Nanoencapsulation (in vitro and in vivo) as an efficient technology to boost the potential of garlic essential oil as alternatives for antibiotics in broiler nutrition.

The addition of essential oil (EO) as chitosan encapsulated can increase the efficiency of these oils in broiler feeding. Therefore, the objective of the current research was to explore the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of garlic essential oil (GEO) (free vs. nanoencapsulated) and their effects on performance, gene expression of mucin2, microbial, and morphology of intestine in broilers. A total of 900 1-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were assigned to six dietary treatments (0, 100, and 200 mg/kg free GEO and 0 (contain of chitosan), 100 and 200 mg/kg nanoencapsulated GEO) with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design. Garlic essential oil encapsulation with chitosan significantly enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant parameters. At 100 mg/kg nanoencapsulated GEO had significant (P < 0.01) advantages in improving BW gain (BWG) (22-42 and 0-42) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0-42). Maximum feed intake (FI) was also associated with the control group (P < 0.05). Broilers fed on 100 mg/kg of nanoencapsulated GEO showed higher villi length and width relative to other treatments and villi length to crypt depth ratio as well (P < 0.01). The nanoencapsulation process of GEO (P < 0.01) affected the Lactobacilli population in the digesta of ileo-caecum and mucin2 gene expression. In broiler chickens, the tested EO, especially nanoencapsulated type, enhanced more evaluated parameters. Because of its ideal properties, nanoencasulating with chitosan may also be an effective and inexpensive way to protect bioactive compounds and improve GEO effects in broiler chickens.

Algebraic Study of diatomic Molecules: homonuclear molecules H2 and N2.

It is the aim of this study to discuss for two-body systems like homonuclear molecules in which eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained by exact solutions of the solvable models based on SU(1, 1) Lie algebras. Exact solutions of the solvable Hamiltonian regarding the relative motion in a two-body system on Lie algebras were obtained. The U(1) ↔ O(2), U(3) ↔ O(4) and Uq(3) ↔ Oq(4) transitional Hamiltonians are employed to described for H2 and N2 molecules. Applications to the rotation-vibration spectrum for the diatomic molecule indicate that complicated Hamiltonian can be easily determined via the exactly solvable method. The results confirm the mixing of both vibrating and rotating structures in H2 and N2 molecules.

Effects of intra-yolk-sac injection of dextrose and albumin on performance, jejunum morphology, liver and pectoral muscle glycogen and some serum metabolites of broilers.

This study carried out to investigate the effects of intra-yolk-sac injection (IYSI) of some solutions including 1 ml of distilled water, dextrose 20% and albumin 20% on hatch percentage, performance traits, jejunum morphology, glycogen content of liver and breast and serum metabolites in broilers (Ross 308). Fertile eggs were injected into the yolk sac at day 8 of incubation period. Results showed that hatchability, absolute body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at day 7 and 14 of growing period were not different among treatments, but in comparison with control group, BW and FCR were numerally better by IYSI of albumin. In addition, IYSI of albumin increased jejunum villus height at hatch day, but crypt depth was not affected by any injection treatments. Also, the glycogen concentrations of liver and pectoral muscle in albumin injected group were significantly higher than control at hatch and 7th day respectively. At hatch day, serum glucose and cholesterol concentrations were, respectively, maximum and minimum statistically by IYSI of albumin which continued numerally up to 7th day of rearing period. Furthermore, liver glycogen and serum glucose concentrations were directly correlated on the day of hatch. In conclusion, the IYSI of albumin could increase performance traits, jejunum villus height, liver and breast glycogen and serum glucose in broiler chicks.

Thyroid involvement by laryngeal cancer among Iranian patients.

