DNA oxidative damage in oral cancer: 8-hydroxy-2´-deoxyguanosine immunoexpression assessment.

BACKGROUND: The development and establishment of oral squamous cell carcinoma are confined to carcinogenesis, which involves oxidative stress via oxygen-free radical production as a hydroxyl radical (HO•), considered the most important cause of oxidative damage to basic biomolecules since it targets DNA strands. 8-Hydroxy-2´-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is considered a free radical with a promutagenic capacity due to its ability to pair with adenosine instead of cytosine during replication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected 30 paraffin-embedded tissue samples of OSCC from patients treated between 2013 and 2018. We recorded risk habits, disease stage, disease free survival and death with at least 3 years of follow-up. 8-Hydroxyguanosine was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and subsequently classified as weak-moderate or strong positive expression. Additionally, we noted whether it was expressed in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus. RESULTS: Most of the cases expressed 8-OHdG with a strong intensity (80%). All neoplastic cells were preferentially stained in only the cytoplasm (70.0%), but nuclear positivity was found in 30%, independent of the intensity. Based on the location in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus, tumors >4 cm showed a high frequency (95.5%) of 8-OHdG expression in only the cytoplasm, with a significant difference (p value 0.001). Additionally, overall survival was affected when immunoexpression was present in the cytoplasm and nucleus because all deaths were in this group were statistically significant (p value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: All tumors showed DNA oxidative damage, and 8-OHdG was preferentially expressed in the cytoplasm. This finding was associated with tumor size and, when present in the nucleus, might also be related to death.

Influence of input material and operational performance on the physical and chemical properties of MSW compost.

Certain controversy exists about the use of compost from MSW (municipal solid waste) and, specifically, from the organic fraction of MSW that has not been separated at the source. In this case, the final composition of MSW compost is related to the performance of the separation process in MBT (Mechanical and Biological Treatment) plants as well as the composition of raw materials and the particular features of composting systems. In an effort to investigate the quality of MSW compost, 30 samples of this product obtained from 10 different MBT plants were studied. The main physical and chemical properties were analyzed and were compared with the requirements of current legislation. The composting systems used to produce these compost samples were studied and the input materials were characterized. The results reveal that the heavy metal content in MSW compost was below the legal restrictions in all samples but one; however, in most of them the percentage of Pb was high. The fertilizing potential of MSW compost has been demonstrated by its high nutrient concentrations, particularly N, K, P, Ca and Mg. Nevertheless, here the percentage of inert impurities with a size larger than 2 mm, such as plastic or glass, was seen to be excessively high exceeding in some cases the legal limit. The source of such pollution lies in the composting inputs, OFMSW (organic fraction of MSW), which showed high percentages of improper materials such as plastic (9%) or glass (11%). Accordingly, the performance of the sorting stage for the collection of the raw material must be improved, as must the refining process, since this does not remove the necessary amounts of these impurities from the final compost.

Analysis of the presence of improper materials in the composting process performed in ten MBT plants.

Composting of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) reduces the amount of biodegradable waste landfilled. However, the final product or compost used as organic soil amendment shows a large presence of improper materials and alarming concentrations of heavy metals. In this work, 30 samples of OFMSW before and after composting have been characterized to determine qualitatively and quantitatively this contamination and its origin. In addition, technical features of the equipment installed in 10 waste treatment plants have been assessed because of their influence on the streams involved in the composting process. Results show 78.2% of the samples stabilized by composting to be organic matter and the rest corresponds to improper materials, mainly paper, plastic and glass. Origin is due to the composting feedstocks, the OFMSW obtained by size separation in trommels which, due to non-source separation and poor selectivity, contains one third of impurities. In seven of the 30 samples household batteries were found.

Sub-critical water hydrolysis of hog hair for amino acid production.

A recycling method using sub-critical water hydrolysis to convert hog hair from slaughterhouses into amino acids was developed. The influence of the reaction parameters such as temperature, time of reaction and initial substrate concentration were investigated in a batch reactor. The quality and quantity of amino acids in hydrolysates were determined and 17 kinds of amino acids were obtained. Under the tested conditions, the highest amino acid yield (325 mg/g protein) was reached at an initial substrate concentration of 10 g/l, a temperature of 250 degrees C and a reaction time of 60 min. A large amount of low-molecular weight amino acids, such alanine and glycine, was observed at these operating conditions. Sub-critical water hydrolysis was confirmed as an effective and practical process to recover amino acids from hog hair waste.

