The structure can be modeled as two diodes back to back connected so that the main current transport mechanisms are due to the reverse current of the diodes. To explain the measured C-V curves, the capacitance of the heterostructure is modeled as the series connection of the depletion capacitances of the two back to back connected SnO2:F/p-type a-Si:H and Mo/p-type a-Si:H junctions. We simulated the reverse I-V curves of the SnO2:F/p-type a-Si:H heterojunction at

different temperatures by using the simulation software SCAPS 2.9.03. In the model the main transport mechanism is generation of holes enhanced by tunneling by acceptor-type interface defects with a trap energy of 0.4 eV above the valence bandedge CYT387 ic50 of the p-type a-Si:H layer and with a density of 4.0 x 10(13) cm(-2). By using I-V simulations and the proposed C-V model the built-in potential (V-bi) of the SnO2:F/p-type a-Si:H (0.16 V) and p-type a-Si:H/Mo (0.14 V) heterojunctions are extracted and a band diagram of the characterized structure is proposed. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3606408]“
“The Notch pathway is a critical mediator of short-range cell-cell communication that is reiteratively used to regulate

a diverse array of cellular processes during embryonic development and the renewal and maintenance of adult tissues. Most Notch-dependent processes PRIMA-1MET mouse utilize a core signaling mechanism that is dependent on regulated intramembrane proteolysis: Upon ligand binding, Notch receptors undergo ectodomain shedding by ADAM metalloproteases, followed by gamma-secretase-mediated intramembrane proteolysis. This releases the Notch intracellular domain, which translocates to the nucleus to activate transcription. In this review, we highlight the roles of Notch signaling Selisistat ic50 particularly in self-renewing tissues in adults and several

human diseases and raise some key considerations when targeting ADAMs and gamma-secretase as disease-modifying strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease.”
“Prior to an assessment of the role of aquaporins in root water uptake, the main path of water movement in different types of root and driving forces during day and night need to be known. In the present study on hydroponically grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) the two main root types of 14- to 17-d-old plants were analysed for hydraulic conductivity in dependence of the main driving force (hydrostatic, osmotic). Seminal roots contributed 92% and adventitious roots 8% to plant water uptake. The lower contribution of adventitious compared with seminal roots was associated with a smaller surface area and number of roots per plant and a lower axial hydraulic conductance, and occurred despite a less-developed endodermis.

(C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Aims: To conduct a systematic review of mortality among cohort studies of cocaine users.

Methods: Three electronic databases were searched (EMBASE, Medline MAPK inhibitor and PsychINFO); other online databases were searched using online libraries and repositories of reports and literature in the drug and alcohol field, with requested contributions from

trained librarians and experts. Searches and extraction were undertaken using protocols and cross-checking of decisions by two authors. Additional data were requested from study investigators where studies did not report relevant data.

Results: 1911 articles and 2 reports were identified from searches, with data from another four studies located from review articles. Seven cohorts of “”problem”" or dependent cocaine users reported data that permitted https://www.selleckchem.com/products/c188-9.html mortality rates to be estimated. Crude mortality rates ranged from 0.53 (95% CI: 0.10-1.58) to 6.16 (95% CI: 5.21-7.11) per 100PY. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) reported in four studies suggested that mortality was four to eight times higher among cocaine users than age and sex peers in the general population.

Conclusions: There are limited data on the extent of elevated mortality among problematic or dependent cocaine users

and it is unclear how generalisable the results of these studies may be to other populations of problematic cocaine users. Greater attention to both the method of recruitment, and the characteristics of cocaine users, would enhance our understanding of the mortality risks of problematic cocaine use. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Reports have shown that high-energy pelvic trauma might be associated with advanced pelvic organ prolapse in conjunction with other causes. We report the case of a 21-year-old nulliparous, premenopausal, non-overweight woman with no selleck chemicals predisposing factors for

