[Investigation of components of seven species of thyme essential oils and comparison of their antioxidant properties]

Background: Thyme is one of the mint family geniuses that belongs to Nepetoideae subfamily. This plant has been known as an antiseptic, antispasmodic and antitussive. Thyme essential oil has many properties that one of which is antioxidant activity

Objective: The aim of this study was the investigation of seven thyme oils and the comparison of their antioxidant activities. In this paper, seven species of thyme essential oils from different regions have been collected and dried

Methods: The essential oil was extracted by using a Clevenger-type apparatus as British pharmacopoeia for four hours. Obtained essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy [GC/MS] technique

Results: Different compounds were identified in the essential oils with different percentages. The main compound in Thymus daenensis and Thymus vulgaris was thymol with percentage of 43.8 for the former and 45.1 for the latter. The dominate compounds in Thymus migricus, Thymus eriocalyx, Thymus serpylum, Zataria multiflora and Thymus kotschyanus were linalool [41.8%], geraniol [61.8%], para cymene [23.8%], carvacrol [57.7%], and Pulegone [37.2%], respectively. Antioxidant activity of essential oils was measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl]DPPH] radical scavenging test

Conclusion: Antioxidant activities of Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis, and Zataria multiflora were higher than the other essential oils

[Electromyographic activity of the vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus muscles during squat with isometric hip adduction in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome and healthy athletes]

Patellofemoral is a pain syndrome, common among athletes and the theraputic regiment based on the improvement of muscle involved in this disorder. This study was done to compare electromyography activity of the vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus during squat with isometric hip adduction in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome and healthy athletes. This case-control study was carried out on 16 national team male athletes [volleyball, handball and taekwondo] aged 30-18 years with patellofemoral pain syndrome and 16 healthy male athletes. Subjects were matched based on weight, height, age, dominant of lower extremity and voluntarily participated. Electromyography activity of vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus muscles recorded by surface electrodes at 15, 30 and 45 knee flexion degrees. Paired t test was used to compare electromyography activities in each group and One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test was used to compare each muscle in different angles. There was significant differences in the activity of vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus muscles in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome at 45 knee flexion degree [P<0.05]. There were no significant differences between the muscle activities in healthy athletes at none of the knee flexion degrees. There were significant differences in the activity of vastus medialis obliques [P<0.05] and vastus lateralis longus [P<0.05] muscles at 45 degrees in comparison with muscle activities in each group in knee flexion degrees. Electromyography activity of the vastus medialis obliques in healthy athletes during squat with isometric hip adduction at 45 knee flextion is greater than other degrees and in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome is greater than healthy athletes

Is pulmonary function test insensitive to possible pulmonary complications after tangential radiotherapy of breast cancer?

Pulmonary complications of radiation to breast are inevitable, while its incidence and severity are not clear. One of the methods to assess pulmonary complications is spirometry. The influence of radiotherapy on pulmonary function test and the factors affecting it have been assessed in this study. Breast cancer patients with stage II and III [based on TNM staging], underwent six courses of chemotherapy, and the total mastectomy was included in this study. Smokers, chronic pulmonary patients, cardiac patients, and those who suffered from anatomic chest malformations were excluded. Sample size was 75 and data collection was conducted by the spirometer device. The total tumor dose varied between 4800 to 5040 cGy with fraction of 180 or 200 cGy. Spirometry was performed before and 3 months after radiotherapy; the patients were examined at the same time by a specialist for respiratory complications. The measured parameters were FEV 1[Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second] and FVC [Forced Vital capacity] which were normalized by age and sex. The average age of the patients was 45.6 +/- 7.92 .Average length and widths of tangential fields were determined 18.2 +/- 1.8 and 6.7 +/- 1.37 respectively. Average central lung distance was measured 2 +/- 1.07 cm. The mean of FEV1% prior to and following radiotherapy was measured 74.9 +/- 15.59 and 78.86 +/- 12.55 respectively [p=0.09].The mean of FVC% before and after radiation treatment was measured 72.17 +/- 14.26 and 74.6 +/- 11.36 [p=0.07]. No abnormal signs were observed in the patients after radiotherapy. It seems that three months is a short period for appearance of pulmonary changes after radiotherapy with cobalt machine. Moreover, minimizing CLD through planning might lower the probability of pneumonitis due to radiation

frequency of psychiatric symptoms in patients admitted for surgical treatment of lumber discal hernia

