Prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in shelter dogs of southeastern Türkiye.

Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan parasite found in humans and several mammals. This parasite spreads worldwide and is generally recognized as a zoonotic agent being reported to be one of the most common causes of diarrhea in humans and animals. In this study, it was aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of G. duodenalis in shelter dogs in Diyarbakir province being located in the southeastern Anatolia region of Türkiye. Native-Lugol method and nested polymerase chain reaction analyses of 100 fecal samples showed a prevalence of 3.00 and 4.00%, respectively. The prevalence was higher in females and in those younger than 1 year. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of zoonotic assemblage B, assemblage D and assemblage E. The detection of zoonotic assemblage B in this study suggests that dogs may be a reservoir for human giardiasis. Further molecular research is needed to determine the genotype diversity of Giardia as well as its possible role in the transmission of this parasite to humans.

Nephroprotective effect of ferulic acid on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats.

Ferulic acid is a kind of phenolic compound that can be found in various fruits and vegetables. This study aims to investigate the effect of ferulic acid on nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin (GM). In this study, rats were separated into 4 groups such that each containing 8 randomly selected rats: Control group, Ferulic Acid (FA) group, Gentamicin (GM) group and Gentamicin + Ferulic acid (GM + FA) group. Blood samples were collected after 24 hours following the 8-day trial period, and kidneys were taken out for histopathological evaluation. Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid and LDH analyses were performed in autoanalyzer while Malondialdehyde (MDA), Advanced Oxidized Protein Products (AOPP), Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) analyses were performed in ELISA, and kidney tissues were also examined histopathologically. Urea (p < .001), creatinine (p < .001), MDA (p < .01), AOPP (p < .001), IL-6 (p < .01) and TNF-α (p < .001) levels were found to be statistically and significantly lowered in GM + FA group when compared to GM group. As a result, ferulic acid has reduced the inflammation in nephrotoxicity induced by GM, causing decreased oxidative stress. In this study, anti-inflammatory features of ferulic acid have come to the forefront rather than the antioxidant features. It can be said that ferulic acid reduces nephrotoxic damage and has protective properties for kidneys.

The effect of evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis) on the level of adiponectin and some biochemical parameters in rats with fructose induced metabolic syndrome.

The effect of evening primrose oil on adiponectin level and some biochemical parameters in model of fructose-induced metabolic syndrome were investigated. The rats were divided into 4 groups: control, evening primrose oil, fructose, fructose + evening primrose oil. Body weight, daily feed and water consumptions and systolic blood pressures of animals were measured. At the end of trial, blood samples were taken, livers were excised and histopathological examination was performed. Glucose, uric acid, triglyceride, T.cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, adiponectin, insulin, IL-6, TNF-α, TAC, and TOS levels were analysed. Some analysed parameters and systolic blood pressure of fructose + evening primrose oil group decreased significantly compared to fructose group and adiponectin, TAC, and HDL levels were significantly increased. As conclusion, evening primrose oil can be considered as antioxidant agent by reducing oxidative stress, increasing adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammatory properties, exhibiting anti-atherogenic effect by regulating dyslipidemia and systolic blood pressure.

Protective effect of date extract on rat nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin, clinical, histological and antioxidant evidences.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of the date extract (Phoenix dactylifera) on certain biochemical parameters and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index in nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin. The rats used in the study were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 8 rats: control group, date extract (DE) group, gentamicin (GEN) group, gentamicin+date extract (GEN+DE) group. Blood samples and kidney tissues were taken 24 hours after eight days of trial. Urea, Creatinine, BUN, Na, Cl and K analyzes on the serum samples were carried out in auto analyzer. One of the kidney tissues was examined histopathologically. The supernatant, which was obtained by homogenizing the other kidney tissue was used in TAS and TOS analyzes. OSI was calculated using the formula. Urea, Creatinine, and BUN levels were higher in the GEN group, when compared to the other groups (p<0.001), while Na (p<0.05), Cl and K levels (p<0.001) were lower than those of the other groups. When the control group and the GEN group were compared, it was observed that the level of TAS decreased in the renal tissue and the level of TAS increased in the GEN+DE group. It was determined that TOS (p<0.01) and OSI (p<0.001) levels increased in the GEN group and renal TOS and OSI levels decreased in the GEN+DE group when compared to the GEN group. In conclusion, when the histopathological changes in kidney tissue with antioxidant and oxidant status in nephrotoxicity with gentamicin are examined, it can be said that date extract with gentamicin attenuates nephrotoxicity caused by gentamicin and date extract protects the kidney.

