ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect of ethanol extracts of horsetail, alfalfa, ortie, chêne and aleppo oak on blood coagulation in vitro. Extraction was performed by the maceration method. Extracts were mixed with platelet and plasma, then prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and platelet aggregation tests were conducted. Alfalfa extract had a dose-dependent effect on the PT. Ortie, and horsetail, reduced the PT significantly compared to control group. Alfalfa, horsetail, and ortie reduced the APTT, but their effect was insignificant compared to the control group. The pooled extract showed the highest effect compared to the single extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Horsetail and alfalfa induced platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid but not in response to collagen. In the case of ortie, no aggregation occurred regarding the arachidonic acid, and incomplete was observed in response to collagen. Interestingly, blood clotting occurred immediately after adding the chêne, aleppo oak and the pooled extract, and therefore platelet poor plasma (PPP) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) became jelly. Generally, chêne and aleppo oak, as well as pooled extract, were more effective in inducing both primary and secondary coagulation pathways via shortening the PT and APTT, and induction of platelet aggregation.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Urinary tract infection is a common infectious presentation in the community practice. It is also the most common cause of antimicrobial resistance in the society. The aim of this o study was to investigate the frequency and antimicrobial resistance pattern of the uropathogens isolated from patients with urinary tract infection
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on the patients with urinary tract infection at a hospital in Tehran from March 2010 to March 2013.Mid-stream urine samples were collected in sterile disposable containers. Then, specimens were transferred to 5%blood agar and Eosine-Methylene Blue [EMB].Identification of uropathogens was done on the basis of gram reaction, morphology and biochemical features. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI] guidelines
Results: Atotal of 8200 urine samples [545 inpatients and 850 outpatients] were collected and 1395 uropathogens were recovered from them. Most of the pathogens were more prevalent in women. Gram-negative bacteria [81.8%] were the main cause of urinary tract infection. Escherichia coll [60.5%] was the predominant pathogen associated with urinary tract infection, whilepseudomonas aeruginosa [0.3%] had the least occurrence. Escherichia coli isolates showed high resistance to Ceftriaxone, Amoxicillin and Ciprofloxacin and high sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin, Amikacin and Gentamicin
Conclusions: Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a big challenge for the public health with significant morbidity and health costs. Therefore it seems that a periodic monitoring of etiologic agents of urinary tract infection and their susceptibility pattern in the community is necessary