Effect of different fat supplements on performance of dairy calves during cold season.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of starter supplementation with fat sources differing in their fatty acid (FA) profile on performance of dairy calves during cold season. Sixty Holstein calves (3 d of age; 39.7 ± 3.8 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 starter diets supplemented with (1) no fat or oil source (control), (2) 3% palm fat (PLF), (3) 3% soybean oil (SBO), (4) 3% tallow (TAL), and (5) a 3.2% mixture (MIX) of PLF, SBO, and fish oil. The fat supplements were substituted for corn in the basal starter diet. Both the control and fat-supplemented diets contained similar amounts of dietary crude protein (19.4%), but the latter had a slightly higher quantity of calculated metabolizable energy (3.17 vs. 3.07 Mcal/kg) than did the former. Calves were reared outdoor in individual pens during the cold of winter with a mean ambient temperature of 5.0°C during the study period. Whole milk was offered twice daily from d 3 to 45 and once from d 46 to 49. The animals were weaned on d 50 and monitored in their individual pens until d 70. Supplementation with SBO and MIX increased both the dietary concentration and ratio of essential FA (n-6 and n-3), whereas supplementation with TAL and PLF made no change in the essential FA profile. Starter intake and average daily gain were not affected by PLF and TAL supplements, but were reduced as a result of feeding MIX. Feeding supplemental SBO did not affect starter intake, but tended to improve average daily gain and final body weight. Fat sources had no effects on body skeletal measurements, fecal score, digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia, and total volatile FA concentrations; however, feeding MIX increased rumen molar proportion of propionate. No differences were observed in blood metabolites across the treatments during the preweaning period. Plasma concentrations of triacylglycerol and cholesterol increased when fat sources were supplemented and glucose concentration increased when SBO was supplemented during the postweaning period. Overall, addition of 3% PLF or TAL to the diet of young calves failed to improve growth performance. Although addition of SBO and MIX increased the dietary essential FA concentration, calf performance was only improved when SBO was supplemented.

Effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait kinematic parameters of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait kinematic parameters of patients with multiple sclerosis. Subjects and Methods: In this study, 18 subjects, comprising 4 males and 14 females with Multiple Sclerosis with expanded disability status scale of 3 to 6 were chosen. Subjects were selected by available and targeted sampling and were randomly divided into two experimental (n = 9) and control (n = 9) groups. Exercises were gait with rhythmic auditory stimulation by a metronome device, in addition to gait without stimulation for the experimental and control groups, respectively. Training was carried out for 3 weeks, with 30 min duration for each session 3 times a week. Stride length, stride time, double support time, cadence and gait speed were measured by motion analysis device. Results: There was a significant difference between stride length, stride time, double support time, cadence and gait speed in the experimental group, before and after the training. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the enhancement of stride length, stride time, cadence and gait speed in favor of the experimental group. While this difference was not significant for double support time. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that rhythmic auditory stimulation is an effective rehabilitation method to improve gait kinematic parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sources driving the organic matter dynamics in two contrasting tropical mangroves.

In this study, we have selected two different mangroves based on their geological, hydrological and climatological variations to investigate the origin (terrestrial, phytobenthos derived, and phytoplankton derived) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC) in the water column and the sedimentary OC using elemental ratios and stable isotopes. Qeshm Island, representing the Iranian mangroves received no attention before this study in terms of DOC, POC biogeochemistry and their sources unlike the Sundarbans (Indian side), the world's largest mangrove system. Slightly higher DOC concentrations in the Iranian mangroves were recorded in our field campaigns between 2011 and 2014, compared to the Sundarbans (315±25µM vs. 278±42µM), owing to the longer water residence times, while 9-10 times greater POC concentration (303±37µM, n=82) was linked to both suspended load (345±104mgL(-1)) and high algal production. Yearlong phytoplankton bloom in the mangrove-lined Persian Gulf was reported to be the perennial source of both POC and DOC contributing 80-86% to the DOC and 90-98% to the POC pool. Whereas in the Sundarbans, riverine input contributed 50-58% to the DOC pool and POC composition was regulated by the seasonal litter fall, river discharge and phytoplankton production. Algal derived organic matter (microphytobenthos) represented the maximum contribution (70-76%) to the sedimentary OC at Qeshm Island, while mangrove leaf litters dominated the OC pool in the Indian Sundarbans. Finally, hydrographical settings (i.e. riverine transport) appeared to be the determinant factor in differentiating OM sources in the water column between the dry and wet mangroves.

Association between Body Mass Index and frequency and grade of varicocele in southeast Iran.

Background: Varicocele is associated with impaired spermatogenesis. It may also be associated with the patients' weight. We aimed to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the frequency and grade of varicocele among a sample of Iranian men in southeast Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2010 and 2011 among 167 men who referred to the University affiliated Urology Clinics in Zahedan, Iran. Expert urologists examined the patients for the existence of varicocele and determined its grade as I to III. The age, grade of varicocele, and the side of varicocele as well as the weight and height of the patients were measured and recorded. The patients were categorized in different age groups. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software. Results: The patients' mean age was 27.9 ± 7.6 years and their mean BMI was 23.5 ± 4.7 kg/ m2. Varicocele was more frequent in the age group of 20-30 years. Most patients had grade II varicocele without a significant difference between the age groups (P=0.11). The mean BMI of patients with right varicocele was not different from those with left varicocele (P=0.34). The BMI of patients with bilateral varicocele was not different with those having right (P=0.94) and left (P=0.17) varicocele. 17.9%, 56.5%, and 25.6% of the patients had varicocele grade I, II, and III, respectively. Conclusions: In patients with lower BMI, the testicular vein may have a higher grade of varicocele. Urologists should consider examining young, tall men to detect various grades of varicocele as a part of their physical examination.

