Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain, edema, and trismus after surgical removal of impacted third molars: a split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) stimulus inhibits the activity of nociceptive neurons of the central nervous system. Pain relief is achieved by increasing the pulse amplitude of TENS to induce a non-painful paranesthesia beneath the electrodes. This study aimed to assess the effect of TENS on acute pain, edema, and trismus after surgical removal of impacted third molars. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized, double blind, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted on 37 patients with bilaterally impacted mandibular third molars. The angle and body of mandible at the site of surgery in one randomly selected quadrant underwent TENS immediately after surgery (50 Hz, 100-µs short pulse, 15 minutes for 6 days). The TENS stimulator device was used in off mode for the placebo quadrant. The pain score (primary outcome) was measured for 7 days postoperatively, and edema and trismus (secondary outcomes) were assessed at 2, 4 and 7 days, postoperatively. The results were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA using R software (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: The overall mean pain score was significantly lower in the TENS than the placebo group (P<0.05). The number of taken analgesics in the first 3 days was significantly lower in the TENS group (P<0.001). Postoperative edema in the TENS group was lower than the placebo group but only the difference was not statistically significant (P>.05). The inter-incisal distance, as an index to assess trismus, was not significantly different between the two group at day 2, but it was significantly higher in the TENS group after the second day (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TENS effectively decreased pain and trismus following impacted third molar surgery, and may be recommended as a non-pharmaceutical method to relieve postoperative symptoms.

Waveguide-integrated silicon T centres.

