estimation of ruminal protein degradation parameters of various feeds using in vitro modified gas production technique

This study was conducted to determine in vitro crude protein degradation [IVDP] parameters and effective crude protein degradability [EPD] of various feeds using the modified in vitro gas production [GP] technique. Feed samples were alfalfa hay, soybean meal, soybean, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal and fish meal. Rumen fluid was collected before the morning feeding from four rumen fistulated lambs [49.4 +/- 3.5 kg, body weight]. Approximately 90 ml of buffered rumen fluid [BRF], 400 mg of feed samples and carbohydrates [maltose, xylose and starch] at four concentrations [100, 200, 300, and 400 mg] were added to screw-cap bottles. Gas production [ml] and ammonia nitrogen concentration [mg] in each bottle were measured at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 30 h post incubation and IVDP was calculated via estimated intercept of linear regression between GP [as main variable, X] and ammonia nitrogen [as dependent variable, Y] using the linear regression procedure. Feed, time and feed x time interaction had significant effect on IVDP [P<0.001]. Estimated EPD values at the outflow rate of 0.06/h for alfalfa hay, soybean meal, soybean, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal and fish meal were 0.56, 0.77, 0.59, 0.45, 0.50 and 0.38, respectively

[Efficacy evaluation of Portulaca oleracea L. in control of the opium withdrawal symptoms]

Drug's dependence is a common and debilitating disorder. These patients interested to herbal therapy. Lack of valid documents about that is an important problem. Portulaca oleracea L. grows almost all points of distribution and areas of Khuzestan in southern Iran as eating vegetables. This plant is an anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-fever, muscle relaxant. Objective this study was evaluated efficacy of Portulaca oleracea L. in comparison with methadone for symptoms' of morphine withdrawal. Aqueous extracts and methadone given to 36 patients with morphine dependency. CINA scales were used by days 0, 2, 5, 7 and 10 for evaluation. In two groups withdrawal symptoms controlled good and behavior treatment in two groups was similar. The aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea L. can be as effective in controlling withdrawal symptoms

Serum concentrations of Helicobacter pylori IgG and the virulence factor CagA in patients with ischaemic heart disease

To compare the serum concentrations of IgG to Helicobacter pylori and its virulence factor CagA in patients with ischaemic heart disease [IHD], we recruited 120 patients with IHD [acute myocardial infarction [AMI] [n = 60]; unstable angina [UA] [n = 60]] and 60 sex- and age-matched healthy controls in this study. The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG was 86.7% in AMI, 91.7% in UA patients and 58.3% in the control group with mean titres of 33.2 U/ml [standard error [SE] 4.76], 57.96 U/ml [SE 7.54] and 25.72 U/ml [SE 4.01] respectively. The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori in the patient groups was significantly higher than the control group. The mean levels of anti-H. pylori in the AMI and UA groups were also significantly higher than in the control group. The seroprevalence and mean titre of anti-CagA IgG did not differ significantly between patient and control groups

Epidemiology and clinical manifestation of GOUT in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Gout is an increasingly prevalent condition worldwide, creating a heavy economic burden. Acute gout can be effectively treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and recurrent episodes can be prevented with the uricostatic xanthine oxidase inhibitors. This study was conducted to determine the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of 100 patients with acute or chronic gout in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran. One-hundred patients with gout who referred to the Rheumatology Department were reviewed. Their demographic data, family and drug history, comorbide diseases, body mass index, symptoms and signs at the time of referral to our clinic and lab data were collected. Among patients, 84 were men and 16 women [mean age=55.8 years and mean Body Mass Index=26.1 kg/m[2]. Thirty three percent of the patients were smokers and 10% drank alcohol. Seventy cases had previous gout attack of whom, 56 were in the first metotarso-phalangeal joint. The mean serum uric acid was 8.5 mg/dl. In our study, the mean age and mean body mass index of the patients were similar to those in others studies. Alcohol consumption was low in our study. Hypertension was found to be a risk factor for gout

[Acute urinary retention due to endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman: report of a case]

Introduction and Objective: acute urinary retention is an unusual symptom among women. This is a case report of acute urinary retention due to endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman

Case: the patient was a 49 - years old woman who had referred with dull abdominal pain and acute urinary retention for a few weeks. In physical examination, cervix was displaced anteriorly and superiorly and a large and tender mass was palpable above symphysis pubis. Ultrasonography and CT-Scan showed a huge thick-walled cystic structure almost 12×14 cm occupying central part of pelvic and lower abdominal cavity most likely arised from left ovary. The patient operated and TAH+BSO was done. The mass was reported endometriosis by pathologist. CA-125 level was normal

Conclusion: endometriosis is not a disease of childbearing age and about 2-4% of cases occur in postmenopausal age. It is still unclear how endometric masses grow and become evident in postmenopausal women