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SUMMARY: This study aimed at clarifying the impact of long-term prenatal and postnatal exposure to exogenous progesterone on sperm production and function, relative sex organs weights, and the levels of the relevant hormones in rats. Sixty male Wistar rats were included and classified into three groups (n=20 in each). A test I group had mature rats born to dams treated with progesterone prenatally. A test II group included rats exposed to progesterone during prenatal as well as postnatal periods, and a control group had rats treated with a placebo (olive oil). The test groups revealed a significant reduction in sperm count, motility, and viability with higher abnormal forms than the control group (P< 0.05). Similarly, the test groups revealed significantly lower serum testosterone and higher FSH and LH levels (P< 0.001). Interestingly, the test II group showed pronounced sperm abnormalities, an alarming decrease in sperm viability and motility, and a significant accretion in the relative testicular weight compared to the test I group (p <0.001). Long-term (prenatal and early postnatal) treatment with synthetic progesterone hurts sperm quantity and quality, adversely affecting future male fertility.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo aclarar el impacto de la exposición prenatal y posnatal a largo plazo a la progesterona exógena en la producción y función de los espermatozoides, el peso relativo de los órganos sexuales y los niveles de las hormonas relevantes en ratas. Sesenta ratas macho Wistar fueron incluidas y clasificadas en tres grupos (n=20 en cada uno). Un grupo de prueba I tenía ratas maduras nacidas de madres tratadas con progesterona prenatalmente. Un grupo de prueba II incluyó ratas expuestas a progesterona durante los períodos prenatal y posnatal, y un grupo de control tenía ratas tratadas con un placebo (aceite de oliva). Los grupos de prueba revelaron una reducción significativa en el recuento, la motilidad y la viabilidad de los espermatozoides con formas anormales más altas que el grupo de control (P < 0,05). De manera similar, los grupos de prueba revelaron niveles significativamente más bajos de testosterona sérica y niveles más altos de FSH y LH (P < 0.001). Curiosamente, el grupo de prueba II mostró anormalidades espermáticas pronunciadas, una disminución alarmante en la viabilidad y motilidad de los espermatozoides y una acumulación significativa en el peso testicular relativo en comparación con el grupo de prueba I (p <0.001). El tratamiento a largo plazo (prenatal y posnatal temprano) con progesterona sintética daña la cantidad y la calidad del esperma, lo que afecta negativamente la futura fertilidad masculina.

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Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a worldwide health problem. Alternate-day fasting (ADF), although thought to be aggressive, has proven safety and efficacy. We aimed to evaluate the effect of short-term ADF against already established high-fat-fructose (HFF)-induced NASH, independent of the amount of calorie intake, and to study the effect of ADF on lipogenesis, apoptosis, and hepatic inflammation. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups: (1) negative control and (2) NASH group fed on HFF for 9 weeks, and then randomized into two subgroups of either HFF alone or with ADF protocol for 3 weeks. The ADF could improve HFF-related elevation in serum lactate dehydrogenase and could decrease the mRNA expression of lipogenesis genes; acetyl CoA carboxylase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α; apoptotic genes caspase-3, p53, and inflammatory cyclo-oxygenase 2; and immunohistochemical staining for their proteins in liver with upregulation of LC3 and downregulation of P62 immunoexpression. Moreover, ADF ameliorated HFF-induced steatosis, inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis through hematoxylin and eosin, Oil Red O, and Sirius Red staining, confirmed by morphometric analysis, without significant weight loss. Significant correlation of morphometric parameters with levels of gene expression was found. These findings suggest ADF to be a safe effective therapeutic agent in the management of NASH.

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BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a worldwide disease that progresses into steatohepatitis (NASH) that has no current effective treatment. This study aimed, for the first time, to investigate the effect of Dasatinib; a tyrosine kinase inhibitor showing anti-PDGFR activity with a macrophage modulating efficacy, on NASH. METHODS: NASH was induced, in C57BL/6 mice by western diet (WD). Control groups received either DMSO or Dasatinib. After 12 weeks, WD-fed mice received DMSO, Dasatinib (4 mg/kg) or Dasatinib (8 mg/kg) once daily, for four weeks. Serum was examined for ALT and lipid profile. Immunohistochemical staining for SREBP1 (lipogenesis marker), iNOS, arginase-1, CD68, CD163 (macrophage polarization markers), TGF-ß (fibrosis marker) and ASMA (a marker for activated hepatic stellate cell), hepatic mRNA expression for SREBP-1, iNOS, arginase-1, TGF-ß and PDGFA genes; and western blotting for phosphorylated PDGFR α and ß, SREBP1, iNOS, arginase-1, IL1α, COX2, TGF-ß and ASMA were performed. Liver sections were stained also for H & E, Oil red O and Sirius red. RESULTS: Dasatinib could ameliorate the WD-induced disturbance of serum ALT, lipid profile and significantly reduced hepatic expression of PDGFA, phosphorylated PDGFR α and ß, IL1α, COX2, SREBP-1, iNOS, CD68, TGF-ß and ASMA but increased expression for arginase-1 and CD163 (M2 macrophage markers). Moreover, Dasatinib reduced the steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning, hepatic fibrosis and the high NAFLD activity scoring induced by WD. CONCLUSION: Dasatinib can prevent the progression of WD-induced NASH by attenuating lipogenesis, and inducing M2 macrophage polarization with antifibrotic activity.

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Anatomical variations in the shape and dimension of the dorsum sellae and posterior clinoid process are common. Most textbooks describe its shape as a median rectangular plate, a square plate, or a transverse ledge on a slope behind the sella turcica (hypophyseal fossa). This work aims to study the dorsum sellae of human skull. One hundred and twenty five dried adult human skulls, irrespective of age, were used for the study. Detailed features of the dorsum sellae were noted and classified into five types: crest like, thin plate, frail quadrilateral plate, heavy square plate, thick elongated plate. Fusion of the posterior and middle clinoid processes in one (unilateral) and all the clinoid processes (anterior, middle, and posterior) in three skulls (unilateral in one, bilateral in two) were also noticed. Findings are discussed in the light of the literature.

Son frecuentes las variaciones anatómicas de la forma y dimensión de dorsum sellae y de los procesos clinoides posteriores. La mayoría de los textos describen su forma como una placa rectangular mediana, una placa cuadrada, o un plano transversal en una pendiente detrás de la sella turcica (fosa hipofisaria). Este trabajo tiene como objetivo estudiar el dorsum sellae en cráneo humano. Para el estudio se utilizaron 125 cráneos humanos adultos secos, de diferentes edades. Se observaron características detalladas de dorsum sellae y se clasificaron en cinco tipos: cresta, al igual que la placa delgada, lámina cuadrilátera, placa cuadrada gruesa, placa alargada gruesa. En tres cráneos se observó fusión de la parte posterior y los procesos clinoides intermedios (unilateral) y los procesos clinoides (anterior, medio y posterior) (unilateral en uno de ellos, bilateral en dos). Los resultados se discuten en consideracion de la literatura.

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