Effects of using eucalyptus [Eucalyptus globulus L.] leaf powder and its essential oil on growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus leaf powder [ELP] and eucalyptus essential oil [EEO] on growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens. A total of 160 broiler chicks were assigned randomly into five dietary treatments from 7-42 days of age. Dietary treatments included: a control diet, control diets plus 1,000 or 3,000 mg/kg of ELP, and control diets plus 250 or 500 mg/kg of EEO. Dietary inclusion of ELP decreased body weight gain [BWG] during 7-28 days of age. Broilers fed diet containing 3,000 mg/kg of ELP had lower feed intake [FI] during 7-28 days compared to the other treatments. Broilers fed ELP or EEO had greater primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells [SRBC] compared to the control, but differences in secondary antibody response were not significant. In conclusion, dietary EEO has the potential to enhance immune response of broiler chickens

Effect of thyme, garlic and caraway herbal extracts on blood parameters, productivity, egg quality, hatchability and intestinal bacterial population of laying Japanese quail

BACKGROUND: In the current Iranian poultry industry, antibiotics are the most frequently used additive in poultry feeds to increase productivity. The negative effects on human health, resulting from the consumption of chicken whose feeds contain antibiotics, makes finding an appropriate alternative of great importance. As a result of their nature, herbal extracts could be specifically considered for this purpose.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to find an appropriate and harmless feed additive to increase the quality and quantity of poultry eggs.

METHODS: A completely randomized design including 4 treatments, 4 replications and 4 birds in each experimental unit was applied. Herbal extracts were added to drinking water of treatments in ratio of 1:1000, with the control group containing no additives in their water. The number and weight of produced eggs were measured on a daily basis, feed consumption on weekly basis and the egg quality, yolk cholesterol, hatchability and intestinal bacterial population were measured at the end of experiment after 8 weeks.

RESULTS: Herbal extract treatments showed no overall effect on quality and quantity of produced eggs in comparison with control; however, the thyme and garlic extracts reduced the cholesterol of serum and yolk relative to the control. Herbal extracts did not significantly affect the hatchability of fertile eggs. The herbal extracts caused a significant decrease in the intestinal bacterial population of laying quails.

CONCLUSIONS: The garlic extract had the most decreasing effect on the cholesterol of serum and egg yolk. Furthermore, thyme extract had the most decreasing effect on the intestinal bacterial population.

Gender differences in the risk of coronary artery disease in Iran

Given gender differences in the risk of coronary artery disease [CAD], the present study sought to investigate these dissimilarities amongst patients who underwent angiography at a major, tertiary heart hospital in Iran. Between 2005 and 2010, 44,820 patients who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in a registry. Pre-procedural data such as demographics, CAD risk factors, presenting symptoms, and laboratory tests, as well as post-procedural data were collected. The data were, subsequently, compared between the men and women. Out of the 44,820 patients [16,378 women], who underwent coronary angiography, 37,358 patients [11,995 women] had CAD. Amongst the CAD patients, the females were not only significantly older, less educated, and more overweight than were the males but also had higher levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting blood sugar [P< 0.001]. Of all the risk factors, hypertension and diabetes mellitus showed the strongest association in our female CAD patients [OR=3.45, 95%CI: 3.28-3.61 and OR=2.37, 95%CI: 2.26-2.48, respectively]. Acute coronary syndrome was more prevalent in the men [76.1% vs. 68.6%, P< 0.001], and chronic stable angina was more frequent in the females [31.4% vs. 23.9%, P< 0.001]. With respect to post-procedural recommendations, the frequency of recommendations for non-invasive modalities was higher in the females [20.1% vs. 18.6%, P< 0.001] Hypertension and diabetes mellitus had the strongest association with CAD in our female patients. In the extensive CAD patients, medical treatment was recommended to the women more often

[ inhibitory effects of Eucalyptus extract on Herpes simplex virus-1 replication in baby hamster kidney cells]

