This study is the first attempt to examine the effects of NETA on immune cells and telocytes. The
results of this study form an important knowledge base for the development of new information
on the mechanism of contraceptive action of NETA in the uterus. Norethisterone acetate (NETA) is
a synthetic progestogen medication commonly utilized in birth control pills, menopausal hormone
therapy, and for curing abnormal uterine bleeding and endometriosis. Furthermore NETA has many
beneficial uses in veterinary medicine as control and synchronization of estrous cycle. The impact
of NETA on the endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), telocytes, and uterine immune cells is not well
understood. Therefore, this study focuses on assessing changes in uterine immune cells, ESCs, and
telocytes following exposure to NETA in albino rats. To achieve this objective, fourteen adult female
albino rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an NETA-treated group. Rats
in the control group received daily pelleted food, water, and were oral administered of 2 ml distilled
water. In contrast, rats in the NETA-treated group received daily pelleted food, water, and were
orally administered 20 μg of NETA dissolved in 2 ml distilled water. The experiment spanned three
weeks. The findings of this study revealed that NETA usage increases the infiltration and activity of
immune cells (eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and mast cells). Furthermore,
it enhances the vesicular activity of uterine telocytes and their communication with various immune
cells. NETA also influences decidualization and the immunoexpression of progesterone receptors in
uterine epithelial and immune cells. This study concludes that the primary mechanism by which NETA
controls pregnancy is through decidual (pregnancy-like) effects or improper decidualization, which
inhibits fertilization and implantation respectively. Our research provides evidence of the contraceptive
mechanism of NETA from an immunological perspective in an animal model.

Background

Saidi sheep are one of the most important farm animals in Upper Egypt, particularly in the Assiut
governorate. Since they can provide meat, milk, fiber, and skins from low-quality roughages, sheep are among the
most economically valuable animals bred for food in Egypt. Regarding breeding, relatively little is known about the
Saidi breed. In mammals, the uterus is a crucial reproductive organ. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to provide
further details on the histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses of superoxide dismutase 2
(SOD2), glutathione reductase (GR), and progesterone receptor alpha (PRA) as well as terminal deoxynucleotidyl
transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labeling assay (TUNEL) of the uterus during the follicular phase of estrous cycle in
Saidi sheep. Thus, 11 healthy Saidi ewes (38.5 ± 2.03 kg weight) ranging in age from 2 to 5 years were used to examine
the histological changes in the uterus.
Results

In Saidi sheep, the uterine histological and immunological picture during the follicular phase of the estrous
cycle was characterized by epithelial and stromal proliferation and apoptosis. Leucocytic recruitment (lymphocytes,
plasma, and mast cells) was also observed. Uterine gland adenogenesis, vascular angiogenesis, oxidative marker
expression, and PRA expression in the muscles, stroma, and epithelium were the most noticeable features of the
follicular phase.
Conclusion

This study provides new evidence of the role of PRA, SOD2, GR, and mast cells in controlling uterine
epithelial proliferation and apoptosis in the Saidi sheep during the follicular phase of the estrus cycle. These findings
have growing significance in understanding the key mechanisms that characterize successful reproduction and
enhancing the fertility and reproductive efficiency in Saidi Sheep.

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is a new technology applied in biomedical research, agriculture, and the food industry. However, its safety and long-term effects require further investigation. Therefore, the current study was designed to evaluate the impact of PAW oral gavage on body weight, food intake, behavior (tail suspension test and open field test), internal organs relative weight, blood biochemical indicators, intestinal microbiota and liver and kidney histopathology in 10-week-old female mice (n = 30). Mice were divided into three groups each containing 10 mice received orally (gastric lavage) either distilled water (DW), or DW exposed to cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) for 3 min (PAW-3), or 15 min (PAW-15) a dose of 200 μl/mice (3 times/week) for 4 weeks. Compared with the DW, the results showed that both PAW-3 and PAW-15 significantly increased urea concentration (P = 0.044). The PAW-3 group showed a significantly higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.043), and higher lactobacilli count (P = 0.002). However, PAW-15 showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase levels (P = 0.039), and a significantly lower coliform count (P < 0.001). No significant differences (P > 0.05) in body weight, food intake, organ relative weights, behavior tests, or major biochemical parameters were observed. Liver and kidney tissues in PAW-treated groups, particularly PAW-15, exhibited severe pathological changes, including hepatocellular necrosis, glomerular atrophy, interstitial inflammation, and tubular degeneration, indicating substantial organ damage associated with PAW exposure. In conclusion, PAW's impact on biochemical markers, microbiota, and organ health raises safety concerns, warranting further long-term studies.

Background

Biomass burning presents significant environmental and health problems worldwide. Health effects on broilers (as an animal model) exposed to intensive maize stover burning (MSB) were studied. Carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were estimated during the MSB season. Sixty apparently healthy broilers from 12 farms were included for blood-gas analysis, bilirubin, and liver enzyme analysis. In addition, histopathological changes of the lung, liver, and heart were investigated.