Virgibacillus salinus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from sediment of a saline lake.

A novel, moderately halophilic, Gram-positive bacterium, designated strain XH-22(T), was isolated from sediment of a saline lake located near Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Cells were rod-shaped, endospore-forming and motile. The isolate was able to grow in the presence of 3-20 % (w/v) total salts (optimum, 10 %, w/v), and at 15-40 degrees C (optimum, 37 degrees C) and pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5). Strain XH-22(T) had diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, and anteiso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0) and iso-C(14 : 0) as major fatty acids. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, a glycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain XH-22(T) was 38.8 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the novel strain was affiliated with the genus Virgibacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain XH-22(T) and the type strains of recognized Virgibacillus species ranged from 97.6 % (with Virgibacillus carmonensis) to 94.9 % (with Virgibacillus koreensis). Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain XH-22(T) and V. carmonensis DSM 14868(T) and Virgibacillus necropolis DSM 14866(T) were 32 and 28 %, respectively. Strain XH-22(T) could be differentiated from recognized Virgibacillus species based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, phylogenetic analysis and genotypic features. On the basis of these results, strain XH-22(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus salinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XH-22(T) (=CCM 7562(T)=CECT 7439(T)=DSM 21756(T)).

Aquisalibacillus elongatus gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium of the family Bacillaceae isolated from a saline lake.

A novel moderately halophilic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from a saline lake, Lake Shangmatala, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This bacterium, designated SH4sT, was strictly aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. It grew at salinities of 3-20 % (w/v) NaCl, with an optimum at 10 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was of the A4beta type, based on l-Orn-d-Asp, and the major quinone was a menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7). The major fatty acids were iso-C16:0 and iso-C15:0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, a glycolipid and four different unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 45.9 mol%. In a maximum-parsimony phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SH4sT was found to belong to the family Bacillaceae and to be most closely related to members of the genera Filobacillus (95.9 % sequence similarity), Piscibacillus (95.7 %) and Tenuibacillus (95.4 %). DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed 10 % relatedness (12 %, reciprocally) between strain SH4sT and Filobacillus milosensis DSM 13259T, the sole species of the genus. All of these data show that strain SH4sT represents a novel genus and species in the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Aquisalibacillus elongatus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aquisalibacillus elongatus is SH4sT (=CCM 7366T =CECT 7149T =DSM 18090T).

Sediminibacillus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic, Gram-positive bacterium from a hypersaline lake.

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain EN8d(T), was isolated from sediment from Lake Erliannor in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Cells were facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and motile and did not display endospore formation. Isolate EN8dT grew in a complex medium supplemented with 0-20 % (w/v) marine salts (optimally at 5-7.5 %, w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain EN8dT was a member of the family Bacillaceae, belonging to a cluster with Thalassobacillus (96.3 % gene sequence similarity) and Halobacillus (95.0-96.0 %), albeit emerging as an independent lineage from members of these two genera. Strain EN8dT contained cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and possessed MK-7 as the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 47.5 mol%. Strain EN8dT could be clearly differentiated from its phylogenetic neighbours on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore strain EN8dT is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Sediminibacillus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sediminibacillus halophilus is EN8dT (=CCM 7364T =CECT 7148T =CGMCC 1.6199T =DSM 18088T).

Salsuginibacillus kocurii gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from soda-lake sediment.

A Gram-positive, endospore-forming, alkali-tolerant, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain CH9d(T), was isolated from the sediment of Lake Chagannor in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The cells were rod-shaped and motile. Isolate CH9d(T) grew at pH 5.8-10.0 (optimally at pH 8.5), at salinities of 3-20 % (w/v) marine salts (optimally at 10.0 %, w/v) and between 20 and 50 degrees C (optimally at 37 degrees C). The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain CH9d(T) were anteiso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(17 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) and iso-C(15 : 0) and its polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unknown phospholipids. The G+C content of the DNA was 44.7 mol%. Strain CH9d(T) exhibited a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of only 91 % with respect to Thalassobacillus devorans DSM 16966(T) and showed values below 91 % with respect to members of the genera Bacillus, Halobacillus and Marinococcus. Strain CH9d(T) could be clearly differentiated from its closest phylogenetic neighbours on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, data from the polyphasic study support the placement of strain CH9d(T) in a novel genus and species, for which the name Salsuginibacillus kocurii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CH9d(T) (=CCM 7365(T)=CECT 7154(T)=CGMCC 1.6287(T)=DSM 18087(T)).