Chronic low back pain is a complex condition produced by multiple factors. There are small researches about the frequency of Psychiatric disorders in discal hernia in Iran. This study investigated the psychological aspects of low back pain in a group of patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency level of psychiatric symptoms in patients with discal hernia. This research is a descriptive and cross sectional study. The psychological aspects were evaluated by using the Persian version of symptoms checklist-90-Revised [SCL-90-R]. The evaluation was carried out on 40-patients in the neurosurgery wards of the hospitals related to Islamic Azad University of Mashhad. The patients were diagnosed as suffering from lumbar discal herniation. Most of the patients were complaining about severe and chronic pains. The global index of the illness in our research was 1.09 and the most common disorders were found to be paranoid ideation and depression. The relation between pain severity and most common scores of the subscales of SCL-90-R is assessed. it showed higher association of paranoid ideation with 3, 4-5, 7-9, 10 level of pain and obsession and compulsion with score of 6. Patients had higher scores in all scales of the SCL-90-R. This research showed that the frequency of psychiatric symptoms in patients with lumbar discal herniation and low back pain is more than the general population of Iran

[Patterns of breastfeeding in infants]

Successful breastfeeding is the result of right patterns of breastfeeding. This research aimed to study the patterns of breastfeeding in infants in Ray health centers. This is a descriptive study. The cluster random sampling [CRS] technique was used to select 400 mothers who had children under one year. Data were gathered using a questionnaire. Validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using content validity and reliability was determined using test-pretest method. Statistical analysis was carried out using statistical package for social sciences [SPSS]. The results showed that 34.5% of mothers breastfed their children exclusively for 6 months. In 58.7% of the samples, the first contact between mother and child was made in less than 2 hours. 95.2% of children were started their first feeding with colostrums and 59% of mothers fed their children with Manna and 54% with sugary water and 39.5% gave them water. 81.5% of children were breastfeed on demand and 18.5% of them were feed two to four times a day. There was no significant relationship between parent's knowledge, child's sex, parent's age, child's rank in the family and child's race with breastfeeding [P>0.05]. The results showed that the mothers had wrong beliefs, low knowledge and inappropriate practice on breastfeeding

Mutagenicity assessment of two herbal medicines, urtan and carmint in human leukocytes by single cell gel electrophoresis

The use of herbal medicine is an old and still widespread practice, which makes studies of their genotoxicity essential. Urtan and Carmint are examples of herbal medicines used in Iran which used for the treatment of hyperplasia, diuretic, urinary disfunction and antispasmodic action, carminative gastrointestinal disfunction respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenicity of these herbal medicines in human leukocytes by Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis [SCGE]. Both the herbal medicines were used at four concentrations [0.046, 0.092, 0.138 and 0.184 / 100 ml]. The results were compared against positive [Cr v1] and negative [no mutagen] control groups. Fluorescence microscope was used to observe the DNA damage in randomly selected cells, which were stained with ethidium bromide. Microscopic observation of the affected cells due to Urtan and Carmint was encouraging as compared to previous studies using SCGE. Both Urtan and Carmint exhibited considerable DNA damage to the blood cells. For example, Urtan at 0.184 g/100 ml concentration had almost 23% mutagenic effect and as the concentration increased the mutagenic effect also increased. Similarly Carmint exhibited considerable DNA damage on blood cells. Therefore, both the herbal medicines may have some mutagenic effect