Influence of copper and zinc on growth, metal accumulation and chemical composition of essential oils in sweet basil [Ocimum basilicum L.]

Background: Biosynthesis and metabolism of phytochemicals in medicinal and aromatic plants are vigorously affected by different abiotic elicitors including chemicals

Objective: This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of three levels of copper sulfate [Cu: 0, 5, 25 mg kg[-1]] and zinc sulfate [Zn: 0, 10, 50 mg kg[-1]] and their combinations on yield, chemical compositions of essential oil and metals accumulation in sweet basil [Ocimum basilicum L.]

Methods: The amount of employed metals dissolved in 200 ml distilled water and sprayed over each pot, layer by layer as evenly as possible. Physical and chemical properties and concentration of the elements in soil samples were measured. The essential oil was isolated by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GS and GS-MS technique

Results: Results showed that the dry weight of root, shoot and essential oil yield were increased in treatments of Cu[0]Zn[10], Cu[5]Zn[0]and Cu[5]Zn[10], as compared to control. The increase of Zn levels in soil enhanced the concentration of Zn in shoot and root of plant when compared to control. Also, Zn and Cu antagonized the uptake of together at the high levels. Root tissues always showed greater concentration of both Cu and Zn than those of shoot. The content of linalool and methyl chavicol was significantly increased by application of employed metals in comparison to control plants

Conclusion: Findings indicate that the growth and essential oil yield of O. basilicum was significantly enhanced by application of low levels of Cu and Zn. However, the highest levels of Cu and Zn were accumulated in root, without significant reduction in growth and biomass values

[Satisfaction of physicians and midwives participating in the rural family physician and insurance scheme with the plan in Isfahan province, 2010]

Job satisfaction is one of the most important factors in maintenance of a professional person and the job success, increasing the personal efficiency and the quality of services. On the other hand, it is a tool in the hands of managers in order to maintain the staff in their jobs. The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the satisfaction of physicians and midwives participating in the family physician scheme with the plan. The study population was made up of 221 physicians and 144 midwifes. The tool was an author made questionnaire certified by experts as a standard, valid and reliable scale via content validity measurements through a pilot study. The average satisfaction of physicians and midwives was 44.34% while the highest satisfaction was 65% with the location of services and the lowest was 30.6% with the financial issues. In relation to the financial affairs, physicians were more dissatisfied than midwives, so satisfactions were increased by the increase in the amount of salaries. Over 4 years of implementation of family physician plan, the physicians and midwives satisfaction was shown to be still low. It is necessary to consider re-programming in the scheme in order to increase the amount of payments and create more motivational factors for physicians as well as to reduce working hours for midwives and establish appropriate levels of payments for them

Preparation and evaluation of horse chestnut seed extract gel and its effect on varicose disease symptoms

A common varicose vein of the lower organs occurs for women four times more than men and nearly half of them are from a family suffering from varicose veins. This disease causes ambiguous ache, feeling pressure on feet after long time standing, feeling heaviness on feet, mild edema on ankle, skin ulceration near ankle. It seldom causes varicose veins to tear and bleed. The aim of this research is to survey how to provide herbaceous medicine containing the extract of Indian chestnut to treat varicose and its related primary clinical study. the extract of Indian chestnut was prepared and different formulations; a suitable topical gel has been produced. After the standardization of the product, the drug and placebo effects on those suffering from varicose veins through random sampling has been evaluated. The amount of the extract of Indian chestnut has determined 5.4%. In the performed clinical study the effect of the medicine in comparison with placebo about reducing ache, inflammation, feeling weight on feet values p < 0.000, edema valiums p < 0.05 and itching values p < 0.007 was meaningful and 86.4% of the consumers are generally satisfied with the product. Drug from Aseculus hippocastanum extract can be useful in prevention and treatment of Varicose disease symptoms

[Effects of some environmental factors on smoking and the consequences of smoking on Major Cardiovascular Disease [CVD] risk factors in adolescent: Isfahan healthy heart program- heart health promotion from childhood]

Introduction: despite the health policies, the prevalence of smoking has been increasing among adolescents and the age of its beginning has been decreasing

Objective: this study was performed in order to consider the effects of environmental factors on smoking and its hazards on the health of adolescents in order to plan community-based interventions against it

Materials and Methods: in a longitudinal cross-sectional study performed in urban and rural areas of Isfahan, Najaf-Abad and Arak, 1950 questionnaires of students and the same number for parents and 468 questionnaires of school staff have been completed. Questionnaires about smoking were completed secretly and without name. Students have been selected by random multi-stage sampling from middle- and high schools. Physical examination and blood sampling was performed by expert nurses in schools

Results: among students, 4% of girls, 12.9% of boys and 8.7% of all studied subjects reported to smoke at least one cigarette per day. The mean age of smoking was 14.6+/-1.7 years in girls and 14.8 +/-1.69 years in boys [P=0.5]. The prevalence of smoking in boys was significantly higher than that in girls [OR = 3.34, %95 CI=2.33-4.77, P<0.001]. The mean value of total and LDL cholesterol was significantly higher in smokers and their HDL-C was lower than non-smokers [P < 0.05]. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers [110.7+/-14.5, 67.6+/-11.35 mmHg, 20.34+/-3.84 vs. 104.9+/-14.3, 63.2+/-10.8 mmHg, 19.55+/-3.66, respectively, P<0.05]. The mean consumption frequency was lower for fruits and vegetables and higher for fat/salty snacks in smokers than non-smokers. Only 5.6% of students mentioned that they became aware of smoking hazards from school staff and most of the students considered scientific TV programmes as the most important source for their knowledge about these hazards. The Odds Ratio of smoking was 1.56 [95% CI, 1.1-2.07, P=0.01] for those with smoker parents and 1.68 [95% CI, 1.22-2.32, P=0.001] with parents opposed to regular extracurricular exercise of their children. The father's education level of smokers was significantly lower than non-smokers [P<0.05]. Logistic regression analysis showed significant effect of sex, age and number of smokers in family on adolescent smoking

Conclusion: considering the susceptibility of adolescents to begin smoking, the role of families in this regard and inadequate information given in schools about the smoking hazards and also considering the higher prevalence of major CVD risk factors in smoker adolescents compared to non- smoker ones, it is suggested to implement community-based interventions through families, schools and mass media in order to increase the knowledge and to improve the practice of adolescents against smoking