Effects of exogenous salicylic acid application on growth, metabolic activities and essential oil composition of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad

Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad, with the common Persian name "marzeh khuzestani", is an endemic medicinal plant, distributed in the southwestern areas of Iran. Salicylic acid [SA] is a signaling molecule and a hormone-like substance that plays an important role in the plant physiological processes. This study was conducted to determine the influence of foliar SA application [0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg.L[-1]] at two times including vegetative stage [VS] and both vegetative and reproductive stages [VS+RS] on growth parameters, enzymes activity including superoxide dismutase [SOD] and polyphenol oxidase [PPO], protein content, essential oil percentage and composition of S. khuzisra, zica under field conditions. The essential oils were isolated from aerial flowering parts of the plants by hydro- distillation method and then subjected to GC and GC-MS analyses to determine the oil constituents. Results showed that SA application at 100 and 200 mg.L[-1] were the most effective treatments in growth characteristics, but the highest essential oil content and yield was obtained at 400 mg.L[-1] SA treatment. In both spraying times, plants treated with 100 and 200 mg.L SA concentration showed more PPO and SOD activity than control plants, respectively. Also, results showed that the 14 compositions were identified in essential oil of plants under all employed treatments. Carvacrol was the major component of oils, which is also showed more variability than that of other components. It was concluded that foliar spray of SA at low concentration once at vegetative and second time at reproductive stage might be employed for enhancing both primary and secondary metabolites production of S. khuzisranica plants

Study of nitrate reduction from water using nanosized iron

New studies indicate that nitrate concentration in groundwater is increasing in most cities. High concentrations of nitrate in water increase the potential health risk in the community and the environment. In infants, No[3-] is reduced to No[2-], which combines with hemoglobin in the blood to form met hemoglobin leading to blue-tinged blood for babies under six months old in particular, Namely, so-called [blue baby syndrome] and it also produce carcinogenic compounds. Therefore high nitrate concentration is important. The aim of the present study is removing nitrate from water using zero valent iron. Analyses were conducted on synthetic samples. These samples were analyzed considering reaction times, pH, initial nitrate and sulfate concentration. Results showed that at Nitrate with an initial concentration of 200mg L[1-] after 60 min of reaction at pH [s] 7, 6 and 5 about 67.8%, 72.5% and 88% was reduced, respectively in concentration of 100 and 300 mgL [pHN6] the removal efficiency is 60 and 83 percent, respectively. In sodium sulfate and nitrate with concentration of 300, the removal efficiency reached from 72 to 70 percent. Results show that the initial pH is important to achieve maximum efficiency of nitrate removal. So the lower pH levels increases removal efficiency of nitrate. All of the experiments indicated that removal is the highest in the first 5 min. Generally with an increasing initial nitrate concentration the removal efficiency of nitrate increases

[Differentiation of benign from malignant induced ascites by measuring gallbladder wall thickness]

There are two kinds of ascites, cirrhotic and malignant. The conventional diagnostic method to differentiate them is paracentesis. This is an invasive and time consuming method. However, ultrasonography is an easy and available method to provide valuable results in a short period of time. The aim of this study was to evaluate gallbladder wall thickness in differentiating cirrhotic ascites from malignant ones. In our study, gallbladder wall thickness was measured by ultrasonography [3.5-5 MHZ curve linear ultrasound probe] in 100 patients with portal hypertension induced ascites and in 100 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis induced ascites. The mean gallbladder wall thickness was 3.9 +/- 0.6 mm in cirrhotic patients and 2.2 +/- 0.6 mm in non-cirrhotic patients. Gallbladder wall thickening was significantly more frequent in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in patients with non-cirrhotic ascites [p<0.001]. This study revealed that the ultrasound finding of gallbladder wall thickening in patients with ascites could be highly predictive for portal hypertension induced ascites

[Evaluation of triple therapy regimens with metronidazole or clarithromycin for helicobacter pylori eradication in children]

Half of the world's population is infected with helicobacter pylori. This organism is one of the main causes of peptic ulcer disease, gastritis and gastric cancer. This infection is most frequently acquired in childhood. There is strong evidence that eradication of infection improves healing and reduces the risk of recurrence and rebleeding in patients with duodenal or gastric ulcer. There is no consensus as to treat infected children without ulcer. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two therapeutic regimens in eradication of infection in children. This study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted in Tabriz Children Hospital. A total of seventy children aged 4 to 15 years were studied. These patients were referred to Endoscopy Unit and upper endoscopy and biopsy were performed. They were positive for helicobacter pylori by histological confirmation. The patients were randomly enrolled in two therapeutic groups: group-A[n=41] received omeprazole as a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and metronidazole [PAM] and group-B [n=36] received omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin [PAC]. The duration of treatment was two weeks in both groups. To confirm eradication, UBT was performed after 8 weeks of treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS package version 15. P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Mean age in PAM and PAC groups were 8.8 +/- 2.5 and 9.6 +/- 2.9 years, respectively. The age difference was not statistically significant [P=0.24]. The most common initial symptom was chronic abdominal pain in both PAM and PAC groups [81.3% and 76.3%, respectively]. There was no statistical difference in frequency of initial symptom between the two groups [P=0.41]. Side effects during treatment were seen in both PAM and PAC groups [23.7% and 19.7%, respectively]. Most patients in both groups experienced symptoms improvement after treatment whether complete or partial. In PAM and PAC groups, symptoms improvement was seen in 92.1% and 91.2%, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups [P=0.64]. The intention to treat analysis in PAC and PAM groups were 75%and 73%, respectively and per-protocol analyses were 87% and 78.9%, respectively. There was no statistical difference in helicobacter pylori eradication rates between the two groups [P=0.39]. Our study suggested that both PAM and PAC regimens are effective in eradication of infection. Eradication of infection also can cause significant improvement of initial symptoms

