioning hydrostatic pressure treatment to the embryos.
The applicability of a programmable freezer for the increased-scale cryopreservation of common carp sperm was investigated. The effect of different equilibration times, cryopreservation methods, extenders, dilution ratios, activating solutions on the post-thaw motility of common carp sperm was investigated. The suitable post-thaw storage time-interval as well as fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm was also examined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData of our 254 patients who were treated with rt-PA between 1st of Jan, 2011 and 31st of Dec, 2014 were processed. We focused on angioneurotic oedema as allergic complication of thrombolysis which caused life threatening respiratory obstruction in two cases. We describe these two patients' history.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVitrification was successfully applied to the sperm of two fish species, the freshwater Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) and marine European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Sperm was collected, diluted in species-specific non-activating media and cryoprotectants and vitrified by plunging directly into liquid nitrogen without pre-cooling in its vapor. Progressive motility of fresh and vitrified-thawed sperm was evaluated with computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The mortality and morbidity of extremely low birth weight infants (birth weight below 1000 grams) are different from low birth weight and term infants. The Centers for Disease Control statistics from the year 2009 shows that the mortality of preterm infants with a birth weight less than 500 grams is 83.4% in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo different cryopreservation methods were compared and an optimal dilution ratio for the use of controlled-rate freezer (CRF) was established for Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) sperm. Progressive motility (72 ± 15%) and curvilinear velocity (VCL, 146 ± 11 μm/s) of sperm cryopreserved with CRF did not reduce significantly compared to fresh sperm [progressive motility (90 ± 4%), VCL (173 ± 24 μm/s)]. On the other hand, progressive motility (62 ± 15%) and VCL (120 ± 21 μm/s) of sperm cryopreserved with the conventional floating frame technique were significantly lower when compared to the fresh control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare but life-threatening condition, manifests as acute attacks of facial, laryngeal, genital, or peripheral swelling or abdominal pain secondary to intra-abdominal edema. Resulting from mutations affecting C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), inhibitor of the first complement system component, attacks are not histamine-mediated and do not respond to antihistamines or corticosteroids. Low awareness and resemblance to other disorders often delay diagnosis; despite availability of C1-INH replacement in some countries, no approved, safe acute attack therapy exists in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBratisl Lek Listy
July 2003
Esophageal cancer is the tenth most common malignancy. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of carcinoma of distal esophagus. Unfortunately, early esophageal cancer is commonly asymptomatic and inaccessible to examinstion during regular physical examination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe first prototype of an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was constructed in Japan in 1980. The evolution continued quickly and within the past ten years this method became available in routine practice. One of the most significant indications of EUS in esophagus are locoregional staging and posttherapeutic monitoring of the esophageal cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEsophageal cancer has a poor prognosis. The diagnosis in clinical practise is often made in advanced stages when curative treatment is impossible. Overall five year survival is reached only in 10% of patients and a palliative treatment is indicated in 60% of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe data from the National Cancer Registry in Slovakia showed 306 esophageal cancers in 1999 (288 men and 18 women). There has been a 5-fold increase in the incidence of esophageal cancer among men in the past 30 years as compared to women in whom no significant chance occurred. The reported 1999 raw incidence of esophageal cancer (per 100000) was 11.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with Barrett's esophagus have 30-40 times higher risk of developing adenocarcinoma of distal esophagus. Treatment of Barrett's esophagus without dysplasia is identical with treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. (Tab.
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