OBJECTIVE: Asian patients with laryngeal cancer have been reported to have a high prevalence of thyroid involvement. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of thyroid invasion in Iranian patients with laryngeal cancer. METHODS: Hospital records for all patients with a definite diagnosis of laryngeal cancer between 1996 and 2009 (351 patients) were reviewed, and the prevalence of thyroid invasion was established based on the pathology report at the time of surgery. RESULTS: Thyroid invasion was found in 16 patients (4.55 percent), and was limited to one thyroid lobe in two-thirds of cases. All instances of thyroid invasion occurred in patients with stage III (81.25 percent) or IV (18.75 percent) cancer. No case of metastasis was reported. The glottic region was identified as the tumour origin in most cases of thyroid invasion (56.25 percent). CONCLUSION: Most cases of thyroid invasion by laryngeal cancer occurred in cancer stage III, at grades G1 and G2, among male patients, and arose from tumours of the glottic region.

Effect of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia trait on coronary atherosclerosis via coronary artery disease risk factors: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Thalassaemia is considered the most common genetic disorder worldwide. An association between the heterozygous beta-thalassaemia trait and myocardial infarction has previously been observed. However, the relationship between heterozygous beta-thalassaemia and atherosclerosis, considering other coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, has remained unclear. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that thalassaemia minor affects the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Blood counts and blood chemistry data as well as traditional risk factors from 1,363 patients referred to heart centres for coronary angiography were recorded. Heterozygous beta-thalassaemia was diagnosed by the presence of hypochoromic-microcytic anaemia, ferritin levels > 12 ng/ml and haemoglobin-A2 levels > 3.5. RESULTS: Chi-squared analysis showed that the prevalence of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia was not significantly different between patients with and without CAD (p > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis using CAD as the dependent variable and traditional risk factors, haematocrit, ferritin levels and heterozygous beta-thalassaemia as independent variables, did not show any significant difference either. Independent two-tailed student's t-tests showed that haematocrit levels were statistically different (p = 0.000) between CAD(+) and CAD(-) groups, but low-density lipids (LDL), high-density lipids (HDL), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol and serum ferritin levels were not statistically different (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia in the case group was not significantly different from the control group. This case-control study did not support the hypothesis that thalassaemia minor affects the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Uric acid: a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is uncertain whether high serum uric acid levels are a true independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis or whether the association is due to other confounding variables. We therefore studied the relationship between elevated serum uric acid levels and coronary atherosclerosis after adjustment was made for confounding factors such as age, gender, body mass index, smoking, lipid profile, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 patients referred for coronary angiography to heart centres in the Shahid-Chamran and Sina hospitals, Isfahan, Iran. Blood chemistry data as well as traditional risk factors and uric acid levels were measured at enrollment. We used vessel, stenosis and extent scores to indicate the degree of coronary artery involvement. RESULTS: This study was conducted on 240 patients with a mean age of 56 +/- 10.9 years (66% male; 37% female) who underwent coronary angiography. Student's t-test analyses revealed that there were significant differences in the mean uric acid levels between male and female patients (p = 0.001). We found no statistically significant correlation between serum uric acid levels and coronary atherosclerosis (p > 0.05). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analyses, using coronary atherosclerosis as dependent variable and traditional risk factors and uric acid levels as independent variables, did not show any significant difference. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that uric acid is not associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Any correlation reported in other studies was probably due to the relationship between high serum uric acid levels and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Designing a framework of intelligent information processing for dentistry administration data.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to test a cumulative view of current data in the clinical database at the Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University. We planned to examine associations among demographic factors and treatments. METHODS: Three tables were selected from the database of the faculty: patient, treatment and procedures. All fields and record numbers in each table were documented. Data was explored using SQL server and Visual Basic and then cleaned by removing incongruent fields. After transformation, a data warehouse was created. This was imported to SQL analysis services manager to create an OLAP (Online Analytic Process) cube. RESULTS: The multidimensional model used for access to data was created using a star schema. Treatment count was the measurement variable. Five dimensions--date, postal code, gender, age group and treatment categories--were used to detect associations. Another data warehouse of 8 tables (international tooth code # 1-8) was created and imported to SAS enterprise miner to complete data mining. Association nodes were used for each table to find sequential associations and minimum criteria were set to 2% of cases. Findings of this study confirmed most assumptions of treatment planning procedures. There were some small unexpected patterns of clinical interest. Further developments are recommended to create predictive models. CONCLUSIONS: Recent improvements in information technology offer numerous advantages for conversion of raw data from faculty databases to information and subsequently to knowledge. This knowledge can be used by decision makers, managers, and researchers to answer clinical questions, affect policy change and determine future research needs.

