Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on survival rate and growth performance of Convict Cichlid [Amatitlania nigrofasciata]

Using probiotics can control pathogens by a variety of mechanisms. Probiotics can promote growth performance and have, therefore, become increasingly important in the aquaculture industry. Convict Cichlid belongs to the family of Cichlidae and is known for its rapid development in laboratory conditions and is suitable for behavioral examinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, survival rate and body composition of Convict Cichlids [Amatitlania nigrofasciata]. One hundred sixty eight Convict Cichlids [mean weight: 2.1 +/- 0.12 g and mean length: 2.2 +/- 0.05 cm] were fed by commercial diets with different concentrations of S. cerevisiae [0, 0.5%, 1%, 2%]. At the end of the experiment, survival rate and growth indices were measured. Based on the results, growth performance significantly increased with probiotic, S. cerevisiae, specially, at the 2% probiotic level of concentration. In the present study, the best FCR [feed conversion rate], SGR [specific growth rate], CF [condition factor] and BWG [body weight gain] values were observed in a 2% concentration of S. cerevisiae. The results suggest that this yeast could improve feed utilization in this fish species

[Thyroid hormones changes in reproduction season of brownbanded bamboo shark [Chiloscyllium punctatum] from the Persian Gulf]

Background: Brownbanded Bamboo sharks [Chiloscyllium punctatum] is one of the cartilaginous fish that lives in the Persian Gulf

Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to study the effects of thyroid hormone on reproductive system of this specious

Methods: In this investigation, 36 individual of Brownbanded Bamboo sharks [Chiloscyllium punctatum] in both autumn [before reproduction] and spring [period of reproduction] seasons were caught from Dervish's Creek located at the northern of Persian Gulf. After weighing, biometry, sex determination and the numbering of sharks, [the sex is determined through clasper which is observed in male and not in female], ELISA was used to measure serum thyroid hormone concentrations

Results: The results showed that T3 and T4 hormones were increased dramatically in the reproductive season compared with the non-breeding season [p<0.05]. On the other hand, by classifying the sharks into different groups, we found that the levels of thyroid hormone were higher in the blood of larger sharks compared with the smaller ones [p<0.05]

Conclusions: It is probable that T4 hormone levels will increase dramatically for the development of eggs in the female shark

[Effects of dietary nucleotides on fatty acid profile in rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss] fingerlings]

Nucleotides as low molecular weight intracellular compounds play key roles in diverse physiological and biochemical functions including encoding genetic information and mediating energy metabolism. To determine effects of different levels of dietary nucleotides [NT] on fatty acid profile in rainbow trout. This experiment was carried out in 700 L circular tanks with 40 fish per tank. NT was added to the diet at a rate of 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 percent. Fish with average weight of 11.35 +/- 0.32 g were fed 5 times a day [3-5% of body weight] over 8 weeks. After 56 days of feeding, Eicosapentaenoic acid and Linolenic acid levels increased in fish fed on 0.2% NT compared to the control group. No significant difference [p>0.05] was in polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], n-3, n-6, n3/n6 and saturated fatty acids [SFA] among groups. It can be concluded that dietary nucleotides exerted positive effects on fatty acid composition in rainbow trout

Intersectoral collaboration to develop health equity indicators in Iran

Health equity is considered as one of the main objectives of health care systems. This study was carried out with the aim of determining health equity indicators in Iran. Through consideration of these indicators, differences in health status of different social groups and different geographical areas can be shown in different periods and based on that, effective interventions can be designed. This study is carried out through a main workshop and expert panels and final consensus on selected indicators. The first draft of indicators and inequity stratifying variables were prepared and then revised by working groups consisting of experts inside and outside Health system. Finally ideas were accepted or rejected after presenting enough reasons and deep examination through the Consensus-Oriented Decision-Making [COMD] model. Fifty two indicators have been determined as health equity indicators in five areas including health, social and human development, economic development, physical environment and infrastructure and governance. Furthermore, for each indicator the proper and practical stratifying variables of inequity were identified. By calculating such indicators, it becomes possible to determine differences in health status of different social groups and different geographical areas

[Evaluation of the quality of life in newly recognized cancer patients]