In recent years, following the increasing of drug resistant strain of viruses, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances with antiviral activity and low side effects. One of these herbal medicines, Eucaliptus, has shown some therapeutic effects including antibacterial and antiviral activities. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroalchoholic extract of Eucaliptus on Herpes simplex virus-1 [HSV-1] in vitro. In this experimental study, the hydroalchoholic extract of Eucalyptus leaves was prepared using 70% ethanol through maceration method. Baby Hamster Kidney [BHK] cells were grown in monolayer culture with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM] supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and plated onto 48-well culture plates. 50% cytotoxic concentration [CC50%] of the extract on BHK cells was determined, and subsequently 50% inhibitory concentration [IC50%] of the herbal extract on replication of HSV-1 both in extracellular and intracellular cases was assessed. Based on Probit analysis, CC50% of the extract was 0.650mg/ml. Significant relationships between the concentration of the extract and cell death in the cell studied were shown using the Probit model [p<0.01]. IC50s of the extract on the virus before cellular attachment and after entering the cells were 456.82 micro g/ml and 180.75micro g/ml, respectively. Based on the model, with increasing the extract concentration, the percentage of inhibition of cytopathic effect [CPE] in both stages was increased [p<0.05]. Based on the findings of this study, hydroalchoholic extract of Eucaliptus could be probably an appropriate anti herpetic herbal medicine

[Effect of dietary extract of thyme and vitamin e supplementation on immune responses and yolk cholesterol in laying hen under heat stress condition]

Thyme extract had shown to have antimicrobial and autoxidative activities. It is claimed that it causes reduction in serum cholesterol and improves immune system. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Thyme extract on serum cholesterol, yolk cholesterol and immune system under heat stress in laying hens. for six weeks with 108 hens from Lohman strain of 45 weeks old. The experiment had a 2× 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Treatments include cyclic hot and neutral temperature, two fat sources of saturated and unsaturated and tree experimental treatments of control group [without additive], vitamin E and thyme extract. To determine the factors which affect on antibody production, the Sheep Red Blood Cell [SRBC] was injected on the day 30 and 37 following the start of experiment. Statistical analysis has shown a significant increase differences between the level of serum cholesterol and yolk cholesterol significantly under heat stress [p<0.05]. Saturated fat significantly increased yolk cholesterol [p<0.05]. However, thyme treatment decreased serum and yolk cholesterol [p<0.05]. In addition, temperature had significant effect on first and second antibody titer [p<0.05]. Furthermore, in second SRBC injection, thyme had the highest significant effect on antibody increment [p<0.05]. Phenolic compounds within thymol reduced serum cholesterol and improved immune response especially in high environment temperature

[Vulnerability of a military hospital against earthquake in Tehran based on personnel view and non-structural components]

The hospital personnel and staff preparedness and their knowledge about hazards, disasters and also disaster management are effective in disaster management during an earthquake. The present study aims to study the vulnerability of a military hospital against earthquake in Tehran. In this descriptive field study, questionnaire [with 18 open questions] was distributed among 30 staff of hospital. Then, the answers were studied and analyzed definitely. Non-structural components were evaluated with the checklist. About 83% of respondents have declared that there is no warning system in hospital in time of disaster. About 50% of staff have announced that the hospital has a protective system. 70% of respondents have believed some items are necessary such as: learning how to deal quickly; how to retrofit non-structural components; and how to cooperate with relief workers dealing with disaster. Most of respondents thought that there should be a resistant room or parking outside the hospital as a temporary housing. Unexpected disasters headquarter and disaster management organizational chart are considered as strength points and lack of some structural and nonstructural standards are as the weak points in the mentioned hospital. There are some other weak and strength points in hospital despite having committee of unexpected disasters and disaster management organizational chart. Although, there are some opportunities outside the hospital, many external threats may increase the hospital problems in time of disasters

inhibitory effect of quercqus persica l extract on herpes simplex virus-1 replication on baby hamster kidney cells

In the recent years, following the increase of drug resistant strain of viruses, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances with antiviral activity with fewer side effects. One of these herbal medicines, Quercqus persica L, has shown some therapeutic effects, such as anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroalcoholic extract of this plant on Herpes simplex virus-1 [HSV-1]. In this interventional study conducted at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2010, the hydroalcoholic extract of Quercqus persica L. was prepared using 70% ethanol by the maceration method. Baby Hamster Kidney [BHK] cells were grown in monolayer culture with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM] supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and plated into 48-well culture plates. Fifty percent of cytotoxic concentration [CC50%] of the extract on BHK cells was determined and subsequently, 50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50%] of the herbal extract on replication of HSV-1 both in extracellular and interacellular cases were assessed. The statistical data was analyzed by the SPSS software using Probit analysis. Based on Probit analysis, the extract had no cyto-toxicity up to concentration of 200 mg/ml. ICSOs of the extract on the virus before cellular attachment and after entering the cells were 1.2 and 0.257 mg/ml, respectively. Based on the model, with the increasing of the extract concentration, the percentage of inhibition of cytopathic effect [CPE] in both of the stages were increased [p<0.05]. In addition to low cytotoxicity, hydroalcoholic extract of Quercqus persica L. has promising inhibitory effects on HSV-1 replication in cell culture. Thus, it should be considered as a promising herbal medicine and should be thoroughly evaluated through a comprehensive study

