The study objective was to evaluate the effects of reducing dietary starch content in fresh cow diets while maintaining NDF levels by substituting barley grain (BG), corn silage (CS), or both with beet pulp (BP) on DMI, lactation performance, serum mineral and metabolites concentrations, liver enzymes and liver functionality index (LFI), serum insulin and revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (RQUICKI). Thirty-six multiparous cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental diets from calving to 21 days in lactation. Experimental diets were a high-starch diet with ground BG (CO; 24.9% starch; 0% BP) and 3 low-starch diets where BP substituted for either BG (BB; 19.6% starch; 7% BP), CS (BC; 20.6% starch; 12% BP) or CS and BG (BCB; 20.3% starch; 12% BP). Relative to CO cows (16.50 kg/d), DMI was greater for BC (17.70 kg/d) and BCB (17.50 kg/d) cows, but it was lesser in BB (15.60 kg/d) cows. Similar to DMI results, milk yields tended to be greater for BC (37.89 kg/d) and BCB cows (37.81 kg/d) compared to CO cows (35.41 kg/d), but BB cows (33.05 kg/d) tended to produce less milk than CO cows. Relative to CO, cows fed BB had lower serum glucose concentrations, whereas cows fed BC and BCB had higher serum glucose. Serum insulin concentrations were lower for BB cows than for other exprimental groups. Relative to CO, serum NEFA and BHB concentrations were lower for BC and BCB, but was similar between BB and CO. The RQUICKI was lower for CO, BC cows than BB cows, and cows in BCB tended to have less RQUICKI compared to BB during postpartum. The concentrations of gamma glutamyl transferase were lower in BC and BCB cows relative to CO and BB cows. The cows fed CO and BB had higher serum bilirubin relative to cows fed BC and BCB diets. Although, LFI for CO cows was similar to cows on BB, BC and BCB, BC cows had higher LFI than BB cows and tended to have greater LFI than CO cows. Overall, reducing dietary starch by replacing CS (BC) or a mix of CS and BG (BCB) with BP positively affected DMI and milk yield and indicated improved energy metabolism and liver function during the first 21 d of lactation compared to when BP was fed instead of BG to reduce starch (BB).

liver, the largest internal organ in the body has many complex functions. It acts as a filter of the blood received from the GI tract through the portal vein. It synthesizes proteins that are involved in vital functions and is an important site of carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. It detoxifies toxins, metabolizes drugs and hormones, conjugates bilirubin and excretes it through the bile. liver dysfunction, therefore, has catastrophic consequences on the body. liver function tests comprise of a battery of tests that are used: a. as a tool for screening and documenting liver injury, to provide vital clues to the etiology of liver disease, to monitor the disease progression and response to treatment and to assess prognosis in children with liver failure. The liver function tests can be categorized into five: A. Tests to detect hepatocyte injury B. Tests to detect cholestasis or impaired bile flow C. Tests that assess synthetic function of liver D. Tests that assess metabolic and excretory function of liver E. Tests that assess liver fibrosis. Appropriate utilization of the tests requires knowledge of the injury patterns in liver diseases.1. liver function tests must be interpreted in the context of a clinical diagnosis 2. These tests lack sensitivity and so normal results do not confirm absence of disease. 3. liver function tests are useful in identifying the pattern of liver disease rather than arriving at an etiological diagnosis. 4. Age specific normal values have to be employed when interpreting lab tests like alkaline phosphatase, GGT and prothrombin time. 5. Gross elevation of transaminases occurs in primary hepatocellular diseases while ALP and GGT are very high in cholestatic diseases. 6. Increasnig bilirubin with falling transaminases denotes poor prognosis in acute severe failure.

Background: Patients with liver cirrhosis experience a hyperdynamic circulation. Objective: To investigate the association between early hemodynamic changes and graft function after liver transplant. Methods: Those patients who underwent liver transplantation in 2016 were enrolled in the study. liver function indices measured in postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 along with hemodynamic indices including pulse rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and central venous pressure (CVP) measured q6h in the first 3 days after transplantation were recorded. Results: 57 deceased-donor liver recipients with a mean± SD age of 41. 4± 11. 8 years including 33 (58%) males were enrolled in the study. The mean± SD aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly decreased from 1879± 670. 5, 369. 2± 40. 5, 174. 9± 18. 8, and 1907. 6± 323. 1 U/L in POD 1 to 37. 2± 10. 7, 243. 4± 37. 3, 207. 5± 19. 5, and 382. 4± 59. 8 U/L in POD 3, respectively (p=0. 028, <0. 001, 0. 002, and 0. 001, respectively). During this period, the pulse rate of the patients was significantly (p<0. 001) decreased by a median (IQR) of 28. 7 (8. 5– 39. 7) beats/min; it was significantly correlated with a decrease in serum hepatic enzymes activities during this period. SBP, DBP, and CVP were significantly increased (p<0. 001 for all) during this period. liver graft function improved significantly earlier in those patients with a mean pulse rate of 87 beats/min compared with others (p=0. 03). Conclusions: There may be an association between changes of hemodynamic indices, especially reduction of pulse rate, and improved graft function early after liver transplantation.

Background: According to some researches in recent years, Blastocystis is considered as the etiological agent of some gastrointestinal disorders. This parasite is polymorphic and its detection is not easy under the microscope. Because of this problem, several microscopic based studies have already reported different Blastocystis infection rates. Application of culture methods increases the chance of diagnosis of this parasite. The in vitro culture of Blastocystis in liver Infusion Tryptose (LIT) medium is described for the first time in this study.Materials and Methods: liver Infusion Tryptose (LIT) containing 10% fetal calf serum in screw-capped tubes was used. Samples incubated in 37°c and examined after 24, 48 and 72 hours.Results: 420 fresh stool samples were tested by LIT culture method and 100 positive samples (23.8%) of Blastocystis sp. were detected. while only 64 samples (15.2%) were positive with direct smear examination.Conclusion: This study highlights the same sensitivity of this culture media and other regular cultures media and it introduces a new medium for Blastocystis sp. detection.