Antagonistic Effects of Enrofloxacin on Carbendazim-Induced Developmental Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos

Carbendazim (CAR) and enrofloxacin (ENF) are frequently detected in fruits and meat products, respectively. Since most people consume fruits, vegetables, and meat products, combined exposure is possible, necessitating further evaluation of toxic interactions. In this study, the developmental toxicity of separate and combined exposure was examined in zebrafish embryos. Carbendazim exposure at 0.79 mg/L and above significantly affected developmental parameters, while enrofloxacin alone had no substantial effects on these developmental parameters within the selected concentration range (0.10–0.40 mg/L). Surprisingly, ENF antagonized the CAR-evoked reduction in the 48 hpf (hours post-fertilization) hatching rate and the increases in the 96 hpf malformation and lethality rates. The results revealed that the antagonism might be associated with reciprocal effects of these compounds on metabolism-related genes, such as cyp7a1 and apoa1a. These results reveal a complex interaction between ENF and CAR on metabolic regulation during development and highlight the importance of combined assessment for agents with the potential for simultaneous exposure.

A study of the clearness rate of fetal Sylvian fissure shown on different sections by prenatal ultrasound

Objective To compare the clearness rate of fetal Sylvian fissure revealed by prenatal ultrasonography on trans-cerebellar section and trans-thalamic section, and to provide scientific basis for selecting the best section of prenatal ultrasound to evaluate the developmental parameters related to fetal Sylvian fissure. Methods This was a retrospective study. We analyzed all the fetal images on trans-cerebellar section and trans-thalamic section stored in the imaging system who were undergoing grade III prenatal ultrasound examination in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2018. The gestational age was divided into three groups which were 21 to 24 weeks, 25 to 28 weeks and 29 to 32 weeks respectively. The evaluation criteria for the clear appearance of the Sylvian fissure were complete morphology of the Sylvian fissure and clear apical and anteriorly edges of the Sylvian fissure. The results of showing Sylvian fissure clearly were divided into four groups: only on trans-cerebellar section shown clear, only on trans-thalamic section shown clear, both on trans-cerebellar section and trans-thalamic section shown clear, and both on trans-cerebellar section and trans-thalamic section not shown clear. The clearness rate of each group and the total clearness rate of each section were analyzed statistically. Results The clearness rates of showing Sylvian fissure only on trans-cerebellar section were 62.3% at 21 to 24 weeks, 70.1% at 25 to 28 weeks and 63.6% at 29 to 32 weeks. The clearness rates of showing Sylvian fissure only on trans-thalamic section were 11.1% at 21 ~ 24 weeks, 10.5% at 25 ~ 28 weeks and 9.1% at 29 ~ 32 weeks. The clearness rates of showing Sylvian fissure both on trans-cerebellar and trans-thalamic sections were 22.1% at 21 to 24 weeks, 15.0% at 25 to 28 weeks and 13.0% at 29 to 32 weeks. The unclearness rates of showing Sylvian fissure both on trans-cerebellar and trans-thalamic sections were 4.5%at 21 ~ 24 weeks, 4.4% at 25 ~ 28 weeks and 14.3% at 29 ~ 32 weeks. The clearness rate of showing Sylvian fissure on trans-cerebellar section was significantly higher than on trans-thalamic section (P < 0.05). The total clearness rate of showing Sylvian fissure on trans-cerebellar section and trans-thalamic section were 83.1% and 28.3% respectively. Conclusion In this study, it was suggested that prenatal ultrasound selection of trans-cerebellar section is better than trans-thalamic section in evaluating the developmental parameters related to the Sylvian fissure. Key words fetus; Sylvian fissure; clearness rate; trans-cerebellar section; trans-thalamic section

Induction of autophagy protects against extreme hypoxia-induced damage in porcine embryo

In the mammalian female reproductive tract, physiological oxygen tension is lower than that of the atmosphere. Therefore, to mimic in vivo conditions during in vitro culture (IVC) of mammalian early embryos, 5% oxygen has been extensively used instead of 20%. However, the potential effect of hypoxia on the yield of early embryos with high developmental competence remains unknown or controversial, especially in pigs. In the present study, we examined the effects of low oxygen tension under different oxygen tension levels on early developmental competence of parthenogenetically activated (PA) and in vitro-fertilized (IVF) porcine embryos. Unlike the 5% and 20% oxygen groups, exposure of PA embryos to 1% oxygen tension, especially in early-phase IVC (0–2 days), greatly decreased several developmental competence parameters including blastocyst formation rate, blastocyst size, total cell number, inner cell mass (ICM) to trophectoderm (TE) ratio, and cellular survival rate. In contrast, 1% oxygen tension did not affect developmental parameters during the middle (2–4 days) and late phases (4–6 days) of IVC. Interestingly, induction of autophagy by rapamycin treatment markedly restored the developmental parameters of PA and IVF embryos cultured with 1% oxygen tension during early-phase IVC, to meet the levels of the other groups. Together, these results suggest that the early development of porcine embryos depends on crosstalk between oxygen tension and autophagy. Future studies of this relationship should explore the developmental events governing early embryonic development to produce embryos with high developmental competence in vitro.

