[Oak poisoning [Quercus castaneifolia] mortality report in a sheep flock]

Within a few consecutive days, 8 cases of lambs' mortality were reported from the Golestan National Park area [Golestan province]. According to the farmer's claims, the disease has occurred only in less than one year old lambs whose major feeding was free grazing in the oak rich areas and also collected and manually feeding with new and fresh buds of this tree. Ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericarditis, intestine, abomasum and mesenteric subserosal accumulation of fluid, and swelling of the kidney with cortex hemorrhage was observed in necropsy. Microscopic pathology revealed tubular and glomerular nephritis with tubular hyaline casts and mucosal necrosis with submucosal and serosal edema of GI specimens. Based on available epidemiological data, macro and microscopic pathology, oak poisoning is the most likely cause of mortality in this flock. It seems the major cause of mortality is the high sensitivity of these young animals and furthermore, the farmers insistence on feeding them the fresh buds of this tree

[Comparison of fracture resistance in reattached anterior teeth using porcelain, composite and metal laminates]

Fractured crown is one of the most prevalent dental problems. Dental researchers and clinicians are trying to find the most effective reattachment technique in order to provide adequate resistance as close to intact human tooth as possible. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using porcelain, composite and metal laminates on fracture resistance of the re-attached coronal fragments in human anterior teeth. This in-vivo study was conducted using forty recently extracted human lower incisors. Samples were randomly assigned into four groups. Ten teeth with no prior preparations were selected as the control group. The rest of teeth were sectioned mesiodistally, four mm under and parallel to the incisal edge. These specimens were randomly assigned to three groups. Re-attachment was performed using single bond and flowable composite in all test groups according to manufacturer's instructions. In porcelain laminate [PL] group, veneer preparations were made for buccal surface [window preparation]. Composite and metal laminate preparations were made in lingual surfaces of the teeth in composite laminate [CL] and metal laminate [ML] groups. After impression taking and laboratory process, all laminates were cemented using resin cement. All teeth were mounted in self cured acrylic blocks and kept in saline solution. Using a testing machine, fracture procedures were performed in a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/minute. The tooth inclination for testing were set at 135° angle before the loading blade and kept it in this position until fracture occurred. Differences between four groups were determined using one way analysis of variance [ANOVA] at 0.05 significance level. The mean fracture resistant in control, CL, PL and ML groups were 438.85 [ +/- 147.14], 420.05 [ +/- 109.59], 364.92 [ +/- 230.02] and 345.01 [ +/- 148.87] respectively. This analysis showed that, group differences were not statistically significant [P>0.05]. Although composite laminate [CL] showed highest fracture resistance after the control group, but all the three techniques can be applied depending on the teeth and patient's preferences

Comparison of ear notch immunofluorescent, buffy coat antigen-capture ELISA and RT-PCR for detection of calves suspected to actuely infected with bovine pesti virus

Twelve calves of 4-10 months old with clinical signs suspected to bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV] infection were selected for this study. Histopathologic sections were performed on formalin fixed paraffin-embded ear notch biopsies, mounted on poly-L-lysine coated slides and stained for BVDV by Anti-BVDV monoclonal antibody labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Stained sections were examined by fluorescent microscopy for detection of green fluorescent evidence within the cytoplasm of keratinocytes, other dermal cells and chondrocytes. Detection of BVDVantigen in buffy coat cells was performed by using a commercially available antigen-capture ELISAkit, and RT- PCR, using a universal primers set, specific for all pestiviruses. Based on 11 positive cases detected by RT-PCR, immunofluorescent staining and antigen-capture ELISAcould detect 8 cases [72.72%] and one case [9%] respectively. Results of this study suggest immunofluorescent test on ear notch biopsies has a relatively high sensitivity, and can be used as a reliable and feasible method for detection of calves with acute infection with BVDV

frequency of three common mutations of CARD15/NOD2 gene in Iranian IBD patients

CARD15/NOD2 gene, located on the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 [IBD1] has been reported to have an association with IBD, especially Crohn's disease [CD]. Many independent studies have shown a variable association between three common mutations of CARD 15, with Crohn's disease in different ethnic groups. Thus, raising the hypothesis that genetic and / or allelic heterogeneity may influence the relationship between CARD 15 and Crohn's disease. In the present study, we have investigated the frequency of three main mutations of CARD 15 gene [Arg 702 Trp, Gly 908 Arg and Leu 1007 fsinsC] in Iranian IBD patients and compared it with healthy control population. For this case-control study, 100 ulcerative colitis [UC], 40 Crohn's disease patients and 100 sex- age- and ethnicity-matched controls were enrolled from a teaching hospital during a one year period [2003-2004]. All three mutations were assessed on DNA of leukocyte cells, by PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction] and RFLP [Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism] methods. The mean age of UC, CD and healthy controls were 38.6 +/- 14.3, 36.6 +/- 14.1, and 38.6 +/- 14.2 years. Among the three evaluated CARD 15 gene mutations, the frequency of Arg702Trp mutation was significantly higher in Iranian patients with Crohn's disease [OR19.2; 95%CI:4.2-87.3, p<0.001]. None of these mutations were associated with ulcerative colitis. This study showed that Arg702Trp mutation of CARD 15 gene is probably associated with Crohn's disease in Iranian population; indicating that genetic polymorphisms may differ between populations