[Determination of antimicrobial activity of various extracts of Stinging nettle [Urtica dioica]]

Urtica dioica, or stinging nettle, is traditionally used in much frequency in northern Iran. A total of nine extracts were prepared using different organic solvents and by two extraction methods, either by using soxhlet extractor or sequential partitions. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of crude extracts were tested. The main purpose of this study was to determine and compare two methods of extraction and the ability of different kinds of U. dioica crude extracts to inhibit various pathogenic microorganisms. A selection of extracts that showed any activity was further tested for the minimal inhibitory concentrations [MIC] on nutrient agar and minimal bactericidal concentrations [MBC] on Muller-Hilton agar. Only one extract, ethyl acetate extract of Method II [EAE II] was moderately active against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio parahaemyticus were 8.33, 8.33 and 0.13 mg/ml for both MIC, respectively. All others were practically inactive. Our finding showed that the method I had high effect on food poisoning bacterial than the method II especially against Bacillus cereus and Vibrio parahaemolytiucus

[ effect of oral Vitamin E on renal anemia in chronic hemodialysis children]

Renal anemia is one of the most frequently observed complications in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis [HD]. Reduced red blood cell survival due to oxidative damage is one of causes of anemia in these patients. Vitamin E [alpha - tocopherol] is a natural biological antioxidant, which protects red cells from these effects of reactive oxygen metabolites and could be useful as a collateral therapy for anemia in HD patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential beneficial effect of anti oxidant vitamin E supplementation [oral] on renal anemia and to find out whether this improvement mechanism is attributable to the enhanced hematopoietic function or to prolonged RBC life. This clinical trial study included [8 cases with mean age 14 +/- 2.9 years and 7 controls with mean age 14 +/- 2.7 years] stable children on chronic hemodialysis, at hemodialysis center in Sheikh Children Hospital - Mashhad. At the time of entry, there was no evidence of iron deficiency or history of blood transfusion. All of children [case and control] received subcutaneous erythropoietin [EPO] 120 +/- 80 u/kg/BW/week, Folic acid 1 mg/day and Iron 1-2 mg/kg/day. Oral vitamin E 200 u/day for 3 months was prescribed to cases only. Laboratory parameters determined at the beginning of the study were: Iron, Ferritin, Transferrin, Total Iron binding capacity, Hemoglobin [Hb], Hematocrit, Reticulocyte count and peripheral blood smear. Hb and HCT were checked every month during the study and the results were compared to those obtained earlier. Prescription of oral vitamin E for 3 months resulted in significantly higher levels of Hb and Hct in cases compared to those in controls [11.4 +/- 1.7 vs. 10.1 +/- 1.9 Hb and 35.3 +/- 5 vs. 31.3 +/- 6 Htc, P< 0.05]. Antioxidant vitamin E supplementation improves renal anemia by decrease of oxidative stress and RBC life span in hemodialysis patients

Hyperferritinemia without iron overload: a case report

Background: High levels of Serum ferritin is not usual in patients without iron overload. Such condition can be seen in patients with cancer, liver disease or infections, and also can be one of the presentations of a syndrome. In all these condition iron overload cannot be detected and high levels of ferritin dose not mean the lack of iron depletion or iron deficiency anemia and is exclusively related to inflammation.

Case Report: In this article, a patients is introduced without any history of multiple transfusion and iron overload, with high levels serum ferritin during the process of an infection disease, while she had a moderate iron deficiency anemia

Conclusion: According to underlying disease and serum ferritin levels in the patient and review of related articles seems that serum ferritin like the CBC, CRP and ESR can act as acute phase reactant so it increase at severity phase of infection and decreased with treatment of it

Congenital lymphedema: a case report

Background and purpose: Congenital Lymphedema is a kind of primary Lymphedema caused by on abnormality in the Lymphatic system and causes the Lymph accumulation in the interstitial space. It usually appears within the first two gears of life with mild to severe swelling in one organ together with lethal complications and disseminated as it may be misdiagnosed with acquired edematous diseases particularly in infancy, this, case report is intended to present the disease with clinical indices and paraclinical evaluation

Case report: A fourteen-month-old patient suffering from congenital Lymphedema is reported here who had been referred to Dr.sheik Hospital in Mashad, Iran as nephritic syndrome. The case was treated after congenital Lymphedema diagnosis was established

Conclusion: Congenital Lymphedema is often mistaken with acquired edematous diseases and particularly in infancy with nephritic syndrome. There fore, the knowledge of clinical indices and paraclinical evaluation are necessary for perfect diagnosis