Simple Summary

Although milk is a significant nutrient source for humans, it can be associated with various bacterial infections. Acinetobacter species can be found in milk due to residual water in milking machines, milk pipelines or coolers, the inadequate cleaning of dairy equipment, tainted udders and teats, the improper transport and storage of milk and the inadequate cleaning of dairy equipment, causing diseases. Most members of the genus Acinetobacter are opportunistic commensals with limited virulence and are clinically insignificant. However, Acinetobacter infections have recently increased in severity due to the frequent use of mechanical breathing devices, venous catheters and antibiotics, and they pose significant public health concerns. Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an opportunistic pathogen that causes various nosocomial infections. Studies using animal models and clinical data demonstrated that A. baumannii is a highly virulent species. It is a significant pathogen, especially due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains and their association with many nosocomial infections and community-acquired infections.

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. In this study, 100 raw milk samples were collected from Qena, Egypt, and subjected to conventional and molecular assays to determine the presence of A. baumannii and investigate their antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation. Our findings revealed that, among the 100 samples, Acinetobacter spp. were found in 13 samples based on CHROM agar results. We further characterized them using rpoB and 16S-23SrRNA sequencing and gyrB multiplex PCR analysis and confirmed that 9 out of the 13 Acinetobacter spp. isolates were A. baumannii and 4 were other species. The A. baumannii isolates were resistant to β-lactam drugs, including cefotaxime (44%), ampicillin-sulbactam and levofloxacin (33.3% for each), imipenem, meropenem and aztreonam (22.2% for each). We observed different antimicrobial resistance patterns, with a multi-antibiotic resistant (MAR) index ranging from 0.2 to 0.3. According to the PCR results, bla_OXA-51 and bla_OXA-23 genes were amplified in 100% and 55.5% of the A. baumannii isolates, respectively, while the bla_OXA-58 gene was not amplified. Furthermore, the metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) genes bla_IMP and bla_NDM were found in 11.1% and 22.2% of isolates, respectively, while bla_VIM was not amplified. Additionally, eight A. baumannii isolates (88.8%) produced black-colored colonies on Congo red agar, demonstrating their biofilm production capacity. These results showed that, besides other foodborne pathogens, raw milk should also be examined for A. baumannii, which could be a public health concern.

Fertility in birds is dependent on their ability to store adequate populations of viable sperm for extended durations in sperm storage tubules (SSTs). The exact mechanisms by which sperm enter, reside, and egress from the SSTs are still controversial. Sharkasi chicken sperm showed a high tendency to agglutinate, forming motile thread-like bundles comprising many cells. Since it is difficult to observe sperm motility and behavior inside the opaque oviduct, we employed a microfluidic device with a microchannel cross-section resembling close to that of sperm glands allowing for the study of sperm agglutination and motility behavior. This study discusses how sperm bundles are formed, how they move, and what role they may have in extending sperm residency inside the SSTs. We investigated sperm velocity and rheotaxis behavior when a fluid flow was generated inside a microfluidic channel by hydrostatic pressure (flow velocity = 33 µm/s). Spermatozoa tended to swim against the flow (positive rheotaxis) and sperm bundles had significantly lower velocity compared to lonesome sperm. Sperm bundles were observed to swim in a spiral-like motion and to grow in length and thickness as more lonesome sperm are recruited. Sperm bundles were observed approaching and adhering to the sidewalls of the microfluidic channels to avoid being swept with fluid flow velocity > 33 µm/s. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that sperm bundles were supported by a copious dense substance. The findings show the distinct motility of Sharkasi chicken sperm, as well as sperm's capacity to agglutinate and form motile bundles, which provides a better understanding of long-term sperm storage in the SSTs.

This study determined the effects of scrotal insulation on testicular functions in bucks and evaluated the impact of exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration before scrotal insulation on sperm production and testicular vascular dynamics. Twelve bucks were randomly divided into three groups: scrotal-insulated animals without GnRH treatment (INS), scrotal-insulated animals treated previously with GnRH (GnRH + INS), and animals without insulation as controls (CON). Doppler ultrasonography was used to evaluate testicular vascular changes, and semen samples were collected to assess seminal parameters. Testicular samples were collected from slaughtered bucks at the end of the experiment for histological investigations and immunohistochemical analysis for caspase 3 (apoptotic marker), and a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; hypoxic marker) evaluation. Sperm motility drastically decreased (33%) in the INS group on day 8 compared with those in the GnRH + INS and CON groups (58% and 85%, respectively). Testicular blood flow significantly decreased for 3 and 2 weeks in the INS and GnRH + INS groups, respectively. The pulsatility index (PI) reached pretreatment values at 5 and 4 weeks after insulation in the INS and GnRH + INS groups, respectively. The resistance index (RI) values increased in both insulated groups for the first 2 weeks and decreased to control values 4 weeks after insulation. However, the maximum velocity (VP) started to increase reaching pretreatment values by the 5th and 3rd weeks after insulation in the INS and GnRH + INS groups, respectively. Histological investigations showed a marked reduction in lipid inclusions in Sertoli cells in the GnRH + INS group compared with those in the INS group. The distributions of both caspase 3 and VEGF decreased in the GnRH + INS group compared with those in the INS group. This study showed that the administration of a single dose of GnRH delayed the negative effects of scrotal insulation on different seminal traits and revealed the pivotal role of GnRH in compensating testicular insulation in bucks.

Aims: Asthma affects a large number of people worldwide and is characterized by chronic allergic airway
inflammation. Anatabine is a natural alkaloid that is structurally similar to nicotine and found in the Solanaceae
family of plants, with anti-inflammatory properties. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the potential
therapeutic effect of anatabine against asthma.
Main methods: Ovalbumin was used to induce asthma in rats. Two asthmatic groups were treated with low and
high doses of anatabine.
Key findings: Asthmatic animals experienced increased total leukocyte count and inflammatory cytokines in
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia associated with mast cell infiltration.
Additionally, inducible nitric oxide synthase immunostaining was observed, with decreased pulmonary antioxidant capacity and enzymes and decreased Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expression while increased NFκB-P65 expression.
Interestingly, asthmatic animals treated with anatabine at both doses showed dose-dependently decreased inflammatory cells and cytokine levels within BALF reduced inflammation in the airways through decreased mast
cell infiltration within lung tissues and increased antioxidant enzymes and Nrf2 and Ho-1 expression levels.
Significance: Our results highlight the potential beneficial effect of anatabine against asthma through antiinflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. Therefore, anatabine is a promising candidate for pulmonary
asthma treatment.
 

Abstract
In Sohag City, 400 samples were collected from different food markets of different
meat products from two companies with high and low prices (e.g., minced meat, kofta
sausage, beef burger, and luncheon meat) for determining food fraud. Light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the samples.
“Special histochemical stains” permit the microscopic examination of different cell
types, structures, and/or microorganisms. Histological examination revealed variant
tissue types, besides skeletal muscles. Nuchal ligaments, bones, hyaline cartilages,
white fibrocartilages, large and medium arteries, cardiac muscles, tendons, and collagenous connective tissues comprised the capsule of a parenchymatous organ. Additionally, a crystal of food additives was recognized using light microscopy and SEM.
SEM allows the visualization of bacterial contamination. Using different microscopic
anatomy techniques is an efficient methodology for qualitative evaluations of various
meat products. No difference in quality was observed between low- and high-priced
meat products.