[Factors affecting milk somatic cell count of cows with clinical mastitis]

Mastitis is one of the most important diseases that results in devastating economic effect on dairy herds. Milk somatic cell count [SCC] is an udder health parameter. This study conducted to investigate the factor affecting milk somatic cell count of cows with and without clinical mastitis in previous lactations. Multiparous Holstein cows from a farm in Shiraz, southern Iran were used. The study was carried out in July and December 2010 and May 2011. Milk samples [n = 222; 20 mL] were taken from all quarters of lactating cows after the first three squirts of milk from each quarter were discarded. Milk SCC was measured using an electronic cell counting method [Fossomatic, Foss Electric, and Denmark]. SPSS software [Mann-Whitney test; Spearman's rank correlation and Univariate of General Linear Model] was used for the analyses of factors affecting the milk SCC including lactation number, postpartum period or days in milk, month of sampling, milk yield, and clinical mastitis in previous lactation. Cows with mastitis in previous lactation had a greater mean milk yield and SCC compared to that of cow without mastitis. There was significant correlation between SCC and days in milk of cow without mastitis [r=0.4; p<0.05], and lactation number of cow with mastitis [r=0.2; p=0.05]. Results of the present study showed that milk yield and days in milk were considerable factors for interpreting of SCC in cows without the historical information of clinical mastitis detection in previous lactation. While in cows with the clinical mastitis in previous lactation, in addition to milk yield, lactation number and month of sampling are more significant. It could be concluded that the history of clinical mastitis could be important for interpreting SCC, used as a tool to select mastitis resistance in dairy cow

Molecular detection and conventional identification of leishmania species in reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in fars province, south of Iran

The objectives of our research were to search for Leishmania species in rodents in Fars province, south of Iran, and to compare molecular with conventional methods for detecting these parasites. Rodents were captured using live traps and screened for Leishmania species using molecular and conventional methods, including the taking of smears from each ear. Nested PCR was employed to detect Leishmania in rodents by amplifying a region of the ribosomal RNA amplicon of Leishmania [ITS1- 5.8S rRNA-ITS2] that is species-specific by DNA sequence. Totally, 122 rodents were captured. Leishmania parasites were detected using the nested PCR and three conventional methods [direct smear, NNN culture and Balb/C inoculation. 41 [33.6%] out of 122 rodents had Leishmania infections [34 Meriones lybicus and 7 M. persicus]. All PCR products of the ITS-rDNA gene were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that 28 out of 41 positive samples were Leishmania major. Thirteen sequences were unreadable and therefore not identified. At least two gerbil species common in Fars ZCL foci, M. lybicus and M. persicus, are acquiring infections of L. major and may be reservoir hosts of one predominant parasite haplotype. Most infections were detected molecularly not by conventional methods, because most rodents died in the traps

Survey of PAC performance for removal of turbidity, COD, coliform bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria from water of karoon river

Selection of proper coagulants for turbidity removal and determination of effective methods to reduce coagulants dose and related costs in water treatment plants is of critical importance. The present study investigates the effect of returned sludge on improving the performance of poly-aluminum chloride [PAC] in turbidity, coliform bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria removal from drinking water during rapid mixing phase. In order to determine the optimal returned sludge volume injected during rapid mixing with PAC for turbidity, total coliform and hetrophic bacteria, experiments were conducted based on variables such as injected silt volume [from 0-125 ml], and varying turbidities from 58 - 112 NTU. At the end of each JAR experiments, remaining turbidity, microbial parameters of samples were measured. Coagulant efficiency in turbidity removal and microbial parameters were determined by Covariance, Duncan analyses and graphs were drawn by MS Excel. The results statistically showed significant among variables [P<0.05]. The results showed that the maximum turbidity removal efficiency of 98.92 at 30 ppm was 10 ml while the maximum turbidity removal efficiency of 98.31 at 10 ppm was 4 ml. The maximum total coliform removal efficiency of 95.68 obtained for 10 ppm in 10 cc injected sludge volume. This study shows that addition of returned sludge to flash mixing can reduce the turbidity of samples

[ antioxidant activities and total phenolic of Artemisia Martima, Achillea Millefolium and Matricaria Recutica]