Results

Highly significant differences for CO and PM2.5 levels, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) values during MSB season were found compared to burning free events which resulted in higher incidence of blood coagulation and cardiovascular diseases risk. Highly significant elevations of liver enzymes were verified during MSB. Respiratory function was significantly decreased due to airway obstruction accompanied by severe tissue damage including pulmonary fibrosis (39%) and metaplasia. Pulmonary and hepatic blood vessel embolisms were indicative of systemic embolic phenomena.

Conclusion

The study highlighted the substantial health risk and a threat to air quality from one season exposure to leftover straw burning. Agriculture waste burning should be banned by legislation to restore the environment and protect health.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONPs) are increasingly regarded as a promising alternative to conventional zinc sources in broilers nutrition due to their superior bioavailability and multiple functional benefits. This review reported the role of ZONPs in enhancing broilers’ health and performance, including improvements in growth rate, behavioral responses, meat quality, physiological functions, and biochemical markers, as well as their application to control coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis and footpad dermatitis. Their strong antimicrobial properties against key broiler pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli (E.coli) also improve gut health and food safety. Moreover, the efficient absorption of ZONPs leads to reduced zinc excretion, thus lowering the environmental burden commonly associated with traditional zinc supplementation. Despite these advantages, the potential risks of ZONPs should not be overlooked. Factors such as nanoparticle size, concentration, and duration of exposure influence their safety profile. While several studies report no significant organ toxicity, concerns remain regarding possible long-term effects on vital organs including the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. Additionally, inconsistent findings and a lack of standardized safety assessments require more comprehensive research. This review provided a balanced overview of ZONPs in broiler feed, highlighting their promising benefits and associated risks.

Tallaga cheese is the most popular type of white soft cheese in Egypt. Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that poses a threat to the health of almost every age group, with a particular emphasis on neonates and infants. Essential oils (EOs), such as olive oil and thyme oil, exhibit a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. However, few studies have investigated the antibacterial activity of these EOs and their formulated nanoemulsions (NEs)—olive oil nano-emulsions (ONE) and thyme oil nano-emulsions (TNE)—on C. sakazakii in cheese to date. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of these EOs and their NEs on the development of C. sakazakii during the processing and storage of Tallaga cheese. Additionally, the organoleptic properties of the resulting cheese were evaluated. Herein, ONE and TNE were prepared and characterized using a zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EOs and NEs were determined using well diffusion assay. Fresh buffalo's milk for the elaboration of Tallaga cheese was inoculated with C. sakazakii at a concentration of 6 log CFU/mL, along with the addition of MICs of either EOs or NEs. The obtained results showed that the MICs were 15 mg/mL (v/v) for either olive oil, thyme oil, ONE and TNE with diameter inhibition zones of 10.3 ± 0.5, 13.3 ± 1.7, 12.3 ± 0.5, and 16 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. In addition, NEs exhibited high antibacterial activities against C. sakazakii in comparison to pure EOs. Particularly, the strongest antibacterial effect toward C. sakazakii was reported with TNE during manufacturing and storage of Tallaga cheese. Overall, these results suggest that thyme and its NEs have the potential to prevent bacterial contamination by C. sakazakii in the dairy industry.

Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as scabies, is a highly contagious skin condition caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei (Astigmata: Sarcoptinae). This parasitic disease significantly impacts livestock and human health, particularly in underserved regions. Current treatments rely on synthetic acaricides like permethrin and ivermectin, which suffer from limitations such as toxicity, resistance development, and environmental contamination. Essential oils from Apiaceae plants represent a promising natural alternative. This study reviewed 122 volatile constituents from Apiaceae plants and conducted comprehensive in silico analyses to identify potential antiparasitic agents. Geraniol emerged as a potent acaricidal candidate due to its strong binding affinity to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (docking score: − 7.85 kcal/mol). In vitro testing revealed geraniol achieved a 100% mite mortality rate at concentrations as low as 6.25% within 15 min (LT₅₀ = 9.5 min). In vivo studies using scabies-infected rabbits demonstrated that geraniol-treated animals exhibited complete clinical recovery by two weeks post-treatment, with disappearance of crusts, itching, and skin thickening. Histopathological examination showed near-complete skin regeneration with minimal inflammatory infiltrates, in contrast to control groups which exhibited severe lesions and active mite presence. Furthermore, geraniol-treated rabbits displayed new hair growth and improved general condition, with no observed adverse effects. These findings highlight geraniol’s potential as a safe, effective, and eco-friendly treatment for scabies, offering a 100% improvement in clinical and histological recovery within two weeks. Further research should focus on optimizing delivery systems and evaluating its efficacy in human clinical trials.