[Topical estrogen accelerates wound healing in diabetic rats]

Diabetic ulcers especially foot ulcers and the delay in their healing is a major problem faced by most diabetic patients. Based on data available on the positive role of estrogen in accelerating wound healing, this research aimed at assessing the possible effect of topical estrogen on wound healing in diabetic rats. Sixty-six male wistar rats were divided into two groups [normal and diabetic] and each group was divided into 3 subgroups [control, sham and test]. A circular full- thickness wound with a diameter of 1.5 cm was created on the backs of streptozotocin [stz]- induced diabetic and intact rats. In the test subgroup, the wounds were treated with a daily topical dose of 0.5 mg estrogen and in the sham subgroup, gentamicin ointment [dose 0.5 g] was used. The process of wound healing was assessed by macroscopic and microscopic studies on days 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28. The macroscopic study, showed delays in healing of the diabetic group in comparison with the normal group and after the seventh day, wound healing showed considerable change in the test subgroup in both normal and diabetic rats [p<0.05]. In the normal group microscopic study, the only parameter which did not show any differerence was granulation tissue organization; however increasing of neoangiogenesis and re-epithelization was observed in the test subgroup. Also, in the diabetic group, the estrogen receiving subgroup showed impressive improvement compared to the sham subgroup. Topical that estrogen can accelerate the process healing of diabetic wounds

[Effect of Orem self care model on elderies' quality of life in health care centers of Masjed solaiman in 2007-2008]

The most important determinant factor in elder's quality of life is healthy. Since health can be declined by aging, in health promotion consider an effective model of care can by very important. We surveyed the effect of Orem Self Care Model on quality of life [QQL] of elderly in Masjed Solaiman. This is a pre and post quasi-experimental study was carried out on 349 elderly clients which were selected from 11 health care centers in Masjed Solaiman in 2007-2008. Orem Self Care program was performed during a 3 months in days that the clients came to health care centers. Data were gathered by a short form questionnaire [SF 36] before and after the intervention and was analyzed by descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results showed a significant increase in mean scores of different dominations of QOL including; health, physical performance, physical role- performance, emotional role- performance, social performance, body pain, power and energy, general health perception, and overall mean of QOL. Paired t-test showed a significant difference [P<0.001] between all of dominations of the quality of life. Performing Orem Self Care educational program had a positive influence on improving QOL of elderly

Educational needs in premarital counseling: viewpoints of couples referring to health care centers in Mashhad

In recent years, premarital programs are considered important in order to promote the quality of married life. This study was performed to determine the educational needs in premarital stages from the viewpoints of married couples referring to health care centers of Mashhad. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 223 couples [n = 446] referring to health centers in Mashhad during the years 2006-2007. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire containing 2 forms. The first form included 8 demographic questions and 4 questions related to samples' viewpoints about the way of holding sessions. The second form included 47 questions on 7 areas including fertility, family planning, congenital diseases, prevalent cancer prevention, sexual relationships, relationship with spouse and family, and Islamic and legal issues and 2 open questions were dedicated to other viewpoints of couples. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used for analyzing the data. The need to education in all areas was higher than average in both groups. Comparing the scores in 7 areas showed no significant difference between males and females. The most important need in both groups was concerning the relationship with spouse and family [3.97 +/- 0.067 in females and 3.95 +/- 0.077 in males]. Couples have a tendency for more education in the field of relationship with spouse and family, and are willing to increase the number of educational sessions to 3 or 4. Males and females had felt the need for providing educational programs in the mentioned priorities

Efficacy of oral glucose on infant vaccine shot pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experiment arising from actual or potential tissue damage and can be constant or intermittent. Pain can be dull, sharp or throbbing. Untreated pain especially in early infancy can actually have profound and lasting consequences. Therefore this study is done to assess the efficacy of oral Glucose on infant vaccine shot pain. This research is a double-blind clinical trial. Samples were consisting of 121 healthy 2, 4 and 6 months infants referred to health centers of Yasouj medical sciences university. They were selected as three aged groups and randomly divided in two control and case groups. Two minutes before DPT vaccine injection, the intervention was performed in case group. Before, during and after injection, the infant's reaction was videotaped. The pain severity was surveyed using Modified Behavioral Pain Scale [MBPS]. Duration of crying was also determined. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, LSD, Pearson correlation and X[2] tests. Results indicated that, the mean pain severity in case and control group was 6.38 +/- 0.16 and 5.87 +/- 0.22 respectively. LSD test showed significant difference between case and control group. The mean crying period in first 180 seconds was 50.36 +/- 4.4 seconds for case group and 65.69 +/- 6.8 seconds for control group. Nevertheless, LSD test did not show a significant difference between two groups. Results indicated that, Oral glucose does not effect on reducing pain severity caused by vaccination. It seems that, crying period has reverse relation with pain severity which needs to be studied more widely

