Comparison of the effect of hydrodistillation and microwave extraction methods on the identified chemical composition of tarragon [artemisia dracunculus l.] essential oil using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Background: Tarragon [Artemisia dracunculus L.] has been utilized as a spice for many years

The essential oil of Tarragon can be used as a natural food preservative since the plant has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties

There has been a variety of methods to extract essential oils. Different methods of extraction might affect extraction rate, percentage and chemical composition amounts of the extracted essential oils

Objective: To find the best method of essential oil extraction, comparing different methods can be performed. In this research two methods of extraction have been compared

Methods: Essential oil of Tarragon was obtained by hydrodistillation and solvent free microwave extraction

Oils were analyzed and the components were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Results: The major components of the oil extracted by hydrodistillation were estragol [29.05%] and limonene [11.87%]. Estragol [62.40%] and thymol [9.25%] were the major components isolated by microwave free solvent

Conclusion: Considering temperature and time of extraction, different extraction methods make noticeable changes in chemical composition of the oils

Short term outcome of patients with hematochezia and normal initial colonoscopic findings: do they really need further screening?

In a significant number of the patients with hematochezia, colonoscopy turns out to be normal and therefore is unable to determine the cause of bleeding. This study investigates outcomes and possible necessity for further work up in cases of hematochezia with normal colonoscopy. Ninety-seven patients with normal colonoscopy were followed for at least one year from the time of colonoscopy by regular visits and phone calls. Mortality and recurrent bleeding were recorded as primary end points. Those with recurrent or continued hematochezia were invited for a new visit and further work up. Among the ninety seven patients, nine cases [9.3%] were lost at follow ups, 10 experienced rebleeding [10.3%], and the remaining 78 [80.4%] were apparently healthy and had no further complaints. There were two mortalities during the follow up, one due to gastric cancer and the other due to cerebrovascular accident. It is unusual for the cases of hematochezia with a normal initial colonoscopy to have recurrent bleeding as a result of a significant missed lesion in the colon

[Comparison the number of triaged patients in three working shift in Poursina hospital in Rasht]

Abstract Introduction: Triage defined as selecting patients based on the severity of injury and performing the best management for the majority of patients in a short time. Triage is a strong administrative tool for providing emergency services. According to situations, it divided into: normal urgent triage and emergent condition triage. The former is performed in emergency ward of a hospital and the latter in the accident field

Objective: Comparison of the number of triaged patients in normal urgent condition at different triage levels in accordance with months of the spring and three working shifts

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was performed in Poursina teaching hospital during three months of the spring [21 March-21 June 2006]. Patients triaged in three working shifts. Data were registered in Emergency Service Work Shifts Form [approved by Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education]. According to this form, patients were classified to inpatients and outpatients groups, then they allocated to one of the following levels: Emergent, Urgent, and Non-urgent

Results: Among 30.746 admitted patients, 25.525 [82.97%] were outpatients, 5.214 [16.95%] were inpatients, and 25 [0.08%] died. 203 [3.89%] patients transported by EMS ambulances, 960 [18.41%] by referee hospital ambulances, and 4.051 [77.70%] by themselves or others. The mean number of inpatients on night shift had a statistically significant difference of morning and evening shifts. The same was true for outpatients between morning and evening and night shifts. The majority of inpatients, 2.104 [40.30%] admitted on the night shift and the majority of outpatients, 12.443 [48.21%] on the morning shift. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean of triaged patients at the emergent and urgent levels among the three work shifts [night vs. morning and evening shifts, p< 0.05]

Conclusion: Regarding the majority of admissions on the night shift, pay more attention to this shift can play a pivotal role in saving lives. Therefore, it appears that conducting more studies about the different aspects of this issue is necessary

[Study of the susceptible factor in wife abuse among women referred to karaj forensic medicine center in 2005: a case - control study]

Violence against women, which is seen in most societies, is a concealed social disorder. This social issue in itself gives rise to other health and social problems among its victims. This study attempted to identify the contributing factors in violence against women in Iran by evaluating the cases referred to Karaj Forensic Medicine Center. In this case- control study, a questionnaire was fulfilled for 100 married women who suffered violence at home and referred by the judiciary in 2005 to Karaj forensic medicine center, and also 100 married women who referred to Karaj forensic medicine kenter by the judiciary for reasons other than wife abuse and report no history of violence at home. With increasing age of women and men, wife abuse decreased. There was no significant association between education level of men or women and wife abuse [NS]. Crime history [P < 0.001], polygamy [p < 0.001], religious conviction [p < 0.001] and addiction of husband [p < 0.001] had a significant association with wife abuse. Lower age of woman, addiction of man, and low economic welfare of family of man were independent predictors of wife abuse. In addition, our study revealed that incompatibility of partners, guardianship of a person in family of husband, polygamy, religious conviction of man, violence against children, man job, and history of criminal record are the contributing factors in wife abuse

Childhood meningitis in Kuwait: epidemiology of etiologic agents and the need for pneumococcal disease prevention

To investigate the epidemiology of the etiologic agents causing bacterial meningitis in Kuwait. This is a retrospective analysis of the medical records of children 1 month to 12 years old who had cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] findings consistent with meningitis. Patients were identified from the records of the Departments of Microbiology and Communicable Diseases in six regional hospitals during 2001. They were divided into bacterial and viral infective groups. Ninety children had CSF findings consistent with meningitis, 44 bacterial [23 culture proven, 21 probable] and 46 viral. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis were the most frequently isolated organisms [44 and 30%, respectively]. A 2-month-old child had Haemophilus influenzae and was the only mortality of this series. S. pneumoniae is the leading bacterial agent causing meningitis in children under the age of 1 year; 61% had bacterial meningitis compared to 37% with viral meningitis. Sequelae were encountered in 23% of bacterial cases. The results indicate that S. pneumoniae is the leading bacterial agent causing meningitis, indicating a need for the introduction of polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine