Effects of physical form of starter and forage provision to young calves on blood metabolites, liver composition and intestinal morphology.

This study evaluated the effects of physical form of starter feed and forage provision on the performance, blood metabolites, liver composition and intestinal morphology of dairy calves. Individually housed calves (n = 52; body weight = 41.5 ± 2.5 kg) were randomly allocated (n = 13 per treatment) to one of the following four treatments: (i) ground starter feed (GS; mean particle size = 0.72 mm in diameter), (ii) textured starter feed (TS; mean particle size = 3.61 mm in diameter, including steam-flaked corn and barley), (iii) pelleted starter feed (PS; mean particle size = 4.53 mm in diameter) and (iv) ground starter feed with chopped alfalfa hay (GS + AH; mean particle size = 1.02 mm in diameter). The calves fed GS + AH diets had greater (p < 0.01) starter intake, final body weight and average daily gain compared with the other groups, while GS and TS groups both had greater (p < 0.01) starter intake than the PS group. Feed efficiency was found to be better (p < 0.05) in the TS group than in the GS or PS group, but not different from the GS + AH one. Compared with the other groups, the GS + AH group had the highest (p < 0.01), while the PS one had the lowest (p < 0.01) concentrations of blood glucose and triglyceride. The calves fed GS + AH had the highest blood concentrations of total protein, globulin, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), T3 : T4 ratio (p < 0.05) and levels of fat and glycogen in the liver (p < 0.01) compared with the other groups. The highest (p < 0.05) liver glycogen contents were observed in the GS + AH and TS groups. The duodenum, ileum and jejunum in the calves fed GS + AH exhibited a greater muscle layer thickness (p < 0.05) compared with the other groups. Based on the results obtained, the addition of dietary forage to starter diets positively influenced performance, liver composition and intestinal morphology in developing calves.

Effect of Ruta graveolens and Cannabis sativa alcoholic extract on spermatogenesis in the adult wistar male rats.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of alcohol extracts of Ruta graveolens and Cannabis sativa that were used traditionally in medieval Persian medicine as male contraceptive drugs, on spermatogenesis in the adult male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol extracts of these plants were obtained by the maceration method. The male rats were injected intraperitionaly with C. sativa and R. graveolens 5% ethanol extracts at dose of 20 mg/day for 20 consecutive days, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, testicular function was assessed by epididymal sperm count. RESULT: The statistical results showed that the ethanol extracts of these plants reduced the number of sperms significantly (P=0.00) in the treatment groups in comparison to the control group. The results also showed that the group, treated by extract of R. graveolens reduced spermatogenesis more than the group treated by extracts of C. sativa. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the spermatogenesis reducing properties of the ethanol extracts of R. graveolens and C. sativa in the adult male wistar rats but more studies are necessary to reveal the mechanism of action that is involved in spermatogenesis.

The effect of lidocaine and sufentanil in preventing intraocular pressure increase due to succinylcholine and endotracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Succinylcholine administration, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation are followed by increased intraocular pressure. Various premedications have been advocated for preventing increases in intraocular pressure, especially in patients undergoing surgical repair of open globe due to penetrating eye trauma. Results of studies in this area have been controversial. METHODS: In this double-blind study, three groups of 70 patients receiving sufentanil, lidocaine and placebo 90 s prior to intubation were evaluated and compared for intraocular pressure changes following succinylcholine administration, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. RESULTS: Mean intraocular pressure measured 2 and 3 min after succinylcholine administration in groups receiving sufentanil and lidocaine was significantly lower than in the placebo group. Mean intraocular pressure changes in the three groups were -1.84, -2.03 and +2.82 mmHg, respectively in minute 2; -4.78, -4.73 and +1.35 mmHg, respectively in minute 5. There was a significant intraocular pressure decrease in the sufentanil and lidocaine groups, compared to the placebo group. The eye surgeons' satisfaction was also significantly higher with the sufentanil and lidocaine groups. CONCLUSION: Previous studies have yielded controversial results as to the effect of sufentanil and lidocaine in preventing intraocular pressure following succinylcholine administration, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The present study affirms the preventive effect of these drugs on intraocular pressure increase.

A study of the relation between body mass index and the incidence of age related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness among the elderly. Obesity may be one of the risk factors of ARMD as suggested, yet not proved, by several studies. This study assesses the relation between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of ARMD METHODS: This case-control study included 50 patients with ARMD and 80 subjects who were adjusted for age, sex, cigarette smoking, blood pressure, and diabetes. Data analysis was performed by SPSS V9.0 using Student's t and chi2 tests. RESULTS: 42% of the subjects in the case group and 35% of those in the control group were men. Mean age of subjects in the case and control groups was 69.9 years (62-77 years) and 64.08 years (56-71 years), respectively. Mean BMI measured 25.38 (range 21-29) and 30.24 (26-34) in the case and control groups, respectively (p>0.05). 12% of subjects in the case group were obese, 42% were overweight, and 14% were lean. 22.5% of subjects in the control group were obese, 45% were overweight, and 7.5% were lean (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: 43% of patients in this study were aged 70 years or older, which is similar to other studies. There was no significant difference in BMI between the case and control groups. Recent studies indicate that obesity is a probable risk factor for progression of ARMD, but there is no significant relation with the presence of ARMD. With multifactorial analysis, the authors could identify no significant relation between the presence of ARMD and the studied risk factors.