Evaluation of rumen-protected choline additive to diet on productive performance of male Zaraibi growing goats during hot summer season in Egypt.

Twenty Zaraibi goat bucks were used in this experiment which lasted 3 months during summer season of Egypt. The animals were divided randomly into two equal groups. The first group was kept without treatment as control while in the second group, rumen-protected choline (RPC) at the level of 20 g/buck/day was added to the concentrate feed mixture at the morning feeding. RPC additives to diet of Zaraibi goat bucks during the period of hot summer season increased (P < 0.01) total gain and average daily gain compared to the control group. RPC increased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake and feed conversion while water intake was not affected by RPC additives. RPC increased (P < 0.05) red and white blood cell (RBC × 106, WBC × 103) counts and hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit percentage. RPC increased total protein (P < 0.05), globulin, and γ-globulin (P < 0.01). On the other hand, total lipids, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05) while phospholipids, glucose, and choline concentrations increased (P < 0.01) due to RPC supplementation. RPC increased (P < 0.01) thyroxin and triiodothyronine, increased (P < 0.05) testosterone levels, and decreased (P < 0.01) cortisol level compared with control bucks. It is concluded that dietary RPC at the rate of 20 g daily is required for growing male goats, especially, under heat stress conditions of summer season in Egypt and showed the best results concerning the growth, feed conversion, blood metabolites, and economic efficiency.

Assessment of suicidal and self-injurious behaviours among patients with depression.

The aim of this cross-sectional 1-year study was to estimate the prevalence and to identify the risk factors for suicidal and self-injurious behaviours among patients with depression. A convenience sample of 557 out- and inpatients diagnosed with mood disorders was selected from 3 treatment settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eligible patients completed data on sociodemographic variables and the Columbia suicide severity rating scale risk assessment version. The reported prevalence of attempted suicide in the previous week was 36.6%, interrupted suicide attempt 29.8%, aborted suicide attempt 34.6% and self-injurious behaviour without suicide intent 7.7%. Concerning suicide ideation, 47.2% reported suicidal thoughts, 36.6% suicidal thoughts with methods but without a specific plan and 35.4% suicidal intent without a specific plan. Male sex, joint family type, literate education, being in employment, smoking and physical co-morbidities were significantly associated with all types of suicide behaviour.

Assessment of suicidal and self-injurious behaviours among patients with depression

The aim of this cross-sectional 1-year study was to estimate the prevalence and to identify the risk factors for suicidal and self-injurious behaviours among patients with depression. A convenience sample of 557 out- and inpatients diagnosed with mood disorders was selected from 3 treatment settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eligible patients completed data on sociodemographic variables and the Columbia suicide severity rating scale risk assessment version. The reported prevalence of attempted suicide in the previous week was 36.6%, interrupted suicide attempt 29.8%, aborted suicide attempt 34.6% and self-injurious behaviour without suicide intent 7.7%. Concerning suicide ideation, 47.2% reported suicidal thoughts, 36.6% suicidal thoughts with methods but without a specific plan and 35.4% suicidal intent without a specific plan. Male sex, joint family type, literate education, being in employment, smoking and physical co-morbidities were significantly associated with all types of suicide behavior

Pattern of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders among patients consulting publicly-funded child psychiatric clinics in Saudi Arabia.

Data about psychiatric problems among young people are scarce in the Gulf countries. This retrospective review of records describes the pattern of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders among patients consulting 3 child psychiatric clinics in Saudi Arabia during the year 2008. Most patients were referred from the public health sector (92.8%). Psychotropic drugs were prescribed for 86.2% of patients and psychotherapy for 55.2%. Maternal perinatal complications and other psychosocial stressors were noted in almost 45.8% of cases. Family history of psychiatric disorder was reported in 31.5% of patients. Psychiatric comorbidity was noted in 40.5% of cases while physical diseases were noted in 29.9%. The outcome was classified as unstable at the last consultation in 17.9% of cases. In a linear regression analysis the only factors significantly associated with unstable outcome were a higher load of symptoms (OR 2.64) and perinatal complications (OR 2.84).

