Evaluation of Miswak(Salvadorapersica)asaHerbalAdditive in Broiler Chickens

We determined the effects of dietary supplementation of different doses of Miswak (Salvadorapersica) steam and leaf powder on the performance, blood parameters, cecal flora, and carcass traits of broilers. Four hundred and eight one-day old Ross 308 broiler chicks were provided one of the following experimental diets over 42 days:  a basal diet without any additives, or a basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% Miswak powder. Four replicates of 17 birds were allocated to each treatment. Neither broiler performance (body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) during starter (d 1-21), finisher (d 22-42), and the overall period (d 1-42) of the study, nor blood parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) were influenced by experimental treatments (P > 0.05). Chicks fed diets containing 0.4% Miswak had higher (P 0.05). In conclusion, we found that supplementation with Miswak powder had no beneficial effects on performance and blood parameters of broilers, but could improve cecal bacteria counts at levels greater than 0.4%

Health-related quality of life and medication adherence in elderly patients with epilepsy

© 2019 Polish Neurological Society. Objective. Considering the high prevalence of epilepsy in the elderly and the importance of maximising their quality of life (QoL), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and QoL, and the mediating effects of medication adherence on the association between serum antiepileptic drug (AED) level and seizure severity with QoL in elderly epileptics. Methods. In a longitudinal study, 766 elderly patients with epilepsy who were prescribed a minimum of one antiepileptic drug were selected by convenience sampling method. A Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) questionnaire was completed at the baseline. Seizure severity and QoL were assessed after six months using the Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale (LSSS) and the QoL in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) questionnaires respectively. Serum level of AED was also measured at six-month follow-up. Results. Medication adherence was significantly correlated with both seizure severity (β = -0.33, p < 0.0001) and serum AED level (β = 0.29, p < 0.0001) after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Neither QoL nor its sub-classes were correlated with seizure severity. In addition, a significant correlation was not observed between serum AED level and QoL. However, medication adherence was significantly correlated with QoL (β = 0.30, p < 0.0001). The mediating effects of medication adherence on the association between serum AED level (Z = 3.39, p < 0.001) and seizure severity (Z = -3.47, p < 0.001) with QoL were supported by the Sobel test. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that medication adherence has a beneficial impact on QoL in elderly epileptics. Therefore, adherence to treatment should be monitored to improve their QoL

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Effect of oral ZnCl2 on glucose, Insulin, lipoproteins and liver enzymes in male Rats

Background and Objective: Zinc is an essential ion for living and inter the body from different sources. Since Zn++ interfere on many cellular process such as biological function such as calcium chanalls, this study was designed to investigate the effect of oral ZnCl2 on glucose, Insulin, lipoproteins and liver enzymes in male Rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 48 of Wistar-Albino male Rats randomly allocated into three exprimental and one control groups. Exprimental groups received 50 mg/l, 100 mg/l and 200 mg/l ZnCl2 in drinking water daily for four weeks but the control group received tap water. After four weeks, animals were anesthetized, sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Glucose, insulin, lipoproteins, aspartat amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS-11, ANOVA and Tukey-tests. Results: The mean±SD of Cholesterol in group D (85.7±3.2), HDL in groups B, C, D (66.1±2.7, 67±2.18, 68.83±2.69 mg/dl) and LDL in groups B, C, D (2.8±0.9, 14.6±6.3, 13.4±2.8 mg/dl) respectively were significantly decreased compared with Cholesterol (125.5±4.9 mg/dl), HDL (80.5±3 mg/dl) and LDL (30.3±3.2 mg/dl) in group A. Mean±SD of glucose, insulin, triglyceride and liver enzymes did not show any differences among the groups. Conclusion: This study showed that ZnCl2 added on drinking water reduce serum lipoproteins in male Rats

The effect of Aluminium Chloride injection in arcuate nucleus on sperm count and the weight of vas deferens and epididymis in rat

Abstract: Aluminium is a blocker of voltage sensitive calcium channels which entere the body from different sources. This ion interferes with biological function of Ca++ ion. Because GnRH synthesis, secretion and spermatogenesis are dependent on calcium ion, this study was performed to investigate the effect of aluminium on vas deferens and epididymis sperm count and weight of these organs in male rats. The study was performed on four group of rats (n=49), in whom the arcuate nucleus was bilaterally cannulated by sterotaxic surgery. Test group received 100 nl ACSF containing 0.15 pmol aluminium in each side of the arcuate nucleus for 20 days. Two groups of animals were received the same volume of ACSF with pH=7.2 and 3.4. The sham control group did not receive any agent after cannulation. At the end of experiment, animals were anesthetized with nesdonal (Sodium thiopental) and then vas deferens and epididymis were removed and weighted. These organs were cut and diluted with normal saline. Sperms were counted by hemocytometer and calculated per gram of tissues. Results showed that sperm count per gram of tissue in vas deferens and epididymis control group were 107.9±3.1, 76.2±3.7 million and in test group 45.0±2.9, 67.3±4.9 million respectively (P<0.05). The weight of these organs in AlCl3 group were 103.5±5.01 and 462.3±19.2 mg, and in control group were 117.5±2.5 and 515±16.3 mg respectively. The value of testosterone in control and test groups were 2.11±0.4 and 0.8±0.28 ng/ml (P<0.05). Overall the results indicate that injection of aluminium in male rat arcuate nucleus, can decrease sperm count in vas deferens and epididymis. In addition the weight of this organs and serum testosterone were also decreased. Keywords: Aluminium, Arcuate nucleus, Deferens, Epididymis, Sperm count, Testosteron

The Influence of Centre Bow Length On Slamming Loads and Motions of Large Wave-piercing Catamarans

The effect of various centre bow lengths on the motions and wave-induced slamming loads on wave-piercing catamarans is investigated. A 2.5 m hydroelastic segmented model was tested with three different centre bow lengths and towed in regular waves in a towing tank. Measurements were made of the model motions, slam loads and vertical bending moments in the model demi-hulls. The model experiments were carried out for a test condition equivalent to a wave height of 2.68 m and a speed of 20 knots at full scale. Bow accelerations and vertical bending moments due to slamming showed significant changes with the change in centre bow, the longest centre bow having the highest wave-induced loads and accelerations. The increased volume of displaced water which is constrained beneath the bow archways is identified as the reason for this increase in the slamming load. In contrast it was found that the length of centre bow has a relatively small effect on the heave and pitch motions in slamming conditions