Dermoscopic evaluation of nodular melanoma

Importance: Nodular melanoma (NM) is a rapidly progressing potentially lethal skin tumor for which early diagnosis is critical

The Impact of Endometritis on Specific Oxidative Stress Parameters in Cows

ΔΕΒ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThis study was aimed to investigate the presence of uterine infection and the relationship between the severity of uterine infection and some oxidative stress parameters in cows in early postpartum period. Sixty six cows that were in the period between the 30th and 32rd days of postpartum were included in the study. Endometrial inflammation was scored according to the condition of the uterus at rectal and ultrasonographic examinations and the character and amount of uterine discharge from endometritis I through III, the latest being the most severe. Endometrial samples were taken from the clinically healthy animals by cytobrush method, and then stained with Giemsa for presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Cows with a PMN percentage less than 18% were considered to be healthy (control, n=20). All cows were sampled for blood. Nitric oxide (NO) levels in Group I (Endometritis I; n=20), Group II (Endometritis II; n=16), Group III (Endometritis III; n=10) and the control group were determined to be 23.0±0.63 nmol/mL, 32.23±0.97 nmol/mL, 36.56±0.48 nmol/mL, and 11.10±0.29 nmol/mL, respectively. The differences among the groups were found to be statistically significant. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level was highest in Group III (6.38±0.13 μmol/L), and its level significantly decreased with the reduced severity of endometritis. The comparison of the groups for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant capacity (TOC) demonstrated that endometritis caused a decrease in TAC levels (P<0.05), but did not affect TOC levels. Endometritis increased serum NO and MDA levels, and decreased TAC levels, but had no effect on TOC levels. In conclusion, NO and MDA, as well as TAC can be used as a biochemical marker for estimation of the severity of endometritis in cows

Effects of estradiol, progesterone and kisspeptin-1 concentrations at the time of insemination on conception rates in cattle

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of kisspeptin (Kiss-1), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) levels at the time of artificial insemination (AI) on conception rates and also whether or not there is a relationship between Kiss-1 and E2 levels in cattle.  Cows (n=100) raised on a semi-closed farm system and having corpus luteum were administered 25mg of prostaglandin F2a (Dinolytic®, Zoetis, Spain) and were evaluated following injection for signs of estrus. Just prior to AI, pre-ovulatory follicle diameters were assessed by ultrasonography (USG) and recorded. Then blood samples were collected. Blood serum samples were separated and stored until analyzed. Pregnancies were determined with rectal USG on day 30±2 following AI. The mean follicular diameters at the time of AI were similar in pregnant (17.9±0.01 mm) and non-pregnant (17.9±0.01 mm) cows. E2, P4, and Kiss-1 levels at the time of AI were determined from serum samples using the ELISA method. The Kiss-1 level at the time of AI in pregnant cows (80.58±4.4 pg/mL) was statistically higher than that in non-pregnant cows (66.68±2.48 pg/mL) (P=0.003). There were no statistically significant differences in E2 and P4 levels between pregnant and non-pregnant cows. Moreover, while a significant correlation was found between serum kiss-1 level and follicle diameter, no significant correlation was found between serum estrogen and progesterone levels. In conclusion, Kiss-1 levels at the time of AI may be used to predict the possibility of successful pregnancy in cattle, allowing different approaches to be developed to increase pregnancy rates in animals with low Kiss-1 levels at the time of AI

Molecular and pomological diversity among pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit species for Turkey where many cultivars are being cultivated. In this study, we determined the fruit characteristics and RAPD band patterns of sixlocal cultivars from Hatay, Turkey. Our results demonstrated that there is a great level of morphological variation. The principle component analysis of 18 quantitative fruit characteristics revealed that fruitweight, aril number/fruit, peel color and soluble solids/acidity ratio are important traits for discriminating the cultivars tested. The UPGMA cluster of fruit characteristics indicated that ‘Katýrbaý’and ‘Kan narý’ were similar to each other and they were separated from rest of the cultivars. Twenty-two RAPD primers generated total of 106 reproducible bands 22% of which were polymorphic. The UPGMAdendrogram of RAPD data showed that ‘Tatlý nar’ and ‘erife’ were very closely related while ‘ncekabuk’ is distinct from the other cultivars. As a result, discrepancies were detected between morphological and molecular data. Therefore, we confirmed that diversity among the fruitcharacteristics were not good indication of genetic relatedness while molecular tools are valuable to study such similarities

Life Beyond the Solar System: Remotely Detectable Biosignatures

For the first time in human history, we will soon be able to apply to the scientific method to the question "Are We Alone?" The rapid advance of exoplanet discovery, planetary systems science, and telescope technology will soon allow scientists to search for life beyond our Solar System through direct observation of extrasolar planets. This endeavor will occur alongside searches for habitable environments and signs of life within our Solar System. While these searches are thematically related and will inform each other, they will require separate observational techniques. The search for life on exoplanets holds potential through the great diversity of worlds to be explored beyond our Solar System. However, there are also unique challenges related to the relatively limited data this search will obtain on any individual world