prolapse who developed stage IV massive pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence 4 years after a severe pelvic traumatic accident. Most likely, the pelvic trauma, as a single factor, was the causative factor for the massive procidentia. The onset on the prolapse was delayed until 4 years after the pelvic accident. The patient was managed with sacrospinous ligament hysteropexy along with anterior and posterior vaginal wall repair and perineorrhaphy. Despite satisfactory surgical management, long-term regular follow-up is still required.”
“Novel magnetic nanospheres with an average size of 118 nm utilizing N-methacryloyl-(L)-cysteine methyl ester (MAC) as a monomer were prepared by surfactant free emulsion polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and MAC conducted in an aqueous dispersion medium. MAC was synthesized using methacryloyl chloride and L-cysteine methyl ester.

Mediators of inflammation, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-6, are primary regulators of alveolar bone destruction in periodontitis. The present study aimed to comparatively investigate the effects of in vitro supragingival and subgingival biofilms, on the regulation of PGE2 and interleukin-6 in human gingival fibroblasts. The cells were challenged with culture supernatants of the two biofilms for 6 similar to h. Cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of PGE2, and interleukin-6 gene selleck screening library expression were analysed by quantitative real-time PCR. The production of PGE2 and interleukin-6 by the cells was analysed by ELISA. While the supragingival

biofilm did not induce significant changes, the subgingival biofilm caused an 8.6- and 2.9-fold enhancement of COX-2 and interleukin-6 gene expression, respectively, and a 72.5- and 1.5-fold enhancement of PGE2and interleukin-6 production, respectively. In conclusion, subgingival biofilms are potent inducers of PGE2 in gingival fibroblasts, Quisinostat nmr providing further mechanistic insights into the association of subgingival biofilms with bone resorption periodontitis.”
“Heterotrimeric G proteins act as the physical nexus between numerous receptors that respond to extracellular signals and proteins that drive the cytoplasmic response. The G alpha subunit of the G protein, in particular, is highly

constrained due to its many interactions with proteins that control or react to its conformational state. Various organisms contain

differing sets of G alpha-interacting proteins, clearly indicating that shifts in sequence and associated G alpha functionality were acquired over time. These numerous interactions constrained much of G alpha evolution; yet G alpha has diversified, through poorly understood processes, into several functionally specialized classes, each with a unique set of interacting proteins. Applying a synthetic sequence-based approach to mammalian G alpha MI-503 cost subunits, we established a set of seventy-five evolutionarily important class-distinctive residues, sites where a single G alpha class is differentiated from the three other classes. We tested the hypothesis that shifts at these sites are important for class-specific functionality. Importantly, we mapped known and well-studied class-specific functionalities from all four mammalian classes to sixteen of our class-distinctive sites, validating the hypothesis. Our results show how unique functionality can evolve through the recruitment of residues that were ancestrally functional. We also studied acquisition of functionalities by following these evolutionarily important sites in non-mammalian organisms. Our results suggest that many class-distinctive sites were established early on in eukaryotic diversification and were critical for the establishment of new G alpha classes, whereas others arose in punctuated bursts throughout metazoan evolution.

On the basis of the studies, the Saka genotype can be considered drought resistant due to higher leaf water content caused, probably, by smaller hydraulic resistance relative to Modus. The activity of its photosynthetic apparatus during drought was higher

than that for the Modus genotype. The high level of phenolic compounds, which can act as photoprotectors and free radical scavengers, was also maintained. All the mentioned parameters can represent the potential phenotype features, which allow the identification of resistance genes on the genetic map of the triticale, which is currently being created. (C) 2008 NU7026 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Synthetic fragrances are persistent environmental pollutants that tend to bioaccumulate in animal tissues. They are widely used in personal care products and cleaning agents. Worldwide production of Galaxolide and Tonalide are in excess of 4500 tons annually. Because of their widespread production and use, they have been https://www.selleckchem.com/products/nocodazole.html detected in surface waters and fish in the US and Europe. Consumption of contaminated water and fish

