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The natural forests of western Iran play a key role in delivering services and goods to local society. Nonetheless, this forest ecosystem, despite its importance, is threatened by natural factors and anthropogenic activities, resulting in decreasing soil quality and soil erosion. The present research aimed to assess the effects of the forest ecosystems on soil erosion control in Ilam catchment in southwest Iran. For this purpose, after estimating the soil loss in natural conditions (NC), we predicted the amount of soil erosion under two scenarios: (i) convert natural forest with 20% canopy cover to destructed forest with 0% canopy cover (SC.1), (ii) increase forest cover by 40% (SC.2). Our results indicate that the estimated mean soil erosion was within the range of 9.36 t ha-1 yr-1 in irrigated and garden use to about 256 t ha-1 yr-1 in bare soils under NC. We found that when converting natural forest to destructed forest, the mean annual soil erosion rate increased 105.75 t ha-1 yr-1, 118.1 t ha-1 yr-1, and 19.57 t ha-1 yr-1 in the dense forest, sparse forest, and Agri-Forest use, respectively. These results show the protective effect of the forest against soil erosion.

Background: This research investigated the effects of management and nutrition strategies on dairy cows under heat stress. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc mineral supplementation and mist spray, alone and in combination, on yield, milk production and composition, blood parameters and HSP70 gene expression in dairy cows. Methods: Sixteen Holstein lactating cows were used for our experiment in four treatment groups: Basal diet without heat stress alleviation methods (control), zinc supplementation in diet, basal diet and application of mist spray method and supplementation of zinc in basal diet with mist spray. We measured milk production and composition, blood parameters and HSP70 gene expression in all cows. Results: The results showed that the cows in the mist and zinc+mist treatments had significantly better performance and temperature-humidity index than the control group. The milk yield and its compounds were significantly affected by experimental treatments, with the best results seen in the treatment with both spray and zinc. The cows exposed to dry and lactation periods showed a significant increase in the concentration of blood biochemical factors and antioxidant indices in response to heat stress. HSP70 gene expression was significantly decreased in all treatments compared to the control. Conclusion: This experiment suggests that applying nutritional and management strategies can effectively mitigate the effects of heat stress on dairy cows. The study recommends using zinc supplementation and mist spray to alleviate heat stress effectively. Overall, this study highlights the importance of implementing management and nutrition strategies to improve the welfare and productivity of dairy cows under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concerns regarding antibiotic use in livestock, due to antibiotic resistance and potential human transmission, have led to increased interest in herbs and their derivatives, including essential oils, which possess antimicrobial properties that may enhance overall productivity and serve as a strategy for methane mitigation. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of adding oregano to the diet in different forms (essential oils, plant materials, or leaves) on the dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield (MY), milk components, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, and methane (CH4) emissions of dairy cows. A literature search was conducted to identify papers published from 2000 to 2023. Effect size for all outcomes was reported as a standardized means difference (SMD) and raw means difference with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was determined using the Q test and I2 statistic. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that adding oregano had no effect on DMI (SMD = 0.081; p = 0.507) and MY (SMD = 0.060; p = 0.665). Milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, and milk lactose percentage were not affected by oregano. The addition of oregano to the diet significantly decreased dry matter digestibility (SMD = −0.502; p = 0.013), crude protein digestibility (SMD = −0.374; p = 0.040), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (SMD = −0.505; p = 0.014). Ruminal pH (SMD = −0.122; p = 0.411), total volatile fatty acids concentration (SMD = −0.038; p = 0.798), acetate (SMD = −0.046; p = 0.757), propionate (SMD = 0.007; p = 0.960), and butyrate (SMD = 0.037; p = 0.801) proportion were not affected by oregano. The addition of oregano to the diet tended to decrease CH4/DMI (SMD = −0.275; p = 0.095) but did not affect CH4 production (SMD = −0.156; p = 0.282). Heterogeneity (Q and I2) was non-significant for all parameters. We conclude that the inclusion of oregano in various forms (essential oils, plant materials, or leaves) in the diet of dairy cows reduces nutrient digestibility but does not significantly affect DMI, MY, milk components, ruminal fermentation parameters, or CH4 production. Future research should focus on optimizing the dosage of oregano (both EOs and plant materials) and exploring the impact of its form on lactation, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and CH4 emissions in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to predict corona anxiety based on practical obsessive-compulsive disorder and health literacy. This research is a descriptive and correlational study. The population of the study was the general population of Amol city during the first peak of Corona in 2021. A total of 174 individuals in the age group of 18 to 45 years of the general population were studied as the sample using the availability sampling. Three questionnaires of corona anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and health literacy were used as data collection tools. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. Statistical analysis using Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there is a significant positive relationship between corona anxiety and obsessive-compulsive at the level of 0.01 and a significant negative relationship with health literacy at the level of 0.05. Also, the results of multiple regression analysis with simultaneous method showed that predictor variables could explain the degree of corona anxiety. People need to be informed that they need to obtain health information from the right sources and use it properly to improve their health by interpreting the information correctly. In general, it can be said that the level of awareness and information (health literacy) has an important role in improving health-based behaviors. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is also one of the variables related to corona anxiety, therefore, it is necessary to take preventive measures and interventions to control and reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder by psychologists and counselors. Therefore, in addition to increasing awareness and level of health literacy among the general public, measures should be considered to help reduce the incidence of symptoms such as OCD, which lead to anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to summarize the baseline and radiological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and investigate the correlation between clinical outcomes and radiological findings in the first week after admission. Materials and Methods: A single-center retrospective study was carried out on confirmed cases of COVID-19 based on RT-PCR and chest CT scan findings according to Iran’s National Guidelines for defining COVID-19 in patients admitted to Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Baseline and chest CT scan characteristics of patients were investigated, and their correlation with the change in clinical outcome was reported. Results: 72 patients (50%) with a mean age of 54.65±16.2 years were in two periods of time including the first day of diagnosis and 6.0±3.4 days later. Based on CT scan Severity Score (CTSS) changes (decrease/no change or increase) during the study, patients were divided into two groups of CTSS progression (n=47) and CTSS no-progression (n=25). Diabetes mellitus (20%) and hypertension (19.1%) were the most frequent comorbidities among the patients in the non-progression and progression groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in demographic features including age and gender, and comorbidities (P>0.05). On the first day of diagnosis, there was no significant difference in blood tests and radiological findings and the number of patients who managed out-patients or in-patients in both groups. However, on the second evaluation day, patients in the progression group had significantly higher CTSS in comparison with the non-progression group (13.11±4.7 vs. 9.48±4.2, P=0.003), and the clinical situation in 15 patients in progression changed from out-patient to in-patient (p=0.033). Only chest CT imaging score was a potential parameter associated with the change in clinical progression (P=0.030, RR=10.18, 95, CI=1.25-89.72). Conclusion: Increasing CTSS is a strong predictor of worsening clinical outcomes during hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opacification in the middle ear and mastoid region can stem from a wide range of factors. In terms of diagnostic imaging, CT is the primary tool due to its exceptional spatial resolution, particularly for examining the temporal bone and ossicles. MRI complements this by offering detailed soft tissue lesion characterization and assessing involvement in the inner ear and cranial nerves. This study focuses on inflammatory causes of opacification in the middle ear and mastoid, with an emphasis on the utility of CT and MRI. This comprehensive review aimed to provide a practical framework for considering potential differential diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the risk factors of osteoporosis and osteopenia of the spine in postmenopausal women. An analytical cross-sectional study was performed on postmenopausal women. The T-score of the lumbar spine (L2–L4) was measured by densitometry and compared between osteoporotic, osteopenia, and normal women. One thousand three hundred fify-nine postmenopausal women were evaluated. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 58.2% and 12.8% respectively. Age, BMI, parity, total breastfeeding years, dairy use, calcium-D supplements, and regular exercise were significantly different in women with osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal women. Ethnicity, diabetes, and previous fracture history were only other among women with osteoporosis (not osteopenia) and normal women. For osteopenia of the spine, age [AOR 1.08 (1.05–1.11; p <.001)] was the risk factor, and BMI = >30 [AOR 0.36 (0.28–0.58; p <.001)] and BMI 25–<30 [AOR 0.55 (0.34–0.88; p =.012)] were protective factors. Hyperthyroidism (AOR 23.43, p =.010), Kurdish ethnicity (AOR 2.96, p =.009), not having regular exercise (AOR 2.22, p =.012), previous fracture history (AOR 2.15, p =.041)], and age (AOR 1.14, p <.001)], were risk factors for osteoporosis, while BMI ≥30 [AOR 0.09, p <.001], BMI 25–<30 [AOR 0.28, p =.001], and diabetes [AOR 0.41, p =.038] were protective factors for osteoporosis of the spine. Hyperthyroidism, low BMI <25, parity ≥ 6, Kurdish ethnicity, not having regular exercise, history of previous fracture, and age, were risk factors for osteoporosis of the spine respectively, while low BMI and age were risk factors for osteopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]