[In vitro anti-toxoplasma effects of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia absinthium L., Carum copticum L. and Gossypium Hirsutum]

Background: Production of anti-Toxoplasma drug with high efficacy and low side effect is one of the main priorities in toxoplasmosis researches. Herbal extracts has considered as a candidate for this purpose

Objective: This study was performed in order to determine lethal effect of Artemisia absinthium L., Carum copticum L. and Gossypium hirsutum extracts on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro free cell line

Methods: Tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain were treated with concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml of Artemisia absinthium L., Carum copticum L., and Gossypium hirsutum extracts within 10, 30, and 45 min. Afterward, the tachyzoites were stained with alkaline methylene blue. Mortality rates of tachyzoites treated with extracts were determined. The results were analyzed with one way ANOVA and Post Hoc Test by SPSS software. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant

Results: The overall, 100% of tachyzoites were killed at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml of Artemisia absinthium L. and 200 mg/ml of Carum copticum L. after 10, 30, and 45 min treatment. The lowest mortality rates at concentration of 10 mg/ml were 19.6 +/- 8.4, 4.30 +/- 2.26, and 4.63 +/- 2.1 for Artemisia absinthium L., Carum copticum L., and Gossypium hirsutum, respectively. The highest and lowest mortality rate of tachyzoites by Gossypium hirsutumin extract was 13.3 +/- 7.1. The mortality of tachyzoites were confirmed by bioassay in mice

Conclusion: Anti-Toxoplasma activities of Artemisia absinthium L. and Carum copticum L. were significantly higher than Gossypium hirsutum. Further studies in order to clarify effectors are recommended

[ study of consumed vegetable parasitic infections in Qazvin]

Outbreaks of human parasitic diseases associated with the consumption of raw vegetables, often occur in developing and developed countries. To evaluate parasitic contamination of edible vegetables in Qazvin. This was a descriptive analytical study in which 150 samples of different vegetables including leek, parsley, lettuce, coriander, radish, spring onion, tarragon, basil, mint, and cress; collected from several greengroceries in Qazvin during 12 months between 2006-2007 were examined. Samples were evaluated for presence of metazoan and protozoan parasitic contaminations. The vegetable samples were washed with water and tested microscopically after performance of sedimentation method. Fifty three out of 150 samples [35.3%] were found to have parasitic contamination. Among those 45 [30%] and 8 [5.3%] were revealed to be metazoa and protozoa, respectively. Metazoan contaminations were detected by observation of helminthes' eggs 13 [8.6%] and rhabditoid larva 32 [21.4%] in vegetables. The highest rate of contamination was detected in leek [60%], and the lowest in coriander and radish [20%]. Regarding the parasitic infestation, rhabditoid larva with 21.4% and Hymenolepis nana ova with 0.7% were shown to have the highest and lowest rates, respectively. Based on our results, edible vegetables in Qazvin are the potential sources of several parasitic infections in human

Radiographic findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in Tehran in comparison with other institutional studies

Tuberculosis [TB] is one of the most common worldwide infections, especially in developing countries. Early diagnosis is very important for prevention of the chronic form of the disease and sequel formation. Chest x-ray [CXR] is an easy, feasible, non-expensive and quick tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. We retrospectively evaluated 200 chest x-rays of secondary pulmonary TB cases in university-affiliated hospitals. These cases were all proved by a positive sputum smear or culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, we correlated CXR findings of 100 male and 100 female patients. The peak age of involvement in both groups was 61-80 years. None of the chest x-rays were normal. The main radiographic findings were consolidation-infiltration, fibrosis, pleural effusion, cavitation, pleural thickening and bronchiectasis. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was detected in 9% of the cases. Pulmonary infiltration with consolidation was the most common finding [55%]. Miliary shadowing, atelectasis and pneumomediastinum were the least common presentations. Lymphadenopathy was more common in 40 to 60-year-old women. Right lung involvement was more common than the left side and the upper zones were involved in most cases. The most common underlying diseases were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Infiltration in diabetic patients and fibrotic appearances in hypertensive patients were common findings. There was no significant difference between our data and the other studies carried out in Iran. The patients were younger in the studies from other countries. However, cavitary lesions were more common in other studies than this study, which seems to be due to the higher prevalence of underlying diseases such as HIV or diabetes

[Performance conditions of breast cancer screening methods and its efficient factors among women referring to health centers of Tabriz]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second major cause of cancer deaths in women. Detection of breast cancer in its early stages is amenable to almost complete cure. Breast cancer screening comprises breast-self-examination [BSE], clinical breast examination [CBE] and mammography. The purpose of this study was to examine the performance conditions of screening methods among women referring to health centers of Tabriz in 2008. Using descriptive- analytic study method, 400 women aged 20-50 years were selected through random clustered sampling. The samples were drawn from Tabriz health centers and their active records. The data were collected through a questionnaire consisting personal and social characteristics and a self-examination observational checklist. Descriptive and inferential statistics [Chi square and fisher s exact test] were used to analyze the data by SPSS software [version13]. The study demonstrated that only 18.8% of women performed breast self examination. 19.1% had clinical breast examination and 3.3% mammogram. The main reasons for women who didn't perform breast cancer screening were being unaware of breast self examination, not having a breast problem and not feeling its necessity. Performing of BSE was significantly correlated with level of education, employment, income, number of children, breastfeeding history, breastfeeding quality and family history of breast cancer. There were also significant relationship between performing of CBE and history of benign breast tumor as well as between performing of mammography and family history of breast cancer and history of benign breast tumor [P<0.05]. The finding revealed that the performance of breast cancer screening methods was not satisfactory. Providing essential education regarding breast cancer screening methods through health personnel especially during pregnancy, post partum and even during counselling sessions befor marriage, seems to be necessary