[Study of antibacterial effects of different fractions of leaves extract of Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. Subsp. Scoparia [Bioss] rech. f. and bioautography of effective fraction]

Today, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance against conventional antibiotics is increasing. Many researchers consider plants with antimicrobial properties as a good alternative. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. Subsp. Scoparia [Bioss] Rech. f. on 8 bacterial strains was investigated. The leaf extract was prepared by methanolic maceration. The concentrated, dried extract was fractionated by different solvents including petroleum ether, dichloro methane, and ethyl acetate. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of crude extract was performed using agar dilution method. Disk diffusion method was used for antimicrobial assay of different fractions. Then, the chemical constituents of the most effective fraction were separated on thin-layer chromatography [TLC] plates. Then, the prepared chromatograms were analyzed using immersion bioautography. According to disk diffusion method, ethyl acetate fraction had stronger antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. Bioautography of this fraction showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in R[f] = 0.9. However, all tested bacteria had inhibition spots in the site of fraction loading. Antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate fraction will appear if all components are used together

[Investigate the prevalence of depression and its association with demographic variables in employees]

Introduction: Depression is one of the most costly diseases of the labor force. Complications of depression has been proved on work absenteeism rates, accurate measurement of individual tasks and Employee Efficiency. This study was conducted with aimed to investigate the depression and its association with demographic variables in the employees of Isfahan University of Medical sciences in 1392

Methods: This is a descriptive - cross-sectional correlation study that was implemented in 1392. 405 employees from Isfahan University of Medical sciences were randomly chosen. Data gathering tool included demographic information form and Beck depression [version-II] questionnaire. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, student t-Test and Multiple linear regressions with stepwise method applying SPSSv18 software

Results: According to the results of this study 45.92% of the employees were suffering from depression. They were identified as 28.39% with low depression, 15.30% with moderate depression, and 2.22% with severe depression. A significant correlation was found between depression with education level [p=0.002] and work site [p=0.01], but that there was no statistically significant relationship between depression with age, sex, marital status, years of service and type of residence. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that the education level in the first model and work site in the second model were regularly the best predictions of the employees' depression, whereas they explained totally 25.7% of the variance of employees' depression

Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of depression in employees. Encouraging teamwork, participate the employees in decision-making, supported employment, reduce conflicts and job ambiguities as well as increased job control events with development centers of consultation sessions in university are the helpful measures suggested to control and reduce depression

[Comparison of the effects of soccer competition stress on salivary cortisol and heart rate in winner and loser coaches: a short report]

Soccer coaching is considered to be one of the riskiest careers in the world. The psychological pressure caused by the nature of this profession causes wear to Soccer coaches. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of acute competition stress on salivary cortisol and heart rate in professional soccer coaches during 2004-2005 competition season. In this descriptive study, salivary samples were collected from coaches at five times. Sixteen professional soccer coaches with the average of 52.27 +/- 9.18 years of age, 11.67 +/- 6.01 years of coaching experience in the league and 64.40 +/- 5.91 beats per minute [bpm] of rest heart rate were selected as the subjects of study. The coaches were monitored with a team polar device throughout the games, during their competition. Analysis of variance with repeated measurements [ANOVA] was used. The highest level of cortisol was observed during the halftime break. This level was higher for the loser coaches than the winner ones. During the game heart rate differences changes were not significant between the loser and winner coaches. The results indicated a hormonal response to competition, which was specially characterized by an anticipatory rise of cortisol depending on outcomes [goal scoring]. Consequently, psychological stress of competition could be stressful and deterimental for the professional soccer coaches

Outcome and characteristics of patients on the liver transplant waiting list: Shiraz experience

The only curative therapy for end-stage liver disease is transplantation but due to a shortage of available donor livers the waiting list mortality is high. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome and characteristics of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation in Shiraz, southern Iran during the period from April 2004 to March 2007. Medical records of all chronic liver disease patients >/= 14 years that were on the waiting list for liver transplantation at the Nemazee Hospital Organ Transplant Center during April 2004 to March 2007 were reviewed. Hospital records were used to retrieve demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Records of the referring gastroenterologists provided information about the etiology and complications of liver disease. The patients were followed at the end of the study period by clinic visits or telephone contact. There were 646 patients on the waiting list for liver transplant during April 2004 to March 2007. Hepatitis B was the most common etiology of liver disease [31.2%]. Of those on the waiting list, 144 patients 22.3%] underwent liver transplant and 166 [25.7%] died while waiting for a transplant. The mean waiting period for transplant was 6.6 months. Receiving a transplant was correlated with the etiology of liver disease and Rh blood group [p<0.05] but had no significant association with gender or ABO blood type. Among non-transplanted patients, survival was lower in those who had a history of encephalopathy, SBP or uncontrolled ascites and in patients with a Child-Turcotte-Puph [CTP] class C and/or a Model of End-stage Liver Disease [MELD] score >/= 15. Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of end-stage chronic liver disease amongst patients on the waiting list for liver transplant in Shiraz, southern Iran. Patients with a MELD score >/= 15 particularly those with a history of SBP, hepatic encephalopathy or uncontrolled ascites are recommended for waiting list enrollment

evaluation of the performance assessment of APACHE III scoring system in patients admitted in the ICUs of TUMS with Sina designed APACHE scoring model

Performance assessment of intensive care units may not be possible unless there are objective criteria. This performance eventually determines patients' outcome and is the most reliable outcome measure for intensive care in hospital mortality. Scoring systems have been proposed for individual patient outcome prediction, for evaluating the performance of ICUs and for therapeutic trials. Despite a reasonable accuracy of scoring systems for predicting mortality, probability of defined ICU populations in developed countries, the healthcare delivery systems and patient characteristics in developing countries might influence the correlation between a given scoring instrument and the probability of death. Accordingly, intensive care physicians in developing countries should verify the accuracy of the available severity scoring systems in their specific settings by an objective validation process. This study tries to evaluate validity of APACHE III model in patients admitted to ICUs of Tehran University Medical Sciences intensive care units based on assessing calibration and discrimination. In the study, 1312 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 48.7 and median of length of stay at ICU and hospital was 4 and 9 days, respectively. Mean APACHE III score was 60 at first day of admission. Customized APACHE III [APACHE IIIc] model had poor calibration [P<0.0001], but good discrimination [area under ROC curve =0.88].In comparison, Sina-designed APACHE III [APACHE Ills] model had appropriate calibration [P value =0.4] and good discrimination [area under ROC curve =0.87]. Although APACHE Ills model sensitivity was about 70%, acceptable specificity [86.1%] plus corrected classification percent as%79, it is being introduced as an acceptable model in intensive care units of Tehran University of Medical Sciences; however extended use of this model needs more comprehensive studies