[ comparative evaluation of terbinafin 1% cream and clotrimazole 1% in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor]

Terbinafine, a member of the allylamines group, is a new class of antimycotic agents. The aim of this study was to compare the antifungal efficacy of Terbinafine 1% with that of Clotrimazole 1% in the patients with Pityriasis Versicolor. This controlled-clinical trial study was performed on 53 patients [28 males and 25 females] with a mean age of 25 years old. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with Terbinafine 1% and the second group with Clotrimazole 1% twice a day. The patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically at the beginning of the study as well as the end of the second and the fourth weeks. The findings were analyzed using Fisher Exact and Chi Square tests. In the 2[nd] week of the treatment, clinical cure was observed in 44.4% of the patients in the first group [Terbinafine recipients] and in 48% of those in the second group [Clotrimazole recipients] [P=0.90]. At the end of the fourth week, the lesions disappeared in 89% and 81% of the first and second groups, respectively [P=0.467]. Mycological cures were observed in the 2[nd] week in 48% of the first group and 38% of the second group [P=0.477] which respectively increased to 92.5% and 88.5% by the fourth week [P=0.66]. although the fungicidal activity of both drugs were found to be almost similar, Clotrimzole is recommended because it is more available and less expensive

[Studying the effect of different levels of methionine and fat on some economical traits of broilers]

The effect of 3 levels of methionine [NRC recommended, 5 percent more than NRC recommended and 10 percent more than NRC recommended] and 2 levels of fat [0 and 5 percent] on some economical traits [performance and carcass] of broilers using a 2x3 factorial experiment with completely randomized design based on two rearing stages, starter [0-3 wk] and grower [4-6 wk] was studied, ANOVA of the effects of dietary treatments on traits and Duncan's multiple range test to compare means revealed that methionine levels had significant effect on live weight gain and improvement of feed conversion ratio in starter [p<0.05], grower and total period [p<0.01]. Fat had no significant effect on live weight gain and feed conversion ratio in starter [p>0.05]. Carcass traits were not significantly affected by different levels of fat [p>0.05] but methionine levels decreased abdominal fat yield and increased breast yield significantly [p<0.05]. The interactions between methionine and fat levels were not significant [p>0.05]. Therefore it can be concluded that using methionine up to 10 percent more than NRC recommended and fat up to 5 percent of diet, except in starter, is recommendable in broiler diets

Surveying ESWL impact on pancreatic enzymes

Urinary stones are the third most common disease of urinary tract. More than 90% of renal stones are successfully treated by ESWL with a success rate of 68-86%. The present study was conducted to survey ESWL impact on pancreatic enzymes. This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 87 patients suffered from renal stone. For all patients, a questionnaire including the demographic features, stone characteristics, and ESWL data, was filled, then, the serum lipase and amylase titers were obtained both before and 24 hours after ESWL. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. The study population included 58 men and 31 women with the mean age of 40 years. 48 had right-sided renal stones versus 39 with left-sided stone. The serum titers of amylase and lipase showed an increment in 57.5% and 61%, respectively, however, this increment was above normal range in only two patients. There was statistically significant association between the increment of serum amylase and lipase [P=0.0001]. The increased serum amylase and lipase was more common in left ESWL. Only in one case of right renal stone, the serum lipase and amylase showed significant elevation following ESWL. In spite of the harmlessness of ESWL for pancreas, it is recommended to measure serum lipase or amylase in ESWL of right kidney to detect the rare cases of acute pancreatitis