Groundwater valuation and quality preservation in Iran: the case of Yazd

Groundwater can be used directly or indirectly and any decline in its quality or quantity may negatively impact the environment. Through groundwater valuation, people are made aware of the fact that groundwater is not free of charge and therefore the significance of groundwater preservation is established. In this study, groundwater quality preservation value has been estimated for the city of Yazd based on the contingent valuation method [CVM]. The methodology used consisted of field study and library research. After determining the sample size using Cochran's formula, the distributed questionnaires were filled by the inhabitants of the city of Yazd. Thereafter, the results were analysed using Excel and E Views. Finally, people's willingness to pay for the preservation of Yazd groundwater quality was estimated to be US$18.5 annually per capita, which is a remarkable value. Hence, it was determined that groundwater quality preservation was of great value to the inhabitants of Yazd

Fingerprint study of Thyrnus spp.aby TLC

Thymus is a widely used medicinal plant in food and pharmaceutical industries. Among different species of Thymus, T. vulgaris is used more than other species in therapeutic dosage forms. This study was conducted to differentiate various Thymus species by TLC fingerprint. In order to identify and differentiate various species of Thymus, TLC fingerprints of essential oil, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and n-butanol extracts of four available species named T. vulgaris, T. pubescens, T. citriodorus and T. daenensis were obtained and compared with each other. The results showed that the TLC chromatograms of essential oil and n-butanol extract cannot be used as differential identification for the above-mentioned species; while the ethylacetate and dichloromethane extracts are more reliable to be used for TLC fingerprints. TLC-chromatogram of ethylacetate extract is specific for identification of T. pubescens and T. vulgaris while T. citriodorus and T. daenensis can be best identified by their TLC fingerprints obtained from dichloromethane extract. For best differentiation of various Thymus species, different extracts of the plants should be used

[Investigation of the best method for extraction of phenolic compounds from echinaceae purpurea L. [moench]]

Echinacea spp. Have been used in traditional medicine for many years. Recently, many investigations have been done on this plant and they showed that the plant is an immunostimulant agent. The plant contains different components such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds and isobutylamides. Phenolics are one of the most important agents in immunostimulant effects of the plant; therefore, determination of a method for the best extraction of these compounds from the plant is important. In this research, the effects of solvent, extraction procedure, plant particle size and plant: solvent ratio on extraction of phenolic compounds of Echinacea purpurea [L.] Moench have been investigated. Different polar and non-polar solvents from hexane to acidic water were used in order to determine the best solvent for phenolics extraction. Moreover, the methods of maceration, sonification, perculation, digestion and continuous extraction [by use of soxhelet apparatus], different particle sizes of the plant powder and various plant: solvent ratios were examined as well. The results showed that the best method for extraction of phenolics is methanol: water 80:20 as solvent, method of digestion [2h, 50[degree sign] C], particle size of 300 micro m for the plant powder and plant :solvent ratio of 1:200. It can be concluded that in order to efficient extraction of phenolic compounds from Echinacea purpurea aerial parts, special condition should be considered

Evaluation of 8-hour and 12-hour urine collection for detection of proteinuria in hypertensive women, Shariati hospital, 2004-2005

Hypertensive disorders are common during pregnancy. Combination of hypertension and proteinuria markedly increase prenatal morbidity and mortality. The gold standard method for proteinuria assessment is 24-hour urine collection. This survey is designed to determine the correlation between protein content of 8-hour and 24-hour urine collections. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 65 pregnant women with gestatinal age of over-20 weeks who were admitted for assessment of proteinuria in obstetrics section of Shariati hospital, Bandar Abbas. Four urine samples were collected from each patient including random sample, 8, 12 and 24-hour samples. Randoms sample was examined qualitatively while other samples were assessed quantitatively. Data were analyzed by Minitab software. Pearson's correlation coefficient of 8-hour and 12-hour samples with 24-hour was calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of random, 8-hour and 12-hour samples were also determined. Pearson's correlation coefficients of 8-hour with 24-hour and 12-hour with 24-hour were 0.873 [P<0.01] and 0.89 [P<0.01], respectively. 8-hour sample had a sensitivity of 63%and negative predictive value of 82%. The 12-hour and random samples predicted significant proteinuria with a sensitivity of 82% and 75%, specificity of 88% and 63%, positive predictive values of 85% and 62%, and negative predictive values of 86% and 76%, respectively. All patients with proteinuria in 8-hour and 12-hour samples had significant proteinuria in 24-hour sample. There is a strong correlation between 8-hour and 12-hour with 24-hour urine protein levels. Either the simultaneous positive or negative result for proteinuria in 8-hour, 12-hour and random samples is of great significance in documentation or ruling out of proteinuria in 24-hour sample collection