from such sources leads to bioaccumulation and eventual toxicity. Since fragrances and flavors bear structural similarities to polyisoprenes, it was of interest to determine whether toxicity by Galaxolide and Tonalide may be linked with polyisoprenylated methylated protein methyl esterase (PMPMEase) inhibition. A concentration-dependent study of PMPMEase inhibition by Galaxolide and Tonalide as well as their effects on the degeneration of cultured cells were conducted. Galaxolide and Tonalide inhibited purified porcine liver PMPMEase with K-i values of 11 and 14 mu M, respectively. Galaxolide

and Tonalide also induced human cancer cell degeneration with EC50 values of 26 and 98 mu M (neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells) and 58 and 14 mu M (lung cancer A549 cells), respectively. The effects on cell viability correlate well with the inhibition of PMPMEase activity in the cultured VX-661 cells. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the binding interactions are most likely between the fragrance molecules and hydrophobic amino acids in the active site of the enzyme. These results appear to suggest that the reported neurotoxicity of these compounds may be associated with their inhibition of PMPMEase. Exposure to fragrances may pose a significant risk to individuals predisposed to developing degenerative disorders. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 466-477, 2014.”
“Inflammation has been implicated in the hypothalamic leptin and insulin resistance resulting defective food intake during high fat diet period. To investigate hypothalamic inflammation in dietary induced obesity (DIO) and obesity resistant (DIO-R) rats, we established rat models of DIO and DIO-R by feeding high fat diet for 10 weeks.

65 vs. DASH 0.68 in elbow (P = 0.015); effect size in shoulder 1.42 vs. DASH 1.65 (P < 0.001).

The short QuickDASH can be recommended for a summary assessment of arm symptoms and function based on the total score in the daily clinical rush. For differentiated assessment of symptoms and function, e.g. for clinical studies, the full-length

DASH provides more specific and sophisticated results.”
“Two new lupene-type triterpenoids, 3 beta,6 beta-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid beta-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 2 alpha-acetoxyl-3 beta,6 beta-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid beta-glucopyranosyl ester (2), along with 18 known compounds, were isolated from Liquidambar formosana. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, ESIMS, 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, selleck chemicals as well as by Repotrectinib comparison of the spectral data with those of related compounds.”
“Comparing the responsiveness over time of the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and the SF-36 in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) and

assessing variation in the responsiveness of these measures by the number of co-morbidities.

This prospective study analyzed 335 THA patients treated at two southern Taiwan hospitals from 1997 to 2000. Magnitude of change in HRQoL was compared by generalized estimating equation. Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrapping was used to measure magnitude of change in HHS and SF-36 subscale scores for five different time intervals spanning a 5-year period.

The analytical results

indicated that the pain and physical function Fedratinib cost subscales of the HHS are more responsive than those of the SF-36 for short-term (within 1 year post-surgery) measurements but are less responsive for long-term measurements. At various follow-up intervals, the HHS and the SF-36 significantly differed in ES of changes in pain and physical function subscale scores for patients with one co-morbidity and for patients with two or more co-morbidities.

For long-term evaluation of THA patients, clinicians and health researchers should weight both measures equally and should also consider co-morbidities.”
“Objective: To investigate the technical feasibility of unattended polysomnography (HPSG) for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (USA) in children.

Methods: A single-night HPSG was performed on children referred to the pediatric respiratory laboratory. Non-interpretable HPSGs were defined as: recordings with (i) loss of >= 2 of the following channels: nasal flow, or thoraco-abdominal belts, or (ii) HPSG with less than 4 h of artifact-free recording time or (iii) less than 4 h SpO2 signal.

