Effects of different milk feeding levels and frequencies on performance of Holstein heifers during weaning and first lactation.

In the present study, the effects of milk feeding amount and feeding frequency (FF) on performance, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, and performance of dairy heifers during the first artificial insemination (AI) and first lactation were investigated. The treatment group consisted of 48 female Holstein heifer calves (12/treatment) distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with milk feeding [high = 8 L/d, HL or medium = 6 L/d, ML] and feeding frequency [2 × or 3 ×]. All calves were fed on a step-up/step-down method, weaned from milk at 56 d of age, and observed until 70 d of age. Heifer calves were kept uniform from 70 d of age until the first lactation to evaluate the long-term effects of the treatments. We observed no FF effect and no interaction between the level and FF on feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), body weight (BW), structural growth, blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation parameters. Calves fed HL milk had higher total dry matter intake (DMI), BW, and ADG during the pre- and post-weaning periods. During the preweaning period, HL-fed calves had higher serum insulin (trend) and glucose concentrations compared to ML-fed calves. Lower age at first AI was observed in calves fed HL rather than ML regardless of FF. Weight at first AI, milk yield (305 d), and energy-corrected milk (ECM-305 d) in the first lactation showed a trend toward higher values in HL-fed calves compared to ML-fed calves. Preweaning performance and calf maturity can be positively affected by feeding high amounts of milk at both FF.

The Relationship Between Stressors and Anxiety Levels After CABG in Sari, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization and surgery are crucial adverse life events that lead to considerable anxiety in patients. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate stressors after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and identify stressors that predict anxiety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive-analytical study that uses a non-random convenience sampling method on patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery at the cardiac surgery intensive care unit of Fatemeh Zahra Cardiac center in Sari, Iran. A total of 186 patients completed the post-surgical stressors questionnaire and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory on postoperative days 2 or 3 in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, and standard deviations. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the relationship between the observed variables, and the logistic regression model was used to identify the relationship between stressors and anxiety after-surgery. RESULTS: Post-surgical anxiety predictors included insufficient sleep during hospitalization (Odds ratio [OR]: 5.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46 - 20.00; P = 0.010), treatment not explained to the patient by the nurse (OR: 4.83; 95% CI: 1.82 - 12.84; P = 0.002), being away from family members (OR: 3.88; 95% CI: 1.46 - 10.26; P = 0.006), presence of a chest tube (OR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.83 - 5.84; P = 0.000), and pain in any part of the body (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.06 - 3.58; P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Physical or physiological and psychological stressors impose greater stress and are predictors of anxiety. When preparing their nursing care plan, nurses should consider these stressors that affect anxiety levels in patients undergoing CABG surgery and those hospitalized in intensive care units.

The effectiveness of digital soil mapping to predict soil properties over low-relief areas.

This study investigates the ability of different digital soil mapping (DSM) approaches to predict some of physical and chemical topsoil properties in the Shahrekord plain of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari province, Iran. According to a semi-detailed soil survey, 120 soil samples were collected from 0 to 30 cm depth with approximate distance of 750 m. Particle size distribution, coarse fragments (CFs), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, organic carbon (OC), and calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) were determined. Four machine learning techniques, namely, artificial neural networks (ANNs), boosted regression tree (BRT), generalized linear model (GLM), and multiple linear regression (MLR), were used to identify the relationship between soil properties and auxiliary information (terrain attributes, remote sensing indices, geology map, existing soil map, and geomorphology map). Root-mean-square error (RMSE) and mean error (ME) were considered to determine the performance of the models. Among the studied models, GLM showed the highest performance to predict pH, EC, clay, silt, sand, and CCE, whereas the best model is not necessarily able to make accurate estimation. According to RMSE%, DSM has a good efficiency to predict soil properties with low and moderate variabilities. Terrain attributes were the main predictors among different studied auxiliary information. The accuracy of the estimations with more observations is recommended to give a better understanding about the performance of DSM approach over low-relief areas.

The effect of vitamin B1 on bleeding and spotting in women using an intrauterine device: a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Excessive menstrual bleeding, the most common complication caused by intrauterine devices (IUDs), often leads to discontinuation of use. Our study investigates the effect of vitamin B1 on menstrual bleeding and spotting after insertion of the TCu380A IUD. METHODS: This double-blind, randomised controlled trial involved 110 Iranian women. We recruited women who noted that their menstrual flow (duration, amount, and number of sanitary pads needed) or intermenstrual spotting had increased one month after the insertion of a TCu380A, and randomly assigned them to two groups. The intervention group and the control group received 100 mg of vitamin B1 or a placebo, respectively, daily, for three months. We followed all participants for four months. The Higham scale was used for estimating the volume of menstrual bleeding. The Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, independent t-test and Repeated Measure test were used for statistical purposes. RESULTS: In the intervention group the duration of menstrual bleeding, the number of sanitary pads and the amount of spotting decreased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Vitamin B1 is a safe, natural and cost-effective supplement that is devoid of side effects and reduces menstrual bleeding and spotting caused by a copper bearing-IUD.

Renal malakoplakia presenting as a renal mass in a 55-year-old man: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Malakoplakia is an uncommon chronic inflammatory condition that has a gross and microscopic appearance resembling that of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. It is characterized by distinctive Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Malakoplakia can affect any organ system but genitourinary tract involvement is the most common, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Very rare cases have been reported to present as a unifocal lesion mimicking a renal tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of renal malakoplakia in a 55-year-old Iranian man with a past history of recurrent urinary tract infections who presented with left flank pain. An ultrasound study showed a large solid left renal mass, and he underwent a left radical nephrectomy with a clinical diagnosis of a renal tumor. Pathology slides revealed the diffuse infiltration of sheets of Periodic Acid Schiff-positive histiocytes in his renal parenchyma; these cells showed strong immunoreactivity for CD 68. The final diagnosis was renal malakoplakia. CONCLUSION: Renal malakoplakia must be kept in mind for patients presenting with a renal mass and a history of long-term recurrent renal infections or renal failure. The large, rapidly growing nodules of malakoplakia may mimic renal cell carcinoma in imaging studies. In these cases, a true cut needle biopsy may help the correct diagnosis and prevent unnecessary surgery.