[Investigation of different drying methods of peppermint [mentha piperita] medical plant]

Background: Agriculture products, especially medical plants after harvest should be processed by different processes such as removal of foreign bodies, washing and cleaning, drying, packaging and so forth. One of main postharvest stages of medical plant especially peppermint is drying process

Objective: The aim of this study is design a solar dryer equipped with double pass collector to drying process of peppermint and comparison their results with traditional drying methods [sun and shade]

Methods: In this study drying process of peppermint with different methods of solar drying [by solar dryer designed in this study] and also traditional drying [shade and sun drying] were investigated and compared

Results: The drying time required for dehydration of peppermint in solar drying method was 150 min, which it was approximately 82% and 55% shorter than to traditional methods of shade and sun. Furthermore, dehydration rate in drying methods of solar drying, sun drying and shade drying were 26.77, 12.48 and 4.48 [kg H2O/kg D.M h], respectively. The results of mathematical modelling indicated that Midli and kucuk [in drying methods of solar and shade] and Aghbashlo et al [in drying method of sun] can be fitted drying curve of this medical plant with high accuracy. Also, solar drying by dryer could be protecting the essential oil of this plant in the best form. The results show that the main components of peppermint essential oil was included: 1,8-Cineole, cisSabinene hydrate, Menthone, Menthofuran, iso-Menthone, Menthol and iso-Menthol

Conclusion: Generally, solar drying method of peppermint was recommended as the best method for postharvest processing of this medical plant

Drug-induced vasculitis in a breast cancer patient receiving chemotherapy

Introduction: Drug-induced vasculitis following chemotherapy has been rarely reported. We report such a case of drug-induced vasculitis following chemotherapy in a breast cancer patient

Report of the Case: A 52 year old woman with stage III breast cancer developed pathologically proven vasculitis presenting as bilateral severe erythema, edema and ulceration on both feet 10 days following the 4th cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in each cycle that was preceded by premedication including dexamethasone, granisetron, and H1 and H2 blockers. Furthermore, filgrastim [5 micro g/kg] was administered following each cycle of chemotherapy during days 5-9. By discontinuing chemotherapy and starting high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, vasculitis was resolved. The patient did not experience vasculitis following the re-challenge of chemotherapy excluding docetaxel and filgrastim

Conclusion: This case suggests that docetaxel and filgrastim might be added to the list of agents causing drug-induced vasculitis

Fine needle aspiration diagnosed skin metastasis in a young man with rectal cancer

Introduction: Although colon cancer is one of the most common human cancers, skin metastasis in this disease is rare and necessitates pathological confirmation

Report of the Case: Herein we present a 33 year old man with rectal cancer with ascites. Six cycles of Oxaliplatin based chemotherapy were given. The ascites improved. After three weeks, skin lesions appeared in the upper trunk, both chest wall and back, with extension to the anterior neck Fine Needle Aspiration from the lesions showed malignancy and second line chemotherapy was started. Although the skin lesions showed partial response, unfortunately, the patient died after the fourth chemotherapy injection

Conclusion: Skin metastasis in colorectal cancer, although rare, is a devastating sign, and a careful dermatologic examination should be included in these patients' follow up visits

Evaluation of Zataria mutiflora boiss. Effect on staphylococcus aureus in Feta Cheese

Thyme [Zataria multiflora Boiss] is one of the Iranian traditional spice and it has antimicrobial effect on the pathogenic bacteria which are agents for some current food borne intoxications. Evaluation of antimicrobial effect of mentioned plant essential oil on Staphylococcus aureus in Feta cheese. The essential oil of this plant was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Effects of different concentrations of this essential oil on Staphylococcus aureus were determined by evaluation of the microorganism growth on the selective media in laboratory, and these effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and when the mentioned concentrations of the essential oil were used in combination with cheese starter culture, the counts of the pathogen were decreased significantly below its toxic dose in this kind of food product. The antimicrobial effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. in 300 ppm was higher than its lesser concentrations and with concern to the control groups, the synergistic effect between the starter and the essential oil is necessary to achieve this inhibitory effect