[Reproductive correlates of female sexual dysfunctions in Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad province: a population-based study]

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction [FSD] and its relationship with reproductive variables in married women in urban areas of Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad Province. This cross-sectional study covered urban areas of Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad Province. Using a quota sampling method, an ad hoc questionnaire containing items on demographic and reproductive variables, was administered to women attending primary health care delivery centers. Sexual dysfunctions were defined by the DSM-IV criteria. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. A total of 1540 married women residing in urban areas were studied. The mean age of the respondents was 33.2 [SD=9.4] years and most were housewives [84.5%]. The self-reported frequencies of different FSDs were as follows: loss of desire [35.1%], dyspareunia [34.9%, anorgasmia [34.5%] and loss of arousal [31.6%]. Binary logistic regression analysis showed the following risk factors for various FSDs: loss of desire: "age" [46 >/= y: OR=3.07 [1.58-5.99]], "pelvic surgery' [Cesarean Section: OR=1.57 [1.13-2.18]]. Loss of arousal: "age" [36-45y" OR=2.20 [1.27-3.79]], "contraceptive method" [depoprovera/norplant/withdrawal: OR = 1.81 [1.15-2.85]] anorgasmia: "age at marriage" [7-15y: OR =2.93 [1.33-6.42]], "contraceptive method" [depoprovera/norplant/withdrawal: OR = 1.62 [1.06-2.49]], dyspareunia: "age" [31-35y: OR 0.48 [0.29-0.77]], "education" [high school: OR =1.84 [1.10-3.07]], "contraceptive method" [condom: OR= 1.80 [1.02-3.18]]. The findings indicate that FSD is prevalent in the study population. The effects of demographic and reproductive variables should be considered in management of these disorders

[ study on metal health status and personality traits of pet owners]

Many Iranian families manage to keep pets at home. Examining psychological consequences and personality traits of pet owners is important. The aim of this study was to examine mental health status and personality traits of pet owners. In this descriptive study, 612 pet owners [143 cat owners, 162 dog owners, 155 bird owners and 152 other pet owners] were asked to complete General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] and IPIP Personality Scale from January to December 2006. Bird owners had the highest [234 cases [38.3%]] and other pet owners had the lowest [129 cases [42.3%]] mental health problems. In general, 188 cases [30.7%] of all groups had mental health problems. 122 cases [20%] of them had somatic compliance, 182 cases [29.7%] had anxiety, 149 cases [24.3%] had social dysfunction and 84 cases [13.7%] had depression. Bird owners had significant high level of social dysfunction than other pet owners. With respect to personality traits, dog owners had low level of agreeableness and openness to experience than other groups. Other pet owners had high level of emotional stability than other groups. Contrary to other countries, it seems that having a pet in home enhances the probability of mental disorders in Iran. It is possible that lower mental health persons were keeping pets in Iran. In personality perspectives, dog owners are more disagreeable people and other pet owners are more emotionally stable ones

[Pheocoromocytoma; a case report]

Pheochromocytoma is a neoplosia of chromaffin cells that is very rare in children. Its signs and symptoms result from the release of catecholamine. It is usually a solitary, unilateral encapsulated tumor. The predominant clinical findings are crises of hypertension, palpitation, abdominal pain, paleness, vomiting, sweating, and weight loss. Its diagnosis requires a certain degree of suspicion. Case report: We report on a 3-year-old child with pheochromocytoma of difficult clinical management. Diagnosis was confirmed by anatomicophathological study. The patient recovered after surgical resection of the tumor. The patient was a rare case of pheochromocytoma, his problems being especially hypertension and was cured after surgical resection of the tumor. This demonstrates the beneficial effect of early diagnosis and treatment

[Determination of DMFT index in patients with end stage renal disease being treated by hemodialysis in Ali Asghar medical center]

End stage renal disease [ESRD] is the last stage of the decending process of structural and functional distruction of kidneys. This process is often combined with acute diseases like glumerulonephritis and pyelonephritis. Uremic smell of mouth, enamel hypoplasia and defects, increase in dental debries, periodontal diseases, considerable delay in bone and dental age and fair decrease in oral hygiene are of this general oral symptoms. Despite these unfavorable factors, the recent researches indicated relatively lower DMFT index in these patients. Regarding these results, this study is trying to identify the DMFT index in the above mentioned patients.In this descriptive- analytic research, 22 patients with end-stage renal disease being treated with hemodialysis were examined. This was the total number of the patients ranging from 17 to 33 years old who were referred to Ali Asghar Medical center in Isfahan. After examining and indicating the DMFT index in these patients, they were compared with a healthy control group which were identical to the study group regarding their sex, age.Comparison between the patients with ESRD being treated by hemodialysis and healthy control group showed that DMFT was lower in ESRD than in control group. In this study however, no statistically meaningful relation was seen between sex, the age of the patients at the beginning of hemodialysis treatment, duration of hemodialysis treatment and the DMFT index of patients with ESRD being treated by hemodialysis.Patients with End-stage renal disease being treated by hemodialysis had noticeably, lower DMFT index compared to the normal people and this difference is more distinct in posterior teeth. Further, more despite the fact that no statistically meaningful relation was found between the age at the beginning of hemodialysis treatment, the duration of hemodialysis treatment and the DMFT index of patients with ESRD, it is probable that meaningful statistical relation will be found in larger sample size