survey on antibacterial drug use in broiler chicken farms in Qum province, Iran

Background: Antibacterial drugs have long been used for prevention and treatment of poultry diseases but their misuse or overuse can make adverse effects on public health including occurrence of drug residues in poultry products

Objectives: To assess the frequency and status of antibacterial drug consumption in broiler production farms in Qum province

Methods: In the present survey, Qum province was divided into six regions [north, west, southwest, south, southeast and east] and in total 138 broiler production units [59%] were studied by direct interview using a questionnaire

Results: The present study showed that the most frequently used antimicrobial drugs in broiler farms were sulfamethoxazole+trimethoprim [93.4%] followed by enrofloxacin [60.0%], colistin [49.7%], furazolidone [42.0%], oxytetracycline [17.5%], and chloramphenicol [14.6%]. Mean antibacterial consumption rate during a 42-48 day production period was 3.0+/-0.37 times per farm. A notable finding in this survey was the high percentage of banned drug usage such as furazolidone and chloramphenicol, indicating the ignorance or un-awareness of poultrymen regarding the potential hazards of these drugs on public health

Conclusions: Owing to widespread and frequent usage of antibacterial drugs in broiler farms, all-out actions are needed to be taken in educational, research and administrative fields of veterinary and animal production sectors for rational and responsible use of these drugs in poultry industry

survey on antibacterial drug usage in dairy farms in Tehran province during 2004-2005

Antibacterial drug use in food-producing animals may be associated with risks to public health. The present survey was carried out due to lack of data on the status of antibacterial drug usage in Tehran Province dairy farms. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the status of antibacterial drug usage in these farms and implementation of the points from public health view. A total of 120 dairy farms in four regions of Tehran province including East [Damavand], South-East [Varamin and Shar-e-Rey], South-West [Shariar and Islamshar] and West [Karaj and Savojbolagh], were surveyed by direct interview using a questionnaire. The mean consumption rate of oxytetracycline and penicillin + streptomycin, 100% and 93.25%, respectively, were the most frequently used antibacterial products in these dairy farms in terms of variety, and a wide range of other antibacterials also showed high percentages of usage. Regarding intramammary formulations, cloxacillin, Dry Cow [DC], with a mean of 82.5%, was shown to be the most frequently used intramammary products in terms of variety. In 47.4% of farms, the orders for antibacterial drugs were issued by non-veterinarians. Also, in a considerable percentage of dairy farms the milk collected from animals receiving antibacterial drugs for mastitis [27.5%] or other infectious diseases [24.2%] were being entered into the milk reservoirs to be used for humans. The principles of rational antimicrobial therapy as well as withdrawal/ milk discard times are not implemented in a great percentage of these dairy farms. This situation may be due to lack of knowledge among dairymen regarding drug use and public health, and inadequate supervision of the veterinary offices of Tehran province

[ role of oxytocin on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative stress in rats]

Oxidative stress is caused by the imbalance between production of pro-oxidants and the antioxidant defenses. Reactive oxygen species [ROS] can play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed at investigating whether administration of oxytocin ameliorates oxidative stress induced by experimental myocardial infarction in rats. Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion [I/R] was induced by occlusion of left main coronary artery of rats for 25 min, followed by a period of reperfusion for 2h. OT at doses of 0.0001-1 microg was administered intraperitoneally 30 min prior to ischemia. Following reperfusion, blood samples were taken for measuring the plasma MDA levels, as an index of lipid peroxidation. We observed a dose-dependent association between dose of oxytocin and plasma MDA. Oxytocin 0.01microg significantly reduced MDA levels as compared to control group. Blockade of specific OT receptors by atosiban attenuated the anti-oxidative effect of OT. The MDA level in the L-NAME and atropine groups were higher than those in the OT group and reach to control group, whereas the MDA levels in the anantin group were same as OT group and significantly lower than those in the control group. Oxytocin has a beneficial effect, mediated by NO and Ach, on cardiac tissue against oxidative damage due to I/R, suggesting that oxytocin can be used to tissue protection against oxidative stress

[Identifying priorities of policymaking for e-health development in Iran]