Randomized comparison of vaginal dinoprostone and high dose oxytocin of labor: safety and efficacy

Unripe cervix is the most important factor in failure of labor induction. This study is conducted to compare the efficacy and side effects of Dinoproston and high dose oxytocin as ripening agents in labor induction. In this double blinded randomized clinical trial, 1290 women with unfavorable cervix who underwent labor induction were randomly assigned to vaginal Dinoproston [9 mg] or intravenous high dose Oxytocin [6miu/min] groups. Initial 12 hours Bishop-Score, labor induction to labor duration, delivery type, 1 and 5 minute APGAR, side effects on mother or neonate, hospitalization duration and hospitalization costs were recorded. Data were analysed using t and Chi-square tests by means of Minitab statistical shoftware. The results showed that vaginal Dinoproston was effective in shortening latent phase of labor [P<0.01]. But, mean Bishop-Score over the initial 12 hours, the interval between labor induction to delivery, and side effects for mother or neonate were not different between the two groups. Based on the results, although hospitalization duration was not different between the groups, hospitalization costs for Dinoproston group was significantly higher [P<0.05] It seems that inspite of shortening the latent phase of labor in vaginal Dinoproston group, it is not more effective than high dose Osytocin as an adjuvant to labor induction in women with unfavorable cervix

Investigation of a and beta - thujone content in common wormwood from Iran

Artemisia absinthium L. [common wormwood] has been widely used in traditional medicine. The plant contains toxic components: a and beta-thujone, therefore, it should be used with caution. Since common wormwood is considered to be a toxic plant, we decided to evaluate toxic compounds quantities in those used in Iranian folk market. Five samples were purchased from Tehran markets. Essential oil of the flowers was obtained by water distillation. Essential oils were injected to gas chromatograph and their thujone content were determined according to the calibration curve. The results showed that alpha-thujone is absent in all samples and p-thujone content in the essential oils is much less than its amount reported from other countries. Since the quantity of toxic compounds are low in the plant growing in Iran, it is proposed that Artemisia absinthium L. can be studied for its some medical uses

[Investigating on the quality of wild licorice roots collected from different regions of Iran]

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. has been used in respiratory diseases, gastric and duodenal ulcers and liver insufficiencies for many years. The plant grows in different regions of Iran. Since our country is considered one of the greatest exporting countries of the plant roots, investigation of licorice quality from different parts of Iran and determination of the best area for its growing seems to be important. According to validated references, glycyrrhizic acid percentage and water-soluble extractives are determinative of quality; therefore, in this investigation, these two factors have been measured in the plants collected from different regions of Iran. Roots of the plant were collected from Kerman, Kermanshah, Sirjan, Sarhadd [Fars province], Istahban [Fars province], Ghasredasht [Fars province], Najaf Abad [Isfahan province], Ganjnameh [Hamedan province], Ekbatan [Hamedan province], Mahabad, Khorram Abad and Ardabil and water-soluble extractives using maceration method and glycyrrhizic acid percentage with HPLC technique were determined in each sample. The results showed that the amount of water-soluble extractives and glycyrrhizic acid are high in samples from Kermanshah, Sarhadd and Kerman while these two factors are the lowest in the plant roots collected from Ekbatan and Ganjnameh. The plant roots collected from Kermanshah, Sarhadd and Kerman have the highest quality and are the best for medicinal purposes, sweetening and flavoring agent and for exporting as well

Comparative efficacy of misoprostol and oxytocin as labor preinduction agents: a prospective randomized trial

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of misoprostol and oxytocin for induction of labor. In this prospective and randomized controlled trial one hundred twenty women with an unfavorable cervix who underwent labor induction were assigned to receive either intravenous high dose oxytocin [6 mlu/min] or intravaginal misoprostol 50 |ug every 6 hours for two doses. Twelve hours later if labor was not established oxytocin induction was initiated per standardized protocol [3 mlu/min]. Mean Bishop Score change [ +/- SD] over the initial 12 hours interval was significantly greater in the misoprostol group [11.98 +/- 1.55] compared with the oxytocin group [8.83 +/- 2.61]. There were no statistically significant differences in the median duration of labor [449 +/- 261.1 min, 514.5 +/- 288.5 min, respectively; P = 0.22], the mode of delivery or the adverse maternal /neonatal out come among the two groups. Use of misoprostol as a labor preinduction / labor induction agent results in greater Bishop score changes compared with high dose oxytocin and both of them are comparable