Bacillus chagannorensis sp. nov., a moderate halophile from a soda lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, spore-forming bacterium, designated strain CG-15(T), was isolated from a soda lake, Lake Chagannor, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The cells were found to be motile short rods with ellipsoidal, terminal and deforming endospores. Strain CG-15(T), a facultatively anaerobic bacterium, grew at pH 5.8-11.0 (optimally at pH 8.5), at 6-40 degrees C (optimally at 37 degrees C) and at salinities of 3-20 % (w/v) total salts (optimally at 7 % w/v). On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CG-15(T) was shown to belong to the genus Bacillus (phylum Firmicutes), showing the greatest phylogenetic similarity with respect to Bacillus saliphilus (96.0 %). The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was found to be 53.8 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CG-15(T) were anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0), and its polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three different unidentified phospholipids. The analysis of the quinones showed that MK-7 was the major menaquinone. The peptidoglycan type was A1gamma, with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic study, strain CG-15(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus chagannorensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CG-15(T) (=CCM 7371(T)=CECT 7153(T)=CGMCC 1.6292(T)=DSM 18086(T)).

Aquisalimonas asiatica gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from an alkaline, saline lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

Two novel moderately halophilic, Gram-negative rods (strains CG12(T) and CG13) were isolated from Lake Chagannor in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. They were strictly aerobic and motile. They grew at pH 6.0-10.8 (optimally at pH 7.5-8.5), at 20-50 degrees C (optimally at 37 degrees C) and at salinities of 1-20 % (w/v) total salts (optimally at 7-10 %, w/v). Phylogenetic analysis of the two strains, based on a comparison of their 16S rRNA genes, led to their classification within the class Gammaproteobacteria, the closest recognized type strain being Alkalispirillum mobile DSM 12769(T), with which they were found to share 94.4-94.6 % sequence similarity. On the basis of DNA-DNA hybridization data (showing 100 and 99 % relatedness for each other), the two isolates were found to be members of the same species. The DNA G+C contents of strains CG12(T) and CG13 were found to be 63.6 and 64.0 mol%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CG12(T), selected as the representative strain, were C(18 : 1)omega7c, C(16 : 0) and C(12 : 0), and its polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, a phosphoglycolipid and six unidentified phospholipids. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence from this study, strains CG12(T) and CG13 represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Aquisalimonas asiatica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aquisalimonas asiatica is CG12(T) (=CCM 7368(T)=CECT 7151(T)=CGMCC 1.6291(T)=DSM 18102(T)).

Evaluation of fruit-vegetable and fish wastes as alternative feedstuffs in pig diets.

Fruit-vegetable and fish wastes were evaluated as potential feedstuffs for growing-finishing pigs. Wastes were collected from shops in the city of Salamanca (Spain) and their nutritional composition, mineral content and digestibility were determined. The dry matter of the wastes under study was relatively low (12% for fruit-vegetable waste and 26% for fish waste), but they presented all of the nutrient requirements for swine diets. The fish waste contained 58% crude protein, 22% ash, 19% ether extract and 1% crude fibre, whereas the fruit-vegetable waste contained 65% nitrogen free extract, 13% crude fibre, 12% crude protein, 8% ash and 2% ether extract. Waste digestibility decreased with temperature, and hence temperatures over 65 degrees C for fruit-vegetable waste and 105 degrees C for fish waste should not be used in the treatment to reduce the moisture and to ensure the microbiology quality. Therefore, two diets were formulated using linear programming. The analysed waste was included in approximately 20% of one of the diets, while another diet was formulated without any type of waste. These data showed that this part of biodegradable municipal waste could be managed as alternative feedstuffs in swine diets, reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills.

Effect of the inclusion of food waste in pig diets on growth performance, carcass and meat quality.