Proper ubiquitination effect on the fertilisation outcome post-ICSI.

Ubiquitin is an 8.5-kDa protein that tags outlived proteins for degradation by the proteasome. It also marks defective spermatozoa during epididymal passage and has been proposed as a biomarker of sperm quality. This study evaluates the relationship between sperm ubiquitination, protamine deficiency, semen parameters and fertilisation rate in infertile individuals undergoing the intracytoplasmic sperm insemination (ICSI) procedure. Semen samples from 73 ICSI candidates were collected and analysed according to World Health Organization criteria. A portion of each sample was evaluated for sperm ubiquitination using the sperm ubiquitin tag immunoassay (SUTI) with flow cytometry, and protamine deficiency by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining. In addition, the relationship between the fertilisation rate and sperm ubiquitination was calculated in ICSI candidates. The intensity of ubiquitination showed a significant negative correlation with sperm concentration (r = -0.255, P = 0.032) and a positive correlation with fertilisation rate (r = 0.384, P = 0.013) post-ICSI. No correlation was observed between protamine deficiency and the percentage of ubiquitination or ubiquitination intensity. The results of this study suggest that sperm ubiquitination prior to capacitation may be considered as a marker of defective spermatozoon. Spermatozoa that undergo proper ubiquitination may have a higher chance for fertilisation, because they are made redundant by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the epididymis compared to hypo-ubiquitinated spermatozoa.

Eating attitudes, self-esteem and social physique anxiety among Iranian females who participate in fitness programs.

AIM: Today, women's participation in sports has substantially increased. This growth has been accompanied by concerns about health risks, as eating disorders, and psychological features, as self-esteem (SE) and social physique anxiety (SPA). The purpose of this study was to determine disordered eating attitudes and their relation to SE, SPA, as well as body weight, and body mass index (BMI), in Iranian females who participate in fitness programs. METHODS: Subjects were 250 females, aged 14-51 years, who participated in fitness programs. Eating attitude test-26 (EAT-26), Rosenberg's self esteem scale (RSES), and social physique anxiety scale (SPAS), were used. Body weight and height were measured, and then Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. RESULTS: According to BMI cut-offs, 36% of subjects were overweight or obese. 28.4% and 19.6% of subjects were disordered eating attitudes (EAT-26>or=20) and low self-esteem (RSES<15), respectively. Disordered eating attitude subjects had lower SE and higher SPA, body weight and BMI than normal subjects (P<0.05). The low SE group had higher SPAS than normal one (P<0.02). In bivariate analysis, EAT-26 score was correlated negatively with RSES (r=-0.13, P<0.04) and positively with body weight, BMI, and SPAS (r=0.40, 0.42, and 0.47, respectively, P<0.001). SPAS had positive correlation with body weight and BMI (r=0.22, 0.19, CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that disordered eating attitudes are prevalent among Iranian females who participate in fitness programs. In this group, high SPA, body weight and BMI, and low SE accompany disordered eating attitudes.

Waist circumference: a better index of fat location than WHR for predicting lipid profile in overweight/obese Iranian women.

We carried out a clinical cross-sectional study on 728 overweight and obese women aged 20-60 years during July 2005-May 2006 in Sistan and Baluchestan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) showed significant correlation with total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After adjustment for age and BMI, this was also true for WC with TC and TG. There was no such correlation between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and lipid profile. Hence, WC was a better anthropometric index of fat location than WHR to estimate lipid profile in overweight and obese adult women.

Waist circumference: a better index of fat location than WHR for predicting lipid profile in overweight/obese Iranian women

We carried out a clinical cross-sectional study on 728 overweight and obese women aged 20-60 years during July 2005-May 2006 in Sistan and Baluchestan, Islamic Republic of Iran. Body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC] showed significant correlation with total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After adjustment for age and BMI, this was also true for WC with TC and TG. There was no such correlation between waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] and lipid profile. Hence, WC was a better anthropometric index of fat location than WHR to estimate lipid profile in overweight and obese adult women

Effect of nibbling and gorging dietary regimens on weight and lipid profile in rat.

To investigate the effects of nibbling and gorging dietary regimens on weight and lipid profiles in rat, thirty female Wistar rats, after 10 day acclimatization period, were weighed and randomly assigned into two equal groups. They were fed the same food for 60 days as eight meals at 2 h intervals starting from 6 pm (nibbling group) or as two meals at 9 pm and 6 am (gorging group). The serum lipid levels and weight of animals were determined before and after the intervention. The body weight in two groups increased significantly (p < 0.001) during the period of study but there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between two groups before and after the intervention. Nibbling regimen caused a reduction in the serum Total Cholesterol (TC), triglyceride and LDL-C levels, whereas these parameters increased during gorging diet. However, none of these changes were significant. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in TC and LDL-C levels in nibbling diet compared to gorging one. According to obtained results, nibbling regimen has better effect on lipid profile than gorging one in rat.