A note on the effects of a combination of an enzyme complex and probiotic in the diet on performance of broiler chickens

peer-reviewedThe object of this experiment was to investigate the effect of an enzyme complex and a probiotic mixture, offered either singly or in combination, in the diet of broiler chickens (from 1 to 47 days of age) on growth and digestive tract weight and length. A total of 480 1-day old male Ross-308 broilers were allocated to 6 treatments, with 4 replicates of 20 birds each. The treatments were three concentrations of an enzyme complex (0, 250 or 500 mg/kg of the diet) each with and without probiotic supplementation. Inclusion of the enzyme complex linearly improved body weight (BW) and food conversion ratio (FCR) and reduced the relative weight (g/g carcass weight) of duodenum and the length of the jejunum. Probiotic inclusion only improved FCR. However, there was an interaction between the linear effect of enzyme concentration and response to probiotic inclusion for BW, FCR and the relative weight of the duodenum. It is concluded that the combination of the enzyme complex and probiotic can improve the performance more than either supplement used on its own

An investigation of particulate matter and relevant cardiovascular risks in Abadan and Khorramshahr in 2014–2016

Over the last decades, air pollution has been regarded as one of the major environmental problems. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are among the most common illnesses arising from air pollution and dust storm. Nowadays, non-communicable diseases resulting from air pollution have affected many people around the world. In recent years, the cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr, located in the southwestern Iran have been adversely affected by air pollution and dust storm. To address the issue, this study set out to investigate the relationship between hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases and dust storms in Abadan and Khorramshahr in 2014–2016. The data was collected by the Abadan Environmental Protection Agency (Abadan EPA) office. The monitoring station is fully automated and provides hourly particulate matter (PM10) concentrations using a β-ray absorption monitor (Met One Model BAM-1020-Continuous Beta, USA). The annual PM10 mean concentrations reached 169, 187 and 201 µg/m3 in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. The number of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases attributed to PM10 during this period was 237, 259, and 274, respectively. The results showed that high levels of particulate matter (PM) in the air drastically increased the number of people with cardiovascular diseases. The results also revealed that there was a significant relationship between concentrations of PM10 in dusty days and the cases of cardiovascular diseases in Abadan and Khorramshahr. According to the results of the study, an increase in the exposure concentrations of particulate matter could potentially cause different health problems. © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Grou

Anesthetic toxic isoflurane and health risk assessment in the operation room in Abadan, Iran during 2018

Introduction: Anesthetic gases are very important for health among health care worker (HCWs) and patients in medical centers. Operating rooms (ORs) is the most important ward that use anesthetic gases. Isoflurane gases is very dangerous for HCWs. Objective: In this study, we have associated the concentration of anesthetic toxic isoflurane gases (ppm) and the health risk assessment due to exposure to common anesthetic gases in Valiasr and Shahid Beheshti teaching hospital operating room during 2018. Methods: In this study, we used the active sampling system by portable pump SKC and tubes (sorbent Tube Tenax TA 250 mg) for detection of isoflurane concentration (ppm). Different points of the operating rooms were selected for sampling. Hazard index (HI) quantified by calculating the non-cancer causing anesthetic toxic isoflurane gases. Results: According result this study, the Valiasr and Shahid Beheshti had the lowest and the highest level of isoflurane. Based on result this study, level of isoflurane on indoor air quality in the operation room in Valiasr and Shahid Beheshti hospital were 2.129 and 2.436 ppm, respectively. According to the results from the current study, hazard index was under 1.0 and it amount showed that no significant risk of adverse health endpoint attributed to exposure to level of isoflurane in Valiasr and Shahid Beheshti teaching hospital operating room during 2018. Conclusion: According Result this study the average concentration of isoflurane and the health risk assessment in Valiasr and Shahid Beheshti teaching hospital operating room during 2018 because of flaw in the ventilation system was significantly higher than standard

MONTMORILLONITE AS ADSORBENT FOR THE REMOVAL OF METHYL RED FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

In this study, an organo-clay, montmorillonite (Mt), was used for the removal of methyl red (MR) from aqueous solution. The effect of different parameters on the sorption, such as contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, initial MR concentration and ionic strength was investigated in batch system. The sorbent was specified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The optimum uptake capacity of the sorbent (30.84 mg/g) was achieved within 30 min. The solution pH had a significant effect on the sorption capacity of MR by Mt. The experimental data of the sorption was well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. The results showed that the Mt can be applied as an effective and cheap sorbent for the removal of MR from aqueous solutions

The impact of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir or ribavirin in patients with severe COVID-19

OBJECTIVES: Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are direct-acting antivirals highly effective against hepatitis C virus. There is some in silico and in vitro evidence that suggests these agents may also be effective against SARS-CoV-2. This trial evaluated the effectiveness of sofosbuvir in combination with daclatasvir in treating patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR or bilateral multi-lobar ground-glass opacity on their chest CT and signs of severe COVID-19 were included. Subjects were divided into two arms with one arm receiving ribavirin and the other receiving sofosbuvir/daclatasvir. All participants also received the recommended national standard treatment which, at that time, was lopinavir/ritonavir and single-dose hydroxychloroquine. The primary endpoint was time from starting the medication until discharge from hospital with secondary endpoints of duration of ICU stay and mortality. RESULTS: Sixty-two subjects met the inclusion criteria, with 35 enrolled in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir arm and 27 in the ribavirin arm. The median duration of stay was 5 days for the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir group and 9 days for the ribavirin group. The mortality in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir group was 2/35 (6%) and 9/27 (33%) for the ribavirin group. The relative risk of death for patients treated with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir was 0.17 (95% CI 0.04-0.73, P = 0.02) and the number needed to treat for benefit was 3.6 (95% CI 2.1-12.1, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Given these encouraging initial results, and the current lack of treatments proven to decrease mortality in COVID-19, further investigation in larger-scale trials seems warranted