Mathematical Approach in Colitis-Related Colon Cancer Genomics

Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's illness patients are in danger of colon cancer due to chronic inflammation, resulting from the reaction of the immune system to bacterial disease caused by genetic alterations in the colonic mucosa. Somatic cells gain genomic changes, such as TP53 that regulates MUC2 production and APC alterations linked with 𝛽-catenin and MUC1 contribution in the slight proliferation of cells. Mathematical modeling describes developmental modifications and uses the phrases to link parameter to curves of age-dependent incidence of epidemiological cancer. By using the long-lasting investigation of IBD patients to gather the genomic estimations for increasingly exact computations of IBD-explicit developmental parameters as initiation, birth, and death. Colon cancer genetic trajectory follows the structure of the composition of functions that leads to malignancies. Models of population level can be utilized to consolidate epidemiological information and in this manner describe malignant growth advancement in a population with IBD.

Susceptibility of Zoysiagrasses to the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Growth and developmental parameters of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were evaluated on 41 new zoysiagrass taxa (Zoysia spp. Willd.), which belong to an increasingly popular group of warm-season turfgrasses, in comparison with 5 commercially available zoysiagrass taxa and 1 known susceptible Paspalum L. taxon. Results from two no-choice growth chamber trials indicated that the new Zoysia japonica Steud. taxa were unfavorable for the development of fall armyworm larvae in general compared with the susceptible Paspalum taxon. This was evidenced by significantly lower larval and pupal weights and survival and longer time to pupation and adult emergence, pointing to antibiosis in these zoysiagrass taxa. The new Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr., Zoysia macrostachya Franch. & Sav., and Zoysia sinica Hance taxa seemed more favorable than Z. japonica taxa, as evidenced by numerically higher larval and pupal weights and survival and shorter duration to pupation and adult emergence. Taxa that consistently showed low larval survival were identified for further testing.

Development of an Alternative Low-Cost Larval Diet for Mass Rearing of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes

Background. Aedes aegypti is a major vector of arboviruses that may be controlled on an area-wide basis, using novel approaches such as Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT). Larval diet is a critical factor to be considered in mass rearing of Aedes mosquitoes for SIT and IIT programs. Therefore, the current study is aimed at evaluating the effects of two novel diets developed from dry fish powder on the growth and development of immature stages and adult fitness-related characteristics of Ae. aegypti in Sri Lanka. Method. Three batches of the first instar Ae. aegypti larva, each containing 250 larvae, were exposed to three different larval diets as standard dry fish powder (D1), dry fish powder meal and brewer’s yeast (D2), and International Atomic Energy Agency- (IAEA-) recommended diet (D3), separately. Morphometric and developmental parameters of the 4th instar larvae, pupae, and adult mosquitoes reared under different dietary treatments were measured. The entire experimental setup was replicated thrice. A General Linear Model (GLM) in the form of two-way ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis. Results. Significant diet-based variations were observed in the head length, head width, thoracic length, thoracic width, abdominal length, abdominal width, and total length ( F 2 , 87 > 4.811 ; P < 0.05 ) of Ae. aegypti larvae. The highest pupation success and the larval size were observed from the larvae fed the D2 diet, while the lowest was reported from D1. All adult morphometric parameters of adult male and female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes also denoted significant dietary variations, reporting the best-sized adults from the D2 diet ( F 2 , 87 > 3.54 ; P < 0.05 ). Further, significantly higher fecundity and male longevity were also shown by the adult Ae. aegypti ( F 2 , 6 > 7.897 ; P < 0.01 ) mosquitoes reared under diet D2. Conclusion. Based on all the growth and developmental parameters, the D2 diet tends to perform similar to the IAEA-recommended diet in mass rearing of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, while being more inexpensive. Therefore, larval diet D2 could be suggested as the ideal diet for mass rearing of Ae. aegypti for IIT and SIT-based vector control in Sri Lanka.