A Morphological and Behavioral Study of Demyelination and Remyelination in the Cuprizone Model: Insights into APLNR and NG2+ Cell Dynamics.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder involving demyelination. The cuprizone model is commonly used to study MS by inducing oligodendrocyte stress and demyelination. The subventricular zone (SVZ) plays a key role in neurogenesis, while the neuronal/glial antigen 2 (NG2) is a marker for immature glial cells, involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation.

The modeling of human implantation and early placentation: achievements and perspectives.

Background: Successful implantation is a critical step for embryo survival. The major losses in natural and assisted human reproduction appeared to occur during the peri-implantation period. Because of ethical constraints, the fascinating maternal-fetal crosstalk during human implantation is difficult to study and thus, the possibility for clinical intervention is still limited.

Cytotoxic Effects of Plant Secondary Metabolites and Naturally Occurring Bioactive Peptides on Breast Cancer Model Systems: Molecular Mechanisms.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, and the number of mortal cases in diagnosed patients is constantly increasing. The search for new plant compounds with antitumor effects is very important because of the side effects of conventional therapy and the development of drug resistance in cancer cells. The use of plant substances in medicine has been well known for centuries, but the exact mechanism of their action is far from being elucidated.

Transcriptomic Differences by RNA Sequencing for Evaluation of New Method for Long-Time In Vitro Culture of Cryopreserved Testicular Tissue for Oncologic Patients.

Background: Earlier studies have established that culturing human ovarian tissue in a 3D system with a small amount of soluble Matrigel (a basement membrane protein) for 7 days in vitro increased gene fusion and alternative splicing events, cellular functions, and potentially impacted gene expression. However, this method was not suitable for in vitro culture of human testicular tissue.

Objective: To test a new method for long-time in vitro culture of testicular fragments, thawed with two different regimes, with evaluation of transcriptomic differences by RNA sequencing.

Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation Exposure on Human Male Gametes: Damage or Benefit.

With the improvement of medical devices for diagnosis and radiotherapy, concerns about the effects of low doses of ionizing radiation are also growing. There is no consensus among scientists on whether they might have beneficial effects on humans in certain cases or pose more risks, making the exposure unreasonable. While the damaging consequences of high-dose radiation have been known since the discovery of radioactivity, low-dose effects present a much bigger investigative challenge.

Three live births after human embryo vitrification with the use of aluminum oxide as an intermediate cooling agent: a case report.

Objective: To study the possibility of increasing the cooling rates of the vitrification procedure in a closed system with the use of aluminum oxide as an intermediate coolant.

Design: Case report.

Subjects: Six patients undergoing procedures for assisted reproduction.

Predatory Odor Exposure as a Potential Paradigm for Studying Emotional Modulation of Memory Consolidation-The Role of the Noradrenergic Transmission in the Basolateral Amygdala.

The pivotal role of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the emotional modulation of hippocampal plasticity and memory consolidation is well-established. Specifically, multiple studies have demonstrated that the activation of the noradrenergic (NA) system within the BLA governs these modulatory effects. However, most current evidence has been obtained by direct infusion of synthetic NA or beta-adrenergic agonists.

Intelligent Animal Husbandry: Present and Future.

The main priorities in the contemporary breeding of different animal species have been directed toward the use of intelligent approaches for accelerating genetic progress, ensuring animal welfare and environmental protection by reducing the release of manure and gas emissions [...

Model of micro-metastases of breast cancer cells in ovarian tissue: Cryopreservation of ZR-75-1 and MDA-MB-231 cells with increased speed of warming increases malignancy.

In medicine, ovarian tissue cryopreservation exists for fertility preservation of cancer patients. In fact, ovarian tissue frozen for subsequent thawing and re-transplantation can be contaminated with cancer cells. Therefore, investigations on the effect of cryopreservation on the post-thawed viability of such cells are relevant.

Duration of antibody response to the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 in infected or vaccinated individuals - A one year retrospective cohort study.

