Analysis of anti-enterococcal activity of three honey samples in golestan province

Understanding the resistance patterns of bacteria and their sensitivity and attempting to find new compounds with broad effective spectrum would be significant in controlling infection. This study aimed at evaluating antibacterial potential of three honey samples produced in Golestan province, Iran, against Enterococcus faecalis strains. After the isolation and identification of bacterial strains, their antibiotic resistance was determined using Kirby-Bauer method. Then, seven isolates of Enterococcus faecalis with multidrug-resistance were selected and antibacterial activities of honey samples assessed by disk-diffusion, well-diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration test [MIC]. The highest diameter of inhibition zone in disk-diffusion and well diffusion methods is 20 mm and 26 mm, respectively. Also the MIC is measured 62.5 mg.ml for all samples, In prohibiting microbial growth, all three samples were successful and they could prevent growing bacterial infection in spite of remarkable resistance of Entrococcus. Hence, further research should be conducted to assess the effects of honey samples against other bacteria

Survey the effect of benson relaxation intervention on quality of life [QOL] in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy disorder in the word. Chemotherapy as an effective measure decrease quality of life [QOL] in these patients. Side effects of chemotherapy can be effective on physical, emotional and social aspects. Complementary medicine can be effective on QOL. The purpose of this study was survey the effect of Benson relaxation intervention on QOL in breast cancer who was undergoing chemotherapy. This study was designed on quasi-experiment in which 25 subjects who have breast cancer without metastasis and receiving chemotherapy with TAC [Taxotere Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide,] regimen. Subjects completed demographic data, C-30 and BR23 QOL questioners in first day of treatment and 3 week after it. Then the Benson relaxation to subjects were considered. The individuals received audiotape of relaxation to do the technique daily 15-20 min. for 3 weeks. At the end questioners were completed by subjects. Information analyzed by SPSS soft ware. There was statistically significant improvement in QOL [P=0.02] and Physical functioning [P=0.001], ole functioning [P=0.001], emotional functioning [P=0.001], cognitive functioning [P=0.001], social functioning [P=0.001], body image [P=0.001], sexual enjoyment [P=0.01], future perspective [P=0.001] and there was no statistically significant improvement in sexual functioning [P=0.7] after Benson relaxation intervention. Benson Relaxation intervention could be an effective approach for improving QOL in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

[Assessing barriers of Nurse-patient's effective communication in educational hospitals of Ahwaz]

Establishing an effective communication with patients is an essential aspect of nursing care. However, most of studies described the nurse-patient relationship as weak. Recognition of barriers in nurse-patient's effective communication from their point of view could facilitate the actions need to be taken for removing such barriers. The study aimed at assessing barriers of nurse-patient's effective communication from nurses and patients' viewpoints and to compare them. This descriptive - analytic study was undertaken in 2008, with a sample of 80 nurses and 80 patients drawn from three educational hospitals in Ahvaz city. They were selected by convenience sampling. Data were gathered through a questionnaire with 30 questions for nurses and 15 questions for patients on a 5-points Likert rating scale. It was found that [nursing works overload] [77.5%], [hardship of nursing tasks][73.75%], [deficiency of welfare facilities for nurses][67.5%], [physical and emotional fatigue] [66.25%] and [not appreciating nurses] [62.5%] were reported by nurses as the main barriers of effective communication. Patients considered [nurses' unfamiliarity with local language] [40%] [Nurses' bad temper] [33.75%], [sex difference with nurses] [32.5%], [Patients' transmitted diseases] [28.75%] and [lack of therapeutic and welfare facilities for patients] [25%] main barriers of effective communication. The study revealed there are some congruency and discrepancy between nurse's and patient's viewpoints in ranking barriers. Thus health manager should put their attempts on eliminating or modifying the most important barriers announced by nurses and patients, especially on factors which both groups reported

experimental study on surgical wound contamination from distant infective source in rabbits

Surgical wound infections are usually encountered due to the endogenous rather than the exogenous infective sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a distant inoculated infective source on the contamination of surgical wounds. Thirty White New Zealand rabbits divided randomly into three control and three treatment equal groups. In treatment groups 24 hrs before surgical intervention staphylococcus aureus was injected subcutaneously in right thigh. In model animals, skin and muscles were incised 1 cm to the right of the vertebral column and sutured, immediately. The relative frequency of staphylococcal contamination of tissue specimens at 24 and 48 hrs after surgery in treatment groups were 20% and 60%, respectively. Statistical analysis did not show any significant differences in the rate of contamination between control and treatment groups at aforementioned times [P > 0.05]. However, comparison at 72 hrs after surgery, showed that the rate of contamination in treatment group is significantly more than control ones [P = 0.004]. The presence of S. aureus in wounds of treatment animals at 72 hrs after surgery, suggested that microorganisms lodged in any part of body other than wound region could contaminate it, which could be important in wound healing