The performance of modular, networked quantum technologies will be strongly dependent upon the quality of their quantum light-matter interconnects. Solid-state colour centres, and in particular T centres in silicon, offer competitive technological and commercial advantages as the basis for quantum networking technologies and distributed quantum computing. These newly rediscovered silicon defects offer direct telecommunications-band photonic emission, long-lived electron and nuclear spin qubits, and proven native integration into industry-standard, CMOS-compatible, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonic chips at scale. Here we demonstrate further levels of integration by characterizing T centre spin ensembles in single-mode waveguides in SOI. In addition to measuring long spin T1 times, we report on the integrated centres' optical properties. We find that the narrow homogeneous linewidth of these waveguide-integrated emitters is already sufficiently low to predict the future success of remote spin-entangling protocols with only modest cavity Purcell enhancements. We show that further improvements may still be possible by measuring nearly lifetime-limited homogeneous linewidths in isotopically pure bulk crystals. In each case the measured linewidths are more than an order of magnitude lower than previously reported and further support the view that high-performance, large-scale distributed quantum technologies based upon T centres in silicon may be attainable in the near term.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1112-1181.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Austroboletus asper on soil, Cylindromonium alloxyli on leaves of Alloxylon pinnatum, Davidhawksworthia quintiniae on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Exophiala prostantherae on leaves of Prostanthera sp., Lactifluus lactiglaucus on soil, Linteromyces quintiniae (incl. Linteromyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Lophotrichus medusoides from stem tissue of Citrus garrawayi, Mycena pulchra on soil, Neocalonectria tristaniopsidis (incl. Neocalonectria gen. nov.) and Xyladictyochaeta tristaniopsidis on leaves of Tristaniopsis collina, Parasarocladium tasmanniae on leaves of Tasmannia insipida, Phytophthora aquae-cooljarloo from pond water, Serendipita whamiae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus cucullatus, Veloboletus limbatus (incl. Veloboletus gen. nov.) on soil. Austria, Cortinarius glaucoelotus on soil. Bulgaria, Suhomyces rilaensis from the gut of Bolitophagus interruptus found on a Polyporus sp. Canada, Cantharellus betularum among leaf litter of Betula, Penicillium saanichii from house dust. Chile, Circinella lampensis on soil, Exophiala embothrii from rhizosphere of Embothrium coccineum. China, Colletotrichum cycadis on leaves of Cycas revoluta. Croatia, Phialocephala melitaea on fallen branch of Pinus halepensis. Czech Republic, Geoglossum jirinae on soil, Pyrenochaetopsis rajhradensis from dead wood of Buxus sempervirens. Dominican Republic, Amanita domingensis on litter of deciduous wood, Melanoleuca dominicana on forest litter. France, Crinipellis nigrolamellata (Martinique) on leaves of Pisonia fragrans, Talaromyces pulveris from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum infesting floorboards. French Guiana, Hypoxylon hepaticolor on dead corticated branch. Great Britain, Inocybe ionolepis on soil. India, Cortinarius indopurpurascens among leaf litter of Quercus leucotrichophora. Iran, Pseudopyricularia javanii on infected leaves of Cyperus sp., Xenomonodictys iranica (incl. Xenomonodictys gen. nov.) on wood of Fagus orientalis. Italy, Penicillium vallebormidaense from compost. Namibia, Alternaria mirabibensis on plant litter, Curvularia moringae and Moringomyces phantasmae (incl. Moringomyces gen. nov.) on leaves and flowers of Moringa ovalifolia, Gobabebomyces vachelliae (incl. Gobabebomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Vachellia erioloba, Preussia procaviae on dung of Procavia capensis. Pakistan, Russula shawarensis from soil on forest floor. Russia, Cyberlindnera dauci from Daucus carota. South Africa, Acremonium behniae on leaves of Behnia reticulata, Dothiora aloidendri and Hantamomyces aloidendri (incl. Hantamomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Aloidendron dichotomum, Endoconidioma euphorbiae on leaves of Euphorbia mauritanica, Eucasphaeria proteae on leaves of Protea neriifolia, Exophiala mali from inner fruit tissue of Malus sp., Graminopassalora geissorhizae on leaves of Geissorhiza splendidissima, Neocamarosporium leipoldtiae on leaves of Leipoldtia schultzii, Neocladosporium osteospermi on leaf spots of Osteospermum moniliferum, Neometulocladosporiella seifertii on leaves of Combretum caffrum, Paramyrothecium pituitipietianum on stems of Grielum humifusum, Phytopythium paucipapillatum from roots of Vitis sp., Stemphylium carpobroti and Verrucocladosporium carpobroti on leaves of Carpobrotus quadrifolius, Suttonomyces cephalophylli on leaves of Cephalophyllum pilansii. Sweden, Coprinopsis rubra on cow dung, Elaphomyces nemoreus from deciduous woodlands. Spain, Polyscytalum pini-canariensis on needles of Pinus canariensis, Pseudosubramaniomyces septatus from stream sediment, Tuber lusitanicum on soil under Quercus suber. Thailand, Tolypocladium flavonigrum on Elaphomyces sp. USA, Chaetothyrina spondiadis on fruits of Spondias mombin, Gymnascella minnisii from bat guano, Juncomyces patwiniorum on culms of Juncus effusus, Moelleriella puertoricoensis on scale insect, Neodothiora populina (incl. Neodothiora gen. nov.) on stem cankers of Populus tremuloides, Pseudogymnoascus palmeri from cave sediment. Vietnam, Cyphellophora vietnamensis on leaf litter, Tylopilus subotsuensis on soil in montane evergreen broadleaf forest. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

The Colletotrichum dracaenophilum, C. magnum and C. orchidearum species complexes.

Although Glomerella glycines, Colletotrichum magnum and C. orchidearum are known as causal agents of anthracnose of soybean, Cucurbitaceae and Orchidaceae, respectively, their taxonomy remains unresolved. In preliminary analyses based on ITS, strains of these species appear basal in Colletotrichum phylogenies, clustering close to C. cliviae, C. brevisporum and other recently described species from tropical or subtropical regions. Phylogenetic analyses (ITS, GAPDH, CHS-1, HIS3, ACT, TUB2) of 102 strains previously identified as Ga. glycines, C. magnum and C. orchidearum as well as other related strains from different culture collections and studies placed these taxa in three species complexes, and distinguished at least 24 species, including 11 new species. In this study, C. magnum, C. orchidearum and C. piperis were epitypified and their taxonomy resolved, while C. cliviicola was proposed as a new name for C. cliviae. Furthermore, a sexual morph was observed for C. yunnanense, while C. brevisporum, C. cliviicola and C. tropicicola were reported from new hosts or countries. Regarding their conidial morphology, species in the C. dracaenophilum, C. magnum and C. orchidearum species complexes are reminiscent of C. gloeosporioides or C. boninense s. lat., and were likely to be confused with them in the past.

