Replacing soybean meal with gelatin extracted from cow skin and corn protein concentrate as a protein source in broiler diets.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of replacing soybean meal with gelatin extracted from cow skin and corn protein concentrate as a protein source in broiler diets. Experiments were carried out as a completely randomized design where each experiment involved 4 treatments of 6 replicates and 10 chicks in each pen. Soybean meal proteins in a corn-soy control diet were replaced with 15, 30, and 45% of cow skin gelatin (CSG) or corn protein concentrate (CPC), respectively, in experiments 1 and 2. BW and cumulative feed intake were measured at 7, 21, and 42 d of age. Blood characteristics, relative organs weight and length, ileal digesta viscosity, ileal morphology, and cecal coliform and Salmonella population were measured at 42 d of age. Apparent total tract digestibility of protein was determined during 35 to 42 d of age. Replacement of soybean meal with CSG severely inhibited BW gain, decreased feed intake, and increased FCR in broilers during the experimental period (P ≤ 0.01). The inclusion of CPC reduced BW and increased FCR significantly (P ≤ 0.05) at 21 and 42 d of age without any consequence in feed intake. Protein digestibility was reduced and ileal digesta viscosity was increased linearly by increasing the amount of CSG and CPC in the control diet (P ≤ 0.01). Replacement of soybean meal with CSG and CPC did not significantly alter blood cell profile and plasma phosphorus, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, Aspartate transaminase, and HDL and LDL cholesterol concentration. The inclusion of CSG linearly (P ≤ 0.05) increased plasma uric acid concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels were decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) when the amount of CSG replacement was 15%. The results of this experiment showed that using CSG and CPC negatively affects broiler performance and therefore is not a suitable alternative to soybean meal in commercial diets.

Responding to physical and psychological health impacts of disasters: case study of the Iranian disaster rehabilitation plan.

This paper describes the process of developing a national pre-disaster plan for physical health and psychological rehabilitation of disaster-stricken communities. Data gathered from a literature review and expert panel discussions informed the process of drawing up unified definitions of physical and psychological health rehabilitation, carrying out stakeholder and STEEP-V analyses, and assigning the responsible organization and the collaborative organizations for each task. The Ministry of Health and the Welfare Organization were selected as the two responsible organizations. Integrated management at all levels, and sharing information, education and funding, were identified as ways to improve stakeholders' participation and collaboration. A system is needed for evaluating the implementation of the disaster rehabilitation plan, using valid and reliable indicators.

Evaluating gloved hand performance based on the mechanical properties of the applied material.

The hands are the most complex organs of the body for performing various activities. Therefore, it is critical to protect them against dangers. Protective gloves can reduce or prevent injuries, but they can downgrade hand performance in various aspects, including tactile sensitivity, strength, grip force and hand dexterity. In this study, eight protective gloves with different designs and materials were made. The study investigated the influence of the number of layers and several characteristics, e.g., mass per square meter, thickness, bending stiffness and compressibility, on the gloved hand performance regarding protection ability, tactile sensitivity, strength capability and manual dexterity. The results indicated that despite the improving effects of increasing layer thickness, weight, bending energy and compressibility on protection ability, the gloves diminish tactile sensitivity, grip and pinch force, and manual dexterity. Therefore, it is necessary to select an optimum design to ensure a satisfactory trade-off between protection and performance.

Evaluation of diagnostic efficacy of serum sTfR assay in iron-deficiency anemia and Beta-thalassemia trait in Shafa hospital, Ahvaz, Iran 2010.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Soluble form of transferrin receptor (TFR) called soluble TFR (sTfR) is shed mainly from the erythroid precursors and with a slower rate from other tissues into the plasma. This process of release is intensified in situations characterized with a some degree of erythroid hyperplasia or body iron stores depletion, such as seen in beta-thalassemia trait (betaTT) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), respectively. Therefore, the employement of sTfR assay as a diagnostic tool for differentiating IDA from betaTT in case of co-existence of these two clinical entities seems to be questionable. In this work we decided to study the above-mentioned dilemma in our geographical area, south of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole blood (5 ml) and serum samples (2 ml) were collected from 30 patients with IDA, 30 individuals with betaTT and 30 apparently healthy cases as control group. Complete blood count (CBC) was done by blood analyzer and serum iron, serum ferritin and serum sTfR were assayed by biochemical, immunological (chemiluminescence) and Elisa Kit, respectively. RESULTS: Serum ferritin concentration in IDA group was significantly lower than the concentration seen in betaTT: 6.93 ± 4.16 vs 47.40+/=32.33 microg/ml. The findings for sTfR serum concentration in IDA group (3.25+/=1.60 microg/ml) and betaTT group (1.86+/=0.36 microg/ml) showed a significant difference between IDA and the control group (p < 0.001), with some overlap between IDA and betaTT groups. Serum ferritin concentration and serum sTfR concentration in the control group were (65.60 ± 58.53 microg/dl) and (1.51+/=0.22 microg/ml), respectively. The sTfR/ferritin ratio clearly showed a diagnostic superiority to ferritin assay in IDA diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The observed overlap in serum stfR concentrations between IDA and betaTT groups makes the sTfR assay unefficient tool for a differential diagnosis between IDA and betaTT in the early stages of IDA. An higher diagnostic potential was observed in the advanced stage of iron deficiency anemia. Calculated ratio of serum sTfR/ferritin showed the diagnostic superiority to ferritin assay alone in IDA diagnosis.