Oxidant/Antioxidant Status, PON1 and ARES Activities, Trace Element Levels, and Histological Alterations in Sheep with Cystic Echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI), nitric oxide (NO), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) levels, paraoxonase (PON1), arylesterase (ARES) activities, and biochemical changes were studied on sheep with cystic echinococcosis. METHODS: The materials were taken from 2-3 yr old sheep slaughtered in Van Province, Turkey in 2017. Before the slaughter, blood samples were collected from the healthy sheep, while various organs of animals were examined for hydatid cysts after the slaughter. Thirty sheep were protoscolex positive, hydatic group, while 30 sheep that did not have any pathological lesions in organ examinations were accepted as the control group. TOS levels, PON1 and ARES activities, and Zn levels were determined by commercial kits, while Cu levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The collected data were then statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Serum TOS and OSI levels were significantly higher in sheep with cystic echinococcosis compared to the control group (P<0.001). TAS levels (P<0.01), PON1 and ARES activities, on the other hand, were significantly higher in control group compared to the cystic echinococcosis group (P<0.001). There were no significant differences in Zn, NO and Cu levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: PON1 and ARES activities increased in sheep infected with cyst hydatid. The decline of antioxidant reserves in the metabolism results in excessive amounts of free radicals, along with alterations of the normal histological structure of the cystic organ and changes in trace element metabolism.

Investigation of the Protective Effect of Kefir against Isoproterenol Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats.

This study aims to investigate the protective effects of kefir against myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol (ISO). The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, each group consisting of 8 rats. The control group, the kefir group (5 mL/kg/d kefir administered to rats as intra-gastric gavage for 60 d), the ISO group (100 mg/kg ISO was administered to rats, s.c. on 61. and 62. d), and kefir+ISO group (5 mL/kg/d kefir was administered to rats intra gastric gavage for 60 days prior to ISO, 100 mg/kg in two doses on day 61 and 62). 12 h after the last ISO dose, all rats were decapitated and their blood samples were collected. Cardiac tissue was reserved for histopathological examination. creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides, total cholesterol,very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and glucose were measured by autoanalyzer, whole blood malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and plasma advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels were measured spectrophotometrically. It was determined that in the group of kefir+ISO, the levels of AST (p<0.001), CK (p<0.001), LDH (p<0.001), MDA (p<0.001) and AOPP (p<0.001) were decreased, while the GSH (p<0.05) increased, compared to ISO group. There were no significant changes in lipid profile and glucose levels between these two groups. In conclusion, by examining cardiac enzymes and histopathological changes in cardiac tissue, it can be concluded that the administration of kefir in myocardial infarction induced by ISO can protect the heart with its antioxidant characteristic and minimize the toxic damage created by ISO.

Grape seed extract effects on serum amylase levels and immunohistochemical alterations in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In this study, serum amylase activity and structural changes of the pancreatic tissue in rats under the effects of grape seed extract were investigated. Thirty-two female Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups. First one was the control group. The second group was the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) group (45 mg/kg), while the third group was the grape seed extract (GSE) group, where the GSE was administrated intragastrically for 20 days (at 0.6 ml/rat). Lastly, the fourth group was the diabetes mellitus+GSE (DM+GSE) group. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for amylase activity. Caspase 3 expressions were inspected with immunohistochemistry. Amylase levels in the diabetic group were found to be the lowest (794.00±44.85 U/L, p<0.001), while the GSE group had the highest value (1623.63±80.04 U/L, p<0.001) Number of apoptotic cells was increased in Langerhans islets of the diabetic group. In the control and GSE groups, the apoptotic cells were found to be almost entirely absent. Increased number of apoptotic cells was found in the DM group, while decreased number of apoptotic cells was found in the DM+GSE group. Furthermore, atrophy in Langerhans islets, hyperemia in capillary veins, hydropic degeneration and necrosis in islet cells were determined in the diabetic group. Only mild hydropic degeneration in islet cells of Langerhans was observed in the DM+GSE group. Histopathologically beneficial changes in the pancreases were detected when grape seed extract was given to diabetic rats. As a conclusion, GSE was determined to have positive effects on the function and structure of the pancreas, improving enzyme activities and the structure of the Langerhans islets.