Myrtus communis L. (Myrtle) is one of the most important aromatic and medicinal species from the Myrtaceae family.

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Thyroid and thyrotrophic hormone levels in the blood of Friesian cows were determined during the oestrous cycle, at different months of pregnancy and 10 days after parturition. During the oestrous cycle there was an increase in the thyroid hormone level at oestrus accompanied by a decrease in the level of thyroidstimulating hormone. The thyroid hormone content of blood was low during dioestrus while the thyrotrophic hormone was high. No variation in thyroid hormone level was noticed during pregnancy, except for an increase during the 9th month. The level of thyrotrophic hormone was maintained at a comparatively high level during the first 4 months of pregnancy. After parturition the level of thyroid hormone was similar to that observed during dioestrus, while there was an increase in the level of thyrotrophic hormone.

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Scorpion envenomation is a growing problem in many countries, especially among women and children. Existing diagnostic criteria are not sufficiently specific to allow antivenin administration in the absence of a confirmed scorpion sting. This study was performed to evaluate conventional haematological and serum chemical measurements as potential indices of scorpion envenomation. Adult, cycling nulliparous and near-term primiparous, white Wistar rats received a single subcutaneous injection of crude venom (600 lg/kg) from the Buthidae scorpion (Buthus occitanus tunetanus). All envenomed rats were observed for external signs and symptoms of toxicity until necropsy, which entailed terminal blood collection at either 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 hr after venom administration (n ¼ 6 per reproductive state per time-point) for evaluation of selected clinical chemistry and haematological analytes. Control cohorts (matched for age and reproductive state) received saline injections subcutaneously and were necropsied at 0.5 hr. Almost all envenomed rats but no control animals displayed physical symptoms of intoxication, including agitation, mastication with hypersalivation, and/or vocalizing. Reproducible alterations in clinical pathology parameters were lacking in venom-treated rats regardless of reproductive status, although modest but significant Rho correlations suggested that mild haemoconcentration, haemolysis, renal function deficits and possibly coagulation difficulties developed over time.

Thyroidal dysfunction is a risk factor for the development of many metabolic disorders and pathologies. In this work we evaluated the status of the oxidative stress in hypo- and hyperthyroidism, as a sign for developing associated diseases. A total of 44 participants have been recruited and distributed into three groups: Euthyroidism (6), Hypothyroidism (29) and hyperthyroidism (9). Their hematological and biochemical parameters were diagnosed. Free thyroxin 4 (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined using Elisa kits. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were measured in plasma samples by spectrophotometric methods. Our results showed an increase in lipid peroxidation in both hypo- and hyperthyroidism (1.14 ±0.631 µmol. L-1 and 0.904 ±0.179 µmol. L-1 , respectively) in comparison to normal cases (0.821 ±0.173 µmol.L-1 ). Our findings highlight the misbalance of the oxidative stress occurrence in hypo- and hyper-thyroidism due to the subsequent metabolic rate disturbances.