Prophylactic Oral Calcium Reduces Symptomatic Hypocalcemia in Patients undergoing Total or Subtotal Thyroidectomy: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Prophylactic oral calcium supplement has been proposed in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in order to decrease incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia, and the duration of hospital stay. This study aimed to assess the effects of prophylactic oral calcium in patients undergoing total or subtotal thyroidectomy.Methods: Forty three patients who were scheduled for total and subtotal thyroidectomy, were randomly allocated to the case (n=23) and control (n=20) groups. Oral calcium carbonate (1 gram q 8 hours) was given to the patients in the case group starting 12 hours before surgery till 7 days post thyroidectomy. Clinical symptoms of hypocalcemia and postoperative calcium levels were compared between the two groups.Results: The mean postoperative calcium level 12 hours after surgery was not statistically different between the two groups (8.9±0.5 vs. 8.5±0.7, p=0.092); while after 24 hours, calcium level was significantly lower in the control group (8.9±0.5 vs. 8.4±0.8, p=0.037). The number of patients who had paresthesia was significantly higher in the control group than case group, at both 12 hours (p=0.02) and 24 hours postoperatively (p=0.04). Duration of hospitalization was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group (p=0.006).Conclusions: Prophylactic oral calcium supplementation decreases the hypocalcemia related paresthesia after thyroidectomy and shortens duration of hospital stay

Crown Biomass Relationships of Lebanon Oak in Northern Zagros Forests of Iran

Allometric relationships for estimating the biomass of the crown of Lebanon oak (Quercus libani Oliv.) have been developed through using biometric parameters such as the diameter at breast height, tree height, crown length, and crown width. The study was conducted in Ar­mardeh forests in Iran’s northern Zagros mountains; for a long time the local people have been pollarding the crown of oak trees in these forests for their traditional uses. After the local people entirely cut the crowns of 48 sample trees, the weight of the crowns and their constitut­ing components (leaves and branches) were measured. The results showed that the amount of the crown biomass of Lebanon oak at the stand level is about 4.98±0.81 tons ha (95% confidence interval), 79% of which are branches and the rest are leaves. All the equations, representing the relationships between biometric parameters and the biomass of the crown or its com­ponents, were highly significant (p<0.001), and the adjusted coefficient of determination (R) was in the range of 0.51–0.65. The most suitable relationship was a multiple regression between the crown width and the tree height, as independent variables, with the crown biomass, as the dependent variable (R2adj = 0.65). These relationships can be helpful for evaluating the crown biomass production of Lebanon oak, and can be useful for planning a sustainable forest man­agement

Crown Biomass Relationships of Lebanon Oak in Northern Zagros Forests of Iran

Allometric relationships for estimating the biomass of the crown of Lebanon oak (Quercus libani Oliv.) have been developed through using biometric parameters such as the diameter at breast height, tree height, crown length, and crown width. The study was conducted in Ar­mardeh forests in Iran’s northern Zagros mountains; for a long time the local people have been pollarding the crown of oak trees in these forests for their traditional uses. After the local people entirely cut the crowns of 48 sample trees, the weight of the crowns and their constitut­ing components (leaves and branches) were measured. The results showed that the amount of the crown biomass of Lebanon oak at the stand level is about 4.98±0.81 tons ha (95% confidence interval), 79% of which are branches and the rest are leaves. All the equations, representing the relationships between biometric parameters and the biomass of the crown or its com­ponents, were highly significant (p<0.001), and the adjusted coefficient of determination (R) was in the range of 0.51–0.65. The most suitable relationship was a multiple regression between the crown width and the tree height, as independent variables, with the crown biomass, as the dependent variable (R2adj = 0.65). These relationships can be helpful for evaluating the crown biomass production of Lebanon oak, and can be useful for planning a sustainable forest man­agement