Evaluation of antibacterial activity and flavonoid content of two capparis species from Iran

Background: Due to multiple drug resistance against antimicrobial drugs for treatment of infectious disease, investigations to discovering new antibacterial compounds from natural sources have been designated

Objective: According to antimicrobial effects of some Capparis species, this study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extract and fractions of Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis mucronifolia against 6 bacterial strains

Methods: Aerial parts of the Capparis species were extracted by maceration method using methanol and fractionated separately by liquid-liquid fractionation method. The antibacterial activity of the extract and fractions were studied against 6 bacterial strains using MIC microplate method. Total flavonoid content [TFC] of the extracts and fractions was determined using AlCl[3] reagent

Results: The total extract and methanolic fractions of C. mucronifolia were the most effective fractions against the bacterial strains. Methanolic fraction of C. cartilaginea was the most effective fraction with MIC 10.42 microg/ml against Salmonella enterica. The highest antibacterial activity of C.mucronifolia was against Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC 7.8 microg/ml. Methanolic fractions of Capparis species showed the highest TFC value in AlCl[3] colorimetric assay

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the extracts and fractions of Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis mucronifolia have antimicrobial effect against 6 gram positive and gram negative strains. According to the high amount of flavonoids in methanolic fraction of C. mucronifolia, the antibacterial activity may be related to the flavonoid compounds of this plant

[Perceived social support among hospital personnel and its influential factors: a case study]

Increasing productivity in an organization requires providing various conditions; important of all is human factor. Social support is known as a psychological factor in workplace that effect on productivity of human factor. The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of perceived social support among hospital personnel. In order to do this research 120 of employees of a selected hospital in Isfahan were surveyed using a self-report questionnaire. A convenience sampling method was used to select the samples. The questionnaire measured demographic information of employees and their perceived social support by coworkers and managers. The questionnaire was validated using the experts' judgment. A Chi-Square test was used to test the relationship between the demographic information and the perceived social support. The findings indicated that the employees' perceived social support by coworkers [with the mean of 3.34 +/- 0/48 on scale of 1-5] was higher than the perceived social support by managers [with mean of 3.19 +/- 0.4]. The Chi -Square test also showed a significant relationship between perceived social support and age and work experience of the employees [p<0.01]. The employees perceived social support by managers is not at the ideal level in the investigated hospital and for increasing the productivity level in this organization it is necessary that managers to take new policies under consideration. Meanwhile establishing a stronger relationship with employees can potentially increase the employees' efficiency

[Border hospital readiness in handling border relater crises in Kermanshah Province, Iran, 2007]

Helping the injured at the time of crisis is one of the duties of hospitals; therefore, they should plan and be prepared prior to any crisis. The present research was designed to measure the readiness of Kermanshah Province hospitals located near the western boarder of Iran to handle border related crises. The readiness of the three border hospitals in Kermanshah Province, e.g. Az-zahra [in Gilanegharb], Shohada [in Sare-Pole - Zahab], and Hazrat Abolfazl Abbas [in ghasre-Shirin] was evaluated using a checklist on the following six aspects: 1] crisis management information systems, 2] commandership terminal, 3] crisis-related training, 4] organizing hospital manpower, 5] having adequate facilities and equipment, 6] maneuvering and practicing. The data were gathered through interview, observation and using available statistics. According to the findings, hospitals scored [average] on crisis management information systems, commandership terminal, crisis-related training, and organizing hospital manpower, [good] on having adequate facilities and equipment, and [weak] on maneuvering and practicing. The findings also revealed that readiness was fairly good in Shohada hospital, average in Hazrat Abolfazl Abbas hospital and weak in Az-zahra Gilanegharb [hospital in general, readiness to deal with crisis in all three hospitals was evaluated as average]. Despite adequate facilities available for the investigated hospitals, they are not well prepared to handle border related crises in Kermanshah Province and it is essential to take necessary steps in this respect