ABSTRACT
Providing suitable analgesia following diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopic surgeries, that are considered to cause some degree of postoperative pain, is a necessity in equine practice
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the equine synovial fluid biochemical and cytological changes as well as clinical assessments of the joint following intra-articular administration of ketamine. Six adult healthy donkeys were selected after clinical examination. Synovial fluid samples were taken from both middle carpal joints after routine preparation. Ketamine 2 mg/kg and 100 mg lidocaine 2% were administered to the right and left joints, respectively. Synovial fluid collection from the joints was performed at 12, 24, 48 and 192 h after medication. Cytological examination, total protein, glucose, specific gravity, alkaline phosphates [ALP], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], viscosity and quality of mucin clot were measured. Joint circumference, flexion test and lameness examination, stimulation of the joint skin area and radiographic examination were performed as clinical evaluations. Comparison of treatments was performed by nonparametric sign test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Significance level was set to P?0.05. In the ketamine group, increased joint circumference, positive flexion test and negative response to the ball-point pressure of the joint skin area were seen, unlike that of lidocaine. Mucin clot quality test and viscosity, the amount of total nucleated cell count [TNCC], mononuclear and neutrophil count, specific gravity, total protein content, ALP, AST and LDH of the ketamine treated joints revealed considerable differences between various sampling times compared to the 0 time and also between the ketamine and lidocaine groups [P>0.05]
It was concluded that intra-articular ketamine administration in equine carpal joint resulted in acute inflammatory changes, and failed to demonstrate analgesia; therefore, it is not safe to the joint environment and is not recommended as a local analgesic following arthroscopic surgeries?
ABSTRACT
Candidiasis is a primary or secondary mycotic infection caused by members of the genus Candida. Recently fungal infections especially Candidiasis has significantly increased. Limitations in treatment of fungal diseases include a few available anti-fungal drugs, side effects, drug resistance and decreased susceptibility of Candida species to anti-fungal drugs, leads to search for new anti-fungal agents as herbal medicines. 17 essential oils and 172 plant extracts, from 50 Iranian plant species obtained through the literature and interviews with traditional healers, were evaluated for Anti_ Candida activity. The essential oils and extracts were tested by disc diffusion against Candida albicans [ATCC=10231]. Amphotericin B, Ketoconazol and Nistatin were used as positive controls. Sixteen [32%] out of the 50 plants were found to be active. The essential oils of Thymus kotschyanus, Zataria multiflora Boiss, Artemisia sieberi, Mentha spicata, Satureia hortensis, Lavandula angustifolia and cuminum cyminum showed high strong activity. The essential oils of Nigella sativa and Rosmarimus officinalis and Myrtus communis showed strong activity. The essential oils of Eucalyptus globules, Pimpinella anisum, foeniculum vulagre, Heracleum persicum, showed intermediate activity. The results of this investigation showed a potent anti_candida activity of selected herbs against Candida albicans type strain. Therefore further investigation need in order to isolate and identify the active compounds to make it available for clinical use
ABSTRACT
Meningococcal diseases occur with a worldwide distribution as endemic or in epidemics with an overall mortality rate of 8% to 10%, mainly in patients with signs and symptoms of meningococcemia. Several investigators have devised scoring systems using clinical and laboratory parameters available at the time of presentation to prognosticate the outcome of the infection. This study was designed to determine the distribution of demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters among our patients and the relative frequency of individual Stiehm and Damrosch components. This was a prospective descriptive study, performed on patients with definite diagnosis of meningococcal infection admitted to Al-Zahra University hospital [adult and pediatric wards], Isfahan, Iran, between 1997 and 2002. The cases were 140 patients [99[70.7%] males and 41[29.3%]females] from 1 to 50 years old [25.5 +/- 1.32]. Data were collected by filling checklists. SSPS software was applied to analyze the data using chi-square test. In this study, the relative frequency of individual Stiehm and Damrosch components were as follows: hypotension [10.7%], peripheral white blood cell count <10,000/mm3 [39.3%], leukopenia [11.5%], ESR<10 mm/hr [19.3%], coma [6.4%], early widespread petechiae [18%], absence of meningitis [13.6%]. Overall mortality rate was [10.7%]. Meningococci are still killers, they affect men more than women. Teenagers are at more risk than other age groups. Mortality in our study was a little higher than what is suggested [10.7%]. we recommend using scoring systems for early separation of poor prognostic patients to provide them with more special care