Association of diverse bacterial communities in human bile samples with biliary tract disorders: a survey using culture and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis methods.

Bacterial infection is considered a predisposing factor for disorders of the biliary tract. This study aimed to determine the diversity of bacterial communities in bile samples and their involvement in the occurrence of biliary tract diseases. A total of 102 bile samples were collected during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Characterization of bacteria was done using culture and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was determined based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines and identity of the nucleotide sequences of differentiated bands from the DGGE gels was determined based on GenBank data. In total, 41.2 % (42/102) of the patients showed bacterial infection in their bile samples. This infection was detected in 21 % (4/19), 45.4 % (5/11), 53.5 % (15/28), and 54.5 % (24/44) of patients with common bile duct stone, microlithiasis, malignancy, and gallbladder stone, respectively. Escherichia coli showed a significant association with gallstones. Polymicrobial infection was detected in 48 % of the patients. While results of the culture method established coexistence of biofilm-forming bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus spp., and Acinetobacter spp.) in different combinations, the presence of Capnocytophaga spp., Lactococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterobacter or Citrobacter spp., Morganella spp., Salmonella spp., and Helicobacter pylori was also characterized in these samples by the PCR-DGGE method. Multidrug resistance phenotypes (87.5 %) and resistance to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and quinolones were common in these strains, which could evolve through their selection by bile components. Ability for biofilm formation seems to be a need for polymicrobial infection in this organ.

The piglet as a model for studying dietary components in infant diets: effects of galacto-oligosaccharides on intestinal functions.

Prebiotic oligosaccharides, including galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), are used in infant formula to mimic human milk oligosaccharides, which are known to have an important role in the development of the intestinal microbiota and the immune system in neonates. The maturation of the intestines in piglets closely resembles that of human neonates and infants. Hence, a neonatal piglet model was used to study the multi-faceted effect of dietary GOS in early life. Naturally farrowed piglets were separated from the mother sow 24-48 h postpartum and received a milk replacer with or without the addition of GOS for 3 or 26 d, whereafter several indicators of intestinal colonisation and maturation were measured. Dietary GOS was readily fermented in the colon, leading to a decreased pH, an increase in butyric acid in caecum digesta and an increase in lactobacilli and bifidobacteria numbers at day 26. Histomorphological changes were observed in the intestines of piglets fed a GOS diet for 3 or 26 d. In turn, differences in the intestinal disaccharidase activity were observed between control and GOS-fed piglets. The mRNA expression of various tight junction proteins was up-regulated in the intestines of piglet fed a GOS diet and was not accompanied by an increase in protein expression. GOS also increased defensin porcine ß-defensin-2 in the colon and secretory IgA levels in saliva. In conclusion, by applying a neonatal piglet model, it could be demonstrated that a GOS-supplemented milk replacer promotes the balance of the developing intestinal microbiota, improves the intestinal architecture and seems to stimulate the intestinal defence mechanism.

Association of G/T(rs222859) polymorphism in Exon 1 of YBX2 gene with azoospermia, among Iranian infertile males.

Animal model studies have shown that MSY2 gene has a potential role in spermatogenesis. Some mutations on this gene have been proposed to be associated with human male infertility. In this study, polymorphisms of exon 1 of YBX2 gene have been investigated. A total of 276 men were evaluated. They included 96 men with normal spermatogenesis, 60 men with nonobstructive azoospermia, 60 men with oligospermia and 60 men with asthenospermia. We extracted DNA from blood and testis tissues of samples, and analysed polymorphisms of exon 1 by sequencing method. Moreover, YBX2 gene expression was studied by real-time PCR on blood and testis tissue of samples. Sequencing results showed that among the studied polymorphisms, frequency of TT genotype in rs222859 polymorphism was significantly higher in azoospermic patients compared to control group (P < 0.001). Azoospermic men exhibited significant underexpression of YBX2 gene in blood and testis samples in comparison with controls, oligosperm and asthenosperm samples (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in gene expression of YBX2 gene in blood and testis tissues of azoospermic men, with and without mutation (P > 0.05). According to our results, the alterations of this gene might be involved in azoospermia among Iranian population.

