Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is a single‐stranded RNA virus that causes many diseases such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. Although it has been shown that the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 receptor, which has a high affinity for the SARS‐CoV‐2 is mostly expressed in the lungs, it is also expressed especially in the cells of the testicular tissue. Although there are studies showing the effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 on spermatogenesis, the effects of COVID‐19 on sperm count, motility, and morphology are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in sperm quality in men who had recovered and never had COVID‐19, therefore semen samples were analyzed from all individuals in the patient and control groups aged 20–50 years who agreed to participate in the study and voluntary in SBU Ministry of Health Adana City Training and Research Hospital. (Toros University Ethics Committee Decision Number: 1433, Date: April 15, 2021) (Adana Provincial Health Directorate Ethics Commission Decision dated May 27, 2021/5). Two groups were selected (100 men had and recovered from COVID‐19, and 100 men never had COVID‐19) spermiograms from both groups were analyzed in accordance with the World Health Organization standards. The sperm concentration of the COVID‐19 negative group was significantly higher than those in the COVID‐19 positive group. No statistically significant difference was detected between the groups for sperm motility and morphology. ​It was observed that men with COVID‐19 had decreased sperm concentrations suggesting that COVID‐19 may have a negative effect on male fertility. However, in the long term, more comprehensive studies with a large sample size are needed to understand better the changes in sperm concentration.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important health problem. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing, especially in the Western countries. Although there are several intracellular pathways in NAFLD, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has recently gained importance. Silymarin is an important liver‐protective biological molecule. In light of this information, we investigated mice for the effect of silymarin on ER stress in the NAFLD model. In our study, the mice were randomly divided into six groups: Control, silymarin 100 and 200 mg/kg sham, fructose‐induced NAFLD, and NAFLD + silymarin groups. After the last administrations, liver and blood samples were taken and hematoxylin‐eosin, as well as Oil red O staining, were performed. As a result, the body and liver weights, lipid profile, AST, ALT, and glucose levels, along with the ER stress markers, increased in the NAFLD‐only group. Silymarin treatments reversed most of these changes. Particularly, 200 mg/kg silymarin was more effective. Practical applications According to the results, silymarin attenuated NAFLD by decreasing the ER stress proteins GRP78 and XBP‐1. Silymarin may be therapeutic in the treatment of NAFLD as well as other ER‐stress‐based diseases. Silymarin can also be taken with food for prophylactic purposes.

Acrylamide is a food contaminant with a range of toxic effects. Carnosic acid (C20H28O4) is a phenolic compound found in plants and has many beneficial effects. In this study, we aimed at investigating the effect of carnosic acid on acrylamide‐induced liver damage. Rats (n = 7) were allotted to control, carnosic acid, acrylamide, acrylamide + carnosic acid groups. Animals were euthanized. Their blood was taken for biochemical analysis, and liver tissue was excised for morphological, immunohistochemical, and immunoblotting analyses. As a result, acrylamide reduced bodyweight, liver weight, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity levels but increased alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, malondialdehyde, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index levels, Nrf2, and Keap1 protein levels. In addition, acrylamide disrupted liver histology leading to vascular congestion, cellular infiltration, necrotic cells, and so forth. Carnosic acid cotreatment ameliorated the altered biochemical parameters, liver histology, Nrf2, and Keap1 enzyme levels. In conclusion, carnosic acid has the potential to be used as a protective agent against acrylamide‐induced liver damage.

Hyperthyroidism influences the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Transient receptor potential canonical channels (TRPCs) and ER stress are regarded as critical pathways in cardiac hypertrophy.Hence, we aimed to identify the TRPCs associated with ER stress in hyperthyroidism-induced cardiac hypertrophy.20 adult Wistar albino male rats were used in the study.The control group was fed with standard food and tap water. The group with hyperthyroidism was also fed with standard rat food, along with tap water that contained 12 mg/L of thyroxine for four weeks.At the end of the fourth week, the serum-free T3, T4, and TSH levels of the groups were measured. The left ventricle of each rat was used for histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, western blot, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS) analysis. As per our results, ATF-6, IRE-1, and TRPC1, which play a significant role in cardiac hypertrophy caused by hyperthyroidism, showed increased activation. Moreover, TOS and fT3 levels increased, while TAC and TSH levels decreased. With the help of the literature review in our study, we could, for the first time, indicate that the increased activation, in particular of ATF-6, IRE-1, and TRPC1-induced deterioration of the Ca2+ ion balance, leads to hypertrophy in hyperthyroidism due to heart failure.

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