[Study on the effect of oxytocin in locus coeruleus on anxiety induced vogel's test in presence and absence of yohimbine in male rat]

Locus coeruleus [LC] nucleus modulates certain physiological behaviors such as pain, anxiety, awake, sleep, memory and learning. Some studies have shown that the LC nucleus has both adrenergic neurons and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, and also receives oxytocinergic projections from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The effect and mechanism of this neuropeptide is not fully understood. Considering that the chronic usage of oxytocin decreases anxiety, in the present study the effect of acute administration of oxytocin in the locus coeruleus and its interaction with alpha 2 adrenoceptors on anxiety induced vogel's test in male adult rats were investigated. Male adult wistar rats weighing 285 +/- 15 grams were divided into 6 groups: 1] Receiving saline, 2] oxytocin [2ng/2micro l], 3] yohimbine [3.3 micro g/2microl], 4] receiving saline + yohimbine, 5] saline+ oxytocin and 6] yohimbine+oxytocin in locus coeruleus nucleus. Number of received shocks during water drinking was evaluated as an anxiety behavior for 15 minutes in Vogel's test. Oxytocin reduced number of shocks received [Anxiogenic effect]. Blocking of alpha 2 adrenoceptors by yohimbine decreased number of shocks received. Anxiogenic effect of oxytocin increased in presence of yohimbine. It seems that the LC alpha 2-adrenoceptors modulate anxiety and the anxiogenic effect of oxytocin and this effect can be eliminated by the blocking of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors

Seasonal changes of pronephros lymphoid tissue in grass carp [Ctenopharingodon idella]: a histometrical and histological study

The major lymphoid tissues in teleost fish are the kidneys, thymus, spleen and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue including the skin, gills and intestine. The head of kidney [pronephros] is an important haematopoietic organ and has morphological similarities with the bone marrow in higher vertebrates. In this study, during 12 months from August 2002 to July 2003, 120 grass carp [10 fish/month] were harvested from 3 fish culture ponds in Ahvaz. The water, weather temperatures and light duration of days [photoperiod] were recorded. After biometrical examination of age, weight and the length of the fishes, the whole kidneys were removed from abdominal cavity and samples were fixed in bouin's solution for light microscopy and in glutaraldehyde for electron microscopy. The results showed that the lymphoid tissue distribution has significant changes during different seasons so that, the mean ± SEM of lymphoid tissue distribution in hot seasons [33.53 +/- 0.59 mm[2]/cm[2] was more than cold seasons [19.20 +/- 0.65 mm/cm[2]. Also the statistical results showed that water temperature has more significant [P<0.05] effect on lymphoid tissue. Degenerated lymphoid cells with pale and vacuolated cytoplasm were observed. A reversed correlation was found between the number of normal and degenerated lymphocytes. Electron microscopy revealed that degenerated lymphocytes were devoid of membranous organelles, their cytoplasms were vacuolated and the nuclear envelope had some alterations

Serodiagnosis of sarcocystosis in water buffalo [Bubalus bubalis] by ELISA test and its comparison with digestion method

To compare the ELISA test with digestion method for dignosis sarcocystosis in water buffalo and estimate its sensitivity and specificity. Cross sectional study.Three hundred slaughtered water buffaloes in Ahwaz abattoir.Blood and oesophageal muscles were examined. Oesophageal muscles were examined for sarcocystis by both macroscopic and microscopic [digestion method] examination.Then the ELISA test were designed and compared with digestion method.Finally its sensitivity and specificity were determined. Sensitivity, specificity and 95% confidence intervals were determined by comparing the results obtained by the ELISA assay and digestion method. Me nemar test were used for comparing the percentage of positive cases and their correlation. While specific anti-sarcocytis antibodies were detected in 54.3% of cases macroscpic and microscopic infection were 20% and 57%, respectively. Furthermore, while the positive results of the macroscopic examination significantly differed from those values of the digestion and ELISA methods [P<0.01], no differences were observed between the positive results of the microscopic infection [digestion method] and the ELISA test [P>0.05]. Conclusion: ELISA test providing an effective and reliable means for detecting sarcocystosis in naturally infected water buffaloes. Its simplicity and ease of performance makes it particulary suitable for using in large-scale epidemiological surveys of livestock