Analysis of the association between IL-23R rs11209026 polymorphism and incidence of atherosclerosis.

Th17/IL-23 axis is an important pro-inflammatory pathway in atherosclerosis. IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) pathway has an important role in T-helper cells 17 (Th17) differentiation and survival. We compared normal subjects and patients with atherosclerosis in terms of the R381Q variant of the IL-23R gene as a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). This case-control study recruited 200 patients who presented with cardiovascular symptoms to Afshar Hospital, Yazd, Iran. The participants were allocated to five groups based on angiographic results. The severity of the disease was determined according to the numbers of involved vessels. Patients with normal coronary arteries, minimal coronary artery involvement, one involved vessel, two involved vessels and three-vessel disease were allocated to groups I-V, respectively. DNA was extracted from whole blood samples by the salting-out method. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism assay and multinomial logistic regression for analyses The presence of SNP A>G rs11209026 of IL-23 receptor gene was significantly associated with disease severity (P = 0.008). The frequencies of the heterozygous (AG) genotype in the control group and subjects with minimal involvement, and patients with one-, two-, and three-vessel disease were 22.5%, 12.5%, 10%, 10.24% and 4.8%, respectively. Our results indicated an association between the rs11209026 G>A polymorphism of the IL-23 receptor gene and the risk of atherosclerosis. This genetic variant may in fact cause protection against atherosclerosis progression. However, further studies on gene polymorphism and cell expression are required to clarify the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Saturated, omega-6 and omega-3 dietary fatty acid effects on the characteristics of fresh, frozen-thawed semen and blood parameters in rams.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of several dietary fatty acids (FAs) on semen quality and blood parameters in rams. We gave diet-supplemented treatments (35 g day(-1) ram(-1)) by C16:0 (palm oil), C18:2 [sunflower oil (SO)] and an n-3 source [fish oil (FO)] to 12 rams, who were fed for 15 weeks during their breeding season. Semen was collected once per week. Semen samples were extended with Tris-based cryoprotective diluents, then cooled to 5 °C and stored in liquid nitrogen. Positive responses were seen with FO after 4 weeks. The mean prefreezing semen characteristics improved with the intake of FO (P < 0.05). Interestingly, maximum sperm output in FO was achieved 7.5 × 10(9) when compared to palm oil 5.3 × 10(9). Rams that received FO had the highest total testosterone concentrations (11.3 ng ml(-1) for FO, 10.8 ng ml(-1) for SO and 10.2 ng ml(-1) for palm oil) during the experiment (P < 0.05). FO also improved the rams' sperm characteristics after thawing (P < 0.05). Although C16:0 is a major saturated FA in ram sperm and all rams have been fed isoenergetic rations, the unique FAs of FO improved fresh semen quality and freezing ability compared to other oils.

Improvement in in vitro fertilization rate, decrease in reactive oxygen species and spermatozoa death incidence in rams by dietary fish oil.

Our aim was to evaluate the effects of fish oil feeding on sperm classical parameters, level of reactive oxygen spices (ROS), spermatozoa death incidence and in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate in rams. We randomly assigned nine rams, into two experimental groups (isoenergetic and isonitrogenous rations with constant level of vitamin E supplement): control (CTR; n = 5) and fish oil (FO; n = 4, 35 g/day/ram). Diets were fed for 70 days during the physiological breeding season. After a 21-day dietary adaptation period, semen was collected weekly from each ram by an artificial vagina. Sperm classical parameters were determined by the computer-assisted sperm analyzer system (CASA), and it was prepared for IVF process by swim-up technique. These evaluations were performed during the first and last weeks of sampling. Intracellular ROS level and spermatozoa death incidence were detected by flow cytometry on a weekly basis after adaptation. Data were analysed with SPSS 15. The volume, concentration (3.6 and 2.7 × 10(9) /ml) and sperm progressive motility (60 and 48%) were significantly improved in the FO group compared with the CTR (p < 0.05). A comparison of two-cell stage embryos following IVF in the two groups showed a significantly higher fertilization rate in the FO group (56%) compared with the CTR (49%). Superoxide anion (O2 (-) ) rate was significantly lower (p < 0.05) at the third week of sampling in the FO. Although the H2 O2 rate was numerically lower in the FO group compared with the CTR, this difference was not significant. In addition, apoptosis showed a significant difference in the third week of sampling (15 and 30% for FO and CTR, respectively; p < 0.05). Overall, adding fish oil to the ram diet not only improved sperm quality and IVF results, it also could reduce oxygen-free radicals and the incidence of spermatozoa death.