Results: Of n = 101 included HPSGs, n = 75 were ambulatory and n = 26 in hospitalized subjects. Median (minimum-maximum) age was 2.8 (0-15.4) years. Interpretable and technically acceptable recordings were obtained in 94 subjects (93%). Only 7 recordings (4 at home versus 3 in hospitalized subjects, p-value = 0.

dubliniensis-related, non-C. dubliniensis-related and C. albicans-related candidaemia. Haematological malignancy was the commonest predisposing factor in C. guilliermondii (n = 3, 27%) and C. lusitaniae (n = 3, 43%) candidaemia. The 30-day mortality rate of C. lusitaniae candidaemia was higher than the overall death rate for all uncommon Candida spp. (42.9% vs. 25%, p not significant). All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, and caspofungin; five strains (9%) had fluconazole MIC values of 16-32 mg/L. Candidaemia due to uncommon Candida spp. is emerging among hospital outpatients; certain clinical variables may assist in recognition of this entity.”
“In

2005, several groups identified a single gain-of-function point mutation in the JAK2 kinase that was present in the majority of patients VX-680 solubility dmso with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Since this discovery, much effort has been dedicated to understanding the molecular consequences of the JAK2V617F mutation in the haematopoietic system. Three waves of mouse models have been produced recently (bone marrow transplantation,

transgenic and targeted knock-in), which have facilitated the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of JAK2V617F-positive MPNs, providing potential platforms for designing and validating novel therapies in humans. This Commentary briefly summarises the first two types of mouse models and then focuses on the more recently generated knock-in models.”
“Introduction and objectives: When fibrinolysis fails in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction, Proteasome inhibitor they are referred for a rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there

is still no evidence of how much myocardium potentially at risk we can actually salvage after rescue PCI.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed within 6 days. Myocardial necrosis was defined by the extent of abnormal late enhancement, myocardium at risk by extent of edema, and the amount of salvaged myocardium by the difference between myocardium at risk and myocardial necrosis. Finally, myocardial salvage index (MSI) resulted from the fraction XMU-MP-1 (area-at-risk minus infarct-size)/area-at-risk.

Results: The mean time elapsed between pain onset and fibrinolitic agent administration was 176 +/- 113 min; time lysis-rescue = PCI 209 +/- 122 min; time pain onset-PCI = 390 +/- 152 min. The area at risk was 37% +/- 13% and infarct size 34.5% +/- 13%. Salvaged myocardium was 3% +/- 4% and MSI 9 +/- 8. Salvaged myocardium and MSI were similar between patients with the artery open on arrival at the catheterization lab (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] 3) and those with TIMI flow <= 2 (3.3% +/- 3.6% and 8.2 +/- 6.9 in TIMI 0-2 vs 3.0% +/- 3.7% and 10.8 +/- 10.9 in TIMI 3; P = .80 and 0.31, respectively). No significant difference was observed between patients who went through rescue PCI within a shorter time and those with longer delay times.

The inflammatory response and endothelialization of the neck were similar in all groups.

Expansile hydrogel devices have led to increased progressive occlusion, while degradable polymer devices 3-MA ic50 led to an increased rate of thrombus organization compared with platinum coils.”
“Purpose: To determine magnetic resonance (MR) enteroclysis findings in patients with uncomplicated celiac disease (CD), refractory

CD (RCD) type I, and RCD type II, to develop and validate a scoring system to identify patients with RCD II and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MR enteroclysis to detect CD-related malignancies.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed with approval of the institutional review board. One radiologist blinded to clinical details retrospectively evaluated quantitative and qualitative criteria of 28 studies obtained in symptomatic patients with CD (uncomplicated CD, n = 10; RCD I, n = 8; RCD II, n = 10). A scoring system was developed by using parameters identified in multivariate analysis to be associated with RCD II, which two radiologists evaluated in a second group of 40 symptomatic patients with CD.

Accuracy to detect malignancy was assessed in the total study group. Cumulative survival was evaluated in the total study group by using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: MR enteroclysis could not be used to discriminate between PF299 uncomplicated CD and RCD I. The presence of less than 10 folds per 5 cm jejunum, mesenteric fat infiltration, and bowel wall thickening were associated with RCD II. A positive MR score was defined

as the presence of two or more of these features. In the validation group, the MR score was positive in 13 of 15 patients with RCD II (sensitivity, 0.87) and negative in 24 of 25 patients without RCD II (specificity, 0.96). The 5-year survival rate was 95% in patients with a negative MR score and 56% in patients with a positive MR score (P < .0001). MR enteroclysis helped to identify the presence of seven of eight malignancies and to diagnose absence of malignancy in 58 of 60 studies.

