influence of administration of different doses of arginine and lysine coupled with zinc in the lactating ewes on the zinc concentration in milk

Zinc [Zn] plays an essential role in the human and animal body system. Zinc deficiency might cause many disorders, so it is important to provide a sufficient amount of this microelement in both animals and humans. One of the most important sources of Zn is milk. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Zn can pass through the mammary epithelial cell into milk by a cotransport system with amino acid in the lactating ewes. This experimental research included 54 lactating ewes collected from the Agriculture-Jahad Organization of Tehran Province, that were allocated into 9 groups as follows: groups which received inorganic form as Zn chloride [1, 2 and 4 mg/kg], and groups which received organic Zn with different doses of arginine or lysine [1, 2 and 4 mg/kg] in chelate form. Milk samples were taken 30 min before and 6 h after intravenous injection of Zn preparations. Zinc concentration in milk was measured using the flame atomic absorption spectrometric method. There were no significant differences [P>0.05] between groups in Zn concentration of the milk before administration of inorganic or organic Zn. Data analysis showed that administration of inorganic Zn caused a significant increase of Zn concentration in the milk in a dose dependent manner. While administration of arginine or lysine with Zn in chelate form caused a significant decline in Zn concentration of milk compared to inorganic Zn in a dose dependent manner. According to our results, administration of different forms of Zn influenced the Zn concentration in milk

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in iranian patients with congenital bleeding disorders

Chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is the major cause of liver disease related morbidity and mortality in hemophilic patients who needs regular blood product administration. Although genotype of infecting HCV is one of the prime predictors of response to antiviral therapy however, its distribution in hemophilic patients is still unclear and just few studies with low sample sizes have investigated this issue. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify this distribution in 367 Iranian hemophilic patients. Blood samples were received from 367 hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C detected during a nationwide screening program who referred to our center for therapeutic measures. HCV RNA viral load was detected using Amplicor test [Version 2]. Genotyping was performed by genotype specific primers. HCV genotype distribution was 1a in 58%, 3a in 18.5%, 1b in 14.7%, 4 in 1.1%, 2 in 0.8% and mixed in 6.2% and finally 0.5% of isolates were non-typable. Serum liver enzymes were not associated with HCV viral load and genotypes. Patients with severe bleeding tendency had significantly lower serum liver enzymes than those with a mild bleeding tendency. Genotype 1a followed by 3a and 1b were the most frequently detected HCV genotypes in Iranian hemophilic patients and there was no association between splenomegaly and viral markers and liver enzymes in these patients

[Frequency of fatty liver and some of its risk factors in asymptomatic carriers of HBV attending the Tehran blood transfusion organization hepatitis clinic]

Liver steatosis causes progression in liver damage and accelerates liver fibrosis. There is lack of data in Iran regarding the prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver in carriers of HBV. The current study was performed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver in carriers of HBV in Iran. This study was conducted between 1995 and 2006, as a cross sectional study, on 1120 asymptomatic HBV carriers, selected from the hepatitis clinic of the Tehran Blood Transfusion Organization. Age, sex, marital status and paraclinacal data including CBC, LFT, PT, lipid profile, FBS, and alcohol consumption were recorded using a checklist. Fatty liver, found in 106 subjects, showed a significant correlation with sex [p=0.001], job [p=0.01], cigarette smoking [p=0.009], and previous history of liver disease [p=0.007]; liver disease also had a significant correlation with Hg levels [p=0.001], AST [p=0.001], ALT [p=0.001], total bilirubin [p=0.004], direct bilirubin [p=0.032], and TG [p=0.002]. FBS and total cholesterol levels were not significantly correlated with fatty liver [p>0.05]. Fatty liver is seen in 10% of asymptomatic HBV carriers; considering the negative impact of fatty liver on liver damage, it is essential to screen HBV carriers for the presence of fatty liver. Male, smokers, and those with disturbances in lipid profile are at a higher risk

Study of the results of simultaneous anterior colporrhaphy and needle suspension in patients with stress urinary incontinence and grade III and II cystocele

Background and Purpose: There are various therapies for stress urinary incontinence [SUI] which include conservative, medical and surgical therapies, each with advantages and disadvantages. In this article, the results of simultaneous needle suspension and anterior colporrhaphy in patients with SUI who had grade III and II cystocele in physical examination

Methods and Materials: From 1380 to 1382 [2000-2003], 135 women with complaints of UI referred to Urology and Gynecology clinics. Of these, 72 patients suffered from SUI and 21 patients from mixed urinary incontinence with a predominance of SUI. Due to SUI severity, physical examination [cystocele grade II and III] and failure of conservative therapies, 58 patients underwent simultaneous anterior colporrhaphy and needle suspension

Results: Peri- and postoperative mortality did not occur. In 13 cases [22.4%], foley catheter was removed two days after surgery but they were unable to void. In 11 cases, the problem was solved after catheterization for one week. In 2 cases, UI occurred and CIC was recommended; after two weeks CIC, they were able to urinate. In one case, sonography and cystoscopy were done due to dysuria resistant to medical treatment; cystoscope was used to extract the suture which had migrated to the bladder. 55 patients [94.9%] indicated improved symptoms one year after surgery. Perfect success [dryness] was observed in 47 patients [81%]. Urinary residue, measured one month after surgery, was less than the normal upper limit in all cases

Conclusion: Success rate of this study is higher than previous studies. Simultaneous needle suspension and anterior colporrhaphy is therefore recommend for patients with SUI and grade III and II cystocele due to the high success rate and low morbidity and mortality rate of the procedure