Evaluating antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles incorporated into reinforced zinc oxide eugenol: an in vitro study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol (rZOE) incorporated with different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). METHODS: The pastes of rZOE alone or mixed with AgNPs at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 5% of weight were prepared. In vitro antimicrobial activity of prepared materials against Streptococcus (S.) mutans and Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus were evaluated after 2, 4, and 6 h of contact times using direct contact test (DCT) and also following 24 h incubation by well-diffusion test (WDT). The cytotoxicity of the tested materials on human dental pulp stem cells was also determined by MTT assay. RESULTS: The DCT demonstrated that the time-dependent reductions of the colony numbers of both bacteria by three different concentrations of AgNPs incorporated into rZOE were equal but steeper than the rZOE alone (P < 0.05). The increases in growth inhibition zones of S. mutans and L. acidophilus were associated with the increasing concentration of AgNPs mixed with rZOE in the WDT; however, statistical analysis did not show any significant differences (P = 0.092). The MTT assay revealed a significantly lower percentage of cell viability after 1 day of culture only with the rZOE + AgNP5% in comparison to the rZOE alone (P = 0.011) and the control medium (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Since the antimicrobial activities of three different concentrations of AgNPs incorporated into rZOE were equal and AgNPs had lower toxicity at lower concentrations, using AgNPs at 1% concentration is suggested to be mixed with rZOE.

Genome-wide analysis of DNA copy-number changes using cDNA microarrays.

Gene amplifications and deletions frequently contribute to tumorigenesis. Characterization of these DNA copy-number changes is important for both the basic understanding of cancer and its diagnosis. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was developed to survey DNA copy-number variations across a whole genome. With CGH, differentially labelled test and reference genomic DNAs are co-hybridized to normal metaphase chromosomes, and fluorescence ratios along the length of chromosomes provide a cytogenetic representation of DNA copy-number variation. CGH, however, has a limited ( approximately 20 Mb) mapping resolution, and higher-resolution techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), are prohibitively labour-intensive on a genomic scale. Array-based CGH, in which fluorescence ratios at arrayed DNA elements provide a locus-by-locus measure of DNA copy-number variation, represents another means of achieving increased mapping resolution. Published array CGH methods have relied on large genomic clone (for example BAC) array targets and have covered only a small fraction of the human genome. cDNAs representing over 30,000 radiation-hybrid (RH)-mapped human genes provide an alternative and readily available genomic resource for mapping DNA copy-number changes. Although cDNA microarrays have been used extensively to characterize variation in human gene expression, human genomic DNA is a far more complex mixture than the mRNA representation of human cells. Therefore, analysis of DNA copy-number variation using cDNA microarrays would require a sensitivity of detection an order of magnitude greater than has been routinely reported. We describe here a cDNA microarray-based CGH method, and its application to DNA copy-number variation analysis in breast cancer cell lines and tumours. Using this assay, we were able to identify gene amplifications and deletions genome-wide and with high resolution, and compare alterations in DNA copy number and gene expression.

