Effectiveness of training parturition and dystocia management on days open of dairy cows in traditional farming systems: a field trial.

The interval between parturition and subsequent pregnancy is called the days open or calving to conception interval and is affected by several factors, especially dystocia. Dystocia is an ab-normal or difficult calving that may require assistance during labor. This study is a field trial in health education and the research team developed a comprehensive training program for farmers to educate them about the normal process of parturition in dairy cows and when and how to assist in parturition or dystocia. A series of classes was held for farmers and the study covered 486 multi-parous dairy cows, with 173 belonging to the group of trained farms (educated farmers) and 313 to the control group (non-educated farmers). Although dystocia was lower in the educated group, there were no significant differences in retained placenta between two groups. However, cows in the educated group had a better conception rate (lower service per conception) in sub-sequent parturitions. Hence, the median number of days open for cows from trained farmers was significantly lower than other farmers (85 days compared to 120 days, respectively). Based on Cox regression analysis, uterine prolapse, retained placenta, and dystocia could significantly impact subsequent pregnancies. Dystocia affects days open, and training on parturition and dystocia management can effectively reduce the numbers of days open in dairy cows.

Evaluation of local and circulating osteopontin in malignant and benign primary bone tumors.

PURPOSE: The development of novel and efficient biomarkers for primary bone cancers is of grave importance. METHODS: The expression pattern of osteopontin (OPN) was investigated in the 153 patients with benign (n = 72) and malignant (n = 81) primary bone cancers. Both local and circulating OPN mRNA expression levels and their protein concentration in serum and tumor site were assessed using real-time qRT-PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. As a control, 29 healthy individuals were considered. The number of 153 tumor tissue specimens and the 153 paired margins were taken on surgical resection from the patients. 153 blood samples were also drained from all participants, then peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and sera were separated. RESULTS: The mean mRNA expression was significantly higher in all of the cancerous tissues than the paired margins and the PBMC of the patients than the controls. Consistently, the protein concentrations of OPN in serum and tumor tissues were significantly higher in the patients. Furthermore, the malignant cases had significantly elevated the mRNA levels and the protein compared to the benign cases. OPN could potentially differentiate the patients from the controls with 100% sensitivity and specificity in serum. Moreover, OPN could predict some of the malignant cases' clinicopathological features, including metastasis, recurrence, grade, and response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, OPN might be involved in the pathogenesis of primary bone tumors and can be considered as a potential biomarker to bone cancer diagnosis.

Antiulcer properties of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extract on experimental models of gastric ulcer in mice.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is used in folk medicine for treatment of stomach disorders including peptic ulcers. The hydroalcoholic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (HEGG) was evaluated for antiulcerogenic activity and acute toxicity profile in mice. Various doses of HEGG (50-200 mg/kg) were administered orally to animals of different groups. Omeprazole and cimetidine at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg were used as positive controls, respectively. Stomach was opened along the greater curvature then ulceration index was determined examining the inner lining of stomach. Oral administration of the extract at 1600 mg/kg did not produce toxic symptoms and mortality in mice. 2950 mg/kg was determined as the oral LD50. The HEGG (50-200 mg/kg) showed a significant reduction in ulcer index in HCl/Ethanol-induced ulcer. G. glabra extract (50-150 mg/kg) showed antiulcer activity against indomethacin-induced gastric lesions dose dependently. The extract effectively inhibited formation of gastric lesions induced by ethanol. The extract (200 mg/kg) was more potent than omeprazole (30 mg/kg). HEGG reduced the ulcer index in hypothermic stress induced gastric ulcers in mice and the antiulcer effect was comparable to that of cimetidine. The results indicated that G. glabra hydroalcoholic extract exerted an antiulcergenic effect that could be associated with increase in gastric mucosal defensive factors.