[Effects of omega-3 fat supplementation and feeding frequency on glucose metabolism and insulin in on Mahabad kid]

Background: previous studies have shown that high intake and level of omega-3 have a positive impact on insulin sensitivity in the tissues

Objectives: this study investigated the effect of omega-3 fat supplementation on glucose metabolism and insulin in Mahabadi kid

Methods: twenty-eight Mahabad goat kids [3 to 4 months, with an average initial weight of 17 +/- 5 kg] were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 2 types of feeding frequency [twice or 4 times in a day] combined with 2 types of fat [saturated fat and fish oil in 2% of DM] to investigate the effect of omega-3 fat supplementation and feeding time frequency on glucose and insulin metabolism. Goats were fed individually for 90 days. On day 70 an intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed after 20 hours of food deprivation. Blood samples were collected at -15, -10, -5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 120 and 180 min after glucose injection. Data were analyzed using the SAS GLM procedure

Results: the IVGTT indicated that Omega-3 supplementation had a significant effect [p<0.05] on glucose clearance rate [CR]. On the other hand, with increasing feeding frequency, kids had higher glucose clearance rate [K] and lower glucose half-life

Conclusions: the results suggested that dietary supplementation with omega-3 fat and increased feeding frequency of diet improved glucose and insulin metabolism

[ comparison of the effect of food sources of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on ovarian activity of holstein dairy cows in close up period]

Background: Application of different sources of fatty acids and their effect on ovarian performance is a current issue in animal science and research centers

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different fatty acids in close-up period on population and size of follicles and measuring blood parameters related to the energy state of the body after calving of lactating dairy cows

Methods: In this study 15 Holstein cows were selected by expected date of parturition [around 30 days before calving] and assigned them randomly within treatments diets. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous. Cows were fed 1] control [carbohydrate source], 2] Rumen-protected fat [RF] [saturated fatty acids] and 3] Roasted Soybean [RS] [unsaturated fatty acids]. Blood sample was collected at 7 day intervals in -21, -14, -7, 1, 7, 14, 21 periods of calving. Also dry matter intake and body condition score cows were recorded. Ovarian activity was monitored by daily transrectal ultrasound scanning from 30 to 40 and 61 to 70 DIM

Results: Average plasma glucose and cholesterol concentration were significantly different among treatment groups. Numerically, follicular classes were higher in cows, fed with fat diet compared with control group

Conclusions: According to the results of this experiment, it seems that application of polyunsaturated fatty acids, to improve the energy and ultimately the function of the ovaries, has more advantage than saturated fatty acids

[Effect of chromium-methionine supplementation on hematologic characteristics and meat quality parameters in goat kids]

Previous research has shown that Cr is needed for growth and protein synthesis. This study was carried out to determine the effects of supplementing chromium-methionine [Cr-Met] on performance, hematologic characteristics and meat quality parameters in kids. Thirty-two male kids [average initial BW of 22 +/- 2 kg, 4mo] were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments: 1. control [without Cr], 2. 500, 3. 1000 and 4. 1500 ug Cr/kg of Cr-Met diet. The animals were kept in separate pens for 100 days. Kids were weighed at 21 day intervals and blood samples drawn on 75 day of the experiment were analyzed for hematologic characteristics. Kids were slaughtered at the end of the trial, and meat quality parameters [Warner-Bratzlershear force, color, chemical composition, water retention and pH] of longissimus dorsi muscle [LDM] were studied. The average of dry matter intake and daily gain weight were not affected by chromium supplementation [p>0.05] but, feed conversion ratio [FCR] improved in 1500 ug Cr/kg group. Chromium supplementation increased total white blood cell count [p<0.05] although, the other hematologic parameters were not affected by Cr-Met [p>0.05]. Addition of different levels of [Cr-Met] failed to significantly effect on lightness [L[asterisk]], pH, moisture [%], intramuscular fat [%], cooking loss and drip loss percentage [p>0.05]. Chromium supplementation increased redness [a[asterisk]], yellowness [b[asterisk]], chroma, hue angle and crude protein content[%] of LDM [p<0.05]. Supplemental Cr decreases Warner-Bratzlershear force of LDM [p<0.1]. These results indicate that Cr-Met diet improved performance, meat quality and increased white blood cells in Mahabadi goat kids

[Effects of feeding frequency on carcass characteristics and plasma leptin and insulin concentrations in fattening calves]