Solid-phase extraction, separation, and visible spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of iron in water samples.

A simple and reliable method is presented for the rapid extraction, separation, preconcentration, and determination of iron as its bathophenanthroline complex by the use of octadecylsilica membrane disks and spectrophotometry. We evaluted extraction efficiency, the influence of sample matrix, type and optimum amount of extractant, flow rates of sample solution and eluent, pH, amounts of bathophenanthroline and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, breakthrough volume, and limit of detection. We also studied the effects of various cationic interferences on percent recovery of iron. Complete elution of the complex from disks was obtained with a minimal amount of solvent. The limit of detection of the proposed method is 0.080 ppb. The method was applied to the recovery and determination of iron in natural waters.

Use of existing data for public health planning: a study of the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and core antibody in Al Ain Medical District, United Arab Emirates.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B is of major public health importance. Accurate information on its occurrence, with particular reference to the prevalence of immunity and chronic infection (marked by the presence of hepatitis B core antibody and surface antigen, respectively, in serum), is essential for planning public health programmes for the control of the disease. The generation of marker prevalence data through serological surveys is costly and time-consuming. The present study in Al Ain Medical District, United Arab Emirates, investigated the possibility of obtaining sufficiently accurate marker prevalence estimates from existing data to plan public health programmes. METHODS: Two antenatal screening databases, one student serological survey database, one immunization programme database and one pre-marriage screening database containing information on marker prevalence were identified. Epidemiological data were abstracted from these databases and analysed. RESULTS: The data showed that the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and the prevalence of core antibody in young citizens in 1998 were approximately 2% and 14% respectively, that any immunization campaign aimed at citizens of the United Arab Emirates should target teenagers as they had the highest risk of acquiring the disease, and that pre-immunization screening of young adults would be wasteful. However, the data did not yield information on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and core antibody in other population subgroups of public health significance. DISCUSSION: While data generated by the study are sufficient to support a hepatitis B immunization programme targeted at teenaged citizens, more accurate data, generated by a well-designed serological survey, would be essential for optimal public health planning.

HLA-B27 in healthy adults in UAE. An extremely low prevalence in Emirian Arabs.

We reviewed the prevalence of HLA-B27 in 760 healthy individuals in the UAE, where the community is multi-ethnic. All were potential live donors for renal and bone marrow transplantation. The overall prevalence rate was 6.4%; 5.7% in Arabs only and 7.4% in the Asian group. Significant intra-racial variation were not observed between the major ethnic groups (P 0.235 and 0.1). Emirian Arabs exhibited a very low prevalence rate of 0.5% which was highly significant in comparison to other Arab subgroups, thus allowing a degree of intra-racial variations of the marker. The pair-wise comparison in all other Arab subgroups did not yield any significant differences. The Yemeni Arabs in this study had the highest rate of 17% and unexpectedly, Arabs with an African admixture (Somalis and Sudanese) also showed relatively high figures.

Giant middle cerebral aneurysm presenting as hemiathetosis in a child and its spontaneous thrombosis.

A 10-year-old girl presented with a 6-week history of gradually increasing, abnormal movements and weakness of the right upper and lower limbs. There were no features of raised intracranial pressure. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed the features of a partially thrombosed giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm, located deep in the left lentiform region and compressing the basal ganglia and the mesencephalon. The angiogram confirmed the aneurysm and its origin from the main trunk of the artery with occlusion of all the branches. A direct approach was unsuitable for the treatment of the aneurysm, so an embolization procedure to occlude the neck of the aneurysm was considered. During the waiting period, the patient improved and became asymptomatic. Follow-up MRI showed complete thrombosis of the aneurysm and eventually, reduction in its size and mass effect. The hemiathetosis may have been the result of direct pressure on the basal ganglia by the aneurysm. The spontaneous intra-aneurysmal thrombosis may have been due to the massive size of the aneurysm and its narrow neck.