Antimicrobial survey of local herbal drugs against acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from patients admitted to a level-I trauma center

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial activity and entity of several local herbal plants against Acintobacters isolated from trauma patients admitted to a Level-I trauma center

Methods: The antibacterial activities of the Satureja bachtiarica oil and some selected Iranian medicinal plants [Artemisia sieberi and Tanacetum dumosum belonging to the Asteraceae/Compositae; Salvia mirzayanii and Mentha mozaffarianii belonging to the Lamiaceae/Labiatae] were assayed on A. baumannii by microdilution and agar disc diffusion methods. Having obtained the acceptable antibacterial data, the shade-dried aerial parts of the plants were extracted by hydrodistillation method using Clevenger apparatus according to European pharmacopeia for 3 h. The analysis of S. bachtiarica essential oil accompanied by other herbal drug oils were performed by using GC/FID and GC/MS methods

Results: Outcomes revealed that the S. bachtiarica essential oil exhibited the potent antibacterial capability against Acinetobacter strains in comparison with Colistin, as a positive control. For S. bachtiarica, the growth inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] values were 21 mm and 0.5 mg/ml, while, for Colistin, the data were in order: 8 mm and 0.016 mg/ml. Consequently, GC/MS outcomes demonstrated that the major components of the essence were carvacrol [48.6%], followed by p-Cymene [16.6%], ã-terpinene [6.9%] and linalool [5.3%]

Conclusion: Based on the considerable inhibitory activity against nosocomial infections by essential oil of S. bachtiarica, it could be considered as the suitable candidate in the food industry and pharmaceutical uses

Characterization of larval habitats for anopheline mosquitoes in a malarious area under elimination program in the southeast of Iran

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effects of environmental characteristics of larval habitats on distribution and abundance of anopheline mosquitoes in Bashagard county, a malarious area in southeast of Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Larvae were collected monthly using the standard dipping method and identified using a morphological-based key. Environmental characteristics of the larval habitats were recorded. Water samples were taken from habitats during larval collection for physico-chemical characterization. Statistical analyses were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In total 5 150 anopheline larvae from 36 larval habitats were collected and identified. They comprised of six species: Anopheles culicifacies (29.36%), Anopheles moghulensis (25.20%), Anopheles dthali (18.02%), Anopheles superpictus (17.24%), Anopheles turkhudi (5.17%) and Anopheles stephensi (5.01%). The most common larval habitats were natural and clear water bodies such as riverbeds with sandy substrates and still water. Furthermore, the anopheline larvae were abundant in permanent and full sunlight habitats without vegetation and algae. Larval density was positively correlated with water temperature. Chemical characteristics including conductivity, total alkalinity, sulphate and chloride had significant effects on distribution and abundance of anopheline species.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The result of this study indicates a correlation between some environmental characteristics and anopheline larvae abundance which can be considered for effective planning and implementing malaria elimination program in Iran.</p>

effectiveness of group logo therapy on the hope among the leukemic patients

The present study has investigated the effectiveness of group logo therapy to increase the hope among the leukemic patients. This research has composed of 80 leukemic patients who have referred to Golestan Hospital in 2012 fall, and then have responded to the Snyder's Hope Scale, The research design has included pre - post - and follow up tests with a control group. First, both groups have responded to the pre-tests. Then the experimental group has received 10 sessions of counseling through group logo therapy; however, the control group has not received any specific training. Afterwards, both groups have undergone a post-test. After an interval of one month, follow-up tests have implemented in order to evaluate the permanency of the given tests .The SPSS software and covariance analysis tests have used in order to analyze the resulted tests data, and Cronbach alpha method has measured reliability coefficient. The research results have shown that logo therapy training might increase the hope of the leukemic patients [p<0.0001]; moreover, permanency assessment of this study has shown the same result [p<0.0001]. Group logo therapy could be effective on the hope of the leukemic patients, and then this effect would be permanent

Environmental characteristics of anopheline mosquito larval habitats in a malaria endemic area in Iran

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effects of environmental parameters of larval habitats on distribution and abundance of anopheline mosquitoes in Rudan county of Iran.@*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study was conducted during the mosquito breeding season from February 2010 to October 2011. The anopheline larvae were collected using the standard dipping method. The specimens were identified using a morphological-based key. Simultaneously with larval collection, environmental parameters of the larval habitats including water current and turbidity, sunlight situation, and substrate type of habitats were recorded. Water samples were taken from breeding sites during larval collection. Before collection of samples, the water temperature was measured. The water samples were analysed for turbidity, conductivity, total alkalinity, total dissolved solid, pH and ions including chloride, sulphate, calcium, and magnesium. Statistical correlation analysis and ANOVA test were used to analyze the association between environmental parameters and larval mosquito abundance.@*RESULTS@#In total 2 973 larvae of the genus Anopheles were collected from 25 larval habitats and identified using morphological characters. They comprised of six species: An. dthali (53.21%), An. stephensi (24.22%), An. culicifacies (14.06%), An. superpictus (4.07%), An. turkhudi (3.30%), and An. apoci (1.14%). The most abundant species was An. dthali which were collected from all of the study areas. Larvae of two malaria vectors, An. dthali and An. stephensi, co-existed and collected in a wide range of habitats with different physico-chemical parameters. The most common larval habitats were man-made sites such as sand mining pools with clean and still water. The anopheline mosquitoes also preferred permanent habitats in sunlight with sandy substrates. The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between mean physico-chemical parameters such as water temperature, conductivity, total alkalinity, sulphate, chloride, and mosquito distribution and abundance.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results of this study showed a correlation between certain environmental parameters and mosquito larvae abundance, and these parameters should be considered in planning and implementing larval control programs.

Van, turkey earthquake of 23 October 2011, Mw 7.2; an overview on disaster management

An earthquake was happened on 23 October 2011 in Van, Turkey [Mw7.2] at the eastern most area of Anatolian plat-eau and in the neighborhood of Iranian border [West Azerbaijan Province]. The study was performed based on field and office observations and has been focused on the process of disaster management in Turkey after the 23 October 2011 earthquake. We surveyed the quake from the view point of disaster management, and study the relief process during and after the catastrophe. The day-to-day disaster management procedure in seventeen days after the event has been scrutinized as well. The number of victims and extent of damage in Van earthquake was relatively limited ac-cording to the national experiences and recent modernization of infrastructures in Turkey. The Van earthquake caused 644 deaths and demolishing of several buildings in the cities of Van and Erci? in Van Province. The performance of the government organizations is however criticized based on their response to the event