Conclusion: MR enteroclysis can be used to investigate Rapamycin datasheet the presence of RCD II or malignancy in symptomatic patients with CD. (C) RSNA, 2011″
“Background/aims: Two unrelated patients found to have hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets (HVDRR) were admitted to our hospital.

Methods: This article describes the diagnosis, management and molecular basis for their disease.

Results: Both patients had severe growth and motor developmental retardation, rickets with chest deformities and pulmonary abnormalities, but no alopecia. Both had hypocalcemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism and susceptibility to pulmonary infections. In both cases, good response with normalization of abnormal biochemistries and healing of rickets was achieved with IV calcium infusion. Subsequently, improvement was maintained with oral calcium.

Cognitive function was measured at study visits in 1990-1992 and 1996-1998 with three tests: (a) Delayed Word Recall (DWR), (b) Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS), and (c) Word Fluency (WF). Cognitive decline scores were computed as studentized’ residuals of 1996-1998 scores regressed against 1990-1992 scores. In 1996-1998, 10,050 participants answered dental screening questions, and 5,878 of 8,782 dentate participants received a comprehensive oral examination. Multiple regression models used cognitive

change to predict oral health behaviors and conditions with adjustment for covariates. In the fully adjusted models, greater decline in all three measures of cognitive function was associated with increased odds of complete tooth loss. Greater decline in DSS and WF scores was associated with infrequent toothbrushing. A-1210477 datasheet Decline in WF scores was also associated with higher plaque levels. In these middle-aged adults, six-year cognitive decline was modestly associated with less frequent toothbrushing, plaque deposit, and greater odds of edentulism, but not with other oral behaviors or diseases.”
“Caveolae are critical cell surface structures important in coordinated cell signaling and endocytosis. One of the major proteins of caveolae is caveolin AL3818 in vivo 1 (Cav-1). Cellular levels of Cav-1

are associated with cancer progression. In prostate cancer cells, levels of Cav-1 are positively correlated with tumor progression and metastasis. Cav-1 can be secreted by prostate cancer cells into the microenvironment and triggers proliferation and anti-apoptosis of the tumor and tumor endothelial cells. Clinical studies have shown increased serum Cav-1 levels in patients with poor prognosis. In tissue culture and animal model experiments, blocking

secreted Cav-1 by polyclonal antibodies inhibits tumor cell growth. Cav-1 is therefore a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer treatment. In this study, we used Cav-1 knock-out mice as hosts to produce monoclonal anti-Cav-1 antibodies. A total of 11 hybridoma cell lines were selected for their ability to produce antibodies that bound GST-Cav-1 but not GST on glutathione-coated ELISA plates. Further screening with ELISAs CCI-779 solubility dmso using GST-Cav-1 fragments on GSH-coated plates classified these antibodies into four groups: N1-31 with five antibodies binds the far N-terminus between amino acids 1 and 31; N32-80 with three antibodies binds between amino acids 32 and 80; CSD with two antibodies potentially bind the scaffolding domain (amino acids 80-101); and Cav-1-C with 1 antibody binds parts of the C-terminal half. Binding affinities (Kd) of these antibodies to soluble Cav-1 ranged from 10(-11) to 10(-8) M. Binding competition experiments revealed that these antibodies recognized a total of six different epitopes on Cav-1.

“
“In Selleck A-1210477 this article, we report the development of chitosan/miconazole nitrate microcapsules. Four miconazole nitrate ratios including 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg were performed in the chitosan-based microencapsulation system. Chitosan microcapsules with the drug input of 25 mg showed the highest encapsulation efficiency (52.47%) and acceptable mean particle size (5.65 mu m) when compared with those of 12.5, 50 and 100 mg. Fourier transform infrared

spectroscopic spectrum proved the entrapment of miconazole nitrate into chitosan microcapsules. The antifungal result demonstrated that microcapsules containing 75 mu g miconazole nitrate possessed comparable anti-Aspergillus niger activity as the commercial ointment. The growth inhibition of miconazole check details nitrate containing chitosan microcapsules towards human skin keratinocytes was found to be dose dependent. A total of 75 mu g of miconazole nitrate containing microcapsules revealed about 25% of growth inhibition while that of

150 mu g showed approximately 70% of growth inhibition. Special monitoring should be taken if a higher dose of miconazole nitrate was used to develop the microcapsules.”
“Purpose: We examined the extent to which mental distress may be associated with a woman’s preconception health.