Food waste from fish and fruit shops was used as an alternative to the grain in grower-finisher pig diets. Two diets were formulated on an iso-nutrient basis (14 MJ digestible energy per kg, 160 g crude protein per kg on a dry-matter basis) to contain 0 g of food waste per kg in the control diet and 50 g of fish-shop waste per kg and 120 g of fruit-shop waste per kg in the experimental diet. In the study, 28 pigs per diet (seven pigs per pen) were fed ad libitum from 20 kg to 100 kg, then, they were slaughtered and the carcass characteristics determined. The inclusion of food waste in the diet had no significant effect (P>0.05) on average daily feed intake (2.12 v. 2.20 kg/day), average daily gain (0.74 v. 0.78 kg/day), or gain/feed (0.35 v. 0.35 kg per kg). In the case of the experimental diet, backfat thickness was significantly lower (18.0 v. 21.3 mm, P < 0.01). The results of the taste test indicated that the meat from food waste-fed pigs had acceptable organoleptic quality although a very light aroma to fish was observed in the bacon (P < 0.01).It was concluded that food waste from the fish and fruit shops could be included in grower-finisher pig diets without any detrimental effect on growth performance and only minor effects on carcass characteristics and meat quality.

Bactericidal activity of copper and niobium-alloyed austenitic stainless steel.

Biofouling and microbiologically influenced corrosion are processes of material deterioration that originate from the attachment of microorganisms as quickly as the material is immersed in a nonsterile environment. Stainless steels, despite their wide use in different industries and as appliances and implant materials, do not possess inherent antimicrobial properties. Changes in hygiene legislation and increased public awareness of product quality makes it necessary to devise control methods that inhibit biofilm formation or to act at an early stage of the biofouling process and provide the release of antimicrobial compounds on a sustainable basis and at effective level. These antibacterial stainless steels may find a wide range of applications in fields, such as kitchen appliances, medical equipment, home electronics, and tools and hardware. The purpose of this study was to obtain antibacterial stainless steel and thus mitigate the microbial colonization and bacterial infection. Copper is known as an antibacterial agent; in contrast, niobium has been demonstrated to improve the antimicrobial effect of copper by stimulating the formation of precipitated copper particles and its distribution in the matrix of the stainless steel. Thus, we obtained slides of 3.8% copper and 0.1% niobium alloyed stainless steel; subjected them to three different heat treatment protocols (550 degrees C, 700 degrees C, and 800 degrees C for 100, 200, 300, and 400 hours); and determined their antimicrobial activities by using different initial bacterial cell densities and suspending solutions to apply the bacteria to the stainless steels. The bacterial strain used in these experiments was Escherichia coli CCM 4517. The best antimicrobial effects were observed in the slides of stainless steel treated at 700 degrees C and 800 degrees C using an initial cell density of approximately 10(5) cells ml(-1) and phosphate-buffered saline as the solution in which the bacteria came into contact with copper and niobium-containing steel.

Gracilibacillus orientalis sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake in Inner Mongolia, China.

Three Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, spore-forming rods, designated XH-63T, XH-62 and EJ-15, were isolated from two salt lakes located near Xilin Hot and Ejinor, in Inner Mongolia, China. The strains were strictly aerobic and motile, with spherical, terminal and deforming endospores. They grew at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimal growth at pH 7.5), between 4 and 45 degrees C (optimal growth at 37 degrees C) and at salinities of 1-20% (w/v) total salts, growing optimally at 10% (w/v) salts. They had meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan and DNA G + C contents of 36.1-37.1 mol%. The polar lipid pattern of strain XH-63T, selected as the representative strain, consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and a phospholipid and two amino phospholipids of unknown structure. This strain possessed anteiso-C(15:0) and anteiso-C(17:0) as the major fatty acids (altogether representing 72.5% of total) and MK-7 as the major menaquinone. 16S rRNA gene analysis of the three strains showed that they were within the Gracilibacillus cluster, with highest sequence similarity (95.4-95.8%) with Gracilibacillus dipsosauri. Based on a combination of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic features, it is proposed that the three isolates represent a novel species of the genus Gracilibacillus, Gracilibacillus orientalis sp. nov. The type strain is strain XH-63T (= CCM 7326T = AS 1.4250T = CECT 7097T).

Study of drying systems for the utilization of biodegradable municipal solid wastes as animal feed.