Evaluation of plasma activity level of anticoagulant proteins in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Shafa hospital Ahwaz 2010.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy as associated with various coagulation abnormalities such as hemorrhage and thrombosis. This study was designed to investigate the distribution pattern of plasma activity level of anticoagulant protein such as proteins C and S, antithrombin, activated protein C resistance (APCR-V) and D-dimer in patients with ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied thirty patients with confirmed ALL admitted in Shafa Hospital Hematology-Oncology and Thalassemia-Hemoglobinopathy Research Center and thirty normal (age and sex matched) subjects as control group. Proteins C and S, antithrombin, APCR-V were measured by coagulation analyzer and D-dimer analysed with Asserachrom D-Di enzyme immunoassay kit in patients and control group. RESULTS: The mean activity levels of protein C (p = 0.017) and antithrombin (p = 0.014) were significantly lower in patient to group compared to the control group. However, the patient group had significantly elevated mean levels of protein S (p = 0.004) and D-dimer (p = 0.0001) compared to the control grup. About 3% of patients had APCR-V. There was no significant difference in APCR-V found between patient and control group (p = 0.674). CONCLUSIONS: The hypercoagulability in ALL patients may attribute to the low levels of protein C and antithrombin and the high level of protein S and D-dimer. According to our findings, the use of suitable anticoagulant therapy as a prophylactic measure can be proposed.

Prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran.

The prevalence of asthma was determined in a random sample of schoolchildren in Ahvaz city, southwest Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. The prevalence of ever wheeze and current wheeze was 11.1% and 7.4% among 1410 children aged 6-7 years (parent-reported) and 17.7% and 10.3% among 1450 children aged 13-14 years (self-reported). The prevalence of ever asthma was significantly higher among 13-14-year-olds (9.8%) than 6-7-year-olds (6.8%) but no significant difference was found between males and females in either age group. Comparisons are made with other Iranian cities and international data.

Epidemiology of hospitalized burn patients in Taleghani Hospital during 2003-2007.

AIM: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of burn injuries refered to Taleghani Burn hospital, Ahvaz and to provide information necessary for planning and implementing an effective prevention program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical records of 6082 consecutive admissions for burn injury treated at Taleghani burn hospital over a five-year period (August 2003 to August 2007) were reviewed. RESULTS: Our results shows that hospital stay in female was significantly longer than in male (p < 0.05). A positive significant correlation was observed between duration of hospital stay and %TBSA (chi2, p < 0.05). Of the 6082 patients, 486 deaths were recorded. The overall mortality rate of hospitalized burns patients was 8%. Mortality rate in female was higher than in male (p < 0.05). Our data showed E. coli in urine culture and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in blood and wound culture was the predominant isolated bacteria. CONCLUSION: This study provides an inclusive overview of hospitalized burn patients at Taleghani burn hospital. Prevention programs for reducing the risk of burns are needed. Furthermore, high %TBSA and mortality and the presence of multi-drugs resistant bacteria are major worrying problems in our hospital (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 27).

Night shift work experiences among Iranian nurses: a qualitative study.

AIM: To describe the perceptions held by Iranian registered nurses (IRNs) concerning their night shift work experiences. BACKGROUND: Due to the nature of nursing work and the need for 24-h coverage every day, the majority of nurses work night shifts in their professional practice. Evidence from several studies indicates that night working is a challenge for most nurses. This situation can cause many forms of physical and emotional stress. METHODS: A qualitative design was used with purposeful sampling. Eighteen IRNs from four different general educational hospitals in Iran took part in the study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed according to qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: Three main themes were identified from the data: (a) socio-cultural impacts of night work, (b) health-related impacts of night work, and (c) night work as an opportunity for gaining more clinical experiences and learning more. CONCLUSION: The impact of shift work on nurses' daily professional behaviour and adverse health outcomes related to shift work should be well understood and considered when organizing healthcare systems. We need to identify ways to support nurses who work nights and also give attention to the caregiver's needs.

Novel approach in k0-NAA for highly concentrated REE Samples.