[Determination of CTX-M genes in enterobacteriaceae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase using PCR method]

Background and aims: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase of CTX-M-type is considered as an important mechanism resistant to cephalosporin in the gram-negative patogene and is wildly growing. Enterobacteriaceae species are able to produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases [ESBLs]. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of CTX-M genes in ESBLs producing enteric bacteria isolated in Shahrekord educational hospitals using Polymerase Chain Reaction method

Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, antibacterial susceptibility patterns of 325 gram negative bacteria to Cefotaxim, Ceftazidim, Cefterixon and Azteronam tested using disk diffusion [Kirby-Buer] method. In addition, confirmatory tests for detecting ESBLs phenotypes were performed using Ceftazidim-clavulanic acid and Cefotaxim- clavulanic acid combination disks [MAST]. The presence of CTX-M gene was assessed using PCR

Results: Bacteria strains isolated in this study were Escherichia coli [59.4%], Klebsiella pneumoniae [30.4%], Enterobacter spp. [15.4%] and Proteus spp. [2.2%]. Confirmatory phenotypic test showed that 28% of the strains were ESBL positive. The prevalence of CTX-M gene in isolated Enterobacteriaceae was 50.5 %

Conclusion: High frequency of CTX-M gene in ESBL producing isolates indicates that this enzyme plays an important role in resistance to betalactam containing antibiotics

[Pattern of empirical antibiotic administration in emergency department of an educational hospital in Tehran]

Antibiotic misuse is an important cause of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of empirical antibiotic administration in emergency department of an educational hospital. In this cross-sectional study we evaluated the pattern of antibiotic administration [indication, drug appropriateness, dose, and method of administration] in 190 patients who had been received antibiotic in emergency department of an educational hospital of Tehran Medical University in 2009. Data were collected from medical records and statistical analysis was performed by SPSSv.15 software. 55.8% of patients were male and 44.2% were female. Mean age of them was 56.61 +/- 23.66. 26.3% of patients received one antibiotic and 73.7% received two antibiotics or more. The most common prescribed drug was ceftriaxone [72.1%]. 63.7% of prescribed antibiotics were appropriate choice and 36.3% were inappropriate. Unnecessary antibiotic was prescribed in 15.8% of patients. Inappropriate dose and method of administration were 6.8% and 2.1%, respectively. Total mistakes in determination of indication of antibiotic, selection of appropriate drug, dose and administration method were 40.5%.Antibiotic misuse was more than what expected in a university hospital. It seems logical to conduct educational courses about antibiotic administration guidelines

[Expression of BRCA1 protein in invasive and in situ carcinomas and its relation with marker of breast cancer stem cells [CD44] and prognostic factors in breast cancer patients]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second cause of cancer death among women. Despite recent developments in therapeutic tools about 25% of all the involved cases die annually. The clinical, molecular, and pathologic features of breast cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers suggest that BRCA1 may function as a stem-cell regulator. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the correlation between BRCA1 protein expression and clinicopathological characteristics, and putative cancer stem cell marker [CD44 [in breast carcinomas. In this experimental study, immunohistochemistry was performed on 156 primary operable breast tumors employing a monoclonal anti-BRCA1 primary antibody. The relation between BRCA1 expression and variations such as age and pathologic features and CD44 was studied by Chi square test. SPSS V.16 was also used for data analysis. Altered BRCA1 expression was significantly associated with high grade and poor prognosis breast tumors [p=0.006]. Mutated BRCA1 was also more often seen in early onset breast cancer patients [

[Safety climate in a steel-manufacturing plant]

Safety climate is a psychological phenomenon and a sub-component of safety culture, which is usually reflected in the shared workforce's perceptions about the state of safety at any particular time. It can provide an indication of the priority of safety in an organization with regard to other priorities such as production or quality. The objective of this study was to assess the safety climate profile in a steel manufacturing plant in Iran and using the results to improve the level of safety. In this cross-sectional study, the UK Loughborough University Safety Climate Assessment Toolkit was used to assess the safety climate in a steel-manufacturing industry in Iran. Information was collected through interviews and questionnaires, focus group discussions, and direct observations in the filed. Safety climate scores were calculated in 17 themes. A graphic representation of the safety climate scores obtained showed that safety climate in the company is at the medium level [4.80 +/- 2]. The highest and lowest scores were for dimensions of personal priority and need for safety [8.6 +/- 0.8] and accidents and incidents [1 +/- 0.00]. A non-significant correlation was found between worker's education and work experience on the one hand and their attitude towards safety on the other hand [p>0.05]. Both management commitment and personal priority were associated with the workers' age [p= 0.03 and 0.02, respectively], while work environment was associated only with employment status [p = 0.04]. Safety climate assessment can be a proactive safety performance indicator used to improve the level of safety in an organisation