Consumption of plant derived antioxidant contributes to reducing risks of certain chronic and degenerative diseases. The aim of the present study was to study the antioxidant activities and total phenolic of Artemisia Martima, Achillea Millefolium and Matricaria Recutica. The present study was conducted at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 2009. The stem and flower sample of plants were air-dried, and then grinded and were finally extracted by ethanol: water [70: 30] for 48 h in room temperature. Extracts were filtered and dried under vacuum system. The antioxidant activity of three ethanol extract of the medicinal plants, Artemisia martima, Achillea millefolium and Matricaria recutica, were analyzed by five different methods; [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical, 2, 20 azinobis- [3-ethylbenzthiazoline -6-sulphonic acid [ABTS] radical cation,Ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay [FRAP], phosphomolybdenum [PMB] and reducing power [RP]. In addition, for determination of antioxidant components, the total phenolic content was also analyzed. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS software. For all antioxidant activity assays, Artemisia martima had the highest antioxidant activity value and also total phenol content. Antioxidant capacity analyses revealed that the FRAP and DPPH had comparable results. Antioxidant activity at 1 mg/mL, in ABTS were in the order Artemisia martima> Achillea millefolium> Matricaria recutica. Similar trend was observed for PMB content. RP, FRAP and DPPH were in the order Artemisia martima> Matricaria recutica > Achillea millefolium. The extracts showed a variety of antioxidant activities in all antioxidant assay system. This study demonstrated that Artemisia martima crude extract exhibit significant antioxidant activity

[Effects of hydroalcoholic extract of teucrium polium on biochemical and hematological parameters of hepatotoxic rats]

The remedial use of plants dates back to ancient time. Medicinal plants are considered to be an important source for their therapeutic and preventive effects against many diseases. Teucrium polium [Lamiaceae] is a plant that has been used over 2000 years in traditional medicine. The wild-growing, flowering plant, found abundantly in many areas of the world, including Iran. The biological activities of T. polium is widely reported and it has been shown to have, anti-hypertensive, weight loss and hypoglycemic effects. There are contradictory studies about the effects of T. polium on blood glucose, lipid, and the liver. In the present study, the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium on biochemical and hematological parameters of hepatotoxic rats were evaluated. This experimental study was conducted in 2009 at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Thirty-two Wistar male rats, weighing 250-300 gr, were randomly divided into four groups, 8 rats in each group. Animals in groups 1, 2 and 3 received 0.5 mL/kg olive oil [i.p], CCl4 [1 mL/kg, i.p] plant extract 200 mg/kg [o.p] respectively. The rats in group 4 were injected with CCl4 and plant extract. After eight days, blood samples were collected by direct cardiac puncture. The animal whole blood and serum were processed for evaluating the hematological and biochemical parameters. The results showed that serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride values were significantly increased in animal which received T. polium in comparison with the control group. There was a significant increase in both ALT and AST enzyme activities in groups 2 and 4 compared with the control group. WBC and platelets count increased significantly in groups 2, 3, and 4 compared to the control group. According to the findings of the present study, the use of Teucrim polium does not lead to severe liver damage, although it increases the blood cholesterol, glucose, and triglyceride. Accordingly, consumers should be advised that caution be exercised in the consumption of Teucrim polium

[ role of health beliefs in preventive behaviors of individuals at high-risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus]

Diabetes mellitus is an important health problem that leads to severe complications, is the cause of early death, and is showing an increase in frequency. Development of positive health behaviors is extremely important for prevention of diabetes in at high-risk individuals. This study aims to identify the relationship between health beliefs and diabetes preventive behaviors in individuals at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taft city. A study using the Health Belief Model [HBM] framework was undertaken with 114 subjects of both genders aged 30 years and above from three urban health centers who were diagnosed as at high risk for type 2 diabetes during the screening program. Research tool was a 66-item questionnaire. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U-test. Of the total, 29.8% of subjects were male and 70.2% were female. Regarding education, 68.4% of the subjects had not completed high school and 89.4% of them was married. Mean score of knowledge and preventive behaviors was 5.80 +/- 2.87 and 5.41 +/- 2.83, respectively such that subjects scored 30.05% of maximum obtainable score of preventive behaviors. There were significant correlations between preventive behaviors and perceived susceptibility, r=0.243[P<0.009], perceived severity, r=0.312 [P<0.001], perceived barrier, r=0.245 [P<0.006] and perceived self-efficacy, r=0.497 [P<0.001]. Preventive behaviors among the subjects at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes despite the presence of risk factors was poor due to lack of susceptibility, severity, barriers and self-efficacy perception

Study of depression prevalence in the patients with type ii diabetes referring to yazd diabetes research centers in 2008