Increased feeding frequency improve bioenergetics efficiency in lactating cows; however, there is little information about its effect on fattening animals. Twelve Holstein bull calves were allotted to two groups to determine the effect of feeding frequency on body weight, carcass quality and hormonal profiles. Control group was fed twice a day and treated group was fed six times a day by a standard diet for eight months. Body weight was recorded at 3 weeks interval. Blood samples were collected one hour after feeding at four hours intervals during 24 hours at the end of experiment. Calves were slaughtered and carcass characteristics were measured. Plasma leptin concentrations were higher [p<0.01] in treated group than those in control group. Plasma insulin concentrations were lower [p<0.01] in treated group than those in control group. Internal fat content and depth of subcutaneous fat were [p<0.05] higher in control group than those in treated group. It can be concluded that feeding frequency for growing Holstein calves resulted in decreased fat reservoirs and this effect may be mediated by plasma leptin and insulin changes

10 year survey on childhood CNS tumors

Tumors of the central nervous system constitute the largest group of solid neoplasms in children and are second only to leukemia in their overall frequency during childhood. The main purpose of the present study is to determine the incidence, age, sex, location and histological diagnosis of CNS tumors in children, less than 15 years of age, in the Mofid Children's Hospital, in the past 10 years. In this descriptive retrospective study we reviewed the medical records of 143 children with diagnosis of CNS tumors admitted during the past 10 years in neurology and surgery departments of Mofid Children's Hospital between the years 1996 and 2006. During the 10 year study period, CNS tumor was diagnosed in 143 patients; of these tumors, 119 were intracranial and 58 were intraspinal; 51.3% of brain tumors were located in the supratentorial and 48.7% in the infratentorial regions. The most common intracranial neoplasms were astrocytic tumors [36.8%], embryonal tumors [31.1%] and ependymal tumors [13.4%]. Of the intraspinal neoplasms the most frequently noted were embryonal tumors [37.5%], mesenchymal meningothelial tumors [20.8%], followed by astrocytic tumors [16.7%]. The median age at diagnosis was 8.9 +/- 4.1 years with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1 [P<0.5]. The most common intracranial astrocytic and embryonal neoplasms were pilocytic astrocytoma and medulloblastoma/ PNET respectively. Brain tumors in children constitute a diverse group in terms of incidence, distribution and histopathological diagnosis

[Prevalance of Childhood Brain Tumors at Mophid Hospital in Tehran [1996-2002]]

Central nervous system tumors are the most common soild tumors in children, which are very important because of nonspecific clinical manifestation, delayed diagnosis, complication and relatively high mortality. The aim of this study from different angles and different aspects is to arrive at workable solutions towards appropriate management of these cases. An "existing data" study was carried out by using data of 120 patients [age<14 years] with brain tumors operated in Mophid hospital during 8 years [1996-2002]. Variables included age, gender, tumor site, pathology of tumor, symptoms, signs, time period of first clinical manifestation till the definite diagnosis. Results showed that female to male ratio was 3: 2. The most common tumor was astrocytoma [50%]. The most frequent location of tumor was posterior fossa [52%]. The major peak in the incidence of tumors was observed between 5 and 9 years. The longest period between disease onset till final diagnosis was related to astrocytoma [180days]. vomiting [63%] and headache [56%] were the commonest complaints of patients referring to the hospital. DTR changes [39%] and cerebellar signs were reported as most common neurologic findings. Clinical findings of these tumors are usually nonspecific therefore physician should recognize the clinical presentations and put them in their differential diagnosis which would reduce time period of disease onset until final diagnosis and thus decrease mortality and morbidity due to this tumors. A comprehensive study is recommended in order to estimate survival, response to treatment and complications resulting from it

[Report of 54 cases of diastematomyelia treated in Shohadaye Tajrish, Mehrad and Mofid Hospitals]

Diastematomyelia is a congenital anomaly of the spinal cord which is usually associated with other CNS, skeletal and skin abnormalities. In this study, 54 cases treated with surgical or medical routes have been surveyed. Average age was 35 months and female/male ratio was 1811. Two thirds of the patients were found to have neurological deficit, with gait problem being the most predominant whereas skin and orthopedic anomalies ranked next. Tethered cord was detected in about half of them and spurs found in two third. Two thirds of cases underwent surgery out of which 114 had transient postoperative complications with complication rate of 25%. There was no postoperative mortality. Post-operative improvement of neurological deficit occurred in 14% of cases and same percentage had deterioration, while others had no change in their neurological status