The chronic diseases such as cancer could seriously affect health and consequently quality of life of individuals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of life in the patients who have been recently diagnosed with caner. This research is a descriptive - analytical study aims to determine quality of life in newly diagnosed cancer patients in selected oncology clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this research, 196 newly diagnosed cancer patients were selected by simple sampling method and based on aim. The data were collected by a questionnaire including demographic data, disease characteristic and questions about quality of life in physical, physiological and socioeconomic aspects. The socioeconomic questionnaire presented to the patients after his/ her permission and giving necessary descriptions to him/ her about the objectives of the research. The questions were read for illiterate patients by researcher. The SPSS program was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as absolute/ relative and average sufficiency and deductive statistics such as kappa2 test were used as well. The research results show that the quality of life in physical aspect is desirable in majority [67/9%] of patients. The quality of life in physiological aspect is desirable in majority [63.3%] of patients and as well the quality of life in socioeconomic aspect is desirable in majority [76.5%] of patients. The research conclusion shows that there is a meaningful relationship between number of children and economic status [P<0.001] and quality of life in physical aspect. There is a meaningful relationship between economic status with quality of life in psychological aspect and with quality of life in socioeconomic aspect [P<0.05]. There is a meaningful relationship between type of cancer, disease stage at the time of diagnosis [P<0.001], and quality of life in physical aspect. There is a meaningful relationship between disease stage [P=0.002], and quality of life in psychological aspect and quality of life in socioeconomic aspect [P<0.05]. The research result shows that the quality of life in physical, psychological and socioeconomic aspects is desirable in the society. Thus the nurses can play an important role in increasing the quality of life of such patients

[Investigation the performance of the safe injection methods by nurses in emergency wards]

Number of patients with bloodborn disease is increased. Because of degenerative effects of the disease on body's organs, and patient's need to hospitalization, contamination risk for nurses and other patients is also increased. So investigation of the performance the principals of the safety injection by nurses are necessary. This study is a descriptive research. Sample of the study were 85 nurses employed in emergency units of the selected hospitals. The research data gathering tools were a questionnaire included 7 questions about demographic data and 3 checklists included 29, 20, 15 objects about performance of the safety injection in three steps [pre, during, and after injection]. The statistical tests included t-test, Pearson correlation. Data analysis performed by SPSS software. This study showed that the majority of subjects were 23-30 years old [60%], female [70.6%], have BS [97.6%] in nursing and clinical experience under 5 years in hospital [55.3%] and emergency unit [80%] and didn't participant in infection control course [75.3%] and work in rotation shift [82.4%]. About half of the nurses [49.4%, 51.8%, 55.3%], had desirable performance in three steps of injection. Performance of safety injection had a significant correlation with sex [p=0.002], and preinjection step with during injection step and after injection [p=0.000], [p=0.001] respectively. According to the results of this study, the half of nurses had desirable performance in injection process, but the half of them had undesirable performance. It is suggested that nurses and managers pay more attention and try to performance standard and world precautions and principals of safety injection to prevent convection of bloodborn diseases

[Comparison of effective factors on sleeping the nurses and hospitalized patients' viewpoints]

One of the responsibilities of nurses is to identify of effective factors on sleeping, because identification of these factors prevents from occurrence of sleep disorders, improves sleeping, decreases duration of hospitalization, and reduces use of hypnotic drugs. This research is a comparative descriptive study. The population under research was included 50 nurses who were working in CCU wards and 50 patients who were hospitalized in CCU wards that were selected by interviewing and information gathering tools was a questionnaires which consisted of two parts and for each group one questionnaire was used. The first part was included demographic specification. Second part is consisted of 56 questions [four rating] related to effective factors on patient's sleeping in the domains such as environmental factors, personal [physical and mental] factors, pre-sleeping habits and an extra question [to explain other factors with the except of factors that mentioned in sleeping]. Gathered data is processed by SPSS software, 12'Th version, and for achieving to research goals, descriptive and perceptive statistical methods [such as t-test, ANOVA test, and Pearson coefficient of correlation] were used. Then descriptive statistic was used in data analysis and statistical t-tests were used to compare of these two groups opinions. The results of this research showed that environmental factors such as turned on light, pain, anxiety due to loss of job, fears of outcome of disease, connection to monitoring systems are the important effective factors on sleeping according to the nurses points of view however patients believe that phone ring, pain, anxiety from loss of job, fears of outcomes of disease, connection to monitoring systems are important. According to the research results, the most important effective factors on sleeping are "turned on light", "phone ring" "pain", "anxiety from loss of job", "fears of outcome of illness", "connection to monitoring systems". The foundation of this schedule is based on identification of effective factors on sleeping according to viewpoint of patients and then eliminating the disturbing factors