Biological indicators for evaluating soil quality improvement in a soil degraded by erosion processes

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Erosion is one of the main soil degradation problems. It diminishes soil biological activity and therefore its quality. The aim of the study was to evaluate if the...     

Temporal variation in the recovery from impairment in adriamycin-induced wound healing in rats

Background  

An adriamycin-induced impairment of wound healing has been demonstrated experimentally in rats. The purpose of this study is to investigate a possible temporal variation in recovery from the impairment of wound healing caused by adriamycin administration.     

Similarities and differences of the spheroidal microstructure in Vertisols from Turkey and Israel

Vertisols formed on different parent materials from Turkey (Aslanpınarı and Begde soil series) and Israel (Akko soil series) were studied for their microstructure. The Aslanpınarı and Begde soils showed similar spheroidal microstructural development in the ABss horizons, whereas the spheres of Akko differed by being smaller and lacking granostriation. Micromorphometric analyses of the three soils revealed similar pore characteristics within and between the aggregates of the ABss horizons. Presence of the spheroidal microstructural units and increase of palygorskite and vermiculite in the ABss horizon of the Be de soil, which is in contrast with increasing smectite in the Aslanpınarı and Akko soils, links with an increase in the structural stability index and an increase in the hydraulic conductivity.     

Hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate for reduction of aflatoxin in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) on growth performance and various processing parameters of quails and to determine the preventive efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS). One hundred and eighty 1-d-old quails of both sexes were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups with 5 replicates and 45 birds following weighing.The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments: 1) control with 0 mg AF/kg of diet and 0% HSCAS; 2) 0.5% HSCAS; 3) 2.5 mg AF/kg of diet; 4) 2.5 mg AF/kg of diet plus 0.5% HSCAS.The chicks were housed in electrically heated battery cages and exposed to light for 24 h from hatching to 3 weeks of age. Quails consumed the diets and water ad libitum. Body weight (BW) was significantly (p < 0.001) increased by addition of HSCAS to AF diet.The lowest BW gains in groups received AF alone was observed at all periods.The reduction in BW gain caused by 2.5 mg AF/kg of diet was significantly (p < 0.001) diminished by the addition of 0.5% HSCAS to the diet.The addition of HSCAS to the AF diet significantly (p < 0.001) protected against decrease of feed intake at all periods with exception of the first period. None of the treatments altered significantly the feed conversion ratio (FCR).The relative weights of the liver, kidney and spleen were increased in the chickens consuming the AF alone diet. However, light microscopic examination demonstrated the addition of HSCAS to quail feed to partially decrease fat deposition caused by the toxin, and besides, electron microscopic examination of indicated a reorganization in the endoplasmic reticulum and increase in the number of ribosomes and polisomes. Furthermore, the decrease in the antibody titre induced by Newcastle vaccine, due to aflatoxins, was relatively prevented. No significant differences were observed for serum total protein, total cholesterol and glucose levels.The results of indicate that HSCAS is effective in preventing the deleterious effects of AF.     

Protective effects of silymarin on fumonisin B1-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of silymarin on experimental liver toxication induced by Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) in BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into six groups (n = 15). Group 1 served as the control. Group 2 was the silymarin control (100 mg/kg by gavage). Groups 3 and 4 were treated with FB₁ (Group 3, 1.5 mg/kg FB₁, intraperitoneally; and Group 4, 4.5 mg/kg FB₁). Group 5 received FB₁ (1.5 mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg), and Group 6 was given a higher dose of FB₁ (4.5 mg/kg FB₁) with silymarin (100 mg/kg). Silymarin treatment significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) the apoptotic rate. FB₁ administration significantly increased (p < 0.0001) proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 expression. Furthermore, FB₁ elevated the levels of caspase-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediators while silymarin significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) the expression of these factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expressions were significantly elevated in Group 4 (p < 0.0001). Silymarin administration alleviated increased VEGF and FGF-2 expression levels (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, silymarin ameliorated toxic liver damage caused by FB₁ in BALB/c mice.