The present paper presents a new approach for k0-NAA for accurate quantification with short turnaround analysis times for rare earth elements (REEs) in high content mineral matrices. REE k0 and Q0 values, spectral interferences and nuclear interferences were experimentally evaluated and improved with Alfa Aesar Specpure Plasma Standard 1000mgkg-1 mono-rare earth solutions. The new iterative gamma-ray self-attenuation and neutron self-shielding methods were investigated with powder standards prepared from 100mg of 99.9% Alfa Aesar mono rare earth oxide diluted with silica oxide. The overall performance of the new k0-NAA method for REEs was validated using a certified reference material (CRM) from Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project (REE-2) with REE content ranging from 7.2mgkg-1 for Yb to 9610mgkg-1 for Ce. The REE concentration was determined with uncertainty below 7% (at 95% confidence level) and proved good consistency with the CRM certified concentrations.

[Bipolar dislocation of the forearm]. / Luxation bipolaire de l'avant-bras: luxation du coude et luxation transcapholunaire du carpe. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report the case of a 23 year old patient, who presented the following combination of injuries after a fall, namely a divergent dislocation of the elbow, a fracture of the radial head, a fracture of the ulna and a perilunate dislocation with scaphoid fracture. The entire injury thus represented a bipolar dislocation of the forearm. The emergency management consisted of a closed reduction of the elbow together with osteosynthesis of the ulna, internal fixation of the scaphoid with a compression screw, and scaphocapitate K wiring. After 26 months, the function of the elbow was satisfactory, and the range of motion of the wrist was from 50 degrees of flexion to 40 degrees of extension. Satisfactory healing of the scaphoid was observed. This combination of injuries has only rarely been reported in the literature.

[Aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in thalassemia minor: a case report]. / Ostéonécrose aseptique de la tête du fémur dans la thalassémie mineure: á propos d'un cas.

We report a case of aseptic necrosis of the femoral head in a 14-year-old black adolescent with thalassemia minor disclosed by physical examination and blood tests. No other anomaly could be identified. Despite the very probably secondary nature of the aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and the absence of any other etiology, it is highly difficult to demonstrate the causal effect of thalassemia minor. We reviewed the literature and discuss the pathogenesis of this association.

[Total carpometacarpal dislocation. Case report]. / La luxation carpométacarpienne antérieure complète des doigts. A propos d'un cas.

Anterior carpometacarpal dislocation are rare injuries. The anterior type is exceptional. Mr A.T 18 years old, male, student, right-handed, without pathological medical history. He was admitted in emergency after a fall of a motorbike (unknown mechanism) for a closed left hand injury; examination revealed a total impaired mobility and an important swelling of the hand without vasculonervous disorders. X-ray revealed a pure anterior dislocation of the five carpometacarpal joints. The patient was operated on in emergency using both anterior and posterior approach, which allowed to reduce the dislocation. It was maintained by K-wires. An antebrachiopalmar cast was applied for six weeks. One year later, the result obtained was considered excellent.

[Ewing's sarcoma of the hand: a case report]. / Sarcome d'Ewing de la main: a propos d'un cas.

Ewing's sarcoma of the hand is rare. This tumor was first described in 1921, since then, only a few cases with hand involvement have been reported. We report a case of Ewing's sarcoma of the left hand, presenting as a swelling of the hand gradually enlarging over six months. Plain radiographs showed marked osteolysis of the second, third and fourth metacarpals. Histological confirmation was made following biopsy. Despite amputation and post-operative chemotherapy, death occurred two months later due marrow aplasia.

Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity of the AdhE protein of Escherichia coli is inhibited by intermediates in ubiquinone synthesis.

Defects in the acd gene (which may be allelic to ubiH) result in the inactivation of the coenzyme A-linked acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity of the multifunctional AdhE protein of Escherichia coli. This activity is restored by addition of ubiquinone-0 to cell extracts. However, the alcohol dehydrogenase activity of the AdhE protein is not decreased by an acd mutation. Abolition of ubiquinone biosynthesis by mutation of ubiA or ubiF does not affect either the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase or the alcohol dehydrogenase activity of AdhE. Guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), which resembles the intermediate that builds up in ubiH mutants, except in lacking the octaprenyl side-chain, was found to inhibit ethanol metabolism in vivo, presumably via inhibition of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. In vitro assays confirmed that guaiacol inhibited acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. This suggests that the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity of AdhE is specifically inhibited by intermediates of ubiquinone synthesis that accumulate in acd mutants and that this inhibition may be relieved by ubiquinone.

Variation in yield and lethality of venoms from Iranian snakes.