Diabetes is one of chronic diseases with relatively high prevalence paying. Attention to psychiatry problems especially, depression in diabetic patients can raise quality of life in these individuals.The goal of this study is to assess the prevalence of depression in patients with type II diabetes. The subject participating in this descriptive study were 100 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] referring to Yazd diabetes research center years in 2008. Depression in these patients was assessed with the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. Patients were compared for demographic variables such as sex, age, duration of disease, after diagnosis educational level, history of family depression, presence of diabetes complication associated with depression. One hundred patients with type II diabetes [29men and 71 women] participated in this study. Prevalence of depression was 64% so that 48.3% of men and 70.4% of women were depressed. We found significant differences between patients on the basis of educational level [P=0.004], history of family depression [P=0.004], presence of diabetes complication [P=0.0001], and duration the disease [P=0.001].There was no statistically significant relationship between BDI scores and age groups i with due attention to high depression prevalence in type II diabetic patients, psychiatry consulting and psycho-education for the purpose of early depression diagnosis and regulating programs related to prevention and improvement of depression in this patients is important and useful

[ new iris recognition method for identification systems]

To present a new reliable and accurate iris recognition method applicable in identification systems. The system was implemented and tested on 876 standard iris images [Daugman Iris Images Database] from 876 persons of different nationalities via image processing techniques. False Accept Reject [FAR] and False Reject Reject [FRR] were smaller in our suggested method as compared to Daugman's method. Moreover, time needed for image processing and volume of image processing was smaller in our method as compared to Daugman's method. In other words, our suggested method for iris recognition was more accurate and faster than the currently standard method. This new method can be applied as an accurate and rapid method in many domains such as identification systems or diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases

In vitro study ofantifungal effects of selected herbal extracts on standard and wild strains of Candida albicans

The study aim was to evaluate antifungal effects of Artemisia absinthium, Eucalyptus spp, Allium cepa, Cinnamomum zelanicum, Curcuma longa, Salvia officinalis, Mentha Piperita, and Calendula officinalis mouthwashes. Standard species of Candida albicans by the PTCC number 5027 was prepared from Pathogenic and Industrial bacteria and fungi collection center of Iran. Ten wild species were also prepared from the palatal mucus or buccal mucus of patients submitted to one of the clinics in Kerman. Extracts from the plants were made using percolation method with hydro alcoholic solvent followed by evaporation of the organic solvent under vacuum and then drying in a 50 °C oven. Then 0.5 McFarland suspensions from all fungi species were prepared. These suspensions were used by both small well and tube methods. All the extracts had antifungal activity against Candida albicans. However, this property in the first four plant-extracts was more powerful than the others. According to the results of this study, the extracts of Curcuma longa, Eucalyptus spp, Artemisia absinthium, Cinnamomum zelanicum had considerable antifungal effects

Preliminary studies on reproductive activities of local Abadeh does, Fars province, southern Iran

No published information are available on the reproductive indices of local Abadeh does reared in northern Fars province, southern Iran. This study was conducted to determine the duration of the breeding season, and the length and duration of the oestrous cycle. Twenty single parity 2-year-old does from Abadeh [weighing 19-26 kg] were purchased and transferred to the School of Veterinary Medicine of University of Shiraz. They had access to alfalfa hay, water ad libitum and natural light. Vasectomised teaser buck was turned with the flock and observation was made every 12 hrs during the day for standing heat detection, from late-August [2003] to late-August [2004]. To determine the onset of reproductive activity as well as occurrence of silent oestrus, blood samples were collected from jugular vein every 10 days. Following the onset of breeding season and observation of standing heat, 10 does were randomly selected in their 2nd oestrous cycle for twice weekly blood sampling. Serum progesterone concentration was determined using a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. It was found that silent oestrus occurs mostly in early breeding season. The first standing heat was observed in mid-September which was considered as the onset of breeding season. Occurrence of standing oestrus increased through October, November and December. The peak of standing oestrus was recorded during late-October to early, mid-November. The mean +/- SD duration of the oestrous cycle was 19.7 +/ 1.1 days and the mean +/- SD length of oestrus was 23.8 +/- 12.3 hrs. The mean [ +/- SD] concentrations of serum progesterone in days 0 [day of standing heat] to 4, varied between 0.1 and 0.8 ng/ml. Concentrations of progesterone during the luteal phase varied between 2.7 and 3.9 ng/ml. The results of progesterone assay during oestrous cycle indicate that the follicular and luteal phases last about 45 days and 14 days, respectively. In conclusion, oestrus activity in local Abadeh does is highly seasonal with a peak of activity being observed during the late-October to the end of November