The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic raised many scientific and medical questions. Of interest are the duration and effectiveness of the humoral immune response, especially since part of the pandemic occurred in the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We retrospectively studied 564 serum samples from 393 post-infected and vaccinated individuals to investigate the longevity and magnitude of the anti-spike IgG response.

HLA-G Expression/Secretion and T-Cell Cytotoxicity in Missed Abortion in Comparison to Normal Pregnancy.

The main role of HLA-G is to protect the semi-allogeneic embryo from immune rejection by proper interaction with its cognate receptors on the maternal immune cells. Spontaneous abortion is the most common adverse pregnancy outcome, with an incidence rate between 10% and 15%, with immunologic dysregulation being thought to play a role in some of the cases. In this study, we aimed to detect the membrane and soluble HLA-G molecule at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) and in the serum of women experiencing missed abortion (asymptomatic early pregnancy loss) in comparison to the women experiencing normal early pregnancy.

In vitro characteristics of X- and Y-bearing ram spermatozoa sorted by bovine serum albumin (BSA) column and TLR7/8 ligand R848.

The quality of the separated fractions in sex-sorted semen is very important for the success of the artificial insemination. This study aimed to evaluate some in vitro characteristics (DNA quantity, kinematic parameters and enzymes activity) of X- and Y-bearing ram spermatozoa sorted by bovine serum albumin (BSA) column and toll-like receptors (TLR)7/8 ligand R848. The ejaculates from six rams were collected by artificial vagina and subjected to a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA).

Resurrection Plants-A Valuable Source of Natural Bioactive Compounds: From Word-of-Mouth to Scientifically Proven Sustainable Use.

Resurrection plant species are a group of higher plants whose vegetative tissues are able to withstand long periods of almost full desiccation and recover quickly upon rewatering. Apart from being a model system for studying desiccation tolerance, resurrection plant species appear to be a valuable source of metabolites, with various areas of application. A significant number of papers have been published in recent years with respect to the extraction and application of bioactive compounds from higher resurrection plant species in various test systems.

The testicular form of angiotensin converting enzyme as a marker for human sperm quality assessment.

Spermatozoa are rapidly changing cellular structures that are highly dependent on their interaction with the environment. These interactions cause fundamental changes in the spermatozoa's cells and membrane.

Self-Assembled Molecular Complexes of 1,10-Phenanthroline and 2-Aminobenzimidazoles: Synthesis, Structure Investigations, and Cytotoxic Properties.

Three new molecular complexes (phen)(2-amino-Bz)(H)(BF)·3HO , (phen)(2-amino-5(6)-methyl-Bz)(H)(BF)·HO , and (phen)(1-methyl-2-amino-Bz)(H)(BF) , were prepared by self-assembly of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and various substituted 2-aminobenzimidazoles. Confirmation of their structures was established through spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystal structure of is stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds and short contacts.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses for the Optimization of Thawing Regimes during Conventional Cryopreservation of Mature and Immature Human Testicular Tissue.

Cryopreservation of human testicular tissue, as a key element of anticancer therapy, includes the following stages: saturation with cryoprotectants, freezing, thawing, and removal of cryoprotectants. According to the point of view existing in "classical" cryobiology, the thawing mode is the most important consideration in the entire process of cryopreservation of any type of cells, including cells of testicular tissue. The existing postulate in cryobiology states that any frozen types of cells must be thawed as quickly as possible.

Jacalin-Curcumin Complex Sensitizes the Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cell Line.

Protein-drug interactions are crucial for understanding drug delivery and cell functions. Jacalin is a suitable molecule for such targeting, as it specifically recognizes the tumor-associated Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen that is expressed on the glycosylated proteins in cancer cells. The present paper describes the interaction of curcumin and jacalin, a possible carrier molecule for the delivery of antitumor drugs due to its ability to recognize tumor cells.

Validation of the Sw71-spheroid model with primary trophoblast cells.

Problem: Human implantation is a limiting factor for the success of natural and IVF reproduction since about 60% of pregnancy losses occur in the peri-implantation period. The in vitro modeling of human implantation challenges the researchers in accurate recreation of the complex in vivo differentiation and function of human blastocyst in the peri-implantation period. In previous studies, we constructed Sw71-spheroid models, which like human blastocyst undergo compactization, attaches to the endometrial epithelium, invade, and migrate.