The dangerous venomous terrestrial snakes of Iran belong to three groups: the Elapidae (cobras); the Viperinae (true vipers); the Crotalinae (pit vipers). Geographical distribution of each species was determined. Studies on the venoms extracted from the following Iranian snakes, Oxus cobra, Naja naja oxiana, Levantine viper (Afyi), Vipera lebetina, Carpet viper, Echis carinatus, Persian horned viper, Pseudocerastes persicus, Latifii viper, Vipera latifii, Mountain viper, Vipera xanthina and Caucasus pit viper (Agkistrodon halys), indicated that the yield of venom varies in each species. Venoms were compared for their lethality (i.v. LD50 in mice) and their rate of production. The antigenic components of the venoms were compared with their antisera by gel diffusion tests. To obtain the best results from antivenom treatment, the serum should be made against the venom of the local population of snakes or, at least, the commercial antivenom should be controlled for potency by testing with local reference venom.

Determinants of partial participation in the immunization programmes in Iran.

Results of 45 cluster sample surveys to evaluate the immunization coverage in Iran during 1986 is reported. Overall, 55% of children between the ages of 12-23 months have complete immunization. Apart from mothers' knowledge and motivations, residence in the rural areas and utilization of antenatal care show positive association with immunization coverage. On the other hand, maternal tetanus immunization, hospital delivery and education of birth attendants for deliveries outside hospital, and the sex of the child do not seem to be associated with the child's immunization status. These and other results are discussed.

[Lateral dislocation of the elbow: pathophysiological and therapeutic analysis]. / Luxation pure latérale du coude. Approche physiopathologique et thérapeutique.

Lateral dislocation of the elbow is exceptional, and its pure form even more so. We report a case of lateral dislocation of the elbow observed in a 65-year-old woman following a fall on the medial aspect of the elbow in the flexion position. Reduction could not be achieved because of the anconeus muscle interposition. Analysis of the mechanism involved and the displacements observed enabled to propose a reduction manoeuvre using gentle traction on the elbow with extension and progressive supination of the forearm, pushing the olecranon backward then pulling it medialy. This enabled avoiding incarceration of the nerve bundle or capsulo-ligamentary structures.

[Ossifying parosteal lipoma of the rib: a case report]. / Lipome para-ostéal ossifiant costal: à propos d'un cas.

Ossifying parosteal lipoma is an uncommon form of parosteal lipoma. We report an exceptional rib localization where hyperosteosis probably arose from contact between the lipoma and the periosteum. Foci of metaplastic cartilage undergoing chondral ossification within the adipose tissue suggest a possible mixed origin.

[Hand trauma from table saw: best prevention]. / La main traumatique par toupie: pour une meilleure prévention.

OBJECTIVE: Trauma to the hand from a circular saw table is a common occurrence in developing countries. It tends to occur in young people, leading to psychologic- and socio-economic disability and loss. METHOD AND RESULTS: In this series of 834 patients. The mean age was 25 years. The left hand was involved in 88%. The authors report on the epidemiologic features of these lesions. These accidents are correlated with postprandial somnolence. The most frequent causes are absence of security systems and heterogeneity of the wood. DISCUSSION: The authors emphasize the importance of information for workers, using consciousness raising campaigns. They also stress the necessity of improvement of the conditions of work. Professional formation must be mandatory for young woodworkers and the laws concerning utilization of dangerous machines must be rigorously enforced, in order to lower the incidence of these accidents.

[Cubital tunnel syndrome and heterotopic ossification. Eight case reports]. / Syndrome du tunnel cubital et paraostéoarthropathie neurogène. A propos de huit cas.

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of cubital tunnel syndrome during heterotopic ossification is infrequent. Entrapment of the nerve requires early decompression whereas definitive elbow release is often delayed to reduce the risk of recurrence of periarticular ossification. The pathophysiology and treatment of these two conditions are discussed. METHOD: The authors report a retrospective study of eight men (average age 37 years), all with previous head injury. The nerve entrapment was severe in two cases, moderate in four and mild in two. The elbow was ankylosed with a mean flexion deformity of 96 degrees (77 degrees-123 degrees). Management consisted of early decompression and neurolysis with anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. In four cases elbow release was postponed until maturation of the ossification. RESULTS: The neurolysis results were assessed according to the score of KLEIMAN modified by TEOH. They were excellent in two cases, good in five and bad in one. DISCUSSION: Entrapment of the ulnar nerve in the context of heterotopic ossification seems related to compression and tension on the ulnar nerve. The compression may be due to prolonged pressure of the medial edge of the elbow on the bed of the nerve, or to a periarticular bony bridge and the initial inflammatory reaction of the heterotopic ossification. Ulnar nerve tension seems to be due to prolonged flexion of the elbow joint and to movements of the shoulder and the wrist, on either side of the ankyrozed elbow. Treatment should be by early decompression of the nerve and we recommend, in addition, anterior transposition to reduce the tension on the nerve. The elbow release can be combined with the neurolysis or delayed according to the state of activity of the heterotopic ossification.