A Case of Pseudopregnancy in a Bitch

A case of pseudopregnacy was presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria. Eighteen (18) months old bitch weighing 15kg was presentedclinical signs suspected to be pseudopregnacy, which was observed four weeks after the bitch came on heat (estrus). The clinical signs observed were restlessness, anorexia, aggression, nesting behaviour and licking of mammary gland. On clinical examination it was observed that bitch had enlarged mammary glands and milk secretion. The physiological parameters were found to be within the normal range. Abdominal palpation, ultrasonography and vagina cytology were carried out to confirm pregnancy. Due to absence of foetuses on abdominal palpation and ultrasonography and presence of scanty epithelial cells in vaginal cytology, it was confirmed and concluded to be a case of pseudopregnancy. Causes, treatment and other associated factors with pseudopregnancy were further discussed.

Extraction and Identification of Chemical Compounds of Peganum harmala L. Seed Essential Oil by HS-SPME and GC-MS Methods

Peganum harmala is a plant that belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae. In traditional medicine, this plant has therapeutic effects such as repelling intestinal worms, increasing sexual potency, increasing milk secretion, anti-rheumatism, regularizing, anti-parasitic, hypnotic, diaphoretic, anti-cancer and analgesic. The aim of this study was to identify the chemical composition of P. harmala seed essential oil. P. harmala seed essential oil was extracted by Head Space-SPME [HS-SPME] method and its chemical compounds were identified by GC-MS method. Totally, 41 chemical compounds were identified in P. harmala seed essential oil. According to the results, the most compounds of P. harmala L. seed essential oil includes 2,3-dimethyl benzofuran (28.32%), cis-linalool oxide (7.46%), [2E]- decenal (6.57%), 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone (6.49%), 3-oxo-p-menth-1-en-7-al (6.36%) and trans- β- terpineol (5.86%), respectively.

Assessment of Barriers to Exclusive Breast Feeding Among Working Saudi Mothers

Background: The World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children’s Fund recommend mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of their life that should be initiated within the first hour after birth. Methods: This cross-sectional study included currently employed Saudi working mothers residing the Western region of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed through email and social media. Each person meeting the inclusion criteria was provided informed consent, explaining the study aim, and ensuring the confidentiality of information. Data were obtained by filling out the designed Questionnaire. Result: This study included 692 working Saudi mothers. The frequency of exclusive breast feeding was 40.2%, which was continued by 29.8% only after returning to the work. Insufficient breast milk secretion (17.5%) and the lack or minimal support from the workplace for EBF (6.6%) were commonly stated by the mothers. There were great deficiencies in the breastfeeding friendly work policies including the absence of breast feeding or breast milk-pumping place (86.4%), absence of breastfeeding hours during work time (80.9%), and the presence of a strict full-time schedule that did not allow freely use of the nursing break. Conclusion: The present study shows low prevalence of exclusive breast feeding among working mothers in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. Multiple barriers to continuing breast feeding have been detected. Insufficient breast milk secretion and the lack of breastfeeding friendly work policies were common reasons.

25 Years of Research in Human Lactation: From Discovery to Translation

Researchers have recently called for human lactation research to be conceptualized as a biological framework where maternal and infant factors impacting human milk, in terms of composition, volume and energy content are studied along with relationships to infant growth, development and health. This approach allows for the development of evidence-based interventions that are more likely to support breastfeeding and lactation in pursuit of global breastfeeding goals. Here we summarize the seminal findings of our research programme using a biological systems approach traversing breast anatomy, milk secretion, physiology of milk removal with respect to breastfeeding and expression, milk composition and infant intake, and infant gastric emptying, culminating in the exploration of relationships with infant growth, development of body composition, and health. This approach has allowed the translation of the findings with respect to education, and clinical practice. It also sets a foundation for improved study design for future investigations in human lactation.

Clinical observations of the action of turpentine injections in inflammatory diseases of the female genital area

A number of authors and researchers, sticking since 1916, have successfully used the so-called. protein therapy, namely, in the form of parenteral milk administration, for various inflammatory diseases of the uterine appendages, for uterine bleeding and for increasing milk secretion in women in childbirth.

Yogimbin as a mammoth

Nlle (Zentr. F. Gyn., 1923, no. 45) warmly recommends yogimbin for increasing milk secretion in breastfeeding

Ethnobotanical Survey of Natural Galactagogues Prescribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacies in Taiwan

Natural medicinal materials have been used to promote breast milk secretion. Here, we investigated the natural medicinal materials prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies across Taiwan to induce lactation. We collected medicinal materials from 87 TCM pharmacies, identified them in the prescriptions, and analyzed their drug contents. We examined their botanical origins, biological classifications, traditional usage, and modern pharmacological properties. We used the TCM Inheritance Support System to identify core medicinal materials in galactogenous prescriptions. We collected 81 medicinal materials from 90 galactogenous prescriptions. Leguminosae accounted for 12%, whereas Apiaceae accounted for 7% of all materials examined. The primary medicinal plant parts used were roots and seeds. Nineteen frequently used medicinal materials had a relative frequency of citation of greater than or equal to 0.2. According to their efficacy, 58% were warm, 54% were sweet, and 63% were tonifying; 74% of the frequently used medicinal materials have been showed efficacy against breast cancer. The primary core medicinal material was Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, whereas the secondary core medicinal materials were Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K. Koch and Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz. Most galactogenous prescriptions consisted of multiple materials from Leguminosae and Apiaceae. The mechanisms underlying galactogenous efficacy warrant further investigations.

The ratio of roughage to concentrate on milk secretion rate in goats fed Stylosanthes ha mata hay

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of roughage to concentrate ratio (R:C) on milk secretion rate (g/h) in goats using a cross-over design in which each goat passed sequentially through all the treatments in random order. The treatments (R: C) were: A = 70 percent roughage : 30 percent concentrate; B = 50 percent roughage : 50 percent concentrate e and C = 30 percent roughage : 70 percent concentrate. In the experiment, seven goats were milked once a day, from the 2nd to 8th week of lactation, thrice per week for 2 weeks per treatment. The animals were fed at 4 percent body weight (DM basis). The feed consisted of Stylosanthes hamata hay (S. hamata hay) and a 17.2 percent CP concentrate ration. Data were analysed using the treatments as main effect with live weight and week of lactation as covariates. There was no significant treatment effects on mülk secretion rate (P>0.05). Overall milk secretion rate was 5.23gh. Week of lactation also had no significant effect (P>0.05). However, live weight of doe at time of milking had a highly significant effect (P>0.001) with milk secretion rate increasing by 0.41g/h per kilogram live weight. The R2 values for the predictive mathematical relationship for goats fed Stylosanthes hamata hay at 4 percent body weight in the dry season was R2 = 0.888. It can therefore be deduced that for a ladating doe in the 5th week of lactation at 20kg body weight fed at 4 percent with Stylosanthes hamata hay to concentrate ratio at 70 percent roughage : 30 percent concentrate would give a milk secretion rate of 6.717g/h while at 50 percent roughage : 50 percent concentrate it would give 6.662 g/h and 30 percent roughage : 70 percent concentrate level would give 7.054 g/h. Keywords:,,,