[Survey on the Influences of Ambient Temperatures, Age and Sex on T[3], T[4], T[3] uptake and FTI in the Blood Sera of Sheep in Ahwaz]

To investigate the effect of special meterological condition of Ahwaz on thyroid function and to study the effects of gender and age on the function of this gland.Cross sectional study. 210 Sheep.By Considering the meteorologic condition of Ahwaz and biseasonally nature of year in the region, blood samples of 210 sheep were randomly collected during the warmest [February] and coldest [July] months of year from Ahwaz slaughterhouse. Serum T3, T4, T3 uptake and free thyroxin index [FTI] concentrations were measured in four age groups of sheep: less than 6 months, 6-12 months, 12-48 months and above 48 months by Radioimmunoassay. Analysis of variance and Correlation coefficient.There was a significant differences in the concentration of serum T3 [P<0.001], T4 [P<0.001], T3 uptake [P<0.001] and FTI [P<0.05] between the warmest and coldest months. Furthermore, age [but not sex] showed significant effect on these parameters [P<0.05]. Serum T3, T4 and FTI levels was significantly higher and T3 uptake was significantly lower in February than July. A direct correlation between T4 and FTI, T4 and T3, FTI and T3, T3 Uptake and FTI in each month [P<0.01] and a reverse correlation between T3 and T3 uptake [P<0.05] were noticed.The results of this study showed that in July, heat had a suppression effect on thyroid function in sheep. Therefore increased production and reproduction problems in warm season may be due to thyroid dys function. While age showed a negative correlation with thyroid gland function, such pattern did not found for sex

influences of seasonal variations on thyroid activity and some biochemical parameters of cattle

Blood samples were taken from eighteen non-pregnant Holstein heifers to investigate the effects of heat stress on some serum biochemical parameters with emphasis on thyroid hormones. The entire period of study was classified into two seasons, from July to September with mean temperature of 35.5°C [Max: 51°C and Min: 19°C] and from January to March with mean environmental temperature of 14.5°C [Max: 30°C and Min: 2°C]. In each season 4 samples were collected every 3 weeks intervals. A significant difference in the concentrations of serum total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol BUN, Calcium, T3 and T4 and activities of AST and CK was seen between hot and cold seasons [P<0.05], whereas the concentration of serum inorganic phosphorus was not significant difference between these two seasons. The concentrations of BUN, total protein, albumin and activities of AST and CK in summer were higher than winter, in contrast, the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, calcium, T3 and T4 were lower in summer than winter [P<0.05]. A significant correlation between T3 and serum glucose, cholesterol, AST and CK was noticed. Mean environmental temperature had a significant correlation with serum T3 glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, BUN, AST and CK. The results of this study showed that very hot conditions had a profound effect on thyroid activity and some serum biochemical parameters

[Serological study on Sarcosystosis in slaughtered buffaloes [Bubalus buba] using IFAT compare with meat inspection finding in Ahvaz abattoir]

Objective: evaluation of IFAT and abattoir methods for identifying and study of buffalo sarcocystosis[Sarcocystis fusijormis]

Samples: a total of 398 serum samples were taken from buffaloes before slaughtering for IFAT studing the rate of sarcocystis infections and the results compared with meat inspection and laboratory finding [macro and micro cyst]

Procedure: before slaughtering, blood samples were taken from jagular vein for serological examination by IFA method. After slaughtering, esophagus, diaphragm, heart and skeletal muscles were examined for macroscopic cyst of sarcocystis .For microscopic cysts, the samples were taken from each one of these tissues for impression smear [Dob smear]. The macro cysts were identified as S.jiusijormis. Bradizoites of this sarcocyst were used as antigen in IFAT and rabbit antibuffalo conjugated serum for this test was prepared in central laboratory of faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Tehran [Dr.Reza Rastegar central laboratory] using standard method

Results: the results showed that macroscopic and microscopic infection rates of animals is 18.6% and 53.5% respectively. In this study, maximum rate of infection include macroscopic and microscopic finding was in eosophagus and minimum in heart muscle. Any significant dfferences were observed in infection rates due to sex. The infection rate in adult group was significantly more than young buEaloes. A significant correlation was observed between antibody titer and the rate of macroscopic and microscopic infection [P<0.05], increasing the antibody titer till 1:640 had positive correlation and more than this titre viceversa. All of slaughtered animals had atleast 1:40 titre and most of them were in 1:640 titer group [25.9%] and the lowest prevalence was in 1:10240 titer [1.5%]

Conclusion: according to the results, the IFAT is a suitable test for studing sarcocystosis in buffaloes and is useful for further studies about b s economically important parasite in Khoozestan province