Computer controlled expansion of equine cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells on microcarriers in 3 L vertical-wheel® bioreactors.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an ideal cell source for allogenic cell therapy due to their immunomodulatory and differentiation properties. Equine MSCs (eMSCs) have been found to be a promising treatment for equine joint injuries including meniscal injuries, cartilage degradation, and osteoarthritis. Although the use of eMSCs has shown efficacy in preliminary studies, challenges associated with biomanufacturing remain. To achieve the required cell numbers for clinical application, bioreactor-based processes are required. Initial studies have shown that eMSCs can be cultivated in microcarrier-based, stirred suspension bioreactor culture at the laboratory 0.1 L scale using a Vertical-Wheel® (VW) bioreactor. However, investigations regarding scale up of these processes to the required biomanufacturing scales are required. This study investigated the scale-up of a equine cord blood MSC (eCB-MSC) bioprocess in VW bioreactors at three scales. This included scale-up from the 0.1-0.5 L bioreactor, scale-up from static culture to the 3 L computer-controlled bioreactor, and scale-up into the 3 L computer-controlled bioreactor using a mock clinical trial process. Results from the various scale-up experiments demonstrated similar cell expansion at the various tested scales. The 3 L computer-controlled system resulted in a final cell densities of 1.5 × 105 cells/cm2 on average, achieving 1.5 × 109 harvested cells. Biological testing of the cells showed that cell phenotype and functionality were maintained after scale-up. These findings demonstrate the scalability of an eCB-MSC bioprocess using microcarriers in VW bioreactors to achieve clinically relevant cell numbers, a critical step to translate MSC treatments from research to clinical applications. This study also represents the first known published study expanding any cell type in the 3 L VW bioreactor.

MicroRNAs as Prognostic Markers for Chondrogenic Differentiation Potential of Equine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for cartilage tissue regeneration in animals and humans but with large interdonor variation in their in vitro chondrogenic differentiation potential. Underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for culture-expanded MSC heterogeneity remain poorly understood. In this study, we sought to identify variations in microRNA (miRNA) signatures associated with cultured equine MSC chondrogenic differentiation potential from different donors. Neocartilage tissue generated from equine cord blood-derived MSCs was categorized as having either high or low chondrogenic potential (LCP) based on their histological appearance and quantification of glycosaminoglycan deposition. Using next-generation sequencing, we identified 30 differentially expressed miRNAs among undifferentiated MSC cultures that corresponded with their chondrogenic potential. Of note, MSCs with LCP upregulated miR-146a and miR-487b-3p, which was also observed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our findings suggest that miRNA profiling of equine MSC cultures may have prognostic value in selecting MSC donors with regard to their chondrogenic differentiation potential.

Performance and metabolic responses of Holstein calves to supplemental chromium in colostrum and milk.

Twenty-two newborn Holstein female calves (BW = 39.7 ± 0.40 kg) were used to investigate the effects of chromium-l-methionine (Cr-Met) supplementation of colostrum for 3d after birth and mature milk up to wk 8 on feed intake, growth performance, health status, and metabolic and endocrine traits. Calves were randomly assigned to 2 groups, each consisting of 11 animals: 1) control and 2) 0.03 mg of supplemental Cr/kg of BW(0.75). Body weight, height at withers, and hearth girth were measured weekly. Dry matter intake, rectal temperature, fecal score, and respiratory score were recorded daily. Blood samples were collected at 12, 24, and 72 h after birth, and then every week up to 8 wk. Chromium did not affect mean body weight, dry matter intake, and withers height, but it increased hearth girth and average daily gain, tended to increase final BW, and decreased feed conversion ratio. Respiration rate increased and fecal score decreased with Cr, and rectal temperature tended to decrease with Cr. No Cr × time interactions were observed for performance and health status results except for fecal score. Blood glucose, insulin, insulin-to-glucose ratio, insulin-like growth factor-I, total protein, and triiodothyronine were not affected, whereas blood ß-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids, cholesterol, cortisol, and thyroxin were affected by Cr supplementation. Supplemental Cr-Met decreased blood ß-hydroxybutyrate at 72 h and in wk 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and decreased blood nonesterified fatty acids at 12h and in wk 3, 4, and 5 after birth. Blood cholesterol decreased in all sampling times, except for 12h and wk 7. Chromium decreased blood cortisol at 24h and in wk 2, 4, and 8. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate the beneficial effects of colostrum and milk supplementation with Cr to improve the performance and metabolic status of newborn calves.

Effects of feeding roasted safflower seeds (variety IL-111) and fish oil on dry matter intake, performance and milk fatty acid profiles in dairy cattle.