Improvement of diluted semen from Muscovy (Cairina moschata) drakes by the addition of water-soluble antioxidants.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplementation in diluted semen from Muscovy drakes after the induction of oxidative stress (OS) on the sperm motility, kinematic parameters and biochemical markers - lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and total glutathione (tGSH) concentration. The pooled semen was distributed equally into three parts, diluted (1:3 v/v) with IMV Canadyl, HIA-1 or AU, and stored at 4°C for 6 h. Later, the semen was equilibrated at 20-25°C for 15 min, and divided in Eppendorf tubes.

SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T cells exhibit unique responses in infected and vaccinated individuals.

Long-term humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is essential for preventing reinfection. The production of neutralizing antibody (nAb) and B cell differentiation are tightly regulated by T follicular help (T) cells. However, the longevity and functional role of T cell subsets in COVID-19 convalescents and vaccine recipients remain poorly defined.

A Standardized Extract of L., Containing the Active Ingredients Petasins, Acts as a Pro-Oxidant and Triggers Apoptosis through Elevating of NF-κB in a Highly Invasive Human Breast Cancer Cell Line.

Background: Common butterbur ( L.) is a traditional medicinal plant with numerous therapeutic properties among which is its recently uncovered anti-tumor activity. The present study aims to examine the activity of a standardized Bulgarian L.

Machine Learning Approach for Muscovy Duck () Semen Quality Assessment.

This study aimed to develop a comprehensive approach for assessing fresh ejaculate from Muscovy duck () drakes to fulfil the requirements of artificial insemination in farm practices. The approach combines sperm kinetics (CASA) with non-kinetic parameters, such as vitality, enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase (AP), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and γ-glutamyl-transferase (GGT)), and total DNA methylation as training features for a set of machine learning (ML) models designed to enhance the predictive capacity of sperm parameters. Samples were classified based on their progressive motility and DNA methylation features, exhibiting significant differences in total and progressive motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), velocity of the average path (VAP), linear velocity (VSL), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), beat-cross frequency (BCF), and live normal sperm cells in favour of fast motility ones.

The influence of L-proline and fulvic acid on oxidative stress and semen quality of buffalo bull semen following cryopreservation.

Background: This study investigates the effects of cryopreservation and supplementation of Azeri water buffalo's semen with proline (Lp) and fulvic acid (FA).

Objectives: Therefore, this study aimed to assess motility parameters, sperm viability, oxidative stress parameters, and DNA damage to detect the optimum concentrations of Lp and FA for buffalo semen cryopreservation.

Methods: Thirty semen samples of three buffalo bulls were diluted in Tris-egg yolk extender and divided into 12 equal groups including control (C), Lp-10, Lp-20, Lp-40, Lp-60, Lp-80 (containing 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 mM L-proline, respectively), FA-0.

Autophagy and SARS-CoV-2-Old Players in New Games.

At present it is well-defined that autophagy is a fundamental process essential for cell life but its pro-viral and anti-viral role has been stated out with the COVID pandemic. However, viruses in turn have evolved diverse adaptive strategies to cope with autophagy driven host defense, either by blocking or hijacking the autophagy machinery for their own benefit. The mechanisms underlying autophagy modulation are presented in the current review which summarizes the accumulated knowledge on the crosstalk between autophagy and viral infections, with a particular emphasizes on SARS-CoV-2.

Twist1-IRF9 Interaction Is Necessary for IFN-Stimulated Gene Anti-Zika Viral Infection.

An efficient immune defense against pathogens requires sufficient basal sensing mechanisms that can deliver prompt responses. Type I IFNs are protective against acute viral infections and respond to viral and bacterial infections, but their efficacy depends on constitutive basal activity that promotes the expression of downstream genes known as IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Type I IFNs and ISGs are constitutively produced at low quantities and yet exert profound effects essential for numerous physiological processes beyond antiviral and antimicrobial defense, including immunomodulation, cell cycle regulation, cell survival, and cell differentiation.