Pattern of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders among patients consulting publicly-funded child psychiatric clinics in Saudi Arabia

Data about psychiatric problems among young people are scarce in the Gulf countries. This retrospective review of records describes the pattern of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders among patients consulting 3 child psychiatric clinics in Saudi Arabia during the year 2008. Most patients were referred from the public health sector [92.8%]. Psychotropic drugs were prescribed for 86.2% of patients and psychotherapy for 55.2%. Maternal perinatal complications and other psychosocial stressors were noted in almost 45.8% of cases. Family history of psychiatric disorder was reported in 31.5% of patients. Psychiatric comorbidity was noted in 40.5% of cases while physical diseases were noted in 29.9%. The outcome was classified as unstable at the last consultation in 17.9% of cases. In a linear regression analysis the only factors significantly associated with unstable outcome were a higher load of symptoms [OR 2.64] and perinatal complications [OR 2.84]

Mental and Social Health Atlas I in Saudi Arabia: 2007-08.

Based on the World Health Organization's Mental Health Atlas, the first Mental and Social Health Atlas in Saudi Arabia describes the historical background of mental health and social services in the country and identifies several deficiencies in the system including infrastructure and logistics and lack of epidemiological data. There is now great progress in strategic planning for developing and improving mental health care services across the nation, with suggestions to develop psychiatric services for identified special populations, to establish community mental health care services, to improve research and training in mental health, and to update mental health annual information systems using advanced information technology.

Mental and Social Health Atlas I in Saudi Arabia: 2007-08

Based on the World Health Organization's Mental Health Atlas, the first Mental and Social Health Atlas in Saudi Arabia describes the historical background of mental health and social services in the country and identifies several deficiencies in the system including infrastructure and logistics and lack of epidemiological data. There is now great progress in strategic planning for developing and improving mental health care services across the nation, with suggestions to develop psychiatric services for identified special populations, to establish community mental health care services, to improve research and training in mental health, and to update mental health annual information systems using advanced information technology

Productive, physiological and biochemical changes in imported and locally born Friesian and Holstein lactating cows under hot summer conditions of Egypt.

Twenty each of healthy lactating Friesian and Holstein cows were studied. They were of similar age and body weight, nonpregnant in their third lactation and 80-100 days post partum. The investigation was carried out for 8 weeks on two farms at the same time during the hot summer season in Egypt. The first farm was in Demietta (North east of the Nile Delta, 31 degrees 40' N) on 20 Friesian cows and the second was in Fakous (East of the Nile Delta, 30 degrees 40' N) on 20 Holstein cows. On each of the two farms, 10 cows were newly imported and 10 were born in Egypt. The average daily milk yield and total milk production in the third lactation of the newly imported cows were significantly higher than those of the locally born cows for both Friesians and Holsteins. At the same time, the T4, T3, urea-N, haematological values and AST enzyme activity in the newly imported cows were significantly lower than those in the locally born ones in both breeds, while the locally born cows showed significantly lower values for rectal temperature and respiration rate, as well as for AST and Alk-P enzyme activities, than the newly imported cows of either breed. Holstein cows surpassed the Friesians in milk production, as well as thyroid hormone secretion and cholesterol, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte count values. The opposite was found for serum total protein, urea-N and creatinine concentrations, leukocyte count and AST, ALT and Alk-P enzyme activities.

Effects of diet supplementation and body cooling on Friesian calves reared in high ambient temperatures in the eastern desert of Egypt.

Four groups of 10 Friesian male calves were fed on rice straw ad libitum and concentrate for 2 months. The first group was fed in winter. The other 3 groups (1, 2 and 3) were fed in summer. Group 1 was fed the same diet as the winter group, Group 2 was fed on the same diet as Group 1 but it was supplemented with urea and a minerals and vitamins mixture and Group 3 animals were fed on the same diet as Group 1 and cooled by sprinkling and drinking cool water. The results showed that high ambient summer temperatures induced highly significant decreases in weight gain and feed efficiency and deleterious effects on thyroid, liver and kidney functions. The diet supplemented with urea, minerals and vitamins improved liveweight gain and restored some blood components, but the effects of high ambient temperature were not completely alleviated since the calves still had increases in transaminase enzyme activities, rectal temperature and respiration rate. Cooling the animals during summer led to improved body liveweight gain, feed efficiency and certain body functions. In addition, the cooling treatment reduced the heat load and aided the animals to reach a steady physiological state, confirming that the cooling treatment was more effective than diet supplementation in removing heat load during the summer.

New colorimetric method for the determination of nystatin.

A new colorimetric method for the determination of nystatin is reported, based on the reaction of the alkaline hydrolysis product of nystatin with p-aminoacetophenone in presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The proposed method determines 0.2-1.0mg of nystatin with recovery of 100.7 +/- 1.2%. The method is adopted to the determination of nystatin in pharmaceutical preparations, and interference due to the presence of sugar is eliminated.