E-health planning in Iran suffers from some shortcomings which could be overcome by identifying the priorities of policymaking. The purpose of this study is to identify, categorize, and prioritize the indices of e-health policymaking in Iran. Through reviewing the related research, the indices were identified and categorized. The list of the indices was revised by 38 e-health experts. The data, collected by means of questionnaires, were analyzed through Freedman Test in SPSS. Having reviewed the related studies, three categories of indices were identified: infrastructures, policies, and strategies. The survey of infrastructures of e-health development showed that the legal and legislative provision had the highest priority. In the area of policies, it was found that the highest priority was related to the integration of e-health activists and providers. Finally, in the area of strategies of e-health development, public and affordable access based on people's needs showed the highest priorities. Enactment of laws of privacy and laws facilitating private sector activities, coordination between e-health activists and provision of access to quality and public services should be among the priorities of policymakers

[Eyelid sarcoidosis; a case report]

To describe a patient with eyelid sarcoidosis. A 54 year-old patient was referred for an eyelid mass from 6 months ago.Excisional biopsy showed inflammatory granuloma with tuton gaint cells. Chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral hilar adenopathy, increased absorption on gallium scan was noted and bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Treatment with prednisolone was started leading to clinical improvement. Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder and may have uncommon manifestations such as skin lesions before pulmonary signs develop

[Effect of endogenous nitric oxide on cardiac ischemic preconditioning in rat]

Ischemic Preconditioning [IPC] is the phenomen that happens on the heart by one or several short periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion that improve the postischemic recovery of mechanical function. Ischemic preconditioning [IPC] may protect the heart from ischemia reperfusion injury by nitric oxide formation. This study investigated the effect of ischemic preconditioning on heart and the relationship between nitric oxide. 28 male Sprague dawley rats [200-250 g] in Tehran University of Medical Sciences were used. Rats were anesthetized and hearts were rapidly isolated and perfused in the Langendorff mode at a constant perfusion pressure and temperature of 37°C. hearts were divided to 4 groups. Control group was perfused 170 minutes with buffer solution. ischemic reperfusion [IR] group was subjected to 30 minutes ischemia. [Ischemic preconditioning] IPC group was elicited by 5 min ischemia followed 5 min reperfusion before IR and L-NAME + IPC group, L-NAME [0.1mM] was added into the perfusion solution. Heart rate [HR], left ventricular development [LVDP], RPP [LVDPXHR], infarct size and coronary flow [CF] were measured. ANOVA tests[with TUKEY post test if p<0.05] were used for statistical analyses. IPC improve the postischemic recovery and reduced postischemic ventricular dysfunction in heart and reduction of infarction size. No significant differences were observed between IPC and IPC + L-NAME groups. L-NAME did not affect postischemic recovery of IPC so in the isolated heart NO isn't involved in the cardioprotective effect of IPC

[Evaluation of alveolar basement membrane function in the diabetes mellitus patients]

The thickening of alveolar basement membrane is found in autopsies, along with microvascular pathologies, in type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus [DM]. To detect the function and permeability of alveolar basement membrane carbon monoxide diffusion capacity [DLCO] can be used. The aim of this study was to determine alveolar basement membrane damage using this method. In this descriptive and analytical study, fifty five women and 15 men, nonsmoking, type 2 DM cases, without any lung and / or heart disease who had neither anemia nor renal failure and no respiratory symptoms, made up the patients group. They were compared with 55 female and 15 male healthy cases who had the same characteristics as the diabetes cases. For all of the cases who had normal spirometry, DLCO were measured by single- breath method. Data were analyzed using t-student test. The amounts of measured DLCO in the patients with diabetes and in the control group were 9.65 +/- 2.4 and 9.1 +/- 1.79 milimlo/min/kilopascal, respectively [P>0.05]. Also, there was no significant relationship between the volume corrected transfer factor in the patients and the control group. DLCO was not reduced in patients with diabetes without complication who had no clinical respiratory symptoms. We can use DLCO as indicator of microangiopathy in diabetic patients

Mutations in the PTEN/MMAC1 gene associated with Cowden disease and juvenile polyposis syndrome

In this study, we evaluated PTEN mutations in Cowden Disease and Juvenile Polyposis syndrome. PTEN mutations were detected, cancer and other phenotypes associated with each of these mutations were characterized and loss of wild type PTEN allele in the associated tumors was demonstrated. Out of 9 patients included in this study, 8 had Juvenile polyposis and 1 had Cowden syndrome. PTEN gene was evaluated by means of polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism [SSCP], Heteroduplex mobility assay [HMA] and direct DNA sequencing. According to the results of this research, nucleotide substitutions in PTEN gene were found in 22% [2/9] of patients. The samples were found to be heterozygote for the c.341T>G and c.389G>A mutations. One novel mutation c.341T>G in Iranian patients with Cowden syndrome was found in this study. The study of these rare patients could provide insight into PTEN driven tumorgenesis

role of K-ATP channel in the preconditioning effect of magnesium in the rat isolated heart