The effectiveness of different drying systems used for the dehydration of certain fractions of biodegradable municipal solid wastes with a high moisture content (fruit and vegetable remains) was analyzed. Some tests using small amounts of the material were carried out in natural and forced convection ovens. For larger quantities of wastes, a discontinuous cabinet dryer and a continuous rotary dryer were used. With these dryers, the moisture content was reduced from 800 to 100 g kg(-1). It was verified that the continuous rotary dryer was the most efficient type of equipment studied, since it allowed a dried waste to be obtained with better nutritional and microbiological qualities and in accordance to the specifications of the products for animal feeding.

Biodegradable municipal solid waste: characterization and potential use as animal feedstuffs.

Five different fractions of the biodegradable municipal solid waste (BMSW) were evaluated as potential animal feedstuffs. For each source of waste (meat waste (MW), fish waste (FW), fruit and vegetables waste (FVW), restaurant waste (RW), household waste (HW)), samples were obtained from small shops (butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetable shops), restaurants and a MSW treatment plant (household waste). The chemical composition, microbiological characterization, dioxins, furans, PCB's and mineral content were determined for every type of waste fraction. The analysed biodegradable waste presented high moisture content (from 60% to 90%). Some fractions were dense in one nutrient: meat waste in ether extract, fish waste in crude protein, fruit and vegetable waste in nitrogen free extract. The other studied fractions (restaurant fraction and household fraction) presented a more balanced composition, but the presence of toxic concentrations of contaminants such as metals was higher than European legislation permitted values in animal feeding. From a microbiological standpoint, a heat treatment at 65 degrees C for 20 min was sufficient to ensure microbiological quality of the samples. This treatment was also advisable to reduce the moisture content: a lower moisture content facilitates the waste handling and processing and, therefore, the inclusion of these waste fractions in commercial animal diets. This paper presents a potential alternative for the recovery of organic matter content in municipal solid waste. The results obtained in this research and the feedstuffs legislation in force related to animal feed, indicated that some of the studied biodegradable waste fractions (meat waste, fruit and vegetable waste and fish waste) could be considered as alternatives to typical raw materials used in animal feeds.

Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus Gauthier et al. 1992 and Marinobacter aquaeolei Nguyen et al. 1999 are heterotypic synonyms.

The genus Marinobacter was described with a single species, Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus Gauthier et al. 1992, to place a hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium belonging to the gamma-subclass of the Proteobacteria. Marinobacter aquaeolei Nguyen et al. 1999, the second described species of the genus, was proposed for a strain isolated from an oil-producing well on an offshore platform in southern Vietnam, on the basis of differences in the whole-cell protein pattern and lipopolysaccharide composition, although its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics were very similar to those of the type species, M. hydrocarbonoclasticus. In the present paper, literature data concerning the two species were reviewed. Fatty acid composition, G+C content and DNA-DNA hybridization studies were performed in order to clarify the taxonomic positions of these two species. Based on the results obtained in this study and phenotypic and phylogenetic traits available from the literature, it is proposed that the two species should be united under the same name; according to the rules of priority, M. hydrocarbonoclasticus, the first described species, is the earlier synonym and M. aquaeolei is the later synonym.

Effect of fluorogestone acetate on embryo recovery and quality in eCG-superovulated goats with premature luteal regression.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if treatment of eCG-superovulated goats with fluorogestone acetate (FGA) would increase the number and quality of embryos recovered. Goats (n = 25) were given an intravaginal sponge containing 45 mg FGA for 12 days, with 1000 IU eCG and 7.5mg of Luprostiol (a PGF(2 alpha) analog) given -48 and 0 h relative to sponge removal. Goats were mated by natural service every 12h during estrus and surgical embryo collection was done 6 days after the last mating. There were two treatment groups; those in the FGA group (n = 13) had a FGA sponge from 8h after mating to embryo collection, whereas goats in the control group (n = 12) did not receive any post-mating treatment. Premature luteal regression occurred in 61.5% (8/13) and 83.3% (10/12) of the goats in the FGA and the control groups, respectively (P > 0.05). Corpus luteum life span averaged 4 days in goats with premature luteolysis. The mean (+/- S.E.) number of transferable embryos was 5.7 +/- 1.6 in the FGA group and 0.1 +/- 0.1 in the control group (P < 0.05). Within the FGA group, the embryo recovery rate was similar in goats with premature luteal regression compared to those with normal luteal function, although non-transferable embryos were only found in goats with premature luteal regression. In conclusion, post-breeding treatment with FGA increased embryonic survival in eCG-superovulated goats, even though it did not prevent premature luteal regression.