[ effect of oral administration of coated methionine on the female goats and suckling kids hair follicles: a histomorphometrical approach]

Using methionine in the diet of the small ruminants can induce the growth of follicles and their fibre growth. In this study, the effect of oral coated methionine on the hair follicles was determined in female Rayeni goats and their breastfed kids during the first 2 months of infancy. For this purpose, 60 healthy singleton born Rayeni goats, approximately 3 to 4 years of age with their one-day-old kids were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. The treated mothers group was given 3 gr/day pure oral methionine manually for 60 days. Skin samples of the 4 groups were taken from the middle of the left and right side, on zero, 30 and 60 days of experience. Routine histological processes were done. In each sample, primary and secondary follicles and skin follicles traits, the diameter of the primary and secondary follicles, the diameter of hair and cashmere, the diameter of dermal papilla of primary and secondary follicles and the number of primary and secondary follicles were measured respectively by linear graticule under light microscope. The diameter and percentages of the cashmere of mothers and kids, the firmness, and the length of the cashmere of kids were measured macroscopically. All data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software. The results showed that the oral coated methionine in the diet of the mothers could significantly increase the diameter of primary and secondary follicles and their dermal papilla. In the treated kids, the diameters of the primary and secondary follicles, the dermal papilla of the primary and secondary follicles and the number of secondary follicles showed significant change. According to the study, the oral coated methionine in the diet of the mothers during the first 2 months of infancy can significantly increase the diameter of primary and secondary follicles and their dermal papilla in the mothers and their treated kids. It can also increase the number of secondary follicles in the kids

[ prevalence of congenital color blindness and its effect on contrast sensitivity and depth perception]

Color blindness is a common disorder. The congenital type of tcolor blindness is sex-linked and the genes are located on the X chromosome. The prevalence of color blindness among males and females are 5-8% and 0.5%, respectively. Color blindness may affect daily activities and could be considered as a disability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of color blindness and its effect on contrast sensitivity and depth perception among school children in Mashhad. Four thousand four hundred school children [2408 males and 1992 females] were selected randomly and tested by Ishihara for color blindness detection. At the second step, students with color blindness were examined at optometry clinic by the Ishihara test again. Two hundred students were also selected randomly to allocate into a control group. Cambridge and Titmouse tests were taken on the case and control groups. Among 4400 schoolchildren, 3% suffered from color blindness [5.1% in boys and 0.4% in girls]. Ishihara test showed 2.2% deuteranopia, 0.8% protanopia and 0.6% suspect. The results indicate that the congenital color blindness has no significant effect on contrast sensitivity and depth perception. The present report provides valuable information regarding color vision defectiveness among schoolchildren. Effective detection of this anomaly is expected to prevent from substantial effects on their education and future job. It is strongly recommended to perform color vision test at the beginning of a child's education

[ prevalence of refractive errors in a Mashhad, Iran]

To determine the prevalence rates of refractive errors in Mashhad, Iran. In this population-based study, random cluster sampling was performed on the urban population of Mashhad and of 4453 selected individuals, 70.4% participated in the study. Refractive errors were assessed using cycloplegic refraction in participants who were 15 years of age. The prevalence of myopia and hyperopia in individuals 15 years of age was 22.36% [95% CI: 24.66 to 20.06] and 34.21% [95 CI: 36.85 to 31.57], respectively. The prevalence of astigmatism and anisometropia were 25.64% and 5.84, respectively. Astigmatism and anisometropia were significantly more [p=0.005] and less [p=0.048] prevalent in females, respectively. Anisometropia, astigmatism and hyperopia were found to be increased with age. This study highlighted the valuable information on refractive errors in Mashhad. Hyperopia was the most common refractive error. In addition to subjects who were between 5 to 15 years of age, refractive errors were also prevalent among older people; therefore, more attention should be paid to the correction of refractive errors in these groups