There is growing interest for beneficial effect of Mg in the cardiovascular disorders. A number of cardiovascular disorders including myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and congestive heart failure have been associated with low extracellular or intracellular concentrations of Mg. The aim of present study was to investigate the preconditioning effects of magnesium [Mg] on cardiac function and infarct size in the globally ischemic-reperfusion in isolated rat heart. Rat hearts were Langendorff-perfused, subjected to 30 minutes of global ischemia and 90 minutes of reperfusion, and assigned to one of the following treatment groups with 7 hearts in each group: [1] control, [2] ischemic- reperfusion, [IR], [3] ischemic preconditioning, [IPC] of 5 minutes of global ischemia - reperfusion before lethal ischemia; or pretreatment with [4] 30 Mu mol/L of Diazoxide [Dia], [5] 8 mmol/L magnesium, [6] 10 Mu mol/L glibenclamid [Gli], [7] magnesium and Dia and [8] magnesium and Gli. Infarct size was measured by the triphenyltetrazolium chloride method. Left ventricular function was assessed by left ventricular developed pressure [LVDP], heart rate and coronary flow [CF]. Mg limited infarct size [9.76% vs 44.47% in IR, P< 0.001] as did Dia [10.2% vs 44.4% in IR P< 0.001] and IPC [8.69% vs 44.47% in IR, P< 0.001]. The protective effect of magnesium was abolished by Gli. Administration of Mg had an anti-infarct effect in ischemic-reperfusion isolated rat hearts and improved cardiac function. Blockade of K-ATP channel abolished the protective effects of magnesium and suggest that K-ATP channel has an important role in this effects

Study of p53 polymorphism at codon 72 in patients of breast cancer in Isfahan

The p53 tumor suppressor gene plays an important role in genomic stability. A common G-to-C polymorphism at codon 72 in the p53 gene has been accompanied with high risk of lung, nasopharyngeal, oral, prostate, and colorectal cancers, and may result in genetic susceptibility to breast cancer. We studied the effect of this p53 polymorphism on breast invasive ductal carcinoma development This case-control study was conducted among 51 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma and 51 matched controls in Isfahan. P53 codon 72 genotypes were identified using allele-specific polymerase-chain reaction [PCR]. In control samples, the genotype distribution of p53 polymorphism showed 43.2%, 52.9% and 3.9% for the Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro genotypes, respectively. In cancer group the distribution was 86.2% for Arg/Arg, 11.8% for Arg/Pro and 2% for Pro/Pro. Distribution differences in p53 codon 72 polymorphism between the cases and controls were statistically significant [P]

Effects of some alpha 2-adrenergic agonists and their antagonists on food intake in dwarf goats

The effects of some alpha[2] adrenoceptor agonists and their antagonist atipamezole on food intake were studied in dwarf goats. Detomidine at the dose rate of 0.2 micro g/kg/min over 10 min failed to modify food intake during either the first or second observation period [0-30 min and 180-210 min after drug infusion respectively]. Given at a higher dosage [rate of 0.4 micro g/ min over 10 min] the drug inhibited food consumption during the first observation period but stimulate food intake during the second observation period. A similar pattern was observed often i.v. infusion with medetomidine [0.2 micro g /kg min over 10 min] romifidine [0.4 micro g /kg min over 10 min] or xylazine [1 micro g/kg/ min over 10 min]. The alpha[2] antagonist atipamezole [2 micro g/kg/min over 10 min] failed to modify food intake during either the first or second abservation period. After premedication with atipamezole the effects of alpha[2] agonists of feeding behaviour were completely antagonized. These results suggest that the CNS control of feeding differs in ruminants and monogastric species

[Drug interaction between iron and oxytetracycline absorption in swine]

Iron is known to interfere with the absorption of simultaneously taken tetracycline derivatives. In order to avoid this interaction a suitable time interval should be regarded between the administration of tetracycline and iron in swine. The drug interaction is probably due to the formation of chelates in the gastrointestinal tract. A time interval of about 3 hours however is sufficient to avoid drug interaction between iron and tetracyclines. The present study was intended to demonstrate the interference between iron [in rusty water] and oxytetracydine absorption in swine. But the amount and/or the type of iron used, may not significantly influence the absorption of simultaneously ingested tetracycline