Zahhak and Dracunculus medinensis in the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi (The first historical report of Dracunculus parasitic disease)

در اصطلاح علمی، انگل پیوک (دراکنکولوس مدیننسیس، کرم گینه، کرم مدینه، کرم اژدها، یا سابقاً فیلاریا مدیننسیس)، کرم انگلی رشته‌ای که طول بالغ آن به بیش از یک متر هم می‌رسد و در بافت‌های زیرپوستی آدمی و بعضی از پستانداران نواحی گرمسیر جای گرفته، باعث بیماری دردناک و گاهی کشنده‌ای می‌گردد. یکی از متون کهن ایرانی که در آن به این انگل پرداخته شده، شاهنامه فردوسی، بخش مربوط به داستان ضحاک است. ضحّاک، عربی‌شده «دهاک» است که در اوستا به صورت «اژی دهاک» آمده است. اسطوره ضحاک یکی از کهن‌ترین و رمزآلودترین اساطیر ایرانی است که از طریق خدای‌نامه‌های کهن به دست فردوسی رسیده و او متن خدای‌نامه را که هماهنگ با باورهای فرهنگی جامعه و در زبانی نمادین، اما مایه‌گرفته از حقیقت بوده، در زبانی شاعرانه توصیف کرده است. گمان نگارندگان بر این است که مارهای روییده بر دوش ضحّاک، در واقع همین انگل پیوک هستند که در پردازش اسطوره‌ای حکیم طوس از داستان ضحّاک و تصویر خوی اهریمنی وی، در پیکر مار تجسم یافته‌اند و توصیف او، اولین گزارش تاریخی ابتلا به این انگل در پستانداران بوده که در متون تاریخی و ادبی به آن اشاره شده است.Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm, Medina worm and Dragon worm) is one of the parasitic worms string length reaches up to over a meter in the subcutaneous tissue of humans and some primate tropical taken place, the disease can be painful and sometimes fatal. Zahhak name is Arabic of "Dahak" in the Avesta as "Azhy Dahak". Zahhak legend is one of the most ancient Persian mythologies. Ferdowsi, consistent with cultural beliefs, symbolic and poetic language, but the source of truth, has described the adventure. The authors speculate that the snake lies on the shoulders Zahhak, in fact these are Dracunculus worm parasite. This present report is the first historical account of the development of the Dracunculus parasite disease in mammals that is mentioned in historical and literary texts

Analysis of Base-Apex Lead Electrocardiogram in Clinically Healthy Kermani Sheep

The normal electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in the base-apex lead were evaluated in 40 clinically healthy Kermani sheep, and compared between sexes and three age groups. The heart rate varied from 83-192 beats/min with a mean of 128.9±4.7 beats/min (Mean±SEM). Sinus arrhythmia was the only observed cardiac dysrhythmia on the ECG traces diagnosed in 45% of animals. No significant difference was found in heart rate, amplitude, and duration of ECG waves and intervals between two sexes. Nevertheless, the heart rate, amplitude of ECG waves, duration of T waves and duration of P-R, Q-T and R-R intervals showed significant difference between the age groups. This study provides information on the cardiac rhythm, heart rate, duration, and amplitude of ECG deflections in Kermani sheep. We proposed the base-apex lead as a suitable lead for ECG evaluation in this species

Electrocardiographic Analysis of ST-Segment Duration and Morphology in Sheep and Goats: Effect of Species, Breed, Age and Sex

The importance of obtaining normal values of ST-segment for specific breeds of animals besides the high variability of indices in small ruminant has been emphasized. The animals were assigned into 4 groups (G1-4), according to their age: G1<3 months, 3 months ≤G2< 1 year, 1 year≤G3<3 years, and G4 ≥ 3 years old. There were 34 animals in each study group. The animals were assigned to two comprising groups: sheep, goat, male and female. Also, the animals were divided into three groups according to their breed, including: Kermani sheep, Saanen and Cashmere (Raini) goats. The present study showed that sex, age and breed had no effect on ST-segment in sheep and goats and the obtained data can provide a good basis for judging the ST-segment length and morphology in difference sexes, breeds and age groups of sheep and goats

Evaluation of the sedative and physiological effects of xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in goats

Abstract Background Many α2‐agonists are commonly used for sedation and analgesia in ruminants. Introduction The present study aims to compare the sedative and physiological effects of intravenous (IV) administration of xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in goats. Methods Ten healthy goats aged 6 ± 1 months and weighing 15 ± 2 kg were used in experimental, crossover Latin square, randomised and blinded study. Animals were assigned to five IV treatments: control (normal saline); xylazine (100 μg kg−1); detomidine (50 μg kg−1); medetomidine (20 μg kg−1) and dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg−1). The degree of sedation was investigated using a numerical ranking scale of 0–10. Sedation scores were compared at each time using nonparametric (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U) tests. Results Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), ruminal motility and capillary refill time (CRT) were performed before (baseline) and after drug administration. Animals in α2‐adrenergic agonist treatments were sedated at 5–60 min. There were no significant differences among α2‐adrenergic agonist treatments at 5–60 min in sedation scores. HR significantly decreased from baseline 5–90 min after α2‐adrenergic agonists’ administration. Ruminal motility was decreased in α2‐adrenergic agonist treatments at 5, 90 and 120 min and absent at 10–60 min. A significant decrease from baseline in RR was detected between 30 and 90 min after α2‐adrenergic agonists’ administration. RT was unchanged in any treatment for 120 min. CRT was less than 2 s at all time points following each treatment. Conclusions The duration of sedation was up to 60 min after IV administration of xylazine (100 μg kg−1), detomidine (50 μg kg−1), medetomidine (20 μg kg−1) and dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg−1) in goats in this study. No significant differences were detected between xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in goats

Iranian Medical Students’ Perception of Psychiatry: Before and After a Psychiatry Clerkship

Objective: We aimed to compare the medical students’ attitude towards psychiatry before and after psychiatry clerkship, and to examine the association of choosing psychiatry as a future career with some personal characteristics.Method: In a self-controlled, quasi-experimental study, all of the medical students entering the psychiatry clerkship in three major medical schools of Iran located in Tehran (Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, and Iran University of Medical Sciences) were asked to participate anonymously in the study on the first and the last 3-days of their psychiatry clerkship. From 346 invited 4th-5th year medical students, 225 (65%) completed anonymous self-report questionnaires before and after a 4-week psychiatry clerkship.Results: Positive response to choose psychiatry as a career was seen in 13.3 % and 18.3 % before and after psychiatry rotation, respectively. However, the difference was not statistically significant; about one-quarter of the students were turned on to psychiatry and 25% were discouraged during the clerkship. Individual pair wise comparisons revealed significant improvements only in two out of 13 measured aspects of psychiatry. Seventeen out of 38 (47.7%) students who identified psychiatry as the career of choice or strong possibility reported that one of their family members or close friends’ mental illness had an impact on their choice. Those students who considered psychiatry as the strong possibility claimed that they are more interested in humanities (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.17, 7.49), and playing a musical instrument (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.15, 5.57).Conclusion: It may be concluded that exposure to psychiatry clerkship could influence medical students’ opinion about psychiatry positively, or negatively. Personal characteristics and individual interests of students may play an important role in choosing psychiatry as their futur