Evaluation of Marjoram Leaves (Oregano vulgar) as Feed Supplement on Quality of Semen in Awasian Pollination Rams.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Marjoram leaves (Oregano vulgar) as a feed supplement on sexual efficiency and semen quality in Awasian pollination rams. The study was conducted on ten rams in one of the private fields in the Babylon governorate. The rams were divided randomly into two groups. First group rams are regarded as a control group (group A) that feeds on exceptional concentric food for pollination rams. The second group consists of 5 rams (group B) provided with the same concentric food plus a supplement of 3 mg/kg of body weight of Oregano vulgar leaves (fresh) 3 times daily for 49 days before the pollination season (April and May). Semen samples were collected at the end of 49 days by artificial vagina to evaluate the volume of ejaculate, sperm number, concentration, motility, viability, and deformities, and to measure the sperm pleomorphic parameters of the head, nucleus, and acrosome. The antioxidant status of seminal plasma was evaluated by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). ELISA tests were used on blood serum samples to measure the hormone levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and estrogen. The study demonstrated a significant increase in motility, the viability of sperm, and decreasing deformities. There was no significant variation in perimorphic parameters of the head, nucleus, and acrosome sperm after using the fresh leaves of Oregano vulgar as supplementation to Awasion sheep. However, there was an increase in the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX, and TAC) in seminal plasma and an increase in LH, testosterone, and estrogen in the blood serum of experimental group B. These findings show that using fresh leaves of Oregano vulgar improved the sexual efficiency of pollinated rams and maintained the physiology and perimorphic parameters of semen and sperm.

Genetic variation of 15 autosomal microsatellite loci in a Nayarit population (Mexico).

Fifteen STRs are studied to determine the allele frequencies' distribution and to evaluate the homogeneity of Nayarit populations. This study allows the identification of forensic efficiency parameters to be used in forensic genetics and to explore the genetic similarities between Nayarit and the neighboring countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia and Costa Rica. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, expected heterozygosity, matching probability, and power of discrimination, were calculated in the Nayarit population. We found that with respect to the studied markers, Nayarit genetic structure is homogeneous. In this study, it is established that Nayarit is genetically similar to the South American Mestizo population. The distribution of a set of these 15 STRs was analyzed with other South American populations as well as in the extensive set of neighboring populations from the literature (USA, Europe and Africa). We found significant differences exist between the isolated populations (Huastecos, Otomi from Sierra Madre and from Ixmiquilpan Valley) and Mestizo populations. Statistical analysis supports that Americans actual inhabitants and Europeans are genetically similar, while Africans and isolated populations from South America have more genetic differences.

Surface characterization of Streptococcus mutans biofilms grown on polyethylene and beta-titanium.

In this study, we considered the biofilms as a surface, characterizing them using instruments for surface analyses, environmental microscopy, IR-spectroscopy (ATR-mode) and goniometry of the contact angle. The bacteria that formed the biofilms were grown on two different supports: beta-titanium alloy (beta-Ti) and polyethylene (PE). Environmental microscopy allowed the observation of biofilms in situ and in their hydrated state. On the metallic support, the biofilm quickly adhered and formed a dense structure with micro-colonies, but on the PE a thinner biofilm layer was observed covering a large surface area of the support. IR-spectroscopy is another effective method to detect the biofilm quickly and in situ, without pre-treating the sur-face. Nevertheless, problems with the overlapping of the characteristic bands on the spectra are frequent between the biofilm and PE. Finally, we compared the surface energy (SE) of the supports before and after biofilm formation. Our results indicate that the SE of the supports depends on the sterilization method, and that the SE of the biofilms varies depending on the support and the sterilization method. The biofilm on the beta-Ti had the highest SE, and as mentioned above, microscopic images showed a higher roughness on its surface.

Successful treatment of drug-resistant cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans by use of imiquimod, an immunomodulator.

Treatment failures for leishmaniasis with pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimonate, are increasingly common in many endemic areas. Imiquimod (Aldara; 3M Pharmaceuticals) is a novel immune response-activating compound, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, that is currently used to treat cervical warts and has been shown to activate macrophage killing of Leishmania species. Therefore, an open-label, prospective study was conducted of combined imiquimod plus meglumine antimonate therapy in 12 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis who had previously not responded to meglumine antimonate therapy. All of the patients responded well to this combination therapy, and 90% were found to be cured at the 6-month follow-up period.