Methods: We analyzed population-based, self-reported data from the 2005, 2007, and 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and limited analyses to 213,137 women aged 18-44 years. Women whose mental health was not good for >= 14 days during the past month were categorized as having frequent mental distress. For 15 preconception health indicators, we used chi-square tests to measure differences in prevalence by mental distress and the average marginal predictions approach

to logistic regression to assess associations between mental distress and each preconception health indicator in separate models, adjusted for demographic characteristics. We conducted analyses using SUDAAN software to account for the complex sampling design and used weights to produce unbiased estimates.

Results: The prevalence of good preconception health for each indicator was higher for women reporting infrequent mental distress (chi-square p value < 0.001 for all). The greatest disparities in preconception health between women with infrequent and frequent mental distress, respectively, were adequate social and emotional support LY2157299 TGF-beta/Smad inhibitor (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.4, prevalence = 83.7% and 54.8%), not smoking (aPR = 1.2, 82.3% and 62.4%), adequate fruit and vegetable consumption (aPR = 1.2, 26.1% and 21.5%), normal weight (aPR = 1.2, 50.4% and 39.0%), and good general health (aPR = 1.2, 91.7% and 71.5%).

Conclusions: Interventions tailored for women with poor mental health may be needed to target specific preconception health indicators, such as social support, smoking, weight, and nutrition.”
“Aims

This study examines whether child maltreatment experience predicts adolescent tobacco and alcohol use.

The technique can be used to create a posterior

capsulectomy of a desirable size in a controlled manner to avoid destabilization of the IOL. It can be applied selectively in cases of pediatric cataract surgery.”
“We investigated the correlation between morphology and electron spin AICAR ic50 relaxation time in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells (MQWs) on misoriented GaAs(110) substrates. For the MQW on a 2 degrees-misoriented GaAs(110), formation of wide (110) step terraces due to step bunching was observed. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the electron spin relaxation time tau(s) showed that the D’yakonov-Perel’ (DP) spin relaxation was suppressed even in the MQW on the 2 degrees-misoriented GaAs(110) owing to the step terrace formation. In contrast, in the MQW on a 5 degrees-misoriented GaAs(110), in which the surface showed ripple patterns, the tau(s)

became shorter than that on the on-axis GaAs(110), which we attribute to the enhanced electron spin relaxation originating from the bulk inversion asymmetry term in the DP mechanism that is induced by the substrate misorientation. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3622586]“
“Centella asiatica (L.) Urban has been traditionally used for the treatment of various disease and as a food CYT387 cell line for thousands of years in various parts of the world including eastern Asia, China and India. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of Centella asiatica aqueous

leaf extract on the induction of spermatogenic cell apoptosis in male rats. After lethal dose PLX3397 purchase (LD50) assessment of plant extract, rats were divided in five groups. The experimental groups received orally 10, 50, 80 and 100 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract daily for 60 days and the control group received just water. After 60 days, body and testis weight were measured and blood samples were taken from the heart. To evaluate apoptosis and histological changes, tissue samples obtained from rat testes were stained by TUNEL assay and hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results showed that the sperm count, motility, and viability and the number of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased compared with the control group. The number of apoptotic germ cells per seminiferous tubule cross-section was significantly increased in the experimental group (18.11 +/- A 3.5) compared with the control group (8.7 +/- A 0.81) (P < 0.05). Serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels also showed significant decreases in the experimental groups (P < 0.05). There was also a significant decrease in testis weight in experimental groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05).