UNLABELLED: Safflower seed has the highest concentration of linoleic acid among 80 oilseeds but little information exists on the effective use of SS for lactation cows. It was hypothesised that a diet supplemented with an Iranian SS variety (IL-111) in combination with fish oil (FO) would result in higher concentrations of trans-18:1 (including vaccenic acid) and conjugated linoleic acids in milk fat than feeding an unsupplemented control diet. Our objective was to determine the effects of feeding diets containing: (i) CONTROL: (C); (ii) 25 g of roasted SS IL-111 (RSS); (iii) 20 g FO and (iv) 25 g RSS + 10 g FO (RSS + FO) per kilogram of dietary DM on feed intake, ruminal fermentation, milk production and fatty acid profile. Eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design study. The experiment had four periods of 21 days. Milk Fat percentage was lower (p < 0.01) with FO supplementation and averaged 19.0 and 21.5 g/kg milk with FO and RSS + FO compared with 30.3 and 32.5 g/kg with C and RSS. Feed intake also was lower (p < 0.01) with FO vs. C (23.1 vs. 24.5 kg/day) but feeding RSS resulted in greater feed intake compared with other treatments (26 kg/day). Despite lower feed intake with FO, milk production did not change from controls but feeding RSS + FO resulted in greater milk yield than controls (42.6 vs. 39.3 kg/day). Ruminal pH was greater (p < 0.01) in cows fed FO than other treatments. Supplemental FO alone or in combination with RSS resulted in dramatic increases (p < 0.01) in c9,t11-18:2 in milk fat (12.7 and 13.2 g/day vs. 5.8 and 7.02 with C and RSS). It was surprising to note that 25 g/kg RSS can improve feed intake.

Relationship between consultation length and rational prescribing of drugs in Gorgan City, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Doctors with longer consultation times tend to diagnose illnesses more precisely, prescribe fewer drugs and present better health advice to their patients. The aim of this study was to measure the average consultation time of general practitioners in Gorgan, Islamic Republic of Iran and to investigate the factors affecting consultation length, especially in relation to rational prescribing of drugs. Data were collected on 620 patient consultations with 62 randomly selected general practitioners. Mean consultation length was 6.9 (SD 2.6) minutes. Patient factors that were significantly associated with a longer mean duration of consultation time were: higher number of health problems, older age and fewer items of previously used drugs. Physician factors that were significantly associated with a longer mean consultation time were: younger age, higher numbers of items prescribed and injectable drugs prescribed, frequency of interruptions and higher workload.

New species of Colletotrichum from wild Poaceae and Cyperaceae plants in Iran.

Twenty-two Colletotrichum strains were isolated from anthracnose symptoms or leaf spots on leaves of various wild Poaceae and Cyperaceae plants collected in three provinces of Iran and tentatively identified as belonging to the Graminicola species complex based on morphology. All strains were studied via a polyphasic approach combining colony characteristics, morphology and phylogeny inferred from multi-locus sequences, including the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), partial sequences of the ß-tubulin (tub2), actin (act), manganese superoxide dismutase 2 (sod2), DNA lyase 2 (apn2) genes, a 200-bp intron of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), and the intergenic spacer between the apn2 gene and the mat1 idiomorph (apn2/mat1). Six species were distinguished, including three new species, namely C. caspicum, C. persicum, and C. sacchari, and three previously described species, C. cereale, C. nicholsonii and C. sublineola. Comprehensive morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided for all species. Furthermore, this study provided new insights into the distribution and host range of known species.

Relation of gene expression phenotype to immunoglobulin mutation genotype in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The most common human leukemia is B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a malignancy of mature B cells with a characteristic clinical presentation but a variable clinical course. The rearranged immunoglobulin (Ig) genes of CLL cells may be either germ-line in sequence or somatically mutated. Lack of Ig mutations defined a distinctly worse prognostic group of CLL patients raising the possibility that CLL comprises two distinct diseases. Using genomic-scale gene expression profiling, we show that CLL is characterized by a common gene expression "signature," irrespective of Ig mutational status, suggesting that CLL cases share a common mechanism of transformation and/or cell of origin. Nonetheless, the expression of hundreds of other genes correlated with the Ig mutational status, including many genes that are modulated in expression during mitogenic B cell receptor signaling. These genes were used to build a CLL subtype predictor that may help in the clinical classification of patients with this disease.