[Effect of vitamin and mineral premixes withdrawal time on growth and economic peformance of broiler chickens]

Poultry requirements for vitamins and minerals are met from two sources feed ingredients and premixes. In practical poultry nutrition, the role of feed ingredients is over looked. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the time of vitamin and mineral premixes withdrawal on growth and economic performance of broilers. Four hundred and fifty, one day-old male broiler chickens [Ross 308] were used in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments of 5 replicates. Chicks were fed on a common starter diet formulated based on corn and soybean meal, with common vitamin and mineral premix [VMP] levels [0.25% each] for the first week. Then, the treatments 1 to 6 were constructed, on the basis of withdrawal time of VMP, in a way that treatment numbers were represented the number of weeks fed on VMP supplemented diet. The results showed that VMP withdrawal from 7,14 and 21 days of age decreased daily weight gain and feed intake significantly [p<0.01], and impaired feed efficiency [p<0.01]. While VMP withdrawal from day 28 and day 35, did not influence weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency. Relative weights of abdominal fat, bursa of fabricius and spleen, and carcass yields were not influenced by VMP withdrawal. The overall results of the present study, considering economical aspects showed that the removal of vitamin and trace mineral supplements from 7 days prior to slaughter can reduce production costs without negative consequences on growth performance of broiler chickens

[Prevalence of constitutive and inducible resistance to clindamycin in staphylococci isolates from Hajar and Kashani hospitals in Shahrekord, 2008]

Resistance to clindamycin [CL] in Staphylococcus aureus is both constitutive and inducible. In the present study, the prevalence of the constitutive and inducible resistance to CL was investigated by disk diffusion and double-disk diffusion [D-test] methods. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 230 Staphylococcus isolates. D-test was carried out for all the isolates with resistant phenotype for erythromycin and susceptible phenotype for CL. 15 micro g erythromycin and 2 micro g CL disks were placed on plate at a distance of 15 mm. The appearance of D-shaped zones around the strains was checked after proper incubation. Of the 230 staphylococcus isolates, 55.6% were susceptible to CL, 37.5% had constitutive and 5.2% had inducible resistance to CL. The frequencies of constitutive and inducible resistance for CL in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] isolates were 66% and 9%, respectively and the frequencies of constitutive and inducible resistance for CL in methicillin-susceptible isolates [MSSA] were 15.4% and 2.3%, respectively. Statistical tests revealed the inducible resistance in MRS isolates to be 4.2 times more frequent than that in MSS isolates. The inducible resistance frequency was 10.8- fold in MRSA compared to MSSA isolates. The study results showed that the inducible resistance should be determined by D-test in all methicillin-resistant staphylococcus isolates and also staphylococcus strains resistant to erythromycin and susceptible to CL

[Effect of single, double and multi-stain probiotics on performance, morphology of small intestine and immunological and hematological parameters of broiler chickens]

Probiotics are live microorganisms with beneficial health effects on host animals which exert their effects on performance, gastrointestinal tract and immune system. Various probiotic products are available in the market. This study compared the effects of various probiotic products on broiler performance, intestinal morphology and some immunological and hematological parameters. Five probiotic products were fed to v480 1-d old broilers for 49 days. Performance was studied in starting, growing, finishing and whole periods. Samples of small intestine were studied at 21.35 and 49 days of age. Antibody titers against sheep red blood cells and new castle vaccine virus determined as immune response of birds. Probiotic type influenced the performance of birds. Morphological characteristics of intenstine have been affected by probiotic type. Probiotic type has not been affected by immune and blood related factors [p>0.05]. Type and ingredients of probiotcs should be considered when used for a special goal

Prediction of cancer mortality by evaluation of asbestos fibers concentrations in an asbestos-cement products factory

Although the asbestos application is band in most developed countries but it is still used in many developing countries, escalating the mortality rate due to cancer among the workers exposed to asbestos fibers. In the present work, occupational exposure to airborne asbestos fibers in production line of an asbestos-cement products manufacturing factory were assessed, using OSHA method ID-160. For this purpose, 106 personal air samples were collected from breathing zones of workers in various processes of the factory. Cancer-related mortalities were also predicted by extrapolation of OSHA risk assessment data to the data obtained from the factory in question. The results revealed that physically disturbing processes such as mills, drilling and cutting are the most deadly processes. It was also shown that mills have the highest mortality rate due to asbestos fibers exposure, expecting 1198 deaths per 100,000 workers after one year exposure and 14665 deaths per 100, 000 workers after 20 years occupational exposure. Relative risk [RR] of lung cancer after 1, 20 and 45 years working in the factory in question versus public community of Iran would be 11.6, 206.5 and 324, respectively. Cancer-related mortality predicted for dry cutting process was more than wet cutting process [RR=3.6]. Finally it was recommended that job rotation and isolation of high risk operations could lead to lower cancer-related mortality due to occupational exposure to asbestos airborne fibers

[Effect of hatchery probiotic administration methods on performance, and immune response in broiler chickens]

Probiotics arc beneficial microorganisms which will be considered as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of probiotic administration in hatchery on performance, blood parameters and immune response of' broilers. Three hundereds 1-d-old male chicks [Ross 308] were assigned to five experimental groups of three replications. Birds of control group did not receive any probiotic. Birds of the remaining 4 experimental groups received probiotics in hatchery via following routes of administration including: in ovo injection, oral, spray and cloacal. respectively. Administration methods of probiotic in hatchery significantly influenced body weight gain in finisher period [p<0.05]. feed intakes in finisher and total periods[p<0.05], relative weight of bursaoffabricius inday28[p<0.05].cell mediated immunity. Interms of mean skin thickness sensitivity to dinitrochlorobenzene [DNCB] in days 28 and 38 [p<0.05], body weight gains in total period and relative weight of spleen in day 42 [p<0.01]. Concentration of blood haemoglobin, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, SRBC antibody. the T-cell mediated response against PHA-M mitogen, relative weight of spleen in day 28 and relative weight of bursa of Fabricius in day 42, were not influenced by various methods of probiotic administration in hatchery [p>0.05]. Additionally. these data suggest that oral administration of probiotic in hatchery improved broilers performance

Association between serum levels of Hs-CRP and LDL-C with degree of coronary artery stenosis in patients with stable angina pectoris

Over the past decade, several studies have revealed the role of high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], an acute inflammatory marker, as a prognostic factor in the setting of myocardial infarction, predicting future cardiac outcome of patients suffering from an acute coronary event. This study compares hs-CRP and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] in predicting degree of coronary stenosis in patients with chronic stable angina. One hundred and five patients with chronic stable angina undergoing angiography were evaluated regarding known cardiovascular risk factors including age, sex, smoking habit, exercise, parental history of premature CAD, history of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, total-cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglyceride. hs-CRP was measured by nephlometery and degree of coronary involvement was quantified by using an angiographic scoring scale. Results showed that hs-CRP was not correlated with angiographic score. When all traditional risk factors were entered as independent variables, age, sex, and history of hyperlipidemia were significant predictors of degree of coronary stenosis, and neither hs-CRP nor LDL-C were statistically significant. It was shown that hs-CRP was only related to sex and HDL-C. We conclude that larger studies with better set points for hs-CRP should be conducted, but our study indicates that traditional CAD risk factors including age, sex and history of hyperlipidemia still predict degree of coronary artery stenosis better than hs-CRP and hs-CRP measurement doesn't add any information in this regard. Association of low HDL and hs-CRP may warrant further studies, too

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in the families of the patients with hepatitis C infection in Shahre-Kord, Iran

Chronic hepatitis C is a major health concern around the world. Although transmission of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection through parenteral exposure is well documented, sexual transmission of HCV is still debated. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of HCV infection within the families of the patients infected with HCV in a central city of Iran, Shahre-kord. We examined eighty patients with chronic HCV-associated liver disease and their 230 first degree families in a cross-sectional descriptive serological study. Their serum samples were tested for anti-HCV antibody, using ELISA and Immunobloting. A questionnaire including risk factors for HCV infection specially drugs addiction, sexual behaviors, and duration of partnership was filled in by the cases. About 2.17% of the household contacts were seropositive. Of them, 8.7% spouses and 20% sisters had anti-HCV antibody. The risk of HCV transmission between monogamous sex partners is higher than that of in other family members, depending on the duration of exposure especially sexual exposure. Infection